Manik dropped the luggage on her living room floor in California and dropped himself on her couch, one leg over the backrest , arms spread like that of a dead man.

Nandini smiled to herself. He is clearly tired. Must be the jet lag. She was feeling it too. The time difference between the two countries disturbing their biological clock. She decided she would feel better after a shower. So instead of opening the luggage, she decided to wear something that she had left here and thus made her way to the bathroom..

Manik was on the verge of sleep but he tried to shake it off. It would do no good sleeping at this time, it will only worsen the jet lag. He finally became aware of the position in which he lay on the couch and immediately put his leg down. If maa had seen this she would be disappointed. She doesn't like inappropriate behaviour. But Nandini, she must have seen yet she said nothing.....

Where is she?? He got up , bags trudging after him to place them in her bedroom. He heard her movements in the bathroom, probably taking a shower, so he decided after she gets out he will get in. He took off his shoes, socks, jacket and shirt. Then he opened his luggage and took out his clothes to wear after taking shower. Then he took out the bag of toiletries. After everything was ready, he went to the full length mirror in her bedroom and looked at himself naked from waist above.

He is not muscular, no ripped body with six or eight packs. But definitely playing sports for all these years has assured that he has no extra flab or fat on his body. He can call himself lean and agile, athletic build you know.

Suddenly he heard an "oh my God!! Manik!!" He turned in her direction confused and saw her jumping back behind the door and he only caught a glimpse of her in her undergarments.

" I thought you must have slept" she said , now only her head poking through the half closed washroom door.

" No I didn't sleep" he informed her meanwhile thinking of ways to bring her out of that godamn door which is obstructing his chance of seeing her glorious body.

" Umm can you go out of the room for a minute, I need to do something" she asked seeing as he was not moving from his place.

" Do what?" He asked flatly.

" I need to find my shampoo, it is in the bag" she informed a little irritated. Why is he not going out? I need to shower quickly. It's so cold.

He got the opportunity he was looking for " tell me where it is...I will find and give it to you"

" Uhh Manik I can manage" she said not understanding his behaviour.

" C'mon bta v do yaar"

Nandini didn't exactly remember where her mother had told her that her kit of toiletries she had placed. She only remembered the bag in which it could be. So she told Manik to look in the aforementioned bag. She watched him search through it but growing impatient every minute that he couldn't find it. Everytime she told him to leave it, she can find it he would brush aside her request. Finally having enough she decided to come out and find herself but like the fool that she is , she had dumped her discarded clothes in the washer and she didn't want to wear the fresh clothes without taking shower, so at last the only option left was the towel. Sighing , she wrapped it around her body like a sarong. Plan was to quickly go out, find the kit and run back to bathroom. Perfect!

But alas! She was unaware of the schemes of Manik Malhotra! Just as she came out of the bathroom Manik retreated back to it's door. He knew that her kit is easily visible among the clothes and she will have no problem retrieving it. He admired her flawless back which was towards him. The slender and shapely legs, her arm so thin and delicate!

She found the kit, made a mad dash for the bathroom door and THWACK!!!!!

" OOOmph"

"OOOOwww what the hell Manik! " She muttered rubbing her forehead while he rubbed the spot on his chest where her face hit him.

" Why were you running like a bull??" He asked her, his hands on his waist.

" Why were you standing on the door? " She shot back.

" Because I wanted to do this" he said and pulled her in the circle of his arms. Her hands rested on his arm. His eyes intense and captivating. She remembered that he is naked from waist above, his skin so smooth and fair without any spots.

" But I was going to shower" she spoke meekly fighting her body's reaction to him.

" It can wait. Right now I am feeling very romantic" he whisper-teased her.

" Uhuhun romantic??" She gulped.

" Yeah. I want to kiss you. Can I??"

She bobbed her head and his lips demanding and passionate were on hers. He was impatient and hungry and Nandini returned the emotions equally. Her fingers found their way from his arms to the nape of his neck and threaded in his hair, pulling lightly.

Still kissing, his hands which were on her waist started moving up on her back and it stopped on the knot of her towel which was near the nape of her neck. Nandini stiffened and the lust induced haze started clearing up. She pulled back from the kiss, her eyes clear indication of her thoughts - she doesn't want it. He wanted to say "it's okay" but the ringing of his phone stopped him. She stepped back and moved around him to reach the door. Once inside she locked it but before that she heard him say " ha maa". She was too shy to speak to his mother dressed so inappropriately, so she let him talk.

He sat on the living room sofa, still distracted by what happened minutes ago. Why did she stop him? I thought she wanted the same?.

" Ha maa, thori der pehle hi pahunche hm. Main apko call karne hi Wala Tha"

" Kya hua Manik, tu thk h??" His mother asked " bahut thaka hui awaj arahi h?"

" Ni maa Mai thk hu...aap paresan Mt hoiye. Bas itni lambi journey ki h na toh thori nind jaisi lag rahi h"

" Toh so jao thori der beta...Nandini ko uske Ghar chor Diya na tune??" She asked and Manik faltered. He didn't know if he should tell her that he would live with Nandini now. He and Nandini had not had any special discussions about this, it was sort of understood between them.

" Maa main abhi Nandini k Ghar par hi hun" he replied a little hesitance in his voice.

" Thk h par apne Ghar ja kar so le thori der. Nandini v Sona chahti hogi. Samjha?" Something in her tone told Manik that she doesn't want them both to stay under one roof.

Oh God!!

" Ha maa. Thk h. Aur arzoo , arisha, papa aur baki log sab thik hain?" He decided to change the topic. And his mother proceeded to tell him all that he has missed in 2 days. Manik breathed a sigh of relief for escaping the situation. But what should he do now? He can't keep lying to his mother. He had to find a solution.

He had just cut the call when Nandini walked out freshly showered and a sight to behold. His heart thumped loudly making him deaf for a moment. She approached him shyly and everything that happened before the phone call came rushing back in his mind and he could feel it's effect on his nether regions.

" You can go and shower now" she suggested " I will clean up the house till then. Lots of dust has settled , then we can go out to buy groceries"

" Okay" he simply said and got up and left. Nandini didn't think much of it, blaming his behaviour to jet lag.

While in the shower, Manik mulled everything in his head. The intimacy, her refusal, his mother's phone call, her expectations, kept playing in his head and finally he came to a conclusion - Maa is right, we should stay in separate houses because recently he is observing that his desire to be intimate with Nandini is becoming stronger but he should not act on it. That decision made he turned off the shower and stepped out, got dressed and ready and approached Nandini. He was a man on mission but he came to a halt in the kitchen. Nandini was on her hands and knees on the floor wiping and cleaning. Her butt in the air in his view. He groaned...what are these images flooding his mind. He blamed the porn that he has been watching a lot lately. And she is not helping either.

She looked up behind her , probably hearing his groan. Only her eyes were visible because she had covered her hair and face with cloth. She got up quickly. " Oh hey! You are done already??" She asked " can you sit and wait , I will be done in , umm, 20 minutes?"

He missed the smile that was hidden under the covering of cloth. He nodded and turned towards the living room, all words forgotten.

Nandini while brooming the house, kept thinking about her encounter with Manik. She wants to be close to him and fulfill her desires that she has had ever since puberty hit her but...

But her body is the only possession of hers, much valued one, she can't just give it away like that. She has waited all these years, worked hard for his affection and acceptance, shouldn't he too do the same? Work hard to have me?

Definitely...he should and he will!! She will make sure of it. Just because we are engaged now, he doesn't have any claim over my body. I will give in only when I feel that he wants me as much as I want him!

Thus the plan was made! And Manik was going to have a tough time ahead.

After cleaning the house, Manik and Nandini together went out to buy groceries. And since they were hungry, they ate out in a diner. Dusk had settled in till the time they were on their way back home with the bags of groceries. Winter was approaching in America and the air was slightly chilly. As they were not wearing appropriate clothes, so they hurried back home.

Once inside the warmth of their house, Manik decided to broach the topic that had been running through his head all this time. Spending the afternoon with Nandini, in her close proximity, had only strengthened his resolve. She is temptation personified and it is becoming hard for him to control himself.

" Nandini I wanted to talk to you about something. Please sit here for a moment" Nandini had an inkling that he wanted to talk. She thought her plan to seduce and torture him was working and he was finally going to beg her to give in. She smiled and sat down beside him facing him.

So, naturally she was surprised by his next words " I think we should continue our previous arrangement of living in separate houses."

" What?? But why?" She shreaked but quickly composed herself and spoke calmly " I mean I thought it was understood between us that from now on we will be living together?" How will her plan work if they live separately!

" Yeah, I thought that too but..."

" But what??" She asked perplexed.

" Uhu I might have a small little problem" he bit his lip, his ears turning pink.

" What is it?" She asked even more confused now though he looked adorable and she had a sudden urge to pinch his cheeks. But she resisted as the atmosphere felt serious.

" When I am around you I keep having this urge to hold you , kiss you and more" now he was totally red.

Although Nandini was equally flustered but she was internally jumping in joy as well.

" You are right it is small problem , we don't need to take such big measures"

" You are not scared"

" Should I be? This is normal Manik. Every couple goes through this phase"

" If I stay with you 24×7 , I am not sure how long I will be able to hold out"

" Then don't"

" But you don't want that"

" How do you know?"

" You resist me"

" Yes I do but not because I don't want you"

" Really?"

" Umm hmmmm"

" So if I kiss you now you won't pull away "

" May be"

" Why are you acting so coy?"

" May be I don't want to make it easy for you"

With every word they had shifted closer to each other and now their lips were just a hairbreadth away.

" Is that so?"

" Ummhmmm"

Their lips met in a fierce heated kiss. Manik was on his knees on top of her, completely dominating her. After a moment his lips shifted from her lips to her chin and then throat. She was breathing through parted lips, her fingers in his hair.

" I think my mother wants us to stay apart" he managed to speak while still hungrily sucking on her collar bone.

" Manik please this is not the moment to talk about your mother" she panted.

" Sorry, you are probably right"

" I am always right"

He stopped his ministration on her soft body , he looked up into her eyes, his lips losing contact with her skin too.

" Really Miss Murthy?" He chuckled.

" Yes really Mr.Malhotra" he shook his head as if resigning to the fact that it was even useless to argue on this.

" But seriously Maa ko Kya bolunga main?"

" Don't tell the truth. There will be no harm. She will live peacefully and it is not like she is going to come here to check"

" But I have never lied to her"

" Sometimes...it is not a bad thing"

" But..."

" Do you have another plan ? You want to tell her the truth and make her unhappy ? Manik we are not doing anything wrong. We are officially engaged. Many couples live together without even being committed. We are at least serious about each other and very much secure in our relationship as well as life and career"

" But maa...she won't ..."

" I know. I understand, our parents are old school that's why I won't tell my parents too "

" Hmmm probably you are right" he said with a shrug of his shoulder.

" I told you I am always right" she said haughtily flicking her hair over her shoulder.

" Oh yeah?" He said with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Before she could react he caught her and tickled her leaving her panting and squearming.

Seeing that she is breathless he stopped but still stayed on top of her " I will have you begging like this for me very soon" he warned seductively.

" Keep on dreaming"

" We will see"

" Is that a challenge?"

" May be?"

" I love challenges"

" I love YOU"

Her playful gaze met his intense ones. She lifted her head and pecked him on the lips. This caught him off guard and she used the opportunity to push him off her. He landed with a soft thud on the floor beside the couch. She got up and sprinted to her room but not before shouting " I love you too".