Chapter 8
8:30 AM.
A loud and annoying doorbell woke Nandini up from her dreamy reverie of something that she now couldn't remember, it was obviously something that was out of bounds for her and her thoughts, that was when, she had noted, her dreams mostly turned into a foggy mist of nothingness the next morning.
Dressed in nothing but a simple sweatshirt, Nandini went ahead to check on who the hell had decided to annoy her this early on a Saturday morning.
"Good morning chotu" It was Manik. Brilliant. Just brilliant.
"Kya chahiye?" Nandini stared at him with bleary eyes, she was in no mood to let anyone into the house who might in any way corrupt her sleep.
"Mujhe? Apart from the obvious being your cheeks, I want a Ferrari and a bungalow and of course some ice cream."
"Aur kuch?" Nandini yawned, still unwilling to let Manik through the door.
"Let me think.." Manik pointed his finger at her as if motioning her to wait, Nandini yawned and leaned her head against the door which was open by a few centimeters at most while nodding. She felt her eyes drooping again, a few flashes of her earlier dream slowly coming back to her, when she suddenly felt her feet leaving the ground without her permission.
"Manik, this is not cool." Nandini opened her eyes by a few millimeters as Manik half carried half dragged her to the sofa, shutting the door behind him.
"Apart from the fact that I see no bottoms on you, everything else is cool." Manik smirked at her as she tried to understand what he was implying while her mind was still only four percent booted up.
"Bottoms?" she whispered to herself, her eye lids half closed and half open. "Bottoms?" she was slightly more alert this time around. A minute later, her eyes were wide open "BOTTOMS! MANIK GET OUT! I'M NOT WEARING PANTS!"
Manik sniggered as he watched her fussing around, half the time looking for her pants and the remaining half trying to kick Manik out of the house.
"Chill baba. It's covering you pura. There's nothing to worry about" Manik laughed as he saw Nandini trying to pull her sweatshirt down.
"Easy for you to say. You're wearing pants" Nandini shrieked as she looked for her cupboard keys in the key bowl.
"Just out of curiosity, is that your sweatshirt or your boyfriend's?"
"Boyfriend ka hai." Nandini said from inside her room, her tone was so neutral, Manik couldn't tell whether she was serious or she was joking.
"Seriously bata na."
"Dude. Shut up."
Nandini, who was in her room now away from Manik's line of sight, found herself feeling just a teenzy bit uncomfortable as she avoided his question with random retorts. She dint dare discuss her romantic life, not like she had any, in front of any of those boys except for Cabir, not even in front of Manik.
Cabir, who she had originally put in the same category as Manik considering that he spoke to so many girls in school, was now with her in her category. The lonely ones. He was the only guy in the gang who knew and understood how she felt considering he had never dated anyone till date either.
But discussing something so demeaning and personal with Manik as her lack of romantic endeavors was something she had never even thought to consider.
Manik was anything but like her. He was good looking, funny, he could keep a conversation going for hours, he was one of those guys who always had some girl fluttering about him, heeding to his every need. Why, just last week, Aliya and Manik had officially ended their relationship and already Manik was close to dating another girl.
Nandini thought about herself on the other hand. She was ugly, she was fat and she had a bad reputation for making people cry, specifically girls.
Guys almost never gave her a second glance.
The most that a guy had ever spoken to her was when she had made that guy's girlfriend cry and he had come to talk some sense into her.
Nandini, obviously, had refused to apologize, but since that incident, not even girls bothered befriending her. In fact she had mostly been a loner nearly all her life up until the point when Manik and Cabir had turned up in her life.
"Chotu. Itna time kya kar rahi hai andar?" Manik called out from the living room.
"I can't find my shorts Manik." Nandini responded.
"Arre chill chotu. Mujhse kya sharmana? That sweatshirt anyway covers everything till slightly above your knees. What's the point of pants then? "
Reluctantly Nandini stepped out of her room, still only wearing her purple sweatshirt as she came to sit on the sofa next to Manik, covering her legs using the bed sheet that she had been using while she had been sleeping.
"Waise tu itni subah idhar kya kar raha hai?" Nandini asked him as he changed into a sleeping position, with his head on her lap and his dandy long legs hanging over the edge of the sofa.
"Bore ho raha tha ghar pe. Cabir ko thik nahi hai. Toh maine socha main aake tujhe tang karta hu!"
"Kyun? Cabir ko kya hua?"
"Viral Fever ho gaya usko. Mom and Aunty ne mana kiya hai udhar jaane se."
"Ohh. Usne mujhe bataya bhi nahi." Nandini's annoyance was clear in her voice.
"If it's any consolation to you whatsoever, usne mujhe bhi nahi bataya. Mom told me about it. She said Cabir ki mom aayi hui thi kal school to give her the leave application which is how she knows."
Although that tiny bit of information did make Nandini feel better, that dint mean that she was any less annoyed at Cabir. So with a common enemy in hand, they spent the next twenty minutes plotting and conspiring against Cabir with anger as fake as Harshad's smile.
It was only when Manik changed the subject to their grade sheets for the sake of boasting about his breathtaking marks in physical education did Nandini realize that she hadn't even brushed till now and it was near nine o clock already.
"Ek second uth?" Nandini said trying to lift his head so she could go and quickly wash up, in response to which Manik simply closed his eyes and said "No."
"Uthna khambe. Main tereko pillow deti hu instead"
With a baby like scowl, Manik reluctantly lifted his head up letting his soft pillow walk away while he adjusted himself with an unreal version of her.
***
Manik waited for Nandini for over an hour as she turned MIA on him. The last time he had seen her, she was going to the washroom with a towel and her toothbrush. That was it. Neither had she come out nor had he heard a single sound from inside the washroom since.
But more than that, what surprised Manik the most was the fact that he had no idea that even Nandini took this long to get ready. He had always counted her as one of the guys, the fact that the time she took to get ready was almost the same as the time that it took Aliya to get ready felt strange and almost unpleasant to him.
In an effort to get rid of his unusual thought process, Manik started checking his texts. The UNO group that Cabir had recently created with the members being Nandini, Navya, Kaustav, Dhruv, Cabir, Harshad and himself was flooded with twenty seven messages. Manik swiped his finger through the messages one at a time. The spamming had started last night wherein they were all talking about their weekend plans, Cabir hadn't bothered replying and neither had Nandini.
Navya- what plans for the weekend?
Harshad- I'm free if you want to meet
Kaustav- So am I. Can I be a third wheel?
Harshad- F off
Navya- Sorry that I asked
Dhruv- It's late. Stop chatting and sleep
Kaustav- Dhruv babe
Dhruv- Goodnight bhai
Kaustav- Dhruv. Personal chat pe aa
Harshad- GAYY
Kaustav- Kutte ki pooch kabhi seedhi nahi hoti
Navya- I'm sure Harshad would already know that by now Kaush
Harshad- Navya aisa na?
Navya- Harshad, listen to Dhruv. Go sleep.
Harshad- See kaustav she cares so much for me.
Kaustav- You realize that she can read this right?
Navya- I'm tired. Goodnight.
Dhruv- goodnight
Harshad- I'm also tired. Goodnight Navya
Kaustav- Goodnight friends and Harshad
Navya- good morning. Anyone free to meet?
Kaustav- sorry but no. I got to meet a friend.
Navya- that's okay.
Navya- What about the others? Manik? Nandini? Cabir? Dhruv?
Harshad- I'm free
Navya- Anyone else?
Manik smiled as he texted Navya "Hey. Me and nandini are free. Cabir is not well. What do you want to do?"
The response was immediate "Anything that doesn't involve Harshad"
"Works for me. Any ideas?"
"I wanted to watch the new Avengers movie. Have you seen it?"
"No. Hold it. Let me ask Nandini."
"Okay."
"CHOTUU?" Manik screamed, lying still on the sofa, hoping that she could hear him from within the shower.
"HAA MANIK?" Yes. She could hear him. He wouldn't have to get up.
"NAVYA WANTS TO WATCH AVENGERS. YOU IN?"
"HAA. DONE."
"BY THE WAY, BAHAR AANE KA IRADHA HAI?"
"NAI."
"MAIN ANDAR AAU?"
"TAANGE THOD DUNGI MAIN TERI. KAAM KAR APNA"
Manik had himself a good laugh for a few minutes as he threw a few paper balls at the bathroom door making her scream at him all over again.
When that exercise had tired him out, he went back to the notifications on his phone.
"She's also in. Check the show timings please." Manik texted Navya.
"I checked. There's one at 11. Its 1015 right now. Can I count on you to get there on time? I'm on my way to Nandini's place right now. I'll pick her up and get there by 1045. Sounds good?"
"I'm at Nandini's place too. Come up. Waiting"
"Oh. Okay. Nearly there"
Navya's text made Manik swiftly get off his bum to open the front door, waiting to annoy Navya when she would finally show her face.
"What brings you here?" Navya asked him, her eyes were suprisingly light and amused as Manik let her in.
"I was bored at home. And Cabir wasn't well. So I just dropped in here to annoy her." said Manik as they both settled themselves onto Nandini's couch.
After five minutes of silence, Manik initiated the conversation again.
"How did you know her address?"
"Don't you know? I keep coming over to Nandini's all the time." Navya looked at him in surprise "The basic inspiration behind coming here is of course the food. Her mom's idlis are to die for. And her chachi's chole are just plain yum. But she's not half bad" Navya winked as she added the last line.
"Wait. How many times have you been here before?"
"I come here almost every day right after school. We sort of chill for a while here while I hog on her mom's food, then we go down to play badminton and then after a quick bite somewhere close, we come back home."
"How come I had no idea and I live on the same damn street? How come you guys have been keeping me out of the loop?"
"Chill Manik. You're always at Cabir's place with Dhruv right? So we just assumed that you wouldn't want to come chill with us while you have the option of chilling with them. "
"Navya, I'm not with them every day. Just once in awhile. And irrespective, so what if Cabir and Dhruv are there as well? Don't you like them?"
"Manik. You're really starting to sound like Harshad now. I dont see why you're getting so worked up. And anyway, I'm not so comfortable with Dhruv and Cabir as I am with you and Nandini. And pardon me, but it sounds to me like you don't think I have a say in who I should hang out with and who I shouldn't."
"Navya that's not the point." God why did she have to be so damn adamant about every damn thing. "The point is that we're all a part of the same gang now. It doesn't make sense if you and chotu hang out alag and we chill alag right?"
"Tell me Manik, don't you, Cabir and Nandini go out for coffee and stuff nearly every weekend? Have you ever heard me get all hyped and insecure about it?"
"Navya-" Manik was beyond furious at the comparison she had placed in front of him. But before he could even start with the huge list of arguments that he had on his mind, the noise of the washroom door opening and closing caught their attention.
"Manik. I'm done." Thank god she's alive.
She walked towards him wearing only the purple sweatshirt over herself, her wet towel in one hand and her toothbrush in the other. Surprisingly, Nandini was so occupied in finding a place to dry her wet towel that she still hadn't noticed Navya's presence.
"Nandini. Hello?" Navya gave Nandini a sarcastic smile.
"Navya! When did you get here?" Nandini stared at Navya like a little child would when he saw Santa for the first time.
"Wow. I come to meet her, and she opens the door and looks at me like I'm Harshad. And you come home and she reacts like she's just seen Kim Kardashian." Manik stared at Nandini in irritation. "I think I'm starting to have some serious doubts about your sexual preferences."
"Shut up Manik." Nandini laughed at him as she gave Navya a cozy bear hug.
"And I definitely don't remember receiving a hug when I got here"
"Waise, is this like a usual for you guys?" Navya interrupted their catfight.
"Usual?" Nandini looked confused.
"I mean are you always like bottomless when he's home?" Manik who had just taken a sip of water spat it all out onto the carpet meanwhile Nandini immediately turned a light shade of pink.
"Be right back" She whispered as she tip toed her way back to her room.
Manik waited for Nandini to lock her door, and then he turned to Navya.
"Dude?" Manik stared at Navya in shock.
"What! I was just asking." Navya responded with an annoying, smug expression on her face which made Manik want to grab the fork on the table and violently punch it through her eyes balls. But before he could finalize all the bloody details of his plan, his phone buzzed.
It was a text from Harshad on the UNO group "Hey. You are all invited to my elder brother's birthday party today in the evening. Those who can make it, please respond with a yes. Accordingly I'll speak to my brother and make arrangements."
Hardly a few seconds later, the first response came up on the group.
"Can't bhai. Tu enjoy kar" It was from Kaustav.
"Arre kyun?" Harshad had replied.
"Got other plans. Sorry bhai."
Dhruv's was the next response. "Haa bhai. I am in."
Followed by which Navya replied on the group saying "Manik, Nandini and me are in. Don't know about Cabir. He is not well."
"Awesome. Cabir bhai?" Harshad was waiting patiently for the last response to turn up on the group.
"Yes yes yes" Cabir had also responded to the message.
Manik frowned at Cabir's response.
"Saale tereko toh viral hai na. Tu kidhar se aa raha hai party mein?" Manik texted Cabir.
"Abbey jaa na. Mere party mein aane se tujhe itni kujli kyun ho rahi hai?" Cabir's response made Manik smile.
"Saale, mil shyaam ko, main tereko batata hu ki mujhe kitni khujli ho rahi hai."
"Itni khujli? Nahaate hue saaf nahi karta kya?"
"Terese bekaar ki baatein karne ka time nahi hai mere paas. I'm busy with the ladies"
"Saale, mere bina tum teeno ghoom rahe ho? Maaf nahi karunga main"
"Abbey teri maafi nahi chahiye. Jaake kaam kar"
"Text pehle kaun kiya kutte?"
"Mere pyaar ki kimat tum kya jaano Cabir babu"
"Arre tu hi toh mera dost hai baby"
"Chal bey chakke. Paka mat. Ab mujhe nikalna hai. Dono ladkiyaan chilla rahi hai background me. Bye"
"Bye mere manik. Miss me."
"Aur tu mere bina Dhruv se mat milne jayiyo kutte" Manik quickly closed his whatsapp as he got into the lift right behind Navya and Nandini who had been screaming in his ears for the last seven minutes.
Everything in their outing was going smoothly so far. They had peacefully boarded the lift, Navya and Manik were not baring their teeth to each other, Nandini had not forgotten her shorts. It all seemed perfect to them.
That was uptil the moment when they were right in front of the movie theater and someone called out to them from behind.
"Guys! Manik? Navya? Nandini?" It was Harshad.
Navya and Manik turned to each other, each gaze accusing the other.
"I dint invite him." Navya defended herself.
"Don't look at me like that. I dint invite him either." Manik glared right back at her.
"If you dint invite him and I dint invite him then..." Navya and Manik quickly turned to look at Nandini, who was chewing like crazy on her nails.
"NANDINI"
***
Edited by iwantitall - 10 years ago
