05. Pity Adoration

F L A S H B A C K

My life has been pretty simple and perfect since my childhood. A loving family, caring friends along with stable academic grades. What more can someone ask for? I too didn’t need anything else.

Everything was going smoothly until one morning when I got to know about my father’s step brother who was not related to him by blood. He was grandfather’s wife’s son. I found out they died in an unfortunate accident. They have a son who is a lot older than me.

I was not much interested in him at the beginning but I heard from my parents that he is an architect and doing really well in his sector. I also heard my parents discussing that Manik Malhotra, my step cousin, is shifting here with us after my father requested him. He would be alone there so they thought it’s better if he moved in with us. 

My parents were praising him all the while. It made me curious. I searched for him on i*******m. It took me a little while but I found him out and I was stunned.

Fucking God! 

He is the same guy I met 2 years back when I went to Florida for some camp. He was there with another group for some workshop. I had a crush on him because he is devilishly hot. That’s what I thought of him when I saw him for the first time. Later I noticed his gentle and calm side which attracted me towards him.

Before I could approach him or get to know anything about him, he was gone. I tried to search for him but I didn’t know his name. I asked almost everyone there but no one could say anything about him. I thought I would forget him after returning but that never happened. He was always there somewhere at some corner of my heart and finally I’m going to see him after 2 long years. 

Time flew in a jiffy….

It’s the day…

The day of his arrival.

Putting an end to my wait, Manik is shifting to Texas today. From now on he was going to stay with us. But I had some other plan. I was not going to come in front of him so easily. I know he doesn’t know me, so there’s no way he would be having any feelings for me. But he’ll have feelings for me and only me.

I’ll make sure of that!

I returned home late at night. I found Manik having dinner. I wanted to see him. But my heart was beating so fast that I feared he might hear my heart beat, if I went in front of him. But I couldn’t hold back the urge in me to see him after such a long time. So, putting on a normal face, I went and settled in front of him.

He has grown more handsome…

Hot!

With a pinch of sadness in his eyes!

I can understand he recently lost his parents after all. It was getting difficult for me to act normal in front of him, so I skipped my dinner and went away from there. 

I knew Manik was given the room opposite to mine. Actually, I suggested my father about it. I had seen his room’s picture on his i*******m account. I renovated his room almost the same way so that he feels homely.

At night, I had the sudden urge to see him. I walked to his room and was about to enter when I found it was locked. That’s when I did something which I shouldn’t have. But everything is fair in love and war. I made the story about not locking the door. I have to admit he might be thinking I’m crazy. Also, the way he was looking at me, I’m sure he was stunned. 

After that night, I walked to his room to see him, about which he was completely unaware of. I can’t see him in the daytime so it’s the only time I could admire him and I was not even scared to get caught. 

Days passed like that.

In between, Manik has got a job as well. He was going to join there next month. For some unknown reason, Manik has become really close to Rudra bhai as I see them going out together almost everyday. It’s making me frustrated as well. If Rudra bhai wasn’t here, then I might offer him for a tour of the city and I could steal some moment with him.

Alas!

My parents are going for a tour leaving Manik and me alone at home and nothing could describe my happiness. 

Before mom and dad left, my mother was worried for me. She was not worried because I might land myself in some trouble but because I might catch a cold or something like that as I’ve been a clumsy girl which I’m not anymore. I’m trying to be perfect so that Manik doesn’t have any way to reject me when I confess my feelings to him.

“Nandini, I’m telling you again, be careful. Don’t stay awake till late. Have your food on time and don’t misbehave with Manik. I don’t want any complain when I return. Do you understand?”

"Yeah, mom, I remember. Just leave and take a safe flight. Don't worry about me. I will be okay and behave like a good girl." I said with a tight lipped smile.

Manik was there too. He was standing at another corner. Mom and dad instructed him too like a kid before leaving. I wanted to laugh out loud hearing them.

"Alright, then. See you!" Mom hugged me and Manik then went straight to the car.

I waved at them. When I turned back, I saw Manik walking upstairs. To his room more precisely. I ran behind him. 

“Hey, Manik, are you mad at me?” I asked curiously. 

He looked at me with a frown. "Nope, I just want to sleep. Why? Do you need anything?"

I nodded almost immediately. “Yeah. Let’s watch a movie or series.” 

Before he could deny or say anything, I grabbed his hand and pulled him to the living room. 

“Which movie do you want to watch?”

“Anything, you pick.”

I sighed hearing him. I picked “While You were Sleeping” and turned on the TV. Manik had settled already. I also settled on the couch beside him.

M A N I K

It’s been a few days and I can’t understand the girl Nandini. She behaves normally in front of everyone but she acts strange when we’re alone. I don’t know what she wants to say or what she tries to make me understand. She is very weird. 

I did not even agree to watch the movie but look, I can't say no. Why is this girl like this?

She picked a romantic movie. Though I don’t like this genre much, I started watching with her. It was maybe half an hour later, Nandini fell asleep. She is lying on the couch, sleeping sideways while I'm on the other side of the couch, near her feet.

She is sleeping peacefully. I turned off the television since it is nonsense to watch. The person who wanted to watch this is already sleeping. I looked at her and thought about carrying her to her bed. When I turned towards her, I noticed her dress had moved up and I could see her inner wear. I immediately looked away. 

No matter what I think in my heart, I can’t deny the reality!

I chucked the thoughts away from my mind. It won’t look good, if I carry her. We’ve got servants. They might gossip about it. I left her on the couch and looked for an extra blanket in the guest's room. I found one and immediately went downstairs.

When I came back to the hall, the couch was empty. Nandini was not there. I was about to check her room when I heard some noise from the kitchen.

“Weren’t you sleeping just 2 minutes back?” I asked in surprise as I saw her looking for something in the drawers.

She turned towards me with a smile that seemed mysterious. “I guess I was. But you left me alone in the living room.”

I frowned, not understanding what she exactly tried to mean. Her words are always enigmatic like this. I gulped and maintained a straight face. “Not exactly. I went to get it for you.” I showed her the blanket.

She chuckled before walking closer to me. She stopped just in front of me and pulled my cheek suddenly. “You know you’re very sweet?”

I was baffled by her move and she chuckled once again seeing me.

“By the way if you’re not sleeping, then what are you doing here?”

“I’m hungry. So, I was just looking for something to eat.”

“Why don’t you ask anyone? They’ll make something for you.” I suggested.

“They’ll. But I don’t like food made by them much. It’s not because they can’t cook or they don’t cook well. It’s just that I love the food my mom made.”

I nodded my head getting her point. “Your mom cooks delicious food. I have to admit it. She is just amazing. I guess you cook well too."

Nandini looked at me with a perplexed face. “What made you say that?”

“As I saw you were about to cook something. When you don’t eat what the cook makes and you’re cooking for yourself, then it’s only because you cook good, like your mother.”

“You’re intelligent.” She smiled and turned back to what she was doing. “Would you like to eat what I’m going to cook?”

“Why not? Then I’ll also get to know if I’m right or not.”

“Okay.”

We kept talking while Nandini cooked. It was the first time we spoke so much that too normally. I was surprised to be honest when I saw Nandini. I thought she just cooks but I found out she was an expert. She did everything perfectly. She knew the measures, process and what to do when. This girl is amazing to me again and again.

She served the dish once she was done. When I took the first spoon, I was out of words. 

“So, what do you think? How am I as a cook? Is it good?” Nandini winked at me before getting back to eating.

I gulped the food in my mouth. “Are you kidding me, Nandini? You cook better than Pallavi aunty. I never expected this.”

Nandini laughed. “There’s still a lot more about me that you need to know.”

“I’ll wait to know them all.” 

“Let’s see, if I can impress you more or not. If you’re done, keep the dishes. The butlers will clean them.”

“Okay.”

We spoke for a while more before we decided to call it a day and retired to each other’s respective room.