Manik is roaming everywhere in the men’s section, following the lady in command. It would be a lie if I said he didn’t faint seeing the price on the tags. But he is not able to take control over HIS FIERCE GIRL, Nandini, who is picking every second item and throwing it at him while ignoring his rants.
Every time he tries to convince her not to buy that shirt or trousers, giving random excuses, but the girl becomes deaf.
Manik:- Nandini, I don’t like its color. I will not wear this.
Nandini replies with authority as if she were his wife.
Nandini:- Shy boy, you are going to wear this shirt whether you want it or not. You have no choice. From now on, you are going to wear what I choose for you. So, get used to this.
Manik:- ( murmurs ) How can I get habitual of this? I am getting uneasy seeing the prices.
After emptying almost the entire current stock of the showroom, Nandini walks toward the trial room and throws the bomb at the innocent, shy boy.
Nandini:- Shy boy, go, try all these outfits and show me, then I will choose the best for you.
He looked at her with wide eyes and yelled, gaining some unnecessary attention.
Manik:- Are you serious? You emptied the whole shop and are saying to try all these outfits.
Before fixing his gaze on her, he looks at the heap of clothes that she chose for him. But how can Nandini let him neglect her demand? She thrust the clothes in his hand and pushed him inside the trial room while saying excitedly.
Nandini:- SHOW ME YOUR RAMP WALK, DUDE.
Manik:- ( hissed timidly ) Nandini, is this a place to give you a show to cherish? ( pleadingly ) I will do Ramp walks, Champ walks, everything for you, but at home.
Nandini goes all aww on his expressions and pulls his cheeks, making him blush again. It’s a fact that he never denied any of her orders, and unknowingly, she loves his nature. She knows that if she ever tells him to jump from that cliff, then he would also do that without thinking once about his life. He has trusted her all his life. But Nandini is Nandini, who never backs out of her words.
Nandini:- Change your clothes and show me, or else I won’t mind helping you in changing, as I already witnessed your treasure in the morning.
His cheeks heat up while his eyeballs come out of their sockets. Silently, he walks inside and closes the door while looking at the floor to hide his blush. He is curious to know how every damn time she made him blush. The mere thought of taking her help in changing his clothes made him blushy king then god knows what he will do if it becomes reality.
Outside, Nandini bites her lip and giggles, seeing the blushy Manik, who is her favorite sight to witness. She can spend thousands of rupees just to see his blushy smile, which always stirs something in her heart. She doesn’t know all these feelings, but she wants to experience them with him only.
And from now on, THE MANIK MALHOTRA'S RAMP SHOW STARTS. The shy boy comes out after changing his outfits one by one and shows her his look. But every time Nandini utters a single word, i.e., NO!
After an hour and trying out every outfit, Manik comes out from the trial room tiredly and looks at Nandini, who is enjoying her beverage while having fun with the salesgirl.
Manik:- ( tiredly ) Nandini, how is this? Should we finalize this? This is the last!
The sales girl looks at him from head to toe and bites her lips seductively, which is noticed by Nandini.
Salesgirl:- Ya! Sir, this is looking good on you. I must say you are looking hot in this outfit.
She purposely touches Manik’s chest, who is too tired to even notice that. She is giving him looks that convey that she is ready to be laid down under him. But these actions are not understood by that little innocent, shy boy who runs away with a girl’s single touch.
Nandini narrowed her eyes after hearing her comment and seeing her actions. Don’t know why, but she didn’t like the way she complimented him, as, according to her, only she has the right to praise him. The girl's acts give rise to her possessiveness. Her eyes are buried on the hand that is touching Manik’s front without his knowledge.
Much to Manik’s miseries, she noticed a little blush that appeared on his cheeks, hearing the compliment from a stranger. She is feeling like turning his blush into the redness created by her hard punch. Whereas the Shy Boy is unaware of her violent thoughts. He simply slumped down on the stool and wiped his sweat while saying.
Manik:- then we are finalizing this. ( to the sales girl ) Please, pack this for us.
Nandini:- ( while gritting her teeth ) Why pack this? She said that’s why?
Manik looked at her with astonishment and gulped hard, seeing her in a pissed-off mood. He is confused seeing her split personality because just a moment ago she was having a gala time with the sales girl, but now she is glaring at her as if she committed a crime.
Nandini comes closer to him, giving him sweat beads, and pushes the sales girl away, making him realize that she was way too close to him. The girl ran away, seeing the situation, while Manik looked at her blankly.
Nandini:- Don’t you dare to forget that you came shopping with me, MR. OPPORTUNIST SHY BOY.
Manik gasped after getting a new name from her, which is the exact opposite of his personality. Opportunist, and he? She must be kidding, right?
Manik:- OPPORTUNIST? ME?
Nandini:- Yes!
She turns her head to another side because she is forgetting her anger, seeing his expression, which is so cute, just like him. Whereas Manik does not like her ignorance.
Manik:- ( with a cute pout ) What have I done, Nandini?
She hides her smile and tries to focus on her anger.
Nandini:- ( in a pissed-off mood ) No! You did nothing. I am the one who agreed with her choice, didn’t I?
Manik:- ( innocently ) When did I agree with her choice?
Nandini:- Oh… So, am I getting angry for no reason?
Manik nods his head in denial, seeing her red eyes, and immediately apologizes.
Manik:- I am sorry, Nandini. I didn’t have any intention to hurt you.
Hearing him, Nandini realizes that she is getting angry at him because of that girl. Many questions are arising in her mind, like, Is she getting possessive of him? But the main question is, WHY IS SHE GETTING POSSESSIVE OF HIM? HE IS HER JUST FRIEND!
Manik is feeling like killing himself because HIS FIERCE GIRL is angry. He didn’t know the reason for her anger, but he was ready to do anything to get her forgiveness. If getting possessive is new for Nandini, then it is also new for him. Never in his life had he felt someone getting possessive of him.
Manik:- Trust me, Nandini, I will buy whatever you choose.
He tried to dismiss the topic here only because he didn't want to fight with her. She nods with a blank expression as she wants to get the answers to her questions first before coming to any conclusion.
Manik:- ( innocently ) By the way, am I not looking good in these outfits?
Nandini looks at him from head to toe. He is looking like a perfect rockstar, just the way she wants him to look. The trousers and his jacket are just perfect, almost the opposite of his daily attire. His eyes are shining like a star without the hindrance of his specs, which can make any girl fall for him, which she doesn’t want. In short, he is looking like a Greek god in this new makeover. But she does not like these changes in him.
She likes him the same way he is. His check shirts and normal pants with his big square glasses made him HER INNOCENT SHY BOY. If she has an option, then she would never try to change the way he is, as SHE LOVES HIS REAL INNOCENT SELF, WHICH IS RARE LIKE DIAMONDS. Don’t know why, but she is not happy with these changes.
Nandini:- ya…. It’s good, but for me, your old clothes are better than these. In this attire, you are looking like a rockstar, THE MANIK MALHOTRA…. Not my Shy boy! ( huffs ) Let it go….. We are taking this home.
Manik smiles, hearing her, as till now, no one has loved him the way she is. They always try to change him, but here Nandini has an opportunity to change him, and still she chose his usual self above rich clothing. It’s a fact that wearing expensive trousers and jackets is not his style. He loves to stay grounded, but now he has a dream to be a rockstar, and for that, he has to make some changes in himself.
At the same time, he understood that Nandini was not happy with these changes. And only for her, he pledges to never change himself, no matter how big a rockstar he will become; the reason is still unknown to him. With this thought, he again walks into the trial room and changes his clothes.
As soon as he comes out, Nandini comes forward and cleans his specs with her t-shirt before making him wear it. During the whole time, Manik is looking at her actions innocently.
Nandini:- ( looking at him from head to toe, happily ) Now, you are looking like MY SHY BOY!
Saying this, she silently walks out, leaving a smile on Manik’s lips. His cheeks are getting redder with the way she claims him as hers.
Manik:- ( grinned ) My shy boy!...... NANDINI’S SHY BOY!
To be continued…