Hustle For Love |COMPLETE| MaNan Fiction

39. The One Where It Hit The Roof

A/N : Okay readers, yes, I am sorry, I took two more weeks extra to return. :D But trust me when I say my home feels less like a home & more like a crowded local train station nowadays. I have no idea how time is flying & last I checked it was early Oct and now we're in the third freaking week of Nov!? Anyway, I tried writing initially, that schedule didn't work & I took some more time to figure out a 2 hrs window when all the humans in my household are busy & I can write peacefully!

Thankfully now, I have found a sort of cadence & my crazy household has adjusted to the rhythm & I decided it's time I start publishing my on-going stories! So, in short, yes I am back & hereon you can expect regular updates on Saturdays!

Having said all that, I know how much you guys have waited for this story, so in order to make up for the lost time I have written an exceptionally long (20 word pages) & what I feel is my most favorite chapter in the book. Hope you enjoy it as much as I loved penning it down for you!

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West Hollywood, Los Angeles circa 2018

(WeHo Bistro, Cienega Boulevard)

Manik Malhotra

"Hi" I mumbled sheepishly, seeing her seated at the cafe already.

"You're fifteen minutes late." she replied sternly. I frowned; I had left home at the right time, there was no way I could be late. I glanced at my wristwatch; I was on time.

"We were supposed to meet at 6, remember?" I tried asking politely as I settled on the couch opposite.

"But I'm waiting for fifteen minutes now" came her noncompliant reply. I stared at the woman hard. Had it not been for my love to the point of madness for Nandini, I wouldn't be sitting here indulging this arrogant woman & her hot headedness!

"So you arrived early; not my problem" I replied, nonchalantly.

"Monster." she mumbled. 

"Vamp!" I retorted back.

"Shut up, okay! I don't know why I even agreed to meet you!" Navya rolled her eyes in irritation. I smirked.

"Couldn't resist my charm, could you?" I gave back with a lopsided grin. She glared at me.

"Fine, I can just leave then!" There! She played her trump card. So soon, I had barely begun taking her case! I covered my snort with a mild cough and motioned for her to hold on.

"Let's put this nonsense aside & get to business?" I offered, trying very hard not to grit my teeth. Of all annoying women out there on the planet, Nandini had to choose this specimen to befriend!?

"So transactional. Hmph" she muttered as she sat back. I stared at her in surprise. Wasn't it she who didn't like the normal banter we began with?!

"Err..putting your psychotic behaviour aside, I thought if I am going to be around Nan---" but does she ever have the patience to listen, that woman?

"Psychotic eh? I am psychotic?! You told me my husband is having an affair & is philandering around in Canada just for the f*ck of it & I am psychotic. Woah. Talk of passing the buck to others! Manik Malhotra, you're a Phd in that! I really don't see what Nandini sees in you." she shot at me with all her anger.

"Erm..did you happen to notice that it was the same Manik Malhotra who knew you had fallen for the trap & would probably have hounded Harshad for nothing, so he decided to not push to that point? I told you I'm joking, I didn't screw with your life even if it looked appealing at that point!" I replied back stiffly. This Navya woman was so annoying!