~❤~

Love is friendship that has caught fire.

~❤~

Manik Malhotra, sexy name for a sexy body. Ish Nandini stop thinking dirty. OK so what do we do now Ms. Friend.

I smiled and replied, How about you accompany me to the supermarket?

He looked at me blankly for two seconds, I could see the frowns on his forehead. Supermarket? I nodded. But why?

Now it was my turn to look at him blankly. What kind of question is that supposed to be. Why supermarket? Why do people go to super market. Of course to buy stuff needed in daily life. Caption obvious.

I pasted a forced smile on my lips. You know just sometime back the vegetables in the supermarket called me and said that they were getting bored so I should go there and entertain them. Probably, have dance with them. Infact they even offered me to join them on picnic with pulses and spices. How does that sound?

He looked at me blankly. Was that supposed to be a joke? I m sorry I forgot to laugh. Listening to him I gritted my teeth. Get the sarcasm. And FYI it wasn't a joke.

Manik sighed. Good, you shouldn't try cracking jokes. Your sense of humour is pathetic. I gritted my teeth and stomped my foot. DO. YOU. MIND. ACCOMPANYING. ME. TO. THE. SUPERMARKET?

He stifled a giggle and nodded his head trying to keep a serious face, Ofcourse not. It will be my honour to accompany you. I gave him a stern look. He raised his hands up in defense. I just asked cause you told me it was lunch time.

No actually every Sunday I go to super market to buy things needed either for the cafe or for my house. He nodded his head.

We went to the supermarket in his bike that I hadn't noticed until now. Damn! That was definitely a piece of perfection. Such a sexy body. It was simple bike not the very expensive ones.

Bikes always fascinated me more than cars did. But I didn't want to spend money on something that wasn't needed. I hardly had any friends and I hardly ever went anywhere. My routine consisted of home to cafe and back home.

I hadn't realised I was spacing out until manik clicked his fingers in front of me. He was already seated on the bike and holding a helmet in his hands. He raised his eyebrows. Damn! Someone please tell him to stop doing such antiques. It's so irresistible. Infact Manik Malhotra himself was irresistible.

Nandini! Manik exclaimed a little loud. I looked at him in irritation. Don't. Don't make that face. Ek toh I am standing here calling you and you are so lost day dreaming. Huh!

Gosh! He sounds so cute at the same time looks extremely hot when irritated. He is a perfect combination of cuteness and hotness. Not wanting to irritate him more I just made a sorry pout. He sighed and nodded his head signalling to sit behind him.

I sat behind him. There was something about him that didn't seem wrong. Actually it all seemed right. Being with him. Being around him. I could hear the beating of my heart. There was this weird feeling of getting lost in him. Suddenly all I wanted to do was stare at him all day long. His well toned body. His eyes that held a lot of power in them and his smile. Hayeeeee!!

I was still busy drooling over him. I didn't want to loose his sight even for a nanosecond. I didn't know if this was infatuation or L.......Issh Nandini Murthy. STOP. I really need to stop drooling over him. I moved my gaze away and started looking at the vehicles passing by.

His cocky voice broke my trance, Why did you stop staring at me? Already had enough of me?

Holy fudge! He did notice me staring at him. Was it that obvious? Of course Einstein Murthy you kept gawking at him, ho do you expect him to not notice this. Dumb! Duffer! Guinness world record for the most dumbest girl on earth goes to one and only Nandini Dumb Murthy.

You again started day dreaming! I could feel the sarcasm ad taunt in his voice. I glared at him through the rear view mirror of the bike. He laughed and shake his head. I could feel heat rise up on my cheeks. Second time. Second time on the same day he had made me feel conscious of myself.

We reached the super market almost after 30 minutes. He parked the bike in the parking and we made our way towards the grocery section. I had taken a trolley from the entrance itself. The grocery section was at the end. I was just pushing the trolley and then leaning on it letting the trolley pull my weight. I loved doing this right from childhood.

I was so lost in looking around that I had totally forgotten about manik. I realised when he tapped on my shoulder. I could see the bored look on his face. Aiyoooo! Nandini! Bad manners. I chided myself. I gave him apologetic smile. So manik tell me something about yourself. I tried to initiate a conversation. The silence surrounding us was awkward. Way too awkward.

Urm....about me....erm I live in a small house and currently looking for job. Short, sweet and simple introduction. Waise who were you waiting for in the cafe? He looked at me for a second and then spoke, Actually I was supposed to meet the manager of a company for my interview.

I was confused, Interview? On sunday morning? He nodded, Even I was confused but then they said that they needed someone to fill the vacancy as soon as possible so earlier the better. But they never turned up. Seems like they found someone who was better than me.

I could feel the hurt in his voice. So now I know why his eyes had the look of failure and betrayal. And waise it's good they didnt turn up I found myself a new friend.

My lips formed in an 'O'. Manik started giggling. Hain! I didn't crack a joke why is he giggling looking at me. He is so weird. When I crack a joke he doesn't laugh and when I actually do nothing he starts laughing. Ajeeb insaan. He spoke trying to Control his giggles Nandini you look like a fish with that face.

WHATTTTTTTTT!

I glared at him and pushed my trolley taking out my anger on the poor thing. He was still giggling silently which made me more angry. Huh! What does he mean that I look like a fish? Giraffe kahi ka. OK I agree I am small like fish but that doesn't make me a fish. Haan I m little chubby like a fish but that doesn't give him the right to call me a fish. I mentally made a crying face. O....kayy I do look like a fish but how dare he call me a fish!

He dashed his shoulder with mine. I ignored him and continued taking the things that were there in the list I had written.

Sugar, Check.

Flour, Check.

Wheat, Check.

Essence, urm....where is it....

I was still looking for flavoured essence when suddenly a box of 10 different flavour essence bottle popped up in front of me.

Hain! Yeh kaha se aaya. And then I looked at its source. He made a sorry face. I glared at him and pushed it away.

He like a typical dheet put the box in the trolley and then caged me from behind. My feet immediately stopped in its tracks. What the actual fuck. Manik was almost back hugging me. I was pressed tightly against his back. My eyes were ready to fall out of my skull.

I could smell his scent and once again I felt myself losing in his charms. He definitely had those looks to make one feel weak in knees. His smile was enough to crush hearts. And his wink could literally stop your breathes. I could feel him leaning closer. His breathe fanning my ears. Aiyappaaaaa! Urgh.

My whole body seemed to be shivering and my cheeks were radiating heat. My last thread of self-control broke when his husky voice reached my ears, You are such a kid Nandini.

Registering his words I put on one of my deathly looks. I tried my best to gate at him. But the proximity between us over-powered my anger and I felt myself blushing and looking down at he floor.  He again laughed. Huffing I again started moving ahead.
OK ok I am sorry. Waise tum batao apne baare main Ms. New Frrrriendd. He spoke deliberately stretching the word friend. Urgh. He is the most irritating man on earth. Period.

I turned to look at him and gave him a forced smile which made him laugh even more. OK fine whatever. I sighed. We were actually being childish but somehow I loved this kind of childish.

You already know my name and my profession. So I live two lanes away from the cafe. I live alone and you are supposedly my first Frrrriendd. I said imitating him. He chuckled. We moved to cash counter. I started piling the things on the belt and manik helped me.

We still kept talking and I got to know that he used to  play a guitar during college days but stopped due to responsibilities. Then we spoke about his friends and he said he had only two friends. They were friends from high school.

After paying the bills we started moving towards the parking. He dropped me home with the help of my directions. I took the bag thanking for accompanying as well as helping me. 

I was walking inside my building when he called me. Nandini. I turned around, Haan? He had this shy face. I raised my eyebrows.

Errrr....actually.....woh...Ummm. He was fumbling with words. His actions were confusing me.

Urm..err...actually what manik. I was literally losing my patience. Ek toh I m standing, holding this heavy bag and yeh janab pta ni kya bolna chahta.

Woh I am free and my friends are also busy so I was going to the beach for some lone time. Would you like to join me?

~❤~

Even if I spent the whole day with you, I will miss you the second you leave

~❤~

Hope you guys liked the update. Do let me know your views. Thanks for reading.☺

P.S. Credits for the cover in the media box goes to ImLilMissComplicated😻.