Celebrity Castaway | COMPLETE | MaNan Fiction

49| Censored XXX

A/N: Hello dear readers! Yes, I know the chapter title is exciting and you don't want to read my rambling before diving into it, straight! Okay then, me zipping it for today!

Just don't forget to drop your thoughts on in-line comments :D <3

aaaaand, Happy Reading!

***

As Manik silently watched her walk out of his car and walk into the elevator, pressing the button to take them to his penthouse, he felt strangely routine. It seemed like all the distance there was between the two of them for all these months, didn't ever exist. It felt so normal to be walking in with Nandini, into their penthouse. It felt like they've been sharing it forever and just like yesterday, today they're coming home from work, like they will again, tomorrow. It felt so normal and mundane, that for a moment Manik was surprised; was this how life would have been for them, had he given them a chance, when she was married to him?

When Nandini had mentioned in a drunken state sometime back, that her home meant their penthouse, Manik had felt like his breath was knocked out of him, and for the life of him, he didn't know how to react. He hadn't said anything since then actually, other than silently following her request, as he drove her to his penthouse.

"Manik keys" Nandini's melodious voice broke his trance as he realised they had arrived at their doorstep. He cleared his voice, to sound neutral, lest Nandini understood how dazed he was.

"You can ring the doorbell. I am not carrying the keys." he replied, as normally as he could. Nandini rolled her eyes at him.

"How many times have I told you to carry the keys, when you'd be out till late? Tarun works all day, Manik. Can't you let him sleep in peace at night?" she frowned, complaining, and a bout of nostalgia hit Manik, as a lump formed inside his throat. He tried to gulp it down and croaked a small apology to her, before going ahead and ringing the bell, as Nandini stood by his side.

"Madam, aap?" Tarun, their butler, asked surprised, as he opened the door in a moment and Nandini gave him her brightest grin. Tarun quickly glanced at Manik's neutral expression and no matter how many questions he had, he sobered down and didn't ask any.

"Madam, should I get you a nice cup of herbal tea?" Tarun asked politely, clearly seeming very happy at her arrival. Manik smiled. It looked like not only him, even Tarun had missed his madam a lot. His house needed his Nandini more than he thought.

"No, no Tarun, you go back to sleep. I don't want anything." Nandini answered with a fond smile, and he left after that.

Manik now turned to look at Nandini, extremely cautious of her actions. She wasn't as high as she was when they left Alia's party, so he was half worried, she'd snap at him for bringing her here and not dropping her home. Nandini on the other hand, turned to Manik after Tarun left, and wished him a goodnight and walked to his guest room, which was her bedroom, during the time she stayed with him, for the PR cleanup. A part of him was relieved to see her take her room and not his, so as to avoid complications, next morning, but the other part that selfishly wanted Nandini's affection, wished she'd come to his room, and they could spend another night together, simply in each other's embrace.

***

Manik was tossing and turning on his bed, it had just been ten odd minutes since Nandini had closed the door to her room, and he had walked into his bedroom to call it a night, but sleep was evading him. It felt like he was lying there for hours and hours and time was playing a cruel trick with him. Just as he decided to get up, and get some water from the kitchen, a soft knock on his door made him still. Could it be?

Manik sprang to the door with a thudding heart, but waited for a moment to compose himself and even out his breathing before getting the door. There she stood in front of him. She didn't look too drunk, but she looked impatient and maybe even a little bit anxious?