Almost Not Love! |COMPLETE| MaNan Fiction

7. Remembering an Old Flame

A/N : So this chapter is a slight peek into Nandini's past, something she is avoiding to think about so far, she is trying to hold back - this will give you readers a slight understanding of where her thoughts and beliefs stem from - hope you like what you read!

Happy Reading!

Much Love,

A.

***

Nandini was sitting at her bay at work, her last evening was so mind numbing that she couldn't get it out of her head ever since. Manik had healed her, he was careful of her needs all the while and he had continued to pleasure her till she had finally peaked. After her high, when she relaxed, he had moved away from her to give her space to cool down, but she was surprised, what about him? He hadn't come undone.

"Manik, what about you?" she had asked.

"Tonight was just about you, Nandini. I will have more nights to claim" he had replied with a smile.

"But you must be uncomfortable" she had tried again, feeling confused.

"Not after a cold shower! May I use your washroom?" he smirked.

Then he had come out and stayed with her all evening. They chatted about various things, their friends, life, work and even Mukti and Abhimanyu. He seemed put off by Abhimanyu but Nandini had helped him gain perspective and by the end he wasn't as bothered. Before leaving that night, Manik had ensured – to be honest, 'force fed' her to a glass of warm milk infused with turmeric – he had given her a paracetamol for the fever and had finally left.

Nandini was bothered, not so much with his actions as she was with her own reactions to him. He was returning her compassion, it made sense, but what had induced her to reciprocate? Since when did she need help in healing, since when did she need to heal? She knew herself enough to know that what transpired between them the last night, even though deep, was something she shouldn't have indulged in, on hindsight; but then again that was it, she was indulging herself for a bit, it was a one time thing. It wasn't anything more; how could it be more, however nice a guy Manik was, he was not 'him' the only guy who ever meant something to her; everything to her; she wasn't going down that road again ever. Although, under other circumstances she'd be worried on how Manik interpreted their moment, but now there were no worries; thanks to Rule #1, they didn't need to explain this.

Manik on the other hand was as conscious about the evening before as Nandini, he didn't know how, but Nandini always managed to pull out this other guy from him; who was this? What did he want? He only wanted to heal her, he was sorry for his doing, but what was that inexplicable need to satisfy her? Whatever he may say, he knew in his heart of hearts he wasn't just returning a gesture; in those moments he felt he didn't have an individual existence that was separate from Nandini, it felt like he existed to serve her needs. Never in his life had he placed anyone above himself, barring maybe his mother when he was a child, but then see how that turned out, right? But secretly he was thankful for Rule #2. he didn't need to explore deep into what he felt, because he didn't need to label it. They had decided they would go along with what felt right; well, this felt right at that point.

As quickly as it happened and, as unaware as these two were, thereon an unknown bond had forged between Manik and Nandini. It was invisible to the naked eyes, but there was a tug, if one pulled the other moved and it was something they never acknowledged thanks to the rules they had set for themselves.

***

"Are you fucking serious!? Abhimanyu!! Tell me you are joking! I miss out on catching up for one week and this is what you have in store for me!?" Nandini shrieked on the phone.