A/N : Hello peeps, I am literally heartbroken here to see such low readership to a story that I am writing with so much love! I almost didn't have the heart to continue, but then I saw some of you commenting and really appreciating it - this post is just for you guys! I love you :) and I am still hoping more readers will give this a chance :)

Happy Reading! :)

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S.P.A.C.E. Academy, New York circa 2011

(Nandini's bedroom, S.P.A.C.E. Residency)

Nandini Murthy

It was way past midnight and out and beyond my bedtime; yes right, I have a bedtime too, I mean of course, I need at least nine hours of sleep every night to keep the skin healthy and glowing and keep away from dark circles forming around my eyes. I'm particular that way. Okay, before I digress further, like always, let's get to the why part of things; like, why am I up this late. So, since I just got to know I am leaving for India, anybody heard of the word packing? You hate it, but you gotta do it!

I was thinking of all the possible explanations I was going to give 'chacha', 'chachi' for my sudden return, after shoving my professional ethics story on everyones' face a few days back, when I got startled hearing a knock on my door. That was strange, ever since the holidays, no one ever knocked on my door, especially at two thirty in the morning? I tiptoed towards the door and peeped through the eye-hole. Manik? I thought he'd still be hanging out with his uber cool friends or lying wasted on his bed, what was he doing here, at the doorstep of conservative commoners? Dramatic much, good. He deserves it. Jerk.

Exhaling deeply, I opened the door to find him standing outside, arms locked across his chest, with a frown on his face.

"What's up?" I tried to sound casual, but there was this intense desire, to shake him by the shoulders, inside me. Why one may ask, but my answer to that is, I have no clue. Just the memory of him with other more happening friends, having a great time seemed to irk be in a crazy dysfunctional way. He completely ignored the greetings and continued to stare into my eyes for a few moments more, before replying.

"What's with the sudden change of plans?" he asked me darkly, as I stepped aside and let him enter my room. Eeks, he's here for the first time! Shut-up Nandu, this is no time for butterflies.

"Just. Guess I want to go home now" I mumbled, not meeting his eyes. Trust this strange man, to turn my excitement of going home to mud, in just one freaking sentence.

"Just like that?" he asked, with his back facing me, as he was now busy running his eyes over the mess that was my room right now. There were clothes all around, on the bed, hanging on the chair, on my study table, some packed inside my giant suitcase that lay sprawled open on my bed.

"Hmm" I replied, watching him, as his eyes froze at one particular corner of my bed; my gaze followed him, to find a few of my lingeries lying around in that corner! I shut my eyes in embarrassment before I quickly made a dash and shoved my towel on them to hide them from his vision!

"Hey, that's personal!" I called out in indignation, only to find the corner of his lips twitch into a small smirk for a moment before it went back to its default settings of a frown. I rolled my eyes and sighed, my packing needed to wait; I came near him and grabbed his wrist, as he looked down at our hands in confusion. I ignored his questioning look, as I pulled him out of my room and we headed to the kitchen. It was much better here, away from my lingeries! Hmph.

Manik let me pull him to the kitchen without complaining, only staring at me in a strange way all the time; and as we reached the kitchen, and I automatically moved to make the coffee, he spoke again. I may be wrong, but I think he sounded a bit vulnerable.

"Why are you going back, Nandini?" he asked, and I turned around to see those puppy eyes looking at me. Urghh. Why does this always melt me? I so wanted to stay angry, but I couldn't, not after he managed to look like a human version of a hot chocolate on a winter night right now, for me.

"Arre Manik, I told you right, just like that" I replied, much calmer this time; but he shook his head as if rejecting my answer. I sighed before replying again, "Stop being a child, Manik! What's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me? You are the one suddenly walking out, that too without any rhyme or reason and you're asking what's wrong with me?" he asked indignantly. I stared at him, he looked positively disturbed and that surprised me, but more than that his reluctance to let me go, secretly revived the butterflies inside my stomach too. Was he really into me? Aww.

"Manik..." I tried again, but he didn't let me complete.

"No, don't Manik me. Did you think of me even once? How lonely I will be all alone, over here?" he asked me in perturbation.

"Manik, but you have so many friends here, to keep you company!" I tried cheering him up, but there was a mock in my voice at the mention of his friends, that even I didn't fail to notice, let alone Manik.

"They're all busy in their own lives" he muttered, not meeting my eyes.

"Even Aliya?" I tried to glance at him casually and caught him staring at me with a strange face.

"What are you implying?" he asked, straight out.

"Nothing yaar. Just..anyway I am sure there will be someone or the other to give you company when I am gone" I quickly diverted the topic.

"Fine, don't believe me. Just go" he huffed at this point, getting up, and seeing him all disturbed, bothered me.

"Hey, I have an idea, why don't you fly back home for Christmas too? That way you won't be bored alone here! Let me check for tickets." I replied enthusiastically, hoping to cheer him up, but his face went pale and froze for a fraction of second when he heard me. Strange, now that I think of it, Manik never mentions his family.

"No thanks. I am fine here" he replied curtly and looked away, but something in his tone intrigued me, and I wasn't going to let this go so easily.

"Why Manik, also where is home in India?" I asked casually as I brought two mugs of steaming hot coffee and moved to the dining area where he was seated now.

"I don't have a home, Nandini" he replied quietly, and it seemed more to himself, then me; but I heard it anyway and he knew it I did. He suddenly got up from his place and grabbed both the coffee mugs from my hands and rested them on the table, before grabbing my hand and walking towards the door.

"Manik, wh.." I began, in confusion.

"Let's go out for a walk, it is too stuffy here!"

"Mr. Manik Malhotra, it's the end of December, and it's freezing outside, have you gone nuts?" I began complaining, but he continued to walk holding my hand anyway, ignoring all my pleas. Insensitive much?

Although I have to admit, before leaving the building, he did go inside his room to grab two hoodies, one for himself and one for me. He carelessly handed me the hoodie and waited for me to wear it before he opened the exit door. I stared at his face for a moment before plopping into his hoodie. There was this insane amount of radiance inside me as I wore his hoodie, it smelt like him, woody vanilla. Aah, I could inhale the essence out of this jacket! I looked at him to see him trying very hard to fight a chortle. I followed his gaze to figure that his hoodie was hanging just about an inch and half above my ankle, and the shoulder mark reached my elbows. I rolled my eyes and roughly pushed the sleeves back and after struggling for sometime, my hands emerged victorious from his tunnel like long sleeves. Mr. Watch Tower. Hmph.

S.P.A.C.E. Academy, New York circa 2011

(S.P.A.C.E. Residency, Campus Grounds)

"Have you ever snooped out so late here? Damn the building looks so spooky in the dark!" I whispered, with a mad gleam of excitement in my voice. Yes, call me one, I am a chicken. I don't venture out at night, I am scared of the dark, reminds me of Casper the friendly ghost, plus my mommy on the ground Navya, isn't much of a thrill seeker either, so we girls, er..stay at home at night.

"You mean this is your first time, Miss Rule Book?" he sounded amazed. I nodded with an excited smile, and he looked at me quietly for a moment before smiling at me indulgently. It wasn't snowing it, but one could tell we are really close to it. There was a fog as dense as smoke in the air, and we were breathing out smoke as we walked; I didn't know where we were going, but judging by the way Manik captured my hand, and walked with a sense of purpose, I knew we were heading somewhere specific.

"Wow" was all I could muster after reaching our destination.

We had walked towards the eastern wing of the campus, students seldom visited here; This was mostly where the staff accommodations were, and without access keys, you couldn't enter these swanky buildings with fancy, lavish accommodations. Strangely, our man had an access key. Should I even bother asking? And as we entered the lobby, nobody seemed to stop us. Don't get me wrong, we weren't sneaking in, we were all out in the open, not to mention, in ridiculously oversized clothes (okay, that's just me).

"Manik, why aren't they stopping us?" I whispered.

"Don't worry, I have it covered." he replied back casually, winking at me before guiding me to the elevator. As we got in, I noticed him pressing the key for the 60th floor. Seriously, like how? Ayappa, what is this boy up to now?

The elevator opened into the most lavish penthouse that I have ever set my eyes on (and I have seen quite a few in my life!). It was completely covered in italian marble and was dark with very weak yellow lights cutting through the darkness every now and then.

"Who's place is this?" I asked in awe.

"Someone I happen to know" he muttered, before holding my hand walking straight towards what looked like an open balcony at this height.

As I slowly let go of the breath I was holding unknowingly, only one word escaped my mouth, "Wow." We could see the sparkly lit Manhattan skyline clearly from here, despite the fog. In fact the fog made it more beautiful, it reduced visibility and hence we couldn't see the sharp outline of the buildings, they were blurring into the fog, but the light twinkled away penetrating the densest of the fogs. It was a mesmerising view. I sighed immersed in soaking the beauty that my eyes beheld.

"Like what you see?" I heard his voice, but for once in life, I couldn't take my eyes off the vision to look at the gorgeous man beside me. Good going, Nandu!

"Love it." I barely whispered.

I don't know for how long we sat there silently, just gazing at the world beyond, there was a certain sense of peace setting in me. Manik had been kind enough to go inside once in between to get two mugs of hot chocolates, compensating for the coffee we wasted at our kitchen, and a light blanket that we now shared, since the temperature out here was really low. Sitting there, in the comfort of the best hot chocolate in the world and his warm blanket, my mind reeled back to something he said some time back tonight.

"Manik, what did you mean when you said, you don't have a home?" I asked softly turning towards him, he was looking straight ahead, but I could tell he heard me, because I could feel his muscles stiffen for a second. He slowly turned to look at me, and for a moment I felt he was searching for something in my eyes, then he sighed before responding.

"How do you define home, Nandini?"

My eyes lit up at the question, "Love, laughter, warmth, care, comfort and lots of 'chachi' made home-cooked good food" I replied, with a warm smile playing my lips. He smiled hearing my definition, but it was a sad one.

"And what would not having a home mean then?" he asked quietly. My smile faltered as I realised what he implied. He really didn't have any love, laughter, warmth and comfort in his life? I shuddered to think of how dark and sad that place must be inside his heart.

"What about your parents?" I asked, unsure how else to respond.

"They're there. My mom stays in Bombay; even my passport says, my permanent address is Bombay, but home.." his voice trailed, I had no idea what memory was paying behind those gorgeous eyes.

"And Dad?" I asked, eager to keep the conversation going, so as to distract him from the pain.

"On my last birthday, he was in GoldCoast."

"And now?" I asked, perplexed.

"I don't know, he only ever calls me on my birthdays" he replied quietly. I have to mention at this point that The Nandini Murthy is a tough nut to crack, but I am a super softie when it comes to love of family. I mean my parents are gone too, right? It was only me and Abhi, but then 'chacha', 'chachi' took us in, and raised us with so much love, that I cannot imagine what a loveless life might look like. I was teary hearing him, and didn't realise when I sniffed amidst this. Manik's eyes shot back at my face, as I registered the horror on his face, in seeing me in tears.

"No, no. I didn't mean to upset you!" he said caressing my cheek with his super cold fingers as he vehemently shook his head.

"I know, you didn't." I said, trying to calm him down, and wiping my tears at the same time, and while in all this I don't know what came over him, when he pulled me into a hug. No, don't get me wrong, it wasn't a romantic hug, it was just a comforting one. Maybe that's why I felt so much at peace, placing my head on his hard chest. Ordinarily, I would grumble at the platonic nature of this hug with Mr. Greek God, but tonight was different, tonight was magical. But that's the thing with magic, when it wears off, reality comes back biting. Just like that I was reminded of his group of friends, and especially Aliya; they were his kind of people. Not me. This was a dream, and it needed to break. It needed to break before it hurt me.

"Manik, let's go back now, it is late" I said, slowly coming out of the hug. He looked at me surprised.

"Can't we wait a bit longer, the sunrise from here is brilliant" he said with a soft smile and pleading eyes, still holding onto my wrist.

I smiled sadly, and every cell of my body was revolting against me when I said, "But I have to finish my packing before morning, Manik". I officially hate myself. That's it. Nandini Heartless Murthy!

"Please don't go" he requested in a lowly voice, looking down; I couldn't imagine what level of desperation would lead him into saying this out loud.

"I am sorry Manik, but they're family" I barely whispered back. Trust me, I am no monster, my heart was bleeding.

Manik looked at me quietly, for a while before responding, "I understand, come let's go" he said normally before getting up, leaving me surprised.

Guess the magic has finally run out tonight, but thank-you Ayappa for giving me this memory with Manik.

***

What do you think, life will be this easy and smooth for MaNan, or there is going to be trouble in paradise?

This is my last update for 2020; wish you a Merry Christmas, an amazing New Year 2021, and but love and best wishes to you all for the Holiday Season!!

Next Update : THE ONE WHERE AN ADMIRER WALKED IN to be published on JAN 3, 2021!

Cheers & drink responsibly, guys ;)