Chap 3
Some days later...
At school
Cabir: guys we have our board exams starting next month..
Mukti: yeah i m so nervous..
Alya: relax mukti, we all have performed well in the mock tests...one more test is left..and we will know where we stand..
Navya: yeah..ok tell me what are you guys planning to do after 12th..?
Aliya: i have cleared the national school of design entrance exam...so i will be doing fashion designing. What about you mukti?
Mukti: well i will enrol in a college for a graduate degree..but my sole focus is on music..i will make a career in music..
Manik: guys i have an idea..you know 5 of us could form a band..dhruv , cabir, mukti, aliya and me..we are trained in rock music..and can play different instruments...what do you guys say?
Dhruv : idea is not bad..even i love music..
Aliya: yeah music is my passion...but i want to make designing as my career..
Manik: aliya..look..even for me music will not be a full time career as i have to look after family business..we will take out time from our schedule for music..we will first see how it goes then decide later..
Mukti : wow it sounds cool..if i will have a band of my own ..i wont have to look at other places..
Dhruv: so when are we starting? After board exams?
Cabir: ooohoo..i m super excited!!
Manik: yeah Dhruv after exams are over...and nandini...nandini!!
Nandini: oh god manik ! why are you shouting ..my ear will bleed..i m here only..
nandini with a friend
Manik: i called you politely you didn't respond so i had to shout...take off those geeky glasses and see that a world exists out of your books too...ms topper!!
Nandini: abhi we will discuss this theory later ok...this manik he will not leave us..otherwise..
Abhi : yeah ok..
Nandini: what is it manik..tell me ..why were you shouting??
Manik: did you hear what we were discussing?
Nandini: yeah did...about some music band of yours?
Manik: yeah so what do you think?
Nandini looked at all of them..."manik..its upto you guys..if u think u can do this..then you should move ahead..what more can i say.?"
Cabir: do you think , it will work?
All looked at her like their lives depended on her response...she smiled knowing that how much they trusted her opinion " yes it will definitely work..with the command that you have over your musical instruments."
Aliya: thanks nandini for believing in us..
Mukti: yeah..
Cabir , Dhruv, manik just smiled. Nandini put on her glasses again and started discussing the theory again..
Everyone rolled their eyes and manik said " ye dono doctor ban ke hi rahenge..."
Nandini heard that and punched him in his stomach. Manik just faked hurt and everyone else laughed and then discussed about their future plans..bell rang and they moved to their class.
Later in the afternoon
Last bell rang...
Everyone headed home. Manik and nandini in manik's car. As she entered in the car, she put her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.
Manik: hey watsup??
Nandini: nothing i m just tired...a little headache too..
He wrapped his arms round her..
Manik: if you keep your face shoved in the books all the time, toh yehi hoga na!!
He started stroking her arms slowly..." nandini padhai jaruri hai..i know u want to become a doctor and you will definitely become one..but you need to enjoy your life too...ye time fir wapas ni aega.."
Nandini felt a little relaxed in his embrace and listening to his soothing words. She looked up and smiled at him.." so today is Saturday..tomorrow its a holiday..can you make my night happening today?" manik smiled on how easy it was to make her see his view point. " of course i can..." he thought for a while.." today at 7 we will go to a club..i know this place ..u will love it"
Nandini: ok! We means just you and me??
Manik: as much as i want to spend alone with you..but still club is fun if we are in group..so i will ask our group to join too..
Nandini beamed in excitement but her head hurt a little.."aah this headache"
Manik: relax come to my home, i will make you a cup of coffee and give you a head massage, headache will vanish
Nandini: aww manik you are so sweet..
Manik: aah nandini plzz don't pull my cheek..it hurts!!
They reach home, manik tells his driver to go and inform murhtys that nandini is at malhotra mansion.
There is no one at manik's home except the servants. Nandini relaxes on the couch while manik makes coffee for her, even after repeated attempts from his butler to let him do his job..but manik doesn't buzz, after making the coffee he hands over one cup to nandini and sips on the other himself. He makes a conference call to everyone informing about the night out. Abhi refuses at first.
Mukti: oh com'on abhi , how will i enjoy if u wont be there??
Abhi: really?????? U need me..??
Cabir: of course she does dude..
Abhi: mukti...
Mukti: ok i hate to admit this...but i like you abhi..
Abhi screamed on the phone" oh my god , oh my god..i will faint"
Everyone else laughs . manik said " abhi relax!! Winning mukti over is an achievement...it calls for a celebration..so you are coming..right?"
Abhi doesn't reply.
Aliya: what happened to him, why is he not replying?
Cabir: did he really faint or what?
Mukti: he is on call but..
Abhi: mukti..
Mukti: yeah..what happened? R u ok..
Abhi: say that u like me once again..plzz
Mukti: oh god abhi..dont behave like a love sick puppy!!
Abhi: please...
Mukti: ahhh...abhimanyu thakkar...i like u..
Abhi: ok i m coming ,
Manik: where
Abhi: club ...
Cabir: oh i thought u r going to mukti's place..
And they all laughed while abhi blushed like a girl and mukti being the tomboy..felt embarrassed..
...
Manik: ok so the plan is set..
Nandini: yeah..i m happy for abhi..
Manik: yeah me too..so hows your headache? Should i give you head massage?
Nandini: no i m much better now..your coffee did the work..it was the best coffee till date..that i have had..
Manik bows down " well it was my pleasure ma'm, anytime for u.."
Nandini laughing " ok manik tell me one thing seriously..why don't you get into a relationship?? See all our friends are hooked up.."
Manik : i don't need a girlfriend because...i...have you..
Blush creeped to her cheeks " but what if i fall for some one else.."
Manik had a hurt expression on his face " then i will be single..all my life"
Nandini realsing the sincerity in his voice " manik..may be its just an infatuation..u know we spend so much time together, u have just got used to me?"
"for me its definitely not an infatuation...you will get plenty of time to test my feelings for you" replied manik.
"Feelings...but manik i don't have time for this...i want to become a doctor..i cant get distracted" she replied blushing but a little nervous too.
Manik noticed her nervousness as she was fidgeting with her fingers..." nandini..look at me" she looked up and he held her palm " do you really think i want to distract you?? Your becoming a doctor is my dream too, i m not asking anything in return, just be as you are, i don't want anything else. Just remember one thing, whenever you need help or support..i will always be there..that's it"
She hugged him tightly and spoke " manik i didn't mean to offend you..i m sorry and i know you will always be there for me..thank you"
Manik broke the hug and smiled its ok, now lets go to your home, i m hungry,if you are not.."
And they had their lunch together, after which both freshened up in their respective homes and manik came back to nandini's house for group study.
N mom: arey manik beta ao baitho, lunch kiya tumne?
Manik: yes aunty, av thori der pehle kiya yahi...av fresh ho kar aya hun nandini k sath padhne..chalo nandini..
Nandini: yeah lets go..
Manik: arey ha aunty mai btana bhul gya..aaj mai ar nandini ar hamara group club ja rahe h..to party..i hope u don't mind..?
N mom looked like she will freak out..."oh my god manik..tum sach bol rahe ho nandini club ja rahi h??"
Manik chuckled "yeah aunty for a change..nandini aaj club jane ko maan gyi hai.."
Nandini: amma..plz majak mat urao..
Nandini was pouting and making faces while manik was enjoying her changing expressions.
N mom: ok ok i m sorry but i m genuinely surprised and happy that you decided to go out and have some fun..when will you two come back?
Nandini looked at manik as she did not know the answer so manik answered " aunty we will try to come back by 10, but could be late..u don't worry, i will take care of her and drop her home safely.."
N mom smiled " i trust you beta"
Nan: ok amma bye we are going to study...
N mom: yeah bye..
After studying for a few hours, at 6 finally manik got up..
Manik: nandini lets stop yaar..its already 6 , you have half an hour to get ready, i will come to pick you up at 6:30 ...for now bye
Nan: manik wait..
He turned around with what look..
Nandini slightly blushing, " wo ..actually..can you plz help me in choosing an outfit.." manik suddenly felt happy, he felt needed, his girl needs him, that's the best feeling!! He smiled and nandini's heart fluttered . she thought "he looks so handsome, no wonder all girls die for his attention"
Manik: hey if you show me the dresses , then only i will be able to choose na?
Nandini came out of the manik land and blushed "yeah yeah ..one minute" and she rushed to her closet opening it for him to look...nandini took out dresses one by one and put it on her front and manik kept on saying "naah" "no" nandini was upset now as only two dresses were left "manik this is the second last dress" she said sadly, manik still didn't like it "ok show me the last one" she put on the last dress and manik beamed in excited "oh my god nandini this is absolutely perfect, o you saved the best for the last??" nandini was suddenly happy seeing him happy but she asked "manik are u sure this is good, or you are saying it just to keep my heart?"
Manik came closer and cupped her face, she looked into his deep chocolaty brown eyes "u will look beautiful in any of those dresses, i was just looking for a dress that does not bring your beauty down. I wont lie, u trust me , don't you?" for the first time manik was so close to her, she observed his facial features as he had not left her face. Suddenly she caught sight of the mole above his lips, she had an urge to touch it. Manik caught her looking and a smile played on his lips, nandini noticed him smirking and she instantly looked down all flushed. Manik moved back " we have wasted enough time , nandini you just have 10 mins baby..get ready fast!!" saying this he ran off from there. But nandini was still stuck in that moment when he addressed her as baby. She moved to get ready , smiling and blushing all the while.
At exact 6:30 manik stood there honking the car.
Nandini came running putting on her bracelet and fixing her hair. Glasses were replaced by contact lense. Manik was stunned at his place. As she came closer he complimented her " beautiful". She blushed "thank you , even you are looking no less, girls at the club are going to have a hard time today"
manik smiled "well you don't need to worry, as i m totally into you, i am just not able to take my eyes off you, i don't know whether its the dress that is making you look ethereal or is it the other way around!!"
She hit him on his chest playfully "manik stop it" manik laughed a heart laugh "ok ok come we are getting late. He opened the door for her and closed only when she had fully settled and then walked to his side and started driving. Nandini smiled at his gentlemanly manners...
TO BE CONTINUED..ONLY IF YOU LIKE AND COMMENT
Edited by Maninim - 9 years ago
