"Offf! Finally, it's all set" I muttered looking around and throw myself on the fluffy soft double-size bed. My bed!

Closing my eyes out of tiredness of unpacking my belongings since morning till now, evening, I breathe in the aroma of my new luxurious room in Manik's penthouse.

Sweet! & Sophisticate!

I sat up opening my eyes n looked around my room in aww.  I couldn't believe; I'm gonna live here...

The nightstands attached to both sides of the bed with lampstands on it. And to the right is the door to this room along with the grand-sized dressing table where I kept my tiny little powder, comb n few make-up accessories I have.  And I'd say, the things I've kept are not at all suiting this luxurious dressing table meant for models, I guess.

And to my left is my study table n bookshelves where I perfectly arranged all my books. You must be thinking where this desktop n printer came from; it came on this afternoon on my name n they installed it here saying it's Mr. Malhotra's order.

Which Mr. Malhotra? I wondered. Must be Raj Uncle!

And next to it is the walk-in closet, which itself is as big as my old room. And which is now looking almost empty with my few salwar-suits, a few sarees that Mom gifted and Ammi had, and some Kurtis hanging meticulously. My jeans, tops, and other dresses neatly folded n stacked on the shelves while my undergarments stacked in a drawer neatly.
My two pair of sandals & one shoe kept at the lower shoe-stand while my bags n towels on the upper shelf.

And finally the bathroom with double sink, a shower with double heads and Jacuzzi.

Just WOW!

Letting out breath of relief that finally, my room is all set, I walked out of the door.
The room next to mine is Manik's and there r 2 more guestrooms too.

Oh did I tell u, how the penthouse looked from outside... Mindblowing & surreal to me!

Walking down the stairs n passing the big hall with couches n dinings, I entered the massive kitchen where already an aged-feminine figure is cooking dinner.

She smiled acknowledging my presence as I walked towards her.

"Sab unpacking hogaya?" She asked putting the vegetables in the cooking-pot.

"Ji, Madhu" I replied taking her name as she requested. Her full name is Madhusmita, the caretaker of Manik's penthouse. She's the one responsible to clean it n even cook the meals required.

"Achha toh kuch khane ko dun?" she asked trying to know the reason for my presence here.

"Nahi! Main bas aisse hi aagyi. Bore ho rahi thi" I said leaning on the slab watching her cook.

"Aaj kya ban raha hai? Main kuch madat karun?" I asked craning my neck to look around the dishes.

"Nahi yeh last dish hai! Aaj tum pehli baar aayi ho, iss khusi main roti, mix-veg, manchurian and sweet custard banai hai. Do u like it?" She asked while my mouth is already watery hearing the names and smelling the delicious aroma hitting my nose.

"I love it! Bahut acchi smell ho raha hai!" I voiced happily causing her smile. She's such a sweet lady, even helped me tour this enormous penthouse and helped to unpack too.

"When will Manik be back from office?" I asked as he just dropped me here in the morning after we left my old house and then he left the office in a hurry.

"Manik beta late se aate hain! I rarely saw him coming home before I leave." She said with a brief pity smile thinking his newly wedded wife, that is me, is waiting for him to come home sooner. But this is not the case. I just asked casually, but I didn't correct her.

"He might come sooner now, for his wife." she added conforming my guess. I smiled at her.

"Aap kab se yaha dekh-bhaal kar rahi hain?" I diverted the topic.

"I look after this penthouse since Malhotras bought this, three years back. But Manik shifted here around 6months back and since then he asked to clean the house, wash the clothes n dry them, and prepare breakfast for him."

"And lunch & dinner?" I asked curiously while she gave me a brief look before turning her focus on cooking.

"He used to have lunch at office n dinner outside probably as I rarely cook for him." I nodded in understanding.

"Since I know Manik's preference n I worked as he liked, you can tell me what n how you like me to do your works; I mean ur meals, ur clothes, etc." She asked.

"No no! You already helped me today a lot! Thank you." I paused passing her a thankful smile "But I like to do my own work and even I don't have many clothes to wash. I'll do it myself. You can just clean my room along with others when u do it and cook me breakfast along with Manik's."

"And ur lunch n dinner?" she asked.

"I'll have lunch in my college canteen and for dinner, I'll cook." She nodded covering the bowls after finishing the dish.

"Thik hai phir. Main chalti hun." She spoke wiping her hands in towel stepping outside the kitchen.

"Main yaha subha 8 baje aati hun aur kaam pura karke dopahar ko chali jati hun. Kabhi kuch kaam ho to batana!" She said before walking out. That's when I realized, today she stayed till now for me!

I sighed before walking back to my room thinking of transferring the photos n videos from the Canon camera to the desktop.
In this chaos, I've forgotten to return Navya Di's camera to her. And now that I have it, why not keep the memories with me too.

While looking through the photos n clips of Cavya's wedding; their Mehndi, Sangeet, Haldi, marriage, its other rituals, and everyone is smiling, enjoying, happy r many faces... I was just sliding them with a smile playing on my lips recollecting the memories...

Stop

"What was that?" I murmured in shock n surprise when a picture passed the slide. I pressed the 'back' button to reappear that pic.

"Who is he? Why is Manik holding him like that?" I muttered looking at them focussed trying to understand.

"One second. When did I click this? How come I don't know I clicked something like this?" I thought puzzled.

Then it strikes me looking at the background of the picture; the storeroom.

"Yes! Dadi asked me to bring the cup-sets from the storeroom, so I'd left my camera on the table there for the meanwhile before I came to take it back. Means the camera auto-click mode was on' and this picture got captured." I made an O-face nodding my head.

Shrugging the strange closeness, Manik had with that guy in this pic, I clicked onto the 'next' button to get the most shockest Jhattka of my life. My eyes went wide and my palm flung to over my hanging open mouth.

(Imagine Manik with any random guy whom Nandini don't know)

"Are... Are they kissing?" I yelled in shock. Thank god that I'm alone at home!

"Why is Manik ki.... with a man?" I uttered still in shock n surprise staring at the picture as if no other thing is visible to me right now.

Then suddenly things flashed in my mind--

On our wedding day too, Manik suddenly pulled Maddy n hugged him tightly. So tightly.

"But that could be a 'friendly' hug na?" said my positive sweet innocent angel side(😇).

"Haha... and this was a friendly kiss!"  My negative naughty doubting evil side(😈) stated with a sarcastic laugh pointing to the picture.

"They did not kiss in this pic." 😇 said protesting for her husband.

"Han! Woh toh Kiss ke pose main photo khichwa rahe tha na?" 😈 commented with dripping sarcasm causing 😇 made bad faces.

"Can't you see he's interested in boys, stupid?" 😈 split.

"you mean, he like boys more than girls; like it is shown in web-series?" asked 😇 innocently.

"You r really stupid!" 😈 announced.

"Shut up, you both!" I shouted making both of them vanish.

I sat there staring at nothing particular with my own thoughts:

'Can it really be like... Manik...?
No right. I never felt like that. The way he looks at me...

And even he had girlfriend, right? I've seen him with that Soha!!

But reception night toh, he denied having any girlfriends...
WAIT!'

"Of course I don't wanna marry u. Actually, I don't wanna marry any girl right now. I can't just marry any girl in this situation. I Can't" his words rang in my ears and now I understand what he meant when he said

'He can't marry any girl; He like boys!'

When I finally got the whole point; I'm having mixed emotions...
I'm relieved because this whole marriage thing is too fast for me and knowing Manik's truth I'm sure that he'll find out something or other to get away with this. After all, we can't stay like this forever, right?
Also, I'll go back to my normal like; studying, getting a perfect job, and making my Ammi-Appa proud of my achievements. Moreover, I won't get to see face this Akkdu, Khaduoos Malhotra for a lifetime. I mean he has mood-swings; sometimes so caring n sweet & suddenly rude n angry. Impossible Malhotra!

But then, I'm a bit sad and dismayed with this truth. You tell me, Which wife will dance with the news of her husband liking boys more than her, a girl? It's obvious na!
Khaduoos, Arrogant, Moody, Impossible jaise bhi hai mera husband hai woh akhir!

I'm hell confused now. I don't know what am I feeling? What should I do; Cry or Dance?
Is it even true; what I am guessing?

 Who should I ask about it; Navya Di? No no no...

Yes! Rhea, the encyclopedia of everything but Computer Sci. She's one of my batchmates and also a few times project partner. so, basically we r friends. Let me call her!

"Hello, Rhea. How r u?"

"I'm fit n fine. But where r u? When will u come? And why r u absent?" she bombarded her question. She couldn't stay without knowing everything. Such a gossip queen!

"I'm at home and I'll come from tomorrow. You tell me, Can I talk to u or you're busy?"

"No. I'm just fighting with my Dad for pocket-money. You tell; what u wanna talk?"

"No. Actually, I wanna ask u about a boy who-" I was cut off with loud scream...

"--What? Boy? OMG! Nans having a boyfriend. That's big news."

"No No no... Not me.. but my friend." I covered up with a lie with a panicking tone. Me having a boyfriend will be wild news over the university. Phew!

"Which friend? Do I know her?" she started her quiz again.

"No. She's my neighborhood friend. You don't know her. Know will you listen to my... I mean her problem?" I asked.

"Okay okay. You speak!"

"Ok! So, She made a boyfriend recently... but the situation is a bit complicated between them, u know?"

"You mean, he's having affairs?" she again intervened.

"No... I mean, not exactly... Maybe... I'm confused."

"You?"

"No. I mean, she's confused. like she has doubts; maybe he like boys!" I finally split with hesitation.

"You mean he's a gay?" she yelled making me tear the phone away from my ear. She'll break my eardrums one day!

"No... She'd not sure. That's the problem."

"And why did she doubt that?"

"You see, she's seen him hugging different guys tightly. Then also a close, almost kissing situation was seen too. But she never felt like he's that type."

"Hmm... So, she wanted to confirm whether she's right or wrong!... But why are you asking me on her behalf?" She questioned doubtfully n I suddenly felt being caught.

"I... you know I'm not experienced about boys n stuff and when she asked me. I thought to help that poor thing by asking you as you know everything, The smart Rhea." I buttered perfectly with the made-up lie.

"Okay. I'll help."    Thank god!

"See... She just needs to conduct a few tests on him..."

"what test?" I asked with utmost interest n curiosity.

"Firstly, he's totally not interested in girls. Even if she's all naked in front of him, he won't even look at."

"What? You mean I... she has to come in front of him with the least clothes on her, to test it. No no... She... She's shy." I managed to come up with another lie. What a rubbish idea it is!

"Okay, then second. He'll definitely comment on other guys; like we girls do on boys or actors we like."  Humm... Now, this seems a good idea!

"Okay chal... thanks, bye!" I ended the call in a hurry as I heard the doorbell ringing and rushed down to open the door.

Opening the door, I found a tired n bit paled Manik standing with his dress bit disheveled... but still looks handsome to me. Shut up, Nandu!

Making scape for him to come inside, I closed the door behind while he walked ahead towards his room.

"Um- Main khana lagati hun. Come soon." I spoke from downstairs looking at him. He just turned n nodded before entering into his room.

Soon they had their dinner in silence... with Nandini staring at him awkwardly trying to figure out her guess about him... and when Manik noticed it, she'd just either turn her gaze to food or force a smile at him.

"Am-Let's watch T.V. for sometimes. If you're not much tired!" after dinner Nandu asked with hope as she wanted to execute her test.

"Okay. Come" Manik walked, switched on the T.V, and handed the remote to her after sitting on the sofa with her keeping a safe distance between them.

Nandu scrolls through the channels to find an appropriate one for her plan n finally stopped on a movie on 'Bromance'.

They both kept their eyes on the screen for good 20 minutes when a scene of the actor bathing, with water running over his 8pack abs came...

Nandu had her eyes fixed on such a sexy scene to drool on, while Manik's eyes shift briefly to see his wife drooling at the sexy body.

"What do you think of this actor?" He asked sounding casual while looking ahead.

This question or rather say, this interest to talk about that sexy guy in Manik, made Nandu force her face turn to Manik only to see him looking at the scene.

"He's pretty handsome" She replied glancing at the screen but in her mind, she's trying to figure out the thoughts going on his mind looking at the actor's wet body.

"I've seen much hotter ones" Manik spoke fixing his eyes on screen only.

But Nandu's mind screamed
"See that! He's seen many hot n handsome men... He likes men. It's confirmed. Oh My Godddd!"

Soon the advertisement break came and Manik yawned out of tiredness.

"Ah... Let's sleep now. it's pretty late." Nandu got up glancing at the clock striking 12 at night. "I've college tomorrow" she informed.

"Good night" She added and rushed in her room before Manik could say anything. She's feeling quite awkward with the discovery n didn't know how to react.

On the other side, Manik!

He's thinking of how to tell Nandini about his problem and how to make her agree to help him with it. What will she say after knowing the truth? How will she react? Will she agree to help him or not?

And most importantly, how is he going to tell her about this?

He's having a hard time with all this going on in his mind and he really wanted to talk to her.

"I'll talk to her tomorrow" he murmured with determination looking at the next closed door to his room... and entered his room calling it a night.

*****

Okay! Okay! Now, what do you think will happen ahead?

Any words for our not so innocent Nandu? *cheeky smile*

So, then... vote n comment, if you like this update n stay tuned for the upcoming Manan sweet funny bickers n some moments!

Bye-Bye!