A/N : Hola amigos! Thank you so much all of you for slowly accepting this book! I see a lot of peeps adding this book, do read it and give it a shot? Thanks a lot for readers and voters! Can't wait for you to read this chapter and let me know your views!!

Happy Reading!

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Cafe Nero, East Village, 5th Street circa 2011

(The cafe next to S.P.A.C.E. Residency)

Nandini Murthy

Here we are, back again! Only this time it was me who insisted on coming here, and Manik complied with a mild shrug. I had two reasons for visiting this place; one, I wanted to shove it on that brunette waitress's face, that Manik was mine, and secondly, my prowl for Spikey wasn't over yet! Oh and there is a third too, as much as I despise that brunette Medusa, I kind of love her waffles! Hmph.

It has been three days ever since we got together, but strangely it wasn't sinking in yet. I, Nandini Murthy, actually have a real boyfriend now? That too, Manik Hottie Malhotra? Ayappa, please don't let this be a dream, pretty please? Also, even though we hung out pretty much regularly even before this turn of events took place, it seemed like everything had changed overnight. Manik was different. There was a change in the way he possessively clutched my hand every time we ventured out for a walk. There was this sense of authority that I felt coming from him, like he owned me in the most emotionally intimate way, and in his ownership, I thrived. I loved the way he would suddenly come into the kitchen and hug me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder as he chuckled seeing me struggle with some dish; a small peck on the cheek, a little nuzzling on my nape, a stolen kiss here and there, this is how my days were around this boy. And me, can you imagine, The Nandini Murthy blushing all the time? Ayappa, what are you doing to me?!

So, back to the present now, hush. So as usual, Spikey was an absentee, but thankfully Ms. Medusa from last time was here waiting at our table; I smiled triumphantly. Payback time! As she approached us, slightly swaying her hips at the sight of Manik, a glare automatically spread on my face.

"Hey there muffin, what have you got for us today?" my head snapped again as I heard Manik make that flirtatious statement towards her. Like really, he had to ruin even muffins for me? Also, where exactly did he grow those pair of b*lls that enabled him to flirt openly with another girl, when his own girlfriend was sitting right next to him? Jerk.

"Well, well, if it isn't Mr. Eye Candy here!" she replied with a sexy smirk. Sexy my foot. Urgh.

"Erm..baby, you want to try the waffles, Ms. Muffin here makes it really well!" I interrupted this time, before I could control myself. I was so damn annoyed with both of them right now! Manik glanced at me, and a small smirk played on his lips. He didn't miss the baby part. Damn.

But on the brighter side, Ms. Medusa seemed to be taken aback hearing my term of endearment and took about a few seconds to recover; but when she did, there was a malicious smile on her face. You know what these kinda smiles from bitchy girls mean, right? Oh boy, this meant war. Look Manik Malhotra, what my love for you is making me do. Ayappa, help!!

"We would like to order two portions of the waffles." Manik replied, breaking my and my nemesis' eyelock.

"Coming right up" the jerkette replied, rolling her mouth in a strange way making it look suddenly hot. Ayappa, how do they know such stuff? I was wondering where this girl picked up her sl*tty innuendos from when my reveries was broken by a chortle. Manik.

"What?" I asked, looking at him coldly, I was mad at him too. I was just keeping quiet so Medusa here didn't get the satisfaction of seeing us fighting!

"Are you having a seizure? Look at your face" he replied laughing openly now. I looked behind him where there was a giant mirror sitting, to see that indeed my face held a strange expression (okay not seizure-like. That was an exaggeration!) but weird; I was just trying to imitate Medusa's expression, lost in thought. But look at my luck, while she looked hot doing it, I looked like a person having a seizure, in my own boyfriend's eyes. Ayappa, argh. Please knock some sense into this man!

I ignored his comment, "So, muffin, huh?" I asked giving him a deadpan look.

"So, baby, huh?" he replied back with a smirk. Arghhh.

Manik seemed to notice my awkwardness, when he pulled his couch close to mine and held my hand gently, squeezing it softly before entwining it with his; then he brought it close to his face and placed a chaste kiss on the back of my palm. Damn it, his cuteness always wins. Hmph.

"Call me Manik, I like the way my name sounds when it comes from your mouth" he replied huskily and before I realised I was beetroot red in shyness.

"But how can you call her muffin?" I complained like a child, not caring to hold onto my mature girlfriend like behaviour anymore.

"Because I don't like muffins, much" he replied in the same deep and husky voice that made me forget where I am in the first place. Ayappa, why does this guy have such a long lasting effect on me!?

"Then what do you like?" I mumbled, now looking down at my lap.

"Nandu's idla" he replied with a teasing smile and before I could react, he broke into a peal of laughter. Damn this gorgeous face and those chocolate brown orbs. This is so unfair! Hmph. Wait, did he call me, Nandu? Awwwwiee.

Wait for it. Nothing is perfect in my life, remember? So how could my mush haven amidst a cafe last any longer then? As the two plates laden with waffles approached us, my eyes fell on the waffle served to Manik, it had a lip designed on it with luscious sliced strawberries, and that followed with a message on foam cream beneath, it read "xoxo". That b*tch! While my waffle had a design on a winking smiley with devil horns on it. Wow. Medusa one, Nandu zero. Pff.

As I huffed in anger and snatched his plate and swapped with mine, Manik could only laugh his gut out. That jerk found it funny? Manik You Are Such A Disaster Malhotra! Hmph.

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

(Common kitchen, S.P.A.C.E. Residency)

"I can't believe it, you're still fuming?" I heard Mr. Playboy laughing, as he was lazily scrolling through his Netflix content, trying to select a movie for us to watch.

"Not funny, Manik" I snapped at him, before going back to putting the popcorn pack into the oven.

"Jealous, huh?" he continued his tease.

"Jealous, my foot!" I replied, stomping my foot on the floor. He sniggered at that. Meh.

"Didn't look like that in the cafe baby, when you were trying to mimic her naughty expression!" he mocked me again. That's it, Malhotra, you are so dead.

"I don't need to mimic her to be sexy, Manik" I said turning around, and I don't know what came over me suddenly, when I walked straight to him, swaying my hips just a litte, so that it didn't look too sl*tty, but just about sexy enough to shut my man for good, and lifted my right leg and placed in the base of the couch where he was sitting, just between his legs; Manik moved back further into the couch in surprise and astonishment, as I smirked seductively, while I used my tongue to lightly lick my upper lip deliberately.

"Wha--" for the first time I cut his statement short. Yes! Aah the joy.

"Like what you see, Malhotra?" I asked huskily, as I drew my torso closer to his, bending forward on the couch. Ladies and gentlemen, I finally seem to have one score up on Manik! Yahoo! Manik just looked at me transfixed with surprise plastered across his face. Did he look hesitant? Yeah, right. Manik High On Libido Malhotra will be hesitant! Pff.

I moved my face closer towards him as I grabbed a fistful of his tee in my clutch and pulled him to me, our poor man came crashing towards me, but I didn't let him touch me, instead I maintained steady eye contact as I slowly bent down and nipped him lightly near his Adam's apple. Instantly a moan escaped him, as he reflexively clutched my waist with death grip.

His hold felt burning against my skin, but I resisted the urge to give in. My Monster needed a lesson!

I loosened my grip on his tee and slowly caressed my hand down his torso, reaching the edge of his tee, near his waist, and then ever so slowly took my hand under his tee. Aah the touch, my own nerves started playing havoc with my senses when I glanced up to see him frozen with eyes shut, it looked like he was in ecstasy. As I teethed the button on his tee near his hard chest, my hand found the hard outer line of his pelvic bones. It's so damn sharp. Damn! As I slowly traced the bone until I hand reached the threshold from where his trouser started, I felt his breath hitch. I stayed in that place for a few seconds more, to put him through the sweet torture of guessing if I will go further down, and then, all of a sudden, before my own hormones could outwit me, I completely pulled back from him. You see Mr. Playboy, The Nandini Gangsta Murthy isn't any less! Hmph.

"Show over, Malhotra! Guess I proved my point" I said huskily, as he took a few seconds to finally realise I had pulled back and he opened his eyes. Those molten chocolate brown orbs were darker now, I could see intense desire, vulnerability, disappointment and shock all swimming in them. As I stood there with a victorious smirk playing on my face, all he did was mumble, "Wow".

Taking a bow, ladies and gentlemen! I know, I rock. Thanks, Ayappa!

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

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

Damn, damn, damn! I am so effing stupid, Ayappa! Wasn't the whole point of me showing 'I can be sexy effortlessly' orchestrated to point it out to Manik that I am better than Medusa? I mean, prove this only. Damn it, why didn't I evaluate subsequent consequences and side effects of my action in that moment? Darn!

After pulling off my little seductive stunt on Manik, it had such a drastic impact on my hormones, that I decided to pretend like it never happened and turned the mood around to silly fun and frolic while watching Netflix. And guess what, it seemed like even Manik was trying to normalise its impact on us, as he didn't tease me further and tried focusing on the show we started watching soon after. What was the name of that show, again? But there is something that is worth mentioning here; I am not sure how to explain this, but the air around us seemed so damn charged all the time there after, like a tiny bit of spark could cause fire! Butterflies were playing havoc at the pit of my stomach and for the life of me, I didn't know how to tame them; and Manik, well he seemed unusually stiff and focused on the damned show we were pretending to watch.

Well the first one hour went silently awkward, but I couldn't ever find the will to leave the kitchen, there was this unexplainable pull and I just wanted to be next to this Jerk Boy all the time. Dude, how much mushier can I get!?! Ayappa, help!! Argh. But then something happened, and thinking about it still leaves my heart beating erratically; the rush is unexplainable, I swear!

I was sitting on the couch with Manik and the iPad was on his lap, as we were watching some show, I have no effing clue about; all my focus went in acting normal and nullifying the spark and charge around us, when I felt a cold finger brush against the skin around my waist, around the place where my tank top carelessly had moved up from. Dear Lord, just like that the lining of my skin seemed to be on fire! I stiffened for a few seconds and told myself, his fingers might have brushed me by mistake, but when a second finger joined followed by a third and a holy f*cking fourth, I realised this was intentional. I tried following his expression from the corner of my eyes, without moving my head, he was still staring at the iPad, but if one noticed carefully one could tell Manik Malhotra had no clue about what he was watching; as his fingers caressed the curve of my waist, ever so gently, ever so lightly, I could see his adams apple dipping back and forth in carnal aspiration. Wait, a hot guy is now desiring me?! Like in a real, sexy way? Now that was a first!

"Manik" I whispered as his fingers were getting bolder and they started tracing my spine from the base of my waist.

"Sshh..feel it, Nandini" he whispered as he swiftly turned around, and the iPad dropped from his lap, lost and forgotten; he hovered over me, one hand on the couch balancing himself on me, while the other one clutched my waist seductively; with slow and deliberate moves, he inched close to me as his fingers were tracing my spine and sensually going further upwards.

"Kiss me" he demanded, looking deeply into my eyes; it felt like I was in a trance and every cell in my body wanted to obey his every command! As I moved closer and touched my lip with his with all the love I have ever felt for this boy, I felt his breath leaving him gently, almost as if Manik was melting into my kiss. I kissed him softly, I kissed him gently, like his heart was fragile and I was carefully mending him; carefully because fragile things seem to break easily, and I was here to save him, to cherish him, to fill his heart with my love; I was here to save Manik's heart.

"Nandini..you have no idea what you're doing to me" he whispered hoarsely as I gently left his lips and continued to leave a trail of kisses on his razor sharp jawline; I gasped as I felt his hand finally making it up hill to my mounds under my top, he caressed my breast with feather like touches over my bra, rubbing my nipples taut, with his thumbs.

"Ahh.." I moaned in pleasure as he bent down further on me, leaving open kisses on my throat. The pleasure this man evoked in me, by the mere touch of his lips on my skin, it left my sanity hanging by a thread and an innate desire burning through my soul. I wanted more. I wanted Manik to touch me more, kiss me in more intimate places, I wanted Manik to touch my heart.

"Let's get you out of this top" I heard him whisper and before I could react, my tank was flying by the coffee table landing swiftly on the kitchen floor. In a moment of instinctive reaction I covered my top with my arms, looking at him in surprise.

"Baby, you're beautiful" he whispered seeing my inhibition; one thing I noticed even in this frenzy was, when he realised I was uncomfortable, his eyes didn't go down, even when there was an open show before him. His eyes held onto mine as he placed a chaste kiss on my forehead; Manik was seeking my consent, he wouldn't even look at me without it. The intimacy I felt looking deeply into his eyes, shed every bit of inhibition that was pulling me back; I slowly removed my hands from my chest, letting him see what belonged to him in the rightest sense from that moment. Manik's gaze was steady on my eyes and upon my consent it slowly glided down to my breast area, there was a soft shimmer in his eyes. He cherished seeing me. At that point of time I realised, I haven't ever been this deeply loved, I felt like his prayer, I felt like his answer.

The sensation of cold wetness in the valley between my mounds brought me out of my trance as I realised he was sucking the soft skin there. My valley was wet and shining with his wet kisses and saliva and I loved the feeling. He was gently kneading my breasts as he kept reverently kissing my heart, and with every little kiss, he owned me a little more. After a while, things weren't as gentle anymore, as both of us were slowly wading into a sensation of frenzy wherein every cell on our skin wanted the touch of the other; his kisses were rougher, my tugging his hair was stronger, our breaths were heavier. The need was impossible and undeniable. I found Manik's hand going behind me as I felt a tug on the hook of my bra. I froze in that moment, it was much more than a tug, unhooking it would be making a decision, a choice, a leap of fate that I can never reverse. Was I ready for it? I didn't know. I wasn't sure.

"Baby, stop me right now if you have to; after this I wont be able to stop" Manik barely whispered while nuzzling my nape and biting my earlobe softly. He must have felt me freezing under him. I was still stiff, I had stopped caressing his back, and my hand was limply holding his back; I don't think I remembered to breathe either.

"Manik..I.." I was stammering, I didn't know what I wanted to say; every fibre of my body wanted this, wanted his touch, wanted to be his, but my heart, was there a confusion there?

A frustrated and impatient moan escaped my lip when I suddenly found the weight over me lifting and as swiftly as it began, I found Manik moving away from me and standing on his feet again.

"Manik.." I muttered, turning red; suddenly the realisation of what had happened hit me, and it hit me hard.

"Here, wear it" he replied softly, as I looked at his assuring eyes, and he held onto my gaze with a soft smile. I took my top from his hand and slided into it, and with a very red and flushed cheeks, walked out of the kitchen, dashing back to my bedroom, after whispering, "See you later, Manik"

Oh my God. This was my first make-out session ever. Manik Magician Malhotra, you are the freaking best! Ayappa!! Err..no not the best moment to remember you!

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

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

It had been a couple of hours since, and almost evening; I was sitting in my room gloating at my first makeout session with Mr. Manik Too Good To Be True Malhotra, when I received a notification on my Insta handle, Manik had uploaded a photo; when did he leave the residency I wondered as I slowly checked the photo he uploaded. Wait a moment; is this man for real, I wondered as I saw him posing happily in the pic, the backdrop looked like that of a bar, and guess who was clicking that darned selfie with him, it was none other than Medusa!?! Holy freaking, wafflle making, minion from hell, Medusa! As I stared astounded at the photo, I wondered if everything was okay on Manik's top floor; like seriously, this was nothing less than enormous amount of d*ckheaded f*ckery! One moment we were making out, and he was telling me he didn't really like muffins and now he was posing happily with the same said muffin, captioning the picture with,

"Time for some End of Year celebrations!"

#MuffinIsLove

#HolidayCheer

Ayappa, give me patience, because if you give me strength, I will surely strangle Manik D*ckhead Malhotra to death! Hmph. I don't know what came over me, but it was a kind of a boiling rage that I had never felt inside me, and in this anger I had texted him immediately,

"Manik, come back home. Now."

Even though I totally thought he'd respond soon and call and shower me with explanations, nothing like that happened; an hour passed by, followed by another couple, but he never responded to my text and neither did Mr. F*ckboy return back home. I didn't know when I dozed off in anger, hurt and empathy, but I remember waking up with a jerk at the wee hours of the morning, due to constant banging on my door. The f*ck, I swore in my sleep as I drowsily went to get the door. You will notice how the entry of a certain Malhotra in my life has had deeper impacts then I'd like to give him credit for; yours truly, who always used the A word in frustration (a.k.a Ayappa) is now more inclined to the usage of the universal F word! Arghh.

As I rubbed my eyes while opening the door, I saw him standing there, red eyes, a lopsided smile (Ayappa, does he always need to look sinfully handsome!?), alcohol breath and messy hair. Manik. I peered at him from head to toe, with a slight frown on my face, he seemed completely wasted! As I watched him, he held onto his grin and looked at me with a baby-ish innocence.

"You called me, Nandu?" he asked after battling a few hiccups as he staggered into my room, uninvited.

"It's Nandini" I replied through gritted teeth. I was still mad at him, of course.

"Nope, nope, nope. It is Nandini for everyone else, but for me it is Nandu! Huh." he corrected me, now plopping on my bed, looking at me.

"What do you want, Manik?" I asked in a measured voice, I realised there was no point giving him an earful when he'd remember nothing tomorrow anyway.

"You called, I came. We're easy that way, Nandu!" he grinned again. Idiot.

"We will talk tomorrow" I replied curtly and folded my hands across my chest, standing before him.

"Okay then" he said in a sing-song voice and crashed on my bed. Excuse me, if His Largeness slept on my bed, where was I to crash?!

"Maa-nn-ikk get up" I called out as I was struggling to get the troll out of my bed, and not without a humongous amount of effort did I pull him up and walked him to his room; all the while he was barely dragging his feet with most of his weight on me; he kept muttering incoherent things, but I couldn't pay attention, I needed to focus on getting him to his room!

Once I delivered Mr. Extra Large Parcel to his room, his bed more precisely; I turned to leave but Mr. BigFoot stopped me. He held onto my arm and tugged me back, and I lost balance and sat down on the bed beside him.

"Put me to sleep" he commanded, pulling me further into the bed with him; now I was half lying, half sitting on the bed, as he guided my palm onto his hair and made me stroke his hair; indicating to me to continue it. Amidst all my anger, a small smile played my lips and I don't know what came over me, I got onto the bed properly beside him, and hugged him from the side, holding his face near my neck, as I kissed his head and ruffled his hair gently. Yes, he was a f*ckhead, but I had realised I loved this boy, a bit too much; as I ruffled his hair gently, he relaxed in my arms, his lip was touching the skin of my neck and that was doing strange things inside my body, and unaware of all this, Manik slept peacefully, engulfed in my hug.

Before I fell asleep the last thing I heard him mumble in his sleep, I think was 'home', but I cannot tell for sure.

***

After Note:

Well, how'd this go? Was it MaNalicious enough? ;)

Wait for the next chapter! 

Next update : Jan 31, 2021

Title of Next Chapter : The One Where We Made Love 

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