PLAYING YOU (#2)

CHAPTER SEVEN

"I found it." Nandini spoke to the other person on the call with a genuine smile while staring at the laptop screen ahead.

"Great now with full focus and no mistakes copy it down on your pendrive." Zeke instructed his friend, there were technicalities which had to be followed and even though Nandini wa capable of doing such things. He still felt a need to always protect and warn her.

"Shoot!" Nandini cried from the other side of the call.

"What? Shoot who? What happened?" Zeke enquired with a baffled feeling while looking out for his car keys.

"This stupid folder is password protected" Nandini replied with sadness.

"Geez woman. You scared the hell out of me" Zeke scolded her as he took a sip of water. This girl was crazy, her plan was crazy.

"Sorry but should i copy this folder now?" Nandini asked.

"No we can't. That won't help us out in any bit. We have to unlock the folder and then copy the files from that" Zeke started his instruction manual again.

"But we don't know the passcode. Damn this was such a waste." Nandini spoke in pure disappointment.

"We can still work this out." Zeke assured her.

"But how?" Nandini whined.

"Stop whining for first and you know him better than i do, think about it. What can be the password?" Zeke tried making her understand.

"Ofcourse Alya" Nandini replied with a don't care attitude but somewhere it did sting her.

"It stings bad right." Zeke smiled from the other side of the call. He knew her well.

"Stings what? Nothing, it was pretty obvious. Let me enter." Nandini dismissed the topic. She can't afford to misuse her mid on irrational topics.

" No it's not Alya" Nandini replied with a little happiness within her.

"Try his mom's name then. You said he was close to her." Zeke suggested.

"Tried it's not that too. I mean how much more complicated can this guy be" Nandini spoke in frustration.

"Hey relax you still have 3 more chances but we have to be careful or the folder deletes itself." Zeke consoled.

"What? And you are telling this to me now. Damn what can it be" Nandini tried thinking of something closer to his heart "Let's type dad's company name?" she suggested.

"Any luck?" Zeke asked.

"Nope. 2 more chances now" Nandini replied. "How about FAB 5. I mean the group's pretty close to him" .

"As i said you know him better. I am here to just support you." Zeke smiled.

"Oh thank you. I am so relieved to have you MILES away from me. You have no idea how pressurized i am right now. That guy must be on the floor by now in like 2 rooms far away from me and here i am trying to decode his stupid expensive laptop. Should have taken IT in college" Nandini whined.

"urgg nope it's not this too. Common Malhotra stop being a Sherlock for me" Nandini spoke in frustration.

"Okay last chance. Please think well about it-" before Zeke could say anything more, nandini got startled by a loud bang on the door.

Looking up she saw her nightmare come true, Manik leaned at the door with his head on the door. He appeared to be clumsy and could barely walk.

"Nandini who's there?" Zeke asked being startled by the noise too.

"Shh don't say anything" Nandini whispered.

"Should i come over?" Zeke asked again.

"Shhh" Nandini shushed him away when he heard the voice he didn't wanted there.

"Nandini" Manik spoke trying his level best to open his eyes.

"Manik! Nandini leave" Zeke instructed.

"Nandini where are you?" Manik stumbled ahead but unfortunately fell hard on the floor.

"Manik! Holy crap." Nandini ran to his rescue.

"Hey!" Manik smiled as soon as her face came in sight. "I was looking for you."

"I told you i was grabbing desert." Nandini whispered. So uncertain about his demeanour.

"Umm yes. But then everything went blank and then i looked around and couldn't find you." Manik stuttered.

"I think you are too tired. Let me get you to bed." Nandini spoke grabbing him by his waist and leading out of the room.

"Okay mommy!" Manik squeaked while Zeke chuckled from the other side.

"Shut up" nandini scolded Zeke and well Manik both.

In their room, she carefully laid out the giant monster on his king size bed and covered him up with a warm blanket. As soon as she turned to leave she felt a light tug on her wrist.

"Don't leave me." Manik whispered in his deep slumber.

"I'll be back." Nandini excused herself and went to the balcony.

"So is he down. Can you get back to the study room? Or we can do this tomorrow." Zeke spoke.

"I found it. It's on my pendrive now." Nandini replied with no emotions.

"You got the password, when and what was it." Zeke enquired.

"I just got it. I think it's late now. You should probably sleep. have a big work day tomorrow. Night." Nandini replied.

"Night. Will text you in the morning." Zeke wished her back and dismissed the call.

Nandini slowly walked back to Manik and sat beside him. He looked so innocent with his mouth a little ajar and drooling. Who could have thought that this guy could be a monster from withing who just broke her heart over and over again. Ruined her trust and is hell bent on ruining her father's hard earned work.

She got up to leave and get freshed up before hitting the bed when Manik gently laid his head on her slap and hugged her waist in his deep slumber that started her a little bit at first but felt like home soon later.

"There was a time when this is exactly i had imagined being with you will be. At peace. But now it feels like i don't even know a percentage of you. Who are you? On one side you are this mean person who is planning against me with Alya and on the other hand you are this guy who gives me wierd feelings with a mere eye contact, where your eyes tells me about a warm feeling inside you. On one hand you degrade me and my family, try to ruin us with all those papers but on the other hand you are that sweet husband to a wife who has his Wedding Date as his password for stupid important folders." Nandini asked herself more than asking the guy sleeping on her lap as she fell asleep stroking his soft hairs.