Feeling his strong arms around her, she whispered
Manik, what do you think you're doing?'
Arre, Nandini, what do you think? I am hugging my person!'
She could hear the laughter in his voice, as his breath tickled her cheek, and the stray locks of hair on her temple.
You need to leave now, or chacha-chachi will wake!'
Why do you always seem so hell-bent on escaping from me, huh?' he exclaimed, sounding so disgruntled that Nandini turned round and pulled his cheeks.
Aww! Don't worry, Mister Boyfriend, I still love you. But I do need to take care that chacha-chachi don't wake up na! Try to understand Manik, please, go na?'
Manik smiled, knowing she didn't really want him to leave but he understood why she felt a bit afraid.
Nandini lived with her chacha chachi and younger brother, and before Manik, her simple life was just that. Simple.But ever since they met, there had been sparks and he was a goner, pretty much since their early interactions. As he left, he gave her a small kiss on the neck, feeling her pulse quicken,
And smirking, waited
What?' she asked him, with a half smile on her face.
Err. Nothing. I just thought you might like to return the favour?'
Nonsense. Leave, Manik. We'll meet tomorrow, okay? I'll see you in college for practice. Now, bye, goodnight'
What do you mean, goodnight'? I deserve a kiss at least!' declaring which, he sat on the floor, cross-legged, waiting for her reaction.
Manik, why do you trouble me so?' she asked him, annoyed.
She was sleepy, and he wanted a kiss. He NEEDED to sleep. And she knew he wouldn't till he had what he wanted.
You are seriously a baccha, you know that?' she said to him, irritated.
And the next thing she knew, he was up with arms around her. She could feel his breath on her hair as he moved them to one side, and kissed that spot he loved on her neck.
Manik' she breathed gently, and it took him all he had to stop himself from whatever he might have done.
Turning, she hugged him tight and told him she loved him.
A gentle cheek kiss later, Manik Malhotra was in his car, trying to calm down enough to insert the car keys into the ignition.
This is what she did to her: Nandini Murthy, the girl he loved more than life.
It seemed like she was not going to get any sleep tonight as her phone rang for the umpteenth time
Manik, please let me sleep. I have to be up in 2 hours...' she complained.
Hello? Nandini?'
Alya?What happened? Are you okay?'
Alya smiled at the fact that this girl, who barely knew her, immediately realized she was not okay.
Yes, I am fine' she lied.
And waited. Hoped.
Alya. I know we are not the best of friends. Or even good friends. But I am happy you called me. Please tell me what is wrong. I can hear it in your voice'
How could she? How could she tell her what was wrong? That she felt unloved, unwanted, and plain depressed? How could she tell her how big a problem she was in?
Nahi Nandini, I am all okay. It's just that I felt like talking to someone and I had a hunch that you might still be up. I am sorry if I disturbed you, I'll keep the phone now' she said, hoping against hope that Nandini, who even understood the monster that never existed, would understand.
Alya, talk to me. Please. Manik just left. I am up anyway. Is everything okay? Did Harshad do anything?'
Alya had been feeling guilty about the goons she set on Nandini the past year; she couldn't believe it had only been a year since that incident; since she and Manik had broken up; since she had gotten close to, and been hurt by Dhruv.
Life was funny: the two guys she had loved had been both interested in Nandini and she had initially hated Nandini, and now, now, she was the only one who showed some kind of sympathy for her.
Nandini waited with bated breath; she didn't know why Alya had called her, but she knew the latter must have had a reason: not only was Alya Manik's ex but she was also Dhruv's (ex wasn't the correct word, since they weren't together, but Dhruv had hurt her, as a lover, as a friend).
Nandini being someone who never could keep her thoughts to herself said
Alya. Listen to me: You are a beautiful, strong woman who deserves respect; who deserves love and those who do not believe that deserve to be punched in the face, you get that?'
Alya smiled, as Nandini had known she would, remembering the punch she had thrown at Manik and that moment when Manik had punched Dhruv.
She knew it would be alright because she had someone now; the girlfriend of his ex; the ex-crush of the boy she was still in love with, Nandini Murthy was the only friend Alya needed at the moment.
After a light-hearted conversation, the two girls hung up; and a worried Nandini called the emergency cell phone number Manik had given her a few months ago.
Hello?' his sleepy voice croaked.
Manik. Listen to me. Alya needs us all'
As Manik listened to her, he understood what had been going wrong. That paleness that Alya had attributed to the weather was one of the earliest signs of her depression. He felt like a fool and wanted to say so but Nandini asked him to just be there for Alya.
And as he quickly kept the phone down and called for an emergency meeting, he blessed his stars all over again: she was his friend and lover, forever. His shooting stars had given him this; had called her to him, so that she could protect his heart so it didn't hurt anymore.
As he got up from the bed and made plans to cheer Alya up, he saw his reflection in the mirror, and the sparkling eyes simply proved what he knew to be true:
This love that he felt for Nandini will only grow in intensity throughout his life.
As Nandini got ready for riyaaz, her phone pinged: 3 unread messages.
Alya
Thank you.
Cabir
You are my forever-awesome girl, you know that, right? Xo
Manik
I love you. Humesha
She smiled, happy with her life, and the stars, and the universe.
Thank you Aiyappa, maa, appa! I love you too'
Okaythanksbye
Sampoorna
Bindi
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