Manik was sitting in the balcony admiring the stars and fiddling with his cellphone wearing his ever shining and beautiful smile. His 5 minutes ago phone conversation with Nandini was echoing is his mind again and again.
These two months brought them really close to each other. The two who never acknowledged the other apart from their professional terms, were now best friends. How much he loved to be with her. The girl, Nandini , he knew , and the girl , Nandini was now , were completely opposite.
The ever so rude and arrogant Nandini was now a bubbly , chirpy , happy girl. The promise which Manik made to himself for bringing her smile back , he made sure that he fulfils it and was very much successful in that.
He smiled recalling how kiddish she behaves at times. Yes , Nandini Murthy , The technical head of her team , would actually behave like a kid in front of Manik. He always admired her , adored her , loved the tantrums she showed to him and only to him. She loved being pampered and he always happily gave in to pamper her.
He always loved the fact about her that she changes her personality according to the need of the hour. Whenever in office , she was a strict professional even with Manik and Cabir. But on personal terms , she was completely different.
But still , they were only best friends. After the dinner night , the equation between the four of them , changed completely. Where Manik and Nandini found their best friends in each other , Cabir ana Navya were still the same.
He would always try to impress her and she although on getting impressed with him and having a soft corner for him in her heart , never showed it in front of him but he always knew what she felt for him.
For Nandini , Cabir was nothing less than a brother and same was Manik's feeling towards Navya. Life changed for them , especially for Manik and Nandini.
Abhimanyu was now a senior doctor in the city's renowned hospital. He lived in the same building where Nandini lived but in a different flat. His friendship with Manik and Cabir daily attained a new level. The boys' gang was ready to die for each other. In these two months , Cabir and Manik found their another brother cum friend in Abhimanyu who would always be on his toes to be for them.
On recevieing alot of pleadings from Nandini , Cabir , Manik and Abhi ; Navya submitted a transfer application in her company so that she would stay with them. And she would soon shift with Nandini and join the company in this city.
...
Manik was so much engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't even noticed when Cabir came and stood in front of him , taking the support of the railing , hands folded across his chest. He noticed the peace on his face , the smile , which he always missed to see after that scary night. The night that snatched his peace , his heartful smile , his shining eyes. The night that changed Manik ; into a bit of good and into a lot of worse.
"What's up Manik..? You look happy..?" Cabir said breaking the silence and with that Manik came out of his trance.
"hey..Cabir.. When did you came.?" he asked.
"When you were lost in your thoughts and smiling , admiring the stars." Cabir said looking towards the sky.
Manik smiled. "Nothing Cabir.. you know na , Nandini how she is..? was just talking to her.. She's really mad.. like seriously." He exclaimed widening his eyes.
Cabir raised his eyebrows when he heard her name. He saw Manik again lost in his thoughts and continuously smiling. He just nodded his head as if
trying to fix the pieces of puzzle in his mind.
"toh tu Nandini se baat karke itna khush hai." Cabir spoke up again and this time , sitting beside him.
"woh baat hi aise karti hai..! I mean she really knows how to cheer up anyone." Manik said , with a wide smile and sparkling eyes.
"Nice girl she is.." Cabir continued.
" I know.. she's just adorable." Manik said.
Both were silent for few minutes when Cabir said ,
" we really hated her yaar.."
"ya actually." manik said agreeing to him.
"Gabbar..! you remember..? you named her Gabbar..?" and then both laughed.
"seriously man.. who would have thought that the girl in our team , whom we disliked so much , will turn out to be our best friend." Manik exclaimed in joy.
Cabir nodded his head to agree with Manik and then looked at him , who was still smiling.
"you really like her alot..don't you..?" Cabir asked him , looking at him.
He frowned at his question and said ; "of course I like her , we both like her." He paused for while and continued raising his one eye brow , " why ... you don't like her..?"
"Of course Manik I like her in fact I love her. Since childhood I used to ask my mom that why I don't have a sister. I guess it's because I had to meet her. This cute little angle sister. Of course I adore her but yahan baat teri ho rahi hai naki meri." Cabir said and with that Manik , who till now was smiling listening to a heart full confession of brother for his soul sister , again frowned on the later sentence of Cabir.
"what do mean Cabir.?" Manik asked him.
"Manik.. I don't know you have realised it or not but in these two months you have changed. Changed for good. Changed into that old Manik who we lost somewhere on that dreadful night." Cabir said looking towards him , while he turned his face just as soon he heard the mention of that night.
There was a complete silence after that. Cabir was looking at Manik in a hope that he will say something and tried to read his mind whereas Manik was lost in that one night , which played an important role in changing Manik and his life.
"And do I need to say that who brought these changes..?" Cabir continued after a while , whereas Manik's gaze was still fix on the floor.
"Manik I think it's time that you should just let go off your past and that guilt. Kuch logo ke kehne bhar se tu uss incident ka culprit nahi ban jata. We all know what happened and you were for sure not responsible for it. Manik , life is all about ups and down. When at one point we find sorrow , at other there is happiness , immense happiness , but you need to see it. Like right now , you need to see where your happiness is lying. And I can clearly see that your happiness lies with Nandini. " Cabir tried to explain him and with that Manik looked at Cabir , with shocked , surprised and angry expressions.
"Don't give me such looks Manik ; I have seen them many times. They will not affect me. Manik why can't you see it yourself. Your peace , your smile , that you lost , are back. Abhi ki hi baat le , you were so much into her thoughts after talking to her that you didn't even noticed the door bell ringing. I opened the door from the spare keys that I have. When I came inside , when I came here and stood in front of you , you had just no idea about it. Tu apni hi duniya mein khoya hua smile kar raha tha , kyun Manik ..? why..? She affects you Manik , and trust me she is the one. Ek mauka de mere bhai , just one chance , to yourself , to your life , to her. Please." Cabir said holding Manik's shoulder and Manik kept looking at him but stayed quite.
Just as he finished , Manik removed his hands from his shoulder and said very calmly looking straight into his eyes , "I already have someone in my life , who can make me smile and where I can find my peace. And for this , I don't need anyone."
His tone was cold enough for Cabir to realise that making Manik realise the fact and his true feelings , would be really a tough job.
Cabir irritatingly got up and said in bit louder pitch , "Manik why don't you understand and accept the fact that she.." before Cabir could complete his sentence Manik too furiously got up .
"Cabir please don't.. just don't.." he said raising his index finger.
"I don't have place for anyone in my life , if it relates to love.." he continued looking else where.
"I hope I have made myself clear. Isliye ab dobara mujhse iss topic par baat tu agar na kare toh better hoga. Aur Nandini , she can never be at the place... Never. " he said in a stern tone and left from there.
Cabir remained sitting there , ananlyzing what Manik just said and trying to figure out his dillema.
CABIR POV :
Manik.. tu maan ya na maan , you love her brother. And not only you , she loves you too. But jitna main tujhe jaanta hoon , tu accept nahi karega. na apna pyaar , na uska. Aur jitna main usko jaan paaya hoon , she broke the shell she created around her , only for you and to be around you , but still she too doesn't wants to enter in this territory. kya karu main tum dono ka...!!!
Manik ka past , uska guilt , use kabhi kisi aur ke pass nahi aane dega. He is still living in the past and which is not right. Ab tak main chup tha , not now..
Manik you have come out of that guilt , you need to realise the reality and accept. I need to do something. You have to accept that you love her.
And same goes for you Nandini.. Its high time , you both need a reality check.
Shiv Shakti
