After getting everything ready in the bathroom, Nandini comes out. She locates Manik on the bed, sitting in the same position without any initiative of preparing himself for the bath. Nandini purses her lips and sighs in impatience.

"Why are you still sitting like a puppet? Take off your shirt and come. I got everything ready."

Nandini mouths in a hurry while nearing Manik. He looks at her with cocking head and replies in a bland tone,

"I think you just said that you will help me with everything. Everything means everything. I can't move my hand. Do yourself whatever is required."

Mischiefs glint in his eyes. Nandini slightly squints her eyes and without further wasting her words and time, touches the button of his shirt. Manik doesn't move his eyes from Nandini's face. Nandini unbuttons his shirt and then carefully opens the sling. Manik bites his lower lip to suppress the pain. Nandini scoots forward more to take off the shirt from Manik's body. Her cheek and nape come closer to Manik's face. His hot breath fans her skin. The proximity gives a titillating sensation to her body. However, she concentrates on the work. Taking off his shirt, she again stands straight. She doesn't meet his eyes lest the uneasiness becomes evident to him. Manik observes the redness of her cheeks and ears. He smirks and utters in a raspy voice,

"Desire in a man is hunger, in a woman is only an appetite. Not fair! Isn't it?"

The taunt in his tone and the subtle meaning force Nandini to lift her face. Manik is giving his infamous lopsided smile.

"Nowadays I am suffering from loss of appetite. Now, can we focus on our main purpose? I have other important things to do."

Nandini's blunt and stern words make Manik halt for a nanosecond. This is her speciality. She always dares to challenge this devil. Manik clenches his jaws and says,

"Then do the less important thing first. I am ready."

He approaches the bathroom followed by Nandini.

"First, let me save you. After that, we will take a shower."

Nandini mumbles. Manik arches his brow and asks amusedly,

"We will take a shower? Sure?"

Jest is palpable in his voice. Nandini immediately groks her mistake and rectifies,

"I mean you will. I will just help you. Don't try to be over-smart."

She grabs his wrist and makes him sit on a stool. Manik murmurs,

"I never try because I am already smart."

Nandini ignores his continuous sarcasm and takes some saving foam in her palm. Then she lifts his face with her left hand and carefully smears the foam along his jawline. Manik doesn't move an inch but his curious eyes don't leave her face. Nandini folds her lips and mindfully covers the beard with foam. Then she takes the safety razor in her hand and touches it on his cheek. Manik mouths in an amused tone,

"You know, a razor in a woman's hand looks so sexy as well as dangerous. Sexy because the way they slide it on our skin and dangerous, well for some moments we are vulnerable to be slain by them. Dangerously sexy!"

He concludes with a soft giggle. Nandini slides the blade smoothly along his jawline while meeting his eyes with her penetrating ones.

"Women have many better weapons to slay the men than this safety razor, Mr motor mouth. Like poison, kitchen knife or even better love trap. And I am sure that time they look sexier. Now, shut your mouth and let me do my job. Otherwise, I will definitely try to cut your throat even with this innocent safety razor."

Nandini hisses out and continues her work. Manik doesn't reply further but keeps on measuring her expression with perky eyes. Eventually, she finishes her job and wipes his face with a wet towel. Satisfaction is beaming in her eyes. Manik also observes himself in the mirror and utters,

"Hot and handsome as usual. Thanks, Mrs barber."

Nandini rolls her eyes in disbelief. Such a narcissist. She gestures for him to stand and Manik stands under the shower like an obedient kid. Nandini hesitates for a moment and then touches the waistband of his lower.

"Let me remove this. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to..."

Manik finishes her line,

"Bathe me properly. As I said, do whatever you want."

Nandini holds her breath and removes his lower. Now, he is standing 95% naked only in his brief. Manik supports his left hand with his other one and gets ready. Nandini steps aside and turns on the shower tap. Warm water gushes out and falls on Manik's bare body, giving him a relaxing sensation. Nandini pours an ample amount of shower gel into her palm and rubs it on Manik's bare chest. Her hands are moving efficiently yet carefully on his skin. They are skimming on his abs, ribcages, thorax, and nipples and eventually reach the shoulder area. In a flow, Nandini accidentally puts pressure on the area where he injured his muscles. A sharp unbearable pang hits Manik. He instantly clutches her by her waist and digs his fingers into her flesh. A painful cry lets out of his mouth,

"Ahhhhh...."

Which gets mingled with Nandini's hiss,

"Ahh..."

She flinches her body and presses it more to Manik's torso. Being imbalanced Manik steps backwards and Nandini also comes into the water contact. The shower water drenches her fully, making her inner garments visible through the light pink fabric of her kurti. Manik's pain gets a bit subsided. But he still keeps on grabbing her by her waist. Nandini's scared and worried eyes collide with his wide-open ones,

"Sorry...I...I...didn't realise."

She meeks out. Water is rolling down her cheeks and lips. Manik doesn't answer but trails up his hands along the sides of her body. His fingertips are still digging into her soft skin, giving her pain and pleasure both. Manik roams his dark eyes on her cleavage and full bosoms. His pressure on her body becomes tighter. She gapes a little and Manik leans forward to touch her cheek with his. He whispers against his ear,

"I lost, you won. It's really impossible to stay away from you, Angel. I can die for you and even kill for you."

The line suddenly clouds Nandini's mind with that unpleasant touch and intimidating voice. With a jostle she frees herself and suddenly Manik feels a bee sing on his left cheek. Nandini slaps him with full force and cries with abhorrence,

"Don't touch me!"

...................................

"How can you be so sure?"

Aryamaan leans forward and asks with penetrating eyes. The person replies with confidence,

"Because both the cars have the same colour with almost the same number plates. Manik Sir's car number ends with 34 and yours 43. The target was you, Sir. The person mixed up two numbers and fixed the bomb in Manik Sir's car."

"But what if he didn't mistake and purposely placed it to kill Manik? Bob, I want that bastard's name. Even if it was for me. I want to know who dared to mess with Arya Khurana."

Aryamaan hisses out and Bob nods his head before leaving the room. Aryamaan comes to the glass wall and ignites a cigar. His eyes are stone-hard.

"Nobody knows that Manik joined me. Neither he has any significant enemy in his business line who can try to kill him. Then who? Who dared to wake a sleeping lion? I have to find it out."

He curves his lips in a bitter smile and again utters,

"Mrs Nandini Malhotra. Let's see what can protect Manik better. Your love or my friendship?"

...................................

A man is sitting in a partially lit room. It is the same room and the same person who was talking to the image imposed on the wall by a projector. He comes nearer and touches the whiskey glass to Nandini's lips in the picture.

"Congratulations, Nandini. Your husband is safe. For the nonce. I am happy. Not because of him but because of you. I know it will be painful for you to lose him. That's why I called you and told you about the accident. I wish this concern, worry and love would have been for me. Lucky Manik! But how long? He has to lose you someday. To lose you to me. But the problem is, though I don't want to see him dead at the same time I don't want to see you with him either. What can I do? All are your mistake. Neither we met nor I desired you so badly. Ha...ha...it is fun, Nandini. You know you have a secret crazy admirer but you can't see him nor can recognize him. Secret love is more adventurous than open love. And I love secrets and adventure. And right now, I am feeling to be more adventurous, Nandini. Let's hear your sweet scared voice once again. It's fun to make you nervous...tch...tch...Sadist me!"

He concludes with a sly grin and taps Nandini's number.

Author's note: My Mom is much more stable now. Came back from the hospital. I was missing my story characters. So, penned down this chapter. Don't know how it came out. Will give other story's updates as I get time. Thank you all for your support and prayers.

Love

Suk 🙏