MaNan ff- I've always loved you!

Part 18 - The First Step!

Check out the new cover to the story. How is it??
All credits go to
ImLilMissComplicated
Thnxx alot dear!😘😘

Happy reading!! 👇

"hey buddy!! How are you?"
Ryan, leaving a completely confused Nandini behind, went up and hugged Manik tightly.

Manik chuckled at first seeing his actions and then replied, almost equally enthusiastic "very well!"

The guys got too engrossed in their talks completely forgetting that they had another person for company. Whereas Nandini, she silently stood a few steps away, her one brow lifted in annoyance + confusion + irritation and mixture of many more expressions, as she stared at the duo in front of them.

Realizing that the idiots will never turn to her themselves, she herself initiated..... "helloooo! I thought I was present here too and not sitting on my sofa and watching some stupid TV show!!" she said pointing to the both of them.

Both of them turned to her.
"ohh hii, Nandini!" Manik said and moved forward handling her the bouquet of flowers that he was still holding.

And after a minute later, he realized what he was doing. He still had his arm extended, offering the flowers while Nandini too held onto it but was also looking at him with confusion. Looking at Nandini apologetically he said, "ohh sorry! I actually got them for Ryan to wish him luck."

"oh...it's ok! As it is, I won't be able to carry it along with my luggage. Nandini, you can keep it. Take them home and decorate the living area with Manik's beautiful flowers." Ryan said to Nandini and Manik exactly knew what he meant by his words while Nandini, eyeing Ryan once, silently took the bouquet in her arms.

Manik smiled at this and the men again got engrossed in their talks.

Meanwhile, there were doubts developing in Nandini's head. Ryan was talking to enthusiastically and that too only with Manik, who till a day before was only a business counterpart for him.
Another 'point to be noted' was they were not discussing business here. She noticed a different glint in the two's eyes as if they were two childhood buds who were chatting forgetting the entire world. This was a first for Nandini.

'what did actually happen between the two suddenly?' Nandini thought to herself.

"Manik, actually everything happened so suddenly so I could not get any time to meet your friends. Plzz say a goodbye to them from my side. I really wanted to meet them all but time didn't supported."
Ryan said and Manik was nodding affirmatively but Nandini gazed at him in horror.

'when did they become HIS friends?? He could have said the same to me too!!' Nandini was cursing Ryan in her mind.

"okay...so we're done enough of talking. I think I should move now." Ryan said and instantly, forgetting everything Nandini moved forward and hugged him.

"I'll miss you!" she said in her cute baby voice. She still had that babyness in her even at the age of 25!

Meanwhile, Ryan through his eyes gestured Manik that 'everything will be okay.' and showed him a thumbs up too. And our ever so enchanting and understanding hero, blinked his eyes in assurance and patted Ryan's back lightly.

Saying alot of 'miss you's and 'take care's.... Ryan finally checked in leaving Manik and Nandini standing at the gate together. But not before whispering to Manik, "all the best buddy. Your first step has come and many more are lined ahead. If any problem, I'll be just a call away. And try to spend as much lone time with her as possible.... You'll get to understand her better. Else everything's on your back. Good luck! Bye."