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Hola friends!!!😊
I am back with another os. A big thank you to all for liking my last os 'Chalk and Cheese' https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kaisi-yeh-yaariaan/4279636/os-chalk-and-cheese-last-part-updated..
PART 1
"Kya kar rahi ho MANAAAN"..
Cabir greeted while making himself comfortable on the back seat of manik's car..
"It's Manan Cabir.."Said the wierd people in unison..
"Okay! Manan!..Wait a minute..I thought you don't like it when i call you both that.."
"Ha, woh..Iska matlab todina hai,you keep quoting it wrong!..I mean nandini
ko kaisi lagegi..You are linking my name with someone other than her
dude!.."
"Why should she feel bad?..I mean you both are 'friends' as per your
language..Toh it's not a big deal! kyu nandini?"
Her face said other wise..This why you both are wierd!Cabir amused..
"Cabir, just shut up okay.."
"Aree , tumhare 'Friend' etne hyper kyu ho rahi hai nandini..Tumlogone aaj
special friendship lessons nahi li??"
"kya, Kya lessons?"..Nandini stuttered
"What you mean Cabir?.." Manik shot him menacing glares through rear view mirror..
"I mean what I said MANAAN..Woh jo special fraandship lessons hoti haina
tum dono ki..Hum tum ek kamre mein bandh ho types..Yaad aaya ki yaad
dilaoo??..
Cabir rubbed his hands in glee watching their face donning the brightest
shade of red..Blushing Manik is an 8th wonder..He amused..
It's not that cabir needed any reason to tease these two specimens..But he
got a meaty premise to tease when he walked accidentally in to one of their
missed kiss attempts right after their iconic friendship declaration..And
cabir wouldn't be cabir if he let it go just like that..He needed this
weird couple to confess their feelings..He was getting odd symptoms of
numerous diseases after manik swore on Fab 5 about his and her
friendship..To die young was the last thing cabir wanted in his life..
"Achha, jo karne aya woh kare.."Manik said as if to escape from cabir's
constant teasing..
"Ha wohi,tum batao nandini, why you called me to teach driving..Last time
you went alone with manik,right?
"Issliye cabir..Don't you know your friend?"
"Oh yeah..he would have given you friendship lessons instead of driving
lessons ,right..I warned you,He has one track mind"
"Cabir.."
No one messes with angry manik..
"Okay..I'll be serious batao meri friend ki fraand.."
"Your friend looses his patience quite easily and start throwing temper
tantrums.."
"I don't"
"You do"
"I don't.."
"OKKAY!..Gaddi ko aage jane do!I understand your frustration nandini..I
totally understand.."
Cabir said and winked at manik who was shooting deathly
glares at him..
"Ha , so I was telling that , I can't concentrate on driving once he starts yelling at me..SO whenever he starts yelling You take over as instructor.."
"Ok cool nandi.."
"She is not nandi.."
"tera kya jaata hai..Do you have any problem nandi?.."
"No cabir.."
"see, she doesn't have any.."
"whatever.."
"Toh start kare miss nandini moorthi.."
"Okay.."
Part 2
Nandini prayed to her aiyyapa for a good long 5 minutes..After that accident she always had a panic when it comes to driving cars..But she decided to overcome her fear
for the sake of her loved ones..Going through the helplessness she suffered when manik lied unconscious in farm house was the last thing she ever wanted to
revisit..
"Ready?"
"Yes cabir.."
"Wait.."
Manik stopped her from turning the ignition on and moved close to her..Her eyes widened at this..
"Wha..what are you doing.."
"I need to do it.."
"Should I give you both some privacy?..I can wait outside..".
Cabir suggested even though he had no intention to move an inch from his seat..
"Shut up cabir.."
Manik raised his hand and moved a little more closer to her face with his eyes boring in her jet black orbs..The tension in air was so palpable that cabir craned his
neck as if to get a good view of what is happening in front seat..
Creases on nandini's face replaced with adoration when Manik's hand went past her face and buckled her securely with seat belt..
"Socha tha animal planet dekhenge, yaha tho gyaan darshan chal raha hai..Cabir murmered in dissappointment.."
"Tune kuch kaha.."
"Meine?..No..Bhala kisiki koi majjal ki bath kare jab manik jahampana yaha ho.."
"Cabir.."
"Okaay!Shuush.."
Cabir said while keeping finger across his lips..
"Shall I start car now?.."
Nandini asked while placing her finger on ignition button..
"How will you start the car?.." Manik asked in a playful tone..
"By pressing this button.."nandini said innocently..
"Accha ..So easy na..?where's your left foot?.."
Nandini looked down at her left foot and said "Right here.."
"Nandini.." Manik gestured with his eyes hoping that she would understand what he was trying to convey..
"What are you supposed to keep in control while starting the car?"
"Mei bolu.." Cabir got excited like a first grader..
"Nahi..Nandini bolegi"
"Umm steering wheel?.."
Manik shook his head and roamed his hand through hair in frustration..
"mei bolu.."
"Okay you tell.." Manik said to cabir while trying to keep his temper under check..
"Alcahol content..Peekay gadi nahi chalana chahiye..First and foremost rule..Par manik, nandini toh sirf bournvita piti hai..Why are you saying this to her?.."
"SHUTUP Cabir.."Manik was blaming his stars by this time..
He kept his eyes closed for a while and calmed himself down..
"Nandini you should apply clutch, while pressing the ignition button.."
"Sorry manik..I forgot.."Said nandini in a dejected tone.
Manik felt angry at himself for making her feel sorry..
"It's not your fault baby..It happens.."
Cabir choked on the sandwich he was having on hearing 'Baby'..
"Yaar manik, tune kabhi mujhe baby nahi bola..Even I am your friend.."
Cabir decided to pull his friend's leg only to be answered with a 'one word more and I'll pull your tongue out' look..
"Okay Nandu..Now you try to start the car.."
Nandini kept her left foot over the clutch and extended her hand to turn on ignition only to be slapped it away by manik..
"Aren't you forgetting something else?.."
"Ab kya Manik?.." Nandini asked in a irritated tone..
"That you should figure out.."
"Manik we are not playing KBC here..Just tell me damn it"
Cabir's eyes widened looking at fierce nandini..Little did he know that he got to see the real nandini which she was only around manik..
"Woah..Now I know , what happened behind the scene..Sirf rang alag hai..Maal toh ek hi hai..
"What..what maal? Manik and nandini asked together..
"I was talking about my sandwich yaar..Dekho I bought one with some weird name the other day..It was same to same as this one..Only name was different.."
Manan rolled their eyes at him and resumed their serious lessons..
"Nandini, did you check the gear position? See..It's not on neutral.."
Nandini looked at manik with puppy eyes and tried to mouth a sorry which got shushed by manik..
"No more sorry..And I never want you to say sorry to me for anything, kyunki.."
"Kyunki..Fraandship mein no sorry..Heina manik.."Cabir decided to amuse himself.
"Cabir , why don't you take a nap for a while?..We will call you when needed"
"Nandini..Did you hear what he said?.."
"I think he is right cabir.."
"
Zindagi hamein tera, aitbaar na raha, aitbaar na raha "Dost dost na raha, pyaar pyaar naa raha
Cabir lied down on the back seat humming a song ..Time to take a short break..Lekin picture abhi bhi baki hai mere dost!
Part 3
"Now it's on neutral..try to start the car..Keep the clutch pressed"
Nandini double checked everything once more so that her monster wouldn't scold her this time..
She smiled proudly at him when she finally got the task done..
"Good job.."
"Nandini moorthy always does good job.."
"achha..I will give answer for this once you start driving..Now change the gear and apply a little bit of accelartion"
Nandini changed the gear like a pro and released clutch slowly only to get the car stalled with a loud noise.
"Kya hua.."
"patha nahi.."
Manik looked at her and smiled.."i thought you can do a good job.."
"Car ka problem hogi.."
"Car ka problem nahi hai..Hand ka problem hai.."He kept his hand above her left hand which was holding the gear..
"Dekha..You have given 3rd gear instead of first.."
"Oh I know..There won't be enough torque to get engine moving if i directly apply higher gears ..maine pada tha.."
Manik looked at her like he was seeing some alien.
"What?.."
"Nothing..I had forgotten that you got hundred in science..Thank you for reminding me..!."
"Ye maine how to drive manual me pada tha.."
"Whaat..?" Cabir and Manik exclaimed in unison while nandini looked at them with 'what is wrong with you guys' expression.
"Bro..Teriwaali humesha se aisi thi..?" Cabir asked manik in a low voice..
"Haa.."
"You know what, i got an idea to get you out of this friends tag.."
"kya.."Manik asked with a new found hope on his face.
"Gift her with a how to date manual!.."cabir winked at fuming manik and got whacked on head..
"It hurts man.."
"thank your stars that i only did that much"..
"Nandini..try to start it once more.."
"Okay.."
This time nandini moorthy got it right..Car started moving forward to everyone's joy..
"Nandini.."
"hmm.."
"you can use the gear and accelarator ,They won't feel bad..kyu manik?"
Manik looked at nandini who was pressing her lips together, trying to concentrate on road.She looked cute with all that tension ridden on her face..
"You are doing a good job nandini..Don't worry and press the gas pedal.."Manik said while patting her arm in encouragement..
she did so, earning a collective thumbs up from manik and cabir..
"This is not that bad.." She said finally feeling relaxed and confident..
Manik looked at her lovingly and said.."I told you, this is not so difficult..All you have to do is..
The car jerked suddenly after hitting on a bump causing nandini to lose control..
"Nandini spin right..right damnit.."
"nandini I said left thum right kyun ja rahi ho..Marne ki irada hai kya?.."
"manik you told me to spin rightwards.."
"Whatever..Nandhini watch out..apply break damnit!!.."Manik shouted while trying to take control over steering before it hit a tree which appeared out of no where ..
He some how managed to divert the adversity, but nandini in panic pressed accelarater instead of break..
Cabir bumped in to manik causing both of them to yell in pain..
"Breaks damnit.."
"Manik tum mujhe dara rahi ho.."
"Ha tho mei chup rahu? Taki tum Hume vakt se pahle upar pohunchadu?.."
"Manik Can you please shut up..You are distracting me.."
"To isme meri kya galti hai..Road pe dekho, meri face pe nahi.."
Cabir wanted to be anywhere but here..Stuck in the middle of two weird people who was fighting even in a life or death situation.."Manik was never this weird!..Was I
this weird when I loved R?!..I hope not.."
He sighed and pulled the hand break causing the car to halt..
"See this is why hand break is given, for saving people like me, who are bound to loose their lives while travelling with lunatics like you.."
Nandini kept her head on the steering wheel and soon they could hear her sobbing..cabir looked at manik accusingly..Manik wanted to slap himself hard for making
nandini cry..Every time she cries he feels like thousands of needles pierced in to his heart..Yet every time he becomes the reason why she cries in first place..
"Time for some TLC.." Cabir tapped on manik's shoulder and went out of the car..
Part 4
"I can't take her silence any more..I can't watch her cry"..As always Manik Malhotra couldn't watch her in pain..Her sobs, the tear streaks on her cheeks,Her silence, her refusal to look at him; all killed him..
"If only it was easy for me to talk!.." He sighed..
In their relationship they talked..Something manik malhotra never did before..Not through lips..Through hearts..
And as days passed by, he could no longer bear any moment of her silence..He wanted her to talk to him all the time..Through those eyes where he could see the depth of his heart,through her laughs which reminded him of wind chimes,Through her gazes which conveyed him her pure unadulterated feelings;The one of a kind which he never knew to be existed before..The one which was not give and take..The one which was theirs instead of his or her..He was afraid to name it love..To tag it was to confine it..She was not just a lover for him;She was his soul mate , his teacher, his light , his sun shine, his protector, his star..
"Nandini, as always I snapped at you..I shouldn't have done that..koi justification nahi hai mere pass..As usual tum mujhe punch mar sakte ho.."
he pointed his cheek towards her in relief after being able to speak up..
Nandhini suddenly sat up straight and looked at manik angrily..
Manik was taken aback that nandhini looked angry instead of hurt..
"Seriously!..Tumhe yeh lagta hai ki punch marna mere usual routine hai..Mujhe koi khushi nahi milti hai manik..I punch you only when you deserve it!
Nandini yelled at him while tears kept rolling down her cheeks
It took two minutes for manik to process what she said..Nandini was not crying because he scolded her..He felt a sudden relief followed with an immense urge to crush the source of her agony..
"Agar mujhse naaraz nahi ho toh ,why are you crying nandini..?"
She didn't answer..Her eyes kept wandering anywhere but in his direction..
"Nandhini.."
"I was scared Manik.."
Once again her words agonized him..
"Scared of me..?"
"No.."
"Then..?"
"Scared of losing you..Scared of being the reason for it..If that happened.."
"If that happened,I would have been very angry with you..I don't want to die now..I need to live long..I have kept so much planned for our future.."
Said him pulling her in to a tight hug
"Like what?"Asked the curious sweetheart
"Like fighting with you every now and then..Teasing you whenever i want..hugging you like this to my heart's content..Taking you for night dates in beaches all over the world..Sharing every known flavor of ice cream with you..Watching stars with you whenever the sky is clear..Catching fireflies for you whenever you want..having filter coffee with you every morning..."
"Will we have enough time to do all this?.."
"No time is enough for me when it's you.."
He nuzzled her hair while she smiled and listened to his heart beat.Her favorite music in this world..
Time flew by unknown to these two people who were content just being in each others arms..
"Agar tum donom ka super saccharin love saga Khatam ho gaye hai to chale?, Zyada ruka toh mujhe diabetes ho jayega"
asked the impolite intruder whose name was cabir dhawan..
"When did you come?Knock karke nahi aa sakta.."
"Oh hello, bro..I knocked..Tere liye nahi..For my safety only..I am in no mood to see any adult scenes today!..
"Shut up cabir.."
"Chalo now that tum donom ki pyaar ki gaddi is on right track,lets go and find fuel for my ped ki gaddi..Bohut der se chilla raha hai.."
"You had food just 3 hrs back.."
"Voh sab digest ho gaya thanks to nandini murthi's oh so amazing driving skills.."
"Chup raho..Varna khana khane tak nahi bachega.."
"Okay food is love,I will stay mum..Keep romancing!.."
Part 5
Manik took over the driver's seat, while nandini and cabir got busy with car gps looking for a place to eat
"I think we should go for Mysore gardens..Chachi ne bataya tha ki their masala dosas are the best in mumbai"
"Masala dosa?!Tumhe kya mei saat sal ka buddha lagta hu..khana kya khaana jab kuch na chabaya..I need to eat chicken.."
"I can't eat chicken.."
"Kyu,Koi pichle janam ka dushmani hai chicken se...Oh, wait tum to vegetarian ho.."
"Ha, Thanks for remembering.."
"Remember usse kia jaata hai jise phoola ho nandini..I just can't get your face out of my mind jab manik ne tumhare sar par ande phode the.."Cabir said while laughing
amusingly..
"Not cool okay..That whole day I reeked of foul smell.."Nandini said looking at both of them accusingly..
"chalo Is khushi mei suno cabir das ka tadakta bhadakta doha..
Arz kiya hai..Arz kiya hai..
ek ande ne phoda pyaar ki baadal
Aur tip tip barse PaNi mei bheege ye do paagal"
Manik looked at her and smiled fondly remembering their face off days..Though they weren't good memories they were her memories..And everything about her was special
and memorable..
"Oye modern age majnu road pe dhyan de.."Cabir snapped his fingers at manik breaking his reverie, to which nandu blushed and suppressed her smile..
"Okay, as a consolation aaj mei tumhari pasand ka masala dosa khaonga.." Cabir said while poking nandini's forehead with his index finger
Nandini faked wincing with pain as usual and both giggled among themselves..
They had made a special bond out side of all 'my friend's girl' and 'my special one's friend' definitions..
For cabir she was the one outside fab5 with whom he could be himself without being judged..For her he was the voice of reason when manik's world overwhelmed her..
"Bro, aur kitna der hai, we are still on outskirts of mumbai.."
"Be patient cabir,it will take one hour.."
"Press the gas pedal bro.."
"I'm already on 60 cabir.."
"Make it 80.."
"I can't.."
"Make it 80.."
"I can't.."
"Why?..Tum to 90 ke niche kabhi jaata nahi tha"
"Nandu hates speeding cars"
"OH!..I thought car may have some problem.."
"Cabir.." Manan looked at him worriedly
"What?.."
Nandini just shook her head and kept her face in both hands..
"You both can't be serious..I mean 21st century mein who believes in these superstitions..And manik tu to bilkul nandini jaise ban raha hai.."
"I am not being superstitious cabir,..Tu hi bol..aaj tak tune jo bhi bad things kaha hai voh sab sach hua.."Manik said with a serious face to which nandini nodded her head in agreement
"Aree, meri todina galti thi ki nandini ke dress mei aag lag gaya..I just said kahi pyaar ki aag na lag jaye.."
"Aur tumhari first fraandship drive
date..I just told ki Apna saara power ek hi date mei mat waste karna..Ab mujhe kya pata tha that you will forget to check your fuel tank in excitement.." Cabir just shrugged and washed his hands off all the accusations..
Bam!!The car stopped in middle of road with a loud voice..
Manik and nandini looked at cabir like tiger ready to pounce at it's prey..
"Okay!shit happens..I admit.."Cabir said raising his hands above his head...
"Now don't look at me like that and call some one.." cabir said regaining his cool facade
"When shit happens , it happens in a row cabir.."Manik pointed at zero network coverage on his phone..
"None of the phones are working.." nandini panicked
"we are in serious trouble..I forgot to bring toolkit too..ab kya kare.."Manik asked
"I have a plan.."Cabir said and went out side the car..
Manan followed him as there was no other option left..
"They walked beside cabir who was walking while thinking something seriously..
"You didn't tell what is the plan?" Nandini inquired getting impatient
"this is the plan.."
"what..?"
"yaa..If we go this way we can reach mumbai in 5 hours..If we run we can reach in 3 hours.." cabir said in a matter of fact tone
"Abe teri to.." Manik lost his cool and cabir ran ahead of his grumpy pissed off friend and his tigress..
"Kya kare.."
"Aur koi option nahi hai..chale.."Manik enveloped her hand in his hand
"Waise nandini..Yeh itna bhi bura nahi hai.."
"ha.." They chuckled and winked at each other and started walking towards their far away destination..
part 6
It had been 1 hr since they started walking..Curiously enough they failed to get in touch with rest of fab 5 members..fluctuating network connection made it worse..
"kaha hai sab ?I can't believe none of them is answering the call" manik exclaimed
"what is there to not believe..sab meri tarah bina kam ke todina hai ki they will run around to baby sit you..chale gaye hoge kisi date pei.."cabir muttered in frustration
"kaha hai sab ?I can't believe none of them is answering the call" manik exclaimed
"what is there to not believe..sab meri tarah bina kam ke todina hai ki they will run around to baby sit you..chale gaye hoge kisi date pei.."cabir muttered in frustration
"i'm sorry cabir..meri wajah se tum bhi phas gaya..i don't know how to make it up to you"..Nandini said dejectedly
"acha,kitna sorry ho tum?toh mujhe pedpooja keliye kuch arrange kardo..then I will forgive you.."cabir said in a playful tone.
"biryani chalega??",Nandini asked with hopeful glint in her eyes.
"chalega nahi daudega,kaha hai?"cabir said excitedly..
"chalega nahi daudega,kaha hai?"cabir said excitedly..
"ghar pe..i swear i'll make it for you once we reach mumbai..tab tak please wait karona.."Nandini said with puppy eyes..
"agar tum kuch kar nahi sakti to bevaja hope kyu de rahi ho..tum aajkal bilkul manik jaisa sadist ban rahi ho Nandini..
"agar tum kuch kar nahi sakti to bevaja hope kyu de rahi ho..tum aajkal bilkul manik jaisa sadist ban rahi ho Nandini..
"what the!! You two need no reason to drag my name in between.."manik Malhotra rolled his eyes , closed his fist and cleanched his teeth..
"lo tumhara manik default mode pe aagaya .." cabir whispered to Nandini causing her to burst out laughing.
"what is so funny?.."frustration ringed in his voice..
"kuch nahi beta..yeh mere aur Nandini ki secret hai..haina Nandini.."cabir said putting his arms across manik's shoulder
At which manik yanked cabir away and walked away in huff..
"kuch nahi beta..yeh mere aur Nandini ki secret hai..haina Nandini.."cabir said putting his arms across manik's shoulder
At which manik yanked cabir away and walked away in huff..
"ha..i missed his pmsing so much..i thought you changed him for good.."cabir sighed..
"I wish it were that easy cabir"
"I know right?..manik na bohut teda hai..kaise bear karti ho tum.."
"teda hai par mera hai.."Nandini said in a firm tone clearly showing that noone even cabir can't berate manik in front of her..
"wow ab lag rahi ho lady monster
...cabir smiled and said
"
"cabir.. "
"sawrry...par serious note pe ek bath kahuu??"
"kya.?.."
"don't ever leave him.."
"i will not.."
"i knew ki tum jaldi peecha chutne nahi wali.."
"cabir,."
"aree mat maro Nandini.."am i a punching bag to both of you.."
Cabir whined and ran with Nandini chasing after him..manik shook his head and said to himself.."why me?!!"
"cabir rukoo.."
"no Nandini,pehle promise karo tum apma famous punch nahi marogi.."
"i thought you are hungry.."Nandini said mischievously
"punch khakar bhuk nahi jayega.."
"mango khakar jayega na.."Nandini said pointing towards the tree full of mangoes..
"okay.but how will we pluck it..?"
"fikar not..customized fruit plucking device haina.."cabir said
Manan exchanged confused glances at this
"oh Nandini,i was talking about yours truly monster."
"Tu bhooka mar ja.."Manik said to cabir and walked away flashing his evil smirk.
"Nandini.."cabir looked at her for help..
"koi bat nahi,I'll help you.."
"Kaise ?,don't tell me you are gonna climb it.."
"well,i am.."Nandini shrugged her shoulders while putting her feet on the trunk and pulling herself up the branch ..
Manik Malhotra couldn't believe his eyes..his coy nandu was climbing tree of all things he imagined her of not doing ever..
"Nandini,get off,right now.."he roared so loud that even mango tree shook in fear..
"Manik i know how to climb trees,so don't worry.."
"agar gir gayi toh..get off.."
"agar itna dar hai toh tum bhi aajao.."Nandini said cutely to which cabir laughed smugly..
"I wish it were that easy cabir"
"I know right?..manik na bohut teda hai..kaise bear karti ho tum.."
"teda hai par mera hai.."Nandini said in a firm tone clearly showing that noone even cabir can't berate manik in front of her..
"wow ab lag rahi ho lady monster
...cabir smiled and said
"
"cabir.. "
"sawrry...par serious note pe ek bath kahuu??"
"kya.?.."
"don't ever leave him.."
"i will not.."
"i knew ki tum jaldi peecha chutne nahi wali.."
"cabir,."
"aree mat maro Nandini.."am i a punching bag to both of you.."
Cabir whined and ran with Nandini chasing after him..manik shook his head and said to himself.."why me?!!"
"cabir rukoo.."
"no Nandini,pehle promise karo tum apma famous punch nahi marogi.."
"i thought you are hungry.."Nandini said mischievously
"punch khakar bhuk nahi jayega.."
"mango khakar jayega na.."Nandini said pointing towards the tree full of mangoes..
"okay.but how will we pluck it..?"
"fikar not..customized fruit plucking device haina.."cabir said
Manan exchanged confused glances at this
"oh Nandini,i was talking about yours truly monster."
"Tu bhooka mar ja.."Manik said to cabir and walked away flashing his evil smirk.
"Nandini.."cabir looked at her for help..
"koi bat nahi,I'll help you.."
"Kaise ?,don't tell me you are gonna climb it.."
"well,i am.."Nandini shrugged her shoulders while putting her feet on the trunk and pulling herself up the branch ..
Manik Malhotra couldn't believe his eyes..his coy nandu was climbing tree of all things he imagined her of not doing ever..
"Nandini,get off,right now.."he roared so loud that even mango tree shook in fear..
"Manik i know how to climb trees,so don't worry.."
"agar gir gayi toh..get off.."
"agar itna dar hai toh tum bhi aajao.."Nandini said cutely to which cabir laughed smugly..
"use nahi hoga nandi,..he is too afraid for that.."with this cabir climbed up the tree effortlessly and started savouring ripe mangoes..
Who would have thought Manik Malhotra would be too chicken to climb a tree!!
Time for yet another lesson..
last part
"Manik,just try once for me..put your feet on the trunk and pull yourself up ..nandini tried to make Manik listen for umpteenth time..
"ab ap dekh rahi hai field Mei mr Manik Malhotra ko jo Ki iss wakt badi nazuk form se guzar raha hai
.aasha hai Ki iss bar vo humsab ke ummedom mein khare utare.."
Cabir kept on his commentary while Manik tried yet another time
"mamma mat jaao.."a memory ringed in Manik's ears..
"I can't ,tum lok enjoy karo.."he went away, telling them in a resigned tone..
"meine kaha Tha na tum se..he can't do it..."
"kyu?.."
"tumhe seriously lagta hai mujhe pata hogi?.."
"tum uske bachpan ka dost ho cabir..if you don't know,then who else will know.."Nandini couldn't help but roll her eyes..
"Actually tum sahi ho..i am his childhood friend,but does that make me eligible to get hold of his darkest secrets?..no Nandini..manik never let his pain affect us..isliye toh mei usse mother hen Manik bulata hu.."
"cabir tumhe nahi lagta ki tum logon ko bhi kabhi uske liye mother hen hona padega?"
"ms. Nandini moorthi,uske liye tum hona.."
"mai?!"
"ha,tum.."
"mai kaise.."
"teek waise jaise hamesha se karti aayi ho..go ,punch him and demand for an answer.can't you see how he goes all meek in front of you.."
"aisa kuch nahi hai.."
"yeh then i am straight!!
Nandini didn't reply..she knew from within that cabir is right.. the Manik Malhotra he showed off to world is just a facade.. The real one is there sitting alone on the grass looking towards the setting sun ,waiting for her to come and sit next to him..
"do you know when it is true love?"
Cabir asked her
Nandini could never share her fireflies secret with cabir..it will be like jumping off a cliff ..being the blabber mouth he is,he could tease her using that on every opportunity he gets..
Nandini stayed mum and kept on looking at manik
"it's when someone takes you as an equal and trusts you with everything he has got..it's when you can show your most ugly and vulnerable side...that's why it can be only you for Manik.."
"i think he needs me.."said Nandini while picking some mangoes and keeping them inside her multipurpose jhola..
"Now that is like nerdy moorthy."cabir ruffled her hair like a big bro..
Manik malhotra hated trees..They triggered his unpleasant memories from childhood..as a child,he used to climb the largest tree in yard,looking at the faraway road,waiting for his mom to return from endless business meetings..
during his tender years,he saw his dad rarely..it was always mom for him..though he never understood why her hands never reach out to hug him first..why he was the last one she would enquire about on returning home..till the day he was dragged to court and asked to choose between mom and dad..
"trust me,tell that you will go with dad..mom will get you back in no time..i love you son.."
"humesha?.."asked little Manik with a hopeful glint in eyes
"humesha.."
His mother said..
But when he looked in to his father's indifferent eyes, Manik could hear himself uttering "i want to go with mom.."
That day was the last day Manik ever called her mom..
"you had to open your mouth and ruin everything for me .."
"mom.."
"don't call me that..you are nothing but a business deal for me.."
"i don't like keeping deals which don't profit me.."
That night she left and never came back for a month..
Not even when Manik fell ill when he waited up for her on the tree throughout the chilly night..
"manik.."Nandini called him in a small voice
"don't leave me.."he replied in spur still tangled in the web of past ..
She was surprised at the vulnerability in his voice..
"i won't.."
"humesha?.."
"Humesha.."
He needed that assurance..he wanted,she gave..
"pata hai Manik,meine pedh chadna kaise seekhi?"
"Ask me na.."
"kaise.."
"I was just 10 then..we had just lost our parents..amms ne mujhe aur rishabh ko manglore lekar aaya..mei toot gayi thi..par kabhi apna dard nahi dikha sakhti na..amms aur rishabh ka strong girl jo hoon..rishabh bohut bimar rahta Tha..jabhi rone ka mann karti Thi tab Mei sab se lambe pedh ke sabse upar branch pe chadti Thi..waha toh kabhi amms aur rishabh nahi aasakta na..said Nandini fighting back her tears..
"Nandini.."
"Manik.i know Ki kuch hai jo tum batana nahi chahti.."
Manik wanted to open up to her..tell her his deepest insecurities..
He signed and kept his head on her lap,and ever so naturally her hand reach out to roam through his hair..
"don't you resent me..?"
Nandini looked at him surprised
"itna difficult jo hu main.."
"ha woh toh hai..itna gussa karta hu..bath bath pei mujhe rulata hu.."
"toh tum mujhe chod dogi.."
"meine humesha kaha Tha..aur Nandini moorthy ek bar boldiya toh boldiya.."
fireflies glowed around them .. stars twinkled above them..
"mukti yaar ,thank god tumne phone utali..jaldi aajao tum..."
cabir walked towards the couple who were lost in their own world..
"um mukti actually one hour badh aana..kyu matlab kya..tabhi aana okey.."
cabir walked away without disturbing Manik and Nandini..afterall it is not a daily event for Manan to get some me time without interruptions from rest of the world..
Please see the note for readers on page 25
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my other works..
Os:Chalk and Cheese https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kaisi-yeh-yaariaan/4279636/os-chalk-and-cheese-last-part-updated
Os:Myriad of stars https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kaisi-yeh-yaariaan/4269136/cabini-os-myriad-of-stars
Drabble:Manik Malhotra's weather forecast #1https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kaisi-yeh-yaariaan/4239063/manik-malhotras-weather-forecast-1
Drabble:Manik Malhotra's Weather Forecast #2 https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kaisi-yeh-yaariaan/4264699/manik-malhotras-weather-forecast-2
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