" Nandini, tum yaha?? I was just coming only" Manik said opening the door and she walked in.

" Tumne bola tha 10...Av 10:15 ho gya...Toh I came to check" she explained. Her eyes fell on the wet towel kept on the couch and she picked it up to put it to dry. As she made way to the balcony, she had to cross his bedroom. And the sight in front of her made her turn and look at him sternly.

Manik's house
Bedroom,hall and kitchen!

He shrugged under her withering stare. The two bags which had his clothes were open flat on the floor and by the look of it , it felt like someone has ransacked it.

" Woh I wasn't able to find this shirt" he explained pointing to the shirt he was wearing.

"

Toh ye shirt hi pehna jaruri tha??" She asked in the same strict tone.

" Woh ....Ummm...Actually..U once said in college that this shirt looks good on me...So.." and he left the sentence incomplete trying to hide his embarrassment.

And her heart melted immediately. She looked adorably at him as he smiled shyly. Then she turned to point out that his comb , shampoo, face wash, tooth brush ...Why are all of them scattered around the room!

" You should have kept them in the bathroom" 

" I will keep them..." He replied evasively.

" Oh really?? Iske lye koi muhurt nikaloge kya??"

She began arranging the things herself

" Why are you wasting time yaar...Mai kar lunga na"

" Acha mujhe pta h tum kitna karoge...Tumhare hostel room ka condition dekha h Maine..." She said rolling her eyes and walking to the washroom. He followed after her, quietly.

She came out of washroom and began arranging his clothes in the wardrobe of his room.

" Nandini please main kar lunga" 

" Manik instead of arguing ...Tum meri help hi kar do toh jaldi ho jaega"

He thought there is no point arguing, so he sullenly began helping her by picking up his clothes and passing them to her.

" You know you are behaving like a wife" he said without thinking making her hault in her track and a set of his shirt fell on the floor. And watching her face, he immediately regretted his words. This is a delicate topic for her! But she recovered quickly and began the task again.

Suddenly the atmosphere was dull in the room because she was quiet, too quiet and he didn't like it. Oh what can he do to make this right??

" We will join office from tomorrow...It will be such a new experience , Ni??" He tried for a nonchalant approach in order to distract her from whatever she was brooding on.

" Hmmm" came her reply.

" I wonder what the work environment will be here" he continued but so far it isnt working.

"It will be good only. Relax" another unimpassioned reply. He had had enough, he stopped her by holding her wrist.

" Kya h Manik? Let me work na!" She said trying to evade situation. He tilted her chin up forcing her to look in his eyes.

" You know I hate it when you are upset with me"

" I am ok"

" No you are not....Don't lie to me...Come let's go ..I will treat you to ice cream!"

" Ice cream?? Ok!!" She gave him a 1000 watt smile and he was dazzled. How easily she forgives!
.....
" Manik ye 57 dollars ka h..." 

" So what??"

"It's too costly!"

" Nandini, even if it is 1000 dollars...You have to buy na...Otherwise how will you eat??"

" I will eat something which doesn't need oil"

" You are being rediculous now!!" He said exasperated. At the Walmart outlet, they had been shopping for grocery and Nandini wanted to buy mustard oil, since she cannot cook in olive oil. But seeing the price , she was downright adamant that she won't buy it.

He closed his eyes as if seeking divine providence, then opened it taking a deep breath. " Nandini, look if you have forgotten , let me remind you that you are going to cook food for me too!" He was saying in a sugar-coated voice but she didn't let him speak further, " Manik for you I will cook in olive oil na..."

Nandini, Nandini, Nandini....What do I do!!!

"And if I say I want to eat food cooked in mustard oil then???" He asked raising his eyebrow and Nandini was like oh.

" Yes oh!! Now pick that oil from the shelf...Already people here are giving us weird looks!"

She looked around and surprisingly some of the other couples were giving smiles, but Nandini didn't know if it was in admiration or in mockery!

She looked at Manik , who was looking uncomfortable as if their private fight had become public! Then she remembered his comment about being ' wife' and she blushed, is she really nagging like a wife??? Well do hell with that...If he is going to behave like that then ok I am his wife!!"

And she stomped her foot and walked away from there tossing her hair back and Manik gaped at her. Then brushing away his thoughts, he followed her with the trolley full of grocery.
.....
First day at office

N

andini and Manik reached the office looking every bit like professionals. They swiped their cards and made their entry into the large auditorium like hall, which was divided into hundreds of cubicles. The place was buzzing with Monday morning energy. It was like a mini world, with professionals from all over the world, Chinese, Africans, Arabs and most of all Indians! Such large numbers of Indians. The manager led the freshers , which were 12 in number including Manik and Nandini, on a tour and gave brief overview of the working system. Then they were divided into groups and assigned leaders. Manik and Nandini were in different groups.

At the end of the day

"It was nice but very tiring!" Manik said as they settled on the couch in her living room.

" Yeah, whole of the day sitting on the swivel chair!! My back is so stiff!" She complained and then stretched her arms and rolled her neck, to ease them.

" I am hungry" Manik said watching her acts.

" Hungry?? But I have yet to cook! Eat some snack...Till that time I will cook something" she said and got up.

" Come I will help you" he offered.

" Ni you sit na...I will do it"

" Why?? You and I , both have done the same amount of work from morning. So now why should I rest and you will work?"

" Oho equality!! You look like a champion of feminism!" She teased but anyways they made their way to the kitchen and started preparing to cook the meals.

"I don't know about feminism but I champion for sharing workload!" He declared haughtily which made her smile.

They were talking while cooking.

" Manik, I came to know that the office here has sports facility, you know to keep the employees fit and active. Every weekend employees go and play the sport of their choice. One of my co-workers is going to play volleyball from this weekend. I was also thinking of joining her. What do you think?"

" Of course you should! I am also joining the cricket club!"

"And I also came to know that at the start of next month, there will be a welcome party for the freshers!"

" Hmmmm "

" We will go shopping once our pay arrives!"

He smiled " ok!"

" And you know ho chi Minh, that Chinese in my group she was saying that..." She was not allowed to complete as Manik smiled mockingly at her.

" What?" She asked annoyed.

" You have collected truck load of gossips in one day itself!" He explained.

" Gossip? Is this called gossiping??" She asked confused , to herself.

He acted that he is tight lipped and wouldn't dare speak about it. She laughed at his drama.

" Even if it is gossip and boring to you...You have to listen...Aur kisse bolungi main??" She asked softly.

He smiled.

" Wse tumhe kuch Ni btana??" She asked him.

" Ni...I don't think anything interesting happened today except that all the guys were swooning at the feet of one of the female colleague in our group. I think her name is ..Kelly" he said disinterestedly. But Nandini was surprised by the sense of insecurity that swelled but she covered it up and asked.

" You think? You didn't ask her?"

" Noooo!!...She is very chipku..All the time she was hovering over my head! I hate girls who cling like that!!" Nandini felt jealous as well as hurt.

" So you hate me??"

" No!! Of course not I LOVE YOU....And moreover you are not 'touchy-feely' all the time! In fact if I remember correctly , you have never touched me except my face" he said frowning.

" You want me to touch you?" She asked startled with the regret in his tone.

He didn't answer immediately and Nandini  avoided looking at him. She  busied herself with rolling the chapattis.

" Yes I want you to touch me. But at the same time I am worried that we will end up crossing some line. " He said after a moment.

" Who has built that line? Who will decide what is wrong and what is right?" She asked softly.

" I don't know. I am just so confused. I don't want to hurt you" 

" Ok , ok, Manik relax...Kitchen is definitely not the place to have such intense discussions. As always we will take it slow , at your pace. We are young and there's no need to hurry!" 

" Ok" he smiled back, beginning to relax.
...........
Guys I have published my new book "Our little Love" I just tried my hand in writing something new!! Please check it!