Chapter 66

"You don't need to come."

"Excuse me!"

"You won't be comfortable with your bandage and those tight fitting dress won't be good for your wond."

"Mr. Manik Malhotra, you have no idea, girls mind can give competition to renowne scientists. I have a perfect dress for the party thanks to my sister."

"Still..."

"Manik, we are going to your high profile dinner party from which our elder siblings escaped, the guests won't fight or run there to hurt me."

"They can collide, a classic way to flirt with a beautiful girl."

"You are impossible."

Nandini said and got up from the couch. "Now, I am going to get ready. You should get ready too."

"I think I would love to help you to get ready." Manik teased.

"In your dream!"

"You sure? Because I would do something more there."

Nandini threw a dirty look towards him and slam the door shut. Nandini took a lot of time to get ready in one hand. It's very difficult to do makeup with one hand, no matter how light and simple you do.

She was great full that the chain of the dress was on the side instead of the back. The dress was a princess, chiffon, one shoulder dress. But Hayat added a loose-flowy and almost as long as the dress, long sleeve. Her wrapped up hand was safely hidden, no abnormality can be seen. The dress was completed with a glittering silver belt that enhance the the dress color, orchid.

She was ready and came out of the room only to see Manik waiting for her there, dressing like a man with business. Nandini walked to him and said, "You cleaned up well."

"Are you wearing heels?" Instead of saying anything nice, he asked that question.

"Manik, we are getting late."

"You can't wear heels!"

"My legs are perfectly fine. Thank you very much."

"Put them off."

"Not happening."

"Nandini, you are going to trip and hurt yourself."

"Manik!! You can't see future so, stop and let's go!"

"Nandini -"

"Also, I need to check on the deserts too. I can't let anything ruin your dinner party. Huh, Di is lucky as She is not going. I have to face those rich arrogant people alone."

"You are not alone. I am not going to let you go from my side."

"Well, I have to get away because I am not going there to enjoy. It's my job and I am going there to fulfill it."

"You are my date tonight."

"You didn't ask just stated 'You are going with me' and I didn't have any say in it."

"Nandini, if you have to stay back and maintain everything, I don't care but I am going to fire your workers."

"They are my workers."

"As I said, I don't care."

Hayat was having this weird ticklish feeling in her stomach. She was not nervous but she was feeling like something was dancing in her whole body.

"I am not going on a date with him for the first time. Then why I am feeling like this? My shipment reached to it's destination safely. I should relax but no, Murat Malhotra snatched that too."

Hayat said, 'yes' when Murat asked her for a date. They promised to forget their past and Hayat thought it was needed. Now nothing could drown her or pull her towards a big burden called grudges. So, it was obvious that she would say yes.

She was waiting as Murat told her to get ready only after she got a package. "Here I am waiting for it since hours but still nothing. What if he forgot? Arghhh this man!"

After waiting for some more time she got a parcel. "Freaking finally", she said and opened it. Hayat freezed for few minutes after that she pulled out the dress from the box and started at it.

It was the same dress she wore at their first date. White off shoulder gown with a golden belt. "He wants to re-live our first date." Hayat whispered.

There was a small chit which said, 'Don't just stand there and gawk. Get ready, driver is waiting for you outside.'

"This man!" Hayat shook her head and went inside the bathroom to get ready.

"Gosh! Did I put on weight? I don't look as good as I did last time. Should I apply heavy makeup?"

Then only she got a massage from Murat who told her to get ready exactly like that night. So, she applied very minimal makeup and left her hair open and curled them at the end. She finished her look with golden accessories.

The driver was right outside and soon she started her journey alone just like their first date. She came to a hotel and soon she was sent to the terrace. She went out of the elevator and Boom!

She was right he indeed recreating their first date. The lights, flowers, decorations everything was like that day. Though the place is different but the decorations were exactly same. She saw Murat standing there wearing the same suit.

She smiled and recalled what was the first thing she said that day, "It does not look like u are just treating me with a dinner." Hayat smirked making Murat chuckled.

"Well this time I did ask you for a date so, it is a date."

"Someone told me that Murat Malhotra never ask."

Murat smiled and went close to her, "I am doing a lot of things that I never did before." He kissed on her forehead and said, "You are looking beautiful, my angel."

Hayat smiled. "We came so much far from there. You confessed that day."

"Yeah even after you cleared that you are not some priest and I should go to church to confess." he laughed.

"So? You were so arrogant that time. I can't believe I fall in love you then, I mean how?"

"Huh! That's why you were hoping to be my girlfriend."

"Excuse me? I didn't!"

"You did. It slipped that time when you said how can you going to manage me."

"You are delusional"

"You are in denial."

"You-"

"We didn't fight in our first date then why are you fighting now?"

"Murat Malhotra, you started it first."

"You accuse me for everything okay, try something new."

"You devil!" She went to hit him but he hold her both hands and twists them on her back, hugging her in the process.

"Oh it's so much fun to rile you up like this."

"Leave me! Enjoy your date alone." she tried to free herself but he tightened his hold.

"I became a gentleman only for you otherwise I still have that arrogant Malhotra."

"You don't say? I often see that glimpse of yours."

"Of course you will. After all you are my better half.

Hayat remembered how she had a sudden thought on their date that one day he would order her to marry him and marry her at the same day.

She suppressed her urge to punch him because he exactly did the same. He didn't order to marry him but she didn't even know that she was married.

"Yeah that's why I got all the warnings that day itself."

"What warning?"

"You will forcefully marry me. But what you did, I got married to you but I didn't know. Wow."

"That time it was needed. Let's not fight anymore. This is also our first date after getting married."

"If you have Indian cuisine in the menu then I can think about it."

"Oh yeah.. I have."

Nandini and Manik came to the party from back entrance. Nandini went to check if their deserts are under control after the travel from her shop to the hotel. Party started long ago but she wanted everything perfect so she spent a good amount of time there.

"I didn't realize the time but where is that monster? I thought he will be on his way ready to breath fire."

Nandini came to the party and started searching for him.

"Looking for me?"

Someone said from behind and I turned and saw someone I never thought I would see again.

"Yes. I thought I would never see you among such crowd."

"Crowd? You know still half of the city is out there and you are saying this is crowd."

Nandini rolled her eyes, "Don't you have to attend your guests?"

"Did you ever see that, a glass of water itself going to thirsty people?"

"What?"

"Exactly. I am that glass of water and these are thirsty people."

"Manik, I was looking for you."

Nandini and Manik looked towards the voice and Nandini raised her eyebrows.

"Rachael" Manik greeted.

"I told you, I want you to meet my father but you just vanished from there. Now let's go and dance. They are just starting." Rachael literally dragged him to the dance floor.

"Now who is this? I am sure he flirted with her. No wonder that girl wanted him to meet her father." Nandini said angrily.

Rachael was dancing or totally hanging in his arms. As if she was giving him a lap dance the only fact was they were standing in the middle of a dance floor in a 'Decent' party.

Nandini could not stand it longer and went back to check on the preparations. After making sure everything was in order. She went back and saw they were still dancing, more closely if possible and people started to talk looking at them.

She sucked a deep breath and stepped out in the balcony. "Why are u feeling bad, Nandini? He was nothing to you, he is nothing to you. But still why it's hurting?"

Tears were flowing continuously from her eyes. She wiped her tears and took deep breath. "Anyone can see me here, crying pathetically. I better stay at the back where my work lays."

She tried to walk back but slipped because of her dress. Wearing heels didn't help and she was about to fall. She closed her eyes and twisted her body so that she wouldn't fall on her injured hand.

Two muscled arms stopped her fall and hold her closed. She was still in shock when she heard him shouting.

"I told you not wear heels but no you have to wear heels, you have to roam around, told you not to go anywhere. Oh why I even brought you here."

"Leave me!"

"Stop! We are leaving now."

"My work is not completed, yet. So I can't leave now."

"You are going to hurt yourself more!"

"Why do you care?! You don't have to fulfill your non-existent responsibilities towards me. After I am done here, I will go to my own house not yours."

"What's wrong? Why are you behaving like this?"

"I am behaving perfectly fine, Manik. As my boss, your duty ended when you took me to hospital. You didn't need to drag me to your house. We had no relation, we have no relation so, this responsibility shouldn't bound you. You are a most desirable bachelor, live your life like that. "

" Did some one said something to you?"

" I have eyes to see, brain to think and they are working perfectly. I will be in the kitchen. Bye, sir." Nandini said and tried to walk away when Manik suddenly took her in his arms like a bride.

"Wha.. What are you doing?"

"You want to create a scene? Go ahead."

Nandini didn't say anything as the guests were right there, hungry for Juicy news to gossip. Manik brought them to a room and put her down.

"Now, continue what nonsense you were saying?" Manik said angrily.

"I already said everything and those were not nonsense but fact."

"You think we didn't have anything between us? Our moments, those nights mean nothing to you?" Manik grabbed her arms tightly.

"Did our relationship had any name? We can be called as ex f*ck buddies. The only thing we had was trust and that too was broken thanks to you." Tears again appeared in her eyes.

"I know we didn't talk about our feelings and I know I broke your trust. It was hard for me too. You don't know how I felt after being defeated. You don't know how I felt when the price was you. I was a lost case. Losing you and those overpowering feelings." Manik took a deep breath.

"I hurt you after hurting myself. Granny was so angry, Reminding me continuously what I lost."

"I know, I can't blame you. Grandpa got you good. But I had some expectations and I was shattered after seeing them crushed. I told myself an idiot. We did not have any commitment so, why expecting something. I can't believe I started to walk on the same road, where the feelings I thought were gone, are surfacing again." Nandini gave a Mocking smile.

Manik pulled her more closer, "Even if we didn't talk about our feelings, do you think our behavior didn't give it away. I knew you love me and I thought you understood that too!"

"Don't lie, Manik. Just don't." Nandini shook her head and sniffed. She tried to break through but he didn't let her.

"You managed to make your way to this once renowned playboy's heart and since then you are the one I have my eyes for, my heart yearns for. I love you, Aayat."

He confessed but she didn't get any chance to reply.