THE PASSIONATE EGO

7: MR. JERK

Nandini's POV

Hell no. The only two words i could hear in my mind. You all must be thinking that i am an i***t psycho who's talking to herself but let me remind you what happened that got me in a situation of misery. 

Ten minutes before i came face to face with the guy that i had vowed to never see again but here i am standing shook at my position while he smirked like an ass at me. So much for trusting God to keep my vow steady. But this ain't the worst thing, the worst thing here is that i can't do anything about him being a part of my trip.

I can't make a couple i.e Cabir and Navya sit separate because of my personal problem with Mr. Jerk nor I can ask Mukti to sit beside me because i genuinely want her to explore her feelings for Abhi and i know somewhere Abhi too has a thing for her. 

So to my bad luck i sat at the airplane window seat and with the jerk beside me. I took out my companion, a book, that i always carry with me to read for my journey and hence wore my reading spectacles turning my back towards him. Even though how badly i tried to concentrate on the printed pages infront of me , i wasn't able to get him out of my mind.

To be honest with me because well no one thankfully can hear me, i think he looks hot in a denim shirt, compliments his complexion. Even though i can't help but take a glance at him, it pains me to see him kiss an airhostess knuckled for some feelings unknown. Was it the intimacy i shared with him a couple of times or was it because i had actually started thinking that i was becoming special for him.

Jerking my head to clear the bad useless thoughts i turned back to concentrate on a love story i genuinely wanted to know about and drop myself into the imaginative world of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth.

After a while I think the plane finally took off and the ever so sleepy passengers dozed off. I turned back and saw Navya and Cabir snuggling into each other's arms while Mukti dozed off keeping her head on Abhi's shoulder. I was happy for them.

I turned my attension back to my book, well what can i say i am a bookworm. But i soon felt something crawling up my thighs, gazing down i saw Manik's finger tip drawing circles on my bare thighs, so amazing of me to choose a short for the travel. He was squeezing my thighs and I was losing control. I have no idea why i act like a melted caramel pudding by his touch but it make me feel so weak. I calmly removed his hands from my thighs and gave him a glare to which he made an innocent face.

I turned back again trying to avoid him as much as i can but soon felt his fingers poking my shoulder . The only way for a peaceful flight was a confrontation, so i did what my head suggested me.

"What?" I asked him.

"Baby I am not sleepy." He replied patting his eyelinds.

Wait who's baby?????

"So?"I controlled myself and asked in a  cold tone, that literally said buzz off.

"So" He acted as if thinking something but caught me of guard with his idea." Let's play something"

"Manik we are on an international flight and you are not a kid anymore". I exclaimed.

"Oh please i am bored and well the book is making it more frustrating" he replied eyeing my book.

Nobody says a word to my babies.

"Fine. What do you have in your mind?" I gave in because well i am just saving my book.

Looks like I took a wrong decision cause a mischievous grin formed on his face. 

"So let's play a couple. Girlfriends/boyfriends, Husband/wife. Whatever suits you" He said excitedly and started moving closer to my face. But before he could proceed further I pulled my book over and  pushed him back and turned my face to the other side getting back to my reading murmuring " jerk "

"I heard you" he whispered back trying not to wake the others.

"It was meant to" I replied back sarcastically.

Can i for once shut up.

I got myself back into the world of darcy when i felt a poke again. Like seriously! Darcy was just about to confess his love.

"What?" I turned back at him. He was definitely getting on my nerves now.

"What are you doing ?" he asked.

Hello can't you see the book here sir.

"I am making out with someone. Do you have any problem with that." I replied sarcastically.

"Well as interesting as that sounds. I really don't have any problem but I would love to watch myself at that place of someone." He said pulling over his signature smirk.

"Manik what do you really want ." I asked as calmly. To be honest i was getting really tired with his behaviour.

"Nothing . It's just that I am getting bored so let's talk." He replied

"What do  you want to talk about at this hour of night." I asked him checking the time on my wrist watch. One hour past midnight. Great.

"Let's start from the book that you are reading. Tell me about it" He asked.

Finally a good topic from him.

"It's Pride and Prejudice., a romantic novel by Jane Austen. It  follows the turbulent relationship between Elizabeth Bennet, a revolutionary women and Fitzwilliam Darcy, a much reserved landowner." I gushed over something i really love.

"Well that sounds a little intruging and i too am into books a little bit" Manik said. 

 Manik and book like , are you serious. 

I couldn't handle it and out of curiosity I asked "What kind of books do you read?"

"I am into books like fifty shades of grey and- "He said mischievously

"I should have known this. Typical!" I murmured to myself

"Manik you should sleep." I turned back not looking at him without giving any further reaction.

"I thought poetry was the food of love." I heard him say and it made me smile.

Mr. Darcy was definitely his choice now.

A long time went away and I hadn't noticed any movement from him so i assumed that he must have slept by now.

A few minutes later I felt someone's hot breaths on my neck . Why do i always think that he can be genuine. I turned my head ready to lash at him but the sight I saw left me in amazed. He was sleeping like an innocent kid with his head on my shoulder. I smiled a bit at him and after ruffling his hairs I removed my reading glasses and slept keeping my head on the window.

I woke up to a high pithed announcement. I think the flight was going to land. I sat back and saw someone tighten their grip on my waist.

I saw manik was still sleeping holding my waist so tightly as if I'll run and jump off the flight. I tried removing his hands from my waist ( keyword being tried ). But he was stronger than me.I wasn't able to move his hands even an inch so i shook him hard and gladly he woke up.

"Good morning sweetheart." He said after opening his eyes properly

Damn  i soo missed the sleeping Manik

I smiled at him. He can't change.

"Good morning baby." He tried his luck again but i am not gonna let an ass ruin my first day on the trip.

"Morning Mr.jerk." I replied back with a smile. Assembling my stuff into my handbag.

After a few minutes of tagging along this guy our flight landed and we headed to the hotel Abhi got booked for us. Thank god. This time all the boys were sitting together and we girls together in the car.

I was lying on my bed resting a bit trying to remove my jet lag as we all had decided. I mean seriously what day off, these idiots slept the entire time.

It's been hours and i wasn't able to get myself to sleep. I am so tired but still looks like sleep is far away from me. I went to the balcony and the view in front of me is just breathtaking. I was on heights and the whole city was shining like northern lights . The wind, the weather everything was in favor except a special monkey that tagged along on this trip. But there's a thing I have noticed so far, Abhi is very close to Manik. Cabir ,Abhi and Manik have an unbreakable bond like i have with my girls. I really don't want to stress anybody whether it's Abhi or Mukti or Cabir or Navya so I have decided to actually zip up my mouth .

I was engrossed in my thoughts when I heard someone's cough . Manik stood at his side of the balcony gazing the view like i was.

ISeriously what were the odds of an adjacent room.

I was really not in a mood to fight so just kept quite and looked ahead of me. He jumped up the railing and stood beside me.

"Not sleepy ?" He asked.

"Nope" I replied calmly

"Can we sit?" He asked pointing his finger towards a couch placed in the balcony.

I nod my head saying yes so now we both sat on the couch together yet apart.

"Looks like you and Cabir share a really good bond?"I asked him to initiate a talk.

"Yeah. But we are not friends we 3 are like brothers to each other. Cabir, Abhi and me .we guys know each other inside out." He answered smiling a bit.

I kept quite and a silence prevailed between us for a while when I heard him continue . 

"You know Abhi and Cabir are my only family. I was a kid when i lost my mom and dad . Cabir stood by me like a pillar and then sooner Abhi joined the small gang." He was pouring his heart out but stopped in mid abruptly may be not wanting me to see his this soft emotional side. I could watch his body stiffen as  i kept my hands on his.

Feeling my hands on his hands his eyes caught mine .

"Manik i think we should go and sleep, we have to get up for site seeing later" I told him.

"Its first." His words confused me.

"Its the first time that you are taking my name with so much LOVE." he spoke teasingly, emphasizing on love. 

And I could feel the heat crawling up to my cheeks. Am I blushing? Damn. Before Manik could notice I stood up to walk inside my room but his hand stopped me from moving further.

I turned and raised my eyebrows at him.

"Please, just a few minutes more." He asked and I sat back without wasting a minute.

I don't know why but I wanted to sit there with him. I don't know why was I feeling different with him. But alas thinking his of past deeds i chucked back my thoughts to the trunk that they came from. Jerks never change and he's the leader of the species.

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