Hello, I am Reya. This is the first time I am making an entrance in the KHY2 forum. I actually didn't know about this show a few days ago but MaNan vms would show up on youtube from VMers I watch regularly. So then I decided to watch the show and I got hooked. I watched the entire show till date in the span of 4 days. What emotions most of you experienced over the span of months, I did in just days and what a roller coaster. I am so so so hooked onto MaNan and KHY2 in general.
And when I find a new love, my mind gets hit hard with ideas. And this idea came to me and when a idea comes, a girl gotta write.lol. Not sure how it turned out but I wrote in a one sitting so mistakes will definitely be there.
Do let me know how you folks liked it. And if you made it this far without closing the thread, then you might as well read my imagination on new found love. 😳
~~~
In utter darkness, he flicked it on and suddenly his bedroom ceiling was filled with bright light. Bright stars to be precise. He cradled her gifted lamp on his chest as if he was holding his sweet Nandu and laid down on his bed staring at the ceiling.
He had loved the gift she had given him on Diwali, she had gifted more than just brightness that night. She had given him a reason to smile, to laugh. She had actually called his smile beautiful. That night, what a special night it had been. He remembered how breathtaking she looked in the black and white traditional ghagra/choli twirling in his living room. He remembered he had said that she was looking equally beautiful as the stars. He had lied. His shining star outshone all the other stars. It was one of the most precious moments, a moment that had defined both her innocence and beauty.
When he felt that he couldn't stare at the star lit ceiling a moment longer, he let his eyes shut but the ceiling was still bright with stars and the moment was so much sweeter with Nandini in his arms beneath him, fighting to get free. He absolutely loved the feeling of her petite, much softer body brushing his much more contoured body but it was always her eyes that left him spellbound. He knew, deep down he always knew, the moment he stared into the pools of heaven her eyes were, he would be forever trapped in them. He leaned in to kiss her but suddenly his eyes snapped open and Nandini was gone. Nothing more than a dream.
He flicked off the lamp and found himself engulfed in darkness as the breeze danced with his curtains. Soon, the sound of his breathing and the breeze were the only sounds heard. He felt his eyes burn with tears but he fought them. Reaching for his phone, he texted her.
Manik: Where are you ? Missing your brightness. It's so dark without you.
He waited a minute and then another minute and then he called her. Her chirpy voice greeted him, but rather her voicemail:
" Hello, you have reached Nandini Murthy so leave a message, except if you are Monster Manik, don't leave a message. Okay, bye"
"Okay, listen Nandini. I said sorry already, didn't I ? You were right as always and I was wrong. Why are you still mad, baby ? Monster Manik misses his sweet Nandu. Come back...please baby, please come back."
Defeated, he set his phone next to his pillow and reached his black duvet, covering himself. He felt the cloth; the same cloth had once provided warmth to Nandini when she slept under his bed. He chuckled despite himself; only his sweet Nandu would hide under a bed of all places. He cuddled closer hoping the black duvet would provide some warmth but it paled in comparison to Nandini and the comfort and warmth she always gave him. But nonetheless, he closed his eyes and prayed that fatigue would take over.
*********
As the new day started, Manik Maltorta entered the college at 7:00 am sharp. Despite knowing that she wouldn't be waiting for him by the stairs behind the music block, he still rushed almost colliding with a sweeping janitor. Slightly breathless, he collapsed on the empty stairs letting his back rest against the wall.
He hardly slept last night but now he felt exhausted. He let his fatigue take over and his eyes drifted shut and her sweet scent overwhelmed him at once but he didn't dare open his eyes lest she disappeared again. He felt her sit next to him, their legs touching. She soothed the frown that was between his eyebrows. She treaded their fingers together and clasped his hand. He felt her lips against his cheek as she kissed him softly.She whispered, " I love you, Manik."
And then she was gone, gone as quietly as she had come. He opened his eyes to find Cabir watching him with sad eyes. Silently, Cabir held out a hand. Manik knew his friend understood. Cabir had understood Manik and Nandini's love long before they had even acknowledged it. Not needing to hide his tears, he let them run down his face as he reached for his best friend's hand and let himself get pulled into a much needed hug.
*********
After a long jam session with Fab 5, Manik felt somewhat normal. Music was only the only thing that managed to soothe him now. Music understood his pain, his sorrow and when he sang, he found a release. He could cry out for Nandini hoping she would somehow hear him. He wandered the college knowing exactly where he was going. He was going to another place in hopes of finding Nandini.
He opened the music room and let himself in, locking the door. He settled on one side of the stool and opened the lid to reveal the piano keys. He fingered them slowly as soft music drifted out. He closed his eyes and let the music take over. His fingers played a complex piece, he had learned to play the paino with more finesse because his Nandini had always liked it. As he fingered the last chords and the music rang out, he felt a soft, petite hand cover his. He smiled through the tears still not opening his eyes. Her fingers reached out to his wrist. He knew what she was looking for. She fingered the tie music notes charm he still wore on his wrist till this day. In his eyes, they were still together, still connected by an invisible bond of love like the music notes.
*********
As the sky darkened, the day ended and the night took over. Manik shed all pretences of normalcy and his eyes filled with hot tears. Not wanting to pass another night in agonizing pain, he made up his mind. He was going to see her ! He slowed to a stop as he reached the Murthy residence. Turning off his car, he sat and stared at her bedroom window.
A tiny part of his heart hoped she would appear at the window gesturing him to leave with a frown on her face, her eyes throwing daggers.. His tiny spitfire with her hair open and in her baby pink tank top she most often wore ( his personal favourite). But her bedroom light was off but he saw the cool night breezing blowing her curtains softly. Grabbing his wooden box, he settled himself on the bonnet of his car much like he had spent so many nights laying with Nandini staring at the stars. As a drunk Nandini had once claimed that her fireflies were better than his stars "You..you forget about these stars. You stay with me, humesha and I will, I will shine for you." But as he stared at the star lit sky, he knew his stars were better. His only shining star, the bright star in the sky was shining just for him. His Nandini.
Flashback
He called her yet again. Frankly, he had lost count since last night that he encountered the same stupid voicemail message. " Hello, you have reached Nandini Murthy so leave a message, except if you are Monster Manik, don't leave a message. Okay, bye"
Damn it, he slammed his palm against the steering wheel as he drove past the Murthy residence after waiting an hour to pick her up for college. Okay, so maybe the voicemail wasn't stupid at all. She was right, as always. He had been Monster Manik last evening. The problem had been Nyonika and he had lashed out at Nandini when she was just being his sweet Nandu and trying to calm him down. Rather than fixing his mistake, No no, Manik Maltorta doesn't make mistakes. Instead, he flirted and danced with Sohaa at the ablum launch party. Fab 5 had worked on the ablum for about a year before it was ready to be launched. Last night, Fab 5 had officially launched their ablum but Manik's victory wasn't sweet enough without Nandini's smile.
She had left the party early, angry and upset with him for more than one reason. He had given her space last night. Okay, no, he hadn't given her space. He had called her numerous times until she turned her phone off after setting a new voicemail for 'Monster Manik'.
Today, he knew she already left for college despite the fact that they went to college together. Yes, this is probably the start of his punishment. He wouldn't be surprised if the girl would make him grovel on his knees one day. And by the looks of it, the day is probably not very far away. He parked the car in hast when he saw her getting off an auto across the street.
"Nandini !", he called out and he saw her frown face from far away. Damn, his girl is still pissed at him. Better grovel now than to spend the rest of the day without her. "Nandini !!", he called out to her as he tried to cross the busy street, avoiding the cars..
She took a hesitant step or two towards him before her eyes widened and she ran full speed towards him. "Manik !"
Unable to understand the urgency in her voice, he stood there unable to move an inch. He was in a sort of trance, afraid that she would vanish if he blinked his eyes. "Manik !"
Then, out of nowhere, she pushed him to the side with hulk like strength. He landed on the side of road and a spilt second later; a truck came slamming towards Nandini knocking her off her feet. Manik watched helplessly as his Nandini flew a few meters and hit the ground with a deafening thud.
Scrambling to his feet unsteadily, he ran to her, and pushed at the crowd that had gathered around.
As she came to view, he only saw red; a pool of red rapidly growing. She lay there, motionlessly "Nandini !!" he raced to her, cradling her head in his hands, taking into his arms, "Nandini, look at me..look at me. Baby, open your eyes." She was bleeding so profusely he wasn't sure where the blood was coming from. His hands were wet with blood as he cradled her head. She was loosing so much blood , every second was precious. "CALL THE AMBULANCE !", he yelled in a desperate plea.
Her eyes slowly drifted open, a small ghost of a smile touched her lips, "Manik", she whispered weakly.
"Nothing will happen to you, you hear me ? Nothing will happen to you. Just keep your eyes open and look at me.", He stared down at her, desperate for her to stay awake. He didn't realize he had been crying until she kept blurring before his eyes. "SOMEDAY, CALL THE AMBULANCE !"
"Nandini, please stay awake." Her eyes fought to comply his plea. "Don't leave me, Nandini." His vision blurred every few seconds with tears and he blinked them away, refusing to her fade in front of his eyes. "You hear me ? Don't you dare leave me ! Please baby."
She weakly reached out for his hand and he gave it to her, holding it tightly. "I..I will never leave you, Manik. The brightest star every night, that's gonna be me. A--always fighting the darkness. I will always be your...shining...shining star." He cradled her closer kissing her lips, wishing he could breathe life into her. "I will shine...shine for you. Humesha. Nandini...p-promise." And with that one last promise, she breathed her last in his arms.
*********
He blinked but the tears kept flowing. His sweet Nandu had left him to fulfill a promise to always be with him by being his shining star. "The brightest star every night, that's gonna be me. A--always fighting the darkness."
He snapped open the wooden box, his fingers reaching for the bracelet. The tie music bracelet he gave her when they had started a new beginning. He fingered the music notes and his heart begged her silently: "Please come back, I need you, Nandini."
The day he somehow got through but whenever the night fell, his memories ached his heart and cried out for Nandini. Without her, he neither lived peacefully nor could he die. Next in the box was her phone that kept running just so he would hear her beautiful voice telling Monster Manik not to leave a message. He knew she had set the evening of their fight and the next morning, she was gone forever.
But when he stared at the brightest star in the sky, he couldn't help but think how the twinkle of the star matched the shine Nandini's innocent, mischievous eyes use to have. Was she really up there ? Gone forever but never away from him.
"I will always shine for you. Humesha, Manik.", She gathered his hands in her palm and looked at him. And they stared into each other's eyes for long moments and honestly, Manik thought she saw his soul in her eyes. "Nandini promise. I will always be your shining star."
Her eyes shone with such honesty and innocence that Manik wanted to tell her that she was already his shining star but in the moment, he simply brought their faces close and expressed his gratitude. But had he known he would have died to keep her promise, he would have lashed out at her in typical Monster Manik' attitude.
He went to the passage seat and picked up the jar of fireflies. He stared at them, glowing brighting in the darkness.
"Fireflies only glow when it's true love." Nandini's words echoed in his heart and he felt peace as he cradled the jar of fireflies close to his heart. Nandini would always remain his true love. She had died in his arms but she kept her promise. She is, and will always be the brightest star of his life. She would never leave him alone. Manik and Nandini were two people but their souls would forever be connected.
She will always be his star. How could she not shine for him? Even as she burned, she still shone bright for him. After all, a Nandini promise is a Nandini promise. Always meant to be kept. Humesha.
~~~
Yup, a sad OS to enter the KHY2 forum but I sincerely hope you peeps enjoyed it
I may write more on MaNan depending on the response and inspirations and ideas MaNan may give me. If you are interested in more, do leave a comment below.
Much love,
Reya <3
Edited: Other Manan Pieces
His Light: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kaisi-yeh-yaariaan/4321796/manan-os-his-light
Connected Hearts: https://india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4370726
Her Shadow: https://india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4378563
Hamari Adhuri Kahani: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/kaisi-yeh-yaariaan/4442402/manan-os-hamari-adhuri-kahani
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