Mumbai: Marine Drive: 10:00 pm
It was 10 o'clock at night but the Marine Drive seemed still young as evening. Most of the local people were strolling after dinner. Couples were sitting on the promenade cement mound stretched along the sea bank. This place is also known as the Queen's Necklace because when viewed at night from an elevated point the street lights resemble a string of pearls in a necklace. Nandini and Manik were sitting on the cement mound facing the dark sea. Foamy and restless waves were lashing the boulders and retrieving. Sometimes their feet felt water droplets. Frequent gust made them shiver sometimes. Nandini tilted her head and placed it on Manik's shoulder. She exhaled a sigh of gratification. Manik encircled her waist and pulled her closer. Both were wishing to stop the moment. It was their best moment after coming to this new city.
Nandini: "I still haven't seen your flat. How you have arranged everything. Your almirah, bathroom cabinets. I am sure they are still in mess."
She sounded a bit sad.
Manik: (Pecked her side temple) "Nandu. That is our flat. Whether you stay there or not. Though I sent you the pics of everything, I know how much you are missing our togetherness, our home. And of course, after all arrangements, everything is messed up there because they are missing the special touch of my Nandu, my life."
Nandini pecked his cheek and entwined her fingers with his.
Manik: (Mischievous smile)" I have a plan if you really want to see our new home."
Nandini withdrew her head and turned to face him. Her lined forehead showed confusion.
Manik: "Let's go there together, spend some time and after that I will drop you at Shreya's place. You have the extra key, so no need to disturb them. Fortunately, I have only a late evening meeting tomorrow. So I can go late to office."
He raised his brows for her confirmation.
Nandini: (Hesitantly) "But there must be the watchman. What if he notices us? What will you tell him?"
Manik: (Waggled in negative) "You don't worry about that stupid watchman. I always find him sleeping on his duty whether in the day or at night. Secondly, he has high power specs. He hardly can distinguish between a girl and a boy in dim light. Still, if he notices us and asks anything I will say, you are my boyfriend with long hair and boobs.Ha..ha..ha."
Nandini: (Gaped) " Manik...... shame on you. You are incorrigible. Really."
She pinched his biceps. Manik made fake painful 'O' shaped lips.
Manik: " Okay, okay... then the plan is locked. We are sneaking in our own house. What a thrill. I already got goosebumps. Our first step of the secret love story."
Nandini: "Okay, done deal. But I have a condition."
Manik: (Frowned) "What condition?"
Nandini: "We will enter after midnight when everybody possibly goes to sleep and secondly you will behave yourself."
Manik: (Pretentious confusion) "The first one is fine but what about the second one? Behave yourself........ means?"
Nandini: (Bit her inner mouth wall) "It means you will keep your naughty hormones in your control. In one word no hanky-panky. I will go, will see the flat, will talk and after that, you will drop me. Agree?"
Manik: (Turned opposite side and smirked) "Okay, agreed. I will not initiate anything. Now let's go. It is almost 11:20. It will take a minimum of 1 hour to reach. That means your first condition is fulfilled, my love."
He got up and stretched his hand to Nandini.
.................................................
Manik's flat: Doorstep: 12: 45 am:
Manik inserted the key into the keyhole and twisted it. The door opened with a click sound. The lift and the landing were enough lit to observe anyone clearly so Nandini hid her face with a scarf. She felt ridiculous yet irritated that they had to do all these. This is called 'Demand of the situation.' Manik held her hand and stepped into the flat together.
Manik: (Whispered in her ear) "Welcome home."
He closed the door and pressed the switch. A dim light illuminated the room. Nandini looked around. It was the living room. Well-arranged. Most of the furniture are new to her besides the wall-mounted LED tv.
Manik: "Come, I will show you the rest."
He grabbed her wrist and approached another room. It was the guest room with a single bed, cupboard and Manik's study table. His laptop was kept on it. Nandini observed this room was exactly arranged like their Delhi house. They used to maintain the comparably small one as the guest room. Their relatives mainly her brother-in-law Dhruv used to stay there whenever he would come.
Manik: ( Excitedly) "Now it's the kitchen."
He pulled Nandini and entered the kitchen. He switched on the light. Nandini smiled to see the kitchen. It was a well-furnished modern modular kitchen. Spacious and airy. There was a big window opened towards the main road. Manik noticed the satisfaction on her face.
Manik: (Grinned) "Happy?"
Nandini : (Smiled) "Yes."
But immediately pouted with a sad expression.
Nandini: "But what is the benefit? I can't cook here."
Manik: (Lifted her face placing a finger under the chin) "Who said so? You are going to stay here very soon and going to make all your experimental dishes to torture me."
He was laughing and Nandini fisted his chest with a bright smile. Manik hugged her tightly and placed his chin on her head while Nandini hid her face in Manik's chest, listing to her favourite song, his heartbeat. Advantage of being a short girl to her tall boy.
Manik: (Whispered with closed eyes) "Don't you want to see the main part?"
Nandini: ( Dreamily) "Hmmmmm?"
Manik broke his embrace and again held her hand.
Manik: "Come. But first, close your eyes."
Nandini smiled and followed his order. She sensed that Manik opened a door and clicked the light.
Manik: "Now open your eyes."
Nandini opened her eyes and saw a bedroom furnished with a king-size bed, 4 parts cupboards occupied the entire left sidewall. She saw the reflection of her on the dressing table mirror which they specially carried from Delhi as it is her favourite. The cream colour of the wall made the room bright and classy. She saw a closed door on the right wall of the room. Must be the attached bath as she already saw the common bathroom beside the lobby area.
Nandini: (Pointing towards the door) "Bathroom?"
Manik nodded.
Nandini: "I have to go."
Manik: (Smiled) "Why did you even ask? All is yours. Go and freshen up. In the meantime, I will make coffee."
He winked. Nandini entered the bathroom. Clean and well-arranged. She smiled.
Nandini: (Murmured) " Mr Malhotra has grown up finally. I am impressed."
After 5 minutes she came out but the sight hitched her breath for a moment.
YOU ARE READING
GolMal (Complete✅)
Fanfiction"If life had a background music,it would have been easy to understand what the hell is going on"😳😳😳 It is actually the state of the lives of this story characters.Their lives are full of confusion and shocks.It is a Rom-Com of Manan. Manik and Na...