First of all a very big THANKS to all my lovely friends for taking time to comment on my work…thank you for giving me what I asked for !! And now I am giving you all what you all love….:)
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Recap: Manik saves a boy, takes him to the hospital. He finds out about Mukti’s secret. Aliya gets jealous of Dhruv and Nandini together and starts drinking a lot ! She faints and Dhruv takes her home. Manik offers to drop Nandini home on his bike.
While moving towards the parking, Manik asks Nandini to wait outside and he would get the bike there. When he arrives on his R15, Nandini is unable to take her eyes off him. Though he was a nerd in those glasses, but on the bike he looked dashingly handsome ! She kept staring even when he reached her and stopped the bike near her. He blushed at her gaze on him but then said,
Manik: You wanna come ?
Nandini: Ye-ah !
She began sitting on the back seat and unknowingly slowly placed her hand on Manik’s shoulder for support to climb up which got sensations in both of their bodies. As soon as she placed her hand, Manik who had been looking in the front, waiting for her to settle herself, turned around and looked at her, and even she looked up to him. Their eyes met and both of them freezed in that moment ! Few minutes later, a car started honking at them as they had been standing in the middle of the way and that broke their eye lock. Nandini quickly moved aside and Manik moved the bike making way for the car to go. The driver of the car, stopped by them and shouted angrily, ” Go romance somewhere else and not in the middle of the way.” Both of them were embarrassed at that.
Nandini then quickly seated herself on the bike trying not to touch him and maintain a distance as the other driver’s comment about romance was still going on in her mind. But she had a problem, whenever she was on a two wheeler sitting behind someone, she had to keep her hand on the other person’s shoulders, it was a habit. She used to do it always with Mukti but was not able to do it with Manik. Manik saw in the rear view mirror how she was controlling her hand from not falling on his shoulders. While he was looking into the rear view mirror, a car suddenly passed by and he had to instantly stop the bike which gave a jerk to both of them and Nandini’s body fell over Manik’s back with her hands on his shoulders. She was about to take them away when Manik stopped her by putting his hands over hers on his shoulder.
Manik: It’s okay. You can hold me if you want.
Nandini: (giving him a thanking smile) Thanks !
Manik removes his hands from hers and starts the bike when Nandini stops him.
Nandini: (almost shouting) Oh wait !
Manik: (scared) What happened ?
Nandini: Ice cream !
Manik: What ? Ice cream ? At this time ?
Nandini: (pointing at an ice cream parlor across the road) Over there ! Come let’s go.
Manik takes the bike towards the ice cream parlor and feels excited on seeing the child like Nandini coming out of the tough girl. He was also relieved to see that maybe just for a while but she had forgotten about Mukti’s problem.
Nandini: Black current for me please !
Manik turns around to look at her jolly face, gives her a smile and goes forward to get her the ice cream.
Few minutes later he returns with a cup full of black current ice cream for Nandini.
Manik: Here you go.
Nandini: (taking the cup from his hand) Thank You ! But where’s yours ?
Manik: I don’t wanna eat one.
Nandini: No that’s not fair ! Come then share from mine..
Manik: Oh no it’s alright..
Nandini: It’s not alright for me ! C’mon have it ..
Manik: Okay then let me get another spoon.
He turns around to find that the parlor had closed down. He turns back to look at Nandini. Nandini giggles and says,
Nandini: Here, you can share mine.
Manik’s eyes open up wide at that offer from her.
Nandini: No need to get shocked ! It’s okay ! We don’t live in the nineties that sharing a same spoon is such a big deal !
Manik laughs in his head thinking how innocent she was. She thought sharing the same spoon for ice cream was not such a big deal. But it was a big deal for him. She meant something really special to him and sharing an ice cream with her was like being in paradise. He kept staring at her for a while thinking about these things.
Nandini: Hello ! Where are you lost ?
Manik: Nothing. Lets start or else we’ll have to drink the ice cream later.
Nandini takes a bite and then fills the spoon with some more and offers to feed Manik. He hesitates at first but then opens his mouth and Nandini feeds in the ice cream into his mouth. She then takes another bite for herself and then lends him the spoon to eat. Manik keeps placing glances at her, enjoying her ice cream and her innocent sweetness like a kid.
After finishing off with the ice cream, Manik moves towards his bike but Nandini stops him by holding his hand. He turns around to look at her confused.
Nandini: can we just be here for some more time ? The atmosphere is amazing and I don’t wanna go home so soon.
Manik: but your chacha and chachi must be waiting.
Nandini: oh no ! They know I’m usually late. In fact today is really early and if they find me home at this hour they might think something’s wrong. Manik looks at the time in his watch to find it was 12.30 am. He is surprised to know that her chacha chachi would find 12.30 am quite early ?!
Manik: okay then.
Nandini: (let’s go of his hand) thanks !
Manik gives her a smile and stands beside her. Both of them keep quite for some time. Nandini again starts thinking about Mukti and gets stressed ! Manik notices that but is not able to ask her about it as he fears she might feel offended ! After some time Nandini breaks the silence,
Nandini: so, you participating in musicana ?
Manik: I don’t know ! I mean I don’t have a band !
Nandini: oh ! But you can make one !
Manik: tomorrow is the last date for registration of band !
Nandini: ohh ! So then ?
Manik: So then I’ll participate maybe next year when I have a band that can beat fab 5 !
Nandini: No ! You should participate ! You are so good ! You really understand music and your voice is amazing…
Manik: So, then give me entry into fab 5!
Nandini keeps staring at him, shocked, could not believe what she had heard. Manik starts laughing and continues,
Manik: Look at your face. As if someone has asked for the most precious toy from a little kid.
Nandini makes a puppy face at that and turns away. Manik places his hands on her shoulder and makes her turn towards him. He just gives her a smile and she forgoes her anger and give him a soft smile.
Nandini: Listen, even Navya doesn’t have a band. You could pair up with her.
Manik: But we still need a third member.
Nandini: So, we’ll find one ! Tomorrow be present in college sharp at 8 am. We’ll start hunting for a third member for your band.
Manik: But…
Nandini: No buts…Just do as I say.
Manik: (smiling at her) Okay.
Nandini then keeps staring into his eyes for a while and suddenly takes off his glasses and asks,
Nandini: What power ? I wanna try them once !
Manik immediately takes away the glasses from her and wears them back. She again makes a puppy face and says,
Nandini: What’s the big deal if I try on your glasses once ?
Manik gives out a sigh and removes her glasses to give them to her. She happily takes them from him and puts them on.
Nandini: How do I look ?Hey wait ! I can see quite clearly through this. How is it possible ?
Manik: That’s because it’s zero power glasses.
Nandini: What ? Why ?
Manik stays quite and Nandini continues,
Nandini: Okay fine if you don’t wanna tell. At least tell me how do I look ?
Manik: (nervous on having to compliment her) Umm…good..
Nandini: Just good ?
Manik: (staring into her eyes) Amazing..as always !
Nandini blushes for a while and then asks,
Nandini: So you always notice me haan ?
Manik: Umm no..not like that..i just meant..
Nandini starts laughing and on realising that she had been teasing him, even Manik joins her in the laughter. They keep laughing for some time and then suddenly Nandini straightens her face and says,
Nandini: Manik you look so good without these stupid glasses ! Why do you wear them then ? You know you should really stop wearing these !
Manik just gives her a smile.
Nandini: okay I want a picture in this !
She takes out her phone from her pocket but finds that the battery is dead !
Nandini: oh no ! No battery ! Take it in your phone !
Manik takes his phone and clicks a picture of her wearing his glasses. Just then his phone rings and he picks it up. While the person on the other side says something to him, Manik instantly says,
Manik: (angrily) yes I am coming right away !
Precap: last day for musicana registration. Would Manik and navya find a third band member and would fab 5 be able to help them for that ?
Monday: Pani ff..store room sequence continued…
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Friends please let me know if you like or dislike something in the story. Feel free to give any suggestions as well….Thank you !
#behappy
#spreadsmiles