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Chapter 11
"Nandini Vashishth."Dr S.Vasudev roared after calling out the name of the sincere most student of the batch as per her fellow professors,three times, who apparently found a wild bush outside the lecture room more intersting than her lecture . The audacity of the girl!
The ear shattering howl of the almost heartless professor shook Nandini out of the cerebrations of a certain 'friend'.She shot up from her seat giving a race to the velocity of that of a bullet upon hearing her name echoing in the whole room.
" Ye...yes mam " Nandini stuttered bracing herself for a harsh reprehension.
" You don't have to waste your precious time sitting in this good - for - nothing class of mine . Why don't you go out and concentrate well on that wild bush without any disturbance from my side!"The professor ordered Nandini to get out the class,the most gentle way ever.
"I'm sorry,mam."Nandini said in a vain attempt to avoid the punishment.
" Sorry doesn't work for me . Just get out of the class."Dr S.Vasudev was nothing if not firm to the level of perseverance . Nandini picked her bag,taking small steps went out of the class,not really thrilled at the first experience of being thrown out of the class.
" Get a grip over yourself Nandini stupid Vashishth . Manik kissing your hand was a formal gesture everyone follow after such events,ceremoniously . You don't have to read too much into it . Stop acting like a hormone driven infuated teenage girl . Yeah keep calm!"Nandini chanted the mantra like she has been doing for the last thirty five hours and forty two minutes since Manik kissed her.
Used to always being in a comfort zone with respect to her feelings,Nandini was being brusque towards the foreign emotions trying to invade her limbic system(area of the brain controlling emotions).She was fighting the attraction towards Manik really hard for one, she didn't want to jeopardise her friendship with him because of her feelings and two she had a lot on her plate . She had no energy to invest elsewhere.
" What the hell are you doing Nandini!" Rahul shouted while they were in the dissection hall working on the cadaver(dead body to study internal parts of a body)
" Huh? I'm tracing this nerve as you asked me to . Is there any problem?"Nandini replied not getting any reason behind Rahul going all hyper.
" You were about to cut brachial artery that has to be saved from slightest of the damage or Dr Kalpana will turn us next cadavers,silly. " Rahul replied not wanting to face the said professor's potential heart attack inducing wrath.
"I'm sorry . I'll be careful." Nandini had nothing else to say . She was thrown out of the first class,she didn't pay attention to a single word in next thinking about Manik again and now she was again diverted to his thoughts .'could this day turn any worse ?'Nandini wondered and the answer came as soon as she walked out of the Dissection hall,having somehow managed to go through the dissection procedure for the day.
" Yes Mukti,I am on my way out."
*pause*
"Will be there in few minutes . Bye " Nandini sighed as she hung up the call . Mukti was there to pick her up . She still had to go to space to possibly face the worse,she believed .'How am I going to face Manik?God please help me,don't let me screw things, please.'Chanting prayers,Nandini walked to the gates where Mukti was supposed to be waiting for her but was spending some crazy time with Abhimanyu instead . She decided not to intervene and wait till their rendezvous was over which ended only after 20 minutes with Abhimanyu kissing Mukti's hand taking Nandini to the forbidden territory,yet again . It was as if the whole universe has turned against this little soul.
" Bahut shiddat se maine tere khyalo se dur Jane ki koshish ki,par zare zare ne tere khyalo ko mere pas lane ki sajish ki."mused Nandini while sitting behind Mukti as theydrove towards space.
*Back to 10 o'clock at St. Xavier's *
"Manik Malhotra" Mr Deepak Sinha called out after observing and ignoring the ever attentive Manik lost in his own world which certainly had nothing to do with the business economics he was teaching.
" Yes sir" Manik stood up at once for once, lacking the confidence he wore on his sleeves.
" Define elasticity of demand."Professor asked Manik for confirming his judgement.
" Erm,short price change leading to... some large change.."Manik blurted some words that managed to tumble in his head amidst Nandini's thoughts.
" Large change in what?"Asked Mr Sinha mentally patting himself for his precise acumen . Manik stood silent looking up,down,left, right everywhere hoping for the answer to appear from somewhere but none came.
" Couldn't find answer anywhere here?Why don't you go out of the class and find it out?"Mr Sinha said, sarcasm thoroughly dripping from his voice.
Manik,unable to believe he had been asked to get out of the class stood rooted not moving an inch.
" You heard me Manik,get out of the class and better concentrate on next one."Mr Sinha ordered him sternly . Manik complied and went out this time . He knew,it was his fault.
Not really in a mood to endure another unproductive class, credited to the lack of balance between his mind and heart,he left for his home.
The day,night to be precise,he realised his feelings for Nandini,he kissed her in all exhilaration but the repercussions of his act sank in only after a night of blissful fantasies . He had cemented a true,lifelong friendship with Nandini in a very short span of time . No one knew the value of a true friendship better than him.He craved such a bonding for quite a long time of his life . Now that he was sanctified with it,he could not afford to lose it . The perils of losing his friendship with Nandini as an outcome of his act filled his entire being . He was going crazy with all the negative thoughts in the world . His miseries came to an end to some extent when his buddy,his confidante Dhruv gave him the idea to explain kissing Nandini as a formal gesture practised more often at such events . Manik was relieved to have an answer to her question if he would ever be subjected to it.He was disappointed at the same time to not be able to express his true feelings . Not that he intented to hide them always,he just wanted to take it slow . He planned to impress Nandini and make her feel the same for him. Knowing Nandini,he knew it would take time which he was ready to give . Don't they say 'patience,persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.'Manik has been busy constructing strategies to open doors to Nandini Vashishth's heart,since then, which cost him his first amercement at the hands of Professor Deepak Sinha.
Nothing else to do after returning from the college early,Manik decided to practice some music before going to space . Only he ended up basking in his celestial feelings through a euphonious symphony.
Pehla nasha
Pehla khumaar
Naya pyaar hai naya intezaar
Kar loon main kya apna haal
Aye dil-e-bekaraar
Mere dil-e-bekaraar
Tu hi bata
Pehla nasha
Pehla khumaar
Udta hi firoon in hawaon mein kahin
Ya main jhool jaoon in ghataon mein kahin
Udta hi firoon in hawaon mein kahin
Ya main jhool jaoon in ghataon mein kahin
Ek kar doon aasmaan zameen
Kaho yaaron kya karoon kya nahin
Pehla nasha
Pehla khumaar
Naya pyaar hai naya intezaar
Kar loon main kya apna haal
Aye dil-e-bekaraar
Mere dil-e-bekaraar
Tu hi bata
Pehla nasha
Pehla khumaar
After spending a day encompassed by Nandini's thoughts and music,he reached space thrilled and nervous at the same time.
" Hey dude!!What's up?"Cabir appeared in front of Manik as he was moving to his class.
" Hey Bro!!"Manik replied hugging Cabir unable to hide his eagerness from the eyes of very own Sherlock of space.
"May I know the reason behind your extra vibrant smile?"Cabir asked cheekily,though having a fair idea about the 'reason' whom he met not a while ago,who was being all fidgety and nervous.
" I'm happy to just see you my dear friend."Manik replied playfully.
" Oh I'm overwhelmed "Cabir said going all dramatic . He will soon make him spill the actual reason,he vowed to himself . He soon left after a little babble . Manik reached his class,took his usual seat his eyes constantly on the entrance anticipating Nandini's arrival.A few minutes after which Nandini arrived felt like eons to Manik . He sure was a goner now.
" Hi Nandini " He greeted her as soon as she reached their seat,practising all his will control to stop himself from taking her in his embrace.
" Hi."Nandini replied barely concealing her nervousness . Her nervousness was tangible enough to throw Manik into pits of earlier uncertainty of his act bearing unwanted fruit.He readied himself to answer her question,only that it never came.
" So how was Sunday?"Nandini asked in an attempt to get rid of her useless nervousness and make things Normal with Manik.
"It was great.Absolutely refreshing . I think I derived energy for whole week sleeping and relaxing whole day . What about yours?"Manik took her cue and helped her restore normalcy between them, which he knew was impaired a little.
" Mine was great too . Seniors organised another of my little concert,yesterday which I enjoyed a lot." And thus they fell into an easy conversation again and enjoyed the class,relived of their insecurities . One soul wallowing in the blissful feelings and the other determined to chase them away.
'Love planted a rose and the world turned sweet.'
Katherine Lee Bates
So sorry for delayed update guys.I was travelling on Saturday to come home for the holi break,I reached yesterday,slept most of the time and spent remaining time with my parents.Therefore this delay.
Now that the chapter is posted I hope you all liked it. Do leave your thoughts guys!!
Awaiting your feedback
Thank you!!!!
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