I WAS ALWAYS YOURS

THREE

"I didn't mean for this to happen. I— I'm sorry for sure." My heart races and the gravity of the situation feels overwhelming. The romantic tension of our earlier moment now feels overshadowed by my overwhelming guilt.

I want to fix it. I just want to make it right, but I'm at a loss for words. All I can think about is how to apologize and erase the harm I've caused, hoping for some understanding in this deeply embarrassing and dramatic moment.

"Come inside," he whispered, stepping away from the door. I hesitated for a moment before entering, and as soon as I was through, he locked the door behind me with a soft click.

"Mr. Malhotra?" I murmured, my eyes cast down in shame. A wave of guilt washed over me.

Yes, the person I accidentally hit was none other than Mr. Manik Malhotra—the very man I could talk about endlessly. But now, after the incident that happened just a few minutes ago, he's left me completely speechless

"Mhm?" he grunts, his tone assertive as he walks into the living area.

"Mr. Malhotra, I'm... I'm really sorry," I stammer, keeping my eyes on my toes and nervously fiddling with my bag.

"Ah, Nandini," he murmurs, and I close my eyes at the sound of my name rolling off his tongue. I feel his long fingers gently lift my chin, guiding me to meet his gaze.

Oh my god!! I can feel butterflies fluttering in my stomach!

"Nandini, it's okay... hmm?" he says reassuringly, nodding his head. I mirror his gesture, nodding along with him.

"But, Mr. Malhotra... you're bleeding," I point out, noticing the blood on his lip. He pulls his hand back, chuckling nervously.

"I guess I am," he admits, his tone light. "But I have to say, you're one strong girl." He turns away, but not before flashing me a wink.

What? No way! Did he really just wink at me?

"Thanks?" I say, looking at him, unsure if it was a compliment or a taunt, as he pulls the first aid box from the drawer. "But it wasn't me—it was my ring," I add, pointing to the metal ring on my middle finger.

"That's not enough to justify your act; you need to help me with my lip," he chuckles, settling down on the couch. I step forward, placing my bag on the coffee table. Taking out cotton and Hexisol, I pour some of the solution onto the cotton and glance at him, ready to help.

"It will burn a bit," I say, gently patting his lip with the cotton. He hisses from the sting. As he takes my hand in his large grip and presses it hard, I let out a moan of pain.

I shake my head, trying to dispel the lingering pain and focus on his lips, carefully cleaning the blood away. After placing the cotton down, I squeeze some ointment onto my pointer finger and slowly apply it to his lip. As I do, he grips my hand more tightly, his fingers digging in with an intensity that mingles with the pain.

"Mr. Malhotra, it's done," I say with a smile, slowly stepping back from his grasp. I suddenly realised I'd been standing between his legs the entire time and hadn't noticed until now.

"Ahuh... th-thanks," he stammers, turning his head away. I quickly put the first aid box back into the drawer and grab my phone, feeling a flush of shyness.

"You're here to meet Nav, right? She'll be home soon, so make yourself comfortable," he says, getting up and quickly heading upstairs without glancing in my direction.

I let out a heavy sigh and settled onto the couch, idly flipping through TV channels as I waited. The hum of the television fills the silence until Nav walks in, her presence breaking the monotony.