Hello all, hope u all remember me , here is the first chapter of story, let me know whether I should continue story or not , bcz no point in writing without reader. Ignore typos and yes Happy reading !!😉
chapter 1
Since my childhood I pictured my convocation day .Not the way , faculties praising me for making top. I was never a topper , jus an above average student . Had been a party Animal , prankster. Same as the way pictured today Holding degree, posing for optics, playing pranks together with my friends, but, nothing among them is happening.
Here I am standing at a corner, alone, I cannot say my classmates are rude. They had been nice to me, just , they are not my buddies.
" Mr. Manik " I hear my name . I glance around to notice anyone intending to watch me taking degree. I just find my dad clapping gladly.
My fellow classmates and others were busy in their personal business. I smile back to my dad , walk through aisle and take my graduation degree . I drag myself down holding degree tightly. I see students talking in groups chirpy, clicking selfies.
My friends too might had almost same quality time together on graduation day last year.
I don't feel neglected, they are just not my buddies. They had been nice but they always remained new!
I feel a sharp tap on my shoulder , I turn my head to see who it is !
It's Alia ! She shows her degree and grins.
" where are you escaping ? " she questions narrowing her eyes
" no where " I say , shrugging my shoulders.She pulls me back gripping my shoulder and snatches a selfie of both of us and then grins again.
As I try stopping her she captured more of our pics, I give up and finally poses for a selfie with a smile.
" that's good, I know u will give up in the end " she says releasing me from her hold, winking an eye. I smile helplessly, Alia always tried to become close throughout last year.
The way she smiles, way she steals my glimpses, her presence around me , it's clear she likes me. After what happened ! I didn't let her like, progress further.
I glance back at my dad , he is eyeing both Of us suspiciously .
" I need to go . " I say with a smile. " To where ? Not staying back for Graduation party ? " she asks, I could see stab of disappointment .I gesture my hand towards dad, dad smiles at both of us .
" I never belonged here among this batch of crowd " I say glancing around once again . I try to locate Cabir ,He is the only one whom I let to be my friend or I must say I was optionless. I am a challenge to Cabir and stupid finally made it. I am his friend, he know me more than anyone , in fact more than my childhood buddies.
I turn back at Alia ,her lips are pursed into a thin line. " In case , if you bump into Cabir tell him to meet me " I say and Saunter towards dad.
" Thats great ! " dad says patting my shoulder. " who is she ? " dad questions glancing at retreating Alia.
" My fellow classmate " I say averting gaze to my dad.
" Seems , she is interested in you . " Dad States suppressing his smile.
" Might be ! But, I am not . " I say rolling degree I'm holding.Dad doesn't seem Amused, he looks thoughtful.
" As a father, i am glad to think, you are not ready to take any step which may or may not land you in troubles, once again , but, it makes me worry too." Dad circles his arm around my shoulder and gestures me to walk.
" worries you! Of what ??" I question in confusion.
" Are you still holding on past ?? " he questions skeptically.My shoulders tense hearing him, for no reasons ,I feel, I am caught ! I stay quiet watching our feet.
It was dad who thought me walking, when I was child ,dad might have paced down his walk letting my little steps reach his, guiding me and now today, it's me reducing pace taking little small steps , not letting my long legs move like they wish, still seeking for his guidance.
I feel his tightened grip around my shoulder. I realise I didn't answer him yet.I revert gaze to him, he is studying me, still waiting for my answer.
" A part of it ! " I say licking My long back dried lips.
" Part of it ?? " he says thoughtfully. I nod in agreement. No good in hiding with loved ones and specially when the loved one is a pretty good guide.
" I don't ask you , what is holding you, as I know everything. All I can tell is free yourself from its hold at any cost ." Dad says drawing back his hand. " for your sanity ! " he adds.
He might not say, what he just said, if he knows what is holding me, ' The vague promise ' I made to Astha, Others might think it's foolish, they can measure it's burden only when situation arise.
"I am still sane ." I say tugging a smile.
" I know you are sane, but your moves are making me skeptical "
" I am fine " I assure him .
" you are just fine! You are not My Old Manik ,who tries to over take me ," he gestures me at my paced down walk matching his and continues " you always sneaked out through the gaps I purposely left or I say , made for you. "
I look at him like a fool, I always thought I am Smart in fooling my dad , brave on my own, but it was he who made me. He grins witnessing my foolish look and then continues.
" you thought , you built it on your own ?"
" yeah " I say grinning like an idiot.
" well ! A part, still remember few adventures you did , which were totally unexpected and left me shocked " dad says shaking his head.
" I was not totally proud of you like wise , I was never ashamed of you, " he was never! This surprises me. I saw that defeat look many times in the past 3 years.
" I want Old Manik ,One who can be happy any where , irrespective of surroundings. " I nod reassuringly.
" Manik " I hear loud scream of my name and glance in its direction. It's Cabir ,Finally he Found me.
" where have you been Man ?? " he questions.
" At last you found time for me " it was not the answer, I mocked him. It's weird ,I say I was forced in our friendship, but I am mocking his absence around me. Must admit we turned into Fevicol friends.
" hey, you know Marie right, she blocked me, a small make out " he winks, playing a wicked smile.I clear my throat indicating him my fathers presence and when he realised my fathers presence he hung his mouth open for few moments, soon composes and greets my father.
Dad gazes him narrowing his eyes, I could tell it's becoming hard to suppress his smile.He shakes his head disapprovingly and talks with cabir for few minutes. He likes Cabir , may be because he saw how comfortable I can be with Him.
" Okay kids , have to leave And Manik ,when can I expect you in office . " that's drop of land mine on me, I am not ready yet and am not sure when I can be too.
Cabir coughs hysterically hearing dad, eyeing me. " Not so soon Dad ." Dad scrunches his brows and looks at me intently.
" okay , take your time, but remember ,I am waiting for that day. " he says tapping Cabirs head making him remember his Gone fake cough. Dad smiles and walks away.
" Yaar that Alia ,was asking me to get you to graduation party " Cabir says playfully teasing me. " I am not coming Grant " I say shaking my head slightly , Cabir gives a knowing smile " And you too " I add quickly.
Cabir eyes bulges , soon he deflates .
" it's not that disdaining Manik ,we can have fun ,let's go or at least let me go Moron " he screams.
" I have an offer " I say raising my hand .
" what is it? " he shots, rolling his eyes. " And I am sure , that might be the most boring offer ever " he complains before I speak further.
I glare at him narrowing my eyes. "Okay tell me, what's the offer ." He finally permits.
" In graduation party , Just Marie ! Let's go to pub, you can dance with many girls . " I suggest winking an eye.as expected stupid Cabir is all over me, jumping on me . May be he was surprised, because, every time it's him who drag me to anywhere and today it's me offering him.
______________________________
Music blares out attacking our ear drums as we open entrance door , strong smell of alcohol hit my nostrils as I take first step, three fourth of crowd is dancing frantically, crazily to booming music ,rest of teenagers are resting leisurely with their partners.
As we walk further into crowd , now I could smell sweat mixed with crazy perfumes , acohol and smoke. I adjust my breath and stride further into crowd clearing , pushing them. Cabin is already into dancing crowd.
A girl straddles me in middle from back, wrapping her right leg around mine, she circles my neck and whispers in my ear " wanna dance ? " I nod my head horizontally denying her offer , girl leaves deflated and joins another boy among crowd.
I saunter leisurely smiling towards bar , relief spread over me, musty smell of Alchol is better than muddle of different odour's emitting from hundreds of dancing teenegers.
A girl bumps into me while reading menu, another girl bumps into both of us making us tremble. I catch her safely, my head is in the crook of her neck, my breath eased inhaling mild yet intoxicating Magnolia.
I move back making her stand steadily and look at her . it's Nandini! Astha's sister . Her eyes bulge welling out of their sockets . I look at her intently .
" I .. I am I am sorry " she stammers and waits for my reply. I keep quite .
I am peering back into those miserable days again .
" than..thank you " her Gaze lingers on my total body , she seems alert " I .. I need to Go " she continues stuttering .
That enticing Magnolia offers no refreshment further. Musty Acohol seems better.She stands for 2 seconds I guess and walks away not glancing back into crowd .
I drag bar stool , settles on it dropping my head into palms and orders a drink.Flashes of Past are resettling comfortably ,drifting from subconscious to main memory.
I was accused. " What have you done to Astha?? Where is my sister? " Nandini's Accuse booms out and stands front row from those resettling memories.
I was imprisoned for almost 26 days. I was interrogated like a ruthless criminal for nothing I commited.
The only reason for that stupefied , baseless interrogation is Nandini!She suspected my hand in Astha's Vanishment and filed a complaint against me.
I was not allowed to move out of city for almost 7 months , people around me ,too blamed , dad's reputation too vanished . Initially he was angry but slowly he became my support .
Slowly I was bleached of taints smeared over me, no matter still there are people who suspects I'm the culprit .
All this effected my education , that's how I completed graduation studying with my juniors , a whole of 1 year was wasted .
" sir , your drink ." I hear bar tender. I scan crowd once again , I see Cabir dancing with two girls.
I swig whole fluid in single gulp, burning bitter fluid rushes through my throat flaming already heated body.I peer through crowd, my eyes spot Nandini on the other side. She looks Angry , warning some guy though he looks unaffected .
She is arguing , she caught his chollar and is gritting through her teeth.
Hatred! Anger floods , gushes from every fibre of my nerves . I raise up and walk towards them.
End of update
Thanks for reading , would love to hear feedback , let me know your views about story, will boost me to write more .
Cricket
