As Inaya tries to push aside the whiskey glass from reaching Manik's lips and scoots forward to place her lips on his, Manik jerks her hand and retrieves his face to maintain the distance. His eyes have rejection and vexation.

"Relax, Inaya. It's a bar. Not your bedroom."

He mouths indifferently. Inaya furrows her brows in confusion and again places her butt on the bar stool.

"So, you want to go to the bedroom? So soon? So, tell me your place or my place?"

Inaya sips on her Martini and says in a husky voice. Manik pours the last drop into his mouth and puts the glass on the bar table with a thud.

"Forget it. I just wanted to divert my mind and this drink is quite useful. Excuse me, repeat this."

Manik instructs the bartender.

"But you were sounding different on the phone. You were saying about some unwanted touch and you need my help. So, let me help."

She utters in a sugar-coated tone. Manik turns at her. His famous smirk is plastered on his face.

"That was my acting. You know....I am a powerhouse actor. That acting was needed to make someone jealous because she thinks, only she can turn me on."

Manik giggles out. His strained nerves are now relaxed.

"No, Baby I can turn you on even more. Wanna see? Let's go....Mann."

Inaya continues with her flirting tone while trailing her fingers on Manik's bicep. It seems that some chord gets torn in his mind. He turns at her violently and in a blink of an eye yanks her by holding her forearm and drags her outside of the pub. Inaya tries to free herself from his harsh pull, however, Manik doesn't pay any heed to her pleads. He hauls her and reaches the car parking. Approaching Inaya's car, he shoves her on the closed driving seat door. Inaya wails in pain. Manik slams his palm on the car window and leans towards her face. His eyes are spitting fire,

"Don't you ever try to utter this name. You have no right to call me by this name. Don't forget you are a mere newbie actress. So, be within your limits. Now, get lost."

His voice gives shivers to her. With trembling hands, she fishes out the car key from her purse and opens the car door. Manik rests his hands on either side of his waist and turns his face to control his wrath.

"Please, I need this film very badly. I am sorry if I upset you by any means. Please, Manik Sir."

Inaya meeks out taking out her head from the driver's window. Manik glances at her and waves away her words,

"Meet the producer tomorrow. Your work will be done. Now, leave."

He chides and without turning back heads to the inside of the pub once again. From the bar counter he byes a bottle of Rum and reaches his car. He opens the driver's door and sits on the seat. The car picks up the speed and within a second whizzes past the pub area. Manik empties some liquor in his mouth. It burns his throat and rolls down. Some flashbacks come in front of his red drowsy eyes,

Flashback:

"Manik, can I give you something? 

Nandini says adorably placing her chin on his bare chest. Manik entwines his fingers and places his hands under his head. Lying supine, he is looking at the ceiling. A nonchalant grin curves his lips. 

"You have just given me so many lucrative things, Nandini. I don't think I can tolerate more right now. I am human, not a...ummmm robot." 

Nandini takes some time to grok his words and when his words make sense to her, she widens her eyes in disbelief. This man is too blatant. Nandini fists his chest with her small hands and whines, 

"Stop you shameless. I am not talking about that." 

On the drop of a hat, Manik rolls and takes Nandini under him. His eyes are now shining with love and affection. 

"Okay, okay my Mike Tyson. I am shameless and I know you love this shameless. Now, tell me what do you want to give me?" 

He utters with curiosity. Nandini snakes her hands around his neck and softly mouths, 

"Yes, I loooooove this shameless a lot and I want to name this shameless as Mann. Manik, can I call you Mann? Nandini's Mann lives in Nandini's mann (mind)." 

For a moment, Manik keeps on looking at her innocent eyes and slowly he bends, almost touching her lips. He skims her soft petals with his lips and whispers, 

"Close your eyes so that your Mann can always be confined in your mann."

Present time:

With a jerk, Manik stops the car which was about to hit an auto, standing beside the road. The people around the place starts yelling and within a second, encircle Manik's car.

"You rich people! What do you think of yourself? You almost killed that poor guy. Come out....hey bastard...COME OUT..."

The mob are beating the car bonnet and window glasses. Gradually all start losing their compose. Manik rolls down the window glass and is about to spit back, one of them yells,

"MANIK MALHOTRA.....look who is here! Hero Manik Malhotra.."

All people are trying to reach the window and touch their silver screen idol. Manik lifts the bottle and gulps some liquor. He immediately rolls up the window glass and honks the horn. The throng is still not ready to leave its favourite hero. Being helpless, Manik starts the engine and presses the accelerator without leaving the clutch. The vroom sound of the engine makes the mass startle and people unwillingly create a distance. Manik takes this opportunity and speeds past from there. He knows that this incident will be a headline of tomorrow's page 3. "Manik Malhotra...silver screen idol...eludes drunk and drive offence.." Manik's lips curve in nonchalance.

"If I care. Good for you, Manik Malhotra. You have succeeded to retain your bad boy image once again."

He mumbles under his rueful grin.

Author's note: Some more flashbacks will reveal some more unknown past. The flashback part is written in Italic. Stay tuned.😊😊