Mananff-Forever Mine

Chapter 32

'What?' She asked shocked, after forcefully swallowing down the food.

His lips had a shy smile on it as he saw her reaction.

'Well, aaj shaamko hum sab nikal rahe hai wapas ghar ke liye aur yaha nazdik me ek bohot acha restaurant hai to maine socha ki...'

'Kyu? Soha bohot busy hai kya?' Nandini said without thinking.

Whatever happened yesterday was still fresh in her mind and she couldn't stop herself from blurting that out.

Manik just looked down at the mug in his hand.

'I'm sorry.' She said instantly regretting.

'Nahi, tum kyu maafi mang rahi ho... Actually Mujhe tumse kuch baat karni thi.'

His eyes showed honesty which made Nandini look down. Baat? Kis baare me?

'Waise waha ki chocolate brownie bohot achi hoti hai you know.' He said playing the right card knowing very well about her craze for it. Nandini smiled.

'Fine. Lekin sirf brownie ke liye.'

'Sure.' Manik gave a million dollar smile.

***

After an hour, they both went out of the house and got in Manik's car. Manik stopped the car as they reached the market area and walked around a couple of shops, few restaurants and finally reached an arcade.

Manik and Nandini looked at each other and ran inside the arcade. It wasn't exactly how they had planned to spent their day but, why not enjoy?

The arcade was not very big and there were not many people in it. Which meant both of them had almost the whole place to themselves. For a moment, they felt bad about not telling the others, but that moment didn't last long.

It was the best time Nandini had had in months. Who would have thought she will be playing bumper cars with Manik who knows where? But then she knew Manik always did the unexpected.

They played bowling, tried to get the soft toy from the machine, which they obviously failed at, raced on the bikes where Manik got defeated by a nine year old boy. The same boy also won against Nandini in air hockey. And then, it was becoming a routine for the both of them to lose to Harsh, the nine year old gaming pro. At last, the boy won a football with all the tickets he won.

Nandini had never see Manik so carefree. Infact, she had never been so carefree herself. They had the comfort between then, no matter what the situations were.

It was nearly lunchtime when they left the arcade saying their goodbyes to Harsh and made their way to the restaurant nearby. It was a comfortable place and had a peaceful atmosphere.

They took a table near the window and Manik ordered the lunch which they had already decided on their way from arcade as he couldn't control his hunger a minute more. Just after they saw Harsh waving his hand at them with his mother.

'I am telling you Nandini us ladke ne cheating kari thi.' Manik said frowning.

'Kyu, tumhe haar bardash nahi ho rahi hai kya?' Nandini teased.

'Mai chaar baar ek sath kaise haar sakta hu? It not possible!'

'Manik, mujhe lagta hai tumhe maan lena chahiye ke tum ek nau saal ke bacche se haar gaye.'

'Tum use baar baar Nau saal ka baccha kyu bol rahi ho?'

'Bas aise hi, acha lagta hai.'

Just then a waiter waiter came up to their table with their food and they both started eating as they talked.