Hello Fam :)

There will be another update today after this chapter. So if anyone can't find it, please drop in a message. 

A/N - If you could understand Manik in these two chapters, you are awesome. If you hate Manik after these two chapters, you are free to hate him all you want because, after that, the boy is definitely gonna steal so many hearts. :P

Happy Reading...

Mr. Murthy prided in knowing his daughter too well, at least predicting her choices and steps to appreciable accuracy. That's really important to choose what's best for her. His father was foolish enough to write the maximum of Murthy properties on her name when she was just a kid. How did he expect her to manage an entire empire when she wasn't capable of doing her homework on her own? That was the time when he decided to take things in his hands.

If Nandini was manipulating enough to get a whole fortune on her name when she was hardly ten, Mr. Murthy guessed she would be hazardous to society and them when she would take over the company sometime in the future. It was in the best interests of everyone to control the brat.

He was sipping his whiskey when his wife made her way to his office. Great. After attending last night's space college function, she was the exact person he wanted to have an opinion from.

"Who do you think is the perfect partner for our daughter? A boy smart enough to shut her mouth and keep her ego in check or the one stupid to even open his mouth in front of her?", he asked.

His wife raised an eyebrow. "If someone has enough guts to shut her mouth, he is dangerous for us too because whatever it is, Nandini is too smart for her own good."

Mr. Murthy chuckles. "The only thing she acquired from me." He gulped down his whole drink and smirked. "So, it's the elder Malhotra then."

She refills his glass again before taking one for herself. "Cheers for a new alliance with the Malhotras."

XXX

Nandini was sleeping in her room. In between her head duties and her classes, she had lost too many hours of her sleep. Since today was Sunday, she decided to utilize it to her advantage. Her college function the previous day just added to her tiredness.

It might be nine or ten, she didn't know, when her mobile buzzed continuously disturbing her from a peaceful slumber. She grabbed her mobile and slid the answer option without checking the caller id. "Listen, whoever you are, I am sleeping. Call me after two hours unless you want to be killed by me."

"I don't want to be killed but can you please get me my book back?"

Manik? Nandini groaned into her pillow. "Don't you understand anything at once? I. AM. SLEEPING. GOODNIGHT."

"Please don't cut the call. I have waited all night after you disappeared from the party without informing anyone. I apologize for asking you to bring it to me but can you at least ask someone to drop it at our home? I have got a fever and Cabir said he would tie me up to bed if I even move an inch. I am in the middle of the book."

"Halt your superfast express, will you? You will get your book in an hour or two until then shut the hell up and leave me in peace", she yelled and cut the call.

She tried to get back to sleep again and was again disturbed by a butler. "What?", she screamed.

"Sir asked if you would like to come for the Sunday family breakfast?", he informed.

Nandini groaned again. They hardly were a family and Sunday family breakfast was another drama. If she wasn't wrong, they might be expecting some guests and wanted her to play up the perfect daughter role. On any other day, she would have obliged, she had to maintain the reputation of Murthy Industries but today she was too tired. She needed an escape. "I am not hungry. Tell him, I am going out for some work."

She took a shower and got ready. At that moment, she couldn't thank the Malhotra boy enough.

XXX

The Malhotras lived two lanes behind their house and it wasn't difficult to find their house. Once she reached their place, the guards at the front gate stopped her car and asked her identity. When she asked them Manik was expecting her, instead of letting her in, they made a call, got permission from whoever it was and gave her the customary salute before letting her in.

There was a gardener, mowing the lawn, a driver lurking outside, and helping him. There were some guards talking casually but still alert as she made her way to the main door. She noticed none of them looked at her twice or passed a judgemental look towards her as opposed to everyone inside the Murthy premises. She grabbed the book and made her way to the front door.

Even though the front door was open, she knocked on the door, unable to decide how to act around. This was the first time in a long time she was at some friend's place other than Abhimanyu and Mukti. She didn't have to wait for long as a butler greeted her politely.

"What can I do for you?", he asked.

"I came to meet Manik. Is he in there?", she asked.

"Manik?", he asked surprised. "But no one comes to meet baba", he muttered to himself before shaking his head off. "Look at my manners. I am sorry, I kept you waiting at the door. Please come in."

Nandini saw people working around the place yet there was a sort of calmness around them. No one was bickering unnecessarily, none sneaking around. The man beside her introduced himself as the head butler.

"Have you been working around since long?", she asked.

"Since before the babies birth", he replied.

Babies? Guess the Malhotra twins are babied here.

They went to the first floor and turned right. As soon as the butler opened the door, Nandini knew it was Manik's room. It doesn't have another name. There were piles of books across the white shelves, neatly arranged, the color of the spines of the books complementing the white. The room had a window and the study table across it. The wall around the room was devoid of any pictures except one portrait of his parents.

In the middle of all this was the boy wrapped in a blanket and scrolling through his mobile.

"Manik baba, weren't you supposed to sleep right now?", asked the butler.

"Uncle, I am not that sick as you and Cabir portraying me as", he said, pouting.

"Why didn't you tell me before? I wouldn't have to come till here to give your book", teased Nandini.

Manik snapped his head at her and a wide grin appeared on his face. "Did you bring my book back?"

She shook her head, amused, while the butler chuckled at him.

"Why don't you two talk to each other while I bring something for you?", he told.

She waited for him to leave before taking the abandoned chair beside Manik's bed and handed over his book. "So, how did you manage to make yourself sick within these few hours?", she asked. "Don't tell me, you made yourself sick because you missed your book?"

"No", he whined. "I don't like parties. All that sound gives me a massive headache."

"Of course", she said, rolling her eyes. She looked around the room. It's surprising not to find Cabir there. "Where is your clingy twin? He wouldn't leave your side when you are normal."

"Ish, Nandini. Don't call his name. He has just left. He has been torturing me into immobility since morning. Wouldn't even let me lift a finger", he pleaded.

Nandini laughed at him. He would have done the same if their roles are reversed.

"Why did you strain yourself by coming? You could have asked someone to drop it by?", he asked.

"It's fine. You said you were sick. I wanted to check on you", she told. It was half a lie and she didn't plan it until there was the 'family breakfast plan'. They talked for a while when she got a text from Abhimanyu asking her about the day's plans. "I will go now. Take a leave tomorrow if you are still sick, yeah?"

He gave her a thumbs up. "Come, I will drop you till the door."

Nandini raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you supposed to be sick?"

"I haven't felt the existence of my legs since morning. I will just come to the end of the corridor. Please?"

She chuckled but nodded. The walk was awkward. Nandini found it hard to get a topic, not that she wanted to start a new one while leaving. She was grateful when she reached the staircase and it was time to bid bye to Manik. She turned around to face Manik but lost the balance when a pair of hands steadied her.

The words caught in her throat as she looked at the person in front of her. There was a reason why Nyonika Malhotra was considered to be one of the most feared businesswomen. Nandini totally understood them as she stared at the woman she admired.

"Who are you?", asked Nyonika, raising an eyebrow.

Nandini tried speaking. She tried to open her mouth but it was difficult when the woman in front of her was staring right back at her with mistrust. She looked past Nandini at her son.

"Manik, is she your friend?", she asked.

"No", told the boy.

Nandini turned around and found him rooted in his place. She fumed. She was at an unknown place and the only person she knew refused to acknowledge her. She could imagine how well this would go with the Nyonika Malhotra. If he wasn't sick, Nandini wanted to punch him right there in front of his mother.

"Mom, that's Nandini. She is my friend." It was Cabir who came to the rescue. "I will go and drop her till her car."

Nyonika Malhotra nodded at her son, gave a small smile to Nandini, which was purely professional, before going to Manik. Nandini followed Cabir before throwing a last glance at the boy. Nyonika had a hand wrapped around Manik's arm as she checked his forehead with another. The boy was nodding at his mother constantly. He is such a robot in his mother's hands.

"Nandini, I am sorry. You know how Manik is, right?", said Cabir.

"Not a word. Ask your brother not to show me his face ever again and stay away from me." She ignored his next words, banged her car's door on his face, and stormed out of the place. As she crossed the Malhotra premises, she promised herself not to ever step into that house again.

XXX

It's been again a week since Manik last saw Nandini. He often found himself restless and his concentration wavered. He had an apology to the head girl pending and he realized he can't go back to normal until it's done. As the days passed on, Manik even was worried about her. Hence he asked Abhimanyu the same thing, who shrugged casually.

"It's not the first time she disappeared for a week, Manik, relax", he assured. "Unlike you, she doesn't juggle the college with the office work so whenever she was required at Murthy Industries, Nandini takes a break from studies."

When Manik still fidgeted, Cabir cornered him in his room after college. "Manik, what's happening? I have never seen you mentally absent from your classes. Is there something bothering you?"

Manik sighed. "Nandini", he told. "I have made a mistake, right? Is she mad at me?"

"Why didn't you tell mom that Nandini was your friend when she asked you?", he asked, his voice soft.

Manik ducked his head, the guilt eating his inside since the moment occurred. "I don't know. I got scared of mom. She would have killed me. Do you remember, she asked me not to interact with anyone, especially girls?"

He felt the bed dipping beside him and a moment later Cabir wrapped his hands around Manik, stroking his hair. "Whatever mom says, Nandini is your friend, Manik. It doesn't matter if she is a girl or a boy. You can't just leave your friends stranded in unknown circumstances. The whole definition of friendship is to stick by each other at every moment. Right?"

"What do I do now?", he asked.

"Apologize and maybe explain your fear. Maybe she would believe, maybe she wouldn't. It's up to her", told Cabir.

"What if she wouldn't believe me?", asked Manik.

"Then either you give up or try harder. Try until she gets tired of being mad at you", told Cabir, and the small smile he gave eased the worry in him.

He loved Cabir for this. He might be overprotective and brash but when the situation gets serious, Cabir didn't sugarcoat the things for Manik. It helps him to analyze situations or mistakes.

"Manik", called Cabir, after a few minutes of silence, "why is it bothering you this much if Nandini is mad at you?"

"Because it's my mistake, Cabir", he told with a shrug. Because Nandini was the first real friend he ever had along with Abhimanyu and Mukti. And it really hurt him when she was sad. He didn't know why. Maybe because he was always used to seeing the strong head girl that any hint of sadness made him sad even though anger was a regular expression on her face. Manik didn't tell this to Cabir. Cabir would definitely accuse him of reading too many novels. Surprisingly, he accepted the one-line answer Manik gave him.

XXX

A week later, Manik was coming from the library after returning back his book when Cabir texted him to come to the canteen. The younger twin met him just outside the canteen.

"Are you still in the mood to apologize to your head girl?", asked Cabir.

"Are you planning something?", he asked.

Cabir shook his head. "No. I saw her going towards the canteen when I texted you."

Manik frowned for a moment before the words registered in his mind. He barged inside the canteen, vaguely aware of Cabir following him, and saw Nandini at their usual table sipping her coffee. Abhimanyu and Mukti were there beside her, explaining her with solemn expressions whereas the head looked as if she didn't care.

The frown deepened on his head. He didn't get a head on her mood. Ignoring his instincts, he took a seat in front of her. "Nandini", he called and he noticed the girl stiffening in front of him. Yet, she didn't raise her head. "Nandini, listen to me, please."

"Bhaiya, the coffee is too good today. Did you follow a new method today?", she screamed to the canteen owner. "Don't change it frequently though. It would be difficult to differentiate it from humans, changing according to their comfort."

She grabbed her bag and stormed out of the canteen.

Cabir stopped Manik by holding his wrist when he stood up to follow Nandini. "Manik, I don't think following her is a good idea."

"You told me to try harder and I haven't started yet", told Manik.

"But she is way too mad at you and it's dangerous", said Cabir.

"Kid, it's all because of me. She has been living with that anger inside her for a week. Imagine how much did I hurt her?" Manik freed his hand and followed in the direction Nandini disappeared. He was thankful to Mukti, who stopped Cabir to explain the things. 

The next chapter in some time. :)