"Soha" came a meek voice from behind gaining both of our attention.
I turned to look at mukti who was standing pale behind me. Soon I registered her words.
Soha
Soha
Shit !! So she is the one.
I turned around back to the witch girl standing infront of me faking a smile at mukti. I gritted my teeth's looking at her. This bitch who was responsible for all the things manik and mukti went through is standing in their house. How dare she.
Before I could speak she started walking near mukti.
"Mukti" she said with honey-coated words.
"What are you doing here ??" Mukti fired back, her face was ferocious. Even her fingers were fisted and her teeth's gritted together.
"Mukti look ..." Before that wicked witch could speak mukti roared.
"What the hell are you doing here" mukti's voice came out aloud. Soha took a step back startled.
"Mukti calm down" I said walking near her and stood by her.
"Nandu ask this sick girl in front of me why the hell is she over here" mukti said to me , her eyes spitting fire. Even I felt like slapping that soha for all her deeds but kept quite.
"What's wrong mukti " came a voice from behind. We three turned our heads behind to look at Manik who had confused look on his face but soon changed into a shocked one as soon as his eyes fell on soha.
"Manik ..." Soha started in a meek and innocent voice but soon manik showed his hands.
"What do you want??" Maniks voice was as cold as ice. I could see the manik whom I saw when I came here. I soo wanted to go and stand beside him holding his hands but I didn't cause he had to face this alone then only he would succeed.
Soha's face was frightful as if she didn't expect such sudden question from him.
"I need to talk to you in private " said soha. A nerve of this girl !! First of all she came here after what all she had done and now she wants to talk to manik in private. Such a bitch she is.
Manik studied her face for a while, what is he searching for ?? A pimple !!. Shhh !! Nandini focus.
" come " he said sparing a last glance at me before walking towards the garden. And we stood on our place rooted in shock.
Was he expecting her to be here at first place ?? A question raised in mind looking at his reaction.
Gaining her sensing soha went behind him. But me and mukti, we stood there watching those two walking towards the garden. It was my phone which brought me back from my trance.
"Hello" I answered without looking at the caller.
"Nandini where are you" Arya spoke from other end or rather screamed.
"Arya ...wo ..I'm at home " I said gathering myself.
"What !! ..god this lady, nandini murthy get your ass down here, we have presentation to prepare or did you forget that " Arya shouted at the end. Ufff !! Another trouble. My eyes couldn't leave manik and soha who were at the farther end of garden and talking something. A ting of jealousy railed up in me. I felt like smashing her head or something, what the hell does she want Now.
"Hello nandini" Arya said irritated.
" ha ha I'm leaving I ...I .. I will be there soon" I said tearing my sight from those two people.
"Good , come soon bye" he said.
"Haa bye" I said before cutting the call.
I turned towards mukti who was starring at those two people with fear filled eyes.
"Mukti " I said softly keeping my hand on her shoulder.
"I don't want her to create more damage, everything is getting back to place now I don't want that to get ruined by her all over again. I can't see bhai hurt again Nandu" mukti said in fearful voice.
"Shhh everything will be fine mukti don't worry" i said to calm her down a bit.
" I hope so but I don't believe her one bit Nandu" mukti said with hatred tone. Even I felt the same.
"Hey don't over think alright, nothings gonna happen. Mukti I need to go to college now I will call abhi for you oki " I said rubbing her arms. I felt guilty for leaving her like this but I have no choice I already had soo many holidays and now I can't risk. Im not alone in this project other three are also there, I don't want to keep them in lose.
"No don't call abhi or anyone if they get to know they will be here in no time and simply a big chaos will be formed. Lets talk to bhai first then we will see and you go don't worry about me " mukti said last line smiling at me. This girl she is a sweetheart.
"Oki bye take care" I said kissing her cheeks and turned towards manik and soha who were in deep discussing. Fisting my fingers I left the house. Ayyaippa be with manik please.
In Nandini's college.
Why did she come ?? What does she want now ??. Will manik and mukti be oki ?? Is manik angry or did he go to street fight again??. Ayyaippa soo many questions but no answer at all, muktis phone is switched off. Even at break I called both mukti and manik but both didn't answer. What might be happening over there ??.
Someone shook me vigorously breaking my thoughts.
"Haa " I said coming out of thoughts. The person was Arya.
"Welcome back to earth madam" he said sarcastically.
"Huh??" I gave him a confused look.
"Your out of zone for like 20 minutes now and from last 5 minutes im calling you" he said sitting beside me. Shit !! Was I out in my thoughts for soo long!!.
"Umm ...sorry I was ... Just thinking " I said sitting properly.
"Is everything fine ??" He asked with concern.
"Yeah everything is fine " I said faking a smile.
"Another one hour, college will be over go back home and have a nap you will be good ..hmm " he said with a smile. I smiled back without a word.
Night at 10.
Its already ten and manik is not back yet or even mukti. Mukti called me when I came out of college that she is going out with abhi. I still remember her words.
"Nandu I'm going out with abhi so dont expect me at home and haa don't tell anyone about soha's visit that's what bhai told. He didn't tell me for what exactly she came for but he wasn't that mad as I expected him to be soo I don't think it is something major, you don't worry and sorry I couldn't pick up your call battery was low"
I sighed.
What !!
What else can I do now !!
That's when my room door opened and manik himself entered still in office dress. He looked tired really really tired. I sat up at the edge of the bed to have a clear look at his face but couldn't see properly with only moon light penetrating my room. I switched on the lamp near my bed that's when my eyes met his eyes. He removed his tie and threw it away and unbuttoned his first three buttons of his shirt. But his eyes never left mine.
He slowly walked near me and knelt infront of me with his hands on my lap, now due to lamp light I could clearly see his face. I slowly moved my hand to his face and started stroking his cheeks with my fingers. As I held his face in my hands he closed his eyes sighing. He was tired indeed. Bringing my face closer to his, I kissed his forehead, then his right eye followed by his left one. Then on his cheeks lingering my lips little more longer and finally pecked his lips. That's when he opened his eyes. All I could see was fear.
Soon even my heart also filled with fear. What's wrong ??.
I gulped and looked at his eyes stroking his cheeks with my fingers before resting my forehead against his.
Both sighed in content closing our eyes for a while. Poor boy, I don't know what all he went through since morning.
Soon he held my hands which was around his jaws in his hand, his thumb were rubbing my knuckles. He moved them near to his lips and slowly kissed my thumb followed by all my fingers with his eyes fixed with mine. My heart swell at his gesture.
But within a second he hugged me by my waist keeping his head on lap as if he was seeking for some warmth. He was still kneading. I smiled at his attempt to hide himself in my warmth. I closed my arms around him and kissed his temple to tell him that I'm right here. I began to stroke his hair, his cheeks. I peeked to have look at his face which was sideways. He had his eyes closed.
"Manik" I called softly ...
But no answer.
"Manik" I said stressing a little bit.
"Hmm" came his voice.
"Did you have your dinner ?" I asked stroking his cheeks.
"Mmm - hmm" he said shaking his hand a bit in no. I let out a slow chuckle.
"Go freshen up I will get you something to eat" I said patting his cheeks.
"No stay" he said tightening his hold on my waist as if I will vanish if he let me.
"Hmph !! Are you trying to avoid dinner ?" I said squeezing his cheeks.
"No nandini" he said with his eyes closed.
"Oki young man, now get up and have your food otherwise you're out of my room" I commanded him with my arms around my chest. He looks tired he needs rest but this stubborn guy won't listen. I won't ask him anything about soha's visit, not now atleast but soon will.
He raised his head from my lap, opened his eyes and raised his eyebrows.
"What" I asked.
"Your going to throw me out haa" he said in husky voice raising on his feet and hovering over me while I started moving my back backwards. No no this is no good. I know where this leads too and he needs rest.
"Ma..nik " I said in feeble voice. Damn !! This guy has such an effect on me.
"Hmm .... Are you sure you're going to throw me out of your room" he asked with his nose touching mine.
"Oki ..oki I won't now get freshen up and have something then you can do what ever you want" I said in haste separating him by keeping my hands on his chest pushing him a little.
"Anything I want haa ??" He said with a smirk. Shit !! Nandini can't you think before speaking.
"Aa..umm ..no now go" I said shooing him.
"Oki oki but I will be back" he said with a evil smirk. Jerk.
I went downstairs and brought his dinner while he was changing in his room but soon he joined me. He ate his dinner not full but more than half, I did threaten him to finish it but he didn't care, huffing I gave up. Stubborn jerk.
Now we are lying on my bed with my back facing his front. His hands around my waist and our legs entangled together. None said a word but manik suddenly turned me around and claimed my lips ferociously. His kiss was hard, with hungry and he deepened the kiss as soon as he got a chance. His lips moved along with mine, moulding together while his hand which was on my waist entered inside my shirt and was caressing my curve skin. His other hand held my face firmly. It was getting hard for me to breath but he realized it and broke the kiss. Both were panting heavily. His eyes met mine. Soon his hand held my head and shoved it to his chest hugging me closely as if I'm running away. It did create a kind of fear in me. Why is he acting this way ??.
"Manik" I tried to speak but he...
"Shhh don't say a word, let me just hold you" he pleaded me and I kept quite. I know something is wrong and he is hiding it but trust me if soha has something to do with this, she will face wrath.
I closed my eyes hugging him close, even he tightened his hold around me.
After two days.....
Its been two days since soha came to this house, manik didn't speak a word about her nor did mukti. Mukti still had fear but never showed it. All our friends don't have any idea about this. Maybe manik might have told Cabir,I don't know.
After that night, manik spent most of the time in office. Last night he didn't even come home, mukti and me were sick worried but Cabir confirmed that manik is in office that's when we calmed down. His phone would always be not reachable or busy or switched off. But the most odd thing was when he came this morning into my room and took me into a bone crushing hug, literally crushing me and left kissing my forehead before I could question him. His odd behavior was getting on my nerves now. Its all started since the time that soha entered again.
Today my college got over early so I came back soon. Now we girls me,mukti,navya and Aliya were sitting in the living room of Malhotra mansion and having our girls time. Still now mukti didn't mention anything to them so even I kept quite.
We heard a car horn sound, I thought it was manik. I really felt good as I wanted to see him. I missed him.
But looking at the door all four of us fell dead silent.
.....
........
There stood manik along with soha.
All four of us stood up looking at them, our eyes were fixed on them. My blood boiled looking at her. Both started walking towards us. Manik's eyes not even once met my eyes. He was acting all weird.
"Manik what is she doing over here" it was navya who burst out.
All were eager to know his answer. My eyes were literally fixed on his face.
"She is my girlfriend" his voice came. My legs felt like a jelly.
Everything happens for a reason in my story. As I have already told manan will be the same !!they were never a couple to get separated. Next part will be in manik's pov.