Hustle For Love |COMPLETE| MaNan Fiction

18. The One Where She Stole My Heart

A/N : Guys, this week I almost thought I wasn't going to be able to update, but then it's the Eid weekend, it's about celebrating joy, I didn't want to disappoint any of you, my dear readers - hence I took up cooking for my family Iftaar in one hand and writing in the other! :D (For all those wondering, I put my absolutely non-kitchen friendly husband to some use too! He washed the veggies, and stirred the food while cooking, with the ladle!) 

So, anyway, back to story!

Happy Reading!

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Cafe Nero, East Village, 5th Street circa 2012

(The cafe next to S.P.A.C.E. Residency)

Manik Malhotra

I was sitting in the cafe and tapping my fingers impatiently. I was curious, happy, thrilled and cautious all at the same time. This cafe didnt have very good memories for me - this is where Mukti & I parted ways, the last time I came here. Normally,I wouldn't set my foot here again, but then all my rules off late seem to bend before Nandu - yes, madam had called me here. I wasn't sure why, but then we currently didn't have any beef with each other, so if odds were in my favour, maybe she called me because I wanted to hang out with her, and she had changed her mind? I know, this seems far fetched but the heart is foolish that way, right?

I was sitting there humming an old tune that was somehow stuck in my head all day, when a soft and familiar hand touched my shoulder. I smiled, Nandu had arrived. I quickly turned around and a small satisfied smile played on my lips seeing her before my eyes. Strangely, she didn't smile back. In fact if anything, she looked a bit nervous. She was chewing her bottom lips slightly, a trait she showed whenever she was nervous. I looked at her eyes carefully for a moment, and just as I was about to enquire, I saw her glance back. My head moved in that direction, and there stood in all his glory, her brother dearest, the Murthy boy! Of course, how would he keep his big mouth shut? He must have finally told Nandu about our spat, and here she had called me to rebuke me for that - hadn't it been just a couple of days that she had decided to forgive me? I didn't get her back, but I could at least have her forgiveness - but how would that sit well with this d*ck? He had truly come to steal Nandu away from me today - was I ready for it?

Hell, No.

"Nandu.." I began, not sure what I could tell her that would suffice, or sort this misunderstanding, but I began anyway.

"You better not f*ck it up this time, Manik" I heard the Murthy boy hiss as he came before Nandu. Wait, what was he saying? What more could I fuck up here, what was in my hand anyway? Hadn't he got his sister dearest here, to hand me my punishment for the brawl we had?

"What exactly do you..." but I again couldn't complete my sentence; this time I stopped myself, as my eyes fell on another person standing behind the Murthy siblings.

It was Mukti.

I stared at her. I didn't think I'd see her again - but there she was standing quietly, looking at me. I stilled. I was not sure why, but there was more hurt and disappointment inside me in seeing her, than happiness. Why? I always thought how happy I'd be if I bumped onto Mukti somewhere, some time in life - but today when it was actually happening, I felt like a broken child from inside. A child who was disappointed because his most loved person in the world didn't even try to understand him - I knew I was wrong, but I realised in all this, despite knowing I was wrong, somewhere deep down I expected Mukti to understand why I did what I did - I didn't expect her to agree with me, she was allowed to be mad at me; she was just not allowed to abandon me.