Manan FF - Kaisi yeh Yaariyan season 3 - Chapter 123 & note - Page 40

It was close to midnight by the time Manik finally reached home. His neighbourhood was eerily quiet, except for a few stray cars here and there. He went upstairs and took a long shower in cold water. After the chilly weekend amidst the pretty hills in Panchgani, Mumbai felt like a furnace. Taking his newly acquired guitar, Manik settled in his balcony, looking over the pool, as the water, shimmered away like liquid silver under the full moon night.

After an eternity of living life like a nomad, he was finally at peace within the safe confines of a place he could call home. What makes a house, home is not the four walls or the things you stuff in it, it's the memories you have made there, the knowing that no matter how far you travel, this is where your journey will end.

The moment he put his fingers to the strings, a deep sense of calm took over him. He was expecting some awkwardness, some hiccups...a few notes out of tune. That's how it was bound to be, rust settles on anything left unused for a while and he was fully prepared to polish it away.

But when none of that happened & music started gliding through his fingers, like it had never ceased flowing, he realized, some connections are meant to be divine! Like you can never teach someone, how to breathe because its instinctive. Music to him was just like the air...as if he was born to do it, as if it flowed in his veins and much like blood, it kept his heart beating. It kept him alive, it always had no matter what else went on in and around his life.

And then his thoughts inevitably hovered around Nandini. It felt the same way loving her, it gave him the same peace. Three years, two continents and innumerable obstacles later, his love for her had only ever increased. So much could have happened, their paths could have never intersected again, but he wasn't surprised or even thankful that they did, this was meant to be... this is the only way it was meant to be.

That also led him to reflect upon the sudden meeting he just had with Ranbir. Ranbir was in all practicality a stranger, to them and especially to him. Except for his face, which was fortunately or unfortunately his bestie's, did he really know anything about that guy? Yet, of all his friends, he went to Ranbir to share the most closely guarded secret of his life. And the sense of comfort he felt, knowing Ranbir was with him in this, was simply unparalleled.

It could have been Dhruv or Alya or Mukti but it was Ranbir, who had forced Nandini to reveal everything to him. Yes it seemed tough at that time, to swallow the truth, to get acquainted to your shady past through someone else, but having lived through that pain, he now believed it was the best thing Ranbir could have done for him. Truth, no matter how badly it burns, eventually heals with time. Lies on the other hand are like quick sand. One moment you are all happy and the very next the sand below your feet shifts and you are sucked into a bottomless pit.

Manik checked the time in his cell, it was well past two. Nandini would be fast asleep, the poor girl was already asleep when he literally forced her home. But he couldn't stop himself from sending her a message.. He was missing her a bit too much.

"I miss you cotton." he typed and added a kissing smilie not quite expecting to get a reply, not at least within 2 seconds flat.

And so when his cell did buzz back to life, his lips, on their own drew into a smile. "Pehle Tipsy and now Cotton!!!??? why? Why don't you ever call me sweetheart or jaan or u know the usual names?"

"Because you are special and I am not boring like your typical cheesy guys!"

"Really, so what does cotton mean?"

"Cotton means rui dumbo..never knew you are such a dumbo..btw why are u still awake?"

"I know cotton means dumbo mr. Super not-so-intelligent. But the last time I looked into the mirror I was a girl..when did I reincarnate & of all things into cotton?"

Manik laughed to himself. They could only speak serious when either of them was sad. On normal days, it always had to be catty like this. "Cotton because, I need it all the time. Sometimes in the pillow that I cuddle, sometimes to put medicine on my would, sometimes to eat it as cotton candy and sometimes to clean the dust off stuff. I also like to play with soft toys you know *wink*, soft to touch, softer to press."

(The pic credits go to the original creators unless otherwise specified, I just get them from Google)

"Very intelligent, (except for the last part). You almost impressed me except that I am not. I am cross with you, and u gave me a sleepless night."

"Right, so why ain't you sleeping cotton?"

"Caught a bad addiction of sleeping in someone's arms."

"Missing someone?"

"Never missed anyone more... :("

"I am jealous.."

"Go to hell."

"Really? Should I ?"

"No wait, I will come along?"

"To hell?"

"Whatever, doesn't matter as long as I have your company..."

"What about that someone you were missing. Wouldn't he be jealous??"

" A little bit of adultery is allowed *wink*."

"No it isnt.."

"It is."

"I miss your lips.."

"Really?"

"Yup..can I come over for a kiss please...just a kiss I swear... :D"

"NOOO!!!"

"My ears are hurting!! COTTON with a capital."

"But I am missing you, and I can't sleep. Uff why are u such an addiction?"

"Did you talk to chachi?"

"No :("

"Do you want me to come over and speak?"

"No, I will manage."

"Ok, sleep sweetheart."

"You said you are not cheesy! :)"

"Well mostly :) Ok now sleep."

"No..."

"Nandini...!!!"

"But I miss you.."

"N I miss you too...chalo bye."

"I hate byes.."

"But I love you."

"Not more than me. I looove you itta sara."

And he didn't reply. The only good thing about this dreadfully melancholic night was also over. How could she tell him what kept her awake and restless. Yes she missed him, like hell. And she indeed was addicted to him, to his presence, to his smell, his touches, his kisses, & the congenial smile on his handsome face. She couldn't sleep unless she heard his husky voice, or ruffled his silky hair. She just couldn't, without feeling warm within the enclosure of his arms and entwining her tiny fingers in and around his palms. Those eyes of his, that spoke more to her than he himself did, those eyes that she loved to death, she couldn't sleep without saying good night to them.

But it wasn't just the missing that was making her stomach rumble. What was going to happen next, how would she explain to everyone why Manik had disappeared when she herself didn't know. How would she make them believe in him again and then what about Neel? That 100 kg iron chain that hung from her neck, giving her a spondylitis like pain. How would she get rid of that, and convince her Amms, who was dead against Manik?

While she understood that there would be friction and it would be quite an uphill task bring them around, she was afraid of any kind of insult that Manik might have to face. This boy who still didn't know how his own parents had tossed him into a whirlpool, only carried a heart full of love for her family.

Her chachi was like his mother, her brother was his brother, he always felt he had a place here, that he was as much a part of her family as he was of her life.

She would never forget the twinkle in his eyes, when her brother shared with him a simple roti from his plate or the tears that he held when Chachi prayed for his recovery & well being. He had always been the shoulder that chacha could rely on, and despite the hostility that came naturally to Amms, he never lost his patience.

How would he feel if one day he found only hatred in place of the love, he knew would get here and that too for no fault of his. This is why she had been running away, refusing to face this side of reality. But now that she was here, she had to set it right, someway, anyway. If only she could hug him now. If only...

"I know you are still awake... I know you better than you think. Well now sleep... And I will come to kiss you in your dreams...looonnnggg wala kiss"

And then this audio followed.

Song link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jUx7fqlAVY&list=PLR_1V6jrYF1xxuE2ahY4ehnlscCmwJfJH&index=30

"Evertime I think I can't love you more, You make me fall harder... Guess I am plain lucky...Cotton loves her ROCKSTAR:)"