CHAPTER FOUR

NANDINI'S POV

CHAPTER SONG: LITTLE THINGS BY ONE DIRECTION

Rahul went his way. Which left us alone in this house. His presence was already killing me. But Amms always taught me to be kind and if not talk much, but initiate a talk.

"Hi. I am Nandini. Nice to meet you." I said with a generous smile.

"I am not deaf. I heard it when Rahul spoke your name. I am Manik, by the way. But even if you didn't know my name, I would have had no problem because we aren't going to talk. Understood?" he said, glaring at me.

"Why?" I asked.

He just raised his eyebrow and gave me an are-you-serious look.

"O-okay" I said, with slight tears in our eyes. No one had yelled at me like that, ever.

With that he went to his room. I was left standing in the hallway, alone. He was so intimidating. I had a weird urge to know him. I knew that he was like a mind your own business type of a guy. But I was also a very curious girl. Since childhood I have always wanted to know things and until I didn't do it, I wouldn't sit silently.

With a sigh, I went to my room and slammed it shut, just like he did. I started to organize my room and wardrobe. I didn't change the color because I like white color. I had brought fairy lights from my room and some other things from my old room to decorate my new room.

After 3 hours, I finally was done with the decorations. The only thin lest in the room that was left was the bed. I initially thought that I would ask Manik for help, because it weighs double my weight. But then I know that he wasn't going to help me so I decided to do it after having dinner.

It was dark out now. The wind was chilly. I went to my balcony and closed my eyes to just enjoy the weather here. It was so serene and peaceful. But suddenly my trance was broken, by Manik's door. He came out and slammed it shut.

I was hungry but the dilemma was that I didn't know how to cook. My Amms always told me that I should learn to cook. But I never listened to her and now I regret not learning it. I hope Manik knows how to cook otherwise I will have to order takeaway on my first day in Mumbai.

I went out when I saw Manik sitting on the coffee table. He was busy typing on his laptop. I sat in front of him with a big smile on my face. I knew he was going to refuse to cook for me even if he knew but then again what's the harm in trying !

He didn't even look up to me even though he knew I was sitting there. How rude! So to gain his attention, I started tapping my fingers on the table. He furrowed his eyebrows but still didn't look up. Good self-control, I see. So now I even started tapping my feet against the table, which caused even more sound. Finally after eternity, he looked up with a boring expression. He gave me a death glare and stood up from the table and made his way to the sofa. Me being very stubborn, I followed him there.

"Manik." I called him. But he didn't reply. So I tried calling him more but he didn't reply.

"Ma-" I was going to call him again but he suddenly stopped because of which, I barged into his back. My nose got severely hurt because of that. I held it and looked at him, pouting my lips.

"What, Nandini!?" He shouted. To which, I flinched. I just looked at him, didn't answer him. His eyes held so much anger and irritation, that I was taken aback by them. So instead of answering him, I started to make my way back to my room. It is better to starve rather than listening to him or his hurtful words. I thought to myself.

I was bout to turn around when he grabbed my wrist and tugged on it. He did it with a lot of force, because of that I was pulled into his chest. I was about to loose my balance but I kept my hands on his shoulder at the right time, to save myself from the ground.

"What happened, Nandini? What do you want?" He asked, politely this time.

But I was so lost in his eyes that I couldn't pay any attention to what he was speaking.

"Nandini!!" he shook me, which brought me back to earth.

"Umm.. nothing , nevermind. I was going to ask you if you could cook but then I also knew that you were not going to cook for me."

"If you already know that I am not going to cook for you then why even bother asking me?" he said, mocking me.

How rude!

"I am rude. You don't have to certify it." He said.

Did I say it out loud?

"Yes, dollface. You certainly did." He said with a smirk.

"Don't call me dollface! I have told you a million times!!" I shouted at him.

His eyes darkened with anger. A shiver ran down my spine because of his sudden change in mood. I gasped when he pinned me to the nearest wall. He did the same thing earlier also. Déjà vu! My breathing became erratic. His nostrils flared cue to anger.

"And I am telling this to you for the first and the last time to NOT TO RAISE YOUR VOICE IN FRONT OF ME!" He shouted, angrily.

I flinched due to his words. He was so scary. My eyes welled up with tears in them.

"Y-you are h-hurting me, M-manik. P-please leave me." I said, crying.

He came back to reality, his eyes softened. He broke me free from his hold. I was about to run to my room when he held my wrist again.

"Nandini. I didn't mean to hurt you or shout-"

"But y-you still did it."

With that I ran into my room and slammed it shut. With my head pressed against the door I started crying. No one had ever yelled at me. The only time people yelled at me was when they were blaming me for my parent's death. His yelling reminded me of them. He opened all the doors which I was trying to close since years.

"Nandini. Please come out. I didn't mean to shout at you, dollface. I am sorry if I really hurt you." He said through the door, sincerely.

"Please, Manik leave me alone for s-some t-time." I said, stuttering.

"Okay fine I am leaving you alone. I am sorry." With that he left me alone. I cried myself to sleep because if I wouldn't have done that, I knew I would have done something reckless, which I would have regretted later.

I woke up after my nap. I looked at my phone to see that it was currently 10 pm. I was shocked that I slept for 3 hours. I opened my door and went out. My whole back was aching because I had to sleep on the floor. As there was no bed in my room still. I went out to see a completely dark living room. I somehow found the switch board and switched on the lights.

I went in the kitchen to drink water. That's when I saw the dinner on the table. It was pasta. I wondered who made it. I picked up the plate to keep it in the refrigerator because I had lost my appetite. Under the plate, was a note. I put the plate in the fridge, sat on the sofa to read the note.

Hi, Nandini.

I made dinner for you. I know you are mad at me but please eat the dinner. I hope you like pasta because that was the only thing in the fridge. We can go for grocery shopping tomorrow, only if you want. Anyways, please don't lock yourself in the room, eat something and then sleep.

I won't be home when you read it. I am not going to be home for the entire night. I have already eaten dinner(if you are wondering).

I am very very sorry, once again. Hope you have a good night sleep. Don't dream about me ;)

PS: I know how to cook :)

Good night,

Manik. xx

I just stared at the note. So he was really guilty for his actions. But I am not going to forgive him easily. He yelled at me for no reason. And who is he to even yell at me. We barely know each other.

I drank my glass of water and sat on the sofa with my comforter. I started a movie. That's when I realized that I hadn't called Amms. She will be furious at me. I called her even though I knew she would have been asleep by now. She picked up after some time.

"Is this the time to call, young lady?" She scolded me.

"Hello to you too, Amms." I replied.

"Just one day in Mumbai and I can see that you are already forgetting me."

"No Amms. How can I forget my favorite person in the world?"

"Then why didn't you call, baby? Because I am very sure that I told you to call ma as soon as you reach. I am certain that you reached there hours ago."

"I am sorry. I got too busy with the room setting that calling you slipped off my mind. I am sorry but you know me. I want the room ready the moment I enter it."

"Okay, I get it. How's your new roommate by the way? I hope she isn't troublesome. Did she help you with your room?" she asked.

I realized that Amms didn't know that my roommate was a boy and I couldn't tell her that it was Manik. She would freak out and tell me to change the apartment.

"Nandini." Amms called me.

"Huh. Sorry I zoned out for a bit. Yeah my roommate is nice. She is supportive and caring. She even helped me with my room. And I don't even have to worry about cooking because she already knows how to cook."

"Oh great! But this maybe your luck. What if your roommate didn't know how to cook? You would have been starving. You should start learning small things which can help you." She said.

We chatted for an hour or so and then I hung up. I resumed the movie. Midway, I fell asleep. With black and grey eyes in my head.

--XX--

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