How does it feel to argue with your life partner..??

I know, most of us are single but it doesn't mean we can't answer..

According to me, that's the best feeling you could go through when you're married. Fighting with your life partner means you have accepted him/her by your heart..

Like the saying, where there's fight, there's love too..

When you love someone, you can fight with that person too, because you feel like you hold that right. The same happens with your life partner too, thought it's not necessary to say it out that you feel for him/her..

Manik Malhotra and Nandini Manik Malhotra are going through the same feeling because they're on yet another argument..

In Malhotra Mansion

Two souls were sitting on a couch with their palms resting on their cheeks and eyes glued to the rest two souls, who were busy in bickering..

Mukti: Cabir Bhai, topic tho kuch aur tha, na..

Cabir ( nodded ): Main bhi wahi soch raha hoon, mathlab, hum dhono tho fight kar rahe the na par ab tho Bhai and Nandu fight mein lag gaye..aise kaise hua..??

Mukti: Mujhe tho kuch bhi yaad nahi hai, mathlab..ithni jaldhi pair exchange hua..

Nandini: Grumpy Coffee..kya problem hai tumhara..Choti chahthi hai horror movie dekhe aur tum ho ki mana kar rahe ho..

Manik: Tho mene bhi bola na romantic movie dekhke, Cabir bhi wahi chahtha tha..

Nandini: Arey, choti Cabir Bhai se bhi choti hai tho wo jo chahthi hai wahi accept karna chahiye..Cabir Bhai kaha koi chote bache hai..Aur waise bhi, mujhe bhi horror movie zyada pasand hai, ithna bhi kya dekhna hai romantic movies mein..

Cabir raised his hand..

Cabir: Uh, according to me, you'll get to see cozy stuffs in romantic movies..

MaNan: Shut up Cabir/Bhai..

Cabir zipped his mouth and Mukti giggled watching him like an obedient kid..

Manik: Aur tum, mein tho pooch raha hoon, aise bhi kya dekhna hai horror movies mein. Waise, tum dhono kaunse angle se ladkiyan dikhthe hai ab, mathlab, har ek ladki horror movie se bhagthe hai aur tum dhono ko wahi dekhna hai..unbelievable..

This time, Mukti raised her hand..

Mukti: According to me, horror movies dekhke zyada strong bann sakthe hai, you know, your heart won't be so faint..

Nandini: Right..Even, I agree with it..In fact, I love to watch murders..How about you, Grumpy Coffee..??

Manik: Shut up, I don't agree to it..

Nandini: Tho hum kya kare..If you don't agree, then it's your problem..

Manik: Ugh..Lilliput..meri bath sunn..

Nandini: Dare you call me that, Grumpy Coffee..

Manik: Oh really..Then stop calling me Grumpy Coffee..

Nandini: No way..Should I stop calling you that, then find another name for you by yourself..And I don't think there would be a better name..

Manik: Manik Malhotra..is the better and best name for me..

Nandini: Unfortunately, it doesn't suit you. Mathlab, uska mathlab tho dekho..GEM aur tum kis angle se gem dikhthe ho..Bilkul bhikaari dikhthe ho..

Manik's eyes went wide and then he looked at himself and then at her, who was looking at him casually..

Manik: Bh..Bhikari..Excuse me..Did I hear that..??

Nandini: How would I know if you heard it or not. Anyhow, I said that word, in fact, I was referring to you..

Manik moved to her dangerously and seeing the matter getting out of control, Mukti and Cabir jumped in between..

Cabir: Hold on people..

Mukti: Bhai..ruk tho sahi..kya bachon ke tarah lad rahe hai..Teek hai, hum horror movie nahi dekhenge if you're uncomfortable with it..

Manik ( shocked ): Uncomfortable..?? you mean..You mean, I'm scared..??

Mukti ( nervously ): No..I didn't..

And, Nandini remembered about the previous night conversation, how he stuttered when she asked him was he scared of horror movies..

Shit..he's scared..!!

She stared at his face, who was looking at Mukti, precisely glaring at Mukti for calling him scared..

Manik: No, you did mean by that..

Cabir: Arey Bhai, wo tho bas sach bol raha tha..

Manik ( growled ): I'm not scared, Cabir...

Cabir simply tried to suppress his laugh..

Nandini: Okay that's fine..mein tho ladai karke yaha, thak chuki hoon. Ab jo movie dekhna hai, wo dekho..

Mukti and Cabir raised their eyebrows at Nandini, who was simply giving them blank looks..

Nandini: What..?? Why are you both gaping at me..??

Mukti: Aap ithni jaldhi maan gayi..mathlab, ab thak tho lad rahe the aap Bhai ke saath..

Nandini: Arey tho ismein bhi problem hai, mein thak chuki hoon, Grumpy Coffee mein patha nahi ithna energy kaha se aai..

Manik ( sarcastically ): Complan se, kyu..aap bhi peeoge kya..??

Nandini ( sarcastically ): No thanks, Boost is the secret of my energy..

Manik scowled at her who did the same in return while Mukti and Cabir were sighing in disbelief..

Cabir: Okay, people. Time up. Ab next round kal shuru karthe hai..let's watch the movie..

Mukti: Yup...

Everyone were occupying their seats when mukti called out for Nandini..

Mukti: Bhabi, aapke jagah mere saath nahi..

Nandini raised her eyebrows at Mukti who pointed the same bed where Manik was lying and surprisingly, he was already looking at her..

Nandini: Grumpy Coffee ke saath..??

Mukti ( grinned ): Haan ji, par thoda change bhi daalo, aapka husband, Grumpy Cofee ke saath..

Mukti got settled and ignored Nandini, who sighed in irritation and sat beside Manik who smirked at her which she hated the most..

Mukti: Cabir Bhai, zyada cheesy movies math daalna..I hate too much of cheesy stuffs..

Cabir: Cheesy nahi, bas romance hogi..

Manik: Hum romance nahi horror movie dekhne wale hai..

And the rest 3 snapped their heads at Manik in shock..

Nandini: What...??

Manik ( frowned ): What..?? You wanted to watch it, right..Ab kya hua..

She bit her lips to hide her emotions..

Nandini: Arey, tum hi tho keh raha tha, you won't watch horror movies..

Manik: Jab sawal izzat pe aathe hai tho ye sab kuch bhi nahi hai. Meri pyari behena, Muku, horror movie hi dekhenge hum..

Mukti ( interrupted ): Arey par Bhai, aap..

Manik: No argument..Cabir..

Cabir ( chuckled ): Jaise aap kahe, Bhai..All the best..

To which, Manik just glared at him while Nandini was sighing at Manik..

Nandini ( muttered ): Apne izzat nahi, EGO kehna chahiye..

Manik: Kuch kaha tumne, Lilliput..??

Nandini ( grinned ): Haa..yahi ki tum kithne bade egotistical ladka ho..

Manik ( glared ): Compliment nahi hai yeh jo mein tumhe thank you, kahoon..

Nandini: Tho math kaho, mein kaha tharas rahi hoon..

And she got busy in the movie which Cabir played..

Nandini ( thought ): Oh teri ki, ye Grumpy Coffee " The Conjuring 2 " dekhne wale hai..

She looked at Manik who was looking at the movie title while gulping the lump in his throat and she chuckled silently..

Nandini ( whispered ): Kuch kuch ho raha hai kya, Grumpy Coffee..??

Manik ( glared ): Haa, both gussa aa raha hai..

Nandini ( casually ): Wo tumhe kab nahi aatha..

He ignored her and got busy in getting scared and to add more spice in it, Cabir had dimmed the lights too..

Manik ( muttered ): Saale ko aur koi movie hi nahi mila dekhne keliye. Mathlab, Conjuring 2 aur oopar se lights bhi dim kar diya..

Nandini ( whispered ): Tum akele mein bath bhi karthe ho kya..??

Manik ( annoyed ): Tum chup nahi beit sakthi ho kya..??

Nandini ( nodded ): Mujhe laga tumhe tho ab ye baath samaj aaya hoga ki zindagi mein kabhi bhi chup nahi beit sakthi mein..

He palmed his face and concentrated in the movie..Cabir was yawning while watching the movie and the girls were watching with a lot of interest that they didn't even have any idea about their surroundings.

While for Manik, he was seating and biting his lips due to the fear. He looked at his left to see Nandini inside the duvet and lost in the movie.

Taking it as a cue, he too moved inside the duvet which broke Nandini's attention for the movie..

Manik ( casually ): I'm just feeling cold, but don't take advantage of this closeness..

She rolled her eyes at him but then her gaze fell on his forehead and neck which were covered in sweat beads. She noticed his t-shirt getting wet too due to the sweat which meant, he was dead scared..

Nandini ( irritated ): Iss dunya mein Grumpy Coffee see bhi zyada egotistical insaan aur koi nahi hoga..Mujhe laga wo ferocious godzilla who got promoted to Honey Bee ke paas 10000 k.g EGO hai par nahi, I'm proved wrong by my own hubby darling..

By each second, Manik was losing it, he couldn't even take his eyes off the scree due to his big fat EGO while his poor heart was thumping due to the fear and all these was noticed by Nandini which increased her irritation and concern for him..

She, stealthily moved to her right when he was busy in wiping his sweat, and held his hand making him jump in his place and she palmed his mouth..

Nandini: Shh..ithna kyu chilla rahe ho..aagr chillaya tho apne ye EGO hai na, wo toot jayega..

She took her palm off his mouth and he glared at her..

Manik: Tum mujhe tab bhi darana chahthi ho jab mein horror movie dekh raha hoon..

Nandini ( sarcastically ): Wow, yaha tho khud tum movie dekhke darke mar rahe ho aur keh rahe hai ki mein dara rahi hoon tumhe..

Manik ( avoided eye contact ): What..?? Sc..scared..Are you..ki..kidding me..?? Manik Malhotra never gets..scared..

Nandini 9 smirked ): I can see it..

He glared at her and she simply looked at him annoyed..

Nandini: Fine, ab tum darke maro, mujhe koi dikhath hi nahi..

Saying it, she left his hand and kept a 10 c.m. distance from him making him frown..Nevertheless, he concentrated in the movie and had to gulp hard due to the scenes happening in the movie.

He looked to his left to see her not even sparing him a glance making him sulk..

Manik: Mere koi khayal hi nahi iski..

And on seeing the next scenes, he moved closer to her and held her hand in his tight grip making her smile..

Nandini: Accepted..??

He looked at her and then was about to take his back when she held it her grip..

Nandini: Koi nahi..tumse nahi ho paega..I'm just scared to leave your hand..

He kept looking at her after hearing her..

" I'm just scared to leave your hand " all he could know from that sentence is, she isn't ready to leave his hand for anything in the world, it's not just for the movie..

Nandini: What..??

She turned to him when she felt his intense gaze on her..

Manik ( sighed ): Nothing..

Nandini ( frowned ): You're really weird, I'm saying it again..

He simply chuckled and their concentration moved to the movie again. On feeling someone's breathes, near her neck, she looked at her right to see Manik hiding in her neck and he was watching the movie too.

She had to smile, seeing a kid Manik in her grown up, angry Grumpy Coffee. From nowhere, she felt a kind of feeling of not to let go off this Manik, the kiddish, happy Manik.

His smile seems so important for her..!!

But now, it became so difficult for her to breathe. His lips were touching her neck and this brought tingles all around her body which stiffened her body..

Nandini: Gr..Grumpy Coffee..what's wrong with you..??

He was so lost in his fear that he didn't realize what he was doing. She tapped his cheeks making him alert about their position..

Nandini: Ithna darthe ho ab Angry Malhotra..

He straightened himself and looked here and there while she started giggling making him glare at her..

Nandini: What..?? Don't give those scary looks to me..Conjuring dekhke bhi mujhe darr nahi lagthi tho ye kiddish Grumpy Coffee kuch bhi nahi hai mere liye..

Manik ( scowled ): I'm not kiddish, okay..

Nandini ( chuckled ): Yeah, yeah..

He turned his face away from her and she chuckled and got busy with the movie but she didn't leave his hand. He too got busy with it as now, he was feeling peaceful..

Nandini ( muttered ): Kithni boring movie hai yeh, mathlab horror jaise kuch bhi nahi hai, Conjuring 1 was much better..

Soon, she felt her eyes getting heavier but due to the volume and the light that hitting her eyes from the movie were disturbing her, so she tried to watch the rest of the move and thought of getting back to their bedroom soon after it gets over.

Alas..!!

She couldn't control anymore that finally her eyes got closed and her head fell on Manik's shoulder making him aware about it.

Manik turned to his left to see her sleeping and he looked at her in shock..

Manik: Horror movies ke waqt koi bhi insaan so nahi paega par yaha meri Lilliput ek exception hi hai..

He pulled her into his chest after realizing her neck will be going through a dreadful pain if she sleeps by leaning onto his shoulder. He pecked her forehead while caressing her cheeks and he too closed his eyes. After all, he was never interested in watching this movie and he''ll be able to sleep when he's around his peace of mind and soul..

Soon, the movie was finished..

Mukti: Bhai, it was so scary, right..

Cabir ( sighed ): Aaj rath mere kamre mein math aana sone keliye..

Mukti ( bad face ): Mein nahi aaongi, Bhabi will sleep with me, hain na Bhabi..

She turned behind only to get gasp in shock. Getting no response from Nandini for Mukti's question, even he turned behind..

Cabir ( shocked ): Bhai..Nandu..

He looked at them to see them sleeping peacefully in each other's arms and seeing Manik's smile, he knew what is supposed to be his brother's future..

While, Mukti walked towards Manik and Nandini and stared at them for a while with a sweet smile playing on her lips. She bent and kissed both their foreheads and her eyes were moist..

Mukti: Cabir Bhai..

She turned to Cabir and he spoke only one sentence..

Cabir: Nandini is Bhai's happiness..

Mukti ( smiled ): No..

He snapped his head at her in surprise while she turned towards them..

Mukti: Bhabi is Bhai's life, his peace..not just happiness..She's going to be everything for him. His one and only True Love..

And Cabir smiled from ear to ear. He walked towards Mukti and kept his hand around her shoulders..

Cabir: Let's leave the new love birds here, we need to get some sleep. We're single unlike them..

He pouted at the end making her giggle and both left the theater room while closing the door.

Next Day

The sun rays weren't allowed in the theater room but Nandini's alarm rang at the right time, which did nothing to her as she was in her deep slumber though her alarm was Mrunal's curses.

But, it wasn't the same for Manik, he groaned in sleep hearing only abuses in such a lovely morning. Without opening his eyes, he roamed his hand to the left but then he was feeling something soft..

Pillows can't be this soft..!! His pillows were always hard, just like him..!!

After a lot of searching, he got a thing in his hand from which he was hearing those abuses and he opened his eyes and pressed a button to off it..

Manik ( groaned ): God...ye Lilliput ke alarm bhi uske tarah hai..kabhi bhi kahi bhi shuru hojathe hain..

Keeping it somewhere to his right, he turned to sleep again when he felt someone's voice..

" Hmm..." opening his eyes again, he got to see his Lilliput sleeping so close to him but she was voicing her irritation out due to his stubble which was brushing her neck..

He smiled widely after seeing her first in the morning. He stared at her face which looked so peaceful. He kept his stubble on her neck and she was moving away again. She started to rub her neck due to the itching making him chuckle..

Manik: Wake up Lilliput..hospital nahi jaana hai kya..

Instead of a reply, she turned to him and snuggled in his chest which stiffened his posture. He tucked her hair strands behind her ears and she smiled after getting rid of her hairs which were disturbing her.

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead..

Manik ( thought ): Whatever it is, Lilliput. I'm loving this feeling. You're bringing happiness to me and I don' want to deny it, either. You're changing me, and I can feel a lot of difference in me, nowadays..

He shook her shoulders and she frowned. She started slapping his hands and he hissed..

Manik: Kya hai Lilliput..ek tho mein utha raha hoon aur tum ho ki mujhe maar rahi ho..Lilliputt......

He shouted and she sat straight in a jerk..

Nandini: Huh...kya hua..koi marr gaya kya..Mruno...

Manik ( annoyed ): Har waqt Mruno hi hai tumhare dimaag mein..

That was when she noticed Manik on the bed and then her surroundings..

Nandini: Hum theater room mein kya kar rahe hai..

Manik: Football khel rahe the..you scored 10 and I scored 15 goals..

Nandini ( frowned ): Ithne saare goals koi score kar sakthe hai kya..I was never interested in football, phir bhi, you can't score more than 5, at least in a game right..

Manik ( irritated ): Ab tujhe football ki padi hai..theater room se football scores, like seriously..

And she remembered they were watching a movie last night, The Conjuring 2..

Nandini ( biting her nails ): Tum zinda ho..

Manik: What...??

Nandini: Arey, kal tum bohath dar raha tha na tho I was just curious..

Manik ( scowled ): You should stop being curious..

Nandini ( pouted ): I used to try but then I realized it won't happen ever..

He simply palmed his face and muttered " she's a gone case " while, she has already got up from the bed and took the duvet and folded it. Manik too got up from the bed.

Nandini: Grumpy Coffee, mera mobile dekha hai kahi..??

He took her mobile and forwarded it to her..

Manik: Dekha nahi tha par sunn liya tha, wo bhi tumhari best friend ke so called abuses..

She took her mobile from his hand..

Nandini: Arey, mein uthi hi nahi uske aawaaz sunne se pehle. Wo kya hai na, uske muh se sirf abuses nikalthe hai aur agar koi abuses sune tho aur koi alarm ke zaroorath nahi padenge na..

Manik ( sighed ): Sahi hai. Tum dhono kahi ek hi hospital mein tho paida nahi hue, mathlab, best friends se zyada twin sisters laghthe hain, jiske harkathe bhi ekdum same to same..

Nandini ( sarcastically ): Tumhare harkathe dekhke mujhe ek mental patient ke yaad aathi hai phir bhi tum mental nahi ho na, waise hi hum dhono twin sisters nahi hai..

He gave the most deadliest glare to her which she ignored and got out of the theater room..

Manik ( smiled ): She's insane, but that makes her more special..

He too left to his oops, their bedroom..

Breakfast time

Nandini was in the kitchen preparing juice when her mobile beeped with a message..

Hospital: Dr. Nandini, your patient Mrs. Khanna's condition is getting worse. I'm afraid, we will have to operate her before the timing which was scheduled..Expecting you here, as soon as possible.

Nandini ( panicked ): Shit...her condition was already critical..Ab tho sab kuch yahi pe chodna chahiye..God, please don't take a life, I need to save her, anyhow..

She turned to Nyonika who was arranging the foods in the trolley..

Nandini: Mom..

Nyonika: Haa beta..

Nandini ( hurriedly ): Mom, mein aaj breakfast keliye nahi ruk rahi hoon. Ek emergency hai. Aur aap ye juice Grumpy Coffee ko dedho aur unse keh deejiye agar nahi peeya tho..arey wo tho usko patha hai anjaam kya hoga, bas aap threaten keejiye mere naam se, aur haan..sabse bye kehdena..take care..

She was about to move out when Nyonika held her hand making her halt in her tracks..

Nandini: Kya hua Mom..aap..

Nyonika ( glared ): Shh...ab chup raho tum ek second keliye..Kabse bath kar rahe ho tum ( Nandini nodded like a kid ) good, ab ye bathao, ki tumhara nashtha ka kya..Abhi bhi tum weak ho aur tum ho ki bina khana khaake jaa rahi ho..Doctor ho par iska mathlab ye nahi ki apna dhyan nahi rak sakthi..

Nandini smiled warmly at her care. She reminded her of her Ma..

Nandini: Mom, aap uske fikar math karo..jaise mere operation khatham hojayega, waise hi canteen se kuch khaaongi..

Nyoniak ( shocked ): Operation..ithni subah..sab teek tho hai na..

Nandini ( smiled ): Offo Mom..sab teek hai, bas wo patient teek nahi hai, isiliye mujhe jaldh hi jaana hai..please Mom..

Nyonika nodded with a sigh and in return Nandini kissed her cheeks and muttered a bye and ran out while Nyonika smiled after getting out of the surprise that her daughter-in-law just gave..

On nearing to the main door, Nandini took her hand bag, which she always keep on the couch before breakfast and ran outside the mansion and drove to the hospital in her car..

Dining area

Malhotras settled down for the breakfast but Manik's gaze was fixed on the kitchen entrance and seeing it, mukti hid her smile..

Mukti: Mom, Bhabi kaha hai..nazar hi nahi aaj..

Nyonika: Arey, Nandini tho chali gayi..

Manik's heart beat accelerated..

Did she leave him..?? This soon..??

Manik: Chali gayi..?? Kya mathlab, Mom..??

Nyonika and Raj stared at Manik is surprise while Mukti and Cabir were smirking..

Nyonika: Tujhe kya hua..tu ithna desperate kyu lag rahe ho..?

Manik rubbed his nape but then his concentration was on that mere sentence.." She left " and this was creating a havoc inside his heart..

Manik: Mom, mujhe kuch bhi nahi hua..Aap bas ye bathao ki Nandini kaha hai..

Nyonika ( stunned ): Hospital..wo, kaam ke wajah se gayi hai, aaj uske koi emergency operation hai..isiliye gayi hai..

And Manik breathed a sigh of relief..

Raj ( suspiciously ): Tum ithna worried kyu dikh raha tha, Manik..??

He bit his lips and tried to give a smile but everything went into trashes when he met his parent's suspicious gazes..

Manik: Wo..wo..bas..mein tho bas...wo..

Cabir: Bhai..aap kahi dictionary tho likhne nahi wale, mathlab bas words nikal rahe hai muh se, wo, mein, bas..ye sab, mujhe laga you were going to write a dictionary..

Manik ( glared ): Shut up, Cabir..

Mukti: Arey Bhai, Cabir Bhai tho teek keh rahe hai, aap ithna stutter kyu kar rahe hai..

Manik: Mein...stuttering..no ways..

MukBir: Yes ways..

He glared at them who were trying to hide their mischievous smirks..

Nyonika ( raised her eyebrows ): Manik, tu ne Raj ke sawal ka jawab nahi diya ab thak..

Manik: Uh..Mom..kaha na..mein tho bas..aiveyi pooch raha tha..

Raj: Ai veyi..wo bhi ithna panicked look se..??

Manik: Haa..arey, kya problem hai aap sabko..Mujhe breakfast karne hi nahi de rahe hai..

They looked at him in shock..

Cabir: Jo insaan, breakfast se bhag rahe the wo insan aaj breakfast keliye taras rahe hai..Hayee, Bhabi jaan ki kamal tho kuch aur hi hai, kyu Muku..

Mukti ( grinned ): No doubt..I'm a devotee of Devi Nandini Malhotra..

Manik ( growled ): What the hell is wrong with you both..Dimaag kahi bhejke uthe kya aaj subah..

Mukti: Haa Bhai, Bhabi nahi hai na, wo saath mein hamara dimaag bhi leke gayi thi..

Manik ( held his head ): Forget it..

He was about to get up when Nyonika stopped him..

Nyonika: Manik, nashtha karlo..

Manik: Bhook marr gaye, Mom..

Cabir: Arey Bhai, bhook bhi..

Manik ( spat ): Shut up..ek aur word tumhara muh se nahi niklega..

Cabir zipped his mouth..

Nyonika ( smirked ): Manik, Nandini ne kaha tha ki tujhe juice zaroor peena chahiye, warna kya hoga, ye tho tum jaane..Mujhse bhi nahi kaha, kya hoga phir Manik..

Manik understood the meaning of it.

Manik: Tho..?? Mein kya usse dartha hoon..huh..Bye mom..

He got up from his seat and moved out of the mansion while others heaved a sigh..

Mukti ( frowned ): Agar Bhai juice nahi peeya tho bhabi kya karegi phir..

Raj ( sighed ): Jo bhi ho, mujhe lagatha hai aaj tumhara Bhai apne beewi se peetne wala hai..

Cabir ( grinned ): Jaisa baap, waisa beta, hai na Dad..

Raj ( unknowingly ): Oh yeah..

He widened his eyes after realizing what he said and he looked at his left to see a raging Nyonika. She got up and stormed inside their bedroom while Raj glared at Cabir who was busy in laughing along with Mukti..

Raj: Teri shadi hone dho, ohir dekhtha hoon mein..Nyo...

He too got up and moved inside their bedroom and closed it from inside..

Cabir: Tch tch..baap tho openly maafi nagtha hai aur Bhai tho openly Bhabi ke saath sotha hai, kithni ajeeb family hai hamari..

Mukti ( grinned ): Zyada ajeeb hona hai tho aapki bhi shadi hone dho aur phir wo bhi aapko har raath ko room se bahar niklegi, thab mujhe bohath maza aayega..

Cabir glared at her which she ignored and got up and walked out to leave for her college..

Cabir ( sulked ): Kisiko mere khayal hi nahi..hey bhagwan , mujhe bhi ek laila dho na..

God too ignored him making him sulk again..

Pace Motors

Lunch Time

Someone tapped on the receptionist's desk and he looked above and the next second he stood in fear..

Receptionist: Yes..Mrs. Malhotra..

Nandini gave him a bored look..

Nandini: Is your boss free..??

Receptionist: I don't know, Mam. But, he isn't in any meeting..Should I check with him..

Nandini ( yawned ): Nope. I'll get to him.

She was about to move away when she again looked at him making him look at her in fear..

Nandini ( sarcastic grin ): And yeah, veryyyy awesome desktop picture you've got..

And she walked away while he looked at his desktop after thanking her only to widen his eyes. It was a picture of some random 'sexy' girl.

Receptionist: Oh crap..You're fired, mahn..

In Manik's Cabin

Manik was sitting on his chair with his gaze fixed on the door..

Manik ( sulked ): Abi thak aayi kyu nahi ye ladki..

Suddenly, he remembered something..

Manik: You're such a fool, Manik Malhotra. Mathlab, you can check with the cctv camera which is also connected to my laptop, whether she has arrived or not..

He was about to check in his laptop when the door was banged open making him smile..

Manik ( muttered ): Finally, you're here, Lilliput..

He turned to the door by plastering an irritated look on his face only to see a dead tired and an annoyed Nandini. She marched towards him..

Nandini: Like seriously, Grumpy Coffee. Agar mein ghar pe nahi hua tho khane ko bhi chod dega kya..Mujhe hi nahi patha tha mera ithna importance tha aapke life mein..

She ended with a sarcastic grin and sat on the couch and kept the packet of food on the tea-poi while he simply smiled and sat beside her..

Manik: Kyu..?? Agar koi importance diya tho problem hojayega kya..

She simply glared at him and forwarded the packet of sandwich to him and a glass of juice..

Nandini: Juice bhi nahi peeya tumne, aur kya keh raha tha, mujhse darthe nahi, abhi dikhathi hoon mein kaun kisse darthe nahi..

She turned to him who was eating the sandwich silently and took a sip of the juice..

Nandini ( shocked ): Mathlab, bina kuch mehnath kare tumne khana khaya..

Manik ( casually ): Haa, mujhe bohath bhook lag raha tha, subah se kuch nahi khaya..Waise aaj tum ithne gusse mein kyun..har waqt tho cool lady thi..

Nandini: mein koi cool ya hot nahi, khana nahi hoon mein uskeliye. Subah se mene bhi kuch nahi khaya..

he stopped eating abruptly and turned to her..

Manik: What..?? tumne kuch khaaya hi nahi..khana khatham hogaya tha kya..

Nandini ( started eating ): Not so funny..Khana isiliye nahi khaya kyunki operation tho theen ghante thak ruk gayi aur uske baad back-to-back appointments, abhi tho thoda time mila..Ab tho patha chala na ki mein tumhare tarah jobless nahi hoon..

He glared at her..

Manik: Apna khayal nahi rakha tho doosron ki khayal bhi nahi rakh paoge..

Nandini: Offo..ab tum Mruno jaise baath math karna..Mujhe bohoth bhool lagi hai, khane dho..

He simply nodded..

Manik: Waise, this juice tastes like your own hand made, tum hospital mein juice bhi banathe ho kya..

Nandini ( casually ): Nahi, mein hospital ke canteen mein ghuske juice bana diya..

Manik ( shocked ): What..?? Aur tujhe iskeliye permission bhi diya..

Nandini ( grinned ): Of course, kabhi tho honey bee kaam ke hona chahiye na..

Manik ( glared ): Honey bee..??

Nandini ( nodded ): Yup, honey bee se mene request kiya aur wo maan liya, he's the son of dean so none can question him aur mene uske crush ka faida uthaya..simple..

He yanked her closer to him by her waist startling her..

Manik ( dangerously ): Aaj kar diya Lilliput par dubara tum usse kuch bhi nahi mangoge..Agar kuch chahiye tho mein hoon tumare paas wo fulfill karne keliye..

She looked at him dumbfounded while his grip on her waist tightened..

Manik: Aayi samaj mein baath..

She got out of her trance and pulled herself out of his grip..

Nandini ( suspiciously ): Tum pagal hogaye ho kya..Mathlab, kya problem hai honey bee se, I've been noticing your dislike towards him..aisa bhi kya kiya usne tumhare saath..

Manik ( gritted his teeth ): Manik Malhotra ke koi bhi cheezon pe kisi aur ka haqq nahi hai, par usne apne nazar daala hi hai..

Nandini ( confused ): What..? tumhara kaunsa cheez pe nazar daala hai usne..??

Manik ( annoyed ): Forget it..

He got up and washed his hands while Nandini pouted looking at the juice..

Nandini: Ek tho ithna mehnath karke juice banayi aur iss Coffee wala ne peene keliye mana kiya..Ughh..dumbo Coffee..

She glared at Manik who came out of the washroom but with an equally pissed face..

Manik ( muttered ): Uss Chipku bee ko tho mein dekhloonga ek din..jaldh hi..

Nandini stood up with the juice in her hand and forwarded it to Manik who glared at her..

Nandini: Agar nahi peeya tho mein yaha se nahi jaoongi..

Manik: Tho math jaa..

She looked at him in shock which he ignored and now, she got angry. She pushed him on the chair and kept the juice glass near to his lips..

Nandini: Dekh agar nahi peeya tho mein sach mein iss baar police ko phone karoongi.

Manik: Tho karo..

Nandini: kya problem hai Grumpy Coffee..

Manik ( glared ): Bas tum uss chipku se dur raho aur mein ye juice peeonga..

Nandini ( confused ): Chipku..?? You mean honey bee..??

Manik ( gritted his teeth ): Haa wahi..

Nandini ( sighed ): Patha nahi kya problem hai tumhara..chalo, I'll stay away from him..

Manik ( grinned ): Promise..?? I need your word..baad mein badalna nahi chahiye..

Nandini ( held her head ): God..bachon ke tarah behave kar rahe hai ye Grumpy Coffee..chalo, teek hai, Nandini Promise..

He frowned at her..

Nandini: Arey, that's my way of promising, when I say that, it means I'm never gonna break it..

He smiled at her and drank the juice making her smile..

Nandini: Huff..chalo, mein jaa rahi hoon..

She was about to moved out when he too got up and held her waist..

Manik: I'll drop you..

Nandini: Huh..why..??

Manik: Cause, I'm saying so..

Nandini: But I don't..

This time, he shushed by kissing her cheeks and she widened her eyes..

Seems like, he loved her cheeks, he's been kissing them nowadays..!!

Manik ( smirked ): And this is my way to get you agree to what I want to..Come..Let's leave..

He took a shocked Nandini with him and moved out of his company while avoiding the gazes that they received from his employees..

To be continued..