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...

"Lukfast? What the hell is that?" Navya questioned. 

I didn't want to answer her but still answered so that we can concentrate on trivial issues instead of kicking me out of the mansion. "I am surprised you don't know what's Luckfast! It's a meal between breakfast and lunch, duh!" 

"Its BRUNCH!!! The meal between Breakfast and Lunch is Brunch." Everyone present in the room yelled and I closed my ears. It was loud.

Was it Lukfast or Brunch? I seriously thought it was Lukfast and it's practical to call this meal as Lukfast instead of Brunch. Anyways let's follow the society and call it Brunch.

Manik's eyes were still on me and I ignored it to put the final piece of the pancake in my mouth. "Do you have something to say, Manik?" I said still chewing it. 

"What is a mere servant doing here?" He questioned everyone. Harshad just arrived into the dining hall and stood behind everyone as if he was unaware of everything happening here. 

I looked around and stopped my eyes again at Manik. "Servant? I don't see any servant here, Manik. I am Princess Murthy, you are The Boss of Malhotra Empire, Mr. Malhotra doesn't belong to mafia hierarchy, and your mother is the Queen. Whom are you referring to as a servant?"

I could feel Navya gritting her teeth but she did not dare as Manik was in this hall. Even though I am not fond of Manik I can say that there are surely enough perks staying closer to The Boss. 

"Stop acting smart!" Niyonika said and faced Manik. "Son, throw her out of the territory. Let her live on her own instead of our Empire." 

"My boyfriend would not do that, may or may not be mother in law!" I said with an angry pout. 

"What is may or may not be mother in law?" She gasped.

I smiled. "You see Manik and I are seeing each other right now. If we both click you might be my mother in law if we break up you may not be my mother in law."

Satisfied with my explanation I looked at Manik who was looking only at me from the moment he stepped into the dining hall. "I am not your boyfriend."

I kept my palm over my forehead and gave a dramatic scream. "No!!! How could you insult our pure relation like that, I agree we had disagreement about crossing the territory without your permission but how could you disagree about our relation."

"What the fuck? We never had any relation, I announced you as MINE, nothing more and nothing less. After your little stunt I have nothing to do with you as I demoted you." He said with a frown. 

I rubbed my arms trying to warm myself. "Oh! I am getting shivers with your confession. How did I miss that you have feelings for me. Oh, Manik!" I said hitting his arm playfully.

He held my arm tightly, "Manik Malhotra has no attachment towards any person. I am The Boss, get that into your little head."

I tried to free myself from his hold and he did not leave my arms so I playfully hit him on his chest with my free arm and he immediately left me. I am cringing on my own actions but it's better than dying in his hands. 

I pulled out the eagle pendant hiding inside my uniform and show it to him. "Remember this Manik? It's your family heirloom around my neck which clearly means I am part of your family and your life."

He tried to break it from my neck but I stepped back. "The Boss breaking his promise? If you take this chain away from me which you technically made me wear it to show the world that I belong to you it only means that your words have no value. Tell me would you back off from your promise?" 

Nandini, Oh my darling! I am getting so smart. I am literally playing with the fire and best part is I am enjoying it. 

He pulled me into his arms and whispered so that only I could hear, "Why are you doing this?"

I smiled. "Bring the truth in front of everyone and I will leave you Manik. I promise."

"That will never happen."

"Then this will also never happen." I said snaking my arms around his neck and he immediately took a few steps away from me. 

Manik took a few breaths of air before speaking loud enough for everyone to hear. "Don't tell me I didn't warn you. I will make sure that you will give up your antics and stay in your place.  Welcome to Hell, baby."

I smiled and walked past him. "I am already in Hell and it has a name," I said opening my arms wider, "Malhotra Mansion."

We stared at each other as if challenging our bet. We both know that the other person is lying. He knows that I am putting a drama as he is my boyfriend. I know that he is hiding the truth of my identity. Both of us will fight to bring the truth out and until then it's going to be a tough fight. 

Our eye contact broke when Cabir interrupted us and informed Manik about the vehicle being ready to go somewhere. Where could it be other than to kill and occupy smaller territories? That's his life anyways. 

As soon as Manik left I looked at Harshad. We both gave a thumbs up to each other and went in our own ways before anyone could doubt us. 

Once the hallway is empty Navya stopped me blocking my way. "You are crossing your limits, Nandini. If you want to live then live as a servant if not I will make sure you will never see the sunlight." I rolled my eyes at her. "I am serious."

I cupped her face in my hands and keenly observed her ear. "It's healed. I think you need another dose, shall I?" 

I said reminding her about hurting her ear and she backed away. "I am serious, Navya." I warned her. I pushed her aside and went to Manik's bedroom and locked the door. 

From now on my only aim is to find the truth, no matter what happens. Thankfully, I am not alone this time and I have someone who can help me. This is more than enough to give me strength. 

Manik's painting came to my view and I jumped in fear thinking he was in the room. My poor heart beats so fast. I must tear down this painting someday. I paused for a second and forgive this painting, after all my aim is not childish. I must concentrate on important things before getting kicked out. 

I immediately ran into the walk in closet and found the clothes still messy from the day I left. Is he even the boss here? Why is no one giving attention to his wardrobe? If it was my mansion I would get fresh clothes within a few moments of them getting soiled. Perks of being a princess instead of The Boss. 

I opened the bedroom door and looked for any servant passing by to get their help. "Hello Miss." I waved at a woman carrying rags of clothes. She stood in front of me with a polite smile. "Could you please remove the wrinkles on Manik's clothes?"

She stared at my face blankly. It took her a minute to understand what I was saying and she smiled again. "You mean Iron The Boss clothes. Well I don't have the authority to do his laundry. There is a special person assigned to look after The Boss laundry, ironing etc."

I frowned. "Where is this person?"

"His appointment is every Wednesday, he will attend The Boss wardrobe in two days. Can I help you with anything else, Mam?"

I shook my head and thanked her for her help. Shutting the door I was lost in my thoughts with this information. A special day for a special person. Interesting!

 What's there in his closet that he had to arrange a special person to get into the mansion just for attending his laundry? Unless the locker is in the Wardrobe. My eyes went wide with realization. Exactly, the locker is in the closet and I have to get my hands on it. 

I ran back to the closet and rummaged through the shelves. The black shirts row, black pants row, black suits row and black underwear ... I stepped back not wanting intrude someone's personal space. I will search the entire wardrobe except for his inner wears section in that way I can know if the locker is inside this cabinet or not without touching them. 

I went through the ornaments section and that's where I found a tiny cabinet behind the watches. I tried to open it and as expected it was locked. I was almost close to finding the address register and now I don't have the key. I pouted.

Let's concentrate on the bright side. At least I know the locker location, I can open it with the help of Harshad. I smiled with my achievement. With this streak I am pretty sure I can bring the truth very soon. 

The day passed with the mother in law and daughter in law sending angry glares towards me and I ignored every single time angering them more. Navya is not even married but the duo became so close. 

I filled my stomach with a good meal. It was so nice to set my mood. After all whose mood won't be good after eating two liters of ice cream non stop. Yeah, you heard it right, I can eat more but stopped since Malhotra's fridge didn't have more ice cream tubs. It was the last one and I ate it. Let's wait for another refill someday. 

I had a long warm shower and wore Manik's pajama's. I promise myself to never wear the servant uniform ever again. I need to take every step carefully to not get demoted. I want my life back. I dried my hair and left it open. 

My emotional status right now in the loose pajama's, open hair and inside Manik's bedroom is  free, freedom, liberty, uncaged, unoccupied and so on. 

My happy thoughts came to a halt when Manik entered the room with a tired face. I immediately laid on the bed and covered myself with the blanket hiding from him. Why? I don't know. 

I heard his steps going into the bathroom and turning on the shower. A few minutes later he went opened the closet and ruffled his clothes. Next he turned the lights dim as I felt a weight beside me. His fingers were almost touching my arm and I immediately sat up. 

"What are you doing, Manik?" I shouted at this man wearing matching pajama's as mine. His entire wardrobe is black so we would be having a matching set obviously.

He rested on his right side putting his arms under his head while trailing his left hand finger over my arm. "What am I doing, Nandini?"

I pulled myself securely. "You are sleeping here? This is my bed." He raised his eyebrow. "Not technically, but I have been sleeping here since the day we started sharing our room. You never slept on the bed along with me."

"Are you disappointed?"

"What? No! I am asking you to give Princess Nandini her space. I don't like sharing space especially my bed." 

My words were cut short when he pulled me towards him and I fell down on the bed with a soft thud. He pinned me down with his body as I laid under him. His right leg was between my thighs and his other one was beside my hip. Unknowingly I arched my back to reduce the tiny space between us and get a touch of his warm figure on me. 

"Manik, what are you doing?" I said with difficulty trying not to touch his lips with mine. 

He smirked as he trailed his finger over my collar bone visible from the loose shirt. "Things that boyfriend and girlfriend does, Nandini." 

His husky voice sent shivers and I am afraid if I could resist his touch. 

...

Precap

Wohoo!!! How is the update?

Will Nandini find the register from Manik's locker?

Nandini is back inside The Boss bedroom what shall we do with them?