MANIK, a world within a word.

In the backseat of the car, he held my hand authoritatively and my heart felt home. Pouring some liquid antiseptic on a cotton ball as he was about to dab it on my wound, I withdrew my hand.

"Sir it's-it's okay." I murmured.

He sighed in dissatisfaction.

"You don't want me to do it?" He enquired while I kept looking at the mat beneath my feet sticking to my bizarre.

"You're my boss." I stated in a whisper.

"Alright, you do it." He directed his chauffeur to park the car at one side and aid me.

Huh? No!

"No! Uhh...sir what I meant is, since you're my boss you've the preference of aiding me before anyone else." I declared not comprehending if that changed his mind.

"Are you sure? He can do it, you know." He asked innocently while I insanely nodded a no.

A mischievous smile played at the corner of his lips which he did his best to abate.

Without him asking for another time, I extended my hand towards him and the moment he held it, I felt like a dead leaf carried aimlessly by the wind in a stormy night not wanting to imagine how badly I could fall if the storm stopped.

The antiseptic caused a little burning sensation and as a result I closed my palm with his fingers imprisoned in my grip.

Like a blooming flower, he unfolded my fist releasing him from my capture and blowing some air to the wound, he medicated the bruise.

"Don't you work in the office hours or what? Because I see you only working till late." He glanced up at me while tying the crepe bandage around but a lot of me was already lost in him without batting my lashes.

I was lost into those eyes like a lost star wandering in a solar system. He rested my hand on my lap and looked away into the fast city passing by.

"Why did you trust me?" I asked staying in my trance.

Looking at my direction, he studied me like he could read all my unwritten emotions.

"Trust is a dangerous game. And who said I trusted you? I believed you. There's a difference." And the dead leaf fell hard on the street as the storm stopped being bitten by reality all over again.

"Oh, I...understand." I sighed.

It was after ten minutes that the car halted outside my apartment. Mouthing a feeble thank you, I stepped down the car while Manik was too engrossed in his chat to acknowledge it.

How I wish sometimes he could spare some words!

As I looked at my apartment, last night's episode became lucid. How ironic that my own place felt unsafe.

"Sir?" I turned on my toes.

He switched the glass down massaging the back of his neck.

"Do you 'believe' what I told you that night on the cruise?" I asked.

"About what?" He seemed clueless.

"Umm that...murder thing I told you about." I pressed my upper and lower lips  nervously.

At the mention of the term 'murder', he chuckled a little and kindled his cigar.

"Do you need a break?" He rebuffed my question. I nodded a no looking the other way.

"Wouldn't you need a break to forget all that happened back in the office?" He exhaled a thick smoke.

He kept looking at my shabby apartment where half of the part was cemented and half of it coated with dull pastel colour.

"Staying in work would help me do so." I said.

"Whatever suits you." He shrugged his shoulders.

I didn't know if that murderer would again come that night and slit my throat finally but when Manik didn't trust or 'believe' me that left me vulnerable. And I didn't stretch the matter any longer perhaps he made it a joke.

Snapping fingers pointing at my apartment, he commanded me to set my foot inside and weakly I nodded in obedience.

Entering the gate, I turned around to wish him a goodnight but the car already left leaving nothing but the marks of the wheels on the moist soil behind.

❃

Narrator:

The next evening was a premiere night. When you look at the film industry, other than the beautiful silhouettes of fabrics and intricate designs, rest you can see is sky-touching fame of people getting into peoples' head.

Manik had everything and there was nothing specially he could think of that was not in his list of non-achievements. He had everything going right for him but somehow he was lost in his own calamity and whoever tried having a closer look into his life was found swimming in black holes.

"See I told you, stripes are so in fashion. You just need to pair it with a nice satin which will compliment your eyes, you see." Mukti inserted the satin square handkerchief in Manik's pocket.

"That's why you're the best. Which is why, you're employed by me." She made faces at such comment.

"And 'Sir' only employs the best people." Both Manik and Mukti's attention shifted to the door from where Cabir made his entry.

Mukti eyed Cabir not to create a scene while Manik was clueless flickering his eyes between the two.

"What? Didn't you know this about our 'Sir'?" Cabir smiled cannily.

"Sir?" Cabir smirked at Mukti's question but all this while Manik kept observing his best friend, heedfully.

"We shouldn't forget who still the boss is, Mukti." Cabir taunted reminding Manik of his last night's bossy remark when Cabir tried interrupting him in office.

Mukti looked away in displeasure but Manik still meticulously kept watching him. Cabir turned his body to leave but immediately halted as Manik's hand on his shoulder immobilised him.

"Cabir..." Manik initiated.

"Yes sir?" Cabir asked professionally while Mukti gestured him from behind Manik to stop.

"Stop calling me that, will you?" Manik hissed. "I don't expect people to know and understand me but I expect you two to do so because from both of you, I never have hidden any of my shades, be it leaden or pitch-black because....yeah, I'm a dark person and you know that when I lose it, I don't care who the person standing before me is. And, you also know if I say anything bad to Mukti or you, it's totally unintentional."

"Yeah, I get it." Cabir spoke without an interest.

"Cabir.." Manik held his both shoulders "Do you know what place you hold in my life? My brother's and you know that. I know and believe that my own blooded brother can betray me anytime but never ever will you. Forget about betrayal, you never can hide anything from me. You mean the only family to me, Cabir. I'm not expressive, thus I don't go in person and say to that individual how important he or she is but if that person is important then no matter how far I push away, I'll always be the one walking up to covering the distance." Manik looked hopeful.

"That two day's girl is drifting this friendship apart, Manik." Cabir stated. Mukti appeared all anxious.

"You mean, Murthy?" Manik chuckled and Mukti heave in relief. "Cabiiirrr, you're soooo jealous man! Do you seriously love me so much, huh? Or wait, are you secretly in love with that Murthy?" He laughed again.

"Yeah okay, whatever." Cabir rolled his eyes.

"What is she? Just an employee like hundred others. And what are you? My family. Chill, you asshole." Laughing at Cabir, Manik turned to Mukti.

"How do I look anyway?" He spread his arms.

"Dapper." She smirked. "But critics say..you are fake."

Manik rolled his eyes, "Ugh, just because I haven't cried enough before the cameras offscreen?"

"You should be a little nice and polite to all those critics sometimes. How about showing some humbleness?" Mukti proposed while Manik waved his hand in dismissal looking at his reflection in the mirror.

"Humbleness? What's that?" Mukti shook her head as Manik chuckled making his way out of the room after squeezing Cabir's shoulder on the way.

As soon as Manik moved out of the room, rushing to Cabir, Mukti nudged him.

"Have you seriously lost it? How can you behave like that with Manik and that too because of that newbie?" Mukti rebuked.

"Newbie?" Cabir laughed sourly "Yea right. She's got that crafty brain to buy and sell you in an hour. Newbie..my ass." He sniggered.

"Didn't you hear what Manik said? She's an employee like hundred others? Don't you remember how Manik plotted against Aryaman and her at Sahai's place? Don't you also remember that it's Manik only who made her pick up those glass pieces? Don't you forget how Manik keeps threatening her with her parent's name. And what about that, Manik makes her do all such work that a peon in our office does? Manik treats her as footman ya and if there ever comes any choice between you and that silly, Manik will always select you." Cabir agreed with Mukti only not to drag the conversation any far and patting his bicep, Mukti left.

Cabir sighed "Only if you could see things from where I am watching everything happening slowly. Manik plotted against Aryaman and her but he also disliked the fact that she became friends with Aryaman. Manik made her pick up those glass pieces but it's Manik only who called the attendant from the sickbay and aided her wound. Surely Manik threatens her with her parents but in the veil of that game, he has started to have fun playing with her fears. He doesn't treat her like hundred other employees for sure because you tell me when ever has he gone to drop them home personally? He doesn't try to kiss his other employees. He thinks I won't ever get to know unless he tells me that who he took that night on the yacht...You're not seeing anything, Mukti. And I can feel-I can feel, Manik staying close to that commoner is roaring destruction." He sighed.

✾

N A N D I N I

The premiere was grand since Manik Malhotra was going to be in the house.

I peeped at the red carpet one more time in case the face showed up, the one I always died to see.

I didn't understand what the hype about premieres was all about. Ultimately, no matter the red carpet and celebrities and cameras and flashes, you're still just going to watch the movie. You'll sit there, in your sexy, scratchy dress while the chairs take a toll on your backbone gulping some fancy drinks. Only celebrities arrived in cars as one needed a special permit for it. They didn't want the big star being held up because a bunch of people were turning up in Ubers. Then, once one found the guest entrance, he or she often was held back by security. Sometimes for bag checks, sometimes because a big star arrived and they didn't want the plebs getting into the background of their big flashbulb moment.

No matter how blasé you're trying to be about the whole thing, you still get giddy when you set foot on the red carpet. You suddenly have three times more swagger than usual. You take countless selfies. You dawdle as if your life depended on it, dragging out your time on the carpet and rubber-necking for celebs.

The security immediately rushed ushering the commoners to a side and the journalists' grip on the cameras increased. The securities have an uncanny memory for faces as they remember who's loitering for how long.

The screaming around increased as the superstar of the night, Manik Malhotra stepped out of the car waving at the media and fans standing outside the barrier waiting a decade for his single glimpse. Some top notch fans and lucky contest winners got a chance to get his autograph until they were shunted to the cinema by the security. The cameramen kept badgering Manik for different angles.

"Sir little right." "Sir sir sir please to your left" "Sir straight straight" "Sir little to this angle" "Sir please one close shot"

And he calmly fulfilled their wishes. Not everyone was allowed to be close to him, and those who got the privilege of at least standing a feet away from him couldn't handle the excitement.

The entire place echoed only one name. MANIK.

While making his way to the red carpet he saw me standing at the queue of the security check. Neither he nodded or smiled at me but that single contact with his eyes shook my heart. Soon his image vanished in the throng of securities.

"Nandini, let's go else we'll miss the gifts." Aaliya dragged me.

In the big house's movie like Manik's, every guest of the night was given some notable gifts kept at the table in the theatre with some snacks.

✾

Being a hardcore Manikian, I in no way can say that the movie bored me unless I'm at a gunpoint. Aaliya being the total bitch she's, kept munching her snack purposely near my ears but that too couldn't slit my attention on Manik on that big screen.

As the movie finished, the entire hall sang Manik's praises. I clapped the loudest although Aaliya pulled me back to the seat. God, were Navya and she twins?

"Nandini, I'll make a call to Dhruv, yea?" I nodded a yes and she excused with her phone.

I was about to move to the lounge when all thanks to my stiletto, I stumbled and as I braced myself to welcome the embarrassing fall, I felt a strong arm holding my waist saving me. My face reached the crook of his neck though my eyes were closed but his strong cologne tantalised my nostrils and my hands on his biceps shivered.

Being always a typical fangirl, I never engaged myself in any boyfriend business and thus this proximity to any man seemed unearthly.

Grasping the reality, I gathered my wild thoughts and opening my lids, I was knocked for six.

"Mr.Shekhawat?" I confirmed my eyes.

He smiled still holding my waist hooking close to him and my hands were still holding him.

"Am I still stuck to the 'Mr.Shekhawat' base?" He enquired and as I nodded he sulked. My lips slowly formed a smile and converted into laughter.

Cabir standing close to Manik who was busy conversing with some other actors and action directors saw my closeness with Mr.Shekhawat and crafting a crooked smile he cunningly showed Manik pointing at some other guests who happened to be standing beside us. Even before Manik's eyes could reach the guests, it stopped at us. Cabir smirked patting himself mentally.

"No it hurts, beautiful." he sighed while I laughed more.

"Such a public show." As I heard some lady remarking at our direction, I grasped the proximity he and I shared. Quickly, I distanced us but my eyes fell on his hands which still enveloped my waist.

"Ahem.." I cleared my voice and he briskly removed his hand being snapped out of his trance.

I laughed out loudly palming my mouth as he placed hand on his heart stating his pain.

"You're so filmy..." I kept laughing while someone else's eyes kept observing us in that lounge where nobody's bothered about anyone.

It was Manik.

Sipping on his whiskey, he kept walking past his colleagues who were congratulating him and while acknowledging them in the meantime, his eyes reached us. I squirmed a bit.

In the meantime, someone called Randhir and he had to dolefully excuse me.

Amidst the crowd, I kept looking for Manik inching my toe up but there wasn't any sign of him. My eyes scanned the entire place but it was Manik-less.

"If you aim for something ordinary, it is definite that you'll lose the sight of something priceless."

My heart skipped a beat hearing the sound originating from my right and turning my head, I found Manik standing beside like a king.

I searched for him in the entire world and found him just beside.

"Umm...the movie was great, sir." I blushed and he nodded sipping on his drink.

"I know." He observed me from the corner of his eyes while it was getting sufficiently awkward because of the indifferent silence.

"Abhimanyu?" He called him moving his two slender fingers who stood right by us in a jiffy.

"Did you eat?" He enquired him who nodded a yes.

He extended his hand and Abhimanyu passed him a small gift box wrapped with ribbon.

Sipping on his drink, he passed me the box while it felt I dropped on the ground all from sky.

"Do I have to deliver this to someone?" I clarified.

"It's yours." He mouthed and the world spun faster.

"M-mine?" I went blank.

Manik Malhotra got something for me? Me?

His index finger tapped on the box signalling me to open it.

I pulled the creamy ribbon and inside the box relaxed one Breitling watch of the latest edition. Fuck!

"And this is for?" I asked him.

"A reward to an honest employee." He voiced resting hands in his pocket without looking at me.

"A 3 lac watch for a 40k salaried staff?" I raised my brows and inserted the watch back in the box. "I'm sorry, sir but my Papa taught me not to accept a gift if gifting back something equivalent to the person is beyond your capacity. The day I can afford, I'll...accept this." I smiled passing him the box. He looked upon the box.

"Forget what your Papa taught you because now you're in my world..." he took the box back and opened it confidently"And remember what Manik Malhotra is teaching you" Picking the watch up, he held my hand and the adrenaline rush was back "Opportunities don't knock often...but when they do, grab them and it was my little trick to my own success." I kept looking at him without blinking and till then he clutched the watch around my wrist.

"Sir but this..." The moment I realised he cunningly wrapped the watch, I politely protested.

"Shh.." he placed finger on his lips.

I didn't know if renouncing the watch would make him feel rejected thus for the time being, I rested issue.

"Anyway, gifting someone a watch means wishing someone's good time." I smiled at him while he raised his brows.

"Hmm? Better times are coming for you then." He mouthed and I blushed.

Little did I know, good times look better when only in memories.

We espied few cops crossing the threshold of the lounge enquiring several guests.

"Manik.." Cabir stood beside Manik fretting about the cops. Everyone in the place seemed pensive as cops breaking into The Manik Malhotra event was becoming one disaster.

"We're sorry Mr.Malhotra to have entered into your private party like this, but this is urgent." One of the officers faced him while Manik looked around at his guests who started gossiping. And all of a sudden the single agenda became a public issue.

To him, prestige was the shadow of money and power.

"What couldn't wait then?" He asked darkly.

I secretly prayed to not let any more trouble cloud upon him.

"Ms.Nandini Murthy?" The cop asked and I stepped back gasping heavily.

Manik glanced over me and then back at the cop.

He cringed his brows "Why her?"

"You being a star definitely haven't taken note of but there's been a murder in the city lately and your employee has been spotted in one of the footages. Thus we need to take her with us for official inquiry." I hid myself behind Manik as if he was my pillar in the ruthless city. A protector.

Manik being whammed stared back at me. All this while the truth he considered a joke ultimately collided with his reality.

"Ms.Nandini Murthy, you have to come along with us." I nodded a no looking at Manik begging him to stop this. Manik seemed to be contemplating.

"You can't take a lady after it's 6. This much law, I think we all know." Manik intervened.

"Here is the special order, Sir and in case you are worried, we have female officers with us. So there should not be anymore hindrance coming our way from your side." The cop replied to a very confident Manik.

"Cabir, talk to the commissioner." Manik conveyed and Cabir seemed blown.

"Commissioner? For her?" He confirmed.

Manik looked around at the guests and his face and ears were turning red in embarrassment.

"Just do as I say." He whispered sternly.

"Of no need, Mr.Malhotra. We have higher order with us." The officer passed him a rolled paper and Manik clenched his jaw holding the paper. After going through the paper, he scowled the officer.

"Call the Chief Minister then." Manik's ego wasn't ready to settle down. Cabir couldn't believe all that was happening as Manik seemed to be too much driven by obstinacy.

"Sir, all you can do is on tomorrow morning. But for the night if you do something, it'll be taken that you're abusing the legal system." The officer sealed Manik's mouth whom Abhimanyu advised not to stretch the matter as quite some legal cases were already hanging on his head.

"Actually sir, when one is interrupting a superstar like Manik Malhotra's party, one has to come prepared." Manik stared sternly at the officer.

"You do not know what you've welcomed officer, by ruining 'my' party." Manik gritted and turned to me.

"Murthy-"

"Sir, no. I'm..." I gulped "I'm scared." My voice trembled.

He looked around and sighed.

"Listen, I'm there okay, this shall pass very soon but for the time being you have to go with them. The law's binding me. But I promise, nothing will happen to you." He scowled back at the officer "And I'll personally see to it." And then to me "Don't be afraid."

"But sir-"

"Nothing will happen to you. And there, just act smart, okay? And, say or do only that which you feel is right." He repeated confidently. Nodding weakly I sobbed.

I sniffed and bobbed a yes as they asked me to come along.

I reached the door and looked back at Manik who was already staring at me. He seemed worried.

I stopped by the door and kept looking at him. I cried.

And that little eye contact we held caught our souls on fire. The world stopped there and all that existed for me then was Manik. No gossip, no other people. And the time automatically stopped.

My brain stopped functioning and the only thing before my eyes was the face which was my strength. I believed in him, a little too much.

My hands slowly extended and I didn't know if that made any sense but I needed a single grip of his on me to settle myself internally. I needed him to hold me back and assure that things will be fine, soon. I was tired. Tired of everything.

He kept staring at my hand which trembled to be held by him. He sighed and Cabir glared me.

It took him all the hells to break the wall he built around him all these years and at a slow pace he stared back at my hand.

He gulped slightly pondering when suddenly I found my tremble to settle down as the warm hand strengthened me.

But it was not Manik's.

Both of our eyes travelled to the owner of the hand and we found Mr.Randhir Shekhawat assuring me clutching my hand.

I closed my eyes but my opened my heart and spoke to him in a thousand silent ways.