Chapter 14 - "Pampering the muse..."

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"Am I overdoing it? But he also overreacted. My inner Goddess this time comes forward in my support. But I think it's a bit cheeky to demand pampering and very weird for him to agree. Mr Mercurial...Monster Malhotra. I smile at my thought. To be honest, I still can't believe that Manik apologized to me. I know he reacted very harshly to a trivial matter. But when he was apologizing to me there was a pang of real guilt and fear in his eyes. Fear for what? Maybe he is worried about your health. My Inner Goddess again suggests. I wobble in denial. No, this fear is not a worry but a panic about losing someone. Then maybe he is afraid of losing you. She again opines. I can't totally agree. I am an orphan. Living with him. Totally dependent on him too. I don't know even my past. I only know him. In this condition how can I leave him and why should he be afraid of this conjectural notion? Right now, my mind is stuffed with so many questions. Being flummoxed I come to the balcony. Manik's bungalow is not exactly amidst the city though it is not very far. This balcony is my favourite place of mine because from here I can see the skyline and the starry sky. I gaze up. It is a full moon. And I am a selenophile. I gradually gaze down. The garden is partially lit. Perhaps the watchman hasn't switched on all the lights. My eyes get fixed on the fountain pond. The moonglade is beautifully visible. For a moment I forget the surrounding. But all of a sudden the entire bungalow sinks into pitch-black darkness. And my heart into an unknown fear. I don't know why I fear this darkness. It suffocates me. I close my eyes while gripping the balcony railing with my extreme force. I am feeling giddy. Again some flashes are coming in front of my eyes. A car...sooty surrounding...a throttling pressure on my neck. I gape to breathe. I had probably fallen down from the balcony if someone wouldn't have encircled me in the arms. I know this touch. I know this smell. He is Manik. Again my saviour. I rest my head on his chest...placidly."

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Manik garages the car and comes out. His both hands are full with the newly adopted bunnies. He brings them near his eyes. An affectionate smile touches his lips but the next moment his eyes become petrous. He has to go to the farmhouse but after giving this surprise to Nandini. He heads the main door. As he steps on the staircase the whole bungalow sinks into darkness.

"What the fuck?"

He curses and is about to call the servant but before that one of them comes with a candle. Manik yells at him,

"Where is the watchman? Tell him to start the generator...immediately...these people...."

Suddenly something strikes his conscience. He hands over the bunnies to the servant and rushes upstairs. He switches on the mobile flashlight and enters Nandini's room. As expected the room is pitch-dark and more of that Nandini is not in the room. Manik moves the light everywhere when a silhouette in the balcony grabs his eyes. He nears it and is about to call Nandini; he observes her swaying body. It seems that she has no control over it. Before her body leans on the railing Manik yanks her and encircles her loose body into his protective arms. Nandini takes a deep sign and rests her head on his chest. Just then the bungalow again glows with light.

"Nandita, what are you doing here?"

Manik's tone is worried. Nandini slowly lifts her head and meets his eyes with a heart-melting smile.

"I was watching the moon."

Her voice is worn out. Manik furrows his brows and casually says,

"Whatever...your moon couldn't catch you from the balcony."

His tone is sarcastic. He brings her inside the room and makes her sit on the bed corner. He observes Nandini minutely. Her face is fatigued but her eyes are nitid. Is she happy to see him? Was she waiting for him? A fleeting thought crosses his mind but he waves it away.

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