The Rake

Chapter Fourteen

“Manik!” Nandini whispered after a tranquil silence of around ten minutes to which he hummed and caressed her muscles. They both were lying on her bed, with him on the pillow while she had kept her head on his chest, hugging him tightly.

“I love you!” She whispered and snuggled closer to him while he smiled “Baby?”

“Me?” She looked at him, blinking her eyes “Why, you didn’t like it?” He asked to which she quickly nodded her head in NO “I loved it Manik! No one was there to call me baby after my father died!” And that was it. A silent tear escaped her eye to which he quickly got alerted and wiped her tears “Hey! I am there na..Your Papa, Your Mumma and...”

“And..?” She slowly looked at him “Your one and only monster!” And she hit his chest giggling “Yes! My baby monster!” And that was it. He smirked and pulled her closer to which she widened her eyes “Manik..What are you doing..Manik..Its like..”

And in a while, he was laughing to which she quickly palmed his mouth “Manik! Pleaseee slowwww!” And he stopped when suddenly a call disturbed them “It’s mom, Wait for a while!”

“Yes Mom!” He spoke while his hands still caressing her elbows “Mom..I am in Cabir’s house so yeah! I will come soon!” And he hung up.

“Manik..!” She again called out to which he kept his mobile on the bedside table “We won’t tell anyone about our relationship please!” She demanded to which he looked at her “But why? Shouldn’t the college know that the enemies are in love?” And they both giggled “But to be very honest Manik! Please No! Please..!”

“Okay baba! But our friends?” She thought for a while and answered “After a week or two?” To which he agreed upon and in a while, even he went away and they both slept the most that night. A blessed sleep after so long.

After a week.

“Manik, leave! Someone will come Manik! Please!” Nandini whispered while he kept playing with her knuckles and kissing them in mid. Both of them were standing near the back-staircase where no one usually comes and that was the lone reason they were there.

“Nandini, Mom was asking about you last night!” He spoke donning a serious face to which she looked at him “Why me?”

“Should I tell you the reason?” He asked to which she nodded “Y...Yes please! Does she hate me for complaining about you? I mean Divya Aunty toh liked me back in Mangalore but then I co-“

“Shh baba! You speak a lot! Uff! That’s because she likes you for me..And want us to get married!” And that was it. She widened her eyes “You told her about our relationship?”

“Not yet! But she already likes you for me!” And he winked at her while she blushed and looked down.

“What the fudge!” And both snapped at the direction where the voice was coming from and quickly distanced themselves just to find Cabir standing there with a widened mouth.

“Manik! Nandini..What’s this?” He quickly stood near them while both of them shared looks.

“Cabir! I can explain..It’s very new! Just a week..!” Manik tried explaining to which he palmed his mouth “A week..Manik..you didn’t tell me?”

“Cabir! Ac.. Actually I asked him not to!” Cabir looked at Nandini as she spoke and calmed out “But why? You both are just so perfect and my dream was just to get you two hitched!” MaNan looked at each other and sighed.

“Its like..You know right what a heartbreaking past Manik had? This relationship thing is very new to me..and for him too in a way..So I just didn’t want any evil eye over us..I hope you understand!” Nandini spoke when suddenly they could hear more of voices “We do!”

“Guys!” MaNan looked shocked and guilty at the same time, eyeing their squad standing there with smiles. Why were they so silent and literally smiling? Why?

“Manik, Nandini..We understand and we are the HAPPIEST!” And all of them took both of them in an engulfing hug.

And that’s how true friends are! Understanding you like anything.