Next day, after attending college, as asked by Swayam , Nandini reached the rehearsal site. Every contestant is given a separate dance room. The room has wall-to-floor length mirror on three sides and a changing room. Swayam had not come yet, so Nandini quickly changed into her dancing gear and started stretching and warming up.

Her phone started ringing. Manik! was the first name that came to her mind and when she checked it, she was right! And it brought a huge smile on her face.

"Hi" she answered breathily.

" Hello, sweetheart! Kya kar Rahi thi?" Came his amused voice.

" Main bas tumhre baare mein hi soch Rahi thi!" She blushed.

" Acha? Toh kya socha?" He teased.

" Yahi ki tumne lunch Kiya ya ni?" She said, not knowing what to say.

" Kya yaar Nandini! Kabhi toh kuch romantic socha karo! " He smiled.

" Romantic sochne ka kya faida! You are not here!" She replied rolling her eyes.

" Arey! So what? Sochne mein kya burai h. Mujhe dekho...Every night I see erotic dreams of you" he said matter of factly, as if it is a normal thing.

" Erotic?? Matlab?" She knew erotic meant something sensual, but she wanted to know which type of dreams these are.

" You want me to describe the dream to you?" He asked genuinely surprised. He thought she would shy away.

" Ha..." She did not know why he is so surprised.

" Are you sure?" He wanted to confirm because she is too naive to understand the nature of his dream.

" Yes, why??" Again she is confused by his hesitancy.

" Ok as you wish! I will describe you the latest one, which I saw last night because you know it's memory is fresh" he groaned inwardly closing his eyes when the fleeting images of his dream played in his mind.

" Ok" she was growing impatient.

" Well..."

" Ha??"

" Nandini....You really want to know?" He didn't want to scare her.

" Yes Manik! Ab btao v...."

" You won't freak out na??"

" Why what were you doing? Did you become a monster or what??" She asked innocently as she thought only that could scare her.

" Nandini...When will you grow up!!" He laughed.

" What grow up...! If I don't know about erotic sex, that doesn't mean I am a child! Moreover my sexual knowledge is limited only to you....Whatever you teach I know that much only!....Bhul gye kiss karna v tumne hi sikhaya tha!!" She reminded him and he smiled in satisfaction.

" Ok ok...So basically I want to say that don't get afraid, but I saw in my dream that, I have tied your hands and legs to the bed and you are blindfolded, and you are naked and squirming in anticipation...And then I..." He wanted to speak further but was interrupted due to her curiosity.

" Manik! Why have you tied me up...It will be awkward" expected reaction!

" Nandini when you think , it might sound awkward, but when in reality I will do that, you will enjoy every bit of it" I hope you let me do it. And he crossed his fingers.

" I don't know how!" She was sceptical.

" I will show you how!" He whispered huskily.

" Ok" she understood that he really wants to do it and if it is so turn on for him, then it must be something good.

" Ok???" He was surprised yet again. She agreed so easily!

" Yes. Why are you so surprised? You thought I will deny?"

" Frankly yes! Because you are so innocent and we haven't done much together"

" Manik, I trust you!"

" Hmmmm"

" Wse where did this idea come from?"

" I read a novel and I suggest you should read too....You will be much prepared when we finally do this"

" Ok"

" I can't wait to be near you"

" Will you come , if I reach the finale of the show?"

" Of course I will come. And I have already booked the ticket because I know you are going to be the winner!"

" I hope so!"

" Don't hope! Just give it your 101% and I am sure  you will be successful!"

" Ok...I am going to start my rehearsals now, Swayam is here." She saw him enter the room, he was on the phone too.

" Ok all the best!"

" And...You didn't answer my earlier question...Lunch Kiya tumne ya ni?" She saw swayam wrapping up his call and looking at her in anticipation.

" Ha baba..kar Raha hu..Av lunch hour hi h"

"Ok! Then bbye" she was about to cut the call when she heard him call.

" Nandini...!"

" Ha??"

" I love you baby!" She blushed at his endearment.

" I know" swayam is watching her and probably listening too. She couldn't risk her image on the first day itself.

" What answer me back!!" He demanded.

" not now! I will call you back later!" She said and hung up quickly before he had any time to protest.

" Are you free now?" Swayam asked a little rudely.

" Yes, sir"

" Good , now I want you to show me how much prepared you are. So first , I want you to walk on your toes from here to here, gracefully."

" Ok" Nandini replied with a polite smile and did as told.

" Ok. That's fine. But I would suggest you to lose some weight. Trust me, it will help"

" Ok" Nandini replied embarrassed. Is she fat?

" Ok now show me your flexibility. Bend backwards till your fingers touch the ground."

She again did as told and swayam nodded, watching her carefully.

" Hmmm...Now I want to see your performance. I will play a song. Which style would you like to choose?"

" Contemporary"

" Ok but song will be of my choice" he smirked.

Nandini knew it was a challenge. So she braced herself for it. Thankfully he played a song which was meant for her choice of style, making it a little easier for her.

When she finished her performance, he gave her a nod of approval, clearly satisfied.
Then he forwarded a bottle of water to her till she caught up with her breath. Then he sat down near the wall, signalling her to do so, too. She obeyed. Then he discussed with her their schedule and how they will go about it. After that, he let her off for the day.

At night

MaNan Phone conversation.

" Hello Manik"

" Let me tell you, I am mad at you!"

" Acha may I have the privilege to know the reason?" She smiled.

" Because you didn't say 'i love you' to me the last time we talked" he sounded petulant.

" How does it matter? You know that I love you" she was enjoying this.

" Yes. I know. Even then you will have to tell me 1000 times a day, that you love me" he was in full on pouty mode.

" And if I don't say it , then?" She egged him on and instantly he was on backfoot.

He didn't reply immediately and Nandini grew anxious.

" Its ok, if you don't say it. I still know you love me" he finally said and Nandini sighed in relief.

" Manik I love you, I love you, I love you and I love only you." She said blushing to the core.

Manik was blushing too. " Ek Baar aur"

"I love you Manik" she was so shy that she fell back on the bed and covered her face with a pillow. " I love you too, baby"

There was silence for a few moments. " wse why 4 times and Uss time q Ni bola tumne?"

" 4 times for the opportunities that  a I missed today . Once for the morning, one for noon, another for the evening and last one for night. And Uss time Maine Ni bola because Swayam was there and he  was listening."

" So what?"

" Manik he would have thought that I am not serious"

" I don't care. He should know that you are mine. I don't want him to try anything"

" Why will he try anything!" She is annoyed.

" Because he is a man and all men are bastards!" He griped.

" Are you forgetting that you are a man too!" She retorted sarcastically.

" My case is different. You have changed me" he said softly and Nandini was pleased by his confession.

" Yes , I remember, the first few days of our acquaintance, you looked at me like a predator" she giggled.

" You noticed that? I thought you were oblivious to my charms!" He chuckled.

" Yes I thought you were beyond my reach"

" And I thought, if to have you , I had to be monogamic in my relationship​, so be it"

" That means we both have surpassed many barriers to be with each other"

" right"

" But still there is one left" she stated.

" And what is that?"

" Approval of your parents"

" Nandini. Drop this yaar! I don't care so should you"

" I know that is not true ..." She stopped as she heard a loud crashing sound over the phone " what is that? Manik are you ok?"

" Yeah yeah I am ok....Don't worry, it's my roommate"

" He might be hurt. You should go and see" she said worried and Manik chuckled " baby, he is with a girl and it's usual. Relax"

Nandini was like oh! But she didn't still understand why Manik laughed at her words.

Manik on the other hand didn't want to corrupt her innocent soul with the happenings of the world around him, so he changed the topic. " Tell me all about the rehearsals today..." He said and then their conversation flowed till he heard her yawn and so after wishing her good night, he cut the call.

........

It's futile to hope for votes and comments from you. So I would just say enjoy till it lasts!

#OKTHANKSBYE