Manik & Nandini-Stars & Fireflies Part 56 on Page 145 - Page 8

Manik & Nandini - Stars & Fireflies Part 19..

"Magic is about to happen Manik Malhotra brace yourself up.." She winked at him and walked away..Manik was confused as to why she wanted to see those anklets and why she kissed him and why she said magic is about to happen.."What is going to happen?" He thought "Uff DJ and her talks.." He mumbled as he went to sleep..

The next morning he dropped DJ usually to the college and escorted her to her classroom. Manik looked around the classroom but Nandini was not there... "I guess my students are late today!" DJ said "I am going to practice.." Manik avoided the topic and went to FAb5 music room..He sat there tuning his tuning his guitar but his attention was in the classical music room... As he was getting impatient he heard a voice signing the Gayatri Mantra... Manik was ecstatic as soon as he heard it but within few moments his excitement died when he realized the voice is not the same as yesterday's...

He ran towards the music room and saw Navya singing the mantra, he looked all around but there was no Nandini.. He waited till the puja was done and asked "Where's Nandini?" "She's not coming to college today.." Navya replied.. "How is she doing Navya has she recovered any bit?" DJ asked.."Recovered?? What happened to her?? What recovery?" Manik panicked.. "Manik Nandini slipped from stairs yesterday and sprained her ankle.." DJ told him.. "No mam Nandini didn't slip she was tackled.." Navya said and explained the entire event to DJ and Manik how Alya tackled her and she fell down the stairs.. "Mam I called her chachi she told me that her swelling and pain are not reducing and she's having fever too.." Hearing this DJ got worried and Manik's anger knew no boundaries..

Manik stormed out of the music room and went straight to Fab5 room.. He saw Alya and everyone else chatting... He went straight to Alya and pushed her shouting "are you mad? Do you have any idea what have you done?" Alya was confused "what are you talking about Manik?" Manik said angrily "What am I talking about Nandini didn't you tackled her at the stairs yesterday? What if she got more severe injuries then??" He was spitting fire leaving everyone scared.. "how can you be so cheap Alya?? For this I am never gonna forgive you.." He pushed her away and walked off leaving everyone stunned..

Manik was sitting in the garden angrily when Cabir walked upto him.. "What's going on Manik?" He asked.. "What?What's going on..Don't you know what Alya did?" Manik was still very angry.. "So are you angry on Alya because she did this cheap thing or are you angry on her cause Nandini is hurt?" Cabir asked.. Manik who was very angry blabbered "Nandini she's hurt, she's in pain you know her feet is not recovering..She.." Manik suddenly realised what he spoke and went silent... "I knew it.." Cabir smiled.. "We all maybe Alya too knows that you don't love her..she just doesn't want to accept it and you don't realize it.. But Nandini I mean you just met her, you fought with her yet you loose yourself to her.." Cabir said...

Manik looked at him not knowing what to say.. "Manik I saw you trying to kiss her on Fresher's Night when you opened her hair.. I noticed your restlessness when she's around you and when she's not around you.." Cabir continued.. "Its nothing Cabir.." Manik tried to avoid the topic.. "Oh come on Manik don't fool me and don't fool yourself.." Cabir instigated him... "I am not fooling what do you want me say..Yes I loose myself in her eyes, in her smile, in her to be precise.. When I look into those eyes I can see my whole life in them..When I see her lips I feel they are for me to kiss them..When I see see her I feel she's exists in this world for me.." Manik shouted..

"Then tell Alya that you don't belong to her, you never belonged to her..Tell her she's having false hopes..Tell her that you are Nandini Murthy's Manik Malhotra and she has no right over you..Tell her before things turn nasty.." Cair walked off saying this.. After taking few steps he turned back to see a confused Manik sitting, he took out his phone and texted someone to meet at Starbucks at 7 pm...

Manik went straight to the records room and took out nandini's file.. He took her number and called but it was switched off... Manik became restless and started strolling in the garden when he realized he was standing at the same place where he was about to kiss her the other night..Suddenly his phone rang it was Alya, he disconnected the call and switched off his mobile and drove off the campus..

Few minutes later Manik was standing in front of Nandini's house with a huge bouquet of pink roses...Chachi opened the door and was very happy to see Manik.. "Arre Manik beta..Come in."She said.. "Hello chachi I just wanted to give this to Nandini.." Manik said hesitating.."haan haan why not please go upstairs she's awake I will bring masala chai for you..That night also you left without having it.." Chachi said.. Manik gave a weird expression for masala chai..

He slowly opened the door of Nandini's room with bouquet in one to find her napping.. He went close and kept the bouquet on her bed table pulled up a chair..He saw her swollen feet and started caressing it with soft strokes but it rattled her so he stopped..She was wearing a purple kuti and white patiyala wand was reading something before she slept.. Manik took the book slowly from her it wa "love Story" by Erich Segal..Some hair strands were falling on her face he tucked them behind her hair and caressed her soft and supple cheeks..He got up and planted a cute and soft kiss on her cheeks which even in deep sleep brought a smile on her face..Manik smiled seeing her smile..Suddenly he heard the footsteps and sat on the chair and hid the book in his jacket...

It was chachi with her favourite masala chai.."How is she doing.." Manik asked.. "Not well!! She slipped quite a few steps in her heels so the swelling isn't going away..and the pain is also unbearable my poor girl could not sleep the whole night.." Chachi said caressing her and adjusting her blanket.. "She's so unwell why aren't her parents with her?" Manik asked.. Chachi's eyes were teary hearing this "nandini's parents died when she was 9 in an accident..She grew up with Ams; her grand mom at Mangalore and took care of everyone her Ams and Rishabh.. You know Manik she's a very strong girl when her parents died she was in shock didn't speak for two days and two days later she was consoling all of us especially Ams who was broken and Rishabh but she didn't cried.. When I asked her why she hasn't cried and what happened she said she promised her Amma before her death that she won't cry and she will take care of everyone.." Chachi said with tears.. "That is my Nandini she lives for others before her..She never got the love she deserved but I hope one day she will find a boy who will love her so much that she will let out the pain she is hiding and will forget all her sadness.."

Manik couldn't hear more he walked out and stood near his car.. He felt something moist on his cheeks he touched them to find out he was crying.. Manik Malhotra was crying for the first time and too on hearing someone else's pain.. This girl could make him smile and this girl had the power to make him cry too..

End of Part 19..