Part 34 Never Have I Ever
Manik adjusted the rear view mirror to capture Nandini's face which was still etched in anger. On seeing him do that, Cabir gave a fake cough and asked
" Manik, I see that you are distracted. Umm ... Do you want me to drive ... May be you want to sit at the backseat? "
" shut up Cabir.." Manik whispered back "Can't you see she's really angry. I am thinking how to calm her down. Anyways, it's better for me to be far away from her now."
" wait... I have an idea... May be that will loosen her up a bit."
" what?"
By then Cabir had turned to the others.
" Guys... It's boring no? Let's play a game. Let's play... Never have I ever"
" Yes... I love the game. " Mukti shifted in her seat to show excitement.
Manik was studying Nandini's face. She seemed oblivious to her surroundings.
" What sort of game is that?" Navya leaned forward to enquire.
Cabir raised his eyebrows slightly indicating Nandini and Navya understood his intentions.
" it goes like this... " and Alya went on to explain the game to Navya who seemed apprehensive on hearing that she had to drink alcohol.
" no Navya, it's not necessary. You and Nandini can take a fruit juice."
" I am not playing" Nandini stated calmly.
" Nothing doing. You have to join us. Please Nandini. " Alya requested.
Nandini stole a look at Manik whose eyes were on her and they stared at each other through the rear view mirror. The loud blare of the horn brought Manik out of the stupor.
" Manik, careful" Cabir warned him.
" Yeah. Bro. I am fine. I need to concentrate..."
" yes. On the road... Not anywhere else" Cabir teased him and then turned to others. " So, let's get the can of beer from the back. Nandini, could you pass one please."
Nandini took a can and passed to Cabir.
"Navya, I think you should try this. Triggers the sensibilities of an ignorant." Cabir raised the can to Navya.
" shut up Cabir" Mukti turned to Navya again. "On a serious note, I think Navya that you should give it a try. It's not as bad. You will like it"
Encouraged, Navya took sip out of the beer which was handed over to her.
" umm... You are right. Nandini, do you want to give a try?"
When Nandini moved her head in negation, Mukti turned to the others " So, let's start the game. Nandini and Manik can take the fruit juice , as he is driving while the others, the more privileged ones will stick to the beer. What say? " she winked saucily at Manik. "
" Ok... So let's start the game in alphabetical order. But backwards. Navya, you go first" Cabir kept the beer can ready in his hands.
" umm.. Never have I ever ...ever..." Navya started thinking aloud." Never have I ever gone on a road trip like this"
"Seriously???...okay" said Mukti while taking a gulp of the beer. The others followed suit while Nandini , after hesitating a bit took a sip from the fruit juice bottle that Mukti passed to her. Mukti took the bottle from her and passed to Manik who took a sip from the same bottle. The others were observing this situation with amused expression, but did not comment on it.
"Now, it is the turn of Nandini. Nandini??" Cabir turned to Nandini.
Nandini took this as an opportunity to get back at Manik.
"Never have I ever gone back on my words."
After a pause, she continued " Manik... you can drink the whole bottle as you very well deserve to..."
There was so much venomousness in her words that everyone were wordless for a few minutes while Manik expressionlessly, drank and finished the whole bottle of juice.
"Why aren't you all drinking? Have not anyone else gone back on their word like I have..."
Manik asked the others.
One by one, the others also drank from the can mostly to support Manik.
"Mukti, your chance next.."
"Umm...let me see...Never have I ever...gone dancing topless...Manik and Cabir, you are exempted. I have seen you dancing topless..."
Mukti tried to lighten the atmosphere while the girls started taking sip from their respective cans.
Nandini was by now feeling low for having spoiled the mood of others by bringing up her differences with Manik. She threw a glance at the rearview mirror. Manik was busy concentrating on the road.
When Nandini did not take the fruit juice bottle that was handed over to her, Cabir looked at her and raised his eyebrows.
"Nandini? Aren't you taking a sip? You heard what Mukti said??'
Navya nudged her and indicated with her eyes to take the bottle from Cabir's hands. Still unfocussed, Nandini took a sip and her heart gave a leap when she felt Manik's concerned glance towards her.
"Okay, so now its Manik's chance."
Manik was busy overtaking a truck that he did not respond for a few minutes.
"Never have I ever given up...given up on something that I wanted in life" Manik said while looking at Nandini, a silent message being passed to her.
All the others including Nandini took their sips.
" That's fair enough. I don't think Manik will ever let something he wants slip through his fingers" Mukti supported her best friend, silently referring to Nandini. No one noticed Alya paling slightly on her words.
"This game is becoming too emotional and unFAB 5 like." Cabir said "So, here is mine. Never have I ever kissed a girl...read it as a boy for you people. "he added indicating the girls.
" Seriously Cabir, you have never kissed?" Mukti asked him.
"Nope. I never had a steady girlfriend."
"But Rose?" Alya put in.
"Not again. No. Not Rose. Not anyone..."
" You can...you know...have a steady girlfriend, if you wish" Mukti said pointing to Navya while Navya hung her head shyly.
Alya and Mukti each took a sip from the beer bottle and passed to Navya who nodded a no.
" Accha. So, you also have not kissed? That's nice" Mukti said again suggestively.
When Manik gave no indication to take a sip from the bottle, the three of them looked at him in confusion.
"Let Nandini drink first" Manik said while smirking at her through the rear view mirror.
While all pairs of eyes turned towards her, Nandini blushed and took a sip from the bottle. While taking the sip, she could not help but remember all the kisses that she had shared with Manik. All this time, Manik's eyes were resting on her and he too was remembering each one of their kisses.
Their eyes met and remained on each other.
Manik gave a sudden brake and stopped the car on the roadside. They were in the highway.
"Cabir, you take the wheels. I am going to relax at the backseat. Navya, you come to the front"
Although, Nandini tried to stop Navya, she didn't pay any heed and hopped in to the front passenger seat beside Cabir.
Manik soon settled down at the back with Nandini. As he was tall and needed more leg space, the space was not enough for him to sit comfortably. Nevertheless, he adjusted himself and Nandini too adjusted herself for him although she continued sitting turned away from him, looking out through the window.
" Okay. So finally Alya. Your turn."
Alya was silent for a while and then said tearfully "Never have I ever...ever .. ...never have I ever missed someone as much as I miss Dhruv now ..."
The drinks were forgotten, each of the FAB 5 members silently agreed with her as Mukti took a sobbing Alya in her arms.
There was a sorrowful silence in the car for the next few minutes.
Cabir stopped the car at the nearest gas station for fuel. Manik also got out and went to the nearest shop to buy chocolates and chips.
Soon, they were on the way . Nandini continued to ignore Manik who was busy devising schemes to start a conversation with her. Finally, he gathered enough courage to gently place his hands inside her palm. Nandini looked at him shocked and tried to get him to leave her hands whereas he just tightened his hold.
" relax Nandini. Can't you forgive me for once? It's hurting real badly.Please Nandini" he whispered to her.
The others were just talking random things and did not bother with the couple.
" Did I get the same consideration from you? No Na. You were wallowing in self pity not bothered to know how I was doing, not even once you tried to reach out to me.. To hear my side of the story. "
" it was hurting me too. "
" But that was your choice. "
" I agree with you. In fact I agree with everything you are saying. I am at fault and I want you to just give me this one chance to prove myself."
" No. And if you really were apologetic, you would never have followed me to Mangalore. But, you wanted to just prove a point here. "
" I can never let you go. "
" late realization Manik. In fact, too late"
" Nandini. Won't you forgive me?" There was so much feelings in his words and expressions that Nandini was highly tempted to just give in to him. Tears started forming in her eyes and spilled out before she could control it.
" Don't cry. Please" Manik wiped her face , and turning her into him, carefully kept her head on his shoulders and patted her. Nandini let him do that , comforted by his presence near her.
After a while, Nandini composed herself and said . " let me go Manik. Please go back to Mumbai. I am disturbed by your presence here. I want some time alone."
" okay. I will go back . But first , let me drop you at your house and then we will go back."
They reached Mangalore by early evening. As they moved through the bustling city, Manik asked Cabir to stop the car when he saw a well-known Mall. Cabir parked the car in the underground parking area and all of them hustled out glad to escape the confines of the car and to stretch their legs. Nandini took this as an opportunity to bid goodbye to all of them and hailed an auto to her Amms house leaving the others flabbergasted at her rude behavior.
" Guys..Don't mind her. She is really pissed off with me and taking it out on all of you." Manik tried to explain.
" You don't have to explain, Manik. We understand both of you. I told you. She will need time and space" Mukti answered him.
"So what next?" Navya turned to the FAB 5.
" We will execute plan 2. What do you think, Manik?" Cabir asked him.
"Yes. I am not the one to give up so easily." Manik was not as optimistic as he sounded.
Nandini reached her home after a bumpy ride of about 20 minutes. She paid off the auto driver and was about to move inside when, belatedly, she remembered that in her hurry to avoid Manik and the gang, she had forgotten to collect her luggage from Manik's car. She knew her behavior at the mall was unacceptable, as she had literally abandoned her friends when they were guests at her hometown. But she was very angry with Manik, even so with Navya for teaming up with the others and just wanted to wallow in self pity and solitude. She mentally cursed herself for her oversight and was still contemplating on what ought to be done to rectify her behavior and on how to reclaim her luggage, when she heard Amms call out to her from inside.
She threw herself at Amms who had come out by now.
" Ayyo..Amma Nandu... I was waiting for you since afternoon Kanna. Prepared all your favorite dishes...How was your journey kanna? Come inside, you look tired . How is your chacha-chachi and Rishabh? By the way, where are your friends who were going to accompany you?"
" friends??"
" Aaama..Your friends from college, Shannoo called me and informed that you are coming with five other friends who are interested in my music and wish to spent time at the gurukul. I have arranged for their stay in the gurukul. Thankfully, it is vacation time for the regular students, so there are plenty of space vacant for them."
Amms continued while Nandini looked at her initially in confusion and then with trepidation at the mess she had created for herself.
" Amms...they ...were not.."
" We are here only, Guruma.." Manik called out while Nandini turned in shock to find Manik and the rest of the gang grinning wildly and standing a few feet away at the gate.
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