Manik & Nandini - Stars & Fireflies 119
They say distance doesn't matter in love. Is it so? Doesn't it matter or it does? Well you and I can never answer this question unless we are put in this situation. But if you ask me distance does matter, not that you will forget her or him but you will that pit in the stomach; that lump in your throat when you won't find him next to you waking up. Your tears will cry to come out but won't come out when you would like to feel her scent on your body but she won't be there. Distance does matter; it does every scend, every minute, every hour and every breath.
Finally the day they all were dreading was here. Manik and Nandini didn't sleep the whole night; they didn't wanted to miss the chance to spend their moments together before Manik left for the tour. Nandini and Manik were sitting in their bedroom balcony wrapped up in a single blanket. They didn't speak a word, all they did was soak in each other's presence in every possible way they could. Manik slowly shifted her hair from one shoulder and placed a feather kiss on the nape of her neck whispering "day 1"; Nandini closed her eyes to feel his hot breath and his lips on her skin. Manik kept kissing her counting the days till he would come back from the tour and all Nandini could do was moan hs name.
She looked at his watch and said "Manik I think you should freshen up and get ready." Manik being Manik replied "I think we should freshen up.." and without giving Nandini a chance to understand or say anything he picked her up in his arms and walked in the bathroom switching on the shower. As they both stood under the shower soaking in each other's presence Manik bent forward and Nandini too responded in the same manner climbing on his toes. Within no time their lips joined and they both found each other kissing madly. He sucked her upper lip and she kept sucking his lower lip, his grip on her waise tightened as she kept pushing him more into herself. They kissed each other fast, slow, frech kissed, biting each others lips trying to get as much a possible for the time they would be away from each other. Finally on finding Nandini struggling to breathe Manik let her breath but his lips were left her skin. He trailed his lips off her lips on to her neck nibbling, biting, sucking, licking all at the same time as if he wanted to capture it all and take it with him and all Nandini could do was surrender herself to his love.
After a long shower and oodles of romace Manik and Nandini finally came down where the rest of the Fab4 were waiting for them. Badi maa and dadi had also come to see them off. As they all settled down for breakfast the workers towed their bags and instruments to be kept in the tour bus.
The breakfast was mostly silent as none of them spoke anything. Nandini was looking everywhere but towards any of them, blinking her eyes too many times for a normal human bein and Manik just wouldn't move his gaze away from her face. Everyone was confused as to how to sum up the whole scenario; one one hand they were happy as hell it was their first album and a cross country tour in the all luxurious tour bus but when they looked at Manik they just couldn't conclude if he is happy or not at all. But there were two pairs of wise eyes which were looking everything and observing everything; badi maa and DJ. They both had seen ups and downs of life like no one and could see the brewing stress in which no one was at fault so to make things easy they decided to speak to Manik.
Manik was in his bedroom checking on the last minute things before he left when badi maa walked in with Nandini; "Manik do you have a minute?" she asked. Manik gave a questioning look to Nandini who pronounced igonarance and nodded in yes. Badi maa sighed and asked them to sit as she took seat on a chair "what I am going to tell you both especially Manik is very important. Manik and Nandini what you guys are doing?" both of them gave a questioning look to her and Nandini asked "what we did badi maa?" "why are you both so sad? This is a happy occasion when Manik and Fab5 got their big break you both should be happy." She then got up and placed her hand on Nandini's head and said "beta its just a matter of 2 months and its like that Manik won't call you are skype you. He will be in fact with you whenever he will get time so why are you being so sad. See him off with a smile."
She then turned to Manik and said "and Manik you; you being sad like this doesn't look good. Your friends are confused." "confused?" Manik cut her between. "yes didn't you notice the uneasy silence on the breakfast table? Manik you being sad like this makes them feel you are not happy going away and they feel neglected." But brfore Damini could say anything further Manik stood up furiously "neglected! Badi maa if I wouldn't have been thinking of them I would have walked away from this album the moment I knew that I have to be away from Nandini. I am doing this tour just for them and you say I am neglecting them." Manik was furious by now. "Manik beta I didn't mean that." Damini tried to pacify but Manik was too furious "no badi maa you exactly implied that only. Don't I have the right to be sad for the fact that I will be leaving my world, my life behind and they feel neglected." Manik got so agitated that he sat on bed and hid his face in his palms and Nandini hugged him to calm him down. "Manik is right!" DJ's voice broke the silence that prevailed. Damini looked to find DJ and Cabir walking in. "badi maa Manik is the most selfless and best friend anyone can get. All his life he has been carving for love that doesn't expect anything from him and he got that finally in Nandini so yes he is sad and he the right to." Cabir's words surprised Damini. "yes Damini!" DJ continued "if his friends think neglected and they should start thinking otherwise. Manik could be anything but he is the best son, best grandson, friend and a lover a person can ask for." DJ said looking at Manik lovingly.
Before Cabir could say anything Abhi walked in to announce that Amar is here and its time for them to leave. Everyone nodded and walked out leaving Manik and Nandini behind. "Manik!" Nandini was about to say something when Manik put his finger on her lips and said "shh! Before you start fretting about what badi maa just said then don't I will sort everything out. Trust me." Nandini smiled and said "I trust you." And without wasting any further time Manik pulled her close and fused his lips with hers. As an automatic reaction to kiss her hands found their way to his nape and his tightened their grip on her waist as they kissed each other senseless.
Sometimes they would kiss fast, sometimes slow, sometimes they would French kiss each other biting, licking and ravishing each other's lips as they sealed every second of their kiss in their minds and hearts. As their tongues battled it out leaving them breathless they finally broke the kiss and Manik took Nandini in his embrace soaking in her warmth and giving away his to her. Finally after never ending kisses and hugs they finally descended down and came out where everyone was waiting for them. Nandini hugged everyone and bid them goodbye with loads of good luck wishes. As she came and hugged Cabir he whispered "don't worry I will handle everything." Making her smile as she knew if Manik and Cabir promised something they would see to it. Manik too hugged Abhi and badi maa and bid them good bye taking in lots of do's and don't from badi maa like any concerned mother. He looked at DJ from the corner of his eye to find her looking at him; he cleared his throat and said "take care of yourself, take meds on time and take care of Nandini." He bent and kissed DJ's forehead and without giving her any chance to speak went to Nandini.
He kissed her forehead as they kept looking into each others eyes until Cabir came and patted on Manik's shoulder saying "dude it's time." Nandini kissed his cheek and said "make me proud! Go win the world." Manik finally left her from his embrace and boarded the bus. He stood on the foot board looking at Nandini as the bus moved. They both kept looking at each other until the bus gained speed and they both vanished from each other's sight as the bus made its way out. Nandini slumped on ground crying and Manik sat on the steps of the bus as some tears made its way from eyes. "Manik!" "Nandini!" they both said at the same time as they closed their eyes and braced for next two months.
End of chap..
Ciao..
