Dotted in blue Nandini wobbled as her tiny legs reached to final podium ..grabbing a few ounces of air she turned and mumbled heaps of consoling hums ..only to find Manik staring at her as she opened her eyes..
" Oh my god..what is that look for..." - she thought as she found Manik walking up to her in the middle of stage..
She flinched at the thought of him being vexatious in front of everyone ..
She took a few steps backward in anticipation ..though before she could tumble down ..she found Manik holding onto her..
"What's up with you..do you always keep falling like this all the time..." - his words brought her out of her daze and she stood straight in a flash..
" Relax..I just wanted to ..." - he kept palpitating and grazed up and down his hands as he wanted to say something but couldn't churn further..
"Wow..that's first..Mr I-know-it-all Malhotra can also get nervous.."- she chuckled at her own thoughts..
"All the best..Yeah.."- he breathed a sigh as he finally conversed what he wanted and fled from there in a quick ..all the while she kept looking at him gaping in shock as he told her to dance on her toes...
"Did he really said what he said or I am imagining things..no ..no it can't be true..for sure ..." - Nandini wondered thinking of all the possibilities that could justify him of being nice to her for no reason..though sadly she couldn't come up with any..
**********
"1..2..3..yes let's do it once again " - Manik blazed with all his capacity ..
"Great practice guys..let's take a break.."- and everyone dispersed for they were too tired ..working like a dog from the past few days were gruesome and after the final practice had left them in splits..they surely needed one..
Munching on her favourite granola bar...Nandini basked in ample sunshine gazing at the hefty vehicles down the road..when she felt a slight tap on her shoulder..
"Here.."- Manik forwarded a cup of coffee..
"Thanks.."-she mumbled barely audible and started sipping on it in a fix..
"Don't worry..I haven't mixed anything .."- he spoke fidgeting and swirling the coffee in his cup..
"You haven't ..really..I thought you added cocoa powder .."- she finished..though he was being cautiously sweet she couldn't deny his behaviour which she observed from the few days she's been there..
"Can't we start fresh .."- he almost startled Nandini for throwing the dash..and she instantly barfed all over the carpet over his sudden announcement..
Wiping her mouth in utter chaos she blurted - "what..are you serious..stop kidding me.."..well she wasn't sure whether he is planning something nasty or genuinely being humble..she remembered how he offered her a glass of water when she was in a bad state but she also couldn't risk when she knew it's him who she is dealing with..
Clearing her doubts he spoke -" yeah ..I actually wanted to..."..
Before he could finish she cut him in middle..- "why all of a sudden now..you want to ..and what would have changed anyway.."
"Listen..firstly I am trying being nice here and you are busy idolising your inflated ego..seriously..get it straight.."-he bursted and went to a lone corner for fixing the aloof dangling cable wire ..
"Wow..what's up with him..every time I think I got him..he gets thousands of miles away..what is he exactly like.."- definitely more than her hobby now..she kept pondering about him..some days he was sweet as sugar while the other days he was cold as ice..what was his real face like or both..
*************
"Ams..I miss you..wish you were here..and could see with your own eyes.."- Nandini spoke caressing the frame ..it was when she heard something..she slid it deep inside her bag..
"Miss murthy..do I have to give you some special invite.."- manik handed her a form in a zap..
"What's this..now..no..I can't.."- she was startled..
"Manik..I can't go for a tour to Bradford ..it's just not possible.."- she stated..
"It's sir..ahh..forget it..you won't listen anyways..and Bradford is happening..we are all leaving tomorrow morning..and as a band member you can't say no..it was in your contract.."-Manik swayed the papers in his hand..
"What..when..how.."- flabbergasted she frayed the pages and read..read again..till those got her fingerprints etched on them..
"Oh no.."-she sighed..
"Oh yes..so miss murthy will see you tomorrow.."-saying that Manik turned for one last time ..shrugged his shoulders..and added -"Ahh..and yes please wear something good..not your regular hipster stuff..."..and he left behind astounded Nandini .. flaring his glasses in pride..
"What the hell..did he just call me ..huh..how dare he..I am so not going to leave you.."-she shouted till the last bit of oxygen left in her lungs..but alas he couldn't hear her..he was long gone and so was she...
As much as you want to plan your life it has a way of surprising you with the most unexpected things that will make you happier than you originally planned...
So sorry for this chotu update..
In the next one there would be a song which Nandini sang in Fab5 labels which have been mentioned earlier..i saw a few of you wanted me to include that song
i am also thinking to give you guys manik's point of view in further updates which upto this point is a mystery
PS : Please Leave your views ❤️
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