Hustle For Love |COMPLETE| MaNan Fiction

38. The One Where She Confided In Me

A/N : Sorry Readers for the long wait! I know you guys were waiting from 3PM. I was ready with the chapter by Friday morning only, but wasn't in a state to simply even publish today. My little nudger is getting impatient inside now, which is keeping me on my toes nowadays! 

But, I am just happy that I am being able to publish it right now, hope you folks like what you read here! There's a lot of MaNan in this chapter :)

Happy Reading!

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West Hollywood, Los Angeles circa 2018

(Nandini's Studio, Fiona Apartment, Unit 102 , 375 N LA Cienega Boulevard)

Manik Malhotra

Sometimes, some of our passionate longing towards someone, pushes us to do some foolish things. I don't exactly remember who told me this, but it kinda made sense to me when I saw Maddie abandon Soha & Roo all those years back; standing here, facing Nandini Murthy after so long without any obligations, complications & baggages, I realised all I felt in that moment for her was a pure & deep seated longing. A longing of cutting the story short & plunging into her embrace & calling it a happily ever after. I know it was a stupid thought to entertain, but can you blame one for hoping?

"Nandini" I managed to mumble as I turned around to face her. She was in a regular tee & shorts paired with running shoes. It looked like she was going out for a jog maybe. Her face held no make-up & even though I knew she must have been lonely & unhappy in the past couple of months without much support system around her, but oddly she looked more at ease now than she ever did in Maldives. Strange.

"Nandu, what is Manik doing here?" I heard Navya's cold & furious voice to realise she was still present. Nandini jerked her head towards her, I think even she had forgotten about Navya at that moment.

"Navya, woh..woh actually.." Nandini stuttered for a few seconds before realisation hit her & she said, "..I really don't know", the way her cute face clouded with confusion, I swear I could chuckle and I would if we both were alone, but at that moment Navya madam had completely forgotten boundaries as she showed no intention of letting us be!

"Manik, what are you doing here, in LA, at my address?" Nandini then asked me, turning back her focus on me now, with an unsure quivering voice.

"Umm...." I barely begun, but Navya madam just had to b*tt in of course!

"Also, if Nandu doesn't know about your arrival, who gave you her address? Mukti wouldn't of course, oh my God, it's Aliya, isn't it? That little b*t---" she only began to curse,but Nandini stopped her.

"Stop it Navya!" she said sternly & eyed towards Abir, who was uncannily quiet throughout our conversation so far. Navya seemed to realise her follies & gritted her teeth & controlled her tongue. Nandini turned back her focus on me with questions evident in her eyes. Damn it, why didn't I think of this obvious question myself!

"I will explain Nandini, but first let's bid Navya here goodbye & go up in your apartment? We have already gotten my buddy late, haven't we?" I asked cheerfully, looking at Abir, whose eyes turned the size of saucers when he remembered they were going out. My plan worked. The kid started bobbing his head in acknowledgement of the delay & started pulling Navya by her arm, but she resisted giving me another glare.

"We can reschedule, Nandu" Navya replied coldly, looking at me, as Abir whined hearing that.

"...but you don't need to, Navu. I mean I can handle it" Nandini said the last part so softly that I could barely hear it; it was meant for Navya, who still looked unsure & in no mood to back out. Even though she eventually nodded, realising Nandini wanted to talk to me alone.