Part 3
Going back to school had done Nandini a world of good. Inch by inch her books had been pulling her out the gloom that had almost engulfed her. But to be honest, it wasn't school, nor her books. Manik, yes Manik, as surprising as it might sound, had in an inexplicable way, caused her to crawl out of darkness. This daily game he played, of leaving cues for her 'I am bad at it, u study those parts' actually made her open her texts and read. She wanted to read, to contribute to this game they were playing as a team. No one knew, no one could have even guessed that Manik and Nandini were collectively solving their papers. To the world they were as different as chalk and cheese and most of their classmates were infact jealous of Nandini. They thought and wished that if they too had been as brilliant as Nandini, may be Manik would have sat next to them too.
But even though they were playing such a big game, they hardly ever spoke to each other. He was just as apt at reading her eyes as she had always been at reading his. Between them, even silence had a voice.
Today would be the final exam and Nandini was determined to finally confess her feelings to him. It was a huge step, especially for someone like her. But in the past five days, through his actions, Manik had silently reinstated her gut feeling about him. He wasn't a monster, that was just a faade, a disguise he wore over his transparent heart.
She had re written it thrice, for every time she thought her writing wasn't neat enough. She was more nervous about giving him the note than of the actual exam. He had her back there, she knew if she faltered, he would cover up for her. But she couldn't say the same about the note. She dreaded an adverse reaction from him, but something in her heart was telling her, it was going to be fine, that it would either end up in friendship or begin with love.
As usual, the exam had gone well. They had answered for 95 marks but then at times it felt like Manik was cheating. I mean he showed her all the answers, but when it was his turn to copy, he would do so reluctantly as if, he himself wasn't interested in the marks and it was only for her that he was into this. Which also explained why he always scored in the borderline though, as Nandini now knew, he had enough potential to take her position.
The class was as usual empty, they were the last to finish. Today, that one liner which he had given every day for the last five days wouldn't be coming. It was the last exam and classes would resume only after 10 days. She had to pass the note to him, in any which way.
Just as he was about to get up, she held his arm and slipped in the note in his palm. His brows narrowed, his face broke in a frown.
"Whats this???" he asked in an irritated tone while opening the pink note with his right hand.
"Thank you! I have been trying to tell you for five days but its just today that I finally am. Thank You for everything, but mostly for showing me a way out of my dreadful past. We were never friends, yet you have done more for me than anyone else could have. Your secret is out, you are a gem beneath a monster's mask.
I know I am a nobody in your starry world, but will you hold my hand if I were to extend it to you? Call it friendship or anything else if you want to, but I don't want to be a stranger anymore...You rock champ! Not just while giving performances, you rock even on the stage called 'Life'. Be my friend..will you?"
She kept staring at his face, waiting for a of the twinkle in his eyes, waiting to witness the frown melt into a smile. She knew it would happen, that the message she had written from her heart would reach his. Only that her presumptions couldn't have been more wrong, because he crumbled the note and threw it in the dustbin.
"Don't you try these silly melodramatic games with me, Nandini Murthy. Exams over and we are back to being strangers. How could you even think I would agree to be YOUR friend. Have you even checked yourself in the mirror?" He walked away.. And she didn't know if he turned back or not because her eyes were clouded with tears.
He had done it again.. Crush her.. Just like that day two months ago, the day her parents had the fateful accident.
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He did turn back though, just for a while. He did because he knew her face would be hung low, her eyes would be welled up and she wouldn't notice him. He knew her so well, perhaps, better than anyone else.
And yes, he had done it again, crush his heart along with that beautiful piece of paper. He would return to pick it, later in the day when there would be no one around ... One note and 6 lines that he would forever hold close to his heart. It was a blessing that unlike people, words didn't take into consideration one's credentials or background...Thank heavens he wouldn't have to give up on them as he had to give up on her. If he could, he would have thanked her for giving him a piece of her that no one would be able to snatch away from him.
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A/N: I know you guys don't want this story now, not that you hate this one, but you love the other one more. But writing is a creative process and with my current state of mind, I am not being able to write KYY S3 right now.
I also know you are worried about my finger, you don't want me to over stress and break something again. No I wont, just that I worked from home these two days so had a little bit more time in hand and wrote to channelize my negative emotions. :) Also that with no notifications/comments coming in, I was feeling rather lonely. :(
From tomorrow, it would be mad crazy again. :(
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