"We cant do this Manik. You hate that I lied. I hate the way you were all these days. We never got along because you never even bothered to get to know me no matter who I was. Please don't do this to me. If you want to complain you can do so. I dont really care, nothing is bigger than my pride. You cant be hot and cold with me. I have self respect. I cant do this with you. Please keep yourself far away from me."
Though at this moment all I wanted was to be in his arms where I really felt myself, perfectly fit for his arms and as if we were meant to be together like this. But I knew all this was wrong. So I gave him my logical explanation.
He did not say anything but looked into my eyes and we were lost in each other for some time. Suddenly, I heard a squeaky voice, "Baby Manik, open the door, I came back from my place I couldn't stay without you."
Undoubtedly, Alya's voice. Wow! It was like as if someone threw a bucket full of ice water on me.
"Don't move. She will go away if I don't answer." He whispered in my ears causing goosebumps on my entire body.
"Please let me go..." I whispered back.
"No. We are not done here..far from done actually. I cant let you off the hook so easily Ms. Nandini Murthy." He started caressing me slowly on my arms.
"What are you gonna do haan?" I asked him with great courage looking into his eyes losing myself in those sensuous pools.
"I am already doing whatever I want to do." He said brushing his lips on my jaw. He started to unbutton my blouse. I stopped him.
"You are making me crazy. All I want to do is touch you, be close to you and make you all hot and bothered. I agree we need to talk but don't blame me if I cant think properly with you, under me like this. I so wish I knew it was you all these days then something else would be happening right now." And then he suddenly bit me on my neck.
"Ouch what the hell!" I whisper yelled.
"You will know it tomorrow." He winked.
"Baby I know you are inside. Open the door. I have lost my room keys. I have nowhere to go." The banging started again.
Oh good lord!! Seems like this day can't get any worse.
"Let me just get rid of her.You don't move a muscle." He went towards the door. I got up and went inside the bathroom locking myself inside and reminiscing all that happened entire day which was nothing less than a movie story. Since I was already in the bathroom I decided its better to take bath.
After taking bath I realised I had nothing other than my towel hanging there.Just wow one more blunder added to list. I was waiting for Manik to give me some signal or rather I would go out if he wasn't there in the room.
I kept waiting.
What in the world! Did I just take a nap in the bathroom? I rubbed my eyes lazily and realised I was waiting for Manik to come in and get me my clothes or him to get out of the room so I could come out and change. But neither of that happened.
I peeked outside and saw he wasn't there. So I quickly changed and went to my bed as I was extremely tired with whole day turning out crazy. Within few minutes I was in deep sleep.
The bright light in the room woke me up. Manik wasn't there anywhere, well good for me. I took bath booked my flight tickets and left for my native. I did not bother to call Manik. I was happy that I didn't have to confront him again.
After few hours, I was happily back to my parents place where I was pampered to the core making me feel guilty that I hadn't called them often and it was first time I was seeing them in six months. First thing I did was I switched off my phone and put it in my closet. I wanted some peace and that was not possible with my phone on and me being paranoid of getting a call that I had no place in Gurukul anymore.
With my favorite Masala Dosa for dinner which my mom specifically cooked for me and with my most favorite people in the world I enjoyed my dinner and the familiar environment. Nothing like a family. Mom and Dad asked me about my course and I was just being subtle with my answers and told them everything was fine.
After dinner we all sat in the living room and started talking.
My cousin Naina was somewhat curious to know everything about my stay there and if I had any boyfriend. I had to brush her off saying I was there to learn something and not anything else. But she knew something was wrong she kept on giving me those I-Know-you looks. Well I was not going to spill the beans anytime soon.
My brothers were as usual busy with their pranks and getting blasted for the same. Amms was busy reading her spiritual books. Mom and dad started talking about visiting our home town which was near Mangalore. They devised a plan since I was here and they wanted to visit our Kuldevi mandir. I was more than happy to have much needed change. We all decided that we were visiting there after two days and will stay there for a week.
I called Gurukul and let them know that I wasn't coming back for another fifteen days telling them that I had some family emergency. They were quite ok since it was festival time and many had opted for mass bunk. That way I got more time to think how I would deal with Manik once I got back. I was sure he wouldn't tattle tell about me to the authorities, call it Nandu instincts. And thinking about that kiss still got me tingles all over my body. He was a very good kisser as a matter of fact. I still wonder what would have happened if that bimbo had not disturbed us. And it still bothered me that Manik was out all night. I shouldn't care but it hurt for some reason.