"I said I like you."

"Whattttt?!!!"

Manik couldn't believe his own ears, not a word came out of his mouth. He didn't know how to react, what to say.

He literally was on 100th sky hearing those words. But he fell hard on the ground listening her next words.

"I- I know, you don't like me. And it's totally okay. Even I didn't know how this came out of mouth. It's just that your face came in my mind, so I just blurted that.."

Now that was another shocker, but this time, a negative one.

He kept mum.

Not getting any reply from him, she continued, "Can y- can you act like that please?" And hurriedly added, "Jus- just infront o-"

And that was it. He didn't even wait for her to complete.

"Are you crazy?? This is utterly stupid and childish of you to think like that. How did this trash of an idea click in your mind anyways? You think they are mad not to understand anything, or I'm a fool to to shake hands with you?"

Not waiting for her reply, he simply stormed out of the cafe, fully determined not to support her plan anytime, ever.

5 days passed.. none tried to contact the other. But, even after trying hard, one didn't leave others' mind, throughout.

She felt guilty to have him added to such a stupid idea of hers. For of course, he wasn't a normal guy, he was a prestigious officer, he had a dignity. And she couldn't just make a mock out of that by getting him tagged with a girl.

Whereas, he was drowning deep in the pool of guilt, for talking to her that way. That was literally the most harsh things he had ever spoken to anyone for that matter. And now when it happened, it had to in front her only. He regretted every bit of his own words.

Saturday, 1 pm, she called Aryaman at her cafe. To confess her stupidity. She still wasn't sure of how she would manage dealing with him, but she just had to get Manik out of all this.

As planned, Aryaman was there within an hour, walking in with a smug face, dressed in a leather jacket, black tee and ripped jeans, an extra strong perfume and hair spiked up. He had a bouquet in his hands. He was giving an example of a perfect I'm-here-to-impress-you kinda look.

He reached up to her, kissed her knuckles and forwarded the bouquet to her.

Nandini didn't know where to start from, she was suddenly uncomfortable.She clearly understood, he had totally mistook her invitation to this cafe. She sighed hard.  Things had changed between them drastically. Nandini couldn't just look at him or casually talk to him, the way she used to.. when they were just normal friends.

She had planned to appear boldly in front of him, but, couldn't. Looking down, fumbling to say anything, she felt a strong, a comforting grip on her waist. Eyes snapped up to have a look at the face, she got the biggest shocker.

It was him.

Her eyes almost bulged out of sockets seeing him staring at her so closely, intensity in eyes that can simply burn down her soul, smile playing on his lips and hands supporting her from collapsing to the floor, seeing the face she had been awaiting to see.

He was in his white uniform only and she could easily make it out that, he had simply made his way to her cafe during the lunch break, skipping the minimal time they got for having lunch.

For, he needed to apologize and let go of the deep seated guilt building up in his heart. It was urgent, he just needed to do it as soon as possible.

So he reached her cafe. Knowing it was her working hour now, he didn't have to think about her current location much. Thanks to her talkative self, who speaks anything and everything.

Though he loved every bit and corner of the cafe, but the view in front developed a weird feeling in his heart, an irritating one.. He couldn't figure out what it was.

Nevertheless, when his mind got back to it's usual functionality, his feet had already made their way towards her, hands held her close, protectively.

Everything happened in a cue. He had not even got time decide his next step. Every part of his body acted on their own, as if they had a mind of themselves and didn't need to wait for his command. 

Though his actions were totally implemented at a bewitched, hypnotized state, but every bit of it felt so right, so accurate.. as if it was destined, as if it was meant to be that way, the perfect way.

She was still gawking at the handsome face, and heard him say, "Someone can't just keep hr eyes away I see. Missed me so much?"

"Aww my cutie, we FaceTimed to sleep last night, remember?!", he also said how  he had planned to surprise her by visiting her cafe today, as she confessed the night before how much she had been missing him. He continued his one sided talks looking at her as if he never saw the guy standing in front of them.

Finding her still dazed, he moved forward, closer to her face, "Act along!", he whispered. She shivered, as his pointed nose touched her ears, making it even more hard for her to act sober.

"So how's your day going apart from missing me?", he joked.

"Manikkk umm.." and pointed towards Aryaman through eyes.

"Oh sorry man, I didn't notice you. You are?", he asked acting as if he never knew.

"Aryaman. Aryaman Khurana.", Aryaman answered finally getting some attention from the oh-so-much-in-love couple. And added turning towards Nandini, "Err Nandini, will meet you soon. Gotta go now."

She simply nodded. And Aryaman rushed out of there.

Finally, being left alone, she turned to him. Folding hands closer to her chest, raised her eyebrows, indicating him to speak.

"Care to explain, Malhotra?"

~•~
A/N: Whose birthday is it in 2 hours?!!!
Me me meee😂❤️
Anyways, here you go a new update readers! I was just too busy last few days.. online classes, household works, regular outings and what not. So I just couldn't simply concentrate properly.. sorry for the delay☹️