I looked up at Sir and his eyes were fixed at Alia,they were fearless.I was still in his arms.

"Sirr!"I whispered breaking the hug but he held me again,this time more closer.

"I won't spare you Manik Malhotra!"Aliya shouted breaking the little vase which was hanging beside the door.

I felt his grip tightening on my waist.He was getting angry,real angry.

"Aur tum Nandani Murthy!Do takke ki aukaat nhi hai tumhari aur tumhari itni..."Before Aliya could complete her words Sir left me with a jerk, "ALIYA!"He bellowed so loudly that the whole office went calm.

He curled his palm which was in air.Was he about to slap Aliya?I stepped back holding my palms at my chest being scared.The whole office was gathered outside our cabin.

"Not.a.word.against.Nandani!Main bardaasht nhi karunga!"He growled going closer to her and she gulped,the sweat and fear was very visible on her face.

At the very moment Cabir bhai and Zain came.

"What?What are you guys staring at!Go!Get back to your work!"Cabir bhai made the crowd dispersed while Zain came between Aliya and Sir.

"Manik!Calm down!"He spoke holding Sir's shoulders and Sir pushed him aside.

"Kia keh rahi thi tum?Very well played Manik Malhotra?Who the hell has played everyone knows here!You are the player!A filthy,emotionless player!"Sir spitted at her face and her eyes turned towards me before she could scare me to the death Zain came in-front of me,being my shield.

"Ohh!So the liar has fitted one more lie into your head!"Alia chuckled and Sir closed his eyes,calming himself.

"Listen Aliya!Enough is enough!Im breaking all ties with you!Manik Malhotra loves Nandani Murthy!Period."He announced fearlessly and a sensation tickled my heart.An abrupt smile crawled up on my lips listening his confession.

"Oye hoye!" Zain whispered teasingly while tilting his head at me and i blushed more.

Feeling Sir's eyes on him he turned serious and i chuckled only to get shut as Sir glared at me too.

"Aur kitni be-izzati karaogi behen!Jao na!"Cabir bhai came from outside and tapped Aliya's shoulder showing her the way out as she was busy glaring at all of us.

"Shut up!"She snarled at Cabir bhai while Zain and I broke into giggles.

"I'll ruin you!"Her eyes stopped at me and then at Sir. "I won't let you guys live happily!Never!" Barking she left the cabin and we all took a deep breath.

......

"Nandani!" I peeped in Zain's cabin but she was not there too.

"Nandani is not here Manik!"Zain looked at me in oblivion and i felt banging my head into the wall.

"Damn!"Sitting on the couch in his cabin I held my head.

"Arey yhi kahi hogi abhi tou yhi thi!Tu itna hyper kyon ho raha hai?"Zain came walking towards me.

After serving me lunch she left the cabin hurriedly before i could ask her and now post fifteen minutes she is no where to be seen.

"Tu Aliya ki wajah se disturb haina?"Zain sat beside me and i looked at him.

"I'm so fed up of her!I..I don't know what to do next!"I felt so useless at the moment.

"Don't worry!We will expose her!Saara kaala chitta kholenge uska!"He tried giving me hope by striking my shoulder.

"Aur upar se Nandani!Pta nhi kahan chli gayi hai!"Now i was getting angry.It felt like she was becoming my breath and i was feeling suffocated now.

Zain chuckled, "It happens when you are in love,hopelessly!"

"Shut up!"Groaning i stood up and he chuckled again.

Idiot!

"Wese Cabir chla gaya?"I asked trying to stop his chuckles.

"Haan tune hi tou use kisi delegate se milne bheja tha!"He reminded me and an Oh left my mouth.

Suddenly the door sprang open and came in the most expected person.

"Hey!Do you know where is the boss?"She was busy rummaging through her handbag.Her tendrils were caressing her cheeks.Her lips shaped in a pout,eyes squeezed.And she looked beautiful.

"Aiyappa!Itni sari missed calls!"Taking her phone out she exclaimed with wide eyes and her eyes remained wide as she found me standing there,right infront of her.

"Aa..p yahan?"She muttered in shock and i gave her a look.

"Happy realisation!"I gave her a tight smile and she made a bad face.

"Where were you?"I asked her a little strictly and she looked at other side before muttering feebly, "In latrine!"

"Are you ok?"I took a step towards her.She wasn't looking fine.

"Guys!Sorry to disturb but its 2 pm!Lunchtime is over so can we get back to work?"Zain spoke while hiding his foolish grin and i gave him will you stay quiet look.

Agar bachpan ki dosti na hoti na tughse tou btata tughe!

"Manik!Can i get half day off?"Nandani spoke so lowly.Now i was sure,she wasn't fine something was terribly wrong with her.

"Yeah!You don't need to ask meri jaan!"I caressed her subtle cheek and she smiled softly.

I'll have to lift her mood.Shayad Aliya ki wajah se pareshaan hai!

"Actually it's a good idea let's take off from work together!"I clasped her palm and she looked at me with amusement in her eyes.

"Amazing!"Zain too chirped,coming close to us when I kept palm on his chest, "You are not going anywhere!Tu kaam kar aur haan a meeting has been scheduled with Mr.Khan at 4:00 pm,cancel it and reschedule it some other day!" I tapped his cheek with a pitiful smile.

Ab has na saale!Jab dekho mere aur Nandani k beech main ata rehta hai!

"Chalein?"I asked her lovingly and she nodded without any objection.

We left leaving a poker face behind.

.......

"Are you feeling sick?"He asked me while holding my palm.His one hand was controlling the steering wheel.

Ab inhe kese btaon k I just got my periods.

"Say something Nandani!You're making me worried now!"He asked again and i gulped looking here and there.

"No!It's just a stomachache!"I smiled at him trying to make him comfortable.

"I'll take you to the doctor!"He spoke warily and i slapped my head.

Aiyappa!

"No sir it's fine aise hota hai!"I tried to make him understand.

"Kaise hota hai?"He asked with furrowed brows and i squeezed my eyes being irked.

"It's that time of the month!"Without any hesitation i muttered and some confusion crawled up on his face before his eyes widened.

"Sorry!"He whispered sheepishly and i chuckled closing my eyes,laying my head back.

Then drive to home went smooth as neither he asked me something nor I.

.....

"Tum rest karo I'll get you hot water bag!"As we entered our home he ordered me and i nodded.The cramps were so harsh.I held my stomach and started to walk towards my room when suddenly he came from behind and picked me up in his arms.

"This wasn't needed!"I spoke softly looking into his lovely eyes.

"Anything which makes you comfortable is needed!"He smiled winsomely at me and i laid my head on his chest.

Instead of taking me to my room he took me to his room and I stayed mum because i knew there would be no result of fighting with him.

After making me lay on his bed he brought the hot water bag and kept it on my stomach gingerly.I closed my eyes feeling relaxed. "Do you need anything else?" He asked caressing my hair when i raised my arms towards him.

"Oh-kay!"He chuckled and laid beside me.I kept my head on his arm and we stared at the ceiling above.

"Aliya won't sit quite Manik!She will tarnish your image.Your name,your reputation everything is at risk just because of me!"I was so forlorn.

Agar main nhi ati inki zindagi main tou ye sab hota hi nhi!

"I don't care!"He spoke carelessly and i looked at him.

"You should care!What about maa?Your mother won't be able to tolerate all this!Ab iss umar main wo apne bete ki ruswai kese bardaasht karengi ek tou wo wese hi akeli hain!"I spoke worriedly and some creases broke on his forehead too.

"I'll sought out everything!Maa ko sab pta hai!Aur maa hi hamesha kehti hai k sach kabhi harta nhi!God must have his plans!Tum apne chote se dimag par itna zor mat dalo!"A giggle left his mouth at last.I was listening to his talks so seriously but his last words ignited fire in me.

"You Monster!"I moved forward pushing his arm and he giggled again seeing my puffed cheeks.

"Acha I'm sorry!"He tried hugging me from behind when i kept hot water bag on his arm.

"Aaaoo!"He shrieked taking his arm back.

"No looking and no touching!"Turning i spoke angrily and he looked baffled.

"Really?"He asked in shock and i nodded before covering myself with the blanket.

"Tou phir main office ja raha hn!"His words and i removed blanket immediately, "Nhi!"

A smirk caressed his lips and he came closer to me.My heart had started to beat fast.

"Chla jaon?"Keeping the water bag aside he placed his both palms beside my head.He was laying completely on bed only our faces were adjacent to each other.

I moved my head horizontally with a pout and he pecked my lips suddenly leaving me wide-eyed.
Before i could digest he pecked my plump lips again.

"Manik?"I whispered which came out as a moan,charging him more.

"Hmm!"And he pecked again.

"Bas!Koi aajayega!Darwaza bhi khula hai!" My voice delicate and supple.

"I want to get married to you!"His sudden wish and a smile broke on my lips.

"Kab?"I muttered smilingly and his lips too stretched into a winsome smile.The love his eyes were holding for me was ethereal.

"Very soon!"He laid his head on my chest not before planting a peck at my lips.

How serene life is!Bas wo churail se dar lagta hai wo nazar na laga de hamari khushion ko!

His phone rang and he disconnected it without looking at the screen.

"Pick it up na!"I ruffled his hair.

Again the phone rang and he disconnected it.

"It must be important!Aap dekh tou lein ek baar!"

Before he could answer me the phone rang again and he picked up the phone only to jump on bed.

"Ji mom!How are you?"He sat on the bed,trying to get normal and i chortled. "Speaker!" I nudged him and he nodded before putting his cell on speaker.I too sat beside him.

"Manik what is wrong with you?How can you announce your wedding with Aliya when you love Nandani?Are you even in your senses?Im coming to India from next flight!I won't let you do this to yourself!"
She disconnected the line and we both sat there like brainless peeps.

.......
Writer waits for your response!A one word review is not the justice to 2000 words lengthy chapter!🥹

Yours
New Wanderer