PROLOGUE
"Why aren't you afraid of me? his husky and a slight plangent voice terrorized me. This guy is one of those people who can persuade you to change your answers, your ideas and hell, even your life.
Damn! Why does he have to be good in everything? Looks, voice, music, torso- Heck, Nandini focus! Aiyappa! I inhaled and exhaled to calm my pounding heartbeat. My emotions are running on a marathon today. Faex! Nandini, answer him with a comeback.
"Seriously, Manik? I have worst nightmares about failing Psychology, I grinned. That was good.
"Then Miss Murthy, let's make your nightmares more terrifying and hot, he replied in his ever frightening voice with threatening pauses.
"Terrifying, yes. Hot, absolutely not, I reasoned, smoothly taking step backwards.
He raised in eyebrows in surprise. "Do you not think I am hot enough?
"N-no. Course, not. Yes. I over-smiled. Faex! I stammered in front of this khadoos' monster.
"Accha? he again questioned. "Oh! Nandu, let's be serious, we're talking about me here, he flaunted. Suddenly he placed his muscular hands on both the sides of the wall, caging me. Kya karoon mein iss lamp post ka. Monster kahi ka!
"Monster! Let me go, I shouted.
"Aw! Nandu. Pehle batao why do you not hate me? he questioned me again. An idea suddenly popped in my head. I crawled out underneath his hands in a jiffy.
"I don't know if you're aware of this, but I am quite petite, I spoke as a matter of fact with that stupid additional grin of mine.
"Really? I had no idea in this enmity of ours that you're shorter than I am, he scowled in annoyance.
I giggled at his folly satire. Stupid Nandini! Stop over-smiling. The pain will vanish. Do not keep thinking about it, please. Though I was in a tussle with this guy but my mind was in a tussle with those thoughts. Manik glared at me.
"I am not going to spontaneously combust, Manik. Do not glare at me, I smiled way too hard. This was the limit. My friends by now may have realised my vulnerability but he wouldn't.
His eyes were flickering with fire. Fire of anger and pain. I should not play with this disguised monster. He is commendable at transforming his pain into anger Stupid me, this arrogance faade was a sign written in bold, BEWARE! HURT MONSTER AHEAD'
"Nandini, what's wrong? his husky voice was showing concern with every sound wave. The fire in his caramel eyes replaced with a teeny weeny bit concern. Concern for me? When pigs fly.
"Nothing's wrong. I replied, smiling to my fullest ear to ear smile.
"Nandini, only if your eyes could lie, I would have believed you, Manik smiled, confidence dripping in his voice.
"What do you mean, Manik? I replied without a smile this time. Aiyappa! No. Don't let him guess that flaw. He's an ememy. Please I will do-
"You over-smile, Nandini. You smile a lot when you're in pain, he whispered. A whisper which calmed my pounding heart as though it had waited for years to remove the peel off this smiling Nandini. No, Nandini. Darling, please do not show him your vulnerabilities. I inhaled. Let's play some blame game.
"You wear that arrogance mask when you're in pain. Meine tum se kabhi pucha kyu. Atleast I am trying to reduce the heartache by smiling, I replied with honesty.
"You cannot reduce your heartache without expressing your pain, he smiled lightly, a duh smile.
"Apne aap ko physically harm karke tum emotionally theek kaise hoge, Manik? I questioned him, looking intently at his bruised hand. He closed his eyes as if he was exhausted for so long. His jaws clenched and his cheek bones tightened a little. I decided to continue.
"You are a wild, summer wind and I am a silent English rain. We hide our pain. It doesn't matter behind smiles or anger. But we do. Agar tum sapna ho, Manik toh mein khawab hu. Just the words are different, meaning remains the same.
Arrogance faded away from his way. He scrunched up his face back into that thinking mode of his
He ruffled his hair and exercised his face.
"Run, Nandini, my subconscious yelled at me. However, I decided to wait. I wanted to know what would he say next even if I need to be vulnerable in front of him.
"You're right. We want to save the world without being noticed, he gave a sad smile as he gazed at me. This guy can make me feel so vulnerable and overwhelming at the same time. "We want to save our friends and family from the pain, give them world's happiness however, we want our pain to be hidden, he spoke with determination written on his face. A mature determination to continue the same tradition to protect his friends.
"Manik, I said and he looked at me. "I will always notice you whether you save the world or ruin your hand like this. Whenever, you need to shout on somebody, call me, I assured him. I do not know whether he need that kind of assurance but words left my mouth before I realised.
He chuckled. "Whenever you need to pour your heart out, call me, Nandini. I trust you.
"And that's why, Mr. Malhotra, I do not hate you, I said and flipped my hair. I walked away with a grin lurking on my face. An honest one, mind well.
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I am not getting much response but its alright!
Even if I have a single loyal reader. I will post.
Dedicated to @ROOP0605
Arcane
Edited by miss_writer - 6 years ago
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