Nandini is waiting for her turn at the billing counter while glaring particularly at the same Salesgirl continuously, making her scared. The images of her touching HER SHY BOY are roaming in her mind. The urge of breaking her hands that dared to touch what is hers, and to crush her ( Salesgirl ) lips on the hot frying pan is beyond anyone’s expectation. If god gives her a chance, then she would teach her a lesson FOR STARING AT OTHERS’ PROPERTY.
Unknown to everyone, Manik is dealing with another problem. He is standing beside Nandini in the billing queue with tension written all over his face. The four digits written on the tags are enough to give him a heart attack. He calculated the sum thrice, and the total was making his throat dry. He wanted to tell Nandini about his misery of not having enough money to buy those clothes, but alas, his mouth would not even open in front of her.
He took out his old, torn wallet and counted the notes, hiding it from Nandini. The money that he had is also not half of the bill total, making him cry over his poor fate. He is a middle-class boy who works part-time to earn his expenses, and his father is an ordinary employee in a bank. So, he can’t ever dream of spending much on shopping, but now he is stuck in this situation. Sweat is forming on his forehead because of nervousness. Right now, he just wants Mother Earth to swallow him.
His frowns and sweating forehead caught Nandini’s attention, making her concerned for him. From the corner of her eyes, she noticed his acts of calculating money and checking his wallet at least three times, which cleared the whole situation. She understood that he was worried about the bill. She smiles seeing his state and chuckles at her shy boy’s nature.
Nandini:- ( murmurs while chuckling ) Stupid he is! No…. No… CUTE-STUPID!
Now it’s their turn. Manik hands over the clothes to the employee at the cash counter and moves back while biting his lower lip.
The employee:- Sir, your total is one four triple nine. ( 14,999) Would you like to pay in cash or with a card?
Manik nods nervously, and before he could do or say anything, Nandini took charge while hiding her smile. She takes out her card from her back pocket and forwards it.
Nandini:- We will pay through the card.
The employee nodded and took the card from Nandini’s hand while she gracefully hid her name from the card, not wanting Manik to know that it was her card.
Manik:- Nandini, why are you paying for my clothes?
Nandini:- Uff, Shy boy, I am not paying for your clothes. It’s the company’s card. The boss is paying for your clothes.
Manik:- ( confusingly ) But why will Boss pay for me?
Nandini:- Simple! Because you are our coming rockstar, the company is entitled to bear your concert charges, which include your outfit too.
Manik looked convinced with this excuse, and Nandini sighed in relief as she didn’t want him to have a clue that she paid for him owing to his self-respect. Till now, she has understood that he is a self-made man who doesn’t like any kind of charity. In short, she didn’t want to hurt his sentiments.
With this, one more question arises in her mind, “WHY DIDN’T SHE WANT TO HURT MANIK?” This is not the first time that she has assisted a singer, but this is the first time she is paying someone else’s bill without his knowledge. Now she is assured that she needs guidelines in this matter from her Bhabhi and Pihu, who are mature in these matters.
Both of them fulfilled the billing process, and Manik picked up all the bags like a gentleman. The same salesgirl comes forward and thanks them for visiting. But all the time her eyes are on Manik, which makes Nandini furious.
Nandini:- ( extra sweetly ) Am I invisible, Miss Salesgirl?
The salesgirl looks at her surprisingly and replies politely while Manik is witnessing everything with a frown.
Salesgirl:- No ma'am, why did you ask?
Nandini:- ( sarcastically ) No… You just thanked him ( pointing at Manik ) for visiting your store, not me. So, I thought that I was invisible.
In the end, she laughs, faking her happiness while the Salesgirl is unable to understand her sarcasm.
The Salesgirl apologizes with the fakest smile and again turns towards Manik. Nandini’s eyes pop out seeing the visiting card that the girl handed over to him. She snatched the card immediately and dragged him out like a lioness.
Manik:- Nandini, what happened?
Nandini:- ( roared ) You happened!
Manik:- ( innocently ) What have I done, Nandini?
Nandini grits her teeth and shows him the card’s backside, which has a phone number with a beautiful message for him.
91******** YOURS ANJALI, CALL ME SOON.
Manik rubs his nap slightly while blushing, making her madder. Like a real lioness, she grabbed his collar.
Nandini:- ( angrily ) Manik Malhotra, you have no fuc*ing right to blush on another girl’s acts. Did you understand?
Manik nods scaredly, but his eyes are locked with hers while his mind is not able to understand the reason behind her anger. At this time, neither of them is aware of the feelings they feel for each other.
Nandini:- And why the hell did she check you out? WHY DID YOU ALLOW HER TO TOUCH WHAT IS MINE TO TOUCH? (Shouts) WHY?
Manik:- What is yours to touch, Nandini?
He asks, keeping his shyness aside for a while, only to get clean bowled with her reply.
Nandini:- ( roared ) YOU!.......... YOU ARE MINE TO TOUCH!
She didn’t know what she had confessed to and why she had confessed to it. The reason is still unknown to her, but Manik got some idea about it. Being an innocent child, he asked.
Manik:- Why?..... Why is it your right to touch me?
Hearing his question, Nandini comes out of her zone and realizes what she just confessed, but she doesn't have the slightest regret. She understood that those words came from her heart, and the heart is never wrong. But still, she chose to divert the topic until she understood the reason behind her behavior.
Nandini:- ( with a lip-tight smile ) Am I entitled to play MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION ANSWER ROUND with you?
Manik nods his head in denial instantly with fear.
Nandini:- Then why are you asking questions again and again?
Manik apologized again without any fuss, making her heart flutter with his submissive nature. He is also not able to understand why he always loses his mind in front of her. He never apologizes to anyone if it was not his fault, but in front of her, he is always ready to bow down, no matter whose fault it is.
With this calm and humble nature, Nandini always melts down as she did right now. But now she is determined to know the reason behind her weird behavior. She leaves his collar and looks here and there to avoid his innocent eyes, which are piercing into her soul.
Nandini:- ( hesitatingly ) So… Sor…. Sorry!
Manik gasped after hearing her say sorry, which is rare.
Manik:- Did you have the word “SORRY” in your dictionary?
Nandini looks at him with narrowed eyes, making him gulp.
Manik:- ( meowed ) Sorry…
Nandini chuckles at his cute tone and starts dragging him again with full authority. He also lets her drag him, innocently. After a minute, Manik is standing in an optical shop with a frown.
Manik:- What are we doing here?
Nandini:- I am thinking of buying some Victoria’s secret inners for you. Would you like to try it for me?
Manik looks at her with wide eyes as he knows that Victoria's Secret is a ladies' shop.
Manik:- But Nandini, we are at the optical store, not at the Vic… Vict…. I mean that store.
He is even feeling shy to pronounce the store name, making her go all aww on him.
Nandini:- keep quiet! Let me do my work.
Manik keeps quiet like an obedient kid and just watches the show.
Nandini:- ( to the salesman ) Sir, we want lenses for ( pointing at Manik ) him.
The salesman nodded and made Manik sit on the stool. Nandini removes his specs before the Salesman or Manik could remove them, making him blush. Don’t know why, but she is obsessed with his specs. She adores him more whenever he wears them.
After spending an hour in the store and checking almost 50 lenses, she bought the most expensive and comfortable lenses for him without showing him the actual price.
Nandini:- ( excitedly ) Now, we are ready for tomorrow’s concert.
Manik chuckles at her excitement.
Manik:- Nandini, you are behaving like you are going to perform on the stage.
Nandini:- You perform or I perform, what is the difference?
Manik:- ( lovingly ) NOTHING! BOTH ARE THE SAME!
Nandini:- Didn’t I deserve a treat, shy boy?
Manik:- Definitely, so let’s go to the food court.
He turns around to go to the food court, but Nandini stops him as she knows about the high prices of the food in the mall, and she doesn't want to burden him. So she smartly diverts the topic.
Nandini:- No, I want to have street food.
Manik nods, not knowing the real reason behind her demand.
Manik:- ok, what do you want to have?
Nandini:- ( licks her lips, childishly ) Give me a GOL-GAPPE treat.
Manik:- Let’s go!
Nandini’s excitement reaches another level thinking about her favorite GOL-GAPPE.
To be continued…