I was finally resolving to not stumble upon my own thoughts and going to believe the reality standing before my eyes. My fears rebelled under the curtains of concealing lies as the psycho stood before piercingly staring at me. For few seconds, I convinced myself that he was just a fragment of my imagination and nothing else but the way his disgusting smirk deepened slicing my abstraction, I knew he was real and everything together with him. The night was real.

I gaped around swiftly not wanting to find anyone catching him there therefore leading to the total disaster of my best friend's happiest occasion, I understood there's no other escape than getting an upper hand on the situation.

"Why on earth are you here?" Bunching the shirt around his bicep, I dragged him nearer to the door from where spotting us was a little difficult.

He stood silent staring at me with the same intensity before I dragged him here escalating my irritation.

"Has the cat got your mouth?" I whisper yelled. "Listen, I don't know what is going on in your mind and trust me, I'm least interested to find that out right now. Just leave, okay?"

Without an actual answer he walked a step closer to me folding arms across his chest. Insanity in the air.

"Wh-what?" I questioned faking my courage.

"I thought you were smarter than this. I thought you disliked trouble. But no... I see now you like inviting them." His alcohol mixed breath touching my skin.

"I.. don't understand?" I was great of an actress to hide my timidity.

"Of course you don't. Wait.." he quickly inserted hand into his pocket to grasp his iPhone out of it. "Some quick recap?" I lowered my eyes as he kept hunting through his digital brick.

"I went to your hospital. I had an appointment and I verrryyy sweetly like..absolute sweetly offered you a proposition and you said you'd stand by it. I trusted you and left and later on I end up receiving this email from the hospital sending me my therapy schedule. Are we even serious?" He had a hint of rage in those eyes while I wanted to hide under the nearest table.

"We can discuss this tomorrow..you know." I whispered, not sure if he heard.

"You really think so?" He smirked gazing at the direction where all the happiness was being celebrated and I flinched at the thought of his upcoming cruelty.

"L-listen. Don't even think of causing a mess here." I raised my brows with my heart beating ever so fast. His smirk fell the moment he looked into my eyes and the look in them expressed he kind of hated what he saw. Hated me? Of course you, Nandini. He spoilt his plan. He placed his giant palm beside my ear on the wall and my eyes traveled to that direction and back at him.

"Listen you, Ms. Smart-mouth, if you think coming here and creating a scene would serve my purpose then I'm sorry to burst your bubble, you are extremely mistaken. I can think of thousand other worse ways. So please..." he folded his hands before me. "Please, don't push my buttons. I don't know how you're going to solve the problem you have dragged me into but you are not getting to see my face from tomorrow let alone the therapy. So do whatever the fuck you want to." He moved away and the spot instantly seemed extra chilly. He went away without sparing a last glance at anything around and I watched his disappearing frame as he banged the door shut causing an earth shaking thunder. My back touched the wall all slouched and few quick short breaths helped me gain my senses back.

••

I was in my usual sweat shirt and track pants while doing my usual running at the morning swinging my high knotted ponytail and some good music keeping the spirit high. I always was a fan of running in the morning not only because of the peace and all that but because it always taught me to push forward from the very beginning of the day, like a discipline. My legs automatically started pacing a bit faster as I observed a certain somebody following my track. It never happened before. She was a lady and in hood which made her double doubtful. I took the sudden curves while running at the usual park circling the lake so as to evade her eyes and after a while when I got satisfied that she no longer was following me, I stopped panting bending low resting palms on my knees.

"Are you Dr.Nandini?" Came a question from before and I nodded a yes reflexively without noticing who it was. The moment my eyes moved up, I regretted it. She was that same lady I was running from.

"Do you have something to say because I've been noticing you following my way from quite some time?" I asked straightaway which made no difference to her facial expression. She pushed her hood back and I could see her pretty face with emerald eyes.

"I'm Noelle.. Manik's friend. Can we have a word?... please?" She sounded confident and soon as I heard the reference, I wanted to run the other direction.

"I'm not Dr.Nandini." Saying this, I turned around trying to put my headphone back but she was quicker than I thought as she stood before my track pausing me in the way.

"Isn't it too late for denial?" She frowned and I looked around sighing my lungs out.

"Look, I don't think we have anything to talk about. Especially not about your friend. I said to him last night only that I'll free him from this unwanted therapy session and myself too." I stated.

"But Doctor..."

"Listen, I need peace in my life and right now I have tons of things to focus on so I won't indulge any sort of chaos in it. I understand he doesn't need my help, I get it." I gestured one hand helping it to reason with.

She sighed. "There's no one in this world who he needs right now more than you."

I furrowed as I thought he sent his friend to threaten me allover again. What is happening?

"Uh.. I'm in a little rush." I turned away smiling politely at her.

"He's in deep shit, Nandini. He's a mess and I know all he did last night but trust me, he's that one patient you'd want to help out." There was authenticity in her tone. I glanced at her with an indecisive mind.

"That was something I believed too and that's why I accepted his case but it feels, he doesn't want to get helped only...then no one else can be of any help." I mouthed and she took a step closer maintaining a decent gap.

"All I want is fifteen minutes of yours. Please? Then you're free to decide which side weighs more. Please? Just fifteen minutes? I promise you won't regret wasting these few minutes." I wanted to straightaway decline her and face the other way like all the other professional therapists do but the humanity in me always had to be in a stupid dilemma. I sighed.

*

I kept moving the coffee clockwise holding the warm cup inside my hand as I waited for her to speak. I knew whatever she might say that just wasn't going to change my decision for me to regret anything later but there was no harm just giving it an ear..c'mon fifteen minutes wouldn't cost much.

"Manik was never this way. This jerk of a person." I looked up at her as she initiated after a heavy exhale. "He was always this free spirited guy who loved his life and respected everyone around. He was an angel in human form..still is, I believe. He was kind, passionate..just the perfect boy next door but his only sin was that..." her eyes got glued to the strong black coffee on her table. "He fell in love. He fell in love with the wrongest girl he could have. Kiara. The girl he loved with his entire honesty, heart, soul, passion and existence. He did everything for her he could, pushing off his limits but that was never enough for that whore of a woman who just used him for her financial needs and of course, as a sex toy. Kiara broke him in every way a human being can be broken. One sudden morning she left him and he was never the same. He got quiet as he ate all his pain in silence. He confined himself to himself only detaching from the world and thought being rude was the only way to protect himself. But he doesn't deserve that. He deserves to be helped, to see life in the same light he forever saw. He deserves happiness like everyone of his age does."

I inhaled deeply as my eyes met hers and suddenly the coffee started feeling bitter. Getting heartbroken patients was nothing new to me but this intensity paired with violence was something new.

"Look.." I extended my hand on the table to explain. "I really wanted to help as I understand how tough life is for him but I can't do anything. He last night literally came to my apartment and freaked the shit out of me. My best friend was almost at the verge of losing the love of her life and me.. my best friend. I can't risk so much just for the sake of a patient." I lowered my eyes as I saw a painful tear rolling down her cheek. Quickly, she wiped it off and the silence between us fell void.

"He thinks.. he is addicted to his sadness and that is completely normal. He is drowning and choking on his own thoughts with the inability to scream for help, until a person like you takes control. Some days I think he's getting better, some days he can't even get out of his room and I'm not sure if he can do it anymore. He's stuck in an endless feeling of being numb and I hate it. I hate to see my best friend dying slowly." She held my hand and I shivered. "You can save a life. You can." Her breaths were whimpering as she tried hard not to break down.

"I..." I slipped my hand away out of her grip after giving it a light squeeze of sympathy. "I'm not the one. He kind of creeps me out and I can't let myself go through all that his previous therapists went through..if you know what I mean. I wish him all the best but I think I'll live with this regret." I stood up slowly hating myself for every word I said as the inner Nandini called me a coward. I collected my phone and headphone from the table sliding my share of money for the coffee under the cup. Her eyes faced the stained coffee cups and I couldn't say what exactly they held.

"You are only turning your back because the grass isn't greener on this side, aren't you?" I stopped in my tracks looking baffled at her while she shook her head with that sly smirk which widened my eyes all the more.

M A N I K

"Use lukewarm water and mild, unscented liquid antibacterial or antimicrobial soap. Use your hands to rub the tattoo gently, removing all traces of blood, plasma, or leaked ink as this will help to prevent the tattoo from scabbing too soon. Do not use a washcloth, loofah or any sponge to clean the tattoo, as these may harbor bacteria." I took my gloves off smiling professionally at the teenager who just now got a mermaid from me.

"Will remember. Thanks." Grinning at me, she got off the bed walking towards the cash counter of the little tattoo parlour I worked in.

I tilted my back, not being able to feel it at all because of the constant strain on it since morning but I was satisfied that I was able to keep myself busy the entire day. I sighed at the thought of going back to my void, damp apartment; the only thing happy about that place being the paintings I made of her. Washing my hands, I noticed Mike standing by my side to wash his hands on the sink beside.

"Long day?" I asked through mirror.

"Heh." He shook his head and I ran my wet hands through the strands of my hair.

"Its 9 and I'm going to go. Best part of the day when my shift comes to end and I know I'd head home." He stated.

"Wish I could say the same thing. I like it here. Tattooing helps me stay connected with my painting and thus I don't miss it much. Home... I can't say much?" I shrugged patting my hands dry with the towel.

"Are you both leaving? There's a customer outside waiting." Our very own old grumpy fat lady cashier popped her head through the curtains giving us an expression as if we committed some sin by thinking of leaving.

"I'm already on my overtime today, Martha!" Mike rebelled. He hated staying here till late. He was a genuine boy, working here with utmost irritation just to support his family along with balancing his tuition fee.

Martha's shrewd eyes shifted from Mike to me and they turned grumpier.

"M, you too leaving? Not happening. One of you have to stay back else the early morning tomorrow and both of you get fired." Mike and I sighed; tired of her threats. Once Mike officially got into a chaos with this insane lady but things gradually cooled off with the help of some third party. I never rebelled, maybe because I like it here way too much or maybe because I have nowhere better to go.

I glanced over Mike who was begging me with those forest green eyes. "Uh. All right Martha, one of us have to stay back right? I'm the one." Martha left immediately dropping the curtains because she clearly didn't give two shits about us.

"Thanks, man." Mike smiled at me as I grabbed my equipments walking to the waiting area of our clients.

The city of New York never sleeps and we keep having customers through out the night; some sober, some wasted and thus continue a story of few hours with them.

The theme of our little tattoo parlour placed in the heart of the city was in red with some indie music playing nonstop. It was nothing big here but we never really ran in shortage of clients. In fact, sometimes too many to take care of.

Soon as I entered the waiting area, my eyes met Audrey's, my co-artist who had like sixty tattoos on her body leaving not a skin untouched with pink hair styled in multiple braids and piercings allover her face. One could easily trace her to be a true tattooist maybe because of her clothing style which revealed most of her skin or attitude but she was one good human being. She eyed me the client waiting for me and the moment my eyes stared into that direction, my blood boiled.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I yelled right at her face.

I can't believe it. Seriously? The sick therapist half my height who I earnestly threatened the other night crashing into her party has reached here even? What for? How did she find out where I work? Alice was taken aback by my sudden misbehaviour since seconds back I seemed perfectly fine and this madam therapist, stood up from the couch with wonder in her eyes like a kid who watches candy shop.

"Are you M?" She asked cheerfully and I wondered how did she know my name as a tattooist.

"And you're leaving." I pointed my hand at the door because I clearly didn't want to engage myself with any sort of pleasantries with her. God, I hate her. First she acted like bitch of woman by lying to me at the hospital and now she's followed me here as well? Is she even serious? Who the heck does that?

"Is there a problem?" Of course, Martha out of all the human beings present there had to show up.

"Um, I can't figure out if there is any." Nandini fumbled shifting her gaze between Martha and me. "I already made my advance, didn't I? And that too much higher than the market price because I'm here to get inked by the tattoo artist my friend recommended." I frowned not understanding a word she spat. Is this woman crazy?

"You. Enough of your rambling. Leave already." I snapped my fingers at her feeling Martha's fuming eyes burning my back.

"Is this how we talk to our clients?" Martha screeched whilst Nandini smirked managing to control her mischievous pout. I hate her more. What does she ever want from me? Why couldn't she get this fitted into her peanut brain that I'm good off her!

"She's a what?" I asked, clueless.

"Client." She chirped even before Martha could answer.

"And here for?" Please Lord tell me, she's not here for what I think.

"To get a tattoo, Einstein." She rolled her eyes and my jaw hang low as my eyes completely broadened. She's here to play some sick game, I can feel it by the crooked look on her face. Does a doctor even get a tattoo and mostly, she doesn't look like a girl so badass to get needle pricking her skin!

The more my shock got obvious, the giggles she spent which only helped in stiffening my jaw. What is she thinking? And what am I thinking with this petrified look on my face as if I'm the one to get a tattoo?

"I'm bailing out." I glanced at Martha who glared back at me. There's no way I was going to ink this insane lady.

"Because you told me, I let Mike leave. Now you have to do it otherwise, get ready to never show up here from next morning. You are doing it." Her last words were absolutely dominating. Argh. I hate her and her 'get fired' threats. Someday I'd like to see her getting fired only. This place meant a lot to me and the thought of disassociating with it was a nightmare and trust me, I already have plenty already.

I kept looking at the floor unable to digest my defeat while she stepped towards me rubbing her palms and pressing her lips tight not wanting to burst out laughing.

"So... shall we?" She danced her brows whilst I exhaled heavily balling my fist.

A/N: Kindly vote and comment if you'd like faster updates as it also helps to encourage me more than u guys can imagine.

All the love, x.