MaNan FF - HEAVEN (On hold)

- 15 -

The next day, Nandini had left home for work earlier than usual. She needed that extra time to pick Manik up from the hospital and head to his home where Nyonika would be waiting with... ugh... whatever... But this was one piece of information she didn't dare to share with her father. True, the hatchet might have been buried for the time being. But she wasn't sure whether he had let go off his grudge towards Manik as of yet. So for the time being, she lied to him that her boss Raghav wanted her to work on some reports before setting off for her usual field work.

The previous day's events had left her with a very sick feeling. Her head still felt heavy and her eyes swollen and groggy. Breakfast was a herculean task with all the nauseous feeling churning in her guts. To top it all off, anxiety levels had hit its peak. She had no clue why Nyonika wanted to see her. Something told her that trouble was ahead. She wants you to set me straight. That's what Manik told her. Her gut instincts warned that Nyonika had more up her sleeve.

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At City Hospital, Manik had already completed his shift. Unlike other days, he wasn't in his uniform. He was in his favourite (and usual) white shirt and cream coloured pants that hugged his tall, slender frame. As he stood at the staff lockers and pulled out his dirty set of scrubs from within his allotted space, Rose moved in from behind stealthily. She came to a halt at about a micro-inch away from him and grinned excitedly. An unwary Manik continued to stuff his laundry into a plastic bag until... he turned around to leave and...

... Was alarmed to be confronted with a huge pair of thorny jackfruits at his face.

"Hoh-ly shit!" Manik sprang back and slammed against his locker with a startled gasp. It took him a few seconds to register what was before him and the irritating cackle that emanated from it. "Rose? What the hell!" He was breathless.

"Hawwwwww! You poor baby! Look at you! You look chooo cute when you get scared!" She giggled and pulled his cheeks hard.

Manik recoiled from her vicious grip. He was annoyed at having been stumped like that. "Cute my foot! You nearly gave me a heart attack!!!"

Rose pouted and lowered her head a little. "I'm sorry. I was just trying to have some fun. You know how I luuuurrrve to play with you, don't you?"

Manik rolled his eyes in disapproval. "Jeez. I'd hate to be your doll."

She cackled at his sarcasm. In fact, she made it a point to approve all of his words with an encouraging laugh. It was her way of showing him that she was interested. "Moreover, if your heart ever stops, be assured that I'm here to get it to race like a Ferrari." She crooned in a seductive voice and winked at him. The wink was effective enough to get his insides gurgling. This was new to him. All this flirting stuff.

"Alright Ms. Schumacher..." he replied in a bored tone.

"Schumacher!!!?" Much to Manik's great annoyance, Rose started to cackle like a goose once again. "Awww! You're really very funny Manik. And that's the best thing I like about you. Your extraordinary sense of humour." She yanks hard at his cheeks again but Manik was quick to knock it off.

"You really need to stop doing that Rose," he said irritably, "that hurts like hell."

"Aww... I'm sowee!!! Here's to make you feel better." She surprised him with a swift hug and a kiss to his cheek.

Not again! Manik was exasperated. When it came to showering her affection on Manik, she was very particular to never miss out on a single opportunity to hit on him. Impress him. Win over him. And as for him, he made it a point to show his disgust by wiping off the lipstick from his cheek. "Fine. Got to make a move now," he said coldly. He was desperate to end this pointless conversation and get to Nandini. She must be waiting for me, he thought.