Nandini's POV

"Who is an irritating monster?!" Manik asked leaning on the door and my eyes widened as I looked at Navya who just mouthed me 'busted'.

"Uh! Th-That ...Alex!" I said suddenly.

"Yes! Alex is sometimes very irritating!" I breathed in relief.

Alex made some grumpy sounds as if telling me he was angry for putting it all on him.

"Navya please take him! I can't study when he is around!" I pleaded Navya making a puppy face.

Navya just nodded and went out with Alex.

Wow Nandini Murthy what all you have to do! Making a puppy face for a 'puppy'.

After she went out I looked at Manik who was standing on the same place.

"Manik you can go now! I want to study!" I said and instead of going out he stepped inside closing the door behind him.

My eyes grew wide at his this step as I slowly stood up from my place.

"Ma-Manik what are you d-doing? W-Why did you close the door?" I stammered walking back as he continued trailing towards me.

"What am I doing? I'm just walking!" He shrugged making an innocent face.

I glared at him but soon I was again trapped by him. He caged me putting his hands on either of my sides. Leaning down his hot breath fanned my face as he went close to my ears.

"So you think I'm an irritating monster!" He whispered huskily and I being lost in him nodded a yes dumbly but then realising what I did I immediately nodded a no.

"Rose you think I don't understand what you're saying and about whom you are saying?" He nuzzled his nose in my neck as his hands clutched my waist.

"Ma-Manik!" I whispered.

"Hm!" He was busy nuzzling in my neck and smelling my hair.

"You know Rose I love your hair! Don't ever do anything with it! I won't tolerate even a scissor touching it! Got it?" His voice was demanding that it made me nod a yes.

Few minutes passed with us standing in the same position. Him resting his head on my shoulder and me hugging him.

"Manik was your past so bad?" Unknowingly I blurted out and regretted as soon as the words came out.

His grip loosened on my waist as he slowly withdrew away from me. His jaw was clenched and breathing ragged. I knew I did a mistake by asking him that question and I cursed myself for it.

"Manik I'm sorry I didn't -!" I didn't get to complete my sentence as he marched out of the room in anger while I closed my eyes in frustration.

Why do I have to ruin everything?

The rest of the day he avoided coming infront of me and whenever he would come accidently infront of me he ignored me like I never existed and this hurt. I tried talking to him many times, to tell that I'm sorry but he paid no heed! I know it was my fault but I was trying right? I was guilty and he knew it! Yet he doesn't care!

At night I was sitting on the terrace alone watching the stars when I felt a presence beside me.

"So what's going on between you and Manik?" Bhai asked.

I kept quiet and continued staring at the stars which were twinkling in the sky.

"I miss them sometimes!" I spoke avoiding his earlier question.

"You know I wasn't an orphan before, until that dreadful day which snatched away my happiness!" I continued while Bhai listened.

"People say I'm a curse! I am right?" I said suddenly making Bhai furious.

"Who said all this crap to you Nandini? You can never be a curse! Don't you ever say that again about yourself!" He lashed out while I smiled painfully.

He came closer and wrapped his arms around my shoulder and I rested my head on his shoulder.

"You're a blessing Nandini! A beautiful one! Because of you I got a sister! Because of you Navya got a friend! Because of you Manik got love! How can you be a curse then?" He said softly while a tear escaped my eye.

"What happened Nandini? Why are you upset? Did Manik say anything?" He asked wiping my tears.

I nodded a no immediately.

"It was my fault! I asked him about his past and he got angry! He had told me that he will share his past when he is ready but I - I ruined it all! Now he is ignoring me like I don't even exist!" I sniffed and Bhai sighed.

"Okay first of all stop crying! I know Manik can be handy sometimes but we can always handle him right?" He winked and I chuckled.

"You'll have to be patient when it comes to his past! It wasn't exactly very nice! He even hates to think about it! But he'll share it with you when the right time comes!" He explained and I just nodded.

"And about ignoring then you can do one thing!" He smiled mischeviously.

"What?" I asked confused.

"Ignore him! And then he'll come to you on his own!" He winked and I smirked.

"Now let's go and go to sleep! Navya will kill me if I don't be there in the room now!" He said and I chuckled.

We went in our respective rooms saying good night! I closed the door and switched on the light and nearly screamed seeing the person sitting on my bed. Manik looked at me as the lights were on and stood up.

I was still calming myself down from the heart attack he gave me.

"Sorry!" He said and I looked confused.

Why is he saying sorry?

"I heard your talks with Cabir! I never meant to make you feel like that!" He said apologetically.

If he heard my talks with Cabir then he should have also heard about me ignoring him!

But no he isn't reacting that way!

Does that mean he heard only half of our talks?

"You can never be a curse Rose! Don't even think like that!" He said sternly and I almost melted.

He waited for me to say something but I just walked to my closet and taking out my night suit I walked in the bathroom ignoring him.

Huh! Now you'll see how it feels to be ignored!

I changed and got out to see him still sitting on my bed. He looked at me and again opened his mouth to say something but before that I walked away from there and taking my pillow laid down on the other side of the bed switching off the lights.

"Rose!" He called out sternly.

"Rose stop ignoring me!" He gritted and switched on the lights.

I still pretended to not hear him and closed my eyes. I know he was damn pissed as I could literally hear him gritting his teeth.

"Dammit Rose! Stop ignoring me!" He cursed loudly before turning me over.

That's when I realised he was laying beside me on my bed and in my room. I stared in his eyes but kept mum.

"If you don't talk to me right now I swear I will kiss you!" He warned and my eyes widened.

While I was in my shock he took it as an opportunity to take advantage of my silence.

"Fine! Now don't blame me for this!" He leaned closer.

"No!" I said loudly and he smirked at me.

I glared at him and hit him on his chest pushing him away from me.

"You're so bad! Go away from me! Monster!" I yelled and he laughed.

Finally getting enough he got hold of my hands and pinned them behind my back pulling me closer to him.

"Are you sure? The last time I checked you were getting restless when I didn't even look at you!" He raised one eyebrow at me.

"It's nothing like that!" I snapped.

"Oh really? Okay so I am going!" He said and got up but I pulled him back on the bed.

"You're not going anywhere!" I glared at him and he smiled coyly.

"Why?" He whispered.

I hugged him tightly resting my head on his heart.

"I don't want you to!" I whispered as a tear slipped my eye.

"Shh! Rose I'm not going anywhere! Sleep!" He assured me while wrapping his arms around me securing me in his arms making me feel safe.

"Manik you won't leave me na?" I asked clutching his vest tightly as a fear gripped my heart.

"Never!" Came his reply.

"Good night Manik!" I smiled.

"Good night Rose!" He replied pecking my hair.

I slept peacefully that night without any frowns or fear. But then I was unaware of the storm that was yet to come in our lives.

Next morning I was the first one to wake up. As I tried to get up I felt a hand gripping my waist tightly. I looked at Manik to see him still sleeping. I smiled and with great difficulty came out of his hold and left for the bathroom not before pecking his forehead.

After getting fresh I came out of the bathroom to see Manik sleeping and so I decided to not disturb him. Quietly I moved out of the room closing the door behind.

As soon as I came out Alex came running to me and I picked him up happily.

"Alex! Missed me?" I asked and he answered by licking my face making me giggle.

"Good morning Nandini!" Navya and Bhai said at the same time.

"Good morning Bhai and Navya!" I replied while playing with Alex.



"Where is Manik?" Bhai asked.

"He is still sleeping so I didn't disturb him!" I replied and he nodded.

"Nandini give Alex to me and you go study! Tomorrow your exams are starting!" Navya said and I sighed.

Oh yes! How could I forget! My exams in the mansion!

I handed Alex to Navya and decided to go back in my room to study. As soon as I entered my room I squealed as Manik turned me around and back hugged me.

"Good morning Rose!" He whispered huskily in my ears.

"G-Good morning!" I replied breathing heavily due to the proximity.

"So all prepared for tomorrow?" He asked and I could smell the shampoo telling that he had showered in my bathroom.

"Y-Yes!" I managed to speak as he kissed my neck.

"All the best!" He wished me in my ear and kissed my cheek before leaving the room and leaving me blushing.

Monster can be romantic too!

Later when I finished reading for my exams I sighed and closed my books. That's when I remembered about Aryaman. I don't know why he popped up in my head but for some unknown reason thinking about him a fear gripped my heart.

Like something bad was about to happen!

~~~