TRUE LOVE NEVER GIVES UP

Chapter-24: Drunken Confessions

As the night wore on and the drinks flowed freely, Nandini found herself getting more and more intoxicated, her inhibitions fading away with each passing moment.

In her tipsy state, she couldn't help but display a range of adorable antics that both amused and endeared her to her friends.

Clinging to Manik like a koala to a tree, Nandini giggled uncontrollably as she wrapped her arms around him, her laughter ringing out like music in the air.

"Manik, you're my human pillow," she declared with a wide grin, pressing herself against him with a contented sigh.

Manik, surprised by Nandini's sudden affectionate display, couldn't help but smile at her antics. "I'm glad you find me comfortable, Nandini. But let's try to stay on our feet, okay?"

But Nandini was in a playful mood, her mischievous side coming to the fore as she teased Manik relentlessly.

"Oh, don't worry, Manik. I'll keep you upright," she teased, winking at him playfully.

As the night progressed, Nandini's playful teasing took a mischievous turn as she began to regale their friends with embarrassing stories from Manik's past. With a gleeful twinkle in her eye, she leaned in close to the group, her voice filled with mischief.

"Manik, do you remember that time in school when you saw a lizard and then tripped and fell in front of the entire class?" she exclaimed, her laughter ringing out like bells. "I swear, I've never seen anyone turn as red as you did that day!"

Manik's eyes widened in mock horror as he shot Nandini a playful glare. "Nandini, you promised you wouldn't tell anyone about that!"

But Nandini, undeterred by Manik's protests, continued to share stories from his childhood, much to the amusement of their friends.

Cabir, Mukti, Dhruv, Alya, Navya, and Abhimanyu erupted into laughter, teasing Manik mercilessly as he tried in vain to defend himself.

Amidst the laughter and teasing, Manik surprised everyone with his patience and calm demeanor, his focus solely on ensuring Nandini's well-being.

He gently guided her back to their group as she was running around, his touch gentle and reassuring as he kept a watchful eye on her.

Cabir, Mukti, Dhruv, Alya, and Abhimanyu exchanged surprised glances, never having seen Manik display such patience and tenderness before.

Cabir nudged Mukti with a smirk, his eyebrows raised in disbelief. "Would you look at that? Manik's turning into a real softie."

Mukti grinned in agreement, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Who would've thought? Looks like Nandini has a way of bringing out his softer side."

"Manik, you're being surprisingly patient with her," Mukti remarked, her voice filled with surprise.

Cabir nodded in agreement, his eyebrows raised in disbelief. "Yeah, I've never seen you this calm, bro. It's like you're a different person."

Manik shrugged, his focus entirely on Nandini as he guided her to a nearby chair. "She's my friend, guys. I just want to make sure she's okay."

"You know what guys," she began, her voice tinged with sadness, "I love him. But I can't tell anyone about him."

Her friends listened intently, their expressions a mixture of concern and curiosity. Manik, in particular, felt a knot form in his stomach at her words, a silent prayer on his lips that she wouldn't reveal his identity.

"Why can't you tell about him, Nandini?" Alya asked gently, reaching out to squeeze her friend's hand in a gesture of support.

Nandini sighed, her gaze dropping to the floor as she spoke. "Because... because my mother doesn't like the word 'love'. She's always been strict about it, and I don't want to upset her."