Manik & Nandini - Stars & Fireflies 28
Manik was restless and distraught he did not listen to a single word DJ spoke...All the while when he was in the audi all he could remember was Nandini's swollen red eyes and the fact she left with Dhruv.. What happened? What changed? Why is she doing it.. "Some time ago we were so close that I could hear er heartbeat, I could smell her the smell which is so familiar to me..I kissed her and she let me.. Now what happened.." Manik's train of thoughts won't just stop..He thought his mind will burst, he walked out off the audi and seeing this Cabir followed him as he knew Manik is not under control...
"Manik..Manik wait..Where are you going?" Cabir ran and stopped Manik.. "What do you mean where ? Nandini something's wrong..did you see her eyes and she left with Dhruv.." Manik said.. "Yes I saw and yes something bad happened we will find out and what's the problem if she left with Dhruv.." Cabir asked.. "After what happened between us how can she ignore me an go with him..?" Manik was very restless at this point "What happened?" Cabir asked and Manik looked at him.. "Manik I don't want your silences, speak up.." Cabir said.. Finally Manik told him that he and Nandini became up, close and personal..How he kissed her and how she reciprocated.. "Are you crazy.." Cabir couldn't believe it.."You kissed her Manik.. What were you thinking ?" "I don't know Cabir.." Manik shouted "I don't know what I was thinking all I know is I want her no no I need her in my life...She's like my oxygen...She makes me wanna be good, believe in good.. All I know is that girl saw good in me which no one else could see.." Manik said as he remembered the Fresher's night when Nandini asked him to stop hiding and she knew what he was an angel wearing a devil's mask..
Manik walked off leaving Cabir baffled and as he turned back he saw DJ she overheard everything.. "It's high time now Cabir..Manik has to decide.." She said seriously.. "Decide what?" Cabir asked.. "Decide how he is ending things with Alya, how he will handle Dhruv's growing affection for Nandini and how he is going to get Nandini?" She replied.. "DJ all this will break Fab5.." Cabir sounded worried.. "No Cabir Manik loves Nandini very much but he loves Fab5 too equally.. Why do you think he's still with Alya when he's in love with Nandini?" She asked "Cause he is confused.." Cabir said "Yes he is confused about love but he values Fab5 bonding and Alya is a part of Fab5 so he don't want to break her, he is trying to keep Dhruv away from Nandini without hurting him.. Manik is the best friend you all can ever have.. For the first time he wants something for himself not for his friends and if you are true friends you will understand this.. Today I am proud of my grandson.." DJ said as she walked off...
Meanwhile in the Murthy house Nandini was lost in her thoughts when her phone rang..She looked to find it was Manik; for a moment she was excited to talk to him and tell him the met before in Bangalore but then the washroom tiff with Alya flashed.. She remembered how Alya accused her and raised questions on her character. Manik Malhotra might mean a lot of things to Nandini Murthy but so did her self respect too and she disconnected the call and switched off the phone.. Manik was pissed by this behaviour of Nandini, he tried calling her again but the phone was switched off.. Manik had to speak to Nandini so he drove straight to her house to talk to her house..
Manik and Nandini's door bell, chachi opened the door and welcomed in but he was not in the mood for fun today.. He asked for Nandini and chachi said "Manik she's sleeping her foot was hurting when she came back so she went to sleep.. Sorry beta you can't speak to her.." Manik was not ready to buy what chachi was selling but he had no option but to leave..Nandini saw him leaving and cried holding her jar of fireflies which were glowing as a symbol of their love..
They say love is never easy.. It tests us in every possible way and if we manage to stand together hand in hand then we are and our love is destined for greatness. Same was for Manik and Nandini.. It was just the beginning for them their love will pass through many tests that life will throw at them but the only constant that will be them standing together hand in hand facing it all together...
As soon as Manik went to home he found the entire gang at is house for a party Alya had organised.. Ever since Nandini walked out her joy knew no boundaries but Manik was not in the mood to party.. He asked everyone to leave but Alya refused to budge.. "Fine" an angry Manik said as he left the house.. Manik went to college to meet DJ and told her everything.. "DJ I remember that perfume I can never forget that smell neither from that night in Bangalore nor from that changing room in the mall. Today she nandini was wearing the same perfume.. Is it her??" He asked "Is she my stranger? And why did she ignored me?" Manik was frustrated... He had so many questions but no answers...
DJ put her hands on his head and as she was about to say something she got Neyonika's call about an emergency in office, DJ had no choice but to go.. "Manik I am sorry beta I've to go we will talk about this later.." and she left.. Manik sat there near Nandini's veena remembering all those moments with her, her swollen eyes and her ignorance.. The more he thought he realized he needed her in his life, her silences were needed to shut the noise in his life...
It was late in the night when Manik pulled up; pulled up in front Murthy house.. He didn't wanted to go to home...This felt more like home than that huge house.. He looked up to her balcony.. The light from the earthen lamps illuminated the room, he could see the curtains flying and the sound of the wind chime filled the silence around it... "She must be sleeping.." Manik thought as he kept looking for several hours and finally drove off.. But he was wrong Nandini wasn't sleeping she was lost in thoughts, his thoughts all she wanted him to hold her tightly and promise her that he is going to protect her no matter what.. She wanted to be in his arms and be weak for once and not pretend to be strong all the time... She wanted the Manik from the Fresher's Night who wrapped her in his arms and where she felt the safest.. She wanted Manik or should we rather say she needed Manik.. They both needed each other..
End of Part 28...
Cricket
