Chapter 67

Nandini opened her eyes slowly and looked around a little disoriented. She tried to move but felt a hand on her waist and turned to face him.

Her lips curled up in a smile watching him sleep beside her with his chest rising and falling down slowly with every breath he took.

Her smile turned into a frown wondering if he again missed his workout but was surprised when she looked at the time and realised it was still early.

Nandini wondered how she was awake early when they had slept late. She blushed immediately as memories from last night hit her.

They all had went on a long drive after leaving the club and had came back home late. Manik had insisted her to stay with him and had pulled her in his room not letting her go to Mukti's to grab some clothes.

She looked down at the black tshirt she was wearing with one of his boxers that matched with the one he was wearing right now.

Manik had finally fulfilled her wish last night when he slept with only his boxers and Nandini was more than happy about it. She had to do a lot of convincing but he agreed in the end.

Her eyes move down his face and widen in surprise when she saw the scratches and small hickeys on his body smeared with her lipstick.

Nandini could bet her own looked worse than his. They had continued what they left in the bathroom of the club. The alcohol in their blood giving them the much needed push and confidence to go ahead.

They had stopped only when they went a little far ahead then needed with them being drunk. Nandini blushed recalling those memories before turning to him again.

She tried to get up knowing she won't be able to sleep and put his hand away as she freshened up and took a shower too before grabbing one of his white tshirt and another boxer to change into. She semi dried her hair with the towel and turned to find him still sleeping.

She dropped a small kiss on his cheeks letting him sleep for a while more, adjusting the blanket on him before walking down to the kitchen.

She started with the coffee feeling the slight hangover and prepared some for him too knowing he will be needing it.

After having her coffee in peace. She started making the breakfast. She decided to make some chocolate pancakes with fruit salad. On the side she made some toast and juice too.

She was humming to the song they danced last night having it stuck in her head when she heard him walk down the stairs.

She looked up at him and gasped watching him walk down in his boxers while running his hand through his hair.

She took her time to check him out. Her eyes moving over every small detail of his skin feeling proud at the hickeys she left on his skin. Her eyes moved down to his legs and she felt the need to breathe watching how perfect his thighs were.

"Nandini",Manik called for her, breaking her thoughts.

"In here.",Nandini yelled as she flipped the pancake.

"Hey. Good morning.",Manik greeted with a smile as he walked inside the kitchen and pecked her lips.

"Morning.",Nandini muttered fighting off the blush.

"I was looking for you. Is this coffee for me?",Manik asked as he took out a cup.

"I woke up early. How's the hangover?", Nandini asked as she took his cup and poured the coffee for him.

"Better than I expected.",Manik replied kissing her cheeks as he took the cup and sat down on one of the stools watching her cook

"Have some food and it will be good. Are you going to work out now?",Nandini asked checking the time.

"I will get late for office. I will do it in the evening.",Manik said and Nandini nodded.

"Do you want to freshen up first or eat?",Nandini asked as she put the pancakes on a plate before pouring the chocolate syrup on top and decorating it with some strawberries and blueberries she found in the freeze.

Manik smiled watching her focused face.

"I will eat.",Manik replied and she nodded as she put it infront of him with the fruit salad and other items making him smile.

"Let me click a picture first then you can eat. Cabir will be very jealous seeing the pancakes. He has been teasing me for a while sending yummy food pictures. ",Nandini said as she picked his phone from the table and opened the camera as she clicked a few pictures of the breakfast she made.

Manik watched her amused sipping his coffee silently.

Nandini turned the camera in his direction and clicked a few pictures watching how good he looked sipping coffee shirtless with his messy bed hair.

Manik watched her from his side eye and just shakes his head letting her click his pictures.

"Unlock it. I want to see if the pictures are good or not. ",Nandini asked forwarding him the phone. He typed the code and she looked up at him surprised as she saw the background picture.

It was her from their first date. She was watching the fireworks from the ferris wheel. Her eyes had a sparkle with her smile wide.

"You have me as your wallpaper?", Nandini asked surprised as she turned the phone in his direction. He smiled and pulled her to sit in his lap.

"You look beautiful.",Manik replied snuggling his face into her neck and she blushed.

She checked the photos she clicked and smiled turning to him.

"I will put this one on mine. You look good.",Nandini said showing him a side picture of his she clicked now and he smiled.

"I have a better idea.",Manik said as he put his cup down and she looked up at him confused.

"Let's click a picture together.",Manik said picking up his phone and switching the camera on before giving it back to her.

He pulled her back against his chest as he put his chin on her shoulder.

Nandini smiled at the camera as she clicked a selfie. He pressed his lips on her neck and she giggled turning to him.

"The photos will be blurred.",She replied and he chuckled.

"Just keep clicking.",Manik muttered as one of his hands moved inside her shirt, laying firm on her waist and the other wrapped around her chest pulled her back closer to him.

"Okay enough now. I have clicked a dozen. You are just taking advantage of me and the food is getting cold too.",Nandini said trying to get away but Manik held her back.

" One more.",Manik muttered looking up at her and she sighed switching on the camera and putting it infront of them.

" What are you thinking?",Nandini asked turning to him and he smiled leaning closer and putting his lips on hers. His one hand moved above hers on the shutter as he pressed her finger before putting the phone aside and turning her a little to face him.

" You are in a good mood today.",Nandini muttered pulling apart slowly and he smiled watching her cut the pancakes and offering him a bite.

" Whose fault is that?",Manik asked as he ate from her hands.

" Huh. Atleast I am wearing clothes. You are the one who is distracting me.",Nandini said eating herself and he smiled.

"No, you are the one who is wearing my clothes, sitting on my lap and feeding me food. ",Manik said pulling her closer if possible and Nandini raised an eyebrow at him.

"You were the one who asked me to wear yours last night.",Nandini said narrowing her eyes and he picked the strawberry and fed her.

"I am not complaining. You look sexy.",Manik said, his thumb making circles on her thighs.

"When will you be back from office?",Nandini asked changing the subject before they move on to something else making the two of them late.

"I will get late. There are lot of things to do with the event coming up. Ishaan will be helping out in the office today. He isn't free later to drop by. What about you? Want me to drop you at the studio or home?",Manik asked and she thought over it.

"Home. I will drive to studio from there. Don't make him work hard. He is already stressed enough. ",Nandini said a little worried and Manik smiled.

" I know what he is going through. I was lucky to have Cabir and his dad help me out when I needed it. He needs someone to help him out too. Don't worry, he will be fine.",Manik said and Nandini looked at him.

"Thanks. It's just he is always looking out for others and taking care of them. He hardly opens up to others and last night he looked so close to breaking down when we were alone, it scared me a little.",Nandini explained and Manik smiled.

"I know, you don't have to explain. Don't forget he is now our friend too not just yours.",Manik said and Nandini smiled wrapping her arms around him.

"Let's finish the breakfast first and then I will drop you home.",Manik said and she nodded as they had their breakfast together.

Manik reached his office and found Ishaan waiting for him working on his laptop.

"Hey",Manik greeted and Ishaan nodded.

"You are early.",Manik said as he took a seat on his chair.

"I had some work. Figured I would start early. I need to check on with Ahana later too.",Ishaan said rubbing his head and Manik nodded.

"Hangover?",Manik asked and Ishaan nodded.

Sara came inside his office and Ishaan narrowed his eyes in surprise as he didn't hear a knock.

"Coffee?",She asked and Manik nodded.

Sara gave a cup to Ishaan too who murmured a thanks.

Sara told Manik about his schedule and Manik nodded dismissing her.

"She is my assistant Sara.",Manik said and Ishaan nodded.

"You don't mind her entering without knocking.",Ishaan asked and Manik smiled.

"I got used to it. She is good at her job. I have adjusted to few of her faults. She knows when to knock so it doesn't matter much.",Manik said and Ishaan nodded getting back to work.

"What about yours?",Manik asked curious to know about his assistant.

"He is back in the office. I don't really need him much.",Ishaan said with a shrug as he started working on replying to some emails.

Manik frowned and made a note of it.

The whole day Manik involved Ishaan with him to work and noticed how he would frown everytime Sara would do something without his permission or sort something for him. He noticed how Ishaan would push himself into work without a balance and break and shakes his head recalling the time when he first started and was just like he is now.

"Let's take a break. Lunch?",Manik asked looking up at Ishaan who glances at the time and frowned.

"I have still some work left. There are some documents that needs to be drafted and mailed.", Ishaan said and Manik frowned.

"Okay wait. Take 15. It won't be a problem.", Manik said putting his laptop away and asked Sara to get them lunch.

"Do you do all of this yourself?", Manik asked Ishaan pointing at his emails and documents.

"You don't?", Ishaan asked surprised.

Manik shakes his head.

"Sara does it for me. I have so many things to do. I can't waste my time proof reading some documents or replying to emails.", Manik replied and Ishaan frowned.

"You trust her with this. I can't bother others about it also I don't trust letting someone else do it I will anyway do it myself again.", Ishaan replied with a shrug.

"Are you being serious? What does your assistant does then?", Manik asked curious.

"Transfer calls, schedule meetings and run a few errands for me.", Ishaan said and Manik thought over it.

"I get it you had less work before only managing a part of your company but now you have taken over so there's a lot of things to do. Are you telling me you do everything alone?", Manik asked surprised and Ishaan nodded.

"Why do you think I am so frustrated and need a break?", Ishaan asked sarcastically.

"Gosh you are an idiot. Don't your Dad's assistant help you out like he used to with your dad.", Manik asked curious to know what this guy has been doing.

"He took a 2 weeks leave. His wife delivered a baby. ", Ishaan said and Manik sighed and leaned closer.

"I know it's tough trusting someone in business world but assistant are hired for a reason. They are there to help you out and make your job easier for you. I mean half of the things that you are doing should be done by your assistants. I don't understand why someone never told you that.", Manik asked Ishaan giving him a piece of advice.

"Well Dad had offered earlier but I denied. I didn't think he mattered and I liked doing things my way better. It wasn't much work too.", Ishaan explained and Manik sighed again.

"I don't know how your recent assistant is but hire one whom you think is capable of doing work for you and can get along with you well. Sara has been working with me for 5 years now. You know how difficult it is for me to trust someone but she has earned it over the years helping me out various times. If you want I can ask Sara to look for some good assistants for you. She has a network. It was okay earlier but now you need to start letting people help you. It's there job. You could do multiple other things instead of replying to a mail.", Manik explained him and Ishaan thought about it.

"I have tried earlier. I actually am a little strict with my work. I need my documents in certain fonts and size. Many people have messed it a lot of time and asking them to do it again seems tiring so I started doing it myself.", Ishaan reasoned running a hand down his face.

"You can't be more strict then me.", Manik jokes and Ishaan chuckles.

"Fine I will give it a try.", Ishaan said with a small smile.

"There's one more thing. Why do you attend so many meetings? I looked at your calendar and it's completely full.", Manik asked him already knowing his answer.

"Dad have recently retired trusting me with his business. I need to look over everything and make sure it's going good. I can't fail him.", Ishaan said and Manik smiled.

"You don't have to attend every meeting and tire yourself out by doing so. There are other ways too. Like checking the notes or asking for reports every week or two. I understand you want to do good but your health always comes first. Work is important, many people life depends on you but not on the cost of your own. You have your friends and family out there who needs your time too. If you keep going this way, I don't think you are going to have time to even see anyone.", Manik explained and Ishaan frowned.

" I can't just leave my work undone.", Ishaan said and Manik nodded understanding him.

"When Mr. Malhotra handed us the CEO for our respective departments I was 23. Young and full of energy. I didn't have a family to go back home to so work was everything for me then. Cabir was busy in his own business and Mukti in her work. I had a lot of time and I invested my everything in work making it grow a lot but after a year of working so hard I was tired, I literally wanted to give up. I hated working and doing the same thing again and again. I hardly saw my friends and my life became predictable. I would be so angry and frustrated and that was when Cabir and Mukti got tired of my shit and decided it was enough and they made me take a break. Cabir's dad helped me out, explaining to me that life is all about balance and if I don't find it then I will fall down.", Manik shared his story and Ishaan watched him trying to sink it in his head.

"So it's not just me. It happens to everyone. I thought I was incapable and need to work hard.",Ishaan shared his thoughts and Manik chuckled slapping his back.

" You are not special. ",Manik said teasing him and Ishaan glared at him a little but smiled feeling grateful.

" Thanks. I believe Nandini put you upto this? ",Ishaan asked and Manik shakes his head.

" You think I won't do something for you without her asking me to. ",Manik asked raising an eyebrow.

" You will? ",Ishaan asked genuinely surprised and Manik nodded.

" We are friends. ",Manik replied with a shrug moving to sit on his chair.

Ishaan was lost in thoughts before he sat on his chair too.

"So you will do something for me if I ask you?",Ishaan asked still a little hesitant and Manik narrowed his eyes at him.

" What is it? ",Manik asked him.

" Ahana is upset with me. ",Ishaan started and Manik shakes his head getting an idea where this is going.

" I am not watching romantic teen movies with her. ",Manik said immediately knowing what he wants.

" Please just one movie. She will forgive me if I bring you over. I don't know why she likes you but she does. Do me this favour. ",Ishaan said with a pout and Manik sighed.

" Fine one movie. Now back to work. ",Manik said with a sigh and Ishaan nodded smiling wide.

Manik came home late at night. The one movie he promised turned to three before he could manage to leave. Sara had messaged him about the board meeting scheduled tomorrow and also about the chairman joining them.

He was not looking forward to the meeting. It's been a long time since he met Shravan or the Chairman. He had no idea what Shravan was planning or what's going to happen tomorrow at the meeting. He just wanted it to be done as soon as possible so he can get away from them.

He heard some noise and moved closer in that direction.

He was surprised seeing Nandini sit on the sofa watching a movie and talking with Oscar who was sitting a little away from her.

"Hey",Manik said to get their attention.

"Hey, there's some chinese left if you are hungry or I can make something else too.",Nandini said as she paused the movie and turned to him.

Oscar barked looking at Manik and moved closer running circles around him.

Manik laughed, petting him as he turned to Nandini.

"I had dinner already with Ishaan and Ahana. I didn't know you were waiting, I would have came back early.",Manik said moving closer to her.

"My house was too quiet for my liking. So I came over. Oscar gave me company.",Nandini informed as he hugged her.

"I noticed. You were bonding with him?",Manik asked proud and Nandini nodded.

"A little. He was cooperative and kept his distance after I gave him food and put a movie we both agreed on.",Nandini said excited and Manik chuckled kissing her slowly before pulling away.

Nandini was surprised at the sudden kiss but smiled as he lay down on the sofa putting his head on her lap.

"We can go to bed.",Nandini said running a hand through his hair softly.

"This is fine. You can complete the movie. I will rest for a while.",Manik said and she looked down at him.

" Atleast get changed.",Nandini said a little concerned but he turned to hide his face on her stomach and she sighed putting a hand on his head.

"You good?",She asked and he nodded.

She kissed his head before starting the movie checking on him every few minutes.

She felt guilty to wake Manik up after the movie ends but she knew he would prefer bed over the couch and shakes him slowly.

"Let's go to bed.",She whispered and held his hand as they walked to bed.

Manik quickly changed and came back to bed feeling more sleepy than ever and cuddled her close to him.

Nandini had a few questions to ask him but kept her mouth shut knowing he is tired and they can talk later.

She was eagerly looking forward to his birthday hoping he will get to relax a little with all the things going on with work and his condition.

Mukti had helped her a lot to prepare his birthday gift but she was hoping she could prove Annie's innocence before his birthday. She was so close to revealing the truth and knew nothing would make him more happier than that.

She watched him sleeping and thought about how lucky she got in her life in such a small time. She found some amazing friends who would always be ready to help her and she found him.

She sometimes still wonder what he saw in her. She was just a young fashion designer working in a small startup company when they met. It still amazes her that he would be interested in her. She was in no way special. She had a lot of baggage with her. She wasn't a social butterfly or a loner. She didn't like to read or party like crazy. She never travelled or did adventure. She didn't even had any close friends except Navya. She was just another average person who was trying hard to succeed.

But he changed things for her. He was the one who made her special. She opened up to him despite her trust issues. She went on a trek trip, partied with her friends. Got crazy drunk. She even read books and made new friends. She got confident enough to get out of her comfort zone and try new things with her own life and even with her work. She still finds it hard to believe she was in the finals of the fashion festival and had opened her own clothing line.

She knew it was her who did everything but it was because of him she realised she had it in her to do it.

Family. For her this was not just a word. She always searched for people who could become her family but Manik, he made her his family and she would be forever grateful to him.

She smiled watching him sleep before finally closing her eyes and falling asleep.

The next morning, she woke up to find the bed empty and looked at the time. She quickly got freshened up and walked down to see Manik cooking wearing an apron to protect his suit.

"Good Morning. Did you sleep well?",Nandini asked him and he nodded passing her a cup of coffee.

"I have a board meeting today and then need to supervise the preparation of the event. I will call you when I get free.",Manik informed her as he removed the apron and brought the plates out.

"It's okay. I will be a little busy as well. Don't stress yourself.",Nandini reminded him and he half smiled.

" So what's this meeting about?",Nandini asked curious.

" To discuss the 30th anniversary event, chairman position and the date of the shareholders vote meeting. It will be a brief meeting but important one. The chairman will be there too.",Manik informed her and She nodded taking it all in.

"Call me after the meeting, we will go get ice cream.",Nandini said watching how anxious he was and knew he would need a distraction after the meeting.

Manik smiled hearing her and nodded.

"I will.",Manik said kissing her cheeks as he put his plates away and picked his jacket.

"Call me after you are done. I will come to get you?",Nandini said helping him with the jacket and he nods.

She fixed his tie and gave him a once over before nodding in approval.

" I just hope the jerk doesn't push my buttons or he will be getting a punch today. I have not forgotten what he did.",Manik said and Nandini smiled.

" You know he will. Just keep your patience. You will do good. ",Nandini encouraged him and he nodded staring at her.

He softly caressed her cheeks pushing her hair behind her ear.

Nandini bite her lips softly feeling his stare and he smiled watching her shy away.

He leaned closer kissing her forehead.

"I will see you later.",Manik whispered softly and she nodded as she walked him to the door.

"Have a good day.",Nandini said kissing his cheeks and he smiled walking to his car.