OS- Teesra
Manik- my secret is that I still love...
"Nandini!" A deep voice called out.
Fab 5 turned to see a boy whose height rivaled that of Manik's.
Instantly Manik tensed, however everyone from Fab 5 was paying close attention to Dhruv's reaction.
Nandini ran out of her dressing room with her beautiful blue dress still on. Her hair was in disarray and her eyes looked tired from the days events. She didn't look like her usual bubbly self.
The boy made quick strides towards her and wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. Her slender frame was engulfed by his much larger one.
"Nandu, I missed you so much." He then looked towards the dressing room. "Is it empty?" He asked. "Navya is in there" Nandini replied. He then started pulling her away from the lounge room. "Wait baba, where are you taking me?" Nandini asked.
"Somewhere private, we have years of stuff to talk about", he said.
"Wait! Let me change first and take all these clips out of my hair" Nandini said.
He appraised her appearance and then moved a hand towards her hair. "Keep the dress on but I want to take down your hair" he said. With that he put a firm hand around Nandini's wrist and pulled her away from the lounge and into the hallway.
Manik could feel himself brimming with rage. He was about to pull the new guy's hand out of Nandini's when his train of thought was interrupted.
"Manik we know you still love Aliya, so let's just continue your story some other time. For now I'm curious to find out if our dhruv still has a chance at that behenji", Mukti said.
Dhruv made a face and mukti looked sheepishly. "I mean she's going to be like a sister to me after you guys get together you know,that's what I meant...totally"
"Nice save" said Cabir. With that the Fab5 followed the duo out. A flustered Manik trailed behind them.
At the hallway...
"Rajveer tell me now, what was so serious that you needed me to tell me all alone"
"Nandini, what do you think of me?" He asked.
Nandini's thoughts went to the time when Manik asked her the very same question.
"Yaar you are my best friend, you are a bit of a rascal when it comes to girls but overall you are a decent human being" she replied.
He gave a big laugh and took her hand in his. "But you changed me...remember?"
"I did a pretty good job..but I haven't heard from you for almost 6 months. Were you actually intensely studying or did you go back to your old ways?". Nandini said with a laugh.
" Dhruv don't worry they are just friends" said Aliya.
"But yaar she also told me that we are friends too" Dhruv said.
"Nandini, can you stop looking at me as a friend? But start looking at me as a man" Rajveer said slowly getting closer to Nandini.
"What do you mean? I always treated you as a man." Nandini said confusedly.
Maniks grip on Cabir's shoulder tightened. He knew exactly what Rajveer was talking about.
Rajveer slowly started taking the clips out of Nandini's hair. Nandini playfully pushed his hands away and pulled the rest of them out by herself. She passed him the clips one by one.
"I mean that I love you Nandini" Rajveer said.
Nandini stopped in her tracks and gave him a startled look.
"Rajveer I love you too, but as a friend.." Nandini was at loss for what to say.
"That's why I spent 6 months making myself into a better man, into someone who deserves you...I'm not going to back down. Can you give us a chance."
He got closer to her and backed her against a locker. Nandini turned her face away and put her hands on his chest slightly pushing him away.
Manik couldn't watch anymore, he was about to go and beat the hell out of the guy who thought he could overpower Nandini and force kisses on her. Dhruv beat him to it.
"Get away from her...she doesn't like that" Dhruv said.
"Dhruv its fine this is just my friend Rajveer. Rajveer this is Dhruv".
The rest of Fab5 came out of their hiding spots.
"We can see exactly how friendly you two are", monster Manik said.
"Dude you know how it is, trying to convince the love of your life to love you back..." , said Rajveer with a wink at Manik.
It didn't escape anyone's eyes how easily Rajveer put his arms around Nandini. Or how Nandini relaxed against him.
part 2
"Nandini let me take you home, I need to show you what I have done with my room!" Rajveer said.
"OK let's go! Bye Dhruv!" Nandini said.
Manik could feel himself about to explode.
"What the hell do you think you are doing? What will Chachi say if you go to some random strange guys house at the middle of the night?" Manik yelled.
He couldn't just let her leave with him.
Now everyone was looking at Manik with confusion.
"Mr.Manik Malhotra who do you think you are? Why are you suddenly in charge of me?! I can do whatever I want with whoever I want, its my life" Nandini said fuming.
"Calm down Nandu" , Rajveer said as he put his hands on Nandini's cheeks.
"I love it when you get so mad! Let me just explain to your friends, they are just worried about you."
"Guys Nandini is perfectly safe with me! We have been together for so long and I know her better than any one else does. You can even call Chachi, she won't even object if Nandu decides to sleep over!" Rajveer said with a wink at Nandini.
"Buddy it's OK I'm alright with it, just let her go" Dhruv said softly so only Manik could hear.
Cabir stared as Manik clenched his fists tightly and angrily turned his face around.
"Behenji is finally going to get some action", Mukti said with a smirk.
Alya shushed her and dragged her away before she could say anything else.
"So Nandu, am I going to get lucky tonight?" Rajveer teased.
"Shut up Rajveer. Take me home now before I change my mind" Nandini said. She couldn't help but turn around to see Manik's reaction as she grabbed Rajveer's hand.
"Bye guys!" Rajveer said.
Nandini and Rajveer leave
"Dhruv! What the hell is wrong with you? How could you just let her go with him? They are going to go and check out his room alone. He could try anything with her! I just can't believe you!" Manik fumed.
"Yaar Manik chill. He doesn't seem like such a bad guy. Nandini trusts him and even her chachi trusts him. I trust Nandini's judgment. How could we stop them? I know you are worried about me but relax. I can handle my love for her by myself." Dhruv said to Manik.
"Whatever guys, lets just go party! Alya said that she's planning something at your house Manik. WE WON MUSICANA! Lets focus on our win today and then Nandini Murthy tommorrow." said Cabir.
Manik took a deep breath and tried to not think about Nandini. He let go of her, he should stop caring about what she does.
Manik, Dhruv, and Cabir left the hallway.
Later at the party...
Manik calls Nandini's number as his friends dance. After she doesn't pick up the 20th phone call, Manik grabs a bottle of vodka and starts doing shots. He keeps calling her in between shots but she doesn't pick up. He then calls Nandini's house number. Her chachi picks up the phone.
"Chachi, main Manik hoon, kya Nandini ghar pe hai?"
"Manik! It's 2 o clock, is everything Ok? Nandini toh uski dost Rajveer ke ghar pe hai".
"No nothing Chachi, sorry for disturbing you" Manik put down the phone.
Cabir and Mukti were hung over, so Alya and Dhruv left while those two slept on the coach.
The next day at college
Manik sat in front of college waiting for Nandini. How could she sleep over at Rajveer's house? How could she be so careless! The Rajveer looked at her...was the way Manik looked at her. He even confessed that he liked her. How could she still sleep over at his house! "I have to get Rajveer away from her", Manik said aloud.
"Away from who?" someone said as they approached Manik.
"Harshad I am sick and tired of your face, get away from me. I am not in a good mood today!" said Manik.
Before Harshad could respond, Manik got up and swiftly walked past him. Harshad turned around to see a guy on a motorcycle and a girl sitting on it with her arms wrapped around him. The girl got off the motorcycle and the guy started to help her take off her helmet.
Harshad was stunned! It was Nandini! Only she looked very...hot? She was wearing a strapless maroon dress with black leggings. It wasn't just her outfit...she had winged eyeliner on and her hair was down but looked extra glossy today. Harshad was about to continue his observation when he saw Cabir going inside college. He was about to have some fun.
Manik on the other hand, could not take his eyes off of Nandini. She was talking to Rajveer animatedly as they started to playfully argue and he grabbed her waist and pulled her close towards him. Rajveer angled his face and looked like he was about to kiss her!
Manik pulled Nandini away from Rajveer and put his arms around her waist in a deathgrip. "What the hell Manik! Leave me!" Nandini said and she struggled against him. Manik felt a pang of sadness as he felt Nandini against him. He missed this feeling. She was so small and warm, she felt like she belong perfectly. Her hair smelled wonderful as usual, but the scent was different today. Suddenly she was pulled away from his arms.
Manik looked to see Rajveer glaring at him. "Don't you dare touch her again" .
