The first thing which strikes my mind is, 'Maan'. Has Aryamaan come to drop Maan to me? But it's only 6 o'clock in the morning. I am supposed to go there for breakfast. At least last night we decided that. Then there is no point for Arya to come over here. I calculate quickly in my mind. Manik is still standing like an idiot. Disgusting. The knock is again heard and this time it emotes some impatience.

"Just be here. Don't try to come outside. Understood?"

I command him stirring my forefinger in front of his nose. He looks at my finger and bobs like an obedient kid. I come to the other room to open the door. Only then Calida's voice comes from the other side of the closed door.

"Nandini, soy yo, Calida." (Nandini, it's me, Calida)

Unknowingly a sigh of relief comes out of my heavy chest. I hastily open the door. Calida is standing with her bright smile. I like this lady. Despite being the wife of a rich businessman and a successful jewellery designer, she doesn't have any vanity or arrogance. Very down to earth and polite. With an ear-to-ear smile, she asks,

"Hoy tengo una exposición de joyas. Te gusto venir conmigo?" (I have a jewellery exhibition today. Do you like to come with me?)

Automatically my heart fills with gratitude. So, nice of her. But my morning is already booked with my friends. I politely ask,

"Gracias. ¿ Puedo saber el momento?" (Thank you. May I know the timing?) Tengo que ir a algún lugar por la mañana." (I have to go somewhere in the morning)

"Continua. La exposición es por la noche. Hay suficiente tiempo." (You carry on. The exhibition is in the evening. There is enough time.)

She assures me. I smile back and reply,

"Entonces está bien. Me uniré directamente a ustedes allí. Por favor SMS la dirección." (Then it's okay. I will directly join you there. Please SMS the address.)

In reply, she only tilts her head sidewards to assure. She was about to turn on her heels but as she remembers something, she again looks at me.

"Por cierto, anoche vino un señor a nuestra casa preguntando por ti, Vino aquí?" (By the way, last night a gentleman came to our house asking about you. Did he come here?)

She casually asks but my throat gets dry. That means Manik previously enquired about me to them. How efficiently he is trying to create problems for me. I hardly bring a smile on my face and reply,

"No...nobody came. Must be some mad."

I steal a glance at my bedroom. He must have heard. I replied in English just to make him listen. I feel amused. Calida doesn't reply and only bobs her head in positive. With a brief goodbye she leaves and I again exhale a breath of relief. Now, I have to get out of this nuisance from my bedroom and even from this outhouse. I again come to the bedroom with determined strides. However, I can't see him anywhere in the room.

"Manik...Manik..."

I call him in a suppressed tone. I even search the bathroom but he is not even there. Only then, the door of my cupboard gets open and the great Manik Malhotra comes out of it. I gape at him and ask in sheer surprise,

"What are you doing inside it?"

He casually replies,

"Trying to hide. It wouldn't have been nice for your current boyfriend to see your ex-boyfriend in your bedroom."

I take some time to grok his words. Is he trying to pull my leg? But he is looking damn serious. I almost chide,

"What? Current boyfriend? It was Calida. And for your kind information, I have no current boyfriend."

He snatches my words and huskily asks,

"So, you have only your ex-boyfriend then?"

His voice and eyes have something which forces me to break my eye contact with him. I try to hide my surging breath with my rude reply,

"I don't have any ex or current. Now, please excuse me. I have to leave."

"I still didn't get my forgiveness."

He sounds adamant. I turn at him vehemently.

"And you will never get."

I grit out. A nonchalant smile peeps on his lips.

"Are you sure? Challenge accepted. I won't go back from here without your forgiveness and even better without you."

He utters with obstinance. I shoot a dagger at him. He thrusts both hands into his pocket and heads the door. I keep on staring at his back when he flips. A mischievous smile curves his lips,

"By the way, you are right. I am mad. I was and I will be. And you know a mad person can do anything in his madness."

He shrugs and opens the main door to exit. Did he try to scare me? Am I scared? Well, I can't say that I am totally not. This mad man is really driving me crazy. Only then, my mobile rings and I pick it up.

"You are coming, right? We are waiting for you."

Soha's eager voice is heard. I assure her about my reach and get in the bathroom to get ready. It will be a hectic day for sure but I am missing my bundle of joy. I stand under the shower. My nipples have a slight soring sensation while the cold water touches them. I observe them. There are some chafes and teeth marks on there. Unknowingly my ears and cheeks feel hot. I murmur,

"Monster..."

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

I stealthily come out of Nandini's place. She lied to that lady so she shouldn't see me around her. I pandiculate and look up to the bright indigo orange sky. The Sun is new so the day. I hum unmindfully while walk along the deserted dew misted road,

"I feel so happy

Happy that I'm free,

And I can see things

Things I couldn't see..."

I kick a small pebble and shrug my shoulders.

"I can't be out every night...(Yeah,yeah,yeah)

No one else holding me down (Yeah,yeah,yeah)

I can do just what I like...(Yeah,yeah,yeah)"

I stop for a while and squat down to pluck a wildflower from the roadside. It's so tiny but so bright. Just like her. Delicate and strong at the same time. I keep on admiring its beauty and sing again,

"But I can't fall in love without you

I can't fall in love without you..."

Her seraphic sleepy face comes in front of my eyes. My whole body still has her heavenly touch and fragrance. I murmur the lyrics once again,

"Please don't fall in love without me...

Cause, I can't fall in love without you..."

My reverie breaks as a car honks the horn just behind me. In the next moment, I hear a familiar call,

"Señor, can I give you a ride?"

I turn back and see Samuel taking out his smiling face from the car window. I smile back and walk nearby.

"Yeah, sure. Otherwise, I will be lost in this jungle or even worse...can be the breakfast of some leopard...ha...ha..."

I give my reply with a peal of light laughter. Sam comes out of the car and opens the back seat door for me. I get in.

"Have you met the person you wanted? There was no such problem I guess!"

He casually enquires. I cover my lips to hide my chuckle and reply,

"Yeah, I met. Thank you for everything. Without you, it couldn't be possible. It's truly said, we can find a friend anytime anywhere. We just have to welcome them wholeheartedly."

I don't know what did he understand but nods his head in approval.

"To the hotel, Señor?"

He asks professionally. I was about to say yes, only then, my eyes fall on the side rearview mirror. A private car is approaching and I know the driver. It's Nandini. Suddenly my Inner God alerts me,

"Follow her."

Her car speeds past us and I repeat the line,

"Follow that car."

Without any question, Sam sticks to her car. I rub my chin in excitement. After one hour, both of our cars enter the main city. She is driving a bit hastily as she is supposed to reach somewhere in time and she is late. Sam is following her car very efficiently without letting her know about it. Though I guess she is bothered about it. Her whole concentration is on the congested road. After half an hour more she finally stops the car in front of a bungalow type house. I ask Sam to stop but leaving at least 20 to 30 meters distance from her car. I can't expose my plan to Nandini. Or frankly speaking, there is no plan actually. I just don't want to let her go from my sight. I chuckle at my cheesy thought. She gets down from the car and heads to the main gate. Only then, the door gets open and a guy around my age rushes towards her. I can't hear their voice but I can see both are smiling at each other. But the next moment, something happens which ignites my jealousy. That guy wraps her in a hug and surprisingly she reciprocates with equal zeal. I keep observing them with my flared nose and fists. Both approach the garden side and due to the bushes, I can't watch them properly. I instruct Sam to wait and get off the car. Casually I walk nearby the gate and peep inside. Some people are sitting around a garden table. Tea set and breakfast are laden on it.

"Oh! So, she is on a breakfast invitation."

My mind concludes. Suddenly something catches my eyes. There are two more people whom I have met earlier. Soha and Maan. But the most surprising thing is as Nandini sits on a chair, Maan almost jumps on her. It's evident that he is very close to her. She kisses on his chubby cheeks and rubs her nose to him. Unknowingly a smile creeps on my lips. All are giggling and talking with each other but due to the distance, I am not being able to hear them. But I have to. I have to know how Soha and Maan are related to Nandini and who is this bearded guy. Do they know about me? I try to go closer but efficiently hiding amidst the bushes. When I am at least 10 to 15 meters away from them, my mobile vibrates in my pocket. I take it out. It's Navya. Shit...I forgot to call her at night. She must be worried and angry with me. In a haste, I slide up the green button. Navya's exasperated voice pours into my ear,

"Bhai...where have you been?"

However, simultaneously one more babyish voice hits my eardrum.

"Mummum...Manu miz you... (Mummum..Manu miss you)

Like a torn bow, I look at Nandini and Maan who are now tightly hugging each other. From the other side, Navya is ranting,

"Do you have any idea, how worried I was?...Can't you receive a call? When are you coming back? Bhai...are you listening?"

In reply, I only utter,

"I am not coming back soon. I need to be here. I need to know everything."

Author's note: So, Manik came to know about Maan and Nandini's relationship. What will he do now? Will he confront her? Will he take any impulsive step again? Keep reading and keep knowing.❤🙏🙏