Shreya's flat: Navya's Bedroom: 7:00 pm:

Navya: (With vexation) "What all these going on Nandini? First of all this weird condition and your decision to stay separately as unmarried individuals and now this drama to stay there in incognito as a Punjabi cook. I mean really?... Can't you both think straight for once?"

Nandini looked at her and winked. She pressed the fake moustache on her upper lip.

Nandini: (In perky tone) "Maybe. But you tell me...if there is no excitement in life..doesn't it become boring? Especially when you are married and you are getting a chance to spice it up."

She adjusted the turban and turned to Navya who was sitting on the bed with a grumpy face.

Navya: (In a teasing tone) "Oh really?...and from when have you become so adventurous or should I guess that you are uttering your mischievous husband's words? Because I know how much he is desperate to keep you with him and this kind of out of the box plan can only come to his mind."

Nandini: (Rolled her eyes) "I am quite adventurous...you just have to explore me deeply. And secondly, this out of the box plan came in Dhruv's head so stop blaming my husband for all things. Thirdly, what is wrong with it if he desperately wants to keep me with him? You are a spinster...how can you feel our pain?

She pouted with pretentious dismay on her face. Navya scrunched her nose to gauge her subtle humour and in the next moment, both of them busted in laughter. Nandini sat on the bed next to Navya and side hugged her.

Nandini: (In a serious voice) "By the way, tell me one thing...for how long have you decided to maintain your celibacy?"

Navya gaped in confusion. Nandini batted her lashes with a grave expression.

Nandini: "No...I mean the way you lay your evil eye on our experimental married life; I am scared of you. You have become a sex-starved girl buddy and I have to do something immediately to pacify you."

Navya stared at her with her O shaped mouth and wide eyes. In the next moment, she started beating Nandini.

Navya: (Yelled) "YOU....menace...I will kill you..you are a mini monster...wife of Manik Monster."

Both were rolling on the bed with giggles and cute banters.

...........................................

Manan Flat: Bedroom: 12:15 am:

Nandini was lying on the bed beside Manik who was facing the other side. Since returning from Deshmukh Niwas Manik didn't talk much. He just wanted to lie down as he told me that he is feeling sleepy. However, Nandini had a doubt. She had an intuition that something is bothering him. Even now when he was breathing heavily like a sleepy sloth, she had a doubt whether he is really sleeping or just pretending. Nandini slowly turned to Manik and rested her hand on his bicep. Manik didn't react and kept on breathing heavily.

Nandini: (Whispered) "I know you are not sleeping. What happened there? Is something bothering you?"

Manik stirred a bit yet neither turned nor responded. Nandini lifted herself a bit and scooted forward to press her lips on Manik's earlobe.

Nandini: (Huskily) "Tomorrow is Saturday. I have an off. Don't you think we are wasting our time by sleeping?"

Manik: (In a sarcastic tone) "You should be sad that tomorrow is your off. You won't be able to chit-chat with your colleagues. What is new about me? From now, you will meet me every day...rather you will tolerate me every day."

Nandini withdrew herself frowning her brows. Manik's tone made her uncomfortable. She got up to sit in the bed. Manik was still lying in his previous position. Only the difference was his body was stiffer indicating his increased discomfort.

Nandini: (Sternly) "I don't go to my school for chit-chatting. Neither have I any friends in my group of colleagues. Think before you say. If you don't want to talk to me then clearly say it. There is no need for being so sarcastic. Right now it seems that you are tolerating me in your bed. Don't worry; you can sleep comfortably in your bedroom. I am going to the living room."

Nandini tried to get down from the bed but immediately was yanked by Manik. He pushed her on the bed making her lie supine and came over her putting all his weight. Nandini became shocked for a second but next moment tried to shove Manik from her torso. Manik turned a deaf ear to her resistance and clutched her both hands to pin them on either side. He reached near her ear and said,

Manik: (Hissed) "You are not going anywhere. You will always stay with me and only think about me. Because you are MINE. Mine to touch, mine to possess and mine to love. I will pluck those eyes who stare at you. I will rip out those tongues who talk about you. Do you UNDERSTAND?"

Manik's menacing tone shivered Nandini. Still, she tried to free her hands but Manik dived at her cleavage and bit the flesh harshly.

Nandini: (Yelped in pain) " AHHHH....Manik...stop it. Have you gone mad?"

She tried to pacify his aggression. However, Manik excoriated and this time he bit her one of the nipples making her flinch. She moaned in pain and rubbed her legs on the bed to control her pang. On the other hand, Manik clutched her both hands with his right hand and thrust his left hand inside her lower. He parted her folds and started rubbing them vigorously.

Manik: (In a raspy voice) "You only become wet for me."

Nandini was losing her sanity. Her mind was pushing her to resist but her body was melting like wax. She was moaning helplessly. Suddenly Manik withdrew his hands and lowered down his shorts. Nandini's subconscious screamed for the last time. "It's wrong; he can't force himself on me. He has to respect my consent. It's not love, it's rape." Nandini opened her eyes with a jerk. She felt Manik's member on her entrance. She gathered her all strength and shoved him. Manik rolled on the bed due to this sudden force.

Nandini: (Hissed) "I am not your slut Manik that you can rape me like this."

She switched on the side lamp. Both of their clothes were messed. Nandini pulled up the waistband of her lower while Manik lay supine on the bed and palmed his face. His chest was rising up and down with erratic breathing. Nandini stared at him for a while. Her anger gradually turned into worry.

Nandini: (In a softer tone) "What happened Manik? Tell me. You never behaved like this. I am your wife. Don't I have the right to know about your mental state?"

Manik slowly removed his palms from his face. His eyes were now emitting torment.

Manik: (In a hoarse voice) "He said that he loves you. Nandu I couldn't say anything. He was talking about you. He was talking about my wife in front of me and I couldn't utter a single word."

He again palmed his face. His body was trembling due to his struggle for controlling his anger. Nandini immediately came closer and encompassed his body into her chest. That was the breaking point for Manik. He buried his face into her chest and encircled her in a bone-crushing hold.

Nandini: (In a gentle soothing tone) "Manik...Don't blame yourself. In fact, I am glad that you controlled your emotion. Just remember one thing...I am yours...only yours. Nobody and no adverse situation can separate us. We just have to be transparent with each other. We are just going through an adverse situation. But this time will pass as well. Maybe it will help to strengthen our relationship. We just have to be patient."

She pecked his head while Manik nestled to her more. The rest of the night passed witnessing this adorable sight. An embrace between a man and a woman can be reposeful apart from passion...this scene was the example of that emotion.

...........................................

Mumbai: A posh café: 8:00 pm:

Dhruv and Aliya were sitting at a corner table. The pungent smell of coffee was titillating their nostrils. They decided to have some coffee after the movie. However, since they entered the café both of them didn't utter a word. It was an awkward silence. At last, Dhruv decided to break the silence.

Dhruv: (Cleared his throat) "The movie was good...no?"

He finally initiated. Aliya looked at him and nodded with a chuckle. Again a silence mode began.

Dhruv: (In a low voice) "I am returning on the day after tomorrow."

Aliya glanced at him. A melancholy crept on her face. However, she again bent down her face without any reply.

Dhruv: (dejectedly) "Don't you have anything to say? Won't you miss me?"

His voice had something which made Aliya lift her face and look through his eyes.

Aliya: (In an intense tone) "Dhruv, I want to confess something."

She paused for a while and sighed to gather her words. On the other hand, Dhruv waited to unbosom.

Aliya: "I have been a kind of snooty person since my childhood. I have experienced a lot of attention in my school as well as the college. It somehow made me snobbish to some extent. I never used to consider anybody compatible with me. Unless I met your brother Manik."

The name Manik stiffened Dhruv. He fisted in frustration.

Aliya: "I don't want to hide that I was attracted to him...but now I understood that it was a mere infatuation. After meeting you I realised how love actually feels. Dhruv, it is you who can make me smile without a reason. You can make me blush with mere a glance and you can make me fall for you with your innocent eyes. I don't know how to confess but I will miss you the way I never missed a person in my life."

She bent down her head because she couldn't meet his intense eyes anymore. Suddenly she felt a soft press in her hand.

Dhruv: (With a choked voice) "Aliya...you know I always felt bad for my reticent nature. You know the most misunderstood person is an introvert one. But today, I am thanking God for making me in this way which can make a girl like you fall for a hopeless introvert like me."

Aliya met his eyes which were twinkling with a mischievous smile. Their fingers were entwined with new hope and reliance. "I wish I could have confessed like you about the situation which Bhai and Nandu are going through. But I have faith in my love. Whenever I will confess it won't distance us." Dhruv prayed in his mind.

Author's note: The lines in Italic are the thought of the respective character. Please do inline comment. Help mankind by doing a simple thing. Stay at home and stay safe.  🙏🙏🙏🙏♥️♥️♥️♥️