CHAPTER EIGHT

NANDINI'S POV

CHAPTER SONG: PAINKILLER BY RUEL (PS: Please do listen to this song. It's LOVE!!)

ENJOY THE CHAPTER :)

It's the next day. I woke up super early because I slept early yesterday. I slept early because of Manik. He is never home which is becoming very frustrating now. I am always alone is this huge ass house. Most of the times I am bored but sometimes it's scary also mainly because at night it's really dark and I don't like dark. The area here is also pretty silent. No one in our building comes out of their place and socialize. As if you were going to talk to them. You won't even talk to a dead person if you won't know them let alone an alive person. My brain spoke, as usual. I hate how my brain is always right!

I checked the time and it was just 7 am. Ugh! It's so early. I have this habit of waking up early but right now it is completely backfiring. What will I even do now? I don't know how to cook so I can't make myself breakfast also. After debating on what to do for almost half an hour, I decided to take a bath. I hadn't washed my hair since the day I got here so I decided to do it today. Do not judge, but I am not like those girls who washes their hair everyday. It is really tiring and it gets even worse if you have long hairs like me.

I went to the bathroom brushed my teeth and went to take a shower. I stand under the cold water which calms my nerves. These days with Manik have been really tough. I don't know how am I going to manage to live with him for the next as many years as I am going to live in Mumbai. Many thoughts are running in my head while I let the cold body cascade down my body. After I don't know how much time, I came out of the shower and dried my body. I don't usually take such long showers because I don't like to waste water and my time but today was an exception. I peeked out of my bathroom to see that no one is there in my room and then went out.

I walked to my wardrobe and decided to wear shorts today because of the heat. Our AC in the living room is not working since last night but I couldn't tell Manik because he was not home then. Today when he comes home I have to tell him. I was never so used to AC back in Manglore but since I have come here, I need AC almost every time. Then again, Manglore was not so hot too. Amms always told me that we should learn to adjust in situations. We had AC there but Amms didn't allow to on it frequently. I still used to on it when it was extremely hot but she didn't do it even if the sun was blazing on her head.

I threw in my blue pair of shorts with and black tanked top. Very basic! I let my wet hair be just like that and went to the living room. Manik's room was open which means that he isn't home yet. I wanted to go in his room and see everything but I didn't want to be nosy. And I knew that he would be angry if he found out that I went to his room and I don't want him to be mad at me, once again.

I went to the living room and opened all the curtains to let some light in. My eyes squinted due to the sudden light in the room. A smile brought its way to my face when I saw birds in our porch, chirping and singing heavenly. I admired them for a while and then went to the coffee table where the remote of the AC was there. I tried switching it on again but it didn't happen so I let it be. I went to the kitchen and stood in front of the fridge. I saw that there were only few things in the fridge. Milk, some vegetables and some random things. There was not a single edible thing and I was sure that the vegetables were also rotten.

I only know how to make tea, coffee and Maggie. I needed a tea right now. So I took a vessel and started making the tea. After a while it was made. I started pouring it in a mug.

"Trying to burn down my kitchen, are we?" A voice startled me. I got scared and all the tea fell on my hand and leg.

"Ouch." I winced and saw who was at the door and it was none other than The Manik Malhotra.

When he saw what happened he rushed to me. He looked at my hand and inspected it.

"Are you out of your mind? Are you always so careless or it is just with me?" He asks.

"Am I out of mind? I guess you need to get your mind fixed. Who comes like this in this house. Are you always this dumb or is it just with me?" I fired back.

"FYI but I also live in this house." He says while taking me to the nearest faucet.

"FYI but it doesn't give you the right to barge in anytime. Are you even home anytime, to call this your place? What do you even do everyday?"

He just sighed but didn't answer the question. We went to the faucet and turned it on so that the water would easy the burn.

"Sorry." He said, not looking at me.

"What? Is the Manik Malhotra apologizing to me?"

"Shut up!" he said.

"C'mon. Let's go to the bathroom and I'll apply some ointment." He said.

I nodded and tried to step forward but failed miserably. I winced and almost fell on the floor when Manik saved me.

"Are you not able to walk also? Is it that bad?" He asked, feeling guilty.

I could see the guilt in his eyes and it was genuine. I was going to reply rudely, but didn't because it would only make him feel more bad and I didn't want it. But before I could answer him I could feel his hands under my knees and around my neck and I was swiftly taken off the floor.

"MANIK!!! What are you doing? Put me down! I can walk by myself." I shouted my lungs out.

"Shush. I can clearly see that you can't walk by yourself. I won't let you step your foot down. I don't know what your clumsy ass will do again and I am too tired to deal with it. And tone it down a bit. I don't want the fucking neighbors to come to our home and be nosy." He said.

Why does he think of the neighbors like this? I am sure they are nice because Rahul said that this was a good vicinity. I know people would be afraid of him that's why they don't bother him. But why me? I am not ruthless or rude like him. I was so lost in thinking that I didn't even know that we were already in the bathroom.

He sat me on the counter and took out the first aid box. He took out ointment and started applying on my hands. I winced due to the sudden burning feeling in my hands.

"I am sorry. It will burn a little but it will be fine after sometime. Just close your eyes if you can see all this."

I just nodded. I closed my eyes but still it was hurting like hell. I had tears in my eyes. I opened my eyes and a few drops landed on his handed, he then immediately looked up at me. His eyes softened immediately. He brought his hand up and wiped my tears. When he did this I don't know what happened but some sort of electricity ran down my body. I shivered because of that. Manik didn't see it maybe and even if he did he didn't say anything, which is good otherwise I would be embarrassed even more than I am.

"This is all my fault. I shouldn't have barged in the house. From next time I will knock even if it's at midnight or anytime late at night. I am so sorry. I keep on hurting you –"

"Manik, it's not your fault. Don't take the blame on yourself. You didn't know that I was pouring the tea-"

"But I should have known that you must be doing something and I shouldn't barge in. I am sorry."

"It's okay, Manik. No problem." I said with a smile.

"No it's not okay. I make mistakes everytime. I am sick and tiired of hurting innocent people. That's why I have told you to stay away from me. I am no good for you." He said.

I tilted my head. Why is he making such a small thing a big deal?

"Manik. I didn't even come in your way this time."

"Yeah right. Even if you don't come in my way I hurt you. Well done, Manik. Keep it up." He said sarcastically while patting his back.

"Manik stop it huh now! I am saying its not your fault then why are you making a big deal out of it. it's just a small burn-"

"Yeah just a small burn. A small burn because of which you are crying. I can see it's not a small burn, dollface."

I just sighed. I can never win an argument over him I knew it just in a matter of days.

I placed my hand on his cheek and caressed it.

"Manik-"

"Wait what's this cut on your wrist? How the hell did you get it!?"

Oh my god! Shit!

---xx---

Hi guys! I know it's been a long time since I last updated. But here I am again with a new chapter. Hope y'all loved reading it.

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Love,

Maitri.