Kuch Baatein Ankaheen...

Manik Ki Bari

'Aryamaan? Ab yeh Aryaman kahan se paida ho gaya? And why the hell is she talking to him as if they've known each other for their entire life.'
His eyes narrowed to slits when he heard her giggling.
' Damn it! This is NOT happening when I'm right here.' Manik decided. He walked forward and snatched her phone smoothly out of her grasp cutting the call promptly.
'Bloody Aryamaan kahin ka!'

Nandini stared at him her mouth forming an O.
' What on earth is wrong with him? Here she was happily chatting away with her long lost friend and he had to ruin it. Why does he look so smug? Abhi teek kar deethi hoon tumhe.' She thought.

" Manik! What is wrong with you? Mere call kyun cut kiya? Tumhe pata hain ki woh kitna important call tha? Give me back my phone!" She said trying to take it back from him.

'Kya? important call?! Yeah right!'
He held the phone high up out of poor Nandu's reach smirking at her.
"Tumhe rest karne keliye bola tha phone pe gappe marne keliye nahin. Samji tum?" he said giving her a stern look.

'Arae?! Ab isse kya hogaya. 2 min pehle hi toh mujhe 'I don't care' attitude dikha raha tha and now he is acting like an over protective Dad'
" just give me my phone na" she said almost whining.

Manik looked at Nandini who was now jumping on the balls of her feet trying to get hold of her phone. No one would believe that this girl was lying unconscious a few hrs ago. What was so special about this Aryamam...Karyaman job hi ho?! Grr!

'Ayyo Aiyappa! why is this guy so tall?! Do I have to get a ladder or what?!' Nandini made a final jump for her phone..but alas she lost her balance fell right on top him on the bed.

Nandini was still trying tryng to catch hold of the phone but Manik's concentratin was far from the phone in his hand. He stared at her beautiful face, her long black hair forming a curtain around her face, her plump pouty lips were driving him crazy.

Nandini finally caught hold of her phone and gave him a smug smirk. But her smile soon flattered when she met his intense gaze. She jumped slightly when she felt his arm snake around her waist holding her closer to him. Nandini gulped feeling tingles spread all over her body from his touch.

Manik was in a trance. He turned around so that she was lying beneath him. He leaned in close to her inhaling her scent their noses almost touching. He was taking his own time savouring every bit of her face.

Nandini felt he heart beating so fast that it was ready to burst out of her chest. She felt his hot breath fanning her face. Her eyes fluttered closed lost in the moment.

Manik brushed his lips across hers and all the way to her ears and whispered "Nandini."

" Hmm? "

" You are tired. Aren't you? " he whispered his fingers slowly tracing her face.

" Hmm" she replied in a breathy voice. Her ability to form coherent words lost somewhere between his voice and his lips.

" You shouldn't really talk to some idiot on phone right now. You have to take rest, right? " he said his voice like silk on water.

"Hmm? " somewhere in her subconscious mind a protest arose but all disappeared in a puff of smoke when she felt his lips kiss a corner of her mouth. "Hmmm"

"You don't really want your phone back now, do you?"

"Hmmm"

"Good girl" He said unable to keep the smirk off his face.

Nandini felt his weight lift from her when she opened her eyes he was nowhere to be seen. It took a few moments for her Manik-intoxicated brain to make sense of his words. 'What the... Did he just... My phone... Grr'
Stupid arrogant Malhotra! He thinks he can control me...well maybe... But still...Stupid. Idiot. Gadha... But even through the string of profanities she couldn't stop the blush on her face. Aiyyapa! Kya karun mein iss jealous Malhotra ka? she thought, this time with a smile.

...

Maya came into Nandini's room with her breakfast in a tray. She saw Nandini sitting on the edge of a bed blushing hard. 'Hmmm. Ab kya hogaya did I miss something?'
" Nandini are you alright?" she asked.

Nandini snapped back from her thoughts when she heard Maya.
" haaan..haan I'm fine."

"Acha toh why are your cheeks so red" she asked trying to hide her grin. She checked her temperature. " fever toh nahin hain"

'Oh God! Maya di ko bhi abhi aana tha! Kya bolun mein. Yeh Manik bhi na mujhe eisi embarrassing situation mein chodke pata nahin kahan gayab ho jatha hain.'
" nahin woh bas eise hi" if possible her cheeks turned even more red. Damn the hormones!

" Manik aaya tha kya yahan?" Maya asked enjoying herself.

Nandini answered her a bit too quickly " Nanin..nahin toh. Why do you ask?."

'Hmm toh yeh baat hain. Toh lagtha hain ki mere pyaare bhai ki wajah se yeh bechari ka yeh hal hain. Well, well, way to go Manik. Finally I see some hope.'
" kuch nahin bas aise hi. Any way forget it and have your breakfast. Chai danda ho raha hain."
After making sure that Nandini had her food. Maya left her alone.

...

Dhruv and Aliya reached Mumbai airport. Cabir was already there to pick them up.

"Vacation kaisa tha yaar?" Cabir asked giving them a hug.

" Awesome." Aliya said her face lit with excitement.

" Yeah I can see that" Cabir said eyeing the large number of shopping bags Dhruv was carrying. Dhruv gave him a resigned look. No one could stop her shopping spree. Not even in Musssorie!

"Chalo na. Dhruv jaldi chalo. Bahut kam pada hain kal hamein party deeni haina." Aliya said excited to wear her new dress tomorrow.

Dhruv was confused. Party? But why? Chacha ke maut pe yeh party kyou de rahi hain?!

Cabir on the other hand was more than happy with Aliya's idea.
" Excellent idea! Aliya." He said giving her high five. Party...Buhahaha...wahan drinks hoga, dancing hoga, aur Manan honge. I like it !

" Aliya. Brilliant idea. Just Marvelous. What are we waiting for?! lets go!." Both Aliya and Cabir walked off discussing seriously about the party.

Poor Dhruv was left bewildered. "Arae koi toh batao ki yeh party hum de kyun rahein hain?!"

...

"Adi aaj jaldi aa jana." Maya was on the phone with her husband while feeding Shivani. "woh Aliya aaj party de rahi hain. Bol rahi thi ki un doonon ki first kiss anniversary hain." She smiled. There is no stopping Aliya. "yeah okk. Love you too. bye" she said and cut the call.

Her phone flashed with a new message.- Your account no ******* has been credited with an amount of Rs 30 cr. She stopped in her tracks and stared at it. Again? Aakir yeh hain koun who is depositing such large amount of money to both her's and Manik's account she wondered.

Miles away someone stared into the plain white wall of the hospital room feeling peaceful first time in many years...

....