Celebrity Castaway | COMPLETE | MaNan Fiction

37| Whackadoodle

A/N: Hello Readers, firstly I'm so sorry for the delay, since I have not published in long, I forgot it was due! But, now I'm back on track, and here comes the next installment of the story! Thanks a lot for showering so much love to my book even after a 6 months long hiatus..although I see a few known readers aren't back yet :( I truly hope you all return with due course of time, and the story stays relevant and worth your time! :)

Needless to remind you, I look forward to every comment you share, be it in-line or the final ones and appreciate every vote you give me. Please keep this love flowing & I promise to deliver!

On that note, happy reading and a belated happy Lohri!

***

It was a lazy Sunday morning for Manik after weeks; one of those divine interventions where his off day magically coincided with Sunday, and like the rest of the, one plus billion people of the country, even Manik could call it a lazy Sunday and chill. Humming the tune of one of his favourite tracks from one of his own hit movies of the past, he lit his cigarette after freshening up in the morning and trudged to his living room to flop on the couch.

"Tarunnnnn, coffee.."he craned his neck towards the kitchen and yelled, then after thinking for a second, added, "..with milk and sugar".

His butler poked his head out of the kitchen hearing him. "Sir, sugar & milk?" He reconfirmed, looking zapped. Ever since his joining this job, in the last five years, Manik sir had never had anything nice and sweet. What could have caused this major change in pattern, he wondered, scratching his head, but dare he ask.

"When was the last time you got your earwax removed, Tarun?" Manik's voice floated from the living area and Tarun made a quick apology and dashed to the kitchen to order the staff. In his long term career at Manik's if Tarun knew one thing, it was this: be careful of Manik's temper, but be doubly careful of his good mood! Usually what followed his good mood was chaos & thunderstorm.

"Also get me nice warm waffles with chocolate syrup for breakfast! No healthy food today!" Manik announced and Tarun prayed to whatever deity he believed in, asking for blessings to survive the day.

Manik was just about to grab the remote and switch on the TV, wondering if he should install an AI bot controlled server and tie it to all his gadgets so he could maybe clap dramatically or something and the TV would switch on..wouldn't that be cool? But his thoughts were interrupted by a loud gong on the doorbell. And from the voice coming from the entrance, he knew it was Cabir.

"Ugh, the horror! That too on a Sunday!" Manik muttered dramatically, as Cabir walked in rolling his eyes.

"Ahh. Someone is in a good mood, I didn't know, all you needed was a free Sunday to be normal" Cabir teased, making Manik roll his eyes.

"Why are you here? Did you add in something irrelevant and block my Sunday for some petty money & your commission, you greedy man?" Manik teased him back.

"What? No! I heard you're getting pancakes. I came to collect my share." Cabir replied, looking at the ceiling.

"Bhukkad" mouthed Manik.

"Oh, but I thought you knew, I work on a commission basis. Whatever is yours, I have a 5% cut in it." Cabir played along.

"Everything, except Nandini" Manik replied, like a possessive child.

Cabir's eyes turned dark, but Manik didn't notice. All of Manik's actions and reactions, nowadays, were somehow linked to Nandini. Did Cabir not know the reason behind Manik's happy, goofy behaviour? He had been good all through the week. That one hug from Nandini during the shoot and God knew what they spoke about during their lunch in Manik's vanity, everything changed after that! Shoot was going smoothly. There were no hitches, they were working well, and throughout the shoot this week, Manik and Nandini shot their romance part of the story. If that had the power to turn Manik into this man, Cabir worried how he'd behave after the next schedule that was due next week, where all the angst scenes would be shot! Also, Nandini wasn't making it easier for Manik, it was only a matter of time before he knew that..Cabir's train of thought was broken by Manik.