Healing Hearts

Chapter ~ 9

MUMBAI

Priya’s alarm went off at eight, and she was on her feet before she was properly awake, because for six months her first thought every morning had been the same one.

She went down the corridor and pushed the door open a few inches.

He was still on the sofa with his head at an angle that was going to cost him. Nandini was on her side with one hand under her cheek, and she had not moved since two.

Priya stood in the doorway and let herself have a moment.

Then a pair of arms came round her waist from behind, and she nearly took the doorframe with her.

“Aman.”

Said Priya, in a furious whisper.

“Good morning.”

Said Aman.

.

“Somebody will see. Let go.”

“We are engaged. This is well within the terms.”

Said Aman.

She got herself free, mostly by ducking, and pointed a finger at him.

“Keep all of it for after the wedding. I have to make breakfast before anybody is up.”

Said Priya.

“I will help.”

Said Aman.

Priya raised both eyebrows.

“You will help. With cooking.”

“I am extremely capable.”

Said Aman.

“You are not, and I love you for pretending. Come on.”

Said Priya.

They made breakfast together, badly and slowly, with a great deal of unnecessary conversation, and it was the first ordinary morning that the flat had ever had.

The sun came through the curtains at half past eight and Nandini stirred, opened her eyes, and sat up much too fast.

Then she remembered where she was, and last night arrived in order, and she looked across the room.

He was still asleep. His face had gone completely still.

NANDINI’S POV

He looks about nineteen.

That is a ridiculous thing to think about a man who called me a peanut in an airport, and I am thinking it anyway, and I would like it noted that it is only because he is unconscious and cannot argue.

The moment he wakes up he will be unbearable again.

Get up, Nandini. Go and take a shower.

POV ENDS

He woke to the sound of the bathroom door.

She came out drying her hair with a towel, not looking up, crossing to the mirror on the other side of the room, and Manik Malhotra — who had been awake for approximately four seconds — forgot entirely to say anything.

Then she looked up and caught him.

Neither of them managed a word. Nandini went red from the collarbone up and became extremely interested in the mirror, and Manik cleared his throat, stood, and moved to the bathroom at speed.

She let out a long breath at the sound of the lock.

Four minutes later, his voice came through the door.

“Aman. Towel.”

Nothing happened. Nandini looked around the room, spotted a towel folded on the chair, and stood holding it for a moment having an argument with herself.

Then she knocked, passed it through a six-inch gap, and went back to sorting out the mess her luggage had made on. the floor.

She had just finished and was reaching for the door when the bathroom opened behind her.

“Manik Malhotra.”

Said Nandini, with her hands clamped over her eyes and her back turned.

“Does nobody in your family teach you to put clothes on before you come out of the bathroom?”

There was a pause, a sigh, and the small sound of a T-shirt being pulled over his head.

“Somebody told me yesterday I was a monster.”

Said Manik, from considerably closer than she had expected.

“So, no. No manners.”

She turned to get away from him, still with her eyes shut, took two steps in entirely the wrong direction and went over her own suitcase — and did not hit the floor, because an arm arrived round her for the second time in twenty-four hours.

She opened one eye.

He had the T-shirt on. He had had it the entire time.

“You were dressed.”

Said Nandini.

“I was.”

Said Manik.

“You let me stand there with my hands over my eyes—”

“You put your hands over your eyes. I made no request.”

Said Manik.

“Let go of me.”

Said Nandini.

“Are you sure?”

Said Manik.

“Yes. Let. Go.”

He let go.

She sat down on the carpet with considerable force.

“Are you insane—”

Said Nandini, from the floor.

“You said let go. I let go. There is very little I can do about the rest.”

Said Manik, and picked up his jeans and walked out.

Four people were already at the table.

Priya waved him into a chair. Manik, who was still not speaking to Priya on principle, considered leaving, and got as far as turning around before she stood up and blocked the corridor without saying anything at all, and he sat down.

Beside Cabeer. Which was an error.

“So.”

Said Cabeer, pleasantly.

“How was the night?”

Manik choked on his coffee.

“What happened?”

Said Priya, half up out of her chair.

“Nothing. Went down the wrong way.”

Said Manik, without looking at anybody.

“Speechless. That is very promising.”

Said Cabeer, onto his plate.

“Cabeer. I will end you.”

Said Manik, under his breath.

“That girl is out of her mind. I am staying away from her. Completely. It is not negotiable.”

“This is new.”

Said Cabeer.

“Manik Malhotra, frightened of somebody. Frightened of a peanut, in fact. I want you to know I am enjoying this more than anything that has happened to me this year.”

“I am not frightened of her.”

Said Manik.

“Of course not. And last night the two of you were shouting in a hallway like a couple who had been married for eleven years.”

Said Cabeer.

Manik put down his cup and looked at the ceiling.

Nandini came out and Priya waved her in, and the only chair left was directly opposite Manik.

They looked at each other for exactly one second. She glared. He raised an eyebrow. Neither said anything.

The rest of the table stopped eating.

“Why has it gone so quiet?”

Said Cabeer, to nobody.

Everybody laughed except the two people it was about.

“Yesterday you were both practically at each other’s throats, and today you cannot manage a word between you. Something has clearly happened. I am simply saying that as an observation.”

Said Cabeer.

Nandini choked on a piece of toast.

Without appearing to look up, Manik pushed a glass of water across the table towards her.

She took it, drank it, and put it down, and it was about four seconds before either of them registered what had just happened.

Every other person at that table had registered it immediately.

Cabeer reached over and laid the back of his hand against Manik’s forehead.

“Are you unwell?”

Said Cabeer.

“Get off.”

Said Manik, standing up.

“I have work. I will see all of you this evening.”

And he was gone before anybody could argue, which Priya Murthy noted, and said nothing about, and thought about for most of the afternoon.