Chapter-40

Mr Murthy came out of his expensive car as his guard informed him that Uncle Bernard was inside. He looked at weary building in front of his eyes with board saying 'Bernard Dog Shelter'. He looked around and saw other shopkeepers staring at him. He walked in and bell rang with the movement of glass door. 

"Madhav," Uncle Bernard said elated as he came to greet him. 

"Uncle Bernard," Mr Murthy replied sweetly. 

"Let's go to my office and have tea," Uncle Bernard said as he lead Mr Murthy to his office. Mr Murthy scrutinized the place as he followed Uncle Bernard. Uncle Bernard was an old friend of his father but he hardly could feel that affinity. 

"So what brought you here?" Uncle Bernard asked and Mr Murthy passed a shallow smile. 

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Manik walked the street scanning each corner and Harshad groaned for nth time not knowing what they were doing in a busy street. 

"If you tell me what we are finding, I can help too," Harshad tried to say same thing in different way and Manik chose to ignore. 

"Just look for a dog," Manik replied after a minute or so. 

"A dog?" Harshad asked baffled, "There are many dogs, Manik."

"A she dog to be precise," Manik specified and Harshad frowned. 

"You have lost it or what?" Harshad asked being not able to understand anything. 

"We are searching a she dog here, have we lost it?" Harshad asked gritting his teeth.

"I need to make sure if mother of pups is around," Manik elaborated looking around. His eyes scanned the same street from where he had rescued the pups last night. Nandini had scolded him endless how he had taken the puppies just to be with her and he might have missed their mother in that course. 

"Why don't you and Nandini adopt them and spare me the torture?" Harshad suggested as he gazed every dog he saw. Manik didn't reply and Harshad turned around cockily only to find Manik glowering at him. 

"What?" Harshad asked shrugging his shoulders. 

"I was just voicing out your inner voice," He added smirking and earned an elbow in stomach from Manik. 

"I guess those pups were indeed abandoned as I see no mother dog around," Manik deduced as he gave up his quest. 

"Yes, I think we should call it a day," Harshad spoke as fervently as Manik did and then turned around to run away before Manik makes him walk to something more boring. 

Manik grabbed him from arm and asked, "Where do you think you are going?"

"We need to meet Mr Bernard," Manik revealed the plan and Harshad cursed him. 

"I hate dogs and that dog shelter," Harshad admitted and Manik couldn't care less as he dragged him along. 

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Mr Murthy shifted in his chair as peon put the tea tray on table. Cups looked cheap and there was no way he was going to have that tea. 

"So where were we?" Uncle Bernard drew his attention as he served him tea. 

"We were talking about Nandini," Mr Murthy reminded and old man smiled. 

"See, Madhav. I cannot fire her from a volunteer job and even if I could, I won't," Uncle Bernard cleared. 

Mr Murthy had asked Uncle Bernard to oust Nandini from her night duty at shelter. 

"You would find many jobless lads for this job, Uncle. I don't get it why would you want to keep Nandini for such useless job," Mr Murthy mocked and Uncle Bernard stared him. 

"Why don't you convince your daughter on your own rather than asking me to fire her?" Uncle Bernard asked leaning on table to reach the cup. 

Mr Murthy smiled awkwardly. He had all the power in this world to turn things upside down but had whatsoever no rein over his daughter. 

"I guess it was a waste of time then," Mr Murthy spoke as he readied to get up. 

Door of office flung open as two young men entered the room not realizing how they had ended up in room itself in quest of pushing each other. 

"I don't want to.." Harshad continued speaking and Manik realized how they were inside of room already. He looked at Uncle Bernard and smiled awkwardly. He could see another man sitting there but his back was turned on him. 

"We are sorry. We didn't mean to barge in like that," Manik apologized and that man sitting on other chair turned around. Uncle Bernard smiled sweetly not minding their little interruption. 

"What are you doing here?" Asked the other man and Manik finally spotted Mr Murthy there. Manik couldn't believe his eyes as he tried to come at term with the fact that Mr Murthy was there. 

"What is he doing here?" Mr Murthy asked Uncle Bernard frantically. 

"I knew it you were meeting her," Mr Murthy was mad now as he deduced that this dog shelter was their meeting point. 

Manik didn't find himself feeling bad about that deduction of Mr Murthy. He just stood there watching Mr Murthy walking towards him. 

"Didn't I tell you to stay away from Nandini?" Mr Murthy asked as he stood a step away from Manik. 

" You did," Manik said nodding, "And I was fool enough to even agree on that." Harshad's giggle touched their ear and Manik turned around to glare him. 

Mr Murthy took one more step towards Manik and tried to intimidate him. 

Manik lowered his eyes not trying to go disrespectful on that man. Nothing could change the fact that he was Nandini's father. 

"This is what you do here?" Infuriated Mr Murthy asked Uncle Bernard. 

"I have no idea what you are talking about," Uncle Bernard answered coolly. 

Mr Murthy looked at Manik again and leaned in to say something in his ear. 

"You are shameless or what. Nobody in my house likes you anymore," Mr Murthy spoke bitterly. 

"Your daughter does," Harshad replied instead of Manik and Mr Murthy glared him. He pressed his lips trying not mock that angry father. Manik looked up and saw Mr Murthy glaring Harshad. 

"You were talking for yourself then, you are talking for yourself now," Manik spoke softly. 

"I cannot do anything if you hate me so much, Sir," He added and Mr Murthy glunched. 

"I have realized one thing. Thanks to you," He added and Mr Murthy kept scowling at him. 

"That I can never stay away from her," Manik added as mildly as he could. Mr Murthy kept looking into eyes of that young man who had no intention to offend him but all the might to drive him to the corner. He hated Manik more at that moment. 

"You would and I will make sure that you do," Mr Murthy spoke out of vengeance and stormed out of room. Swinging door kept making noise as Manik gathered all his breaths. He had exerted more than his capacity in term of guts. Father of his girl was one cunning man. 

"I am so proud of you," Harshad squeezed Manik as he expressed his joy. 

"Leave me," Manik nagged. Uncle Bernard looked at two fools who had forgotten that they were in his office. 

"Now would you mind telling me who you are?" Uncle Bernard broke their dancing bubble. 

"He is Manik. Father of Nandini's would be pups," Harshad spoke in flow of delight and Manik gasped. Uncle Bernard gaped those two suspiciously. 

"I wish she was here, man," Harshad's happiness had no bound. Manik couldn't understand why would Harshad ruin his only chance to get a job there by doing this over dramatic celebration lap. 

"Would you shut up, Harshad?" Manik yelled to shut that blabber mouth. But then, it was too late. Uncle Bernard had already assumed them to be some pervs. 

"Guard," Uncle Bernard called the guard and they both knew it was time to get out. 

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Nandini drove her jeep amid raining cats and dogs. Weather was worse than ever. She halted her jeep in front of Dog Shelter and got out. Running to building, she turned around to find streetlight flickering. She rubbed her palms as cold flurries hit her. Entering the building, she let the shutter open. Taking the stairs, she heard some clicking noise in her office. As she opened the door, she found Uncle Bernard setting the fireplace. 

"You didn't go, Uncle?" Nandini asked. Harlow attacked her with all kisses and cuddles. 

"Nandini," Uncle Bernard greeted her with a smile as he got up. 

"Weather is terrible," He added. 

"I was waiting for rain to slow down," He said. 

Nandini smiled and started to entertain the needy Harlow. That big pup needed all the love every time they met. Her eyes darted to find the clock. Sky roared outside and she frowned. There was no way Manik would come tonight, she was sure. 

"When your college is opening?" Uncle Bernard drew her attention. 

"Next Week," She answered giving some belly rubs to Harlow. 

"Good," Uncle replied as he walked to check if all windows were bolted properly. 

He looked out of window and frowned. He could see a figure making and breaking under glinting lamppost. 

He wiped the glass with his palm and adjusted his glasses. A tall manly figure was standing in rainy dark with an umbrella. 

"What an idiot!" Uncle Bernard spoke as he asserted how some man was standing in rain doing nothing. 

Nandini got up to take her seat and didn't mind Uncle Bernard's blabbering. 

"I need to hire a night-guard here," He spoke as he returned to table. 

"You don't need to worry till the time Harlow and I are here," Nandini assured him with a cocky smile. 

"No, Nandini. Two idiots barged in my office in morning too. Just be careful. They were talking about you and your father had a verbal spat with one of them," Uncle Bernard was not very patient man when it came to too much happening. 

Nandini frowned listening to it. 

"Dad came here?" She asked. Uncle Bernard cursed his tongue for slipping the detail. Age was taking toll on his nerves. 

"Yes. He was passing by so he stopped to drop a hello," Uncle lied. 

"Yes, why not," Nandini could never buy it. 

"But that wasn't strange. It was those boys who talked about pups, you and what not," Uncle Bernard blabbered further.

Mention of pups cleared the picture for Nandini as she realized Uncle was talking about Manik.

"I didn't like the way that boy talked to your father and the other one was way too weirder as he tried to link the first one with you. I threw both of them out," Uncle Bernard blurted out further.

"Manik spoke to dad??" Nandini almost got off her chair.

"Who is Manik?" Uncle Bernard was confused now.

"The guy who are talking about," Nandini cleared and walked to Uncle Bernard.

"Did Dad misbehave with him?" She asked already working her temper up.

"Yes, he did," Uncle replied, "But that boy was no less."

Nandini's lips parted in shock. She was doubting if Uncle Bernard had started to cook stories or what.

"Manik mocked dad?" She asked not believing it.

"Not really. He was very... How should I say it... He was very polite but he spoke very courageously about you," Uncle was trying to explain things as they were putting aside his opinion about Manik.

"He spoke about me?" Nandini's voice filled with unknown quiver as she asked. She could feel her heart racing fast on mere assumption.

"He said he can't stay away from you. I was amused how Madhav didn't punch that jerk in face," Uncle was assuming Manik to be some Romeo witnessing Madhav's ire towards him.

Nandini didn't ask further as she didn't want to know further. Instead of feeling warm, her heart was aching sweet. She was feeling this unknown gush of ire flowing on her veins. She pressed her lips and returned to her chair.

"I think I will hire a night guard soon," Uncle said and looked outside.

"Rain has slowed down. I think I would leave," He said and Nandini nodded. Her face was blank as she could hardly think beyond what Uncle Bernard had told. She was failing to contain this urge to see Manik. She didn't know what that aching current meant but it was so strong.

Uncle Bernard patted Harlow and then smiled at Nandini before he walked down.

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Manik was standing in rain at same place for an hour now when he saw door of building opening. Uncle Bernard was walking out of building wearing his raincoat. Manik remembered how he had thrown them out in noon. He ran to hide himself behind pillar of a shop. Car of Uncle Bernard drove off and Manik sighed in relief. It was still drizzling.

Nandini felt her flesh burning as she tried to hold this need to see Manik. She needed him so bad that it hurt. Mere a story telling of what he did had driven her to edge where she was feeling an urge to take him along as she jumped off. It wasn't overwhelm, it wasn't joy either.

It was an emotion she couldn't name.

Manik again got to his place under lamppost and looked up. Light of her office was on and he smiled. He was sure what he was going to do tonight. He was going to ask for her forgiveness and he won't move until she grants him that.

Nandini got up and walked to glass window to find a contour standing under lamp post. Her eyes welled up with that rush of urge to run to him. And she never could go against what her heart wanted. She turned around and ran downstairs.

Manik saw door of building flung open as she ran towards him. She hadn't have any umbrella or raincoat. She just strode towards him like a warning. Manik gasped as her face found the night. She was drenched and her eyes held the storm.

"Nandini, why would you walk in rain like that?" He asked baffled as he rushed to take her in his umbrella. She panted as he covered her. Her oversized sweater had slid off her shoulder and her hair were wet mess.

"What's wrong?" He asked as she looked into his eyes.

Taking the umbrella, she threw it away bringing him in same downpour which was burning her. Stepping closer, she got up on his boots. Her naked feet slipped on his wet boots and his arm instinctively wrapped around her waist.

"What's wrong?" He asked with his breath stuck in his throat. Her gaze was piercing and her touch was fire.
"Why would you agree to stay away when you never can?" She asked and he frowned.

"You have hurt me so much, Manik Malhotra," She uttered as she gripped his collar. Her eyes were teary, he was sure.

Manik was melting under her warmth. Rainwater was flowing down their bodies but he couldn't feel cold in it.

"I am sorry," He could just utter that and she pursed her lips in anger. Next she grabbed his face in her palms and inched dangerously closer to him.

"I am really sorry, Nandini. I was a fool. I was a fool to let go of only person I have. I know you hate me at the moment and I totally deserve it. I know I have hurt you so much and a sorry isn't enough," He was on his blabbering spree and it had no end. Nandini was losing it.

"You are such an idiot, Malhotra," She interrupted his one sided conversation and sealed it with her lips.

Her lips touched his and stayed there as she poured all her heart had. She couldn't let it out other way.

Manik froze as her lips kissed his quivering ones in one long string of emotions. Nandini pecked his lips breaking the contact and stood there on his boots with her eyes closed.

She never knew kisses worked like that. It was awkward but she was sure she conveyed what she couldn't speak.

As she opened her eyes, he found him gazing her with something she had never seen. He was more than frozen in moment but his eyes held so much. He grabbed her from waist and walked to lamppost just to apply what his heart was yelling. His lips landed on hers and Nandini lost the track of what she had started. It was like something she had never felt before. Her hands gripped his wet hair as he pecked her lips numerous times. This wasn't the Manik she knew. He was someone more than she knew. His breaths were hot, his grip on her waist had tremors;  he was so anxious.

"Forgive me, please," He spoke as he parted his lips away.

Nandini smiled as he kissed side of her lips almost begging her to grant him a chance.

"Who are you?" She asked amused as his nose touched hers.

"I love you," He spoke and she felt dizzy.

"I love you," He repeated and she shook her head. He could never be fancy with words. This was so out of place confession but she couldn't care less.

"It isn't over, Malhotra," She spoke as she stroked his cheeks with her thumbs.

"If you think these kisses can work, or these words can melt me, you are wrong," She spoke fervently. His lips parted in displeasure as she said so. She pecked them unable to control the urge to feel the taste of rainwater again. He blushed as he looked down and she giggled. She didn't even know how he would survive the upcoming minutes and hours after committing this act of valour. Her kitten had acted beyond his capacity to endure.

"Pick me up," She demanded and he obliged. Picking her up, he walked to the building.

A new theorem was derived, they didn't note down the steps. Conclusion was awfully wonderful and aftermath they didn't think of that. They shall be welcomed into a world of more messed up equations.

It was night where she didn't forgive him but took him in.
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Unedited*

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