Hustle For Love |COMPLETE| MaNan Fiction

4. The One Where An Admirer Walked In

A/N : Dear Readers, I would firstly like to wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

For the ones who are reading, thank you for choosing this book, for the rest, I wish you discover this book some day :)

For now, I will carry on for the ones who chose my book :)

Cheers 

A.

***

S.P.A.C.E. Academy, New York circa 2011

(Common kitchen, S.P.A.C.E. Residency)

Nandini Murthy

As I entered the kitchen in the morning for my usual cup of coffee, I watched Mr. Grumpy Malhotra fixing the pot over the burner, his usual boiled eggs coming up for sure.

"Add two more, while I fix the toast" I called out casually keeping my face straight. His figure froze for a moment, before he turned around and gave me the widest grin man is ever known to put on, it almost looked like his skull would crack into two hemispheres right there. Silly boy. Why Ayappa, why does this boy look so damn edible right from the morning!?

"You didn't go?" he asked after what felt like a very long couple of minutes.

"Nope" I replied with a smirk.

"Shit" he replied laughing like a happy maniac.

"Shit" I repeated mirroring him.

"What happened?" he asked, walking closer to me and finally pulling me into a big gruffy bear hug.

"Missed my flight! Thanks to our late night escapade, I crashed right after packing my bags" I replied rolling my eyes and mocking him.

"Yay! My plan worked" he yapped, while teasing me.

"Very funny" I replied haughtily, breaking the hug and walking towards the refrigerator to pull out the pack of bread. He was still standing at the same spot with a big goofy grin. I noticed him from the corner of my eyes, and couldn't stop smiling. Was I turning pink, like how heroines turn in rom-coms? Shit. Okay, here's the thing, but I swear Manik will never find out. So, I err..didn't oversleep and miss my flight, I canned my trip. I know, our Dufus will be mad at me for this, and I have no clue now what I would be telling him, but honestly, I couldn't go. I had packed everything and had even called the cab, but I just couldn't pull myself out of the room. Everytime I tried, his vulnerable face and his pleading voice came surfacing in my mind, and my legs seemed to have a mind of their own. They refused to cooperate. So, yes Nandini Dumbf*ck Murthy stayed back for Manik, the guy who was way out of her league, also the guy who was probably putting up with her, only till his real friends had time for him. If there was one damage control I still could work on, it was this, that Manik never got to know my real reason for not going back, I didn't want him to think I am stupid and clingy. Duh, maybe I should have just gone. Lame move, Nandu. It's all your fault, Ayappa! Argh.

"Done?" I was startled hearing him talking with me, suddenly from such close proximity.

"Huh?" I asked in a daze.

"Done talking inside your head, ready to talk with normal people around you now?" he asked, smirking at me now.

"Kuch bhi. I wasn't.." I began but he spoke before I could complete my sentence.

"I'm saying, let's ditch the boring breakfast today and go out! Let's celebrate you missing your flight" he chuckled, holding my shoulder in excitement.

I smiled wide, this was a good idea, "Yes, let's do that" I squealed in excitement as he smiled broadly seeing my enthusiasm.

Cafe Nero, East Village, 5th Street circa 2011