"Manik, today Dr Morgan has given an appointment for Rishav. I also have to get Mini to her Pediatrician. I have packed your lunch and kept your suit on the bed. You have a meeting with the foreign delegates, right? All the best."
Nandini cheers her husband with a bright smile while laying down the grey suit on the bed. She wraps the pallu (The end part of a saree that covers the chest) around her waist and observes the clothes if there are any flaws. Her beautiful face is glazing with sweat. In the morning, it gets really hectic for her. Manik was drying his hair with a dryer when her words attract his attention. He looks at his wife through the mirror. Not only look he actually minutely scrutinizes all curves and lines of her body. After the birth of Manikya, Nandini has become a bit chubby. It's nothing but the post-pregnancy weight gain. Some women feel conscious about it. Nandini is no exception. Manik often finds her out in front of the mirror, stroking her little plumpy belly while pouting in despair. However, in Manik's case, it works totally differently. According to him, the extra flesh on her body makes her sexier and more alluring. Manik's dark eyes trail up, measuring the bends and turns of her hips, waist and chest and finally get fixed on her angelic face. His forehead forms a deep 'V'. Some strands of her tresses are stuck on her forehead because of sweat. He switches off the dryer and tightens the belt of his white bathrobe. Nandini is still engrossed in her thoughts. She is doubtful if this white shirt is being a very obvious choice for this grey Armani suit or if she should be more adventurous. Manik saunters at her and stands just behind. He scoots forward and nears his mouth to her ear.
"Why are you so stubborn, Nandini?"
Manik's husky words startle Nandini. She flips with a jolt. Manik's eyes are dark. But she knows that it's not because of desire instead, her husband is annoyed by something. His obvious call 'Angel' turning to Nandini is its proof. Nandini wipes the area of her mouth and asks in a sceptic tone,
"Now, what have I done?"
In reply, Manik touches the tresses that are clung to her smooth forehead and pushes them behind her ear. His fingers don't stop there instead, they skim down and settle on her collarbone.
"How many servants do we have in our house? Okay, forget it. I know it's really hard to remember the number. So, how many chefs and how many laundry boys are there among them?"
Manik sounds cool yet intimidating. Nandini can smell his hint. She bites her tongue inwardly. Manik's fingers are still doodling on her upper chest area. Sometimes they are touching the line of her cleavage, giving her tremor to every pore.
"I think plenty. Still, you burden yourself by making my breakfast, lunch and dinner despite my persuasion. Now, what it should be called? Of course, stubbornness."
He trails up the forefinger along her throat and pushes her chin to make her meet his eyes. Nandini bats her lashes a couple of times and replies with confidence,
"No, it should be called my responsibility and care towards my husband. Manik, I used to belong to a very middle-class family where I always have seen my Amma doing all these normal household courses happily. So, it naturally comes to me. You insisted on appointing a nanny for Mini; I agreed with your decision. But please don't make me sit and eat for the entire day. I can't. Look, I have become so fatty."
Nandini points at her body which brings an instant smile to Manik's lips. Suddenly, he encircles her into his stout arms and yanks her frame to press it against his hard chest.
"This baby fat has turned you sexier, my Angel. Have you ever minutely observed yourself? Your hips, your curves, your boobs...ufff I can die for these."
He utters in a raspy tone while rubbing his manly chest with her upper torso so that, he can feel the softness of her bosoms. Nandini feels weak on her knees. This man can make her vulnerable at any time. Manik nears her lips to take her petals into his mouth when Nandini retreats her head like a serpentine. Her eyes have mischief.
"Mr Malhotra, don't you think you should concentrate on your meeting rather than my body statistics? Because it would be more beneficial."
She replies in a teasing voice and tries to free herself from his grip. However, it's not easy. Manik Malhotra frees anyone when he wants to. His fingertips dig more tightly into her flesh.
"Don't worry about that. I never invest my time in a matter when it is not beneficial. Arya will be in the meeting. He will handle the initial portion. Let me concentrate on my mood."
He retorts in a husky tone and again scoots forward for a kiss. Suddenly, Nandini holds his arms and almost forcefully unshackles herself from his seizure. She steps back to make a distance. Manik meets her stern eyes with his surprised ones.
"Don't you think you are relying on your friend way beyond?"
Her voice is sour. Manik's eyes turn dark again. He walks towards the walk-in wardrobe and opens it to take out another suit and shirt.
"I would like to correct you. He is not only my friend but my childhood friend. One of my confidants who knows me in and out. Not from today but from the initial years of my disturbed and troubled childhood."
Manik hangs both the suits in both of his hands and checks them while mouthing in a flat tone. Nandini flares her nose and replies in a bitter tone.
"Apart from your childhood confidant, he is a mafia too. He can be dangerous, Manik. Why don't you understand?"
Manik calmly throws the suits on the bed that Nandini chose and starts taking off his bathrobe.
"He is the only one who helped me to leave India. Otherwise, you would have been in jail for murdering that guy. Don't forget his mafia power only helped me to restrain the Mumbai police."
Manik utters in a low intimidating tone. The chill of his voice indicates his inner turmoil. He buttons his shirt and corrects the creases around his waistline. Nandini hostilely nears him and chides,
"That would have been better. At least I would have been sorted out that I am being punished for my sin. I am tired of this hide-and-seek game."
In the blink of an eye, Manik clutches her by her elbows and yanks her in a violent manner. His eyes are spitting rage and insecurities at a time.
"And I am tired of your obstinance. For the last time, I am saying this, Angel. I am not going to lose you for your stupid thinking. If it's a hide-and-seek game that can protect you from the police, from separating you from me then I will play it. And you will obey my instructions. You will be here with me in my paradise, away from the world you used to belong to. Forget that incident. You are safe here, in my world. Imprint it in your mind. Understood?"
Manik's tone is perilous. His grip on her body becomes tighter. Nandini hisses in pain,
"Manik..."
"Understood?"
He again hoarses out. His cold dark eyes give shivers to Nandini's spine. She nods in assurance. Manik's eyes gradually become normal. He leaves her and lifts the blazer from the bed.
"Thanks for the lunch. I will be late."
He mouths formally and leaves to head to the Manikya's room. It's his routine to say morning and kiss his daughter before leaving for the office. Nandini keeps on looking at his back with teary eyes. After a brief silence, she mumbles,
"I still don't understand you, Manik. Is this your love or madness? I still can't understand."
......................................
The meeting is over. Manik and Aryamaan are relaxing in Manik's cabin. Most expectedly Malhotra Industry has signed a new venture with a foreign company. Aryamaan pours some whisky into a glass. Manik rolls his eyes at him. During work time and in the office premises, he doesn't like this habit. But his friend hardly cares about any offence. Aryamaan revolves the stool and faces Manik.
"Manik, my offer is still open. Join us, Bro. We will rule the Manhattan."
Aryamaan gulps the neat whisky and mouths in an ardent voice. Manik relaxes on his revolving chair while puffing some rings of smoke.
"I am already ruling its business market, Arya. In any case, I have you and you have me. There is no need for any official pact."
A lopsided smile creeps on Aryamaan's lips. He fills his empty glass once more and utters in a derisive tone,
"Why don't you admit that you don't want to hurt Nandini? She belongs to a lower-middle-class family. The word Mafia is like horror for her. She is lucky, Man. Manik Malhotra, the ruthless, ethicless brute is head over heel for his angel."
Manik's eyes flicker for a nanosecond. He rubs the flaming cigarette in the ashtray and replies in an arctic tone,
"I differ. In fact, I am lucky. She turns my hell into paradise. She is my angel in her brute's paradise."
Author's note: So, this is the first chapter of Brute's Paradise. Hope you liked it. 😊