The cat and mouse game stretched on for the next 3 months. Each tried to dominate the other to bring the other to his/her knee. They used all the armour in their arsenal. But till date none had succeeded.

“this is the fifth time in six days that I am seeing you walking around topless” nandini mused as she sipped on her coffee one morning in the kitchen.

“well is my hot body distracting you?” manik winked.

Nandini shook her head. Well the view is very tempting but I am not going to give in so easily! Hah!”so did you sleep well on the futon? I am saying again you should take my bed , I can sleep on the futon comfortably” nandini urged because she felt his 6” frame cannot fit in the sofa-cum-bed futon.

“I will sleep on the bed only if you share it with me”

“not happening” she dismissed.
Manik just rolled his eyes and got on to kick start his day.
.....
A few days later..

Manik and nandini came back after playing their respective sports one Saturday evening. He came out after taking shower and saw she had already started on with the dinner. He sneaked up behind her and hugged her from behind.

No Nandini no...don’t give in so easily! nandini chanted internally.

She turned her head and gave him a smile.

“what’s cooking?” he asked innocently while his palms tried to sneak under her top.

“why don’t you make yourself useful and chop these veggies, manik” nandini said grabbing his palms before it could reach its destination. Manik smiled “ sure” and started the chopping. How long will you be able to resist nandini! He mused internally and tried very hard to control his full on grin when he caught her closing her eyes and taking a deep breath before returning to her task to sauté.
......
“manik let’s go shopping. I need a dress for the party” nandini said as she came out from her room in the evening after a long nap.

“party? What party?” manik asked still distracted as he was looking over his portfolio because he was going to invest in share market from Monday.

“manik, seriously how can you forget so quickly! Last week hi hamein btaya gya tha by our manager and team leader that they are throwing party for us freshers on completing one year in the office. Rings any bell ??”

“hmmm ok yeah I remember but usme av time h na? Can we go some other time, may be next weekend?”
Nandini could tell he was not paying attention to her but she persisted.

“manik ek perfect dress choose karne mein bahut time and patience lagta h.

Let’s atleast begin by looking around the shops around us, today. Next weekend neighbouring areas mein dekhenge”

“what? Are you serious!” then he looked up “you are dressed already! Nandini...” he groaned.

“mai akeli chali jau?” she asked ,miffed.

He shut his laptop “fine!” and stomped off to get dressed but she was still fuming.

“chalo” he said rudely opening the main door.

She didn’t follow. He looked back “what now??”

“you sit here , I will go alone” she replied, pissed.

“nandini , look there’s no point arguing , I am already dressed so let’s go” he tried calmly. But she folded her arms giving the impression that she is ready to fight.

“I think you don’t love me” she stated. As much as she tried to not let it show but emotions seeped into her voice.

“kya bol rahi ho yaaar tum! Its just a silly little fight tum isey bara bana rahi ho!”

“haa sari fault meri h. Tum toh kabhi kuch karte ni ho”

“listen nandini I am ready, you are ready, let’s go look around if you find any dress. Stop this childishness, com’on “ he spoke like he is speaking to a mental retard. This angered her even more.

“listen manik I am not going anywhere with you!” she pushed him out of her way and walked out.

She walked briskly for a few moments but when she saw people giving her weird looks, she composed herself and started walking normally. But after a few minutes she felt paranoid like someone is following her. She stopped and looked back. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw manik but then her anger returned in full force. She stomped over to him “what?? Why are you following me? ghar mein rehte na...making out with your laptop!”

“listen you don’t need to be so crude! And I am not following you. I need to buy a dress for myself too! And what is this crap about my laptop? Are you seriously jealous of a laptop??” he asked incredulously.

She just rolled her eyes and started walking , he quickly matched her pace to hear what she has to say “the whole of Saturday and today, what have you been doing manik? right , you were glued to your laptop. Sirf khane, shower lene and pee karne  lye uthe hoge tum from the god damn futon! Did even the thought of me being there crossed your mind?”
Damn it, it was to distract myself from you nandini. You are the only thing I think about every single waking moment!

“look its not like I was fooling around with the laptop , I was doing serious work”

“fine manik! you work ...go na...leave me alone!

They had entered a mall now and nandini walked towards a cloth shop. He followed her at a leisurely pace. I am not going to leave you alone nandini.

She was looking through some dresses that were hanging in display and manik kept his distance just silently watching her. A sales girl approached him seeing him moving around idly “sir can I help you?”

“uhh no. Thanks”

“sir if you are looking for mens’ clothing they are on that end. We have a new collection...” manik realised that she was standing too close for comfort and from his height her cleavage was abundantly on display.

“actually my girlfriend over there , yeah that one...she is choosing her outfit . once she is done I will look for myself”  he managed to put her off as mildly as possible. She got the hint and walked off. he made his way to nandini. Its better to be around her!
“so did you find anything of your liking?” he asked casually.

“if you are getting bored, you can go. I told you to stay at home” she fired back. O.o.kay! she is still pissed! what should I do? Hmmm may be I should buy a gift to placate her. Anyways what am I going to do standing here.

“okay well I will go and look around then. Just give me a call when you decide to leave” he said but she didn’t reply. He asked again “okay??” she just gave him a stiff nod. He thought that it was as good as he can get in the present scenario and casually strolled out of the shop. But he had a sudden feeling that she will not call him, so he thought of buying her gift quickly and returning quickly. He spotted a jewellery shop and he had an idea.
When he came back in the shop he couldn’t find her and he thought he was right. He called her mobile wondering if she will pick up? If not how will he locate her? Did she go to other shop or she went back home instead. He breathed a sigh of relief when she picked up.

“kya h??” was her first words. Itna gussa? She is a spitfire....well my own personal ball of spitfire! He smiled at the thought.

“uhh where are you?” just as he asked her the question she walked out of the trial room wearing a dress. She had a sullen expression on her face. He knew she won’t ask for his opinion but nevertheless he appraised her.

Nandini deliberately turned around so that her back was to him and she watched in the mirror when his eyes narrowed “why do you always choose a dress that has your back on display??” he demanded.

“I like to show off my back. Do you have a problem?” she replied haughtily.

“this looks indecent”

“this is my body and I will wear what I like”

He pinched the bridge of his nose like the act will help him calm down. She watched in satisfaction that he was as riled up as her. Serves him right for increasing my blood pressure!

“well its not like you are buying this dress so let’s go” he said calmly remembering what she had told him earlier.

“I am buying this one”
“what ? but you said you will look in several shops before deciding which outfit to buy?”

“I changed my mind. I found this dress and I like it” and she turned around , walking off to change her dress. She came out, the dress neatly folded in her hand. She walked straight to the billing counter and after she was done she came back to him.

“you want to look for your outfit? Have you decided what you are going to wear?”

“let’s leave it today. I am not in the mood” he replied a little put off with her behaviour.

“okay. Cool. Let’s go then. Its late and I am hungry. Let’s eat out today” she suggested. He simply nodded and followed her.

The dinner was quiet, extremely quiet. No one spoke anything not a single word except when it was necessary. In fact the whole week passed in this manner. On next Saturday manik somehow managed to buy his outfit for the party with little help from nandini. He had not yet given her the gift that he bought for her.

By the day of the party rolled around , both came to the conclusion that it was all sexual frustration and a big explosion is on its way.