Next day when Nandini went out of her room she found an envelope on the door step. She friend at first before looking around the hotel area. But since it was early, there's none at this time. Reluctantly she picked up the yellow envelope and saw there's a latter insude. She opened the the later only to see few words were written inside.
Hope your mind is fresh now. The weather is good and the view is enjoyable. Let's start the morning with a coffe? Will be waiting for you in the cafe down, hope to see you.
Even if not, I will be happy you read it.
M.
She folded the paper and put it inside the envelope. She don't need any confirmation to know who was the sender. She knows his handwriting well. But she don't understand the meaning of this latter. Why he is doing this? What does he want to prove from this? Frowning at the latter, she crumbled it and threw in the dustine in the room. But even so she couldn't help herself but go down to the cafe. She couldn't understand him if she don't go and see him.
When she reached the cafe she saw Manik was sitting at the window sude corner, watching out the road side view. She sighed and walked towards him. When she reached near him he turned to look at her with a smile.
"I am glad you came. Seat, I have already ordered for the coffee and breakfast "
Nandini took the seat across him and looked at him weirdly "what are you planning?" She asked directly.
"Plan?" He tilted his head before replying "I am not planning anything"
"You are lying" Nandini hissed, "whatever you are doing, tell me what you want to proof? Do you think it's a kind of game or something?"
Manik shook his head "I have never taken anything as game which involved you" his eyes were serious as he looked at her.
Nandini smirked "really? Then why I am finding hard to believe your words?"
"Because you think the worse of me. You pictured me to be the bad side, which definitely won't let you see the good sude though"
Nandini chuckled "since when you started to become this serious? I never saw you to be so mindful before. I am surprised that you had the exact opposite impression in the past" her tone was laced with mock.
Manik shook his head "I know, I have placed myself in such a way that even if I want to prove the sincerity you won't be trust me"
"I will never trust you, whether it's true or false" Nandini replied instantly. "I had enough of everything. I had the hard time to explain myself the situation I am in. And I don't want you to ruin everything what I have been trying to collect these past year. I may be that crazy psycho but I have learnt my lesson. So let me clear this, no matter what you do it won't change the thing between us"
Manik didn't get angry but smiled "I know. Whatever I did to you, made me jerk. And I do regret everything. But it wasn't without any reason" he sighed, "that time was hard. Even if I wanted to tell you what I really think truthfully in mind, I couldn't. Which also made me the monster in your heart. Do you think I don't know about the feeling you felt that time?"
Nandini was somehow tugged by his words. But she didn't let the surprise cover her expression. Instead she narrowed her eyes and threw a hard glare "does that matter anymore? Don't you think it's quite late to say such thing?"
"It's never late when there's still time" he smiled. Just then the coffe arrived. Nandini glanced at the steaming coffee in the table. She looked up at him.
"How do you know I like Flat White?"
Manik smiled again "there's nothing I don't know about you. You may think I never cared but sometimes what we see is not real. You won't believe me now but I guess soon I will make you see the truth"
Hearing his words Nandini felt weird. She griited her teeth and glared at the coffee. Manik looked at her expression and sighed in heart. Winning her back was the difficult challenge he had to face but that does not mean he is backing away. He had already lost her once and now he was unwilling to do such thing. He took the cup and sipped his coffee.
"It's not good to waste the good coffee just by staring at it. Don't you want to have a taste of it?" He asked.
Nandini ignored him and just one picked up her cup and tasted the coffee. She liked the flavour, she always had this flavour of strong coffee than milk and foam. Their corner was silent as they just engineer their drink. Suddenly they heard a snap sound with a flash. Both of them looked at side only to find a Japanese man with a camera. The man flashed a smiled and said with his Japanese accent.
"I am sorry to take photo of you two. You two looked so good together, just like heavenly match couple. If you don't mind can I take few more photos of you?" The man looked nervous, "actually I am gather some good photographs for the project. And you two are perfect for it. If you please help me, my career will be settled"
Nandini frowned at the sudden request but before she could deny the man who was picturing them as a couple Manik said "of course, we don't mind. We can definitely help you if we can"
Nandini shoot a glare towards him which Manik ignored with a smile.
The man looked happy and flashed a smile "thank you so much. You two are great help. I am Kenji Saito"
"My name is Manik and she is my fiance. We came for works and also to enjoy the good view" Manik replied with a happy face. At side Nandini felt like becoming a witch to curse him to death. She couldn't believe he had just given a ridiculous identity for them.
Kenji took few more photos of them in different style. Some while drinking coffee and some of them together giving a pose. After few snaps he looked at his camera with a satisfying smile.
"Thank you for your time. I have collected a good amount of photos which are perfect for my album" Kenji smiled.
"It's fine, but can you send me the photos too?" Manik asked.
"Of course, give me your contact I will send you the photos later" Kenji smiled happily. Manik nodded and gave his contact. After Kenji left Nandini turned to look at him.
"What the hell do you just say to him? Who's your fiance?"
"What? he thought we are couple, how could I tell him you are my colleague?" Manik flashed an innocent smile.
Nandini was so angry that she could flip the table between us. "It's all your plan. You didn't it intentionally. You could have just refused when he was misunderstanding us. There's no need to feed others with lies. A lie that will target both of our reputation. I don't want to drag myself down with you . Specially with a some unkind fake relationship"
Manik looked at her seriously "you are hink what I said is fake?"
"Isn't it?" Nandini mocked "do you think after whatever happened I will still have any trust on you. You ruined everything back then when I was begging you. You never cared. So it will be more better if you just stay away like you did in the past. It was easier that way, for both of us. At least we don't have to put any pretence for god's sake" she huffed.
"That's the problem " Manik shook his head. His time was calm which made her frown.
"What?"
"I can't stay away like I did in past. That's the problem. I have handled myself back then but now I couldn't anymore. I tried hard in the past which led me to something I don't want to experience more. Not when I still have the chance to mend"
Nandini gave him a blank look. She can't get his point. It was so confusing and muddled. She closed her eyes and sighed trying to calm her anger.
"I don't want to get involved into something that will lead is into problems in future. We work in the same place, so I guess it will be hard to avoid seeing eachother now and then. But that does not mean we have engage with ourselves. So to put everything in rest let's pretend we don't know eachother. You do your work and I do mine. This way, we could work better without interrupting ourselves" Nandini said.
"This is what you got as a solution?" Manik raised an eyebrow completely unaffected by her words.
"This is best for both if us" Nandini replied. "Thanks for the coffe. I hope you remember my words" she got up and started to leave. But before she could take few steps she heard him say again.
"May be it's for you. But let me clear this point, your suggestion won't work on me. Not when I can help it"
Nandini gritted her teeth and left fuming. Manik looked at her figure then glanced at the cup which was half drank. He smiled and picked her cup and took a sip. He leaned back on the chair whole his eyes were dancing with determination. No one can predict what's going on his mind which he kept only to himself.