
After washing his lice infected hair, she slapped him again, a little softer this time.
"Ow! That hurt" he winced rubbing his cheek.
"You asked for it" she huffed.
"That sting like a bee, Nandu, what the hell?" he gave her an annoyed look.
"Next time, you pull a stunt like this, you'll have the worst from me" she hissed at him, sticking her index finger in his chest.
"Worst, eh?"
"Yes, you have no idea" she crossed her arms.
"You do know that I can shut your smartness, don't you?" he raised an eyebrow earning a puzzled look from his child-woman.
"Don't you dare Manik" she tried warning him but he had already made up his mind. he pulled her towards him, making her crash against his hard chest. Damn he smelled so good.
"Manik, let me go" she struggled to get out of his grip but it was too strong for her to do anything.
He leaned in, nuzzling his nose in the hollow of her neck, breathing in her skin, every time he did that, it sent shivers down her spine. She loved it usually but this time she was angry at him, well that as her plan. She pushed him away "Come near me only when you get rid of your lice" she pointed at his head and ran away.
----
It's been 18 months since they got back together, again. It didn't take long for Manik's revenge plan to go kaput. His feelings were far too obvious for anyone to ignore. Dhruv got to know what his buddy was trying to do. Manik was trying to force Nandini to love him, he was sacrificing her as if she was a goat. It hurt Dhruv, when Nandini rejected his proposal, but it killed him when he got to know about the sacrifice. Dhruv went back into his shell, he refused to see Manik, not because he stole the girl but because he didn't think Dhruv was strong enough to accept the truth. Guilt engulfed him, every time he saw Manik with Nandini, smiling, giggling, holding hands, he was hurt, not because she was with him, but because Manik was trying to give up all this for his buddy. He had never seen Manik so happy, and the thought of taking away his happiness, though unintentionally, killed him from the insides. He wasn't angry, he was disappointed, in himself and Manik. In himself, because he wasn't able to see what Manik's eyes were trying to say, and in Manik because he underestimated their friendship.
Manik knew Dhruv was broken, he had let his buddy down, his stupid act of sacrifice had unintentionally bridged a gap between them. He tried reviving his old bond of brotherhood, he succeeded to some extent, but he knew Dhruv would take his own time to process everything and come to terms with it. Manik was ready to wait.
18 moths had passed and Manik and Nandini got to know each other, their love grew stronger, their trust was rock solid, they were the kind of couple one only dreamed about. And yet, there was something missing. Like Cabir had once mentioned, "they needed to take it to the next level". But Manik was the kind of guy who did one thing at a time, and this time, his priority was getting back the old friendship with his Buddy, Nandini understood him,stood by him, and waited for him. Cabir was annoyed, he thought Manik was being stupid like always, and taking a sanyaas, but Manik was being Manik, and only she understood him.
-----
"Why was he cranky yesterday?" Cabir asked Nandini, whilst stuffing a piece of cheesecake that she had brought.
"Ah, the joy of eating cheesecake early in the morning" he licked his fingers while Nandini smiled.
"Lice" she sighed, making Cabir almost spit the cake.
"What?!" he looked at her puzzled.
"What what?" Manik walked in, taking a bite from the box. Music wing was Manik and Nandini's secret spot, but Cabir joined them, making it a fun spot, their spot. All three of them hanged out there, before and after college, teasing each other to their wits end.
"How are those lies doing, Manik?" Cabir wiggled his eyebrows, making Manik drop the piece of cake he was holding.
"You told him?!" he screamed at Nandini in disbelief.
Cabir stood next to her, wrapping his arm around her protectively.
"We follow a 'no=secret policy' you see" she high fived Cabir.
"Such cruel monsters you two are, it's not funny okay," he made a grumpy face and stormed away only to come back and snatch the lunch box containing the delicious cake.
"You won't get to have any of it" he hissed and disappeared.
"Such a drama queen he is" they both stated together, before bursting into a fit of laughter.
----
That's about it. I wasn't gonna post it but oh well. Leave in your feedback, I would love to read your thoughts. <3