The Devil.....(Edited)

Navyaaa...have to agree with you sweetie...yeh dono kabhi nahin sudhrenge!! 😳Give them a spare minute and off they go seeking each other...hugging...caressing...battling...making up...coochie cooing anywhere and everywhere (preferably on the stair case, but these two are not at all choosy...give them any corner, nook, corridor, class room, terrace, parking lot, store room, cafeteria, hospital, swimming pool, lawn, bedroom, green room,.ahem ahem bathroom...kabhi bhi, kahin bhi...😃)!! So Navya reads the law...legal separation for these two!! And Manik's face had me in splits...he simply could not believe his ears...out of the two he bullied a few months back...one has already killed him and now the other is planning to bruise him too...😆!! The look on his face...the monster trying to get back ...really so you are scared of him and not scared of me...demands the devil...Navya's response cracked me up...yup of course I am scared of you...but not as scared as I am of Mata Rani...Jay Mata Di..and in between she keeps on making sure that her friend does not turn around and glance at the devil, lest she be tempted...lol!! The brave warrior...err not Manik, not Nandini...Navya manages to snatch the prey from the Devil's claws and walk away ...with his Nandini...his Nandini???? Of course...idiot!!

And so goes Nandini from one darling devil to another sick one...this time the real one!! So he has decided to follow the she monster's advice..and play it soft...toy around with the mouse...he uses the trump, dragging Nandini's beloved Ams in the fray...the beginning of a new set of pressure tactics...straight from the horse's mouth!! Nandini is now being brain washed and cornered in a new way!! So dinner on the cards for TK...hope Chachi serves him well with her cooking skills...Killer Karela, Poison Peas, Acid Achaar, Cyanide Kachoombar...the menu can be set better by Manik...he will never run out of ideas while dealing with the Devil Teacher!!

The look on Nandini's face when TK points out that it was Dhruv's mistake..the incredulous relief...this pyscho is playing with Nandini's mind to such an extent that he has eroded all her confidence in her music, he has damaged her faith in her ability to such great lengths...that now every time something goes wrong..she believes she is to blame...God!! Hope Manik can help her restore her rhythm...assist her in finding her music again!!

Next scene...a much needed clue finally reaches Nandini...there were only four agarbattis in Dhruv's room...desperately hoping the gears and wheels start turning and churning in her brain and she starts putting two and two together or at least mentions the above to Manik...or to any one...someone needs to do something...anything??!!

Meanwhile Manik is lost...somewhere deep and dark...all the time Cabir trying to get his attention!! He keeps on replaying the sick touches and creepy advances of Pandit in his mind. His feels the urgency of the situation, he knows he needs to be next to her side, protecting her every moment from something so diabolical and slimy!! Trying his best to remove the obstacles in is path, so that he can be where he is needed the most!! Point to be noted...Dhruv was not the priority today...it was all about Nandini, Dhruv only being a means to an end..coz this guy knows where to put his heart and where to put his mind!!

So one devil pops out, and so does devil's aide (Dhruv...for now he is playing the role of assistant devil..i have nothing more to add) and devil's temporary monitor steps in...Navya...and of course...Shaitaan ka naam liya aur Shaitaan haazir...does she really believe that just taking Manik's name will make him appear out of thin air to seduce and tempt Nandini...😆...and lure her away...Well she is so ...right!! Coz out pops the darling devil out of the frame...doing a zillion ishaares to her Nandini...and what does our innocent Nandu do...use sign language, 100 words per second...a rendezvous is set...she has an appointment with the devil!! 😉 Navya's terrific ishtyle...kya baat hai!!

The devil awaits...in the dark...the darling one...she orders him not to turn around...as if😆...and while she walks backwards, with closed eyes, explains her logic or more or less desperate faith...she does not believe but yet, out of sheer hope and fear, asks him to tow the line. She is not ready to face any more troubles...she does not want their relationship to be jinxed further!! Quite a few can't believe that that was Nandini, so superstitious, so desperate, so devoid of faith and trust, so defeatist, clinging to last straws...well if you have gone through all she has in the past few months...you would be doing the same!! You have no clue how desperately she wants this to work, to come close to paradise every single time and to have the glass snatched away from you. She has lost hope somewhere the fighting spirit is draining, and Manik knows that!! Full marks to his initial frustration and barely contained impatience. And then his transition when her back touches him...that touch instantly cools him down...and he listens to her calmly. Her pain making him forget his own, he knows she is on the brink, hopeless and exhausted and so he does what he does best...taking care of his girl. He can find her, everytime, with his eyes closed...all he wants is to take away that pain, soothe that frown on her forehead, relieve the stress line that mars that gorgeous countenance, his soft touch absorbing all her stress, his gradual caress removing all her doubts, calming all her fears!! His touch lingers on her lips, like a sigh and then moves on...right to the heart!! From the head to her heart...he takes care of all...be it the troubling thoughts that rage in her mind, or the trembling insecurities that rave in her heart...he removes them all, with his gentle, simple, loving touch!! He erases all that troubles her...the Dear Devil!! He holds her hands in his then, and promises her only what he knows is true...he is there and he will make everything right!! Manik Malhotra will manage it all, somehow!! The Devil's decree!! And off he takes her ...so she can see for herself...

Some thoughts...the room where they met was like a twilight zone...some dark, some light!! And that's exactly their relationship status right now...in the uncertain zone!! The forces against them are dark but their love will always provide them with the light of hope!! About Nandini's current fearful state...Nandini is not used to pain and struggle...nope she is not!! Yes, she lost her parents at an early age, but hers has always been a loved and sheltered life! Even her definition of love is all sweetness and happiness and ideal partnership..so she finally being overwhelmed by the circumstances is only natural!! Manik , on the other hand, does not think that their union is always marred with tears and pain..coz he is used to problems in life...he has learnt to take them in his stride. He has always been on the receiving end of issues and struggles and strife...so his attitude is understandably different!! And therein lies their uniqueness, their balance!! Remember, when one gets tired, the other takes over!! When one gives up in sheer hopelessness, the other shines like a beacon in a stormy sea!!

The Dhruv-Cabir encounter...interesting!! Cabir was too good...Dhruv predictable. Yes, we all know he still cares for his friends and always will but to break the barrier of hurt pride and misplaced ego is never easy!! The Devil's aide is not that easy to win back!! Manik and Nandini...back to back...snooping and sneaking like two little kids out to raid a pantry at midnight..cute...cute cute!! Manik's expressions at Dhruv's every statement, a mirror reflection!! And Nandini's giggles at Cabir's histrionics...lovable!! Cabir...the prankster...was of course enjoying himself. Now here is another devil at play...a humorous and playful yet now wise devil!!

Manik ended up hurt, once again!! Wounded by his friends harsh words, reckless weapons used in sheer spite and anger!! Tomorrow promises no respite to him...the pain will only continue till he starts questioning the very foundations of his relationship!! Here is one devil that has taken more pain than he has ever given!!

P.S. Its time to say good bye for Mukti. For all who felt the Abhi Mukti track was sheer time pass...nope...Mukti has grown..leaps and bounds and has matured and wisened up too...whatever it takes, tears or tantrums, or even a painful death, life does ensure growth!! Good bye and thank you Abhi...for all you did for us and Mukti!!

Navya brought much needed relief today...her encounter with Manik hilarious...!! And Pandit...just waiting to see Manik kill him...!!

Dhruv...you know what they say..things are the darkest before dawn...so he will get worse before he can get better!!

Nope...I am nowhere near as good as you think I am...but beauty lies in the eye of the beholder...so thank you!!😛

each n every word so true..so beautiful ...loved it😳

The shadows, the touch, the healing, the Hope.

The anticipation on his face when Cabir asked Dhruv for a hug.

And finally a closure for Mukti.

Beginning of the End...