Posted:
Chapter 13
Paradise!!!
This was the headmost descriptive to ingress into Nandini's brain for this particular hall in the Ahuja mansion, housing every kind of music gizmo in the world. The methodologically well classified sections of different instruments complimented the aesthetically designed hall. The professionally sculptured built - in recording studio made Nandini's open mouth go into a spasmodic mode and her eyes widen with thrilling surprise.
"You've got your personal recording studio,Mukti!!!!This music hall of yours is heaven,the music Eden.God!!!!I am so envious of you,you Draceana sanderiana ."Nandini said as soon as her muscles got back to normal functioning and her surprise echoed in the form of unusually high pitched voice of hers.
" Draceana,the lucky bamboo plant representing the fortune,hmmm,I love it when people talk to me in my language and honey,I highly doubt you're capable of containing the feelings like envy in that tiny body of yours but still if you are at it,you don't have to be jealous .Haven't you heard that song Jo tera hai wo mera hai,jo mera hai wo tera hai . You are always welcome to this Music Eden of yours."Mukti said making Nandini feel proud and overwhelmed at the bond they both have come to share.
" Really!!I love you so much.Urm,I was wondering how did this music hall marked its existence,here?Oh,I just realised I do not completely hate History."Nandini asked Mukti as she never saw such thing as a music hall at anyone's house especially at a businessman's.
" Well,the paternal side of my family has been ardent shipper of this magical sail of harmonious symphony . My great grandfather was a renowned musician of his time,my grandfather ,a trained wanna be singer,when couldn't make it to the music industry as a singer,established music label company of his own.My dad too joined his league and inherited the love for music along with the company . He is an awesome singer apart from being a skilled businessman . This music hall was built by my grandpa and given the current glory by dad . That's how this music Eden of yours stand before you."Mukti said with pride filled voice as she spoke about her family heritage with great reverence.
" Wow, that sounds great and beautiful. Now that we know you are made up of genes containing love for music , let those genes express themselves and let's get to the practice . Wonder where is Manik?Why isn't he here yet?" The beautiful ambience and the lovely story behind this beauty didn't stop Manik's thoughts to enter her mind,which has become entirely permeable to his thoughts without any sort of filter.
" I'm wondering the same . The ever - punctual Manik Malhotra late,is something to worry about."Mukti said,thinking about a suitable prank in the name of punishment for the first-time-ever-late Manik.
"Ease out of your worries,girls . I am right here standing behind you for the past 15 minutes, listening to the tale behind this captivating place."Manik's charming voice boomed in the hall making the girls turn back,Nandini swifter than Mukti,parallel to the speed of her heart beats.
"That means you're not late and I can't punish you."Mukti said in a voice as if her five year old version didn't get her favourite candy.
" Hello to you too Mukti . Hey Nandini."Manik replied Mukti in a sarcastic manner and wished Nandini soft as silk.
" Hi Manik."Nandini replied in her honey laced voice sweetness of which melted Manik's insides.
After exchanging pleasantries the trio immersed themselves into the sea of their passion . The different zones of the hall helped them concentrate on their specific genres . Mukti,being a devoted jazz adherent,chose contemporary jazz to perform,Manik decided on college rock wanting to present something out of league keeping his style intact,while Nandini singled out a well adept Thumri for her performance . After practicing for almost two hours separately,the three of them started practicing together,working on the problems of the other simultaneously,as was the purpose of this group exercise.
" Take a little kitkat break ,kids . Have some drinks and snacks and then go back to your sessions."Mrs Aparna Ahuja entered the room carrying a tray of snacks in her hands ,presenting the image of an ideal soap opera-ish housewife to Manik and Nandini . The crazy side of her personality constituting a major part of Mukti's DNA,known to the inhabitants of Ahuja mansion only.
" Wow,mom you are looking just like that female protagonist from your favourite daily soap,except for a little extra fat under your skin."Mukti teased Aparna earning a slap from her as she handed cold drinks to her friends,who were amused at their funny banter . Aprna's warmth and care always made Nandini miss her mom and Chachi while left Manik with wishful thoughts of his mom spending some time with him having such banters . After having given the trio a relaxing break,she left taking Mukti with her to attend to her dearest garden leaving the other two all by themselves .Aparna loved and tended the plants,some as her children and others like her guardians.
" So that's why Mukti treats plants like her people . I must say Mukti is a product of very fine ingredients."Manik said to Nandini after the mother daughter duo left referring to Aprna's love for flora transmitting to Mukti.
" So true,Manik.Love for music and plants run equally in her blood.Okay let's get back to the practice now."Nandini replied chuckling and resumed with her guitar playing . Mukti and Manik were trying to get Nandini congrous with the guitar strings . As she fumbled with the strings again,Manik held her hands from the back,made them strum and fret the strings as perfect as the synchronization of his hands with her smaller yet befitting ones . Nandini,feeling herself floating in the divine abyss of his proximity,prayed hard to root herself to the breaking threads of self control . The sound of her loud heart beats was threatening to surpass that of produced by the guitar . Her toes curled and body tensed due to massive adrenaline rush in her bloodstream induced by Manik's rhythmic heart beats clearly reaching her ears and his breaths fanning her neck . She felt a little scared of the abnormal functioning of her body but she was,now fully aware of the root of this anomaly and was on a way of figuring out a solution to it.
Manik did not know how his hands were acting on the guitar on their own accord,because his senses were totally attuned to the lady in his arms,technically . Her silk tresses playing with the features of his face made his heart flutter with excitement . The warmth radiating from her body evoked the burning sensations in him ,his self control on the verge of melting as a result. Both stood absorbed in the magical halo created by the contiguity of the other,having lost the semblance of Time and Space.
Mukti entered the hall to find the duo lost in what seemed like soft music produced by the guitar but the spark between the two finally making way to her till now blind eyes . She made a mental note to discuss this crucial issue with Cabir and set up further course of action,till that she decided to let the couple rest in peaceful romance.
" Hey guys!!Good job with the guitar . We should leave a little of the practice for rest of the days and pack up for today . Shall we?"Mukti said,feeling bad at having to interupt their little moment . Her voice brought Manik and Nandini back to the Earth,making both of them feel conscious . They looked at each other,hoping that their secret feelings remained secret within this no control moment, though something passed between the two at their eye contact which, both chose to ignore,lest they prove to be wrong.
"Yes Mukti ." Both of them said in unison regrouping themselves . "We're done for today."They stated at the same time again and didn't speak next time giving the other the chance to speak."We'll be heading home now."They again spoke at the same time when the other one didn't chose to speak . Mukti burst into laughter at their confusion filled adorable expressions.
" You two are so cute . Come have dinner,first and then leave . Manik,you are dropping of Nandini."Mukti Commanded them,putting them out of the awkward situation.
Mukti and Aparna walked Manik and Nandini outside after having a scrumptious dinner. Nandini stopped at a mini rose garden amidst the vast field inhabited by several hundreds of plants.
" Mukti,may I please,please ,please take a rose,just one please."Nandini pleaded to Mukti like everytime she visits Ahuja mansion but is never granted the permission.
" No way,Nandini not a single rose will be separated from its mother plant . It anyways is night . How can you even think of disturbing the peacefully sleeping plants?"Mukti said agitated at the mere thought of this hineous sin.
Nandini tried to convince Aparna in vain . Her pleas are always rejected by the mother and daughter,yet she never stop trying . Roses are her weakness that she can never overcome .Manik saw her pouting face at not getting her wish fulfilled . She made such a beautiful picture that he found it very hard not to cuddle her and kiss her.
Her love for roses made it to the first position in gather-all-the-Nandini -facts list,as first step towards his wooing mission.
After bidding goodbye to Ahuja ladies,Manik and Nandini made way to her hostel . Although they talked about Ahujas in the car,their heart and mind was still revelling in the moment that made a permanent mark in their memory . Nandini didn't realize when Manik took a different turn . She realized it only when he stopped the car all of a sudden at an unknown place.
" Manik ,why have you stopped the car and this isn't way to my hostel.Nandini said panicking at having thought they lost the way.
"Nandini,relax . We're not lost . I have some important work to carry out here . Just wait in the car,I will be back soon " Manik said calming her a bit and got out of the car swiftly . Nandini's eyes followed him and her heart skipped a beat when she saw him entering a flower shop and picking the same red Indian roses as those at Mukti's . Her heart and brain,for the first time worked in complete synchronization,granting full acceptance to her still unnamed feelings for this unbelievably handsome inside out boy.
Nandini readily accepted the roses as he wordlessly handed it to her.Strangely,they didn't find the need of any word as they relished their feelings through this little yet significant gesture . Manik felt indescribable joy at the ready acceptance of roses filing him with the hope of allied acceptance of his feelings too . Nandini was simply overwhelmed and beyond happy that her feelings felt so right and justified.
Manik started driving towards her hostel,ecstatic to bring the unparalleled smile on his girl's face.No words were exchanged between them until Manik saw Nandini taking out one petal after the other and eating them.
" Nandini are you actually eating ROSES !!!!!!"Manik said astonished . He never heard or saw anyone eating flowers . His girl was really one piece on the globe,he sealed the biggest fact about her.
" Yeah,I love eating them . They are my favourite . Nothing and absolutely nothing can match their taste in the entire world . I can eat them like 24*7 as breakfast, lunch or dinner . I know it sounds crazy,but it's true . I am so very used to that look,you're giving me . Anyone who gets to know about it,gives me a look that says are you an alien?But I am not,okay."Nandini replied sheepishly.
" You are incredible. Do you eat only roses or other flowers also?"Manik asked still stunned.
" Only red Indian roses . Nothing else."Nandini replied laughing at Manik's bewildered expressions.
" Ohkay."Manik said thoroughly amused at the new found information about his girl ,noting down second fact about her in his list. He made a mental note to ask his gardener to grow Red Indian roses in his garden in abundance and to visit the florist next day onwards.
They reached the hostel soon with Nandini having ate half a dozen of roses and Manik enjoying her blissful face while eating them.
" Bye Manik,Thank you so very much for the delicious roses . Good night."
"Bye Nandini . Good night . see you tomorrow."Manik replied grinning at her adorable petal filled mouth.
Nandini reached her room,mouth filled with roses and heart filled with bubbling joy . These confusion free feelings felt magically beautiful . She was in love with these feelings .Love , are these feelings the budding phase of love!!!
Oh Kanha!!!!!!!!!!
Love is friendship that has caught fire.It is quiet understanding,mutual confidence,sharing and forgiving.It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.
Ann Landers
Hello lovely people out there.Thank you so so so much for all the love and support you guys provided me and this story with.Life is back to the track and I am finally here with next chapter.Some of you misunderstood the last part of my note.I am not giving the story an abrupt ending.I will write it the way I have planned it all along.
Now please read the next chapter and tell me did you guys like it?I have given a pretty long update.I hope it makes up for the delay.
Awaiting your feedback
Thank you all awesome readers.
