UNINTENDED LOVE - (MaNan)

Chapter-1

She was tying her hair into a high ponytail. She looked at a clock which was hanging on the wall. She said to herself to get ready fast as she is getting late for her college. Before she closed her room door she looked at a photograph which was on her study table. Her family. Mom, dad, chacha and chachi. Her parents are no more. They died in a car accident when she was 5 years old. Since then Chacha and chachi became like her parents. They don't have any kids so they treat her as their own daughter. They live in India and she lives in New York to pursue her higher studies. She didn't want to come though but that is what her parents wanted at that time. She sighed at that photo and moved out of her room. She quickly grabbed her breakfast. She couldn't afford to sit and eat her breakfast properly. If she does so she'll be late for her AI class. Artificial Intelligence. Yes, she is in a computer science background. She came to New York an year ago. Still she has to stay here for an year. To complete her post graduation. To go back to her home. India.

She was literally running on the streets to reach to the class on time. Her college was at 10 minutes walkable distance. She always walks to her college. No matter how late she is. Of course why to spend dollars when you can simply walk right? She doesn't want to bother her parents to send her money all the way from India. She works as a nanny at Wilson's. Just a part time job. Wilsons are sweet and rich. Mrs. Wilson owns a salon and Mr. Wilson is usually out of town cracking new deals. He is a businessman. Mr. Wilson told her to stay at their small house so that it would be easy for her to reach at their house on time. He doesn't like the people who comes late. And by giving her his house to stay he can earn few dollars.

She reached the college and about to enter her class but she was hit by something. Actually someone. Who was supposed to be her professor. Prof. Raghav. He was also from India. He adjusted his glasses and looked at her. He annoyingly asked "Can't you be on time ever Miss. Murthy?"

She embarrassingly smiled and said "Sorry sir actually because of my morning puja I got late". Prof. Raghav just nodded his head and told her to go inside the class. It was never actually clear whether Prof. Raghav actually believed her or he just knew that this thing never gonna change. But it is their daily routine. She saying sorry for being late and him forgiving her. Maybe because she is the most sincere and dedicated student of his class. She is quite, always minding her own business and very attentive in his class. Nandini Murthy is the topper.

After her class, she was walking in the corridor then someone called her - " Nandu wait". Nandini turned around to see her best friend, Navya Naveli. She is also from India. So, two Indian girls became friends in the New York city.

Navya asked- "Nandu are you free tonight?" Nandini just sighed and replied- "I need to check with the broker for a paying guest. It would be better to share the house with someone and the rent of course." Navya nodded her head and wished her luck. Nandini smiled and went from there. How she wished Navya to shift to her house but she lives with her Maasi.

Nandini reached her house and went to the lawn. In the morning she forgot to water her plants. The house is actually too much for an "Indian" student to stay at rent. It has a living room, 2 bed rooms, a kitchen and at the basement it has a big hall. It also has a small lawn in the front and back. Mrs. Wilson didn't want to sell this house as it the house when she came to the Wilsons. She is quite sentimental. She didn't allowed some random people to stay in that house as well. But since Nandini is their nanny and she is like their family so they allowed her to stay there.

It is not that the rent is too much but still she felt to share this not so small house with someone. She misses her family. In college Navya is there but still when she comes back to home it feels empty.
After spending some time with her plants she went near her door and bent down to pick her keys which she hid under the doormat. This is an Indian thing. She was shocked and scared. "Where are the keys?" she asked herself. She was searching for the keys near by but then she heard some voices.

She looked towards the window near her door and saw a man talking on his phone. Walking to and for in her living room. Her living room. Her house. "How dare he?". She started banging the door and shouted - "Hello mister, who are you. Open the damn door". After a minute the door was opened. She pushed him aside and moved inside. She could sense he was shocked. That should be her reaction right? She angrily looked at him. He was tall. Like 6'1. Looks Indian. He was wearing a grey t-shirt with blue jacket and light blue jeans which was torn near his knees.

Before she could bombard him with questions he said - " Hey, listen can you please leave. I'm so tired. Just now my flight landed and I'm having a jet lag. So can we meet later?". Nandini just kept looking at him in shock. First he is in her house as if he owns it. Then he is telling her to leave. She asked him- " Excuse me? Who are you to tell me to leave this place? This is my place. My house! Where did you get my house keys? I'm sure you must've taken from under the doormat. How dare you to enter my house without my permission? ".

That man was shocked. No one till now ever raised their voice in front him. And this tiny girl who is hardly reaching to his shoulders is shouting at him? This is her house? Then why Cabir told him to stay here. His childhood friend who recently shifted to New York because of his job. Hold on. What's happening here? Cabir did mentioned in the call to wait at airport due to some last minute changes. Is this the reason? Did he really enter in the wrong house?

He cleared his throat and said -" Sorry actually I think I got the wrong address. Could you help me to with this address?". He showed her his mobile.
She just glanced at the screen irritatingly but took his phone from his hands and zoomed the pic. She was shocked and confused. "This is my address". She said in daze. He understood her state and said- "actually my friend gave me this address to stay as a paying guest. Didn't know that this is your house. I'm sorry."

On hearing the word "paying guest" Nandini got alarmed. This is what she wanted. An Indian paying guest. Doesn't matter if it's a boy as long as they are Indian. Anyway they have 2 rooms so they can have their privacy. No issues.

He about to turn to move but she held his hand. "Wait" she hurriedly said. He just looked at her tiny hand which was holding his hand. His trance broke when she continued saying - "I do searching for a paying guest. And looks like you're Indian too. If you want you can stay here". He was happy. Happy because he'll stay here. He really liked this house. The vibe. Everything. And he is too tired to move out and call his stupid friend to arrange him a place to stay. He thanked her and about to move to the room.

Nandini called him - "That's my room. Your room is this side" and showed him his room. He liked the previous room more though but this room is also not bad he thought. She set his bed and cleared few books which were there on the side table as sometimes Navya used to come here.

After setting up the room she explained him about few rules which were told by Wilsons and about to move when he called her from behind - "thanks. Sorry but you didn't mention your name". She turned and replied - "you didn't mention yours either". He took a pause and came one step closer and forwarded his hand - "I'm mmmm... Anant. Anant Kashyap". She found him weird but she brushed her thought and shook his hand - "I'm Nandini Murthy".

He said - "oh so you are south Indian. Nandini. Nice. So I can call you Nandy". Nandini glared at him - " You can call me Miss. Murthy or just Nandini". He replied with smirk - "okay JUST Nandini. I'll keep that in mind". She looked at him irritatingly - "are you dumb or you are just acting smart?". He just chuckled -"hey I was just kidding relax. Nandini". She huffed went to her room. And he also glanced at his room before falling back on his bed. Looking at the sealing he said to himself - "Welcome to New York City, Manik Malhotra. This is going to a fun ride".