Part 22 Cabir's Secret
The music wing started their activities in the second semester. Both Manik and Nandini were part of the music club and they got numerous opportunity to spent time with each other albeit the presence of the entire FAB 5.
Raghav Sir was the teacher -in-charge for music activities. Although, a little strict, he was a favorite among the students. He often arranged activities outside the college in the form of picnics and study tours.
FAB 5 practiced of their own and did not allow any outsiders to join their practice sessions.
The first event of the year was a musical nite arranged by the Students council to raise funds for ' Saathi' a home for the aged, an NGO funded by the Malhotra's. FAB 5 were the primary singers whereas Nandini was chosen to play the veena and to sing a bhajan as the opening program.
The event was to start at 6 pm. As suggested by Ranbir, who was the organizer of the event, Nandini chose a south Indian attire for the opening bhajan. Nandini chose to wear a half saree of green and yellow combination.
A classroom to the end of the corridor was allotted to Nandini to keep her stuff and to get ready. Navya arranged her hair to a traditional plait and decorated with fresh Jasmine flower to bring out the south Indian effect. Chachi added a tikka to Nandini's face, took out a little kajal from across her eyes and wiped it behind Nandini's ears to ward off evil sight. Nandini and Navya laughed at her deeds.
Nandini called Amms and took her blessings. The only person she could not contact before the performance was Manik who was busy practicing with Fab 5. She got a message from him wishing her all the best. When she expressed her desire to see him before the performance, he answered that he would try to be at the back stage.
Nandini was called to the back stage to wait for her performance to be announced. Navya and Chachi went and joined the audience. Even after her name was announced, she did not see Manik anywhere. It was with a heavy heart that Nandini stepped on the stage. Ranbir arranged the Veena for her on a mat placed at the center of the stage. Nandini arranged herself in position, took the veena in her hands and waited for the curtain to rise.
It was when the curtain was slowly being raised that her eyes fell on Manik who was standing at one end of the stage to her right behind the curtain. He gave her an encouraging smile. Nandini was at peace again. She closed her eyes, ran her fingers over the veena string and her magical voice filled the auditorium.
Manik was nowhere to be seen when she next opened her eyes. The bhajan had come to an end and amidst the loud applause of the crowd, Nandini's eyes were still searching for Manik.
Nandini moved to the room allotted to her to change out of her costume to join the audience, for FAB 5 performance. Manik must have gone to change as soon the FAB 5 program was to start.
She locked her room and had just removed her daavani when she saw a shadow moving out from behind the cloth stand. Before she could scream, she heard Manik's voice and Manik moved to the light to assure her of his presence.
For a moment, Nandini forgot that she was standing only in her short blouse and skirt. They stared at each other for what seemed like ages and only when she saw Manik's gaze straying from her eyes, down to her body did she realize her state of undress. She tried to locate where she had kept her daavani, but Manik reached it first. He approached her with a naughty gleam crushing the daavani into a small ball and teasing her with a challenging look.
" Manik, what are you doing? Give my daavani back"
" Na" Manik said nodding a no.
"You have to get it from me" there was a challenge and a threat in his voice.
"Manik, Chachi and Navya might come any moment" she tried to grab the piece of cloth from him.
"No. I send message to them asking to wait for you with the audience, that you will join them" Manik said as he averted her.
He lifted his hands and held the daavani above his head.
"What?? ..." Nandini knew it was unwise to jump at him for the daavani in her present state. Although, she was of slight build and her features comparatively smaller, a little of her cleavage was visible above her mini blouse and her navel was just peeping out from underneath her skirt.
" I wanted to see you after your performance...ummm...And what a pleasant sight". Once again, he ran his eyes down her body provocatively.
"Manik. Don't look at me like that."
" Like what...no tell me, tell me... like what?"
Nandini turned a bright red and tried to change the topic "Manik, your performance will start soon..."
"not without me...Anyways, Nyonika is giving some stupid speech on charity right now. She likes attention. She will use this opportunity well. Choddo..we will not waste our time on her. We have interesting things to do ...like..." Manik was taking each step closer to her with each word.
" Manik, If you don't give my daavani back na, I will walk out like this only. Then don't come running after me..." Nandini interrupted him.
This stopped Manik in his tracks. He stared at her, shook his head as if to convince himself that she will not carry out her threat, and on second thought moved closer to her , draped the daavani across her body and said " Like I said, we have interesting things to do like ... for one. Covering you from sight of kaminas like me.. "
Nandini could not help but laugh at his words and action. She pushed him to the door saying " Manik, Now leave. I want to change and you need to get ready for your performance."
Manik, stopped at the door, turned to her said " You...look beautiful. This look, suits you. After seeing you in this outfit, I have this deep desire to see you in a traditional Maharashtrian wear too. Think about it."
" Yes I will. And, you think about wearing a mundu for me."
" What?? Mundu??"
"Yes, Traditional south Indian men's wear. It will suit you."
Manik just smiled at that, sent her a flying kss and exited from the room after congratulating on her performance.
Nandini hastily dressed and joined Navya and Chachi. FAB 5 performance was a major hit. Manik had sought her out from the stage and their eyes locked often. Chachi noticed this and whispered to Nandini " Nandu, Manik is looking at you as though he is singing just for you...just like Shahrukh did for Kajol in DDLJ during the mehendi leghake song"
Nandini rolled her eyes at her and called warningly"Chachi..." Luckily, Navya had not heard them.
After the program got over, Nandini texted Manik that she was leaving with Chachi although the music club had organized a small party for its members.
The party extended until midnight. FAB 5 and Ranbir were the last ones to leave. Dhruv, Alya and Mukti were just collecting their stuffs from the green room when Manik, Cabir and Ranbir locked up the auditorium and the adjacent rooms when they heard noises coming from one of the classrooms. They moved in that direction and pushed open the door, startling the two lovers who were in heavy making out session. It was Rose in the arms of Samrat, a friend of Madhyam Singhania. Cabir and Ranbir turned away immediately while Manik angrily asked them to leave the classroom. They collected their clothes and hurriedly ran out from there.
Manik was at a fix on how to console or face Cabir. Cabir remained unaffected and left from there to avoid Manik's questioning. Manik turned to Ranbir for answers.
" Ranbir, I already suspected that Cabir and Rose are not seeing each other. And today I am convinced that he is not interested in her. Then, why did he introduce her as his girlfriend? What is he hiding from us?"
" Manik, I don't know if I am in a position to tell you. Its Cabir's matter, for him to share with you, if he chooses. I can only assure you that he is dealing with it well"
" I am his friend. Dammit. I have a right to know.. what he is going through. Whatever it is, FAB 5 will always stand by him."
Just then, Ranbir received a message on his phone from Cabir. He read it and passed it to Manik to read.
"Please answer Manik's questions regarding me. Its better he knows."
Ranbir explained about the fateful accident that happened several years back, which left Cabir with a rather bizarre medical problem. Cabir had lost his manhood when he was run over by a car at the tender age of 15. Having lost his male organs during the surgery that took place after the accident, Cabir had been constantly living a nightmare where he knows he will never be able to lead a normal married life or raise up a family. He kept it a secret from his friends on the fear of being ridiculed or pitied. To avoid any suspicion and to keep girls at bay, he had paid Rose to act as his girl friend. He also tried to joke, play pranks, tease and flirt with girls to forget his grief, but backed off if any girl started to take an interest in him.
Manik called Cabir on the way home.
"Cabir. Where are you, man?"
" Manik. Mind what you are calling me...some words doesn't fit" Cabir laughed in self-derision.
Manik realized that he had used the word ' man' to address Cabir and he was overcome with grief. Cabir continued
" Its ok dude. I am used to all this now. This is the fact of my life and I have come to terms with it. Listen, don't worry about me. I am fine. I don't want our friends to know about this. Let this remain our secret. Ok? "
" Ok"
After disconnecting the call, Manik aimlessly drove around the city, restless and unable to control his anguish. Cabir had been his friend from school. He never realized that Cabir was hiding such a huge pain within him. Now Manik understood that Cabir's pranks & playfulness were always to shield the pain within him. Manik remembered the accident that had happened during the holidays after the 10th board exam. Manik was in Pune and had rushed to Cabir's side on hearing about the accident. His parents later took him to Malaysia to get him treated. Cabir had come back all cured and happy, just in time to join plus one classes.
Manik found himself in front of Nandini's home. He had carelessly drove to her place needing the comfort of her arms. He contemplated to call her or not for a long time.
He had taken her no. in his mobile and mistakenly pressed the call button. It was only when he heard her voice through the phone that he realized what he had done.
" Manik...Is the party over? I was waiting for your call."
" Nandini, I am outside your house. Come."
" Manik. What's wrong? Why are you upset?"
Manik did not want to disclose Cabir's secret to Nandini. So he said in a playful tone." Nandini, Just come. Stop asking so many questions"
He saw her opening the front door and coming out. She was in her nightwear. She looked at the surroundings and came hurriedly to Manik.
" Manik, Tumhare problem kya hai? What are you doing here? Do you even know what the time is?"
" Nandini" Manik called yearningly and took her into his arms in a tight hug. Nandini was too surprised to respond at first. After a while, she hugged him back, releasing a deep sigh of having reached a safe haven.
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