MaNan FF: Colliding Forces (Chapter 2C Updated 24 July'18 Page:4) - Page 2

CHAPTER 2A: The Art of Sassy Coaxing

SCENE 1

LOCATION: MANGALORE

TIME: 4:15 A.M.

"Aryaman Wazzock Murthy, you're stupid! Just when I think you've reached the bottom of your stupidity but surprise, there's a stupid underground garage," Nandini yelled, her hazel orbs dilated in frustration. Blinded by a five-course serving of rage that tasted bitter, yet surprisingly satisfying to her taste buds.

Mumbai, India. A city of dreams and a city of broken dreams.

Millions go unnoticed like sand castles washed away on Juhu beach, millions are attracted by the skyscrapers of Elphinstone, and millions are immortalized like the Elephanta-s.

Horns pierce the silence of the night, bogies rattle on the tracks, the signals go red and green and this city never sleeps.

Nandini was aware of the fact that life in the city is going to be difficult. She knew that city lights in the dark hours of the night will never whisper magic as her fireflies on the humid summer nights did. Expensive labels adorned Mumbai like a glistening jewel. She'd miss the birds, coastal winds, and winter.

Being orphans, they have never believed in secured futures and money had been a valuable resource. Nandini wouldn't let it waste on some pointless children rides.

Aryaman had a calm, expressionless face. He was well prepared for such a situation to arise. He remained silent.

Nandini said, "Aryaman you're aware that I am a cosmic miser-"

"I go with the phrase Ultimate Niggard," Aryaman said with coolness penetrating in his tone. He continued sipping his tea with unwavering concentration.

Nandini pierced her eyeballs into that of Abhi and Navya's. Her lips pressed into anger. Navya shifted uncomfortably, straightening her tresses while Abhimanyu ruffled his hair in sudden uneasiness as Nandini's eyes bore into theirs as though light rays were brimming with threats. They gulped.

"Without getting into some insipid phrases, I would like to ask you guys-"

"Hey! That was a complete artistic phrase," Aryaman cut her off to draw her attention away.

"Mr. Murthy?"

"Yes?"

"Your sense of art is reasonably stupid. All due respect, we know that you were dropped on your head but please don't give us comprehensible evidence that you were clearly thrown in the air, smacked by a ceiling fan and tossed out of the window," Nandini had a way with clipped words. Abhimanyu and Navya suppressed their laughter, spluttering like an old faucet.

"I'm afraid, I've been thinking that someone needs a Happy Meal," Aryaman muttered under his breath, loud enough for the trio to hear it.

Nandini's face was a gorgeous display of anger. Her eyes stared hard into Aryaman's black ones. Her face was as red as an over-ripe tomato, fires of fury yet her eyes were icy cold.

It was the first time when Antartica and the Sahara Desert made awkward acquaintances.

"Aryaman Murthy, you seem to have an amnesiac memory. Did I not tell you that thinking is a dangerous past time for you?" Nandini snapped back in a curt voice, tiny bubbles of froth forming at the corners of the mouth.

"Abhi, do you ever think that Nandini, in her past life, was an old lady with ninety cats who was yelling at neighborhood kids to get off her lawn? Because I do," Navya said.

"Navya that was a psychic wonder. My thoughts were going in the same direction," Abhi nodded.

"Frankly, guys, I don't give a damn about your magical telepathies. But why in hell's name are you guys agreeing to this nutjob of a plan? Why do you guys want to waste money on some pointless and irrational children rides?" Nandini's voice echoed through the entire drawing room.

"Some pointless and irrational children rides you never rode on, Miss Nandini Murthy. By my amnesiac memory, I guess you and Navya were too busy to make dolls for money because in those years money was low for Little Angels and Mother Margaret didn't have enough money to feed and educate all of us," Aryaman reasoned, he made sure his tones were gentle.

"Nandini, yaar! You enjoyed riding carousels and merry-go-rounds when we visited a fair. Tum hi to kehti thi ki aasman tumhe zinda banta hai. Tumhe khwab dikhta hai. Were you not in love with rides at that point of time phir ab kyu nahi? Kab tak apne chhote chhote khwabo masoom ko qaid karogi," Navya said. Nandini's orbs had transformed into the glass as tears glisten them.

Aryaman gently stroke Nandini's tresses. "Nandini, please uss choti si gudiya ke khatir to chalo. Woh gudiya jo sirf chote chote sapno mein bahut sari khusiyaan pana chahti thi. Jise apne aanewale kal ki chinta nahi hoti thi. Woh gudiya jo aasaman se baatein karti thi aur phool aur titliyo ke saath gungunati thi. Please Nandini," Aryaman embraced her, "Chhod do yeh zidd," He felt her lashes moist. "Stop being the Ultimate Niggard because I have already booked the package using my savings."

"I love you. You enormously stubborn pain in the ass and for the last time, I hate, loathe, detest and despise that phrase. Remind me to kill you, please," Nandini had a swift change of emotions like a fused bulb trying to glow.

"I don't plan my own death, Miss Murthy," Aryaman snapped.

"But you could plan your own murder. I will make sure we don't leave any forensic evidence behind, right Nandini?" Abhimanyu smirked.

"I will get the pitchforks and the popcorn," Navya chipped in.

"By the way, Mr. Murthy?" Nandini questioned Aryaman.

"Yes?"

"Who gave you the authority to spend your savings when you had to spend them on books on my birthdays?"

"I myself did, Miss Murthy," Aryaman played along.

"Well, I am going to contribute," Nandini said in a casual tone.

"Me too," Abhi said.

"Me three," Navya shouted.

"Aree! But Nandini, kyu? Chup hojao. Woh paise Mumbai mein humein kaam lagege isiliye tum aise kuch bhi nahi karogi," Aryaman said, in a slightly threatening tone

"I thought you were bright, Mr. Murthy but I forgot that light travels fa.ster than sound. I should not have heard you speak. You will shut up and do as I say," Nandini's pupil dilated with sarcasm and fake anger.

"Yes, Madam! Certainly Madam!" Aryaman took his stance. Aryaman mentally sighed. When once Nandini was determined to do something nobody could change her mind. She seemed icy cold determined now. He had enough quota of sarcasm and colder-than-artic-sea glares today.

"Decent," Nandini maintained the deep pitch and the quadruple burst into laughter.

SCENE 2

LOCATION: MANIK'S FARMHOUSE LONAVALA

TIME: NEXT DAY, 12:00 P.M.

"Imagica? Imagica? You want to visit some Indian amusement park after visiting the Universal Studios of the States and Singapore and two of the Disneylands. Are you kidding me, Cabir?" Manik couldn't believe his ears. He was shocked yet annoyed after lazing around at his farmhouse in Lonavala, they decided to go somewhere and Imagica was definitely the last on his list.

"Come on, Manik, why would I kid you? I'm not that bored and you're not that lucky," Cabir rolled his eyes and pulled a gloomy face. The FAB 3 giggled.

Manik's face shrunk into disbelief. "f**k you, Cabir!"

"Well, you really are obsessed with me. Fine, that will cost you 9.2 zillion dollars plus tax. Tender exact change please," Cabir replied in his pedantic formal voice, smirking and flaunting his comic timing at the same time.

"Don't flatter yourself, sweetheart. The only fan you have is on the ceiling who fantasizes to bang you," The left side of his faint red lip tugged upwards creating a sinister smirk on his god-like face. Cabir rolled his eyes

"Manik and Cabir, time out guys!" Mukti chipped in the conversation. "Manik, yaar, we really want to visit Imagica, please maan jaa. Maaza hi toh aayega na. Please," Mukti faked her melodramatic pleading eyes. She pressed her lips yet a vain attempt to keep her creeping grin at bay.

By the swears of God, Mukti's spirit to mischief and adventure was a contagion.

Manik was to FAB 5, what genie was to Aladdin. Manik would snap his fingers without giving second thoughts to it. It didn't take more than three minutes to convince him.

Alya sharing a look with Mukti and gave a short nod full of determination. A slick smile spread, dimpling her cheeks which were both cute and concerning at the same time. "Manik, please, pretty please. Pretty please with a cherry on top."

The introverted Dhruv smiled at the cute antics of his girlfriend. His buddy was under six feet trouble.

"Iced with whipped cream," Mukti uttered making 'mm!' sounds.

"Sprinkled with m&m candies," Alya continued in her sweet sugarcoated voice.

"Stop it! We're going because I don't want to be diabetic," Manik smiled at their mischief and admired the most important girls in her life. The girls burst into a symphony of 'yays' and 'yes's.

"So, that's decided tomorrow we're going to Imagica," Alya squeaked in excitement.

Manik sighed like a slight spring breeze, soft and gentle, almost lost against the drone of the traffic. His lips curved into a content smile watching his friends like the G minor chord of his guitar. However, he felt a slight jolt inside his heart. Unknown Imagica was going to bring him into neck deep trouble, from top to bottom with collisions of fire and ice.

___________________________________________________________

Author's Note:

Hello MaNan Maniacs!

At last, the forum seems alive after the announcement of KYY S3. I am so excited for it. This chapter has 2 parts, I'll update the B part ASAP

Do like and comment. I need more comments to inspire me!

If you want the PM for updates, Buddy me.

This chapter is dedicated to manancraze for supporting me on a practically hibernating forum.

Stay happy forever humesha,

Arcane

Originally posted by: ROOP0605

amazing,

mind blowing

Chapter 2B: Photograph in the 7th Circle of Hell

SCENE 1

LOCATION: IMAGICA

TIME: 10:00 A.M.

Nandini's Pov

"Sorry guys but only one seat is left for the ride. One of you can go if you want or do you want to give the chance to somebody else?" the staff handling the ride called Deep Space asked us. All four of us stared at each other with blank faces of indecision.

"Imagica is f**king eximious in the history of amusement parks!" That was the first sentence Navya had uttered when we entered the park a few hours ago. To say, she was awestruck would be a lame understatement. She was trying to remember how to breathe, unable to speak, totally awestruck at the beauty and thrill of Imagica.

Aryaman was no exception either. His mouth was frozen, wide open in an expression of stunned surprise. I and Abhi had glanced at each other sharing mental facepalms and secret smiles at their playfulness.

They both were neck-deep in love with life. Their enthusiasm for life was irresistible.

I realized, how I was being a sonofabitch by disagreeing with them. These three still were tiny kiddos from the deepest core of their soul. Money is an insipid price for their happiness. I could do anything for these precious moments.

Imagica smelled of adventure. It echoed through the streets. It lingered in the exhilaration of people. There was music ringing in the air, cacophony, and symphony at the same time. Crescendoing with joy and cadencing with magic. Adrenaline was pumping in the background. Rides and happiness skirting around your existence.

Screams, laughter, cheers were all one could hear.

From Mr. India's extraordinary experience to Abhi's screams in those crazy teacups. From the adventure of laser guns at Alibaba and Chalis Chor ride to swirls of Nitro. Scream Machine. Rajasaurus river/ We had experienced it all and now we were on our second last destination before the haunted Salimgarh:

Deep Space.

Outer Space, I inhaled aloud. Space was for me, what wings as to faeries. Space gave me that tingly feeling, you know, the feeling that spreads from your brain right down to your fingers and toes. Leaving your body into a chaos of butterflies and electricity. Space was sorcery for me.

An incantation that gave me so much and took away from me so much. It gave me the wings to fly through the rainbow of curiosity and the magic of science but it was the one that damaged my wings too.

9 June 2002. A meteor struck a car on National Highway 48. The driver and the person in the front seat were killed instantly. A child of two died after struggling for 10 hours at Tejaswini Hospital due to the brain hemorrhage. However, the little girl of five survived.

Surprise! Surprise! Like all snoopy mystery novels, it turns out that little girl was me.

"Nandini?" Abhimanyu jostled me back and forth. "You are sweating, are you alright?" I gave him a weak smile. Navya and Aryaman scrutinize my health from top to toe.

"I am alright, stop surveying me, unfriendly nosy relatives of Sherlock Holmes," I straightened my tresses. Navya and Arya smiled. Abhi was skeptical.

"So, do one of you want to go in? The staff person questioned us again.

"I am going in," I decided. I cannot stand here and be an examination tool for these cynical undeserving apprentices of Sherlock Holmes. Their Nancy Drew shenanigans are not enough to remove my well-groomed facade. I am strong. I am strong. I am strong.

"Why? We'll go in together," Navya pouted her lips, ready to persuade me. Abhi remained silent because he knew that in such times, leaving me alone was for the best. He gave me a short nod of assurance. In turn, I blinked my eyes indicating I will be safe.

Our code word. "I'm there for you. I got your back."

"It is alright, let her go. Remember she wanted to become an astrophysicist, we don't want monotonous physics lectures during the ride," Aryaman tried to tease me but I know he was backing me up. This guy is a paradox.

"I refuse to have this negativity within my eyesight, Remove yourself at once," I stuck my tongue out and walked away.

SCENE 2

LOCATION: IMAGICA

TIME: 11:00 A.M.

I entered the area for the ride and set on the remaining chair car besides a tall person. Darkness came like the thick velvet curtains of the theatre. It was as if the daytime had been one part of a play and the rest was to come after this intermission of fake night. In the Outer Space.

The shape of the person sitting next to me was in monochrome. A mere stygian silhouette.

But I never knew you could see emotions through the veil of darkness, through a mere silhouette. It was as though his body was a glass prism radiating his deepest, meanest, darkest fears of his soul to his silhouette.

Breathes ragged and harsh. His hands trembling his sides, convulsing and twitching. He jammed his fists into his mouth trying to stifle his screams.

At first, I thought maybe he is scared of the ride. Maybe he didn't want to do it but he was being forced. Peer pressure and stuff. But that feeling is so distinct.

You feel the giddiness in your stomach, topsy-turvy excitement jolts around you as though you're going to faint, lying unconscious on the ground, this second but still you smile through your fears even when you don't want to. An air of buoyancy surrounds you because you are aware electricity is running down your spine, charging you with experiences you never had.

However, I couldn't see the rush of electricity, he looked as if he was experiencing electric shocks.

And this reminded me of something else.

"Bas! Bas! Didi ki jaan, bas! Kuch nahi hua, baccha you're didi's strong boy. Haina Rahul? Tum apne har khauff ka samna kar sakte ho aur ye to bas ek elevator hai. Shona, kuch nahi hua."

"Di-di. Ba-hut, bah-ut, zy-zya-da, dard ho ra-ha hai. Saa-ns le-ne mein tak-leef ho rahi ha-i. Didi! Pl-le-ase ba-har ja-ana ha-ha-hai."

Claustrophobia? No, it is not a caged place, walls and ceilings are pretty high. Panic Attack? Scared of the Dark?

"Hey! Are you alright?" I finally mustered up the courage to ask that silhouette. He did not even glance at me.

Manik's Pov

f**k you, Cabir! You dunderhead, who told you to ditch me and go to that stupid Salimgarh. This the only time I regret not telling anybody about my Achluophobia, the fear of darkness.

It is just a minor fear, I keep telling myself.

But what do you do when your soul catches your lies? Do you try to regain its trust or do you regret playing recklessly with your soul?

I can feel the sweat drench my skin, the throbbing of my own eyes, the impetuous desire to scream my nerves out and the loud thumping of my heart against my chest. I can't hear my rapid breathing, but I can feel the oxygen flooding in and out of my lungs. My fingers are curled into a fist, nails digging into my palm. Darkness is going to chew me alive and spit me into the charcoal.

"Hey! Are you alright?" I see a girl sitting next to me from the corners of my eyes. I never realized somebody was sitting next to me.

"Are you alright?" Humph! Strangers and their creative ways of small talk. I need to control my shivers and demeanor. No more convulsions, Manik!

I closed my eyes, hold my breathe and decide to reply without fumbling, "I have slipped into the 7th Circle of Hell," I replied.

This usually shuts them up! After all, girls aren't intrigued by Dante's Divine Comedy.

Of course! An epic poetry about hell doesn't excite them until they continue reading the story about a fierce girl who wants women's rights which are synonymous to marrying a man who goes to high school a million times.

Dear Mr. Sparkle, you could have utilized your immortality to research for cancer than seducing a 17-year-old girl. From: You-Know-Who

"No, to Dante's misfortune," the girl replied with a clipped voice.

Oh, so we're on the same page! I was expecting some profanity or insipid questions but not denial. Interesting!

"You're a girl and you know about the circles of hell," I uttered more to myself than to her in shock. I should have controlled my curiosity.

"Did you gobble up stereotypes for breakfast? By the way, you don't belong to the 7th Circle because you have already succeeded to the 8th Circle of Hell, also known as the Fraud which includes panderers and seducers, flatterers, sorcerers, liars, thieves and Ulysses and Diomedes," she spoke with such an air of fluency as though she was a bookworm whose main aim in life was to memorise the Circles of Hell.

Sarcasm to stereotypes is what iceberg is to Titanic. Destructive!

Damn me! I should be careful with this girl. This is surely a hell dimension.

I decided to use this conversation as a distraction against my anxiety. "I never knew my charisma was burning bright and blue even in the darkness. The sorcery of my charms sparkles through the dark, I guess," I flattered myself.

"Liar," she spoke in a firm tone. It was pitch black dark and I knew she wasn't looking at me but it was as though she was directly looking into my eyes and removing each sheet of safety from my soul. When you don't have any moves left, silence becomes one. So, I kept quiet.

"I was referring to Liars," she told me after a few minutes gone.

"You lied that you were fine with your clipped words and not-so-witty comebacks. Everybody is aware the sarcasm is the best defense against pain. You haven't opened the Chamber of Secrets," Each and every word was echoing in my ear as if the chair-car was a cliff.

Damn her!

"Hey! What the f**k is happening to this ride? We all are waiting for ten minutes. What is happening? You have a goddamn bloody mismanagement here," a person in front of us stood up and shouted upon the staff.

"We're extremely sorry Sir. The staff operating this ride has left a week ago and the new staff is having lunch right now. You are requested to wait for ten more minutes. Apologies, sir," the staff guy apologized in a practiced regret-filled tone.

f**k you Cabir!

Ten more minutes with a freaking psyche in this pitch black hell can lead to my death!

Nandini's Pov

Ten more minutes with Mr. Narcissistic Personality Disorder convulsing with some goddamn fear can lead to my death!

A comfortable silence settled among us just like the two strangers not wanting to make unnecessary small talk.

I leaned on the backrest of the seat and closed my eyes.

One Mississippi.

Two Mississippi.

Three Mississippi ...

Thirty Mississippi. This is not working. I would rather drown in the Mississippi.

I opened my eyes to confront the same scenario what I had faced when I entered into Deep Space. Shivering and convulsing hands. Breaths ranging and falling. This guy should stop trying so hard to hide his fear from darkness so damn much. I sighed aloud.

India, a diverse country.

Translates:

India, a judgemental country where being an independent woman or a tomboy is hard but being a sensitive guy is harder.

I guess society will only stop judging you when Joey starts hating food, when Hermione fails a test, when Katniss cringes over the sight of bow and arrow and when Mr. Rikkard Ambrose funds a charity. Hence, never.

Nandini, he may have incurable Narcissistic Personality Disorder. He may be a self-centered narcissistic consumed in the lagoons of his virtues but he has read Dante's Divine Comedy. He has brains. You need to save him, Nandini. Remember, India's IQ level is just 82. You cannot lose a precious intelligent person.

Fine, Subconscious! What pleasure do you get in tormenting me?

"Okay, I know that you have qualified in the course of sarcasm but you know what, you are one of the dumbest people I met. You should have taken the treatment of Narcissistic Personality Order which you haven't and unsurprisingly, it has become incurable now. You should have taken the treatment of your panic attacks. But you haven't. Let's get this straight have you taken the pills for your Achluophobia? If not, what calms you down? Please tell me because I cannot lose a precious intelligent person belonging to India. Remember, we need to compete with Singapore. Their IQ level is 108," I ranted in a single go.

He remained silent for a few seconds as though sinking in my rants.

Damn this pitch-black place, I can't even see his face!

I don't even know whether is facial muscles are contracting and relaxing, whether I was able to distract him.

"Yo-you ar-are," f**k! he has started fumbling with fear. But his tone was surprisingly warm. I continued putting my efforts to distract him.

"Witty, intelligent, a genius, immensely talented-," I tried to offer but he cut me off.

"Dangerous," he spoke in a firm tone, without fumbling this time. Blame darkness, I cannot even tell whether he was staring me right in the eye.

"Do you want me to ask somebody for medical aid?" I asked him in a softer tone this time.

"N-no. Pl-ple-plea-please," he was shaking with fear. His breathing turns rapid. His hands shivering as though he was struck by lightning.

I patted his back, "Hey! Hey! Shh! It is okay. Don't worry. I am there for you," I did not why I soothed him maybe because he reminded me of my ghost in the past. He somewhere was the version of me.

"What calms you down?" I whispered in his ear, "what brings you peace?" I questioned him in a feather-like soft voice.

"I-I ha-have n-no id-dea. I-I ne-nev-never fa-fac-faced su-such a sit-situ-situation," he ran out of breath.

"Di-di," Rahul was shivering as though he was down with scarlet fever.

"Ji, didi ki jaan, kuch nahi hua. Main hu, bas do minute aur yeh elevator khul jaayega. Watchman uncle ne kaha na," I caressed his frail soft cheeks and ruffled his hair. He hugged me instantly.

"Di-di, ga-ana su-na-nao," he nuzzled under the warm embrace.

I closed my eyes. I inhaled a loud breath. Nandini, you can do it. You have sung before thousands of people since you were 14. This is just a panic stricken guy. Sing to him. Calm him down.

Yes, Subconscious. I decided to sing an English song because I doubt that Mr. I-read-Dante-I-am-Mr.-Smartass would like a Bollywood song.

Manik's Pov

"Hey! Listen to me," she whispered, "now, I am going to sing a song to calm you down. Just focus on the lyrics, get mesmerized by them, feel each syllable of the symphony. Distract yourself from the darkness. I don't know whether you like music or it but I hope it helps."

Like Music? Girl, you're talking to Manik Malhotra. Music is my soul. It runs through my veins. It is the oxygen to my heart. She can feel the music. Maybe she has a melodious voice too. Let's see if she can sing.

Loving can hurt

Loving can hurt sometimes

I am scared.

Manik, calm down.

You need to focus. Feel this music. Music is your passion, your soul. Passions have no space for fear.

But it's the only thing that I know

When it gets hard

You know it can get hard sometimes

It is the only thing that makes us feel alive

I don't know this song. Well, I am fond of English music then, why is the song unknown to me.

We keep this love in a photograph

We made these memories for ourselves

Where our eyes are never closing

Hearts are never broken

Times forever frozen still

So you can keep me

Inside the pocket

Of your ripped jeans

Holdin' me closer

'Til our eyes meet

You won't ever be alone

Wait for me to come home

Her voice is crescendoing with magic as though her vocal chords are were sprinkled with pixie dust by the faeries of music and the lyrics are casting incantations to me. This song is dark, deep, the magic of the universe.

Loving can heal

Loving can mend your soul

And it's the only thing that I know (know)

I swear it will get easier

Remember that with every piece of ya

And it's the only thing we take with us when we die

I don't know about love but I swear that her voice is healing me.

We keep this love in this photograph

We made these memories for ourselves

Where our eyes are never closing

Hearts were never broken

Times forever frozen still

So you can keep me

Inside the pocket

Of your ripped jeans

Holdin' me closer

'Til our eyes meet

You won't ever be alone

I closed my eyes, feeling each syllable like she said. The lyrics are profoundly laced with such beautiful words.

And if you hurt me

That's OK, baby, only words bleed

Inside these pages you just hold me

And I won't ever let you go

Wait for me to come home

Wait for me to come home

Wait for me to come home

Wait for me to come home

***********************************************

Hello, People!

How was Manan's first meet?

Well, do share your thoughts with a truckload of comments and likes.

Tell me about the quirkiness of the title and your thoughts about Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

New cover made by a fellow friend on Wattpad!

Disclaimer: Imagica is used in purely fictitious manner. All views, opinions, and descriptions are purely imaginative and not for harming a particular caste, class, gender, religion or any individual

Also, people who hate me for putting the Twilight hatred lines, apologies. Though Robert Pattinson hates Twilight. If you don't agree with me, it is alright. May the odds ever be in your favor.

So, people who are still reading the Author's Note, do you guys really think Manan can meet without stars and fireflies. No, right? So, in a few days I am going to but a part c too.

Till then, enjoy!

Arcane