Chapter 20
Vroom...đ
"Yes guys..." Manik said in a decided tone as both Manik and Kabir walked over to Nandini, Navya, Alya and Dhruv. "So are all the phone calls done? Apne gharwaalon ko bataa diye haina..that U guys are gonna be late?"
"Haan..humne call karke already bataa diye hai!" Navya replied in a confident tone.
"And what about youuu.. Navya?? Ghar se permission mil gaye?" Manik asked bending a bit to look at Nandini with a little smile on his face.
"Ha..haan...magar before 9.30 P.M...hum ghar wapas jaayenge..." Nandini stuttered as she met the intense gaze of Manik.đ đłđ
"Ok guys..so its set! Dhruv and Alya..U guys are gonna go ahead to bring Mukti to my home! U guys know na where she is? Bring her also with U!" Manik gave instructions.
"Ok..buddy" Dhruv whispered softly looking at Alya.
"But Manik..let me come with you!" Alya said in a soft tone.
"No guys...since there's 3 bikes and 6 people. I have a plan. Dhruv and Alya..U both go on Dhruv's bike to bring Mukti to my home for the party. Kabir, U take Nandini with you and take her first for a little shopping...her dress is too plain and not apt for party..buy a dress for her that fits with our Fab 5 party and Navya..U come along with me on my bike!"
"Ok Manik..." Dhruv replied "Come Alya...let's go and bring Mukti!" Dhruv said taking hold of Alya's hand. Alya hesitantly looked at Manik and gave a frustrated look to Nandini as she walked after Dhruv out through the glass doors of Infiniti Mall.
"Now...shall we make a move? Navya U are coming with me on my bike!" Manik said as he took hold of Nandini's hand.đ
"Aiyooo" Nandini replied her eyes growing wide "Bike? With you?" đđ˛ Nandini turned to look at Navya who had a totally helpless expression. "I don't sit on bikes. I'm scared of sitting on bikes and me and Navya will go together...we'll catch a taxi from here. U just give us address of the place of party." Nandini said as she looked at her hand in Manik's grip and then back at Manik's face.
"Haan...we'll catch a taxi from here..." Navya repeated after Nandini like a parrot.đ
"Why Nandini...are U scared of me? Do U also mind sitting on my bike with me? I thought U are a brave girl!" Kabir said with really sweet smile on his face.
"No..aapse kaun scared honge? Hum aapse nahi..bike se darte hai!" Navya asked mesmerized by his smile.
"U trust me?" Kabir asked catching a soft hold of Navya's palm.
"Y..Yes!" Navya replied as she got hypnotised by Kabir's touch.
"Tho bike se mat daro na? Bike ko hum handle kar lenge. Aap bas humko dekho! Ok Manik! It's set! U bring Navya home with you! Let me first take our Nandini for a little shopping" Kabir replied with a little wink to Manikđ
"Haan sure.." Manik returned the wink to Kabirđ
"No...Nooo..I am scared of sitting on bikes. Can we not go on bike?" Nandini replied with a nervous expression on her face. "I never sat on a bike!" Nandini replied with a nervous expression on her face as she noticed that Kabir walked away with Navya who forgot her friend and left her midway in a mall and went after her favourite drummer.đ
"Ayyappa...she left me alone with Manik...now what do I do?" Nandini thought as Manik continued to stand there holding Nandini's hand.đ
"Ab chale? Ya phir uthaake le jaaoon?" Manik asked getting closer to Nandini. Their eyes were on the same level as he bend to look into Nandini's eyes. Nandini backed off a bit as she noticed the intense gaze of Manik. "Uthaake le jaaon apne haathon main?" Manik again asked with an evil smile as his fingers traced up Nandini's hand.đ
"Noo! No! Main chalti hoon..." Nandini whispered as she felt herself getting more and more entrapped with Manik. Manik's fingers moved back down and got a grip over her wrist. "Chalo!" Manik ordered.
Navya was nowhere to be seen now... " how will I contact her now? I should've bought a cellphone the moment I landed up in Mumbai." Nandini thought as she walked helplessly behind Manik. Manik's grip was tight around her wrist.
"Manik..I'm coming with U..U don't have to catch hold of my hand" Nandini said trying to take her hands off Manik's tight grip.
"Oh...ok..." Manik slowly let go of his grip as he noticed Nandini feeling uneasy by his touch.
"How will I convince her? How will I make her spell out the truth? Kabir ne tho coast clear kar diye hai. He stood by his word. Dhruv and Alya are gone now and Kabir took Navya away with her. Now its just Nandini and me...I must surely find a way" Manik thought as he and Nandini walked onto the parking lot where Manik's bike was parked. Nandini looked hesitantly at the bike parked on the parking lot. It is darker now and street lights are shining on the sidewalk.
"Sit..." Manik invited as he sat on his bike and took his helmet off the handle of the bike. Nandini went close to the bike and looked at its huge size. Nandini tried to climb but each time she tried to sit sideways..she would slip. The bike was huge and she was tiny and plus she never had the experience of sitting on a bike.
"How will I sit? I'm scared..." Nandini replied with a nervous look on her face.đ
"Ok..place your hand on my left shoulder..keep your foot here...then swirl your other feet over to the other side and sit. Sit across the bike. It's not necessary that U should sit sideways. U can sit the way I'm sitting on the bike." Manik said looking at the helpless Nandini and the bag dangling onto her shoulder.
"Don't let it dangle on one shoulder...U will lose concentration and try to pull the strap up you. Just adjust the strap and wear it around you, so that U won't lose concentration while holding me" Manik instructed Nandini as he noticed her feeling uncomfortable.
"Ok.."Nandini said as she adjusted the strap of the bag and wore it across herself.
"Ok now..come and place your hand on my shoulder and get onto the bike." Manik instructed.
Nandini hesitantly placed her palm on Manik's shoulder.
"Her touch...it is so gentle..so magical...I can feel that she is like an untouched flower. She never sat next to a guy...she never sat behind a bike. I'm the first. I want to be her first in everything." Manik thought as he looked at Nandini who had placed her left foot onto the side of the bike and clumsily twirled her other feet over the seat to put her other leg on the other side and managed to sit on the seat. Nandini feared that she would lose grip and so she placed her other palm also on Manik's right shoulder. đł
The greyish sky had one or two stars shining. There it is...Venus...goddess of love. She must be smiling now...and preparing to make a new love story. Manik felt a gentle breeze blow as he looked sideways at Nandini.
"Are you settled? Abhi comfortable ho na? Shall I start my bike?" Manik asked.
"H...haan.." Nandini said as she fidgeted a bit on the seat her feet firmly placed on both sides of the bike. Manik kick started the bike and Nandini fingers deeper on Manik's shoulder as she got scared of the sudden vibration of the bike.
"Nan..Navya...if U are scared U can put your arms around me" Manik said turning to look once again at the nervous Nandini. "Shit man...did I make her suspicious!" Manik thought as he noticed that he might have called her Nandini.
"Nan?? Did Manik intend to say Nandini?? Does he know me already?" Nandini grew nervous.
"No...I'm ok like this" Nandini replied nervously licking her lips. She felt her lips go dry as a new fear gripped her.
Manik pressed onto the accelerator and the bike jerked forward. A shocked Nandini took her hands off Manik's shoulder and tightly hugged Manik from behind and closed her eyes tight pressing her face onto Manik's back. Manik felt the tight grip around him and a wide smile spread over his face.
"She sure is nervous...but I love her back hug.." Manik thought with a smile as he felt her against himself.
"Hold me tight and don't let go..." Manik said as he drove the bike on the street that was still a bit a crowded. Nandini continued to sit with her eyes tight shut and her arms tight around Manik. She couldn't reply to Manik as she was sitting as if she was sitting for the first time on a rollercoaster ride...nervous..scared.
"Ayyappa...pls...save me..." Nandini silently prayed as the bike gained momentum. Vrooom...the bike zoomed past shops, houses, people...other vehicles.
Nandini didn't open her eyes but continued to sit resting her her cheeks against Manik's back and her eyes tight shut from the fright of sitting on a bike.
Slowly...Nandini was getting used to the momentum of the bike...the bike..its pace...though it felt like the attitude of Manik at first...now she was getting used to it..just like she is getting used to this Manik...whom she knew never before. This was new...this ride on a bike..with Manik..and it felt...magical. Nandini felt her fear seep away...as she rested herself comfortably against Manik and her grip grew softer and she adjusted her hug around Manik her arms holding each other around Manik and it felt as if she was slipping into a dream...the cold touch of wind on her cheeks and the warmth of Manik's back...felt like heaven.
"Ayyappa...this is magical...let this evening never end and this bike ride too" Nandini thought as the bike zoomed past the crowded streets onto a path that Nandini may never have imagined to have travelled on. But she didn't see the streets...the people...the sky...the stars...because she was in heaven with Manik.đłđ
Avatar and Signatures Shop
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
CID
