Chapter 29

"Don't make light of this. You keep saying there is nothing between us, but there is something here. I may not be experienced, but I am not stupid," Manik said.

Though it was hard to admit, Nandani knew he was right. She knew that it was not just sex. He was growing on her, in a way that was definitely more than friendly. Even besides the sex, she cared about him. She wanted to see where this would all lead up to. She would deal with the fallout later.

"Okay," she said finally.

His smile beamed back at her. The dimple that only seemed to surface on special occasions, probably because it would ruin his bad-boy image if he used it too often, was back. "Okay, shall you be my girlfriend?" Manik asked her.

Something like panic flared in the back of her mind. "Easy, tiger. I will do whatever this is again sometime. And maybe watch a movie with you. But we cannot tell anyone."

Confusion mixed with triumph. "Why not?" He asked her.

"Because whatever is going on between us, I don't want to bring other people into it. People like Mukti. Who might not understand." People like Mukti might not understand that this is just a crazy phase. Though she did not say this aloud, to Manik.

Manik started to argue with her and she cut him off.

"Those are my terms, Manik. Take them or leave them, the choice is yours."

He watched her with those sinful brown eyes for a few moments. Apparently, he concluded correctly that her mind was made up. Manik decided not to complain.

Manik, instead, took advantage of the element of surprise to flip her onto her back and initiate round three, which started slow and sweet on the bed, but grew urgent and ended with both of them, and a pile of blankets, tangled on the floor.

He sneaked out of the house later in the afternoon before the girls got back, kissing her on the forehead on his way out of the door. "Thanks for the study session. Will you watch a movie with me tomorrow?" Manik asked her.

Nandani smiled. "Okay. But I will pick up the movie," she said.

Manik grinned the biggest smile she had ever seen. "You got it."

Something had definitely shifted between them. But she was tired of fighting it. So for now, that was fine with Nandani.

**************

They saw each other nearly every day for almost two weeks and texted on the days that they did not meet. They avoided spending time together at her house at her insistence. Sometimes Manik met her at her study room in the library; to study, or to do other things. They would spend time at his place, keeping it casual around his roommates. Though Nandani was sure they suspected something, they did not let on, and she never stayed over. On the days he drove her and Mukti to school their eyes would meet in the rearview mirror. She would look away before Mukti could get suspicious.

Now that she had given up the internal war she had been waging over her emerging feelings for Manik, it freed up lots of new energy. She made great progress in her classes as well as on the business plan she was preparing. The business plan suggested they might be in a position to launch the first collection before the end of next year. Her focus had turned to search out potential contacts and competitors.

The worry she had initially felt about being distracted subsided as she realized she could handle school, Dream Girl Label, and Manik. Unlike Aryaman, who had been supportive but hands-off, Manik actually wanted to know what she was working on. He would ask questions and offer ideas. she would sometimes catch him flipping through her finance text. They would have actual conversations about anything from foreign policy; a favorite of his that was admittedly new to her; to pop culture.

Manik found it very fascinating, as well as frustrating that Nandani needed to have every second of the day planned out. She told him he could get over it if she could live with the fact that he was a Green Day fan.

Wednesday was usually a day that their paths did not cross. After school, she arrived home and turned on Fashion TV that they had pre-recorded. It was half indulgence and half necessity. It helped her to be informed about the goings-on, and she loved to hear updates from the industry as well as see new lines and designers she knew.

Nandani had clicked on the screen a few minutes late and an interview was already in progress. 'Simone Rocha' launched her namesake line of tulle gowns, pearly accessories, and flouncy blouses with big embroidered collars. The daughter of famed British designer John Rocha and his manager Odette, Rocha has fashion in her blood. The next to be interviewed was 'Jaime White' who said, "it has been a tough few seasons in ready-to-wear," she was saying. "More competition from Europe is on the U.S. market than ever before. Lots of retailers are bringing in new voices in fashion, and they can draw on low-cost suppliers we can't or won't go to."

Mukti and Nandani had worshipped Simone Rocha and Jaime White since they were in high school. Though Simone was the daughter of a famous designer, Jamie, on the other hand, was the youngest of five children, and belonged to a family far from fashion. At twenty-nine she had a line of boutiques across the U.S. and A-listers everywhere wore her designs.

Nandani had the chance to meet Jaime in New York, during her summer internship for 'Manhattan publishing House' with her boss Crystal at one of the magazine parties. Nandani had approached her after gathering some courage and subsequently had exchanged a few emails when Nandani had questions about the business side of things.

Well, the host had been asking questions in the interview on TV. "What does this mean for your stores?" the host was asking on FTV.

"Mukti, Come watch," Nandani called out.

"Unfortunately we are going to be closing several locations in the south and west. We will still be coming out with new lines for the winter season, but it is a tough environment for business now," Jamie said.

"What advice would you give to new designers?"

"Honestly? I worry about trying to enter the market right now. It is more competitive than ever. Margins in ready-to-wear are tighter and it's truly a global market."

They wrapped up the interview by thanking Jaime and citing some statistics on failure rates of new business ventures, but Nandani had already tuned out. A hint of panic was crawling up her throat. What were they getting themselves into? She was worried.

Mukti knew it and tried to brush it off. "Forget the market, Nan. Our clothes will practically sell themselves." Mukti's attitude was irritating that day, rather than endearing to Nandani.