MaNan: It all started with a lie

Sorry Nandini

Nandini

"Truth and dare" manik said which was enough to swipe away the floor beneath me. I still remember our last time when we played this game. Me and manik were so close. His touch, his kisses and our position, me on his lap, those tingles that ran down my spine, everything is still fresh as if it were just yesterday. I still get chills when I remember those moments. Let alone the butterflies, I feel the entire zoo jumping in my stomach when he gets close to me.

I was not at all ready to play it again and thank god Abhi saved me today. "No yaar manik...lets play something new na like......ya how about never have I ever ha? What say?" Bhai suggested.

Bhai you are my savior!

"Tune toh meri muh ki baat cheenli bro" arya jumped on Bhai. "So lets play" mukti said getting back to her excited self.

We all sat in a circle in the order,

Me-manik-Cabir-navya-alia-dhruv-mukti-Bhai-arya

I was engrossed in myself when I felt a hand over mine. I looked beside me to find manik holding my hand who was busy chatting with Cabir nonchalantly. "Manik" I nudged him but he just ignored. "Manik" I whisper yelled and he looked at my side raising his brow questioningly asking a 'what' through eyes acting all innocent. "Leave my hand manik" I said maintaing my calm, "and what if I don't?" he asked mischievously.

Aiyyappa why does he have to be so difficult all the time?

"Talking and complaining to your Aiyyappa won't help nandu" he whispered down my ear, his warm breath fanning my neck. I closed my eyes and my breath became heavy.

Manik what are you doing to me? Aiyyappa help please!!!!

"Nandu? Baby doll" "ha?" I jerked my eyes open as I heard arya call out for me. "You fine?" he was concerned. "Uh-ha...ha mujhe kya hua hai?....I am fine...completely fine...ya...I am fine" I fumbled. "Are you sure?" he still wasn't convinced. "Chill arya I am fine ok" I smiled affectionately, patting his back and he reflected my smile.

Soon enough the game begun. Everyone was ready with their drinks and me and navya with our fruit punch when Cabir spinned the bottle which landed on arya. "Come on arya....time to let out your dirty secrets" I chirped. "Whoa girl, excited much!" he asked, sarcasm dripping in each word of his. "Yes very" I replied ignoring his sarcastic tone which made him nod his head in disbelief while Bhai chuckled seeing us behaving like 5 year olds. "Nandu arya chalo yaar. We don't have the entire night for you guys" Bhai chided. "Acha ok so never have I ever..." arya began. "Flirted with a friend's mom" he completed. Manik, Cabir and bhai sipped their drinks laughing amongst themselves. "Cabir's mom...she's the best ya" manik said "mom kiski hai" Cabir flaunted "whatever" manik rolled his eyes. "Arya ki mom. She's the coolest " Abhi exclaimed. "I know bro" in return arya received a playful smack on his head by Bhai. Next was alia. "Ok some I have never double dated someone" she said.  Not even one glass was raised that means no one has ever double dated. "Buddy tune kabhi bhi double date nahi kiya? Hume toh laga ki kisi ne kiya ho ya na ho tune zaroor kiya hoga" dhruv asked him surprised. "Ha yaar manik. School me tu ladkiyon me itna popular tha so even i thought the same" mukti seconded dhruv. "What? Guys you all know that I fooled around but never dated a girl, let alone double dating and cheating a girl or playing with her feelings then how did you think so" manik voiced. "And buddy tu bhi?" "sorry manik" dhruv apologized. "Chill not a problem" manik dismissed.

"So the next one is...." the spinning bottle stopped "mukti!...yea chal meri lady bheem" Cabir announced. "Okay so never have I ever fantasized a teacher" mukti confessed. "What? Never ever?" Bhai asked. "Nope" she replied popping the 'p'. "Kya mukti...I thought you were bold" Bhai commented. "Wait! Does that mean you have?" mukti asked gaping at Bhai in shock. "Obviously" he replied sipping his drink and I stared at Abhi in shock. "What!? Who was the teacher?" I asked at once. "Are you remember that math teacher of ours? Gawd she was so beautiful....almost every boy in our batch was flat on her" "are you serious?" I asked cringing my nose in distaste only to get a positive reply. Cabir and arya also sipped their drinks but I was even more surprised to see dhruv sipping his drink. "Dhruv tum bhi?" alia had her eyes wide open. "Uh-yeah" dhruv answered and alia's eyes widened, her mouth hung ajar. Alia did not say anything but just nodded her head awkwardly, the game continued. Next the bottle landed on navya. "Never have I ever cheated in an exam" "madhubala are you serious? Like sachme? Kabhi bhi nahi?" it was Cabir's turn to be shocked now. "Ahaan" navya nodded negatively. All raised their glasses to have a sip except me and navya. "Tum sab ne cheat kiya hai exams me?" "ha toh varna tumhe kya laga, hum college tak kaise pohoche" manik confessed shamelessly. "Yeah right monkey malhotra does not have a brain na...I forgot" I mocked, Manik's nose flared with anger. "Listen chuhiya just zip it ok" manik warned angrily. "Nai toh?" I instigated him. "Nandini just shut it ok" he yelled angrily and I zipped my mouth instantly.