Help me😳
The soft wind was caressing Manik's hair as it fell over his forehead. His eyes still on her as he continued to watch Nandini enjoying the noodles. Nandini looked up and noticed that Manik was gazing at her.
"Manik..." Nandini whispered looking at Manik.
"Hmm??" Manik responded as he tilted his head a bit to the right.
"Kya dekh rahe ho??" Nandini asked with a perplexed look on her face.
"Tumhe..." Manik whispered as a gentle smile spread across his face. "You know...just few days back...we didn't know each other. We were not in the same city...we had our own worlds...but we were total strangers...but now, we are sharing a room...sharing noodles..listening to music together. Hamare beech kya hai Nandini?" Manik asked as a confused look spread over his face. He was asking this question to himself too. What was it...what is this relation?
"You know Manik...its just that we don't notice...we meet every single person in our life like that. We just don't notice it each time..haina?" Nandini expressed her thought.
"Yes...you are right. You know when I met Dhruv when...we were in school. Me and two of my friends had a band...we called it the "band of brothers".
"Two of the friends?? Is it Kabir and Dhruv?" Nandini asked with a confused look on her face.
"No...its Dhruv..and another guy..." Manik whispered as he grew a bit restless.
Nandini noticed the restless look on Manik's face. "But then..." Manik whispered as he stopped abruptly.
"But then what Manik?" Nandini asked with a confused look on her face.
"But then...the band was disbanded. We parted ways...just me and Dhruv are together now.." Manik whispered with a lost look in his eyes.
"Then who is that third friend?" Nandini whispered getting up and walking over to Manik and sitting next to him.
"His name is Harshad...he was a friend of mine" Manik whispered looking away a bit. Manik's face turned into a frown as a look of anger and pain crossed his eyes.
"Was a friend of mine?? Matlab abhi friend nahi hai?" Nandini asked looking at Manik.
"Abhi...nahi hai..." Manik replied as his eyes moved restlessly as if some memories were torturing him. Nandini noticed Manik's hand pressing on his left thigh.
"Aiyappa...what is making Manik so upset?" Nandini thought as she slowly placed her palm on Manik's hand.
"Manik..." Nandini whispered looking at Manik with a concerned look in her eyes.
Manik gazed at Nandini and his frown slowly disappeared.
"Manik...forget that na...its getting late, are you not going to drop me home?" Nandini whispered trying to distract Manik.
Manik looked at his watch and its quite late too.
"Ok...let's go! It's truly getting late and I need to drop you home too...warna tumhaare ghar main sab pareshaan honge" Manik replied and got up quickly.
"Wait Manik...aise bowls ko idhar chodke jaaooge?? Chalo..first let me wash them" Nandini said as she picked up the bowls.
"Ok..give that to me..." Manik said as he tried to take the bowl from Nandini's hand.
"No!! Ye treat mera hai..aur abhi main hi ye bowls wash karoongi.." Nandini replied as she walked to the kitchen with the bowls. Nandini found a set of gloves and wore them and started washing the bowls and the kadhaai. Manik stood by the fridge watching Nandini washing the bowls.
It's been 2 years already...since I saw the frame of a girl washing bowls like this. Suddenly Manik felt restless as he walked out of the kitchen and sat on the sofa.
Memories...they truly haunt. Why are these bad memories coming back to me? Why can't they just disappear forever?? If I close my eyes..will those memories disappear?? Manik thought as he closed his eyes and rested his head against the sofa.
"Ayyappa...what is it that is making Manik so upset? Is there a reason behind the way he appeared always on television? Is there a reason behind his hiding his eyes behind the sunglasses? I don't know...but the pain I saw in his eyes..they hurt me...they hurt me more than anything else. Why does he look so lonely?" Nandini asked numerous questions to Ayyappa and to herself as she continued to wipe the bowls dry and arranged them on the counter. Nandini removed the gloves and placed them away and walked out into the hallway. Nandini saw Manik sitting with closed eyes on the sofa.
"Manik..." Nandini whispered as she looked at Manik sitting on the sofa.."Is he sleeping?" Nandini slowly walked up to Manik and looked at him. The light wind coming in through the window caressed Manik's soft hair as they danced to the touch of the wind. Those long eye lashes didn't even flutter a bit. It was as if he was deep in sleep...his features so etched out as if god has sculptured him without a single flaw..as perfect as a perfectly made statue...a statue that Nandini wished to touch. If time could pause this moment..she would watch Manik forever.
Nandini gently placed her palm on Manik's face. "Manik...wakeup...its late..." Nandini whispered lightly. Manik felt the warmth of the palm on her cheek. His hand shot up to grab her by her wrist as he pulled Nandini into his arms onto his lap as his fingers passionately touched her cheek and moved up and into her locks of hair in a lightning speed. Manik's eyes were closed as he pulled her close to him and whispered in her ears "Soha...don't leave me..."
"Soha...that word suddenly struck Nandini's heart like a lightning...does he have a girlfriend?" Nandini lightly touched Manik's palm. "Manik...I'm not Soha..." Nandini felt her heart burn as she realized that she was after all not the one he yearned for. The touch she has experienced so far was never this passionate.
Manik suddenly wokeup from his trance state and realized that it was not Soha..it was Nandini. His eyes were welling with tears as he looked away from Nandini and took his hand off her hair as he realized what he did.
"Manik...tum thik tho ho na?" Nandini asked placing her palm once again on Manik's cheek.
"Ya...I'm...fine..." Manik whispered one word after another as he cleared his throat and blinked away the tear drops welling up in his eyes.
"Soha kaun hai..Manik?" Nandini whispered with a worried look on her face.
That question made Manik look with a shocked expression on his face. His eyes worried..confused...as he realized that he whispered that forbidden name to Nandini. Manik tensely wiped the back of his hand over his lips as he made Nandini stand up.
"Soha...noone...let's go Nandini...I'll drop you home..." Manik whispered as he walked towards the door. But Nandini needed answer...and she didn't move. She waited...waited for Manik to tell her about Soha.
"Manik...I asked you something...can U please not ignore my question?" Nandini asked in a pleading tone.
"Nandiniii...chaloo...its too late...let me drop you home" Manik ordered in a strong tone as a look of restlessness and anger crossed his features.
"Manik..." Nandini looked with a pleading expression on her face.
"Nandini don't you want to go home?? Were U not worried to go back home?" Manik asked walking up to her. "Now why suddenly you are not wanting to go?? Why asking all these?" Manik asked getting closer to her.
"Manik..I want to know..please tell me na? I already told chachi that I will be late...so you can tell me about Soha.." Nandini pleaded.
"Sohaa Sohaa...Sohaaa! Why can't U let her go?" Manik asked as he grabbed Nandini's hands tightly.
"Manik...coz you didn't want to let her go..." Nandini whispered looking into Manik's eyes. That reply shocked Manik to the core.
"I didn't want to let her go?? I didn't want to let her go..." Manik whispered to himself as he let go of her weakly. He felt lost...so lost that he didn't know what more to think...how to react. He stood numb..his eyebrows twitching in pain...a tear drop slipping off his eye. "I really didn't want her to go.."
"Ayyappa...I cannot see this Manik...I can see Manik wearing sunglasses...I can see that attitudewaala Manik...but this Manik standing so lost...so helpless...I cannot bear it..." Nandini thought as tears welled up in her eyes. Manik didn't look at her...he just stood there numb...lost. Nandini couldn't bear this anymore. She moved forward quickly to put her arms around Manik as she hugged him resting her head against his chest. It was her first hug...the hug she so wanted to give Manik..from the moment she looked into his innocent eyes. Manik didn't hold her back...he just stood there numb as a drop of tear slipped off his cheek and fell upon Nandini's forehead.
"Manik.." Nandini whispered as she closed her eyes.
"Ayyappa...please help me take away his pain...please help me" Nandini softly whispered...Manik closed his eyes tight letting another tear slip off his eyes as he gently encircled his arms around Nandini and placed his chin on Nandini's shoulder.
Their hearts joined into one as his pain lightened and her heart tightened. Feeling the pain of another in one's heart...is it love?😳
Hindi TV Shows
Current Affairs
