Part 2
"Nandini... Mere liye achi si chai bana kar le aa Aur apne liye bhi bana le..." Nanu said looking at her and observing her grandsons behavior..
Nandini stands from her place and looked at Manik asking for permission... When he didn't say anything she went into the kitchen.
"Maano... Jaa usko bata de Ki main Kaisi chai Piti hoon... Doodh ziyada Aur patti kam... Aur chini bahut..." Nanu told Manik to go after her.
Manik followed her and saw that she is looking for utensils.
"All the useful utensils are in this cabinet and..." Pointing downwards and showing up.
"the spices and other things are in the upper cabinet... " he said watching her.
"Today the cook is on off duty... So you don't have to worry about cooking... From tomorrow the cook and the maid will come and take care of the house hold things... You just have to take care of Nanu... Be with her 24*7... Make sure that she eats her food and medicine on time... She also craves for spicy food sometime... Which is not good for her health... So be careful that she don't eat spicy or salty food..." He starts giving her all the instructions , when she start boiling the milk to make tea.
"Yes sir..." She obeyed his commands.
"Yeh sir sir Kya laga rakha hai... I'm not your sir..." He said irritatingly.
"What should I call you than... You didn't even introduced yourself properly... And you still didn't gave the reason of working for only two months..." She also never learned gave up and get scared of anybody. She asked him point blankly what all she have in her mind.
"Oh yeah... I'm Manik... Manik Malhotra... And my Nanu's caretaker is on leave for two months... She had some emergency in her village... She will be back after two months... So I want someone who I can rely on when I leave for the city for my official work..." He said observing her. She is almost done with the tea as per his instructions.
"Sir... I mean Manik sir... Would you like some tea..." She asked him giving him a tiny bit of smile.
He didn't answer. But gets irritated by her calling him Manik sir.
"For every question you stay mum like this... You don't answer..." She asked again out of her chatting habit.
"What do you mean.. I don't talk silly and I only talk when needed... When you are making tea for you and Nanu.. Than its understood that I'm going to drink too... I don't have to announce..." Saying very sharply he turned and heard her mumble again. But couldn't understand what she was mumbling.
'How will I know.. Did you come in my dream and said that you want tea too...' She arranged the tea cups in the trays and walked ahead but stopped by him.
"And one more thing... Stay in your limits and ... Don't bother me... I'm a busy person... Apne kaam se kaam rakho... I don't want to hear a single complaint... Otherwise one mistake and you are done here..." He laid the final rule.
She got stumble by his harsh words but straighten herself before the tea tray fall off from her hands.
He left with whole lot of attitude into the hall.
All three of them tea together.
Within minutes and hours Nanu was fond of Nandini's chirpiness and her sweet and melodious voice. She makes her laugh on silly jokes and talked about lot of different stuff.
This was noticed by none other than Manik.
He was very surprised that how his grandmother has been happy being with Nandini.
He was working on his laptop. The first thing he did was took off the advertisement he posted on the net about hiring a care-taker. He didn't want anyone else to apply for this post. To some extent he wanted Nandini to be hear as a caretaker..but on the other hand he was insecure of his own feelings.
Nandini on the other hand is avoiding him as much as she can because of his rude behavior and his unacceptable attitude.
She didn't want to interact with him unless it is necessary.
She cooked dinner for three of them before even Manik asked her.
She knows that there's no help in the house today so she makes a decently good food that was appreciated by Nanu a lot.
"Aaj lagta hai ki main Ghar ka Khana kha rahi hoon... Warna Mujhe bimaaron wala Khana milta raha ab tak..." Nanu very happily finished her food.
"Ms Murthy I told you not to give her spicy food... Right on your first day itself you gave her all spicy and salty food..." Hearing Nanu's constant praise he couldn't take it any more and start going off on her.
But before Nandini answer to his amusement Nanu said.
"Maano... Iss bechari par kyun baras raha hai... Khana bilkul bhi teekha nahi hai... Par phir bhi mazedaar hai..." Nanu defended her.
Manik got more furious on Nanu taking Nandini's side. He didn't say anything and quietly finished his food and went off from there to the living room.
"Tu uski baaton ka Bura mutt mana... Woh hai hi thoda tede dimagh ka... Par dil ka Bahut saaf hai..." Nanu pacifies Nandini seeing her upset and sad face.
"Acha ab meri dawai de de taaki main apne kamre mein jaaon araam karne..." Nanu said.
Nandini learned about her medicines and gave her accordingly.
She makes Nanu settled in her room after she is done with everything.
Manik came in the kitchen and checked the dish Nandini made for Nanu.
It was indeed delicious without any spice and more salt. He was once again impressed with her capabilities.
'How can she be this good in whatever she's doing . There's something fishy about her... She is doing all her work almost perfectly... Like she has been learned to take care of elderly people...' He thought to himself.
He heard Nanu's door clicked and went out of the kitchen.
Nandini was done with all Nanu's work and entered the kitchen to the left over work , that's washing the dishes and making the counter top clean and keeping the stuff in the refrigerator she closed the lights and walked out.
She saw that Manik is working on his laptop so she went to him.
"Sir... I mean Manik sir... I'm done with my work... If you gave the permission than I can retire to my room..." She said without making any eye contact with him.
He was again upset with the way she is addressing him.
And on top that he was irritated that she was not looking at him.
"Yes you can go... You are here to take care of Nanu... Nothing else..." He said in a cold tone.
'Manik why can't you be a little polite with her... And you are expecting her to be nice with you... First you have to be nice with her...' Manik slapped himself on his own thoughts.
"Good night sir.."
She walked away without any further conversation with him.
It was in the night when she felt that fang again in her heart.
She thought of her life that has been a little difficult for her these past couple of weeks.
It was not as she decided , instead it was going out of her hands. She wanted to get away from that messed up life for some peace , but she end up in more complex life.
'Aiyyappa... I just wanted some peace of mind and you gave me this khutub minar... Why... Aap ko maza aata hai na Mujhe struggle karte dekh...' Nandini was talking to herself.
'But what harm did I do to him... Why is he giving me attitude... Why is he treating me like I'm some kind of a bad person... That I don't deserve a good life or I came from a bad background...' Thinking all his extreme attitude and his harsh words her eyes filled with tears and she started sniffing and sobbing. To her dismay she was alone crying on her own.
Little did she know that someone is hearing her sobs from out side.
Manik was done with his work and closing all the lights and doors he was about to go to his room upstairs when he heard her sobs as her room is right next to the stairway. He stood there on the stairs and was juggling with himself to go and knock on her door or not.
He felt guilty on his own attitude towards her. But he couldn't help it... The way she is making way her into his heart... He didn't like it. He didn't want her to find a place in his heart.
He stepped down from the stairs and went close to her room and he lifted his hand to knock on her door, but he stopped himself.
After a while her sniffs and sobs stopped and he went back to his room.
He tossed and turned on his bed thinking about her and her sobs. Her voice and her moist and questioning eyes were constantly coming in front of his eyes. He couldn't take it out from his mind. Struggling with his own thoughts he drifted into sleep.
Next morning Nandini woke up early as she was an early riser. As soon as she woke up She went to see that Nanu was awake or not. When she saw that Nanu is still sleeping. She went back to her room to get fresh took a quick shower and wore a white and purple sleeveless kurti and a churidar and matching dupatta. She went into the kitchen to make breakfast for everyone as the helpers didn't arrived yet.
When Nanu woke up she helped her in her regular chores and bring her on the breakfast table.
"Nandini puttar... Maano abhi tak nahi jaaga... Shaayad Woh Der se soya hoga... Zara dekh tou sahi... Woh utha ya nahi... Agar so raha ho tou usse jaga de... " Nanu said eating her breakfast.
"Ji Nanu.. Main..." Nandini was surprised and a little hesitated to go to the Eiffel Towers room this early.
"Haan puttar... Tu hi... Jaa usse utha la... " Nanu said again.
Nandini hesitantly taking small steps started climbing the stairs.
"Aiyyappa... Subah subah.. Why.. Aap kyun karte ho mere saath aisa..." Nandini started blabbing to herself reached the top of the stairs and saw that there were couple of rooms.
"Ab yeh Mr Eiffel Tower ka room Kaunsa hoga... Let me try this..." Talking to herself she knocked on the door right in front of her. No one answered. She waited for few seconds and knocked again. Still no answer. She turned the door knob and clicked open. She pushed the door slowly and opened and peaked inside.
There was not enough light inside as it was dark just a small ray of light peaking through the window. But still nothing is visible. She opened the door a little more walked inside the room.
Even though it was morning and the sun was out and shining bright on the roof but there's still dark here. She took very careful steps towards the bed as she can see the bed but she couldn't see where and how Manik is sleeping and in what condition.
"Manik sir... Manik sir... Are you awake..." She whispered slowly but she didn't get any response. But she heard the crumbling of bed sheet. She didn't noticed that Manik twisted in his sleep and turned to face up on his back.
All of a sudden something struck her foot and she tripped on it and BAAM... She landed straight on top of Manik.
And , Manik who was still in sleepy condition couldn't understand what hit him.
"What the..." He just muttered the sentence unfinished. He felt something warm and soft on top of him. He glide his hands on that something and felt shivering of hands. He still couldn't figured what's on top of him.
And here Nandini's heart is beating faster by this sudden accident. Her hair is covering Manik's face completely. She closed her eyes tight being afraid of getting hit or being hurt. But to her good luck she was safe and sound on top of Manik's chest.
Manik held on to the hands of that something and switched the position and was on top of the Nandini. He pinned her hands on the bed.
He opened the side lamp using his other hand to see what hit him and turned to see , to get surprised by the scene in front of his naked eyes. Her eyes were still closed and half covered with her own hair.
Manik remover the hair from her face and cleared his view which was breathtakingly beautiful. A smile crept on his lips seeing her scared face and tightly closed eyes. Her lips was pressed in a straight line. He wanted to drop millions of kisses on her simple and innocent face and especially those luscious and full of life lips...he even bend more closer to portray what he was thinking.
But Nandini felt his warm breath fanning her face and opened her eyes.
Her heart skipped a beat. Her breath was stuck in her throat seeing Manik's face this close to her. His lips was just mere an inche away from her lips when she whispered his name.
"Manik..."
He got back to his senses and looked up into her eyes. But how could he let this opportunity pass by just like that. He moved his lips away from her face down on her neck and gave a soft kiss on her crook of the neck. She shivered by his kiss and fist her hands on the bed.
He immediately get himself together and sat back.
'What... She called me Manik...' He thought.
She also got out of the bed as soon as she can and was almost running out of the room avoiding his sharp gaze.
"Stop..." He ordered. She halted on her way to the door.
"What the hell were you doing here..." He asked very arrogantly in a cold tone.
"Woh... I came to wake you up... Nanu called you downstairs for breakfast... I didn't mean to hurt you... That's if I hurt you... I'm sorry..." She was blabbering which she herself didn't know what she was saying.
And without waiting to here what he has to say she barges out of the room.
Manik didn't understand what just happened. He fall back again on his pillow with his head in his hands.
"Oh God... This can't be happening... This is not done.. She is driving me crazy... I can't get effected by her this much... Kya karun... I have to do something.. Yeah I'll go to the office.. At least I'll be away and can concentrate on something else... Yes..." Deciding for himself staying away from her he got up to get fresh.
'How can he kiss me and at the same time gets mad on me... He is so weird... ' unknowingly she touched the area where he kissed her in the neck. She blushed by the thought and ran downstairs.
"Kya hua.. Itna ghabrai hui kyun ho... Maano jaaga ki nahi.." Nanu asked Nandini who came running down the stairs as fast as she can saving herself from the another encounter from The Mr Eiffel Tower.
She composed herself and said.
"Jee Nanu.. Woh uth Gaye hain... Abhi neeche aate hi honge..." She excused herself to the kitchen to make tea.
In a short while Manik came down dressed in his official clothes. White collared shirt dark jeans and black blazer.
It took Nandini's breath away when she saw him dressed like that.
"Maano Itni subah tayyaar ho kar kahan jaa raha hai.." Nanu asked.
"Nanu.. Main office jaa raha hoon... Bahut dinon se Gaya nahi... Aur waise bhi yahan mera concentration Bahut kharaab hora hai..." He said indirectly conveying the message to Nandini.
She was making tea for both Manik and Nanu.
Again she excuses herself and took the soiled dishes in the kitchen.
Manik follow her too in the kitchen hiding from Nanu's gazes.
She was washing something in the kitchen when he pulled her with a jerk and turned her around twisting her arm behind her.
She was so close to him that to match his height she has to tip toe her toes to come face to face with him.
"I warned you to stay in your limits... What were you doing in my room... Simple si baat samajh nahi aati... Stay away from me..." He grunted going so close to her face that she can feel his warm breath on her face.
"What did I do... Nanu asked me to wake you up... So I obeyed her... Main unko manaa tou nahi Kar sakti thi naa... " she answered him very softly.
"When you see that there's not enough light in the room why did you entered... You should've understand that I was sleeping.." He pressed her hand more on her wrist.
And she hissed in pain.
"As I told you.. Nanu asked me to wake you up... So I did... From next time I won't come in your room... Isshh ... Manik sir it's hurting..." She said in pain.
He realized what he was doing and released her.
Without saying anything else he left the kitchen. Bidding bye to Nanu he left the house.
Nandini was baffled by his weird behavior.
"Aiyyappa inki problem Kya hai... First he gets so close to me and than kiss me... Which is not at all my fault... And than he gets mad on me without any reason..." As usual she talked to herself and came out of the kitchen rubbing her wrist.
The day passed by in other house hold things and of course taking care of Nanu. Even the helpers of the house came back. There was a watchman and his wife who works as a maid and cook... and a young boy around seventeen or eighteen years of age who take cares of the outside work.
Nanu introduced them to Nandini as her relative instead of her caretaker.
To which Nandini felt happy and surprised at the same time.
Nandini and Nanu were both talkative so they both enjoyed each other's company.
But , on the other side Manik was frustrated with the feelings that is haunting him since he left the house.
His staff is paying for his wrath because of his off mood. He couldn't just get her thoughts out of his mind. The more he tried to forget about her the more her simple , innocent and smiling face come in front of his eyes and tease him.
"What is wrong with me... I came to the office to stay away from her , ... And she is not ready to leave my thoughts at all... No Manik this is not done... You need to concentrate on your work..." He talked to himself and start working.
Somehow he managed to drag the whole day in the office.
But still his heart is forcing him to go back to her , see her and hear her.
He left after the sunset. He even left Nanu's responsibility on her.
Since last couple of days she totally forgot about her phone. After the days busy schedule when she came back into her room she remembers that she didn't checked her phone. She took it out from her hand purse and tried to turned it on , but the battery was dead so she kept it on charge. After half an hour she turned her phone on and was shocked to see several missed calls of Navya and at least fifty messages from her brothers.
All the messages were for her to call home.
She wanted to talk but she was afraid that maybe Nanu will wake up by her voice so she went straight up on the terrace. She saw the way to it when she came to woke up Manik this morning.
She called and the phone was answered by another melodious voice.
"Nandu... Kahan ho tum... Main Tumhe kabse call kar rahi thi... Tumhara phone switched off tha... Than I called the academy... They say that you left from there without informing anyone... Tum theek hona... " that person went on non stop.
"Navya Navya relax... Main bilkul theek hoon... And left the academy for a reason... And please don't ask any more questions... Because I don't want to answer..." Nandini said irritatingly.
"Ok ok... My moody sister.. Yeh tou bata do ki Tum Kahan ho... If I don't give a satisfying answer to our brothers and your brother in law.. Cabir... Which is my husband... Than they will come directly to Mumbai to see that their favorite sister is safe and happy or not..." Navya said.
"I got a job.. Here in the suburbs of Mumbai of a caretaker..." And before Nandini continues further Navya interrupted I'm the middle.
"What... now you gonna take care of children..," she said.
"Offo... Puri baat tou suno Navya... It's not the job of taking care of children... But it's taking care of a sweet and cute elderly woman... Woh kisi ki Nanu hai... Exactly like Amms... I have to take care of her..." Nandini explained.
"Ab yeh 'kisi' kaun hai..." Navya asked.
"Hai Ek Eiffel Tower... Itna lamba hai ki Eiffel Tower dekhne ke liye usko ziyada mushkil nahi hogi..." she confused Navya.
"Nandu yeh Tum Kya Bol rahi ho,.. Eiffel Tower Matlab..." Navya added in confusion.
"Matlab Ek khadoos sa Banda hai , baat baat pe dant ta hai... Gussa uski pointy nose pe ready rehta hai... Bas he just wants me to give up and leave from here... But his Nanu likes me and even I like her... She reminds me of Amms.,." Nandini started her ramble.
"Nandu Nandu shant ho jaa... Jab Woh nahi chahta hai tou chali jaa wahan se... Koi Aur job dhoond le... Why want to tolerate his attitude..." Navya asked.
Nandini didn't answer.
"Nanduuu.. Kya baat hai.. Kahin Woh tujhe effect tou nahi karne laga..."
Nandini still keep quiet.
"Acha Woh dikhne mein kaisa lagta hai..." Navya asked again.
"He is very handsome... Like... Like some kind of a Greek God.. Aiyyappa ne Bahut fursat de banaya hai..." She started again.
"Oh my God Nandu... You are falling for him.. Chalo hamari Nandu ko koi pasand tou aaya... At last... " Navya teased her.
"Aisa Kuch nahi hai... Uss khutub minar ko kaun pasand karega... Jab dekho jab dant ta rehta hai..." Nandini's eyes got moist remembering the kitchen incident.
"Than why is he effecting you this much... See for yourself and give yourself time... And don't take anything serious.. You are my brave little sister naa..." Navya encouraged her feeling her sisters low voice.
"If you are not comfortable than come home... We all will be happy to see you back..." Navya said.
"No Navya... I want to fulfill my dream... I won't give up easily... I will work hard and achieve what I am capable of..." Nandini said confidently.
"I know I know... What You are capable of... And anytime you can achieve what you want... But remember that this is your family.. And we are always here for you... And one more thing... Call those brothers of ours before they come to Mumbai and bring you back here..." Navya informed.
"Yes I will..." She answered.
Manik came home when it was late night and see all the lights were closed. He checked Nanu , she was fast asleep. He smiled and adjusted her duvet and came out of the room.
His legs automatically walked towards Nandini's room but the door was open he peaked inside but it was dark.. He was about to go in but he heard someone talking at a distance. He followed the voice and went upstairs. And he came to the terrace and saw Nandini in her sleeping clothes talking on the phone.
She hang up the phone and looked at the sky.
Water is swimming in her eyes ready to spill.
"Why does he have to be rude to me... Maine inka Kya bigada hai... I just came here to work... He can be nice also... " she murmured to herself.
Little did she know that he was already standing behind her in a distance and listening to her blabbering , though he couldn't understand clearly what she was saying.
"But I won't give up... I will never give up... Amms taught me that I should never give up... Specially in the difficult situations..." She looked at the sky again.
"Aiyyappa... Why do you have to make my life this complicated... Thodi easy nahi bana sakte thei... But why am I blaming you... It's me who wants to fulfill my dreams... Not anyone else..." She was saying to her Aiyyappa.
"I know I will have hurdles in my way... But I will fight it... Whether anybody supports me or not... However it's going to be I have to struggle on my own... But I will definitely fulfill my dreams..," she said.
"Than why do I get effected by his rude behavior... His arrogance... Bad attitude... Why... Ab tak tou aise Kuch nahi hua mere saath... Why... Why is he effecting so much..." She felt a twinge in her heart remembering his rude words and his insulting words... And the pool of tears that was stopped by her self confidence came running down.
All this while Manik was just hearing her murmurs but now he heard her sobs and he got worried.
First of all who she was talking to on the phone that caught his attention and now her sobs and sniffs.
The girl that shows so much of confidence in proving herself is now so down... It seems like she is broken somewhere inside.
And to his surprise he couldn't see her in this state. He liked her in her previous avatar.
The solid and confident person she was.
He moved forward taking slow steps towards her. She didn't hear him approaching her.
With lot of struggle whether to do or not he gave up and puts his hand on her shoulder.
She got startled by the touch and immediately turned to see who it was.
Her eyes was red due to the crying and lines were formed on her cheeks due to the tears.
"Are you alright... Tum theek ho na..." He asked in a very polite way... opposite of what he actually be on a regular bases.
She looked at him in his eyes and tried to see what was written there.
All of a sudden she hugged him tight holding by his waist resting her head on his heart as her height allowed her to assemble herself perfectly in his arms.
He was taken aback by her act... Didn't know what to do , how to react.
The walls that he had built around himself since that incident...is falling apart.
It already started melting since she first step onto his drive way and bumped into the flower pot by her car.
He couldn't help himself but to reciprocate back to the hug.
He hugged her slowly yet wrapping her in his arms taking her in a warm embrace
He felt a never explained relief. Her soft and slender figure... Her warmth and her closeness is giving him some kind of satisfaction.
He wanted this time to freeze. He was lost in her fragrance and in her scent. He gave her a squeeze tightening his hold on her.
She didn't understand why she hugged him. Maybe she was looking for someone's warmth, someone's safe and secure hold around her and when she looked at him so close to her she couldn't resist but hug him.
She don't know why.
When she felt his hold tighten around her she came out of train of thoughts and separate herself from him.
Her hands were still resting on his waist and she was looking in his eyes. His arms are around her shoulders and he was constantly looking at her. Unknowingly his hands traveled upwards to her neck and started cupping her neck and he started to bend down on her face more and more.
But she pulled herself together before anything more complicated happens and pushing him with a slight push she ran downstairs.
Manik let out a deep sigh and pushed his hair backwards.
"Aaahhh...She's making me crazy..." He groans in a deep voice.
End of part 2
Hello people
Here is the update you are waiting for
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Nandini's family and Manik's past is going to be very interesting
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