Hey Pearlies, thank you very much for your votes, comments and adding this book to your library. A huge shout out to PriyankaBhati4 BBbiggestfan mayamadhuvanthi VeenuDhawan ashuban Vinnie_Vuriti ISHIKAGUPTAanShu dishtaniya KusumLataMalik AakritiArya8 isharai16 theonlycoconut   for your lovely comments. 

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Manik turned his head to his left side after slapping his cheek. The slap wasn't even that strong not especially from my soft hands or his strong jaw. I know it's not due to the force of the slap but something personal. It could be ego. 

"Don't you dare put that orange water on me, ever again. It stings!" I said blowing my lips.

He turned his head and faced me again, his mischievous smirk adorning his face again. "So, the slap was for 'orange water' and not for the kiss?"

"Yes." The orange liquid hurt me not his lips so why would I hit him for that. Shit! He kissed me. "I mean No, the slap was for both of your doings."

"Both? I need details, babe." 

"For hurting me with that orange liquid and for kis--" My cheeks heated as he was staring at me for an answer. How should I complete this sentence? Of course, I can use alternate words and reduce the awkwardness. " and for putting your mouth shape changer on mine."

Manik tried to say something but combed his hair with his fingers, "God! Where am I stuck? You are one unique piece and I am locked with you."

"Exactly! Tell everyone my name so that you will be free, my genie." I said waving my hand with an invisible wand like a wizard. 

Manik pulled me into him by snaking his arm around my waist and my hands landed on his shoulder. There was no space between us so I had no chance but to leave my hands in the same position. He tried to put the lock of hair behind my ear with his free arm but I shook my head vigorously which messed my hair. He immediately stopped my head from moving by holding my head in his firm grip. 

I look like a Shih Tzu dog with all the hair on my face, his hand on my head, being trained by its master in this pose. 

"There are few things you must remember Nandini," He started and his face started getting closer with every word he spoke. "You are mine. Nobody calls me by my first name." His lips now almost a hair breath away and I sucked my lips inside to avoid any chaos from happening. "Don't try to rebel against me."

I pulled his hair in my fists knowing very well he would not free me if I tried to push him. Now he left me and began his attempts to save his hair. That's like a good boy now. 

"Manik, Manik, what did you say? Nobody call you by your name, Manik? Really Manik? Oh my Manik." I pulled his hair every time I called his name. 

"Nandini, stop it." He yelled. But I did not stop. 

"I can't hear you Manik. Manik, why don't you start by saying, please? Manik! Manik!" 

He kept his hand on my hand finding for a gap to release his hair. After his futile attempts he finally spoke, "Okay, fine. You are an exception."

"I need details, babe." I mimicked him and he shot angry glare at me but softened as soon as I tightened my grip. 

"You can call me by first name." He said and I left his hair satisfied with his answer. 

Manik bit his lips in anger and closed his fist tightly. I folded my hands over my chest challenging him to say something. 

"Show your strength at Navya when she treats you like shit. Not here." He said through his teeth. 

His audacity! "You are dead meat, Manik." I grabbed a handful of his hair again and pulled it harder. Looks like he is going bald today. 

He lifted me from the ground and moved me across his shoulder and finally on the ground, but nothing stopped me from leaving his hair. I kept dragging him along with me and he was completely locked. 

knock! knock!

Somebody knocked on the door and he tried to answer the door but I pulled him back. "Not now, Nandini. There's someone on the door." 

He could respond from here but this clever man wants to escape his punishment by answering the door. I am smarter than this trick. 

I dragged him along and tried to open the door but he resisted not wanting to be seen in this situation. I cared less and finally managed to unlock the door. 

"Boss!!" We both looked at the owner of the voice. It was Cabir. 

Manik tried to free himself easily this time only because I left him not the other way. Our both hairs were messed up with clothes wrinkled and room disheveled. 

Cabir cleared his voice and gained his composure in a second, "We have a meeting with the lady boss after lunch." 

Manik looked at his watch and sighed. "Alright, prepare my lunch and I will be there in a minute."

As soon as Cabir left Manik shut the door and dangerously turned towards me. I gulped when he reached his shirt buttons with his fingers. One after one he unbuttoned his shirt all the while taking slow but steady steps towards me as I backed off to the mirror behind me. 

"Dude!" I didn't know what else to say. My mouth went dry as soon as he threw his shirt to the floor revealing his strong torso to my sinful eyes. 

I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out so I tried to signal what he was doing with my hands but it shivered too. He came so close to me that there was only a feet distance between his half nude body and my shivering one. His cologne filled my sense which I missed earlier while we kissed. 

When the kiss flashed in my mind I instantly closed my eyes since my thoughts are now going crazy imagining the same kiss scene with this shirtless handsome man in front of me. My hands would be on his warm shoulder as his lips would do magic. Oh! Shut up! Please end this torture.

I tried my level best not to imagine more but failed miserably. I got out of thoughts when I heard a click thankfully. I slowly opened my eyes and saw Manik pulling out a black shirt from the wardrobe next to the mirror I am standing. He quickly wore his shirt all the while looking at his reflection on the mirror behind me. He combed his hair back with his fingers and looked perfectly set. 

It would take at least an hour to set myself after this mess and it took him a mere thirty seconds. That's unfair. 

Once he was satisfied by his look his eyes met mine and I felt an electric shiver down my spine and I hugged myself. 

"Stay inside the room. I will bring your lunch here." He said and walked out of the room. 

I released the air out of my lungs. I touched my warm face with my cold fingers trying to reduce the temperature. Relax Nandini! I must not lose control. Manik is my enemy and I will find a lot of handsome men in my life. All I have to do is stay focused. 

I opened my hair and combed it with my fingers and made it into a bun. I looked like I am carrying something on my head with all the hair piled up without using the real comb. I am jealous of Manik's perfect hair. This gave me another reason to pull out his hair frequently. 

A few seconds later I remembered his words, 'Stay inside the room. I will bring your lunch here.' Now he wants me stay locked up inside this room while he gets to enjoy all the family time. I can imagine Manik having a happy dinner with his brother Harshad and his soon to be wife Navya. While Niyonika would be serving them more food with lots of love. They would be laughing over cute memories they made as children and would tease the new couple. All this while I will be staying in this dark, huge room with nothing to eat. I will be getting their leftovers as a sympathy where I have to fill my stomach with tiny servings.

Noooo! My imagination is pathetic. I don't want to be treated in such way. I have the right to eat at the table just like everyone. My father took the promise from Harshad's father so it's their duty to look after me. I stood straight and tried to open the door but it didn't budge. I tried few more times and it stayed the same. So, he locked the door from outside. Great!

I smiled remembering the door opposite to this which would lead me to the quarters. Manik was so smart to put the door in such a place because it was camouflaged by the wall and cupboard. Since I was already an experienced person I could easily spot this door in a few seconds. To my luck, this door is open. 

I jumped with happiness and came out walking all the way through the garden and finally reaching to the main entrance of the mansion. I walked inside the mansion from the main door and no guards stopped me as I am now a part of Malhotra Empire. Wow, this gives me a nice feeling. 

I walked further and further through this white mansion and finally spotted the dining hall. It was the same size at my home but the difference is the table is half filled with people. I expected happy faces on the table but it was complete opposite. 

Navya is looking at her feet, Harshad stirring his drink in the glass, Niyonika wiping her tears, and finally The Boss with red eyes glaring at Niyonika. I stepped on something gaining everyone's attention. I looked down and saw a few broken pieces of plates. Oh boy! They were having the family time but not the type I expected. 

"Didn't I ask you to stay back in the room?" He yelled and I jumped with sudden raise of voice. 

Should I pull his hair here? Should I stay calm? I pondered and finally gave a sheepish smile annoying everyone at the table. 

Niyonika shook her head, "You deserve more than this dumb servant, Manik. How can you not see?" 

Is she speaking about me? Ouch! That really hurt. 

Manik threw the plate on the floor scaring everyone as he announced once again, "She is mine, no arguments."

Niyonika threw a disgusted glance at me and questioned Manik, "What about Alya?"

"Don't worry, Alya Saxena will still become my wife." Manik answered with cold voice. 

Wife???

...

Precap

Shout out to PriyankaBhati4 mayamadhuvanthi for guessing correct answer. Yup, she is Alya Saxena. 

Will Alya be positive or negative character?

What scenes do you want between Manan?