Manik & Nandini-Stars & Fireflies Part 56 on Page 145 - Page 2

Manik & Nandini - Fireflies & Stars..Part 4..New Girl In The City..

It was 5.30 am when the Bangalore - Mumbai Express pulled into Dadar station. Chachi woke up Nandini, she got up unwillingly and said "we reached so fast..I am so sleepy." Las night she couldn't sleep properly thinking about the lost anklet which was safe in the precious care of Manik Malhotra. Chacha called out for taxi. Nandini hopped in like an excited kid and grabbed the window seat..She was never been out of Mangalore ever since she can remember. She wanted to soak in the city at one go.. As the taxi picked up speed she took her head slightly and looked out. Chachi shouted "Nandini careful.' "Haan chachi..Don't worry."

"Yahan kya log so ke dreams dekhte hain?" She wondered why the city of dreams is so quite. Poor soul didn't knew that it's Mumbai which sleeps late and gets up even later.."Yeh Mumbai hai Nandini..Wait for few days you will know it better." "Hmm.." She gave a very enthusiastic reply and again started looking out... Soon the taxi pulled out in front of a cluster apartment of complexes. Nandini was amazed to see it; it as so unlike Mangalore. No greenery to be seen, no huge trees even the sky looked small compared to Mangalore. They walked in the house which was an average middle class home. Nandini and Rishabh were given adjacent bedrooms upstairs. The only thing Nandini like about herroom that it had a terrace where she can escape the four walls tying her down and enjoy the breeze and the sky.

Chachi asked them to freshen up and come down for breakfast but Nandini first of all wanted her room to be a reflection of her..Anyone walking into that room should know her even without meeting her.. She took out all the stuff she brought from Mangalore and started working on her mission. It was 8.30 in the morning and chachi was worried as to why Nandu didn't come down. "Is she missing Ams, am I not loving her properly? I am not her mother I agree but for me she is my daughter. With her and Rishabh around I would never feel again that I don't have kids. I will love them more then my life." Chachi decided to walk into her bedroom and find out what's the matter..

As soon as she opened the door she was stunned..Right in front of her there was a huge portrait of Aiyyapa just like the one in Mangalore and right next to it was a huge collage of small photographs of her and Ams, her and Rishabh, her mom and dad, chacha and chachi; and a whole family portrait. The entire room was done in white and peach color with the windows adorning the curtains of same color.. There was a huge wind chime at the terrace door making beautiful sound every time there was breeze.. There were earthen diyas adorning every corner of the room that would illuminate once the night falls.. At her study table there was the jar of fireflies a piece of her mother finding place with her harmonium and the wall was pinned with white colored duppatta which flew around and gave a dreamy look to everything around it..Right next to it was a huge earthen bowl placed on an iron stand and filled with water and a few flowers and scanted candles...Even the beadhead had duppatta of white and peach pinned to it..Chachi was pleasantly surprised on what she was looking at..She was awestruck..her ordinary room resembled like any princess's bedroom straight out of fairy tales..

Just as chachi was admiring Nandini's creativity Nandini came out of bathroom, she was wearing a red colored halter top with a black leggings. She looked ethereal..."Wow Nandini tune toh kamaal kar diya." "Thanks chachi she said blushing." Nandini got nervous whenever someone praised her. "Kya hua" She asked wanting to change the topic.."Are tum neeche nahi aayi for breakfast issi liye main bulane aa gayi." "Oh ok" and they both walked down.. Chachi had made poori and aloo ki sabzi the taste of which made it clear to her about chachi's culinary skills. The aloo ki sabzi was laced with tomato sauce cause she was out of tomatoes...But her love for them made this drawback of hers look dwarf. Nandini smiled and ate the food happily...The rest of the day passed happily..

In the evening chachi made a plan to take her to shopping with her..She ran a very successful beauty salon and wanted to buy stuff for her business. Secretly she wanted to gift Nandini a new wardrobe making her ditch those salwar kameezes. even the red halter was her gift but Nandini chose not to wear it as Ams was quite strict...

Meanwhile Manik woke up to his room looking like a bouquet showroom with bouquets of all sorts of exquisite flowers adoring his room. "Alya" He mumbled.."It has to be her.." just as he got down from bed Alya came and hugged him from behind "good morning baby.." Manik got irritated and broke her hug saying "come on alya don't start off early in the morning and clear this mess up" he picked up a bouquet and threw in the dustbin. "You know I hate flowers and still you did this" He said angrily. Alya was reduced to tears "Why can't you be sensitive even a bit Manik, why can't you be a little romantic and appreciate the efforts someone puts" "Because I am the most unromantic and insensitive person to have walked on this planet and you are the most unluckiest girl to be dating me. Make peace with it.." He shouted and walked into bathroom. Some time later when he came out he saw Alya crying and cleaning his room all the flowers, Manik realized maybe he was a little to harsh on her, he came and hugged her from behind "Ok now stop crying and cheer up its Sunday." Alya was still hurt she started walking away when Manik held her arms and making weird faces said "Ok fine..Lets go shopping in the evening.." He hated shopping and Alya loved it. Alya was very happy as soon as she heard it, she hugged him and Manik soon realized he dug his grave..

Manik was just not the guy he showed he was, he showed he didn't care about anyone but he did, he actually cared too much. He showed he doesn't like smiling but he wanted to smile and laugh just that he never found any reason to smile. He showed he was the most unromantic guy but he was a guy whose idea of a perfect date was a walk on a lonely beach holding hands of the girl he loves, a candle light dinner with his girl followed by dance on his favourite song at the end of which his girl would slowly put her toes like a feather in his and they would kiss and his perfect date would end with his girl sleeping in his arms under the stars listening to his songs and the waves. That was Manik's dream and it was fact that Aliya was not the girl he visualized everytime he closed his eye and imagined this...The girl in his dreams he never saw her face...But now that girl is gonna get a face it was none other then Nandini Murthy..

End of Part 4..

Ciao...Love..

Sweta...

Manik & Nandini - Stars & Fireflies Part 5.. Shop Til You Drop...

Manik and Alya had lunch at the Taj pool side with her favourite Italian cuisine but mostly she ate all different kinds of salads being a total style barbie..Manik never understood her logic of not eating a slice of pizza cause she will put on weight. "Anyways it's useless arguing with girls they are too slow to understand stuff." Manik thought...Well too bad Manik Malhotra hasn't crossed paths with Nandini Murthy who will show him what a real girl is made up off. As Manik sat there thinking what was he doing there instead of chilling at him with his buddies Cabir and Dhruv, he saw a very old couple fighting playfully. They looked like best friends, acted like lovers and had the understanding of a husband and wife..Manik looked at them, smirked and thought "One day, one day even you will have this Manik Malhotra." ALya"What will have Manik?" "Nothing" Manik said.."Ok lemme just touch up my make up and then we will leave" Alya said this while leaving for powder room..

When Manik was enjoying or rather getting bored with his Italian lunch Nandini was enjoying her home cooked butter chicken and chawal. Chachi may be experimental but when it came to Punjabi khana no one can beat her..Nandini had never eaten such good chicken that she had too much of food and could barely move. She was so sleepy that she could actually sleep on the dining table itself. Rishabh teased her.."Nandu ek kaam karo jao jaakar thoda rest kar lo we will leave by 5 pm" Chachi said.."Thanks chachi" Nandini said and ran towards her bedroom and soon hit the bed for a blissful nap...

Soon it was 4 pm when chachi came and woke her up to get ready..Nandini opened her eyes and felt fresh as a daisy.."Chachi can we buy some flowers while coming back?" "Sure, why not. You can buy whatever you want." "Thanks chachi" She hugged her and went in to get ready for her first Mumbai shopping experience...She wore a ocean blue chikankari sleeveless top and paired them with white leggings. She accessorized them with beautiful blue crystal chandelier earrings and bangles and completed her look with a white and blue polka dotted scarf...

Soon chachi and Nandini stepped inside a huge mall in Bandra and just behind them Manik and Alya also came in hand in hand..They both looked a like a perfect couple he was tall and handsome dressed in white shirt and blue jeans and Alya matched him everybit with her pleated olive green shoulderless short dress. The dress showed her ****y long legs and perfectly sculpted shoulders. Everyone turned their gaze towards them...Noticing that everyone was noticing them Alya held Manik's arm a little more tightly..Alya grew up with the notion of being Manik's girl friend all along, she took great pride in the fact that she was Manik Malhotra's girlfriend..Manik gave a puzzled look to Alya as what is she doing?? "Nothing baby lets go.."

Oblivious to the showoff that was going behind her Nandini was lost in her own world. Never before she saw so many brands at one place, not that she ever cared about brands..She was least careful about brands. "Let's go to AND" said chachi and dragged her inside, Nandini didn't like anything there. Meanwhile Manik and Alya walked straight into Burberry..Alyas was all about brands everything has to be branded or else it was not worth being called an outfit...Manik made himself comfortable on the couch knowing that he is gonna be spending a lot of time there...

After innumerable trials and few mini make out sessions in the trail room Alya brought a few outfits...Manik payed the bills and said "let's go." Alys "Kahan wait now shoes, bags and accessories are all pending.." Manik "really why are women so fussy.." "Manik!!" Alya showed some fake anger and dragged him further..Meanwhile here Nandini too was tired by her chachi's countless trials on her she bought a few Kimaya kurtis and said lets go..Suddenly chachi saw Zara showroom "Abhi kahan" and she dragged Nandini into it..Manik and Alya were already there...

Chachi took out a very pretty LBD for Nandini and asked her to try it. "No chachi I won't" Nandini said.."Arre but why not?" Chachi asked "Isse pehnke kahin nikalegi toh saare ladke pagal ho jayenge.." Chachi laughed. Nandini blushed "Chachi please I don't want to impress anyone.." Chachi "Kissne kaha hai ki you have to dress up only for a boy..Every girl should dress up for herself, look beautiful for herself. Aur haan jahan tak rahi uss special larke ki baat he will not love you cause you wear expensive and branded clothes but will might be falling in love with your beautiful eyes with kaajal..Your beautiful earrings which shine like stars and some day you will be the brightest star in someones' sky..."And chachi kissed her and asked her to try it..Maybe even chachi didn't knew what she had said just know but whatever she said was going to turn true very soon. Nandini would be the brightest star in Manik's darkest night...

Nandini looked every bit of Audery Hepburn from Breakfast At Tiffany's in that black lace detailed LBD which showed off her beautiful legs..Soon chachi brought beautiful gown for her to try. It was a purple colored backless gown with a huge bow near the waist. Nandini went it and changed it she looked like Cinderella. Alya was just next to Nandini's trial room. And Manik was waiting outside roaming aimlessly..Nandini changed and came out and they proceeded towards payment...Suddenly Manik got a call from Cabir and he walked off. Just then Alya came out to show an outfit...Finding Manik no where she started looking for him.

Meanwhile Manik came back to inform Alya that everyone is waiting for them at the movie theatre. He started looking for her a entered into a trial room it was empty there was white and blue polka dotted stole. He picked up the stole and suddenly he felt a familiar smell. He closed his eyes and concentrated hard trying to remember where or who uses this perfume. And his memory took him back to that night on the bench with his stranger. "Its her" His face lit up with her thought. "I can't let her go." manik mumbled and ran and started looking around frantically..No one in the store seemed to match his stranger suddenly he saw few bangles lifting hair up and few blue crystals under the reflection of light blinding him and the same pink smiling lips. He ran without thinking Alya kept shouting but he didn't listened...He ran behind her..she was on the escalator he could hear her laughing on some joke..Her laughter felt like the music of water falling from a watrefall. He wanted to move ahead but there was huge crowd in front of him and soon he lost sight of her...As soon as he reached down Manik found himself running all around looking for her..

Soon he found her walking out in an ocean blue kurta, he ran behind her but before he could reach her she hopped in a taxi and drove off. Manik looked at scarf and smirked "So you are testing me; challenge accepted. Now I'm sure we will meet very soon, we have to..My stranger...And I know how to find you look for the shining stars in your earrings and the most beautiful laugh coming out most beautiful lips..I will find you very soon my stranger" and he very carefully folded the scarf and out it in his pocket and walked...

End of Part 5..

Ciao...Love..

Sweta

Manik & Nandini - Stars and Fireflies..Part 6..Till We Meet Again...

Manik saw the taxi leave him in the sea of people and he again looked at the scarf. He smelled it once again as if he wanted to soak in all of her into him..He carefully folded the scarf put it in his pocket and walked back into the mall. When he walked into Zara showroom again he found Alya was waiting for him and she was furious.."WTH Manik!! Where were you running of like that? You didn't even listened to me, didn't even notice me..What was more important then me for you?" Alya questioned him...Manik was lost in the thoughts of the stranger and he said "Stranger!".."Stranger what stranger who stranger." Alya asked. Manik came out of his thoughts and said "Nothing!! Not important for you..Cabir called they are waiting at the theatre let's go enough of shopping." Manik walked off..Alya was disappointed but he followed him as she knew he never cared for anyone except himself and tears made him more angry,,He hated tears...

When the taxi reached halfway to her home Nandini realized she lost her scarf..She panicked and asked the taxi driver to turn back but he refused. Nandini was disappointed on how she is loosing one thing after another.."First the anklet and now the scarf..what is happening?? Why am I loosing my stuff I have never lost anything in my life but now??" She thought and sad sadly..Once they reached home they found chacha and Rishabh waiting for them anxiously...They asked them to show every thing they brought..Chacha loved every dress that Nandini had brought but when he saw the LBD chacha was "yeh thoda chota nahi hai?" Chachi "Uff tumhe toh har cheez mein problem hai ab nahi pehne gi toh kab pehnegi.." Chachi said and asked Nandini to keep the stuff in her room. Nandini nodded and went upstairs. Chacha noticed that Nandini was quite the whole time and was looking sad, he asked chachi as to what happened. Chachi told him how she had lost the anklet gifted by Ams and today the scarf and that's why she's sad. Chacha made a dinner plan to cheer her up, he asked her to get ready cause they were going out to eat..

On the other hand Manik and Alya reached the theatre to watch the movie along with their friends. As soon as they walked in Mukti shouted "so finally the most happening couple is here..Where were you my love birds?" "Manik took me too shopping" Alya said happily . "Wow but Manik toh hates shopping..kya baat hai Manik you and shopping aww you two are so cute..Always stay like this." Mukti said...Manik smirked and avoided the topic of being always together. Everyone walked into the theatre but Dhruv stopped Manik and asked "Are you okay Manik? You seem a little distracted.." Manik "yes dude I am just fine..A little tired though from Alya's shopping trip..You know how these girls are when it comes to shopping.." He said and walked ahead.. Manik wanted to keep his stranger away from his group just like he kept the softer side of his away from is group...

Manik and Alya were sitting next to each other, Alya put her arms arounds Manik's arms and rested her head on them and watched the movie..While Alya was lost in Manik; Manik was lost in the stranger's thoughts all he could see was those earrings sparkling like stars, that long flowing hair, her words,her laugh and her soft pink lips..Whenever Manik thought about those lips he felt aroused he so wanted to kiss them..He became restless and walked out of the theatre..He started his car..Texted everyone that he is leaving; asking Alya to not to come to him and drove off. As soon as Alya saw the text she became sad but her friends consoled her saying "don't we know Manik is..He is totally an unromantic person Alya and he won't change so don't be disappointed" Dhruv offered to drop her off..

When Manik was all getting restless and moody Nandini and her family walked into Pizza Hut, as Nandini loved pizzas..She was the girls who believed in living life to the fullest..She loved eating all the flavour of ice cream at once and her logic was "Life is like an ice cream you have to enjoy each flavour before it melts out." She found happiness in every small thing..The first rain, the first rays of sun, the cool breeze of dawn, the chirping of birds all made her happy..Nandini saw the pizza and forgot all her sadness and smile returned to her face..She happily started eating the pizza..

Manik reached his huge mansion, The Malhotra Mansion and walked straight into the room of Mrs Gayatri Malhotra, his grandmother, she was the only woman who could control Neyonika...She hated Neyonika for ruining her son's life and loved Manik very very much..Manik too loved his grandmother more then his life and called her DJ..She was the woman responsible for bringing Manik up with a softer heart which he hid away from world cause of Neyonika and her activities. If Neyonika was the one destroying his belief in good then his DJ was the one reinstating his faith. But she was failing in bringing his softer side out and make him a matured boy that she wanted him to be..

"DJ are you sleepin?" Manik walked into her room and found her sitting on her arm chair reading a book.. Manik went and sat near her feet and put his head on her lap. "What happened?" She asked though she knew he was restless but still she asked... "Has it ever happened to you that you meet a person, I mean you don't actually meet them but you kind of meet them and they affect you so much?" Gayatri Malhotra looked at Manik all confused.."Wait I will show you something" Manik said and ran into his room and when he came back he had something in his hand.."DJ first tell me what's true love?" he asked.. "True love.." his DJ took a pause "True love is when you meet that one person who makes your life comes alive, you come alive. Your life finds a purpose, you find yourself smiling without no reason. When you are in you will always think about the other person it makes you selfless, brave and the best version of yourself. True love is when you can't stop thinking about her and not being with her will make you restless. True love is when her memories bring a smile on your face without any reason"

Manik remembered his stranger and everything about her brought and instant smile on his face. His smile didn't escape Gayatri Malhotra's eye "Is my grandson smiling." She had seen him smile like this for the first time in many many years...All she had seen him to be angry or smirking with sarcasm..

She was the only person with whom he became the real Manik and now this unknown girl made him smile..Manik "What no no!" and he narrated everything about her in details that DJ could actually see Nandini. Manik showed her the anket from that crystal box, the scarf..."I don't know why I am so restless to see her and meet her?" Manik said.."Because you are in love with her my baby.." DJ sadi.."What love please...You forgot in case I am in a relationship with Alya. Now you please go to sleep" He tucked her in bed kissed her good night and left.. As soon as he left DJ sat down and said "Yes Manik you are in a relationship with her but you are in love with your stranger you don't know it yet but one day you will." She folded her hands and prayed to her Babaji that soon he comes crosses path with her. Little did she knew that her wish is gonna be fulfilled the very next day when Manik and Nandini albeit not in the way she wanted them to meet..

Next morning 7 am Murthy household was a hub of activities..Nandini was going to Space Academy to complete her admission formalities and formally start her new life..Her chacha was accompanying her to college as he was her legal guardian..When Ms Murthy was praying to her Aiyappa to make her new life a smooth ride; although he planned on making it a roller coaster life Mr Malhotra was lost in sweet dreams sleeping happily while clutching her scarf. Suddenly his alarm rand and Manik woke up in jiffy and said "Oh **** I am late!" He ran towards bathroom and got ready in a hurry, this was his daily routine and came down running where his DJ was waiting for him at the breakfast table.."Manik" Before she could complete "Sorry DJ I am so late I will catch up with you at night." He kissed her goodbye and picked up a juice carton and rushed off in his car..

End of Part 6

Ciao..Love...

Sweta...

Manik & Nandini - Stars & Fireflies..Part 7..Jab They Met...

It was 8 am when Nandini was finally ready to embark upon the new start of her journey as a music student in the most prestigious college Space Academy and on other other hand Manik was rushing for college as he was already late.

She choose the color yellow her mother's favourite color for this day, it was pale yellow sleeveless top with a light hand embroidery at the neckline and she teamed it up with a white colored white flowing umbrella skirt. She tied her hair in a braided loose bun which let the strands of hair fall on her face covering her eyes every now and then..She wore small jhumkis with small yellow crystals and bangles. she completed her look with a yellow stole..Nandini took out the single anket gifted by her Ams and became sad on losing the other one..She wanted to wear them so as to have her blessings..After thinking for a while she decides to wear the single anket to keep her Ams blessing with her...By the time she came down chacha had brought taxi..She took blessings from Aiyapaa and chachi wished her good luck and she left for college..

Soon the taxi braved the early morning traffic and reached Space Academy at 9 am...She and chacha got down from the taxi and Nandini looked to that magnificent structure with awe. It was built with beautiful Victorian architectural design...The entrance wore a grander look with two huge pillars which were in the shape of two huge violins...The pathway to the entrance was beautifully decorated with small statutes of angels playing all sorts of musical instrument amid the lush green garden which had flowers from across the globe amid huge trees provide shade and blocking the sun from spreading heat..There was a huge fountain right before the entrance which gave it beautiful look..Nandini was awe struck, she hasn't seen anything more magnificent then this..This was her dream college..

Just as Nandini was busy admiring the college a black huge car passed from her side, a window was lowered and a juice carton was thrown out which splashed all across her face and her dress..Nandini was taken by surprised she looked at the car it was a black Merc with the number 0001 and it drove straight into Space Academy. She shouted "Are you blind? You idiot." But the driver didn't hear her as he was in great speed and drove off...Just as Nandini was curing the car and its owner her chacha came back and saw her all covered in juice "Kya hua?" He asked. "Woh chacha some idiot with a big car and no manners threw a juice carton at me and spoiled my whole dress." She said dejected..

As fate would have it the idiot with big car and no manners was none other then Manik Malhotra..Chacha asked her to go and freshen up..Nandini walked into the wash room cleaned her face tided herself up and then tried cleaning her dress but the stains just won't go..She was almost in tears when she heard someone say "Arre what happened? Why are you crying?" She turned back to see a young girl in a shocking pink Anarkali and all dressed up..

"Oh I forgot to introduce myself" The girl said "I am Navya from Patna. New joinee." She said a big giggle. "I am Nandini I am also new joinee..My dress got spoiled by an idiot who threw juice can at me.." Navya "It won't go so easily all you can do is hide it with your stole." She took her stole and draped it across her neck to hide the stains.."Friends" Navya said and smilingly she extended her hand. "Friends." Nandini smiled back and joined hands..Navya hugged her saying you are my first friend in Mumbai and we will always be friends. Nandini smiled at her filminess..They both walked towards the admissions section where she introduced Navya to chacha. After completing the admission formalities chacha bid good bye to Nandini and left for his work..

As Nandini and Navya were heading back after seeing off chacha they had nothing much to do as their orientation won't start before 12 PM. They decided to explore the college and all of its beauty..Navya told Nandini everything about her and her family..She especially mentioned her mother whom she was very attached to and who supported her fought with her entire family to fulfill her dream of studying at Space. Nandini was overwhelmed at their bond..Even she told Navya about her Ams and her home in Mangalore and her chacha chachi and Rishabh..Within couple of hours they had become very good friends..Nandini felt a deep connection with Navya who was too naive and sweet...

As they were strolling suddenly Nandini noticed the black Merc with the number 0001.."This is the car" Nandini said "which poured juice on me, now time to settle the scores" she said smilingly.. Meanwhile Manik and his friends were chilling in the canteen bossing everyone around like they always do...Suddenly Manik realized he forgot his guitar in the car so he excused himself to get it. Nandini took out a pin from her back and started punching it in the tyres..Navya got nervous "What are doin?" "Teaching the idiot some manner." She said while still punching but it isn't easy to puncture a Merc tyres...

Just as she was busy executing her plan a husky voice interrupted her.."Hey what are you doin?" She turned back to see an extremely tall guy wearing a GAP tee and a ripped denim jeans standing in front of her, it was Manik who was angry..."Can't you see I am trying to teach the owner of this car a lesson in manner he needs one for throwing juice at me and spoiling my dress." Nandini said. "Oh really" Manik said with his trademark smirk and moved closer to Nandini pinned her against the car "I am the owner Manik, The Manik Malhotra and you just messed up with the most wrong guy.." "And you have no idea whatever Malhotra whom you are messing with. Nandini Murthy isn't scared of you." She looked right into his eyes and said. Manik felt a little something cause she was the first person to look into his eye without being scared.

""Now you will" He said dragging her with him.."Leave me" She said resisting Manik's force..But Manik being more powerful then her dragged her to canteen "This girl Nandini Murthy isn't scared of me.." He said "Yes I am not." Nandini shouted...Manik gave a big evil laugh.Cabir and Mukti were excited as some fun awaited them,,Alya gave a hateful look and Dhruv just tried to calm Manik down but Manik Shhed him before he could speak.."She was trying to puncture my car tyres cause I threw juice on her..Well her dress still seems very nice to me..What do you think Cabir??" "Yes its very clean." Cabir said with an evil smile and started shooting it which was telecast live across the Space Academy.."True so lets just ruin it a little more" and he took a pizza from the nearby table and threw on her spoiling her dress. Nandini was shocked and then he threw a noodles plate on her. The whole Fab5 started laughing at her along with the rest of the canteen.

At this point Nandini's anger went to boiling point.. She looked around her she found a bucket of mopping water nearby. She picked the bucket and shouted "Manik Malhotra." and without thinking threw that dirty water on Manik "As I said I am not scared of you and this time you messed up with wrong girl." She said throwing the bucket and walked off with Navya. Manik was shocked so was the entire Space Academy. Manik never anticipated this retaliation. The entire canteen was silenced at once people were shocked at what they saw...Never anyone had the courage to take even Manik's name loudly and this girl just brought Manik down and that too in his own territory...

End of Part 7

Ciao..Love..

Sweta...

Manik & Nandini - Stars & Fireflies.. Part 8..Manik Vs Nandini Round 1...

What happens when two forces of equal strength collide, a great power and force is generated which changes everything around it...Something similar happened to Manik and Nandini too..They both were strong individuals and till date never came across anyone who challenged them...Nandini never knew til today that she had so much courage, people have seen her to be the most naive and sweet girl around. As for Manik for the first time he felt intimidated by someone. When nandini looked into his eyes and said she's not scared there was something in those eyes that pulled them..There was an aura about her that made his entire existence spin...

As Nandini walked out off canteen angrily holding Navya's hand she left Manik dumbstruck behind her. But as soon as she walked some distance away from the canteen, Manik and his evil ways she burst into tears..Navya was shocked at her sudden outburst and consoled Nandini..She took Nandini tohostel to freshen up and change clothes..Nandini kept sobbing all the while..Navya gave her clothes and asked her to change and after a while Nandini came out of bathroom fresh from that stink of pizza and noodles. She wore a pale green salwar kameez given by Navya and looked fresh and pretty as usual..She left her hair open this time..But her mother's favourite colored outfit was spoiled beyond repair and while throwing it of she cried bitterly...

Navya asked "Why are you crying so much Nandini? Its just an outfit..You will get hundreds of tops and skirts like this.." "Navya its just not a top..Its my mothers favourite color through this she was with me on my new journey but now I lost it.." she said crying.."I don't know whats happening with me since the time I stepped foot in this city everything is going wrong..First I lost Ams gift and now this top..My special day turned into worst nightmare.." Nandini continued..Navya's heart went out for Nandini "But you gave that dracula a great answer now he will never come near you." Navya smiled as she hugged Nandini to comfort her...Soon after Nandini regained her composer and both of them left for college again as they orientation...

On the other hand Manik Malhotra was left stunned by the series of events happened in the canteen. He did not expect Nandini to fight back forget throwing water. Being humiliated was something alien to him..He always harassed people but today he found himself on the other side of the line. The entire college saw his humiliation and were shocked except two people Harshad and Neyonika..Harshad saw the whole drama unfold and his evil brain weaved an immediate plan to pitch Nandini against Manik..He realized Nandini is the only person who can not only challenge Manik but can also defeat him..He let an evil smirk and left...

Just as Harshad walked out Neyonika walked in. She didn't looked like a mother of a teenaged son, she was dressed in a Vera Wang monochrome suit and paired them with Jimmy Choo heels and a Rado watch. She looked furiously at Manik and started abusing him of spoiling her reputation and Space Academy's image. Manik who was already quite angry and pissed off gave Neyonika an angry look and walked away.. "Manik if you remember you need to be back in college as per our agreement." Neyonika said.."I know and I will be back" Manik replied and walked off..Neyonika let out an evil smile and left..She knew Space is the only place where she can rule over Manik music he loved his music more then his life and Space was his holy grail... Alya followed Manik while Cabir and Mukti got down to the business of damage control..Alya came back to take Dhruv with her cause she knew he was the only one who can calm Manik down at this moment...

Manik drove off in great speed..Alya was very scared "Dhruv this has never happened.." Dhruv "I know this is something new for all of us and we don't know how Manik will react all through this..But Alya you need to be patient with him and don't make him angry further." Alya nodded in agreement. By the time they reached Malhotra Mansion Manik was already in his room..Alya ran to his room while DHruv was stopped by DJ who saw Manik walkin with great anger...Dhruv narrated the entire incident to her and she got a little worried...

Manik went into the shower and stood their with his eyes closed as if he wanted to wash off even the humiliation along with the stink. All he could remember was Nandini's screaming voice saying "Manik Malhotra I am not scared of you and this time you messed up with wrong girl." He also remembered all the hush hush voices talking about him and the new girl who humiliated Manik in his own backyard. Manik got disturbed and increased the speed of shower in an effort to reduce to noises in head..He again closed his eyes as cold water ran down him calming him down..This time he replayed the entire again in his mind from him throwing pizza and noodles at her and she retaliating back with water splash. He further went to the parking lot where he first met her..Their argument and he pinned her against the car...Manik was concentrating his thoughts on her face when all of sudden her tiny jhumkis and those pinks lips put a halt on his thoughts..He opened his eyes.. "Those earrings..those lips.." He thought..."They are same I mean same like hers..The crystals they shone and those lips they they...Is she the one??" Manik questioned himself...

He came out of the shower and ran straight into his huge wardrobe where he opened his locker and took out the crystal box containing the anklet and scarf.."She was wearing scarf too.." A voice in his head said..Manik closed his eyes again and again he saw her earrings and those lips.. "Its her..my stranger.." Said his heart.. "No its not.." His brain said "Many girls wear those earrings, scarfs..its not..And her hair it was tied" "But the feeling when I looked into her eyes that momentary feeling of being lost and found what was that then..?" Manik mumbled..."Who the hell are you Nandini Murthy and why am I thinking so much, why am I affected by her so much??" Manik shouted in disgust...

The great battle of mind and heart had started for Manik. His heart said she was his stranger and his brain disagreed and all this left Manik even more confused and angry...Who will win this battle will his mind and his anger overshadow all his feelings or will his heart find its way to his stranger, Nandini..Whatever will be the result it will take Manik and Nandini to a roller coaster ride cause heart or brain whatever Manik can now just not stay away from her...

End of part 8

Ciao..Love..

Sweta...

Manik & Nandini - Stars & Fireflies..Part 9..Confusion..Confusion..

Manik stood in his wardrobe for a long time looking at the anklet and scarf and kept closing and opening his eyes trying to imagine his stranger and for some reason everytime he tried all he could see was Nandini's earring and her lips. All this left him confused, angry and frustrated..."Manik what's wrong with you?? You've just met this girl, she humiliated you in front of the entire college and instead of payback you are thinking about her lips..."He yelled at himself.."Focus Manik Malhotra..That Nandini Murthy has to payback now..." He thought..His train of thought were broken by a phone call it was Aliya who was waiting for him along with Dhruv in his bedroom...Manik disconnected the call put up his clothes and came out..He ignored Alya and Dhruv and walked off.."Manik Manik" They ran shouting behind him. He did not paid any attention to them and kept walking suddenly he met his DJ waiting for him downstairs.."DJ please not now..I will talk to you at night but not now" and he switch on his car and left...

By the time Manik, Alya and Dhruv reached college Nandini and Navya also reached...Fab5 got a message from Cabir asking them to meet up in their rehearsal room..Soon every member of Fab5 was there.."We need to teach this Nandini a lesson.." Alya said "How dare she mess up with us and Manik of all people?" "Guys please lets put an end to it..Somehow I feel all this is going to get ugly.." Dhruv said trying to diffuse tension. "Are you crazy Dhruv?" Mukti said "we can't do this> If we let them go no one would be scared of Fab5 anymore and that is seriously damaging for our rep." "She's absolutely right' Cabir said...Manik who was silent till now finally spoke up "I don't want anyone of you involved its Manik Vs Nandini game on and she's mine. All mine" He gave out his evil smirk.. That smirk was an indication for everyone that something crazy is up in his mind..They all smiled and got into a group hug..

Just as Fab5 were having a group hug there was an announcement for everyone to come to amphitheatre for freshers orientation...They all walked into a huge amphitheatre as Fab5 were getting onto the platform the came across Harshad..Harshad and Manik were arch enemies and here too they were about to start off when Alya stopped them..Harshad might be an out and out bad guy but the only good thing about him was his love for his sister Alya. He could never hurt her or say no to her, so when Alya requested he backed out but he gave a very suspicious smile to Manik and walked off to another direction...At one end of the podium there was Harshad and his group and the other end was Fab5 and soon Neyonika Malhotra joined them..

Manik was looking for Nandini in the crowd of people below but he could not locate a yellow top white skirt wearing girl with tied hair. Well how can he after he was the one who spoiled it and forced her to change. Suddenly Manik came across Nandini in the pale green salwar kameez. She had her hair open and was very sadly looking at the floor.."Hello students!" Neyonika started speaking and her voice forced Nandini to lift her face. As she lifted her face tucking her long locks behind her ears her empty ears and her blood shot ears pierced right into Manik's heart...The way she looked at him he didn''t knew what got into him he all his anger mellowed down and he couldn't see into her eyes and started looking elsewhere...

"Welcome students to the most prestigious music college in India. Every year millions of students apply for a place in this college but only lucky few like you get a chance..So make sure you make this chance count..As per the rules of this college the students have to pick up a genre and they will be trained under the guidance of our amazing professors and will be mentored by our seniors Fab5 headed by Manik Malhotra and Bratpackers headed by Harshad Saksena..I will announce the name of the students under whose mentorship they will be...And yes last but not the least get ready for tomorrow for the big Space Freshers Party and the dress code is black..So boys and girls get your blacks suits and gowns ready.." After this Neyonika started reading out the student names and their mentors & professors.. All the rock students went to Fab5 and jazz students went Bratpackers...Soon every single name was called out except two Nandini and Navya..These two were classical music students and Space has not accepted classical music students in a very very long time..

Nandini and Navya became tensed on not finding any professor and mentor..These gave the Fab5 a golden opportunity to taunt and tease them..They started laughing at them and slowly others too joined them.. Navya & especially Nandini who had terrible day till now broke down..Navya tried to console her but she too was breaking down..They had become laughing stock of some 500+ students..But there was one person in the sea of people who was affected by Nandini's tears and it was none other than Manik Malhotra, the same Manik who till few moments back was planning on making her life hell for messing up with him and now all he wanted do was run to her and wipe her tears...

Neyonika looked at Raghav her childhood friend and fab5's professor. He always helped Neyonika in difficult situations and she always listened to him. He went near Neyonika and whispered something into her ears and went out with his phone calling someone..Just as Manik was getting restless with nandini's tears and everyone's laughs and taunts towards her he took a decision to mentor her and Navya. He decided without thinking about the consequences of it because at that moment all that mattered to him was her tears he didn't knew why but he wanted her to stop crying..Just as when was about to step ahead and make the announcement Harshad went near the mic and announced "I will mentor Navya and Nandini." Navya and Nandini sighed a relief and looked at Harshad thankfully...Instantly he became a hero for both these girl..Harshad looked at Fab5 and smiled at them..As soon as he announced the entire place turned silent...Everyone laughing and mocking them was silenced and Fab5 was pissed especially our very own Manik Malhotra.."But they don't have a professor?" Said a worried Neyonika "Who will train them?"

"I will train them." Said a voice and everyone looked towards it. It was none other then Gayatri Malhotra.. Gayatri Malhotra apart from being the head of malhotra Industries was the India's best classical singer...She quit Space long time back.."I will train them..I quit music and Space cause today's youngsters were loosing interest in classical music but these two young girls reinstated my believe that all is not dead.. But I want them to prove they have to sing and prove themselves right now.." Nandini and Navya were more then happy to do so..They took veena and harmonium settled themselves on the podium...They both discussed which song to be performed and closed their eyes..Soon the entire amphitheatre was filled with their melodious voices singing "Saawar loon..saawaar loon.." Nandini closed her eyes and soon the calm and the smile prevailed on her face that made everything around her beautiful and she shone in there. Fab5 girls started making faces but the boys were lost and enjoying Cabir was impressed by those two girls, Dhruv was looking at Nandini and Manik, Manik was lost in Nandini and her voice. the calm on her face touched his heart he felt a sense of calm and quite that he never felt before...

Soon the girls finished their song and everyone started cheering them including the Fab5 boys Manik, Dhruv and Cabir leaving the girls Alya and Mukti pissed.. Mrs Gayatri Malhotra was really impressed "Thank you kids for giving me a chance to serve music again, godess Saraswati again. I will be honored to train you girls." Nandini and Navya were ecstatic. they ran to her and touched her feet as per the guru shishya parampara..She blessed them..So Mrs Gayatri Malhotra will be the trainer for Nandini and Navya and Harshad will mentor them." Neyonika announced and everyone cheered...

End of part 9..

Ciao..Love...

Sweta