Chapter 50

Just as she felt herself falling asleep she felt her door being open and frowned remembering she forgot to lock it.

She half opened her eyes and tried to sit up as she glanced at the door.

"Hey",She heard Manik's voice and looked at him confused.

"Manik?",She asked half sleepy wondering if she's imagining it.

He locked the door behind him walking closer to her and sitting beside her on the bed watching her.

"You are here?",She asked still wondering if he is for real.

He gave her a small smile and shut the lights and lay down properly.

She just stared at him from far not making a move to come closer.

"Come over.",he asked in a whisper and she moved immediately to his side and he wrapped his hand around her holding her close.

"Is today a bonus too because we are on a holiday?",She asked him not wanting him to leave and he looked down at her.

He wasn't planning to stay the night. He just wanted to talk to her but watching her he knew he wasn't going back to his room tonight till she sleeps.

"Hmm.",he hummed kissing her head.

"Did I disturb your sleep?",he asked patting her head.

"I just fell asleep.",She replied and he looked down at her.

"The room was unlocked.", He said with a frown.

"I forgot. I will take care next time.",She said not wanting him to start lecturing her about it.

"Are you hungry?",he asked and she nodded in no hugging him.

"You missed dinner.",he said recalling Ishaan's words.

"You weren't there.",She replied in a whisper and he looked down at her upset with himself.

"I am sorry. We can go have dinner now.",He said making a move to stand but she held him close.

"Don't. Just stay here.",She whispered and he looked down at her.

He frowned realising he should have talked to her earlier or send her a message. He was walking on thin line with her patience going down. He had wanted to talk to her explain her everything but he was scared now after the talk with Shravan. He didn't want her to get stuck in his world.

"Nandini",he sighed knowing he have a lot to explain to her and he will. If not completely, atleast parts of it. She deserved it.

"I know Manik. I understand. I am not even asking you about it. I just..",She stopped and looked at him in the eye.

"I just want to be there. I don't want an explanation or a reason or anything. I just want to be there with you. I don't like you leaving. I don't like the fact that I can't be there with you. I hate wondering if you are okay or not. I want to... I simply want to just sit with you and make sure you are fine. ",She said her heart out feeling down and helpless.

He could feel how close she was to breaking down.

" It's a habit. I hate being angry so everytime there's something that I don't like I leave immediately. Cabir, Mukti they never had a problem with it. They never said a thing. So I never had to worry about it. I am not giving you excuses to explain my actions. I know I am responsible to you now and I am trying. I just don't want you to think I don't care.",Manik explained her his perspective.

" I am not strong like them when it comes to you Manik. I thought you knew it by now. I can't watch you leave and wait for you with my overbearing thoughts. It will kill me. Before you came over Ishaan told me you are back but I couldn't bring it to myself to go over to you. All I could think was would you want me to come there. You left without saying a word. You didn't call. I thought maybe you needed space and time away from me. ",Nandini confessed her insecurities surfacing up as she tried to keep her voice calm and compose herself.

He knew she was still dealing with her insecurities and instead of helping he was firing it up.

He pulled his hands back and she looked at him surprised.

"What's wrong?",She asked watching him sit leaning on the headboard.

He forwards his hand and pulls her up beside him.

"I am not going anywhere. I will always find my way back to you. Do you understand? ",He asked seriously and she nods.

" I want to hear you say it. ",Manik asked her.

" You are here with me. ",She said looking at him confused.

"Always",he added and she smiled a little.

"Who am I?",he asked again and she looked at him confused at his question.

"How do you want me to answer that?",Nandini asked getting annoyed.

" I am your boyfriend and we are in a relationship. Do you know what that means? It means that we are together. I would never want space or time away from you.",Manik explained her a little hurt from her thoughts. If she was insecure that he will leave her than all it means is he isn't doing enough to make her trust him. He gave her a reason to doubt it.

She nodded looking down at her hands. She wanted to ask him so many questions.

"I know I am moody and cranky but I was having a great day waking up to you and then at the beach with others. We met Shravan at the lunch and trust me I ignored him completely not wanting to spoil my mood but he couldn't get a hint and he said things that made me angry.",Manik explained about his day frustrated.

"What did he say?",Nandini asked hesitating a little hoping she isn't asking much.

Manik looked down at her.

"It's business stuff. There's a board meeting coming up and it's kind of important. Remember the day you were leaving. I couldn't drive you.",He asked Nandini and she nodded remembering he looked tensed that day.

"The chairman called us. He was tired of both of us messing around and wanted us to get our act together before the board meeting.",Manik explained her.

"What's this board meeting about?",She asked him curious.

"Who will be the next Chairman of Malhotra Groups.",Manik said in a distant voice and she gave it a thought.

"Chairman as in you would practically be the owner?",Nandini asked shocked and a small smile tugged his lips.

" I would have majority of the shares and would have the power, you can basically say I would be the owner if I become the Chairman. It's not decided who will be yet between the two of us.",Manik told her and felt himself relived after explaining her.

" So Shravan is fighting you and creating problems because of the position?",Nandini asked and Manik nodded.

"Did he try to mess up after the interview too? You kinda left and didn't come for dinner.",Nandini asked looking at him and watched how his eyes shut all the emotions and went blank completely.

"No it was different. I will tell you all about it soon. Just give me some time. I know I have been asking for a lot from you but I have never shared my life with someone. I am trying to open up to you as much as I can. Just talk to me if you need some assurance. Don't just shut yourself and go to sleep like you were doing today. I thought we had settled it before we even got together. Do you want me to repeat the three rules?",he asked changing the topic raising his eyebrows at her and didn't wait for an answer.

" Talk to me if something worries you. Ask for a hug if you need it and the most important one, Don't go to sleep crying.",Manik said as he flicks her forehead, nose and chin reciting the rules.

She frowned at his actions rubbing her face that stung a little.

"Are you going to remember it now?",he asked and she nodded immediately.

"Good. Now go back to sleep. You have the big day tomorrow. You need to rest completely.",Manik said her and she frowned a little.

"What about you?",She asked with a pout.

He looks at her before his eyes moves down to her lips.

" I will stay back till you go to sleep.",Manik replied looking away and she frowned moving closer to him hugging him.

" No",She replied giving him a puppy face and he sighed.

" Not today. ",He said knowing fully well he can't sleep with her today. His head is a mess and he wouldn't be getting any sleep. Knowing Nandini she won't sleep if he doesn't and she needs to rest for tomorrow.

"Okay",She said moving a little away from him.

"You don't have to move away. I will stay back till you sleep.",Manik tried to comfort her.

She nodded in no and got up from the bed.

"No it's not needed. I can sleep without you.",She said stubborn and he rolled his eyes at her actions and got up to walk close to her.

She moved towards the door and looked away waiting for him to leave.

"Do you know how stubborn and annoying you can be sometimes?",he said taking steps closer to her watching her stand near the door with a frown.

"You don't have to spend the night with your annoying stubborn girlfriend.",She remarked putting pressure on the word girlfriend.

"I maybe crazy to still find you cute.",he said with a small chuckle checking her out and she glared at him.

She moved her hands to the door knob to open the door for him.

He put his hands above hers stopping her, taking a step closer in her private space.

She narrowed her eyes at him trying to pull her hand away.

He reached up his other hand to push her messy hairs back but she turned away and took a step back bumping with the door.

He smirked walking closer pressing himself to her trapping her against the door.

"What are you doing?",She asked surprised putting her other hand over his chest to push him away.

He held her other hand with his,over his chest and leans down to her ear nuzzling his nose over her neck.

She took a deep breath to compose herself and keep her stand being annoyed and he smirked watching her.

"Manik",She tried to warn him to stop but it came out low as a moan as he leaned inches away from her lips eyeing the way she licks them with her tongue and bites her lower lip nervously watching him in anticipation.

He wanted to just tease her a little, calm her down, wish her goodnight but now all he could think of was to kiss her. Watching her in her small pyjama shorts and a camisole top standing there with the messy bed hair and her bare legs on display. He couldn't think of anything else.

It scared him. These feelings and passion was new to him. He never had a problem stopping himself from touching others but with Nandini it's completely different and he didn't mind it a bit infact he wanted to be close to her.

He inched closer and their lips met. She gasped before leaning closer responding immediately to the kiss. He smiled at her eagerness and moved his hand to the back of her neck to support her head and kiss her better.

She was pressed to the door completely with him pressed against her. His hand on the door knob move to her waist to hold her weight. She could feel his fingers touching her bare skin peeking from her top. His hands felt cold against her hot skin.

Unknowingly she found herself leaning close to him, her hand wrapped tightly around his neck and her body against his chest. It felt like she couldn't afford even a little distance between them.

He tried to pull apart to breathe but Nandini held him close not wanting to let him go yet making him chuckle. She frowned hearing him laugh and nips his bottom lips and smiled hearing him groan in response as she pulled back.

He looked at her amused as he licked his bottom lip to ease the pain. She stares at his lip before looking at him to find him amused. She raised her eyebrows at him challenging him to tease her about it.

He caressed her cheeks with his thumb and she wondered how just a simple touch from him can ignite such high emotions inside her.

He leaned closer pressing his lips on her head and she let go, leaning completely on him.

There was something so intimate and emotional about that small innocent forehead kiss.

"Have a nice sleep. Goodnight my annoying stubborn girlfriend.",Manik whispered holding her like she was a precious little thing and she was for him.

She pouted not wanting him to leave specially not after a kiss like that.

"You can't kiss me the way you did and then wish me goodnight.",Nandini complained against his chest making him grin at her small cute voice as she fiddled with his shirt.

"I can. It was a goodnight kiss.",He replied with a cocky smile and pulled back to look at her face knowing how she is gonna react.

As expected he recieved a smack on his chest and laughed.

"Don't be a baby now and go to sleep. I will come see you in the morning.",Manik said with a sad smile knowing she will be upset. He himself wants to be with her but he can't. She needed to rest.

"Or we can both go to sleep here and you can see me all night and the next morning too.",She offered with a bright smile and hope in her eyes and he shakes his head.

"Stop being so cute. I am not coming in your words."Manik said flicking her forehead and she frowned rubbing it.

"It's okay you don't have to give excuses about me needing rest. I understand why you don't want to be here with me. If you are uncomfortable you can just say so. You don't have to lie. I won't be hurt. You can leave now. Have a good rest. Goodnight. ",She said with a blank face looking down as she tried to get away from his arms.

Manik looked at her surprised how she ended up at this conclusion and tried to explain her.

" I... It's not.. Nandini believe me.. ",He shuttered trying to talk to her and explain his reasons.

" I don't like people who can't speak without shuttering. ",She said looking up at him with the same blank face repeating the words he had earlier once spoken to her.

He stopped and stared at her before realising she is playing with him and gave her a glare leaving her arms.

"God for a second I actually fell for it. You are such a..",he looked for words frustrated at her actions as he paced infront of her.

She chuckled before realising she messed up seeing him annoyed.

She gave him a puppy face wrapping her arms around him again to calm him down.

"So are you staying back?",She asked playfully battling her eyes at him with a small pout.

He put his palm on her face to not look at her. His hand almost covering her small face.

"I am angry. Stop with the faces.",He said trying to pull away from her arms.

" I was just kidding with you.",Nandini tried to explain him leaning on his arms holding him tight.

"Fine fine I won't force or play with you anymore. I will go to sleep.",Nandini said shaking him a little to make him talk to her.

" Okay.",He replied moving to the door but she hold him back.

" Please don't be like this. I will make it up to you. I will take you on a date tomorrow. How about that?",Nandini asked him with a big smile and he looked at her curious raising his eyebrows.

She smiled seeing him coming around.

" After the fashion show there is a wrap up party where they are gonna give the winner awards. You can go as my date. It will be fun.",She offered and he turned to her thinking about it.

" Only if you ask me as your date infront of our friends. ",Manik asked with a smirk and she looked at him suprised.

"Okay fine I will.",She said accepting the challenge.

"Now it's enough for one night. Back to bed.",Manik said feeling tired himself and Nandini nodded stiffening a yawn.

Manik smiled as she lay down on the bed obediently.

He came around to sit but she stops him.

"Go back to your room. I know you are tired too. I will see you in the morning.",Nandini said with a tired smile holding his hand and he smiled.

"Okay.",he said leaning down to kiss her head.

"Dare you play such a joke again on me.",Manik warned her as he kissed her cheek next.

She chuckled and bite her lips as she looked at him.

He shakes his head smiling seeing her trying to stop her laugh.

"It was not funny.",he said with a hard look, shutting the lamp beside her.

"It was.",She argued laughing not able to stop herself.

"Nope.",He said walking to the door.

"It was Mr. Malhotra.",She said smirking.

"Goodnight Ms. Murthy. Try not to think of me.",He said as he opened the door.

"No promises.",She replied and he chuckled as he walked out shutting the door behind him.

She was happy he talked to her. He didn't shut her up and actually shared with her. She was a little worried for him. She just couldn't understand why Shravan would be such an ass to him. He seemed nice from the conversation she had with him a month back. Maybe he is power driven and wants the company or maybe he doesn't like Manik since he's adopted.

She wondered if she can do something for him and recalled the date.

She was worried about asking him to be her date infront of everyone. Technically the event would be over and they had decided to tell their friends but still she doesn't think Manik would appreciate using it as an excuse.

She groaned as she tried to sleep keeping the fashion walk in my mind and put the date aside for now.

Manik returns to his room and found Ishaan arranging his pillow on the couch.

"You can sleep on the bed. I will take the couch.",Manik said him feeling a little guilty.

" That's fine. I had the bed for two days. I can take the couch for a day. ",Ishaan said and Manik nodded thanking him and went to get freshened up.

" You look better. Did talking to her help? ",Ishaan asked and Manik nodded as he removed his tshirt and kept it aside.

" It always does. I don't know why I still hesitate sharing. ",Manik wondered.

" You will get used to it soon. Don't worry. ",Ishaan said as he lay on the couch and picked the book from his side.

" What are you reading? ",Manik asked him curious.

Ishaan blushed embarassed a little.

Manik tried to read the title and raised an eyebrow.

'Bared to you'

"You are reading Mukti's book?",Manik asked amused.

"I didn't know she was a writer. I read a chapter earlier in the flight and it was so well written. I just wanted to see how it is.",Ishaan explained embarassed and Manik studied him.

"She would be happy to know you took efforts and read the book. Can I trust you guys to behave as adults now?",Manik asked amused and Ishaan rolled his eyes.

" We always behave as adults. ",Ishaan argued.

" Oh really. You guys have been fighting like kids since you met and when I thought that you guys are getting somewhere yesterday you two were being weird today again. ",Manik said curious to know what went wrong this time.

" Wow you seriously have eyes only on us. ",Ishaan said trying to change the topic.

" Don't change the topic. If you don't wanna tell me it's fine. Mukti will. ",Manik said smugly and Ishaan frowned.

" C'mon it's personal.",Ishaan whined.

"You know almost everything about my relationship with Nandini to my matters with Shravan. I think we have crossed the personal line. If we are friends you don't get to keep secrets. ",Manik reminded him and he rolled his eyes hearing him.

" As if you aren't keeping secrets from your friends and Nandini. ",Ishaan comments at his hypocrisy.

" I needed time. I didn't mean to keep it from them. Also I plan to tell them in a day or two about us and keeping things from Nandini well I would have told her everything if that jerk wouldn't have messed up my mind. I will tell her by the end of the trip though. ",Manik justified and Ishaan nodded seeing how serious he sounded.

Manik raised his eyebrows waiting.

" Ishaan I know you can use a guy to talk to. Between me and Cabir, trust me I will be more lenient to you than Cabir about the matter involving Mukti. She is the youngest and we both are protective of her but I and her have a different relation altogether. I understand her very well and that's why I am a better choice. So if you want to talk, I am here. ",Manik said him and Ishaan nodded thinking about it almost giving into it.

" Well? ",Manik asked waiting for him to talk as he picked up an apple from the table.

Ishaan sighed keeping the book aside and sat comfortably looking at him thinking.

" She kissed me. ", He said with a sigh and Manik choked on the apple hearing him.

Ishaan rushed to his side and looked around hesitating to touch him. He slapped his back a few times before offering him water.

Manik calmed down and looked at him wide eyed.

"What did you say?",he asked not believing him.

Ishaan ran a hand through his face.

"I knew it was a bad idea. What was I thinking talking to her best friend about what happened.",Ishaan panicked and paced around.

"You are serious.",Manik asked a little angry.

"Look Manik she was drunk..",Ishaan tried to explain as he moved a little away from him.

" She was drunk and you took advantage of the situation?",Manik asked standing up and Ishaan immediately moved away from his side to behind the sofa.

He threw the apple he had in his hands at him.

"No no. I pulled away trust me. Listen to me first then you can kill me.",Ishaan tried to calm him down as he caught the apple in his hands.

Manik took a deep breath and sat gesturing him to sit infront of him keeping an eye on his every move. He asked for the apple and Ishaan gave it back.

"Look last night after we left, Cabir took Navya to his room and I helped Mukti to hers. We had a nice conversation earlier and it kind of continued. I didn't mean to stay back. Just wanted to drop her off but the conversation kept going on. We started drinking again I don't know how but we did and the conversation got serious. Before I know we were talking about our secrets. It was so easy to talk to her and being drunk helped a lot. She was being so being and honest. Totally different than how she usually is. It was like how I thought she would be when I first saw her.",Ishaan said with a spark in his eyes as he remembered last night.

Manik narrowed his eyes at him.

" Okay I get it you guys were drunk and talked. How did it end up with that? ",Manik asked glaring at him.

" I don't know how it happened. One minute I was sharing with her about Sia and everything from my past. I still find it hard to believe I shared everything with her and when I looked at her she was staring back at me and then she kissed me. The minute I realised what happened I pulled back. She said something and laughed. I realised she was drunk and tried to put her to bed and left. I didn't think she would remember anything and I was hoping we could pretend it didn't happen but it has been so awkward. I tried to talk to her but she's avoiding me. ",Ishaan said him the story about last night and Manik stared at him thinking about everything.

"Do you like her?",Manik asked him seriously.

Ishaan looked at him wide eyed surprised not expecting that question.

"I don't know. She is nice and very dedicated to her work and is like a complete different person when she works. She has so many different shades to her.",Ishaan told him with a small smile on his face remembering her.

"What about Sia?",Manik asked his eyes trained on him entirely.

"What about her?",Ishaan asked and Manik watched how his behaviour completely changed.

"You liked her for so long. Is it over between you guys or do you still have feelings for her?",Manik asked with a blank face as he picked up water to drink throwing his apple inside the dustbin.

"I don't know how it's any of yours concern but since I am in a mood to talk and I have been sharing a lot of things with lots of people. We don't have anything going on between us. It was over 3 years back. I needed a closure and I got it. This trip was supposed to be fun to distract me from everything. ",Ishaan said with a frown.

" Look man, I trust you and I am grateful you shared it with me but Mukti is obviously my first priority and I don't want her to get hurt if you don't have any feelings for her. So if you don't, just clear it with her straight from the start. It may look like she is a cool person and doesn't care about relationships and all but she does. ",Manik told him calmly seeing he trusted her with information.

" I know. I told you we shared secrets last night. She told me a lot of things too. ", Ishaan said running a hand down his face.

" What are you going to say when you talk to her? ",Manik asked him now sitting beside him on the couch.

" I don't fucking know. Why do you think I shared it with you.",Ishaan said frustrated and Manik chuckled a little.

"Look I am no one to judge you. Mukti is not so innocent herself. I have been her companion and wingman to clubs for years but she have never had any serious relationship with feelings but you have been serious about Sia and dare I say you were interested in Nandini a while back. So it was shocking hearing you say you guys kissed. I don't know how I feel about you both. You have grown over all of us. I don't want things to strained between us if either of you fucked up. Just think wisely and talk about what you both want from this. ",Manik said honestly about how he feels and Ishaan looked at him.

" I get it where you are coming from and honestly I am not asking for anything right now. About my past then, Nandini and I were clear from day 1 that we are friends. Sia and I broke up 3 years ago. We were never together in the first place. Whatever feelings I had were gone long back. I just needed answers from her and once I got it. I got my closure too. Now all I feel is hurt for losing my best friend of years and seeing her changed so much in these past years. Honestly I haven't ever been with a woman. I think it was the first time in years I kissed or should I say someone kissed me.",Ishaan confessed and it was Manik's turn to be surprised.

He looked at Ishaan now seeing everything in a different perspective.

" Why are you reading her book? ",Manik asked and Ishaan picked her book and chuckled.

" I am not a reader definitely not someone who would read erotic but the way she talked about her books last night. She looked so passionate and happy. It made me curious. I just wanted to see what it is that makes it so special. ",Ishaan said with a smile and Manik looked at him and realised that was how Nandini would look at him when she would stare at him while he reads books. The face of complete awe and admiration.

" You know if you decide to go ahead with it then I will help you. Think of it as returning all the favour you have done for both of us. ",Manik said with a smirk as he got up and went to the bed.

Ishaan looked at him surprised he is convinced and trusts him even before he himself decided what he wants to do exactly.

"If it helps I don't think she kissed you because she was drunk. ",Manik said as he lay down on the bed and shut the lights.

" What do you mean? Did she say anything about me? Manik tell me.",Ishaan asked curious looking over at him desperate to know.

" Goodnight mate. ",Manik said with a chuckle and Ishaan groaned frustrated.