Manik & Nandini-Stars & Fireflies Part 56 on Page 145 - Page 13

Manik & Nandini - Stars & Fireflies 22

The ever confident Manik Malhotra looked himself in the mirror before knocking sending a huge smile across DJ's face.. "Wow he is in love and in love with just the kind of girl I wanted him to be with.." DJ felt proud of Manik.. She was always proud of him, he was just like his grandfather handsome, dashing, confident and arrogant too.. DJ brought calm and love to his grand father's life and she knew Nandini too could do the same with Manik. She saw history repeating itself with Manik and Nandini..She knew their love story is going to be an epic saga.. "What are you smiling at?" Manik's question broke her chain of thoughts..

"Nothing..Let's ring the bell.." She said.. Chachi opened the door and welcomed Manik with a huge smile "Arre Manik come in so good to see you and she is ?" Chachi stopped looking at DJ.. Manik introduced DJ and chachi to each other..DJ and chachi exchanged pleasantries and chachi showed them the way to Nandini's room..As soon as DJ entered Nandini's room she was mesmerized by her room..The scent of incense sticks, the curtains, the wind chime sound all gave her a serenity..She looked at Nandini who was sleeping and smiled; Manik found DJ admiring the room and smiled.. "Nandini has decorated her room.." Chachi informed them "she has her own world.." She continued as she caressed Nandini's face to wake her up..

Nandini slowly opened her sleepy eyes, the power of antibiotics were making her sleep like never before..She saw an elderly smiling face looking over her with her half opened eyes and smiled "good morning.." "Its afternoon beta.." Said the lady her voice forced Nandini to look properly, it was DJ.. Nandini was not expecting her so she was taken aback "Hh Hello mam.." She said in a sleepy and baffled voice while trying to sit.."How are you beta.." DJ asked while helping her sit up.."I am good mam.."Nandini said with a smile and looked up to Manik and said "Hi..Thanks for the flowers.." "Flowers?" DJ looked at him..Manik looked away trying to avoid an eye contact with her and started coughing.. "Arre wait Manik I will give you water.." Chachi rushed to help her favourite boy..

Finally when Manik was done with his drama he looked up to DJ "Why don't you give the huge box that you brought for her.." indicating the box.. "Oh yes.." DJ opened the box and it was gajar ka halwa for which DJ was famous.."Wow gajar ka halwa.." Nandini was excited as a child as she had a huge sweet tooth.. "tumhe pasand hai.." Even DJ was excited now.. "Bahut.." Nandini said.. " DJ asked for a spoon from chachi and fed to Nandini by herself.. "Wow its so so yummy.." Nandini shouted.. "So eat more na beta..chalo kisi ko toh pasand hai.." DJ taunted Manik.. "What do you know how many calories it has and DJ its desi khana please.." Manik said.. "But the flavor of desi khana cannot come in any other khana.." said Nandini.. She was munching in the halwa with total excitement and though Manik did not agree with her; he loved watching her eat with a smile it made her look even more prettier..

After spending some time with Nandini DJ and Manik were ready to leave when chachi said "You both have ti have lunch with us.. I can't let you go especially Manik he escaped masala chai twice.. but not today.." DJ said "No no don't trouble yourself..we just wanted to see Nandini we will come sometime again.." Chachi said "No no I've already done arrangements for chole bhature and rajma chawal.." "Wow chole bhature that's my favourite.." Now it was DJ's turn to be excited as she heard the menu and agreed to stay back much to Manik's annoynce.. Manik was a boy grown up eating pastas, lasagna, tacos and what not but nothing Indian..

DJ went down to help chachi leaving Manik with Nandini.. There was a total silence in the room as they both didn't knew what to say..Nandini kept looking down and kept tucking her hair behind her ears as it was falling over and Manik spent the entire time looking at her.. She knew he was looking at her which made her blush and Manik noticed her flushed red cheeks.. "Hmm..So." Manik broke the silence "We started on a bad note but as you said we can always start afresh so from now on there won't be any fights from me.." Manik said as he put his hand forward for a shake, Nandini smiled and said "So its peace between us and even I won't start a fight.." and she extended her hands for a shake...

Soon DJ and chachi came up to invite Manik down for lunch.. "Manik come down and Nandu I will bring your lunch up.." Chachi said.. "Why up? She can come down na.." DJ said.. "But how mam I can't walk.." Nandini said with a sad voice.. "I will take her down.." Manik said and before anyone could think he lifted Nandini in his arms and walked down..This left DJ with a huge grin..Manik brought Nandini down and made her sit comfortably. As he was making her sit their eyes met and they got lost in each other "Hmmm.." DJ's voice broke their eyelock and both of them started here and there to ease themselves out..

They were all enjoying the lunch specially DJ who was gorging on the punjabi food and raving about her childhood spent in punjab and even chachi joined her...All this talk about punjab left Manik Malhotra very bored and even the food was not as per his choice so he was playing with the chole in the bowl.. "Arre ladoo kha na.." DJ said to Manik.. "Ladoo!!" Nandini burst into laughing much to Manik's shame.. He gave DJ "Why are you always bent on making me look an idiot" look and DJ replied "Well you are an idiot.." look.. "Oh you are so dead DJ" Manik gave her the look as he narrowed his eyes and his this game was broken with Nandini's non stop laughter.. She was laughing hysterically "Ladoo" and pointed towards Manik.. "He was a fatso as kid so I used to call him ladoo and he is my ladoo.." She pulled his cheek which left Manik Malhotra, the Manik Malhotra gutted with embarrassment..

Soon the lunch was over and DJ and Manik were ready to leave.. DJ hugged Nandini, kissing her forehead asked her to get well soon...She looked at Manik and Manik again lifted Nandini and took her to bedroom while DJ waited for him downstairs... When Manik put Nandini down and adjusted her bed sheet he went close to her.. Nandini's heart beat increased as she knew the kind of effect Manik had on her..He tucked the hair falling on her face behind her ears and moved even more closer to her.. She closed her eyes, Manik went near her ear and caressed her face with hers and whispered "get well soon,," and left..

Nandini kept looking at him as he was walking away and then he stopped.. He turned back looked at her smiled, winked and blew a flying kiss and went down but this time Nandini smiled instead of getting irritated..

End of Part 22