MaNan: The Shattered Bond

2. The Stranger.

I wake up yawning, after hearing mom yelling to get ready for shopping.

Since we've moved here, everyday is a shopping day.

Some days we go grocery shopping, others for home decorations.

Today, is finally my room's day. I had already painted it with sky blue and white paint, and now I have to find matching stuff to decorate it.

Lazily, I open my eyes fully and drag my still sleepy body into the bathroom and in no time I'm ready to leave with mom, not before having breakfast.

***

I hate shopping.

Shopping is one of my least favourite things to do, especially when mom is coming along.

I hate choosing between things and I mostly pick the first thing that catches my attention, while mom always wants me to first look and then choose from options.

Never thought choosing decoration for my room would be more difficult than buying clothes.

We've been roaming around for two hours and the only things I've found yet are some cute photo frames and a table lamp.

Aiyappa, help!

I walk some steps and find a shop with all kind of pillows hanging here and there.

"Mom, a pillowshop. Let's go." I hold her hand and drag her into the shop with a huge smile plastered on my face.

"Nandini, no. I know you love pillows, but first, we have more important stuff to look for, after that you can buy them." My smile falls and I give her my puppy look trying to melt her, which doesn't work because she galres back, and that's enough for me to walk out of the shop with her following behind.

I huff and cross my arms, when her mobile starts ringing and she points to the next shop where I can probably find sky blue curtains, "I'll be back. Meanwhile look around."

She accepts the call while finding a less noisy place, to which I turn back to look at my now favourite shop, "I'll be back soon. Promise pillowshop."

I glance at it for the last time, and turn to look at the other shop, but before that my eyes fall on a tall figure standing at a ten feet distance talking with a woman in her late thirties probably.

It wouldn't have mattered to me if the figure didn't look like that stranger I met a week ago.

Never had I felt so dumb, the way I felt that night while laying on the bed thinking about him and realising that I didn't even ask him his name.

His back was towards me, but I still had my doubts, which get cleared when he turns back and wanders his eyes everywhere.

What is he finding? Or who?

He is the same guy.
Nandini Murthy, you have to do something to talk to him, or else, even tonight you'll hardly sleep because of him.

Nope. I can't let that happen. I want to sleep tonight without his thoughts consuming my mind.

He turns back to the woman with a frown before looking at the floor whilst the woman keeps talking non-stop.

Damn me for being such a curious cat, but I really want to know what's happening there.

I take some steps towards them and hide behind a huge tree, which I'm sure covers my entire petite frame from their view, but before I can hear anything that woman pats his left cheek and walks away to the opposite direction.

The stranger I met last week, keeps looking at the floor for some seconds, before lifting his head and looking at the direction the woman walked in.

Was she his mom?

Okay Nandini, now is your chance to talk to him.

I walk some steps until I'm standing exactly behind him.

Taking a long breath, I put my hand on his board muscled right shoulder which makes him shiver and turn back quickly towards me.

I bite my lower lip before looking up into his dark chocolate brown eyes that seem to do the same thing as I.

My eyes travel below, falling on his pointed nose which I'd love to poke, and then on his rough pink-ish lips.

I keep staring at them until he clears his throat making me look away embarassed.

My cheeks heat up and, even tough I'm not looking at him, I know he's enjoying my state.

Stupid Nandini! Do what you're here for.

After intaking some oxygen, I look up to him again titling my head, "What's your name?"

I see him furrowing his eyebrows in confusion, "What is-"

Before I can repeat him the question, he cuts me off with a glare that says 'I heard you, Einstein.'

"Why do you want to know my name?" Because since last week, all I think about is you, that's why I haven't been able to sleep or I eat too much food while you roam in my head.

I want to tell him the truth, but instead decide to just lie, "You saved me that day. So atleast I deserve to know your name, right?"

"What if I don't want to tell you my name?"

"Then I'll ask you to have lunch with me, 'cause that way I can thank you properly and whilst eating somehow figure it out." I grin in response, because I didn't atleast make a fool out of myself like other times.

But I think, I spoke too soon seeing him laughing his guts off.

I cross my arms and look at the other side whilst my cheeks feel hot from the embarassment.

Once he's done laughing, I feel his fingers below my chin lifting my face up, "Has anyone ever told you, how cute you are?"

My already hot cheeks start burning even more, and I know my face is not less than a beetroot right now.

Before answering him, I lift my gaze a bit and lock my eyes with his dark chocolate ones and shake my head.

There's something about his eyes that's mesmerizing and mysterious at the same time, something that attracts me towards them.

In my staring session, I don't even realise how close he's standing until he whispers in my ear, "I will see you very soon Nandini, and for a long time."

He breaks the eyelock and taking some steps back walks away like he did last time, leaving my whole body shuddering and goosebumps all over my skin.

I keep looking his way, replaying what he said again and again, when my eyes open wide realising he just said my name.

How does he know my name?

What did he mean by 'A long time'?

Sigh.

So many questions that only he can answer, but, who is he? I have no idea.

Aiyappa, when will this guy let me sleep properly?

I look down and shake my head, when I hear mom shouting my name from a distance.

Oh shit!
I forgot about her.

Nandini Murthy, you're so dead.

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Thank you so much for the response on last chapter.

I hope you like this one too.

And a HUGE THANK YOU to StarsAndFireflies_ for this absolutely Fabulous cover. I LOVE IT!
Thanks a lot.