Hello!

Nandini's pov.

"What are we?" I had a lot of questions but this was the only one I could ask, so be it.

He looked at me startled as I entered his study room and I quietly stood in front of his desk, waiting for my answer.

"Husband and wife. " He answered looking down, nonchalantly and adjusting his reading glasses.

Out of context, but glasses look hot on him and it's not a good sign for me. I can't even understand this attraction I feel sometimes, it's absurd but I have no power it. He is hot and I'm a girl, of course I feel attracted but then his personality keeps me in check. The things he has done to me refrain me from acting stupid a lot of times but his words are causing me harm here.

Husband and Wife while wearing those damn glasses, in a tone like it is basic knowledge. I'm not okay.

"Really?" I asked after composing myself a bit.

"Absolutely Mrs.Malhotra " He was not meeting my gaze and I was both thankful and annoyed. Thankful because if he did, he could see how nervous he has made me and annoyed because I was not content with the way he was saying this.

"So your father's mistress's daughter is your wife?" I know where to hit and I'm not backing down today.

As expected he looked up at me and gave me a death stare, which I returned with equal intensity.

"I told you she is not your mother." He dismissed after a minute of silence and breaking our eye lock.

"You always knew that." I retorted and he kept looking at his laptop screen.

"I did." He confirmed nodding slightly.

"Then what changed?" I asked and he looked up at me again but didn't utter a word for a few seconds.

"What do you think?" He questioned back and I sat on the seat in front of his desk.

" You tell me, what changed? You obviously did not marry me and are paying for Nimmi's treatment because of some stupid revenge. This shit does not make sense, so tell me, what is going on?" I asked with all the authority I could muster. A smirk came on his lips and he looked at my face a little longer than needed.

"May be it's because I like you?" I was taken aback! I gaped at him at his words he looked at me with raised eyebrows as if he was finally intrigued.

I felt the world spin for a moment but composed myself soon enough. I chuckled mockingly and his smirk grew.

"I might look delusional sometimes but not to this extent Mr. Malhotra. Cut the crap already and tell me why have you married me?" I asked him a little too fiercely than I myself expected but it was nice until he stood up.

"I told you already. You really think I'll marry someone for a "stupid" revenge, like you like to call it? Does it make sense Mrs. Malhotra? Did I had to marry you if I only wanted a "stupid" revenge?" He asked walking towards me and sitting on his desk beside my chair, facing me.

Manik Malhotra was a smart Devil blessed with the looks of an Angel and it's really hard not to get manipulated when he's breathing so close to you but a girl gotta try.

"So is this why I'm your dirty little secret?" I asked him and he chuckled looking away, causing me to frown.

"Dirty little secret huh? Not at all Darling, you might be little but you're not my dirty little secret. Yeah but if you want, we can get a bit dirty here." He whispered leaning close to my face and I felt my breath hitching on my throat.

"Are–are you trying to seduce me?" I asked leaning away and he chuckled closing his eyes.

"Do you really think I need to try, Sweetheart? He asked roaming his eyes all over my body and I got up from my chair and took a few steps away from him. He looked at me amused and got even more comfortable on his desk, spreading his hands on that for support.

"I know you are trying to distract me." I pointed out and he leaned his head on his right and looked at me like he was in an amusement park.

"Are you getting distracted, Love?" He asked even more amused causing me to fume in anger. If he thinks he can play with me like this, then he is wrong. I'm here for answers and I won't stop till I get them.

"You marry me, pay for my sister's treatment, come up with tortures I can't even imagine, treat me like dirt on your shows and then one day, you stop! You start cuddling me, asking me about the foot you hurt, kissing me, being all nice to me with some snarky remarks here and there? And what do you expect of me? I would believe whatever shit you feed me here? I would believe that all of a sudden you like me? That you have always liked me? What do you think of me? What are you Manik Malhotra and what do you take all this as? What do you want from me exactly? What is happening?" I asked him in a breath and he looked completely unbothered.

"I just want you. As simple as that." He shrugged getting up from his desk and going back to his chair and settling down.

I just stood there, gaping at him in disbelief. Yeah right.

"Can you help me wipe it?" I asked and his highness looked up at me again.

"What?"

"The "stupid" sign you see written on my forehead. " I told him and he chuckled.

"Sure but before that get me something to eat, I'm starving." He told me pouting and I wanted to punch him real bad. I urge to just launch myself on him was so bad that I had to count backwards from 10.

"I'm not leaving before you give me my answers. " I told him with determination and he huffed.

As he got up from his seat, I half expected him to leave without sparing me a second glance and half to throw me out of his study room, but when does Manik Malhotra, the Official Head Of Evil does what I expect of him?

He came to me with steady steps and smiled at him before picking me up in his arms in bridal style.

"What are you doing? Put me down!" I yelled and gave me a bored expression before exiting his study.

"I told you I'm starving and you said you won't leave on your own so now I'm taking you to eat. I don't understand what kind of wife do I have who doesn't care if her husband is starving."  He told me like I was the biggest disappointment ever.

"Have some shame? After the things you have done to me, a normal human would never be able to meet their victim's eyes but of course you are Monster, so what can we expect?" I meant every word I said but this was also a part of my instigating strategy. I need him to confess what's going inside his head and I'm hopeful that instigation would work.

"Right, I'm a fucking Monster, so expect nothing at all Wifey." He said putting on the bed and taking his cellphone out.

"Mr. Manik Malhotra, I need answers. " I'm not here to play, I need to know things now and I'd do just anything for it.

"And I need food." He told me before making a call and asking the butlers to get food upstairs to us.

"Why don't you tell me? Why are you fucking with my mind?" I asked him and he looked at me at the f word.

"We can try it with other things too if you want." He suggested smirking and I smacked him real hard causing him to burst in laughter.

The view was too good for me to open my mouth so I just stared like a weirdo while he laughed falling back on the bed.

"I hate you." I admitted after he stopped laughing and he got up, settling himself beside me.

"I know." He whispered bringing his hand close to my face and tucking a hair strand behind my ear. Oh-So-Filmy-Malhotra.

"And I'm sorry." He whispered looking into my eyes and I felt my breath hitching the second time in less than an hour.

I was stunned to say the least, so I just gaped at him while he looked at my eyes as if he was looking for something in them.

"For what?" I whispered and he rested his forehead on mine causing me to close my eyes immediately.

My heartbeat was racing like it was participating in an F1 race and it was the finale.

"Everything." He whispered before placing a peck on my lips and moving away from me, leaving me cold.

_________________________________________

So I have something to say:

I created Natasha with a motive. Usually we have extra female characters, who are close to the male character as vamps, trying to break the marriage of our couple and I'm guilty of writing something like this too but with Natasha, I wanted it to be different. I did not want to pit her against Nandini in anyway. She cares for Manik but doesn't have feelings for him romantically and vice-versa. She did not become Nandini's friend but she wasn't a threat to her either. I wanted Natasha as an example to opposite gender frienship and that women can coexist without being friends or trying to break each other's houses. I hope my message could reach through my writing and you guys enjoyed all I've written so far.

Now about this chapter, so I hope you liked it. I can manage a monthly update system and may be a few times in between but please don't expect more.

Hope it was good, finally Nandini is asking questions and will hopefully get the answers soon too.

And Manik Malhotra APOLOGIZED! I would love to know your views on this.

It makes me happy to know your thoughts.

Love