Hello Fam :)

Warning: - Before you try to throw eggs or tomatoes at me, I swear it's not my fault. Manik has become his own person right now and he doesn't listen to anyone including the writer. :P

I might have or haven't mentioned about him but some of the things Manik does are so infuriating that you feel like strangling him. It doesn't make sense until he explains his reason and logic and once he does, you can't really argue with him. He has a warped sense of righteousness always but whatever it is, no one can beat our boy in his logic. Kindly, have patience with him. :)

Happy Reading...

After their initial talk, Nandini was surprised at how easily it was to approach Nyonika. Most of the time, they only sit together and do their own work but it made Nandini feel less alone. Nyonika was good at reading people too, which was a huge plus. Whenever she used to slip into her own head, the older woman called her softly, offered her coffee breaks, or just simply asked her opinion. She never asked her a question about what she was thinking, saving a huge embarrassment for Nandini. Unknowing to both of them, Nyonika Malhotra was filling a very huge gap in Nandini's life.

"Aren't you two the new best buddies in town?"

It was a busy week for the Malhotra twins. They were hardly home, and when they did, they were almost always tired. Hence, Nandini was surprised when Cabir pointed out the growing bond between Nyonika and her. He was hardly smiling and she didn't know if he was against it or not. Whatever might be the reason, she didn't have an answer to that and chose to stay quiet. Nyonika was out to meet one of her friends and was staying for the night.

It was later in their room, Manik tapped her head playfully. "You are overthinking. Cabir isn't mad, just tired."

"I didn't say anything", she pointed out.

Manik chuckled. "Your smile dropped after he asked that question. Seriously, we are happy that you are getting together so well. Two of the most important women in our lives. He might be surprised but that's it."

Nandini felt her cheeks burning. She was important? To Manik? "You don't seem too surprised", she asked, instead.

Manik rolled his eyes. "You two are predictable and too similar. She picked up herself and the company after dad and you did almost the same after your grandfather. She stands up in front of the world and you had never let your parents dictate your life, external drugs aside. She terrifies people in the company, you in college. You both would lay down your lives for the people you love. It really isn't surprising that you would get along once you get to know each other."

"Did that come from one of your books?", she muttered. Where did Manik get his observation skills from? How could he read her like she never knew herself?

Instead of answering her, Manik gave her a shy smile and went to lay down on his recliner. It was after a very long time and when Nandini thought he had drifted to sleep, she heard him in the quiet of the night. "It wasn't surprising but there were many things that could have gone wrong. I am glad you are getting along. It would have been hell to take sides when both of you are closest to my heart."

In the solitude of the dark, it was the only thing that somehow got stuck inside her head. Suddenly, she saw the boy who loved his mother way too much to question any decision of hers, however absurd it was. She hadn't really believed herself but now when she was the primary witness of how protective Nyonika was of Manik, Nandini couldn't help but wonder the reason that made her keep the boy away from her.

XXX

By the end of the week, Nandini was seriously worried about the health condition of the two Malhotra men. The past two weeks, she hardly saw them for more than a few minutes at a stretch and by the time they are home, either it would be too late that she would have gone to sleep after waiting for them or they would be too tired to utter a word. Hence, on Friday, considering it as an almost weekend, Nandini took the liberty to check on the boys at the Malhotra office. Given, they stayed at the office the previous night, she thought her worry was genuine.

Reaching the office, she asked the girl at the reception if Manik was available and got a huge smile from her as an answer. Nandini gave her one of her own smiles but it dropped when she was met with Meera. Ignoring her, she went to Manik's cabin and knocked it twice before opening it.

Meera, I told you to go to Cabir for the doubts, yaar.

She cleared her throat when Manik spoke from his place without lifting his head up. He had dark circles under his eyes, his hair a mess, the tiredness clearly visible but his whole face lit up as he saw Nandini at the door. He pushed his file aside, stood up from his chair to walk towards her as he entwined their hands together before tugging her onto a chair. He himself abandoned his chair to take one beside her.

"What a pleasant surprise, Nandini. Are you okay?", he asked.

Nandini rolled her eyes. "I am fine but you aren't. You will make yourself sick, if you are continuing like this, Manik."

He nodded, not denying her. "Yeah, today's the last day. I will be done within an hour or two and then I will take a break. I really need to catch up on my sleep."

"Of course, you do", she said quietly.

"Did you have your lunch?", he asked her again.

She wasn't the one working overtime like a robot, she thought but refrained from saying anything. "I did. Did you?"

"Nandini, what are you talking about even? You don't get to work extra time with Cabir without extra food", he said, rolling his eyes, his eyes giving away the fondness he had for his brother.

Wow! I can feel so much love around here for me.

Cabir announced his presence and then smiled at her. "Hello, Nandini", he said. "Bhai, I need your signatures on these and then I will be done with my work."

Manik nodded and gave it to Cabir after signing them.

"I will go and mail these then", said the younger twin.

"Kid, why don't you mail it from my system? Just use my laptop", said Manik.

"Are you sure, I won't find any secret picture of you two?", he teased.

Nandini rolled her eyes. Between all their overly affectionate names, she never realized how much they bantered or teased each other. It was surprising in a really good way.

"Baby, shut up and mail them", replied Manik before explaining to Nandini about the work they had completed during the past few days.

She noticed Manik talked more when he was stressed or tired while Cabir barely opened his mouth, completely opposite to their original selves. They were disturbed by a knock on the door. It was Meera but it hardly surprised Nandini. There was a huge frown on her head as she stared at their joined hands, which also was not a surprise.

"Meera, you need something?", asked Manik, bringing her attention to him.

"Yes, sir. I need Cabir sir to check these."

"Put them on the table. Cabir would send it to you after checking", said Manik and resumed his story as if he wasn't interrupted.

On her way out, Nandini found the girl glaring at their hands and she frowned. What's up with people trying to snatch away her happiness every time she found a reason to smile? She might have gone spiraling towards her past but as the god-send guy that he was, Manik tugged at her hand in between his rant, and just like that, she forgot the girl she hardly knew about.

"Am I disturbing you?", she asked, once Manik had stopped speaking.

It was Cabir who answered her even before Manik. "You are a sweet refreshment, Nandini. Never think otherwise", he said.

Even if being sweet was a really rare concept between them, it warmed her heart to realize she wasn't being a burden to them.

"Bhai, I will check these and come. If you are done with your work, we can go home."

Once Cabir was out of the cabin, Manik turned towards her. "If I think of you as a disturbance, I would never ask you to barge in, Nandini."

And Nandini didn't know what to say to that. Fortunately for her, Manik didn't push it. It was a barely controlled yawn that made her chuckle. Maybe god-send guys are really human sometimes. "Why don't you finish your work? We can talk later", she told.

XXX

When Nandini was just outside the entrance, she found Meera waiting for her. Well, that was definitely surprising. Won't their boss say anything if they roam around during office hours? Maybe their boss would do their work himself, wondered Nandini in answer. It was really what Manik would do.

"Hey, we meet again", she said with a smile so fake, she would rather be a plastic doll.

Nandini crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. She didn't need to talk to the girl unless she absolutely had to.

Meera laughed. "For a wife of a few days, you really have an attitude, Nandini."

"Listen, I know what you are trying to do here. So, just back off. I can really talk to Manik if I want to but I would rather keep his professional life separate from his personal."

"You have already mixed up everything, Nandini. I am not surprised he is trying so hard to get rid of you. Why would he apply for a divorce if he is really interested in you?", said Meera giving her a once-over.

"Stop talking shit", she said, gritting her teeth. She wasn't unfamiliar with people creating misunderstandings, her parents being the prime example, but this was an all-time low. Didn't the girl just glare at Manik holding her hand sometime back?

The girl shrugged casually as if she isn't trying to topple the already wobbling life of Nandini. "You would come back to your senses once you get the official papers. Till then, enjoy your last days as a Malhotra and as Manik's wife."

With that said, she turned around to leave when Nandini called her again and she really wanted to wipe that smirk off the girl's face. "How do you know about this?", she asked, instead.

The girl looked at Nandini as if she were stupid. "About your divorce? I am his 'personal' assistant. It's not too difficult to keep tabs on his personal life."

XXX

Later that night, Nandini kept on repeating the conversation repeatedly as she laid on her bed. When she heard Manik's voice, she closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. She didn't really want to speak to him right now. When Manik didn't disturb her, letting her sleep, she didn't know whether to be happy because he cared enough to not to disturb her or sad because he didn't care if she was awake waiting for him or not. She waited until Manik was asleep to stare at the ceiling and replay his assistant's words all over again. It didn't help her headache either.

XXX

Probably the whole universe had something against her. Nandini hadn't realized when she had drifted to sleep and the next moment she was woken up by a thunderstorm. She shut her eyes tightly and pressed her hands over her ears in an attempt to block the noise. Her fear for the thunders had only gotten worse when she was in a secluded house and there was no one around her.

While she was trying hard not to slip into her memories, she felt Manik shaking her awake. It was too good of a dream to believe Manik would really remember just another more fact about her. But then when she was stubborn not to open her eyes, she found Manik slipping into the bed beside her. He pulled her close, pushing her head over his heart, and closed her ears, cooing in her ear that it would all be fine just like he did all those years back. Nandini pushed away every single thought inside her head in favor of listening to the heartbeat beneath her ear. The soothing rhythm made her feel stupid to let an assistant's words get to her head when Manik was right beside her at every step she took. With his heartbeat as a lullaby and his hand patting her head as a reassurance, she drifted to a peaceful sleep after years.   

Next chapter - Some old banter between Cabir and Nandini, Manik being sweet but lots of Nyonika and Nandini's bonding. There might be some revelations. No promises though, I haven't written it yet so, let's see where the word count goes. If it's too big, I will break the chapter in two. Overall it would be fun. See you soon. :P