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Whew... I've probably never taken so long for an update! It's my neck again! Could manage only a couple of sentences at a time. But finally I did it. So here we are. I'm so sorry that I kept you guys waiting! Been seeing all your likes, comments and reminders, but frankly, had no clue what to tell you guys! Not going to promise when the next update will be, because I might not be able to deliver on my promise! But will try my best to put in the next one today! For now, enjoy the next part. :)
~ CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE ~
Manik held his breath and curled his hands into tight, anxious fists as she finally got through the last bit of wrapping paper and tape. She pulled out the contents of the box - a medium sized but heavy snow globe.
She gave it a quick, careless glance and almost kept it aside but something mystical about the globe captivated her. Manik could see her eyes twinkle in heart-stopping awe as her spell-bound gaze penetrated the globe. Inside, tiny flakes of white snow smoothly drifted from the sky and fell upon a traditional, elegant cottage surrounded by evergreen fir tree. It was one of the favourite classic winter scenes in a village... just like out of those old Christmas cards or movies.
Unaware of all the eyes on her, Nandini got lost in the spectacular scene that had etched onto her eyes. "Dude, I think she likes it," said Cabir in a low whisper as he leaned closer to Manik. "She's practically speechless. See?"
Having heard Cabir's comment, Nandini snapped out of her fantasy world in an instant. She was so lost and mesmerized by the globe that she didn't even notice the lump that had got lodged in her throat. Her eyes darted around uneasily, embarrassed and disappointed at the fact that Manik had been watching her reaction. And knowing that this was what he wanted to see made her even more agitated. She simply didn't want to give him that much needed satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Manik waited for her opinion with bated breath.
"Umm... it's really nice," said Nandini with a broad fake smile as she kept the globe aside. "Lovely. Thank you so much," she added.
"That didn't sound honest," Cabir whispered to Manik again. He barely moved his lips as he spoke.
Manik was downright depressed. The dull and flat tone in her voice didn't really perk up his spirits. He had really been expecting a big, excited grin on her face. But... Nandini kept a straight face throughout. She pulled out the card that accompanied the gift and opened it. The moment she did, she was stunned and her hardened features softened up a bit. The card bore the close shot of a brown, hairy chimp on the front. It flaunted a hilarious, toothy grin that forced a teeny, weeny smirk into the corners of her mouth. She opened it up and ran her eyes through the message inside. It went like this:
"On your birthday... I would like to give you some words of wisdom! SMILE WHILE YOU STILL HAVE TEETH!"
Though the words gave her a rich and warm feeling inside, she flashed a broad, unrealistic grin that felt like a slap. "Hilarious," she commented with the much needed excitement missing from her voice.
Manik forced a weak smile through all his depression. Worn out from all the adrenaline that had been pummelling throughout his body, he took a deep breath and hung his head. Drowsy and in dire need of a much needed sleep that he had willingly sacrificed last night, he closed his eyes briefly in an attempt to power himself up.
FLASHBACK SCENE:
It was quite late when Manik called upon his good old friend from college days. Make that very late! Abhimanyu Thakkar, late twenties, dressed in a comfy t-shirt and a pair of pyjamas descended the stairs of his bungalow. The unruly, ruffled hair and groggy eyes stated that he forced out of a very deep slumber.
"Manik. Dude," he announced as he approached an unwary Manik who had been restlessly pacing up and down the spacious living room. There was intense annoyance in his voice.
"Abhimanyu," sighed Manik in relief as he looked up. "Thank God..."
"Yeah, you'd better thank God," he snapped irritably. "Or I'd have just mopped up the floor with your face. Do you know that?"
"I know buddy, I know..." said Manik with a sheepish grin. "I know that you really hate to get pulled out of your sleep. But it's just that it was really really urgent. If I had a choice, I wouldn't have. I swear."
"Wow, really?" he replied sarcastically as he crossed his arms and leaned onto the stair railings. "Now what kind of a situation could possibly demand a snow globe in the middle of the night? Make that two in the morning!"
"Well..." Manik chuckled. He didn't know how to put it across. "That... erm... It's for... someone special." The moment he said that, he wished he could have come up with some other alibi. But of course, it was too late.
"Okaaayyy?" Abhimanyu smirked and raised a questioning eyebrow. "But say what. You're on the right track."
That made Manik smile in relief. He so hoped that Abhimanyu was right.
"Anyways..." continued Abhimanyu as he opened up a dainty wooden cupboard in the vicinity. "What's the catch? Had a spat lately?"
Manik who had his hands jammed into his pockets, wrung them uncomfortably inside. "Well... ummm..."
Abhimanyu noticed that his friend was very unsettled and uneasy. "Alright-alright," he said quickly. "I get it. Anyways, all the best." Saying this, he handed over the heavy but beautiful globe to Manik. The one which was gifted to Nandini the next day. Manik takes it from with tender, loving care.
"Wow," he said breathlessly. "It's... beautiful."
"Will be," replied Abhimanyu. "Aunt got it from the US last time. Apparently it has been sitting in the cupboard ever since. Glad you can put it to good use."
END OF FLASHBACK SCENE.
Manik was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even notice the passage of time. Nor did he realize that his blank stare was glued onto Nandini and that an intrigued Cabir was quietly watching him from across the room.
None of this crept up to Nandini's notice either who was now happily engaged in a casual conversation with her colleagues whilst she cuddled the cute, soft teddy bear that Dhruv had gifted her. The adorable little toy which looked like an exact replica of a live, true to life Koala had won her heart in an instant. Now this... Manik simply couldn't digest. He had wanted his to stand out from the rest. But he had failed miserably.
Meanwhile, the girls took that extra pleasure to dig into the remnants of the cake whilst Dhruv scooped out bits of the cream with his finger and sucked on it.
Cabir crossed his arms and leaned onto the wall right beside an unwary Manik. He smiled and munched on a slice of his favourite pizza which they had specially ordered for the day whilst he watched Manik's defeated but dreamy stare with intense curiosity. "Haaiii!" Cabir announced his presence pompously with an exaggerated clearing of his throat.
A startled Manik came out of from the depth of his thoughts and quickly looked away with spine tingling embarrassment. "Hey," he sighed whilst he looked everywhere else but on Cabir and Nandini.
"What's wrong?" asked Cabir with concern. "You look like a deflated balloon. Everything alright?"
"Yeah," he replied wearily. "Just... tired."
"I understand," said Cabir with a mouth full of pizza.
Manik shot a quick uneasy glance at Cabir just to dissect the true meaning of his words. Cabir had a way of saying stuff with a lot of depth to it.
Having successfully instilled the impact that he had meant to make on Manik, he quickly spoke up. "All this..." he gestured with a quick wave of his hand at all the birthday party arrangements. "... On short notice... is no cake walk. But tell you what. It was your best move yet. Mind blowing. Loving it."
"Thanks," Manik cleared his throat and gulped down the ball in his throat.
"Don't mention it," replied Cabir and quietly crooned one of his favourites. "My dil goes mmm... mmm... mmm. My dil goes mmm... mmm... mmm." He snapped his fingers and gracefully swayed his hips to the rhythm.
Manik's startled stare shot at Cabir. Does he know... why I did all this... did he notice me looking at her?
Cabir paused but couldn't stop enjoying the song. It kept resonating in his head. "I just love this song," he exclaimed energetically. "Too good! Right?"
"Uh huh," Manik mumbled in response. Of course, it wasn't an honest opinion.
Cabir sang louder. "Haan! Who na-na karti hai. Haan! Bada akarti hai!"
Manik grew increasingly fidgety at the lyrics. He had the irresistible urge to bolt out of the room, far away from Cabir's teasing song. But by now, Mukti, Dhruv and Nandini had heard him crooning.
"Hey! Sing that again!" Mukti demanded. "You were good!"
"Really?" Cabir couldn't believe his ears. He loved appreciation. Who doesn't?
"Yeah!" Mukti confirmed.
"Of course!" Dhruv added supportively.
Cabir was on cloud nine now. He puffed up his chest, cleared his throat and gave his diaphragm all that he got!
Manik snapped irritably. "Cabir! Keep it low. People outside can hear."
"So what?" he asked innocently.
"Arre! What do you mean so what?" Manik spat. "We are at work. Keep that in mind! If the other departmental guys come to know about this, there'll be a riot in here!"
Cabir pulled out a very sad face and hung his head low.
Nandini felt a bit hurt at Manik's response. The word "nice" seems to be absent in this monster's dictionary, thought Nandini angrily. "Actually Cabir," she began in an assuring tone. "You've got a really good voice. And you can carry a tune very well."
His face instantly brightened up at her encouraging words and Manik's darkened. "See!" he pouted at Manik and continued in a childish voice. "There are still people who appreciate me! You're very bad! For this, we'll play Antakshari."
"Antakshari!!?" Mukti exclaimed with excitement. "A brilliant idea! Come on let's play. It's been ages!"
Manik sighed as the growing sense of dread pestered him. "What? Come on," he rolled his eyes and whispered under his breath. "Get real! Just chuck the shit." He still couldn't believe his ears. Mukti had just okayed Cabir's silly idea of playing a childish game. But of course, he knew that Cabir had a plan. That look in his eyes was oh-so-obvious.
"What's wrong with Antakshari, Manik?" Mukti questioned irritably.
"Everything!" he snapped. "It's retarded."
"You sound like you had played only Road Rash since your diaper days," Cabir commented with a sarcastic frown.
"Manik, how can you even think that Antakshari is retarded?" snarled Mukti in utter exasperation. She was so annoyed at Manik's response that she wasn't ready to let it go sooner. She so badly wanted to punch him senseless. "Do you know? It was and is still one of the best games ever!"
"Boy! Do you need to upgrade your catalogue," replied Manik with a sarcastic roll of his eyes.
Mukti was seething now. Her favourite childhood game was getting tarnished by a loser and she simply couldn't stand it! "Have you ever played anything at all as a child?!!" That wasn't exactly a question from Mukti, but rather, words of angry disbelief.
"Yeah, hide and seek," Cabir responded for Manik and stunned him in the process.
Dhruv smothered an involuntary snort. The hilarious picture of Manik playing hide and seek tickled his funny bones like crazy!
"Give me a break," said Manik in utter irritation.
"Let's do it then," said Mukti as she crossed her arms. "It's a challenge. Play hide and seek with us if you dare."
"Bullshit," he chuckled in response.
But Mukti had already started to write down their names on small chits.
"No way out buddy boy," Cabir teased and nodded his head. "You have to play."
"In your dreams," snapped Manik and turned his troubled gaze to Nandini. She had a strange twinkle in her eyes, almost as if the entire scenario was making her feel victorious in some way or the other! The very idea of running around like a little kid and playing hide and seek was embarrassing! He so badly wanted to punch Cabir. He knew that he had pulled this stunt on purpose just to make him look like a funny little toddler stumbling around in an effort to vanish from the sight of his seeker.
By now, Mukti was done with the chits. She scooped up the folded pieces of paper in her hands and shuffled them. "Okay," she began. "So... now here are the rules. Each one of us will take turns to pick a chit. The one whose name gets picked will wait till the count of ten before hunting down the rest of us."
"It's okay Mukti," Cabir interrupted in a bored tone. "Manik knows that he's supposed to hide."
"Shut up!" snapped Manik furiously.
Dhruv was having a tough time in suppressing his exhilarated laughs. He knew that he would get into trouble later but he just couldn't help himself. The entire situation was like a dream come true.
Nandini watched Manik in amusement. His eyes flickered nervously and his face was hot and flushed. She was simply enjoying his helplessness.
"So the one who picks the chit has to hand it over to me and I will announce the seeker," said Mukti with a grin. "So let's start. Manik. You first. Pick a chit."
"Wha... for what?" Manik was speechless. He didn't expect to get chosen so fast.
Cabir sighed. "She just recited the entire Ramayana and now you want to know who's Rama?"
"See look," snapped Manik with a vicious scowl. "I'm not playing this shit."
"Come on Manik," Mukti teased. "Be a man. You're not the chicken types, are you?"
"Whatever!" he spat and prepared to walk out of the room but Cabir grabbed him by the arm and dragged him back.
"Dude," said Cabir grimly. "Be a sport. Pick one."
"Cabir!" Manik warned him. But Cabir remained undeterred.
"Come on," he urged. "You're Manik Malhotra. Not a chicken who poops himself."
Unable to handle the pressure any longer, Manik gave in to their relentless taunting. "Fine!" he gnashed his teeth as he stepped forward, picked a chit and handed it over to Mukti.
"Atta boy!" Cabir gave a couple of appreciative slaps on Manik's back.
"Knock it off," he growled back.
"So!" Mukti opened a chit and smiled. "Our chosen seeker for round one is... Nandini!"
Dhruv and Cabir applauded at her announcement.
Nandini, who had been keeping a low profile till now, looked around and smiled uneasily. Great... now I have play hide and seek... with this monster...
"The game starts now!" Mukti announced. "Nandini. Close your eyes and count to ten. Alright team, time to hide!"
Nandini turned around, buried her face in her hands and commenced the game. "Ten... Nine... Eight... Seven..."
Everyone except Manik scattered around the department to pick the most secure hiding spot.
"Six... Five..." Nandini went on, unwary that Manik was still around.
Though Manik loathed this silly game, his heart began to race as time ran out. The child in him took over and screamed at him to run and hide.
"Four... Three..."
Manik couldn't move though his muscles twitched with the overwhelming need to stick to the rules. He simply didn't know what to do or where to hide!
"Two... One... Here I come!" Nandini opened her eyes and turned around.
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