Niti had no choice but to go downstairs to get water for Manik. Meanwhile, she told herself that she needed to come up with a solution. Staying up every night might lead to sudden death, even though she was young.

The next morning, the breakfast was ready when she went downstairs. The long dining table was laden with all kinds of food, including both Indian and Western cuisine. It was like a buffet breakfast served in a five star hotel.

Shanno Chachi, who worked in the kitchen, was responsible for Manik’s breakfast, so Niti could finally rest for a while at this time.

“Nandini , your breakfast,” said Shanno  Chachi while pointing at the portion served on an end of the table.  Niti was trying to get used to name Nandini.

“Thank you, Chachi,” said Nandini as she grabbed her food and sat down.

Shanno  Chachi was an amiable middle aged woman. She prepared sweetcorn, eggs, and milk for Nandini. She had a sleepless night, so when she saw the rich breakfast, she felt so hungry that her stomach began to gurgle.

However, instead of eating right away, she waited until Shanno Chachi filled a bowl with porridge and began feeding Manik. Then, she started eating slowly.

Manik didn’t get enough sleep either, so he was in a bad mood. After finishing half a small bowl of porridge and a fried egg, he couldn’t eat anymore food.

From the corner of his eyes, he cast a quick glance at Nandini sitting in front of him, and found that she was eating like a prisoner. He saw her take a bite of the sweetcorn and then take a swig of milk. She had a very good appetite and was eating happily indeed.

‘She’s so unpleasant to look at,’ he complained silently to himself.

When he was in a bad mood, he didn’t like the look of anyone he saw.

When he was in a bad mood, he didn’t like the look of anyone he saw.

He knocked on his lap with his long and slender fingers, pointed at Nandini with his chin and said to Shanno Chachi, “She’s just a carer; isn’t that breakfast too good for her ?

Shanno Chachi paused briefly, then responded, “I... don’t think so. We all have the same food.

“Is she comparable to you ?” said Manik flatly. “She claims to be my carer, but she has been here for three days and I’m not feeling even slightly better. She has done no work at all. From tomorrow and onwards, she’ll only have a steamed bun for breakfast.”

Hearing this conversation, Nandini choked on an egg and almost failed to swallow it.

Shanno Chachi glanced at Nandini sympathetically. She summoned up her courage and said to Manik Malhotra, “ Mannu Baba, you said yourself that she’s only been here for three days. How can you recover in just three days ? The doctor said you need at least a month to recover. Don’t you think you’re being... too stingy ? Like people said, breakfast needs to be nutritious. She needs some good food for breakfast, or she won’t have the energy to take care of you.”

Manik’s face darkened severely as he responded with, “Chachi , if I am stingy, how could you have become so chubby ? I remember that you were skinny when you first came, and now you’re like a ball. One ball is enough for this house, I don’t want two balls.”

Shanno Chachi’s chubby face dropped immediately, as if ten thousand arrows had pierced through her heart.

“If she doesn’t find the food good enough, then she can make her own. You’re here to work for me, not to cook for a carer,” said Manik. He then added, “From this day on, she’ll have only cabbage and Carrots  for dinner and lunch.”

Shanno Chachi knitted her brows into a frown.

Nandini put down her Utensils, shook her head, and said to Shanno, “Chachi , it’s alright. Let’s just do what Mr. Malhotra says.” Cabbage and carrots was better than nothing. Back when she first came to Mumbai City, she survived on Vada pav and pickles.

Shanno Chachi sighed helplessly.

...

After breakfast, Servent Babu walked in while coughing and said, “Manik BaBa, I don’t feel well today. I think I have a fever. May I take a leave to go to the hospital ?”

Recalling what Nandini said yesterday, Manik frowned, lowered his head, and responded, “Go. When will you be back ?”

“I’ll be back as soon as possible if there’s nothing serious,” said Servent Babu.

After Babu  left, Manik turned back to look at Nandini, who was eyeing him with her lips pressed together.

The corners of her mouth turned up in a faint smile, as if she was telling him— ’See, I didn’t lie; Babu really is feeling unwell’.

Manik curled his lips downwards and said, “Now you’ve got a perfect excuse to take advantage of me.”

Nandini was again speechless.

Well, he can think whatever he likes. Babu will be back from the hospital this afternoon anyway,’ Nandini thought.

However, in the evening, Babu called Shanno Chachi to tell her that even though his fever had been brought down, he still felt awfully enervated, so he went back home and was being looked after by his wife.

Shanno Chachi told this to Manik, who felt utterly bored and had been watching TV on the bed. “ Manik Baba, I think we should let Nandini give you a sponge bath tonight,” said Shanno.

Nandini shuddered.

Her ?” Manik turned his head to look at Nandini, eyes immediately filled with vigilance. “I heard that women over thirty years old can be exceptionally horny, especially the unmarried ones like her. I’m afraid that she might defile my young body.”

Nandini honestly didn’t know what to say when she heard him.

“In fact... It’s not hot these days, and Manik sir didn’t sweat, so I think it’ll be fine if we skip the sponge bath for a day. But, if Mr. Malhotra really needs it...” Nandini thought for a moment and said, “Chachi , maybe you should do it...”

Shanno Chachi was also discomposed because of what Manik said. Hearing Nandini, she automatically waved her hand and said, “No, no, no, I definitely can not do it. I’m over forty, and I got divorced. I’m more afraid of defiling Mannu baba ’s young body than you.”

Nandini had to clench her teeth quite tight to prevent herself from laughing out loud. She raised her head to look at Manik and found his face extremely dark.

After finishing her last sentence, Shanno found the atmosphere a little weird, so she added with a flushed face, “And... I’m heavy handed and may accidentally hurt Mannu baba, so it’s just not appropriate for me to do it,” and then hurriedly went downstairs

The air in the bedroom became even thinner because of the chill that emitted from Manik.

Feeling it a little hard to breathe, Nandini tucked her hair behind her ears and said, “I... I’ll go get the water.”

As Manik didn’t say no, she now knew that she would have to give him that sponge bath tonight.

Soon afterwards, she came up with a basin of warm water. After taking a deep breath, she unbuttoned the buttons of Manik’s pajama top one by one. His skin was olive colored, and his muscles were beautiful. Even his lower abdominal muscles were clearly shaped and were obviously filled with strength, rising and falling slightly along with his breath. He had absolutely no extra fat on his waist even t

hough he had been lying down all day. The only blemish of his body were some small scars which were not deep, but seemed to have existed for a long time. 

*****