Hey guys! Thankyou so much for supporting me on the previous chapter. It really means alot.

Love you all.

Here goes the next chapter.

Happy Reading!

Chapter 9 A

As soon as she entered her room she broke into so many tears crying like crazy.

It was hurting. It was hurting so much.

Manik slapped her?

He...he slapped her?

Why was it hurting so much?

She wanted him to get angry na? Now if that's happening then why is it hurting so much?

She fell on her couch and hide her face in the cushion.

Crying like a mad kid she hiccupped like a maniac.

"I LOVE HER!"

"I CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE HER!"

Manik's words were ringing in her head as she cried and shivered because of the wet clothes.

Why? Why I can't love Manik like a normal person?

Why I can't be a normal person?

"Aiyappa! Why? Why? Am I not your loveable child?" She screamed like an angry kid staring at the ceiling.

Nandini for once! Just let Manik love you! Ms. Subconscious spoke patting Nandini's head and she cried more.

Just for once! Try to be the selfish girl who craves love and care! Ms. Subconscious added with a sad smile and Nandini sniffled her nose shaking her head.

He is so angry with me! He slapped me! She reasoned with tired head and Ms. Subconscious nodded.

That was wrong I agree! Ms. Subconscious was also sad.

"I am very angry with you Manik!" She talked to herself again crying to no extent as she looked at the closed door of her office.

A little hope that maybe he will come and apologize.

She didn't dare to blink her eyes because she was dying for Manik to come and once again tell her that he love her.

This time if he will tell her she will accept it.

She will not let him go..

But will he come?

He asked her to never show her face again.

Did she really lose him?

"Aiyappa! Thori si khushi? Thory say Manik...day den mjy! Please!" She begged hugging her hands to her chest and shivered badly.

Manik aa kay sambhaal len...I am breaking down.

_____________________________________-

"I!" Hit...

"Am!" Hit...

"A!" Hit...

"Loser!" Hit...

"How?! Like how can I slap a woman? A woman whom I love the most in my life?" Manik cried out banging his hurt wrist once again on the table and this time Cabir came forward pulling him away from the table.

"Manik bus!" He scolded Manik with authority but Manik wasn't ready to listen to him at all.

"Cabir! Myny! Myny Nandini ko thapar maara! I slapped her! Apny ego aur gussay me I forgot everything yar! Usy bht dard hua hoga na?" He asked Cabir frantically and Cabir helplessly tried to cup Manik's cheek. "Wo ro bhi rahi the Cabir. I promised myself k main usy kabhi ronay nahi doonga but!" Manik fisted his hair backing off until he was resting with the wall and Cabir once again came to him.

"Manik! We both know kay whatever you did was wrong. Seriously slapping a woman uski koi justification hai he nahi!" Cabir's words were throwing Manik into a hell of guilt and Manik looked down ashamed. "But!" Cabir continued and this time he cupped Manik's face to make him look into his eyes. "You can still mend it!" He spoke with sincerity and something...a tiny bit of hope flickered in Manik's eyes.

"Can I?" His voice was hollow almost coming out of some empty well.

"Ofcourse! Make your actions count! Win over her! Tell her that you are sorry" Cabir's words were effecting him so much. "Agar zakham tuny diya hai Manik! Tou jaa...marham bhi tu he laga kar aa!" He added with a small shrug gesturing towards the door and Manik stood there deciding so many things in his head.

"But...what if she rejects me? What if she resist me just like she always do?" Manik had his own doubts considering the way she was taking his consolations and his love in a wrong way.

"Manik! Gather her in your arms. Usy aur mat totnay day. I don't think she can bear anymore! She looks like a strong lady but I am sure she needs a shoulder to cry on. Kuch hai jo usy tery pass nahi aany deta! You must find out that reason. And if she resist tou hold her tighter! She's the perfect idiot for you, tuny khudi bola tha na?" Cabir's words literally have some kind of magic which made Manik's darkened doomed world lit up and he stared at him with wonder.

"If tonight you let her go na? Tou you'll lose your idiot right away! Aj raat, jitna bhi resist kary wo! Jo bhi bolay wo! You will hold her tight and you won't let her go Manik!" Cabir was now shaking Manik to which he nodded almost frantically.

"But I have hurt her so much!" Manik spoke in an ashamed tone and Cabir shook his head.

"Well it's always a two sides street Manik! Taali aik hath say nahi bajti! Usny bhi bht stubbornness dikhaai hai. She has also crossed her limits! But today. You must go and listen to her intentions. Uski side ki story bhi sun lay!" Cabir spoke with a small smile and his contagious smile forced Manik to smile with him.

"Okay...! I'll take care of her!" He nodded his head with determination, which made Cabir pat his shoulder in encouragement.

Manik was sure to win his woman back.

______________________-

Nandini's body still shook with the light sobs she was taking. Lying on her stomach on the couch she had her head on the cushion. Her one arm was dangling down and it was almost numb but she didn't feel anything.

Her wet dress was still stuck to her body. She didn't turn on the lights as the sun sat down.

She waited. She waited for Manik to come.

Aiyappa! Bus aik baar. Send him back to me. For once. I promise! I'll not reject him. Main ab na-shukri nahi karonge Aiyappa. Please! She shouted in her head as she cried to her heart content.

Her tears were not coming to any halt. They kept flowing for unknown reasons.

I LOVE HER!

I DID EVERYTHING TO KEEP HER CLOSE TO MY HEART!

Manik's words rang in her head and she sobbed on her unthankful behaviour.

Nandini! Ms. Subconscious patted Nandini's shoulder. Don't cry. Let him love you. Stop this revenge thing na. See all he did was to protect you. You can't hurt the people you love. She continued and Nandini helplessly stared at her.

I am not worthy! Nandini was still stuck on that point.

Let Manik decide. Please Nandini. You know you are tired. Don't fight with Manik anymore my love. He literally slapped you! Is say bhi teray dimag me kuch seedha nahi hua??? Ms. Subconscious snapped at her and Nandini felt the sting on her cheek. She knew his hand had left a mark.

But not for once she touched her cheek. Neither she tried to console herself. She wanted to feel that pain as long as she could so that it will keep reminding her that she must not disobey the only person she love.

I love him Ms. Subconscious. I love him so much. Please tell him to come back to me. Please. Nandini started pleading to Ms. Subconscious to which she was also helpless.

I am sorry Nandini. This is the thing I can't do for you. But...! Before Ms. Subconscious could complete her words Nandini felt a light pat on her hair.

All her senses woke up with a jerk. Telling her about the presence of the love of her life. Her first. Her last. Her reason of breathing. The shade of love in her colourless life. The man who always proved to own her with his actions. Around whom her heart stop beating for her, it start beating for him.

Without even looking up she knew it was him. Her heart knew it was him. Each cell of her body screamed it was him. His perfume, his intoxicating body odour filled through her nose and she became motionless.

Her body movements paused. She stopped breathing. She feared that if she will move her man will fade away.

If it was a dream! If she was dreaming that Manik was here to console her than she didn't want to wake-up from this dream.

She wanted to live in that dream untill it becomes the most beautiful reality of her life.

She laid there quietly not moving and waited for the scene to unfold.

Manik here carefully patted the hair of the broken angel lying almost miserably in front of him on the couch and his heart started aching badly.

He felt himself killing on hurting his girl to this extent.

He could see her clothes still wet. Her long silky hair disheveled. Her arm limp on the floor and this shook him bad.

Without thinking much he carefully bent down and placed his lips on her hair.

"Meri Jaaan!" Words escaped his mouth slowly more like a whisper and his voice held so much pain.

As soon as his whisper reached her ears and she felt his tender lips on her hair something broke inside her. A muffled sob erupted from her throat and she sat up on the couch with a jerk. Without giving Manik much time to react she hugged his waist tightly digging her face into his stomach crying with warm tears.

"Manik!" Her earth shaking sob shook Manik's whole world as he stood frozen on his place.

"Manik! Manik I am sorry!" She wailed fisting to the fabric of his shirt tightly and Manik's eyes stilled. He was shocked but he wanted her to speak.

"Manik main! Myny jaan bojh k apki coffee me salt dala tha. I wanted you to suffer. But I never knew that you'll drink it quietly and it will upset your blood pressure. Manik... mainy...wo Tom and Jerry ko dala tha slides me without thinking that it will affect your reputation. Manik main tou sab theek karna chahti the islye I went to Oberoi's. I was so sorry about everything... everything Manik!" Her incoherent sobs made Manik close his eyes as he wanted to die for slapping his innocent baby.

"Manik I am sorry naa!" She wailed again fisting his shirt more tightly and banging her head in his stomach demanding some reaction.

Manik shook his head in dismay before carefully cupping her cheeks to make her look at his face.

He was still standing and she was still sitting. She looked like a small broken baby to him who was so scared that her mother will leave her.

"Nandini listen to me!" Manik whispered taking her attention and looking in her deep ocean eyes.

"No...no Manik! Ap listen to me!" She spoke hysterically now gripping to his hands over her cheeks and Manik sighed.

He thought that he will have to beg and plead her to listen to him but guess his slap had affected her very much.

"You... you said na. That I can't stop myself from coming closer to you? You were right!" She sobbed babyish-ly and a small faint smile touched Manik's lips as all he found sincerity on her face.

"Main aa gai Manik...Main aa gai apk pass!" She spoke with few more tears rolling down her cheeks. "I am tired Manik! Mjy aur ni bhaagna ap say dor. Me thak gai... apki jaaan ab thak gai!" She repeated his words like a sermon and closed her eyes already feeling alot tired while Manik's heart was doing somersaults.

"I am in your arms Manik!" She whimpered in his body resting her head with him. "Don't let me go. Please don't be angry!" She whimpered more and Manik slowly covered her with his arms. "Ap smbhaal lain mjhy! Main toot kar bikhar rahi hoon! Ap mjy samait len!" Her whispers were so faint and painful that Manik felt someone took his heart in fist.

"Mera ab koi nahi...!" She was talking animatedly. "Mera tou kabhi koi ni tha Manik!" She was in some trance. "Me tou hamesha say akeli the...!" She added and Manik squeezed her body in his assuring her to which she looked at his face still glued to him.

"Ap...ap mery haina?" Her eyes held an uncertainty which left Manik amazed.

He never ever imagined her to be so expressive.

"Bolen na?" She was on verge of crying again. "Ap haina ab mery? You're mine na?" She asked shaking him a bit again to which Manik bent over her only to place his warm lips on her ice cold forehead.

"Sirf tumhara! Only yours!" He had sworn over her skin and she felt content on his words.

She didn't need much more surety... although.

She knew. She knew that he deserved to know who she was but as she mentioned earlier for once in her life she wanted to become selfish.

Selfish for the love she wanted so much.

She kept hugging to Manik's body for God knows how long still sitting and him standing caressing her hair with his lips on her forehead. The warmth of Manik's body was engulfing her entirely and she felt herself drifting to sleep untill..

"Nandini?!" Manik's loving whisper directly hit her heart and she unconsciously gripped to his shirt's back tightly.

"Jaaan?" Manik again called her patting her head to take her attention and she didn't want this moment to end at all.

She wanted to live in this person who now owned her.

"Hey... don't fall asleep!" Manik chuckled nuzzling his nose in her hair and she felt a whole zoo fluttering in her stomach on his this act.

He can't be more loving! But no she was wrong. His love had no limits. Not at all.

"Nandu Sona ni..!" He warned her once again as he saw her eyes still closed..

Nandu..! When was the last time someone has called her with this nickname with so much love? She guessed...umm never.

"Hey!" He was consistent on not to let her sleep to which she opened her sleepy eyes and looked at him.

"Hmm!" She murmured bating her eyelashes and he caressed her face.

"Let's go home!" He told her softly staring in her hazel orbs and Nandini's face twisted in pain.

"Home?" She whimpered shaking her head. "Mera tou koi Ghar nahi hai Manik!" Yes she was right she had no home.

Manik sighed finally making her get up and she sealed her lips to control the hisses which threatened to escape her mouth to which Manik looked at her with concern but he will take care of her once he will take her home.

"You have a home Nandini!" He started speaking cupping her cheeks with his hands. Seems like both weren't able to resist from having a physical contact every second.

"I am your home!" Those words... weren't just words for Nandi they were her whole universe. The man standing infront of her was her everything.

She was speechless. Out of words.

She didn't trust her voice to speak so she just nodded with teary eyes gripping to his hands tightly.

"Shall we go?" He asked with a small smile and she again nodded lowly.

They started walking hand in hand when suddenly Nandini stumbled and Manik held her quickly. Both looked down at the floor to find the reason.

The laces of Nandini's shoes were untied.

Manik chuckled while Nandini just bite her lips in confusion but before she could bend down to tie the laces she saw Manik sitting down on the floor on his knees which immediately made her gasp out loud.

"Manik no! Ya kya kar rahay hain ap?" She cried out in embarrassment as she tried to make him get up but...

"It's ok Nandini! Lemme do it! Please! It's not a big deal trust me!" Manik spoke in a chill tone shaking his head and Nandini just bite her lower lip blushing hard.

The Manik Malhotra who has never bent infront of anyone was sitting on the floor tying the shoe laces of his girl.

What an epic moment it was truly.

And Manik. He had only one thought in his head while tying the laces that he had slapped his woman and he will compensate it no matter what it takes.

After tying the laces he got up and without saying anything he shrugged off his coat and wrapped it around Nandini's little torso.

"Manik... apko bhi tou thand lag jye ge!" Nandini whispered in a small tone as she failed to meet his eyes for all the things he was doing for her.

"I am fine Nandini. You're very cold. Agar fever ho gya tou? No we can't take risk. Now let's go!" Manik scolded her with authority.

When was the last time someone truly cared for her if she will fall sick? She guessed...umm never.

Now without giving her much time to think he held her hand and dragged her out of the office.

It was off time already and the corridors were stranded.

It was just two of them now and guess Cabir also went home so without having eyes of the people over them Manik reached his car with Nandini still on his side. He unlocked the car and made her sit inside because the rain hasn't stopped yet and he almost ran to sit on his seat.

Within few seconds he was also covered in rain before he could sit inside.

"Manik...you got wet too!" Nandini said worriedly as she saw water dripping from his hair and Manik jerked his hair to shove away the water droplets while his car was speedily running over the busy roads of Mumbai.

"It's ok! I am fine!" Manik spoke carelessly and shrugged to which Nandini sighed raising her fingers to wipe wetness from his temples.

Her slow fingers caressed his hair and Manik's grip on the steering wheel tightened as he tried to focus on the road not on the girl beside him who was doing although nothing sexual to attract him but still he was very much aroused with the way her now warm fingers touched his cold skin.

After wiping Nandini retreated her hand and Manik released a breath which he never knew he was holding.

There was a something very peaceful in eachother's company which they both felt strongly.

Nandini rested her head with the back of the seat looking at Manik as she was turned towards him.

She wanted to hide this man in her eyes forever long. She was compensating the denial of this man which she had been doing in past few days. She didn't want to miss his single expression, his single gesture. She was memorising every feature of him in her memory.

There was a small smile on Manik's lip as he felt Nandini's undistracted gaze on his face.

He didn't ask the reason nor he tried to move away because somehow somewhere he was enjoying the attention his lady love was giving him.

Driving at a normal pace he finally stopped his car in the garage of Malhotra Mansion. Pulling the key out of the ignition Manik finally turned in his seat to meet her eyes.

"You done with staring, love?" He asked in a playful tone and Nandini just shook her head with a small smile.

How will she let him know that no, she will never get enough of him ever.

"Okay!" Manik's lips turned into O as he nodded his head while getting down. Opening her side of door he held her hand to help her in getting down off the car which she quietly did.

"Apna staring session ap baad me continue kar sakti hain abhi let's go inside!" He was literally chirping with happiness and she let out a small laugh as he dragged her inside the mansion.

Nandini was totally mesmerized by the beauty of Manik's house as he kept pulling her with him and finally stopped infront of a door.

"This is my room!" He added opening the door and entering inside.

"Your house is beautiful Manik!" Nandini said softly following Manik in the room and saw him already busy in finding something in his wardrobe.

Manik was busy so she took her time in admiring his room. Black everything black.

Curtains, bedsheets, covers, furniture everything.

This intrigued Nandini but she didn't ask.

"Here!" Manik's voice broke her trance and she turned to him.

He was holding a white towel. A white cotton shirt and a trouser. She first noticed the things then looked at his face.

"Ya..?" Her voice trailed off as she asked unsure and Manik didn't give her further time to react as he dragged her inside the bathroom.

Nandini's eyes widened as she saw the big white spotless bathroom.

Aiyappa. Itna bara bathroom! She thought to herself and looked at Manik who had placed the clothes on the bathroom shelf moreover he has turned on the hot shower setting it's temperature to moderate.

"Come Nandini! Take a hot shower and wear these clothes! Make yourself comfortable!" Manik spoke coming closer to her while she stood almost motionless.

Was she that worthy?

Manik was giving her so much..

She just stared at him like an alien and he sighed shaking his head.

"Don't overthink Nandini! Bus...ziada mat socho! Idar aoa mery pass!" Manik knew her confusions and insecurities so he opened his arms a bit asking her to come to him.

She took two seconds before sliding herself in his embrace and he gently pushed off the jacket from her shoulders.

She just stood there trusting every bit of her life over him.

When she didn't resist Manik he smiled on the trust she gave him.

Carefully he peeled of the thin wet sticky cardigan too and she shivered with his touch.

Manik too felt the same intensity as hers. She looked up slowly and Manik looked down at her face.

Something ignited in them. A fire. A desire. A desire for loving eachother senseless.

Manik eyed Nandini's lips and she too did the same. Unconsciously Manik had cupped her cheeks too and she placed her hands on his chest getting ready for what was coming.

Oh My God! He is going to kiss you Nandini!!! Ms. Subconscious screamed and Nandini...she was in some entirely different world.

Her first kiss..

Manik pulled her up a bit and she closed her eyes now fisting to his collars.

But before Manik could place his lips on hers the trance broke by the shrieking ringtone of Manik's cellphone. Nandini's eyes shot open as she backed off with a jerk blushing like a rose and Manik let out a string of curses ruffling a rough hand through his hair.

He pulled out the phone and It was none other than Cabir Dhawan. Manik could have killed him but alas he was on phone not infront of him.

He looked at Nandini who was looking down at her shoes still blushing like crazy and Manik came closer.

He cupped her nape for a second jerking her head up to look at him.

His eyes were so seductive..

"Babe! We aren't done yet!" His voice held so much of promises. The untold promises and Nandini thought she will die any second with the intensity of his words but Manik had gone out leaving her alone in the bathroom.

She held her crazy beating heart and took off her shoes to take a long relaxing shower.

She was happy and content..

_______________-

YAyyyye! Nandini finally accepted Manik.

But Manik's sorry session is still left.

And Cabir ruined the kiss haina! Hehe!

But koi ni...much and much more is coming.

And a new entry!

How many of you remember the model Tara Raaj? Nandini wrote an article over her and now she's coming in Manik's fashion week! Soooo! So much of drama is coming!

Just wait and watch!

Love, Mawara