~ CHAPTER NINETEEN ~
One look at Soha's intimidating, steely glare was enough to tell Manik that something wasn't right. "What's up?" he asked casually and moved in closer, "everything alright? Why did you want to see me? And that too now, here? What's so urgent?"
It seemed that Soha was struggling to talk as her eyes darted back and forth in her head. Unable to meet Manik's gaze, she quickly looked away.
"Okay. Something's wrong," concluded Manik quietly. "Tell me. What is it?"
But Soha remained mum. Manik was getting a bit impatient now. One thing, he was still at work. Anyone could spot them here and he didn't want that. Secondly, her silence was disturbing. Surely, something was seriously wrong. He only wished that she would spit it out, whatever it was!
"Soha..." he gently lifted her chin but she slapped his hand away in one aggressive move.
"Whoa!" Manik was surprised. "Oh wow," he muttered, "okay. Someone's angry. Isn't it?"
Without a word, Soha pulled out her phone and started punching on its screen with her fingers.
"Are you going to tell me what's wrong?" he asked quietly, to which Soha handed over his cell phone with a YouTube video playing on the screen. "What's this?" he asked her before he noticed what was actually playing on the screen.
A video of Nandini on top of Manik, lost in his tight embrace and locked in his sweet, heavenly kiss.
"In just an hour... 110 views and 56 likes," said Soha in a trembling voice. "Titled... hot guy makes out with beautiful damsel. Brilliant. Just brilliant."
There was panic etched onto Manik's face. "This is bullshit," he grew defensive, "this is not how it happened. Babes. Trust me. This is so not it."
"So you mean to tell me that it actually happened?" Soha raised her eyebrows in question.
"It... It was an accident," sighed Manik in exasperation.
Soha quickly spun around as if to leave. Manik held her back. "I mean, it happened," he explained nervously, "but not like this. It was an accident. That girl just fell over me. Trust me. We weren't making out. And... this happened at the mall. Why would I even make out with some strange girl at the mall? I'm not crazy!"
"So you're telling me that you'd make out elsewhere if you had the chance?" she probed dubiously, "in the back of your car for instance?"
"Good Lord," he muttered in complete defeat.
"Or maybe in your bedroom," her voice trembled violently.
"Soha. Just stop it. Just stop it!! You're just going over the edge."
"My friend called me up and said...hey Soha... did you know? Your boyfriend just screwed some chick... their video is on YouTube. I didn't believe her at first. But when I saw that it was true... Do you have any idea how I felt?" Soha's eyes were chock full of tears now.
"Baby, come on." Manik sighed desperately. "This is all crap. See, all what these guys want is to get maximum views for their sick video. That's it. Whether there's any truth to the title is not their problem. They just need views so that they can earn from it. Do you get me?"
"Then what about this?" Soha snatched the phone from Manik, played another YouTube video and flashed it before his eyes. This time, his eyes were as round as saucers. It was a video of himself with Nandini on the escalator, up close and personal. He was visibly brushing against her over and over again. The video was titled "Hot guy and Beautiful Chick Jamming on the Escalator."
"What the f**k!" he hissed in disbelief and looked up at Soha who now had a full blown waterfall going on in full swing. "This is not how it happened. See... this video is being looped. You can make that out very clearly. See? Come on. Check it out."
"So... this is why... you don't have time for me nowadays..."
"What!!?" Manik was going mad. He could see where this was all headed to!!! I'll kill the bas***d who made this f*****g video. I swear to God I will! Just let me get my hands on him!
"Every time... it's the same old story... you're busy... whenever I call you... you're busy... no time for me... during the weekends... weekdays... but I knew it... you were avoiding me..." Soha's voice was loud and high-pitched as she rambled on.
"Nooo! I wasn't avoiding you! Soha! What's wrong with you? I was busy! I really was! I'm not kidding you! If you still don't believe me, then you can call up my office and check it out. Call up my boss if you must!" Manik was trembling now. He felt desperately helpless and powerless! This had probably got to be the biggest mess in his life. A mess that he can't talk himself out of! On the other hand, Soha's whining was attracting attention, which he really didn't want! He really didn't want to lose his upright, confident guy image.
"I knew that you were seeing someone else," she added, "I could make that out from your tone."
Manik sighed deeply and buried his face into his palm.
"If you wanted to break up with me, you could have told me! Instead of just..."
Manik had had enough now. He cut her off in an agitated voice. "Yeah, you know what? You're right. I am seeing this girl. I have been. For quite some time now. And I think I love her. So yeah. I want to break up with you. Happy!??"
Soha's tears had frozen onto her face now. Her face was paralyzed and she wasn't crying anymore.
"Soha! What's wrong with you?" He spat out irritably. "Are you out of your mind? Stop thinking all this crap. I'm still yours. Always will be. Trust me."
Soha nodded her head as if she meant to ask Really? Is it? But somewhere, the doubts still lingered around.
"I am!" he said and held her face gently. "And trust me. I'm going to get to the bottom of this. I just need some time. Whoever made this shit up is going to see hell. I promise. Now give me a hug."
Soha eagerly went into his open arms and hid herself in his huge, comforting torso.
*******************************************
Meanwhile, Dhruv had paired up with Nandini to help out with the filing. They sorted out the documents as per the employees ID numbers and pinned it up.
"You better get back to your desk Dhruv," said Nandini, "you wouldn't want to get caught helping me."
"Nah," he replied with a cute baby-faced smile, "I'll just tell him that I was showing you how to do it."
"I don't think that he'll buy that," said Nandini.
"That's okay," replied Dhruv, "let him go to hell."
Nandini laughed at his comment. "Can you really tell him that? I mean... like on his face?"
The very thought of having to confront monster Manik made Dhruv visibly cower. "Yeah," he said sheepishly, "s-sure. Why not?"
"Yeah right," she laughed sarcastically.
"I will," he snapped.
"Yeah-yeah-yeah!" Nandini sang.
"Wanna bet?"
"Sure," replied Nandini, "you name it."
"Ten bucks!"
Nandini snorted. "Hah! My foot! You know that you'll lose the bet right? Hundred bucks if you dare!"
"Damn," Dhruv opened up his empty stapler, "the pins are over. I'll go and get some."
"I'll go and get it," Nandini offered, "it was my job anyways."
"Sure?"
"Positive," she replied, "meanwhile, you better think about the terms and conditions of our bet." Saying this, Nandini marched off to the door.
"You'll find the supplies in the Admin store," Dhruv called out.
"Thanks," she replied. But before she could get to the door, it swung open hard. A tall someone stomped in harshly, blindly bumped in and knocked her down to the floor.
"Oh shit," the person hissed under his breath and shot out to help her up... but froze as he noticed that it was Nandini. "I don't believe this," he muttered in disbelief.
Nandini looked up and wasn't surprised to see him - Manik.
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