Nandini
After cleaning ourselves and not to forget the kitchen ofcourse we finally settled down. I looked beside me to find manik deep in his thoughts so I called him. "Manik?" no reply. Ok once. "Manik!" again no reply. Twice. "Manik!!" now I was irritated so I shook him by his arm and he finally snapped out. "Where were you lost?" I asked getting curious. "Um...nowhere" he replied hesitantly.
What is cooking in that handsome brain of his?
Wait....did I just call his brain handsome?
Nandini murthy what is wrong with you!? Well. Nevermind.
"Ha so tell me...what were you thinking?" I continued my interrogation. "Are nothing baba" he said. I could clearly make out his failed attempt of trying to hide about whatever he was thinking and I really wanted to know but I went against it and pretended to believe him. "Nanduuuuu" manik called me oh so sweetly. Now I am sure there is surely something cooking in that head of his. "What do you want?" I asked narrowing my eyes at him. He pouted cutely, giving me his sheepish smile, pointing at his stomach. "I'm hungry" he said in his baby voice and I could not help but go all aww on him. "Awww toh yeh chotu se baby ko bhukhi lagi hai?" I asked pulling his cheeks just the way a mother does to a child because with me he was and he still is always a baby and I love when he removes all his barriers and behaves all carefree around me. "Ha Mumma" even he played along. "Acha so tell me what do you want to eat?" "I don't want to eat something heavy so um how about noodles?" he suggested. In reply I started walking towards the kitchen and aa soon as I entered I started fiddling with the utensils to make noodles. Manik who came strolling behind me smiled brightly seeing me make food for him.
I was chopping vegetables when suddenly my finger got cut and I hissed in pain. Manik was there in no time. He quickly took my finger and put it in his mouth to stop my bleeding while I just kept staring at him. He was so worried for me. I had got hurt but the pain....the pain was visible on his face. He hurriedly put my finger under cold running water and when the bleeding stopped he put a little antiseptic on the cut and bandaged it. As soon as he was done with his work he glared at me angrily and started shouting.
Manik*angry*: nandini are you out of your mind!? Apna dhyaan rakhna nahi aata kya? Huh!? See how bad did you cut your finger...zyada lag jaati toh?
Nandini: sshhh sshhh manik see I'm fine its just a small cut and-
She was cut in between.
Manik: small cut! Really nandini? This isn't a small cut for me ok. I can't even bear a scratch on you and this cut is killing me here
His eyes reflected pain and worry for me and I wanted nothing but to drown in those deep eyes of his.
End of POV
Nandini: manik calm down baba please
She said with a sweet smile and slowly pulled manik in a hug. She was continuously rubbing his back to calm him down and it seemed to work as manik actually calmed a bit and tightened the hug. They broke the hug after some time and manik again started looking at her cut.
Manik: nandini we will cook together
Nandini: what? Manik look its ok it was just a small cut baba
Manik: no I am not taking any chances!
He declared with finality in his voice and nandini had to give up.
Nandini*sighs*: okay
Manik: good! Now lets cook
He said. Nandini nodded and again got busy with the vegetables when she felt two arms encircle around her waist. She gasped and looked behind to find manik back hugging her and keenly observing her work.
Nandini: manik yeh tum...
Manik*huskily*: nandini tum apna kaam karo aur main apna
Nandini*whispers*: par
Manik: sshh...now cook
Nandini could do nothing but cook. Manik's closeness was creating havoc inside her, her mind had stopped working, she was not able to concentrate on the work she was doing when she felt Manik's warm hands wrap around her small ones and help her chop the vegetables. Nandini's breath hitched in her throat. She was trying her best to concentrate on her work but alas she was melting like a chocolate, losing herself because of his proximity.
Nandini*self talk*: aiyyappa you just love to torture me na. Why do I feel these butterflies when manik comes near me? Why do I always lose myself near him and feel like drowning in those chocolate orbs of his. Aiyyappa yeh kya ho raha hai mere saath?
Manik's condition was no different. He had no idea of why he was doing such things, why being so close to her fwkt so good....a right.
Manik*self talk*: what is happening? Why can't I just stay away from her. Nandini! What are you doing to me? And why am I doing this? What is this feeling? God! I'll go crazy....manik stop thinking about this and concentrate on what you are doing....keep an eye on nandu or she will cut her hand again
Both continued the work, time to time stealing glances from each other.
They were finally done making the noodles when manik got this weird idea in his head.
Manik: nandini lets eat this together
Nandini*serving* : ha so we are going to eat this together only na
Manik: are not like that...I mean together together
Nandini: huh
She twitched her brows in confusion.
Manik: I mean we will eat it from one bowl only and one noodle at a time with its one end in my mouth and the other one in yours and then lets see who eats the most part of it. Who does so will be the biggest foodie
He exclaimed and nandini looked at him with a horrified expression.
Nandini: what? manik this is really stupid....we are not kids that we play such games....its a bad idea!
Manik*pouts*: please....it will be fun
He said so cutely that she could not deny.
Nandini: fine
They both settled on the dining table where manik pulled nandini's chair close to him. She gasped for the second time in the day out of surprise but didn't say anything.
Manik*rubbing his hands excitedly* : get ready to be defeated Ms. Murphy
Nandini*rolling her eyes*: oh please Mr. Malhotra....nandini murthy never loses
Manik: whatever....lets see
Soon they got indulged in the competition leaving all their thoughts and hesitations aside.
They reached halfway eating the noodle and that's when they realised how close they were. They got lost in each other, staring straight in the eye with a constant smile playing on their lips.
They yet continued eating it when a time came where their lips were inches apart and they were lost in staring at each other. They could not keep a track on their actions and got carried away. Manik eyed her lips and following his actions, nandini did the same. Both started leaning in-
Aha! Not so easy people....I need votes and comments from your side. Good response= next chapter as quick as possible. Do vote and comment!
Enjoy reading!