Chapter 18:
Nandini's POV:
Everything going on was too much for me to handle, I was again seated by the pool dipping my feet in the cold water, all alone thinking about what my life has become. Two years ago I would have never thought my life would turn out to be this way, Manik and I were meant to be forever, hamesha, then why did this happen to us. Thinking about our past and lone tear escaped my eye involuntarily. My chain of thoughts were broken as I felt a tap on my shoulder, I turned to see my long lost best friend standing behind me willing to support me in the time of need. I definitely have missed her. She joined me and sat next to me dipping her feet in the pool as well. 'Thinking about Manik?' she asked me, she did know me too well. I wanted to lie and say no, but there was no point lying because I could never get away away with lying to Navya so I just hmmed. 'You still love him don't you?' she asked me, 'I can never stop loving him Navya' 'then why are you away from him?' she asked a very good question which I wish I could answer, I wish I could tell everyone staying away from Manik isn't a choice I made, it's something that's been forced upon me. 'Navya I..' 'I know, you don't want to talk about it right? It's okay I understand. But whenever you're ready to talk, I'll be here for you' she said as she placed her hand on mine as assurance. I just smiled at her and thanked her for understanding me so well. 'Nandini, agar hum tumse kuch mange to hume do gee?' she asked, 'of course Navya, anything for my best friend' I said smilingly unaware of what she wanted. 'Come back to India with us' she said much to my surprise.
***
Manik's POV:
I have stressed myself out so much in the past few days that now I feel numb, devoid of any emotion. Is all this really Nandini's effect of me? How can a random girl that I met effect me so much.. Kya ho tum Nandini, kon ho? I thought to myself as I closed my eyes and strummed my guitar.
(Listen to this song, it's beautiful: Humanva from Humari adhuri kahani)
Hey Humnava mujhe apna bana leSookhi padi dil ki iss zameen ko bhiga de
hmm.. hoon akela, zara haath badha deSookhi padi dil ki iss zameen ko bhiga de
Kab se main dar dar phir rahaMusaafir dil ko panaah deTu awaargi ko meri aaj thehra deHo sake toh thoda pyaar jataa deSookhi padi iss dil ki zameen ko bhiga de
Murjhaayi si shaakh pe dil kiPhool khilte hain kyunBaat gulon ki zikr mehak kaAcha lagta hai kyun
Un rango se tune milaayaJinse kabhi main mill na paaya
Dil karta hai tera shukriyaPhir se bahaare tu laa de
Dil ka soona banjar mehka deSukhi padi dil ki is zameen ko bhiga de
hmm.. hoon akela, zara haath badha deSookhi padi dil ki iss zameen ko bhiga de
Waise toh mausam guzre hainZindagi mein kayiPar ab naa jaane kyun mujhe woLag rahe hain haseen
Tere aane par jaana maineKahin na kahin zinda hoon mainJeene lagaa hoon main ab ye fizaayeinChehre ko chhooti hawaayein
Inki tarah do kadam toh badha le
Sookhi padi dil ki iss zameen ko bhiga deO.. hoon akela, zara haath badha deSookhi padi dil ki iss zameen ko bhiga de
As I finished the song I opened my eyes and felt a lone tear escape my eyes. I'm not angry anymore, I'm hurt, I don't know why but I am.
***
Nandini's POV:
'Navya!' I said in disbelief, did she just ask me to come India with her? 'I.. I can't' I said helplessly. 'Kyun nahi?' 'Navya Manik and me...' I was cut off my Navya 'I'm not calling you to India for Manik, I'm calling you for myself.. Me and Ranbir are getting engaged when we go back.. And I want my best friend to be there with me on my special day..' Navya said looking at me in a very hopeful manned. I knew Navya needed me but I couldn't go back to India, I just couldn't. It took everything in me to leave India in the first place, if I went back I would never be able to come back, I won't be able to leave Manik again. 'Navya main.. Navya I can't. I'm sorry' I said and I was about to walk away when Navya stopped me and spoke 'humne expect bhi kyun kia tha ke tum maano gi.. Hum hi bewakoof hain jo sochte hain ki tum hume apna best friend maanti ho..' Navya started to tear up, 'Navya I..' 'No Nandini! Enough. It's always about you or about you and Manik isn't it? What about me Nandini? Have you ever thought about your so called best friend? Every time I needed you the most you weren't there.. I lost my baby Nandini, I needed you by my side and you weren't there. When Ranbir proposed me I was so happy and wanted to share it with my best friend but you weren't there again. Every time I needed you, you weren't there for me Nandini.. Then why did I expect you to care about my engagement.. It's my fault for even asking you'
All this drama was being witnessed by the 'evil twins' of the gang. 'Yaar yeh madhubala itni over acting kyun kar rahi hai. Thoda sa drama karne ko bola tha to convince Nandini, yeh to shuru hi ho gayi hai' complained Cabir. 'I just hope Nandini ko doubt na ho' said a concerned Mukti.
Nandini's POV:
Navya started sobbing, I never knew Navya was so hurt by my actions. Oh my god what have I done, Navya is always there for me and I? I'm such a bad friend. No I can't hurt her more than I already have.. I run to her and hug her, tears make there way to my eyes, me and Navya have a mini 'who can shed the most tears' competition. We could just fill up the pool with our tears. I sobbingly said 'I'm so sorry Navya! I'm so sorry.. I'm so bad na?' I said still crying 'but don't worry I promise I won't hurt you more.. You want me there with you right? I'll come, I'll come to India with you I promise.. We'll make your engagement the best engagement ever.. Nandini promise. But please don't cry. Please' I said still shedding gallons of tears from my eyes. Navya flashed a smile at me 'sachi Nandu?' she asked sniffing, 'yes Navya I promise' I said as I hugged her again still sobbing.
'I swear yeh dono kitna drama karte hai yaar.. Itna dramatic hone ki kya zaroorat hai.. They're crying like maniacs.. Are you serious?' said Mukti looking at the two besties sobbing their eyes out. 'God knows konse era si ayi hain' said Cabir. 'Anyway on the bright side Nandini is coming back to India which means mission MANAN is back on' Cabir said smirking to which Mukti and Cabir high fived.
***
Days passed with Manik and Nandini completely ignoring each other, more like Manik avoiding Nandini to avoid any more complications in his life, he knew Nandini was coming to India with them and deep down he was really happy and very satisfied, half of his stress was gone when he found out Nandini would accompany them to India and he won't be separated from her, but being the monster he is he chose not to show his excitement and instead he just behaved very coldly with her. Nandini tried to speak to Manik on a few occasions but all she got from him was cold replies or complete ignorance. Now even she stopped trying and decided to give him space and not force the friendship on him. They would only ever talk about work, other than that all of Manik's time was dedicated to practise and practise only. Music was the one thing that was keeping him sane even with all the insanity surrounding him. Today it was finally the day of the talent show.
Nandini was getting ready as she was the host for the evening, but she was completely lost in the thoughts of Manik. His silence was killing her, she wanted to go and hug him and be with him but she couldn't. He had distanced himself from her completely and it was killing her. Brushing all those thoughts away she started getting dressed. Nandini put on her blue gown and sat by the mirror to finish off her hair and makeup. She firstly straightened her long beautiful hair, and then got on with her makeup. She started with foundation and concealer to make her skin tone even, then she did a smokey eye, enhancing her already beautiful eyes even more, then she contoured her face to emphasise on her features, which was followed by a peachy blush, some bronzer and light lipstick.
Nandini's outfit, hair and makeup:
Manik's outfit:
Nandini gave herself a last glance and walked out of the room. She was looking for Navya everywhere but was unable to find her so she tried calling her, when she was lost in her phone she suddenly bumped into Manik and landed up in his arms, where she always belonged. Manik, as always, caught hold of her waist very tightly to stop her from falling. They as usual were lost in each other's eyes.
(Background music: Ishq bulaava)
Ishq bulava jaane kab aave
Ishq bulava aave jab aave..
Main ta kol tere rehna
Main ta kol tere rehna
Main ta baitha kol tere...
(They continued gazing into each other's eyes forgetting their surroundings. Both were lost in the moment. Manik was completely lost in her eyes, she looked absolutely gorgeous and her beauty was making his heart best out of his chest)
Tainu takda ravaan
Baaton pe teri hansda ravaan
Pagal main khud nu banaanda ravaan
Tu hansdi rave, main hansaanda ravaan
Tainu takda rawaan
(Nandini on the other hand remembered how Manik saved her from falling for the first time in the music wing, the first time they came so close to each other and just thinking about that made her tear up)
Tainu takda ravaan
Baaton pe teri hansda ravaan
Pagal main khud nu banaanda ravaan
Tu hansdi rave, main hansaanda ravaan
Tainu takda rawaan
(They were both communicating through their eyes, their eyes spoke volumes about their love and need for each other, only Manik wasn't aware of his love or need for Nandini)
Main taa kol tere rehnaMain taa kol tere rehna
Suddenly reality hit Manik and he realised he was mad at Nandini so he left her with a jerk, Nandini was completely dependent on Manik so when he left her she fell on the floor. Her trance of Manik's la la land was broken as she fell, she glared at Manik furiously 'Ouch!' she screamed, 'MANIK! How dare you?!' she continued yelling him. 'Aw dard hua? Too bad' he said with his typical attitude and turned to walk away but Nandini got hold of his hand and pinned him to a wall nearby. 'Manik what's your problem? Why are you being so rude?' she again yelled at him completely frustrated by his behaviour. 'Mood hai, rude ho ne ka. Waise I know that I look really attractive right now but that doesn't mean you should do this' he said implying to their position as Nandini had pinned him to the wall and stood very close to him. Manik suddenly switched their positions and pinned her to the wall, 'rude hone ka mood mera hai, but if tumhara mood kuch aur hai toh you can tell me' he said this coming extremely close to her face. His closeness was driving Nandini insane, she closed her eyes submitting herself to him. Manik smirked seeing his effect on her, he left with a jerk and stood at a distance from her. Nandini opened her eyes to see Manik smirking at her, suddenly his smirk turned into his evil angry monster face and he spoke 'Door raho mujh se' he said as he walked out of the room banging the door behind him. He himself didn't know why he was so angry with her, but at the moment he was just happy that she wasn't affecting him as much as she was before. He was so sick and tired of fighting his attraction for her that he burried the feelings he had for her deep down inside him, however the feelings are still there and it's only a matter of time before they come out.
***
Manik was looking for FAB 5 as it was there time to perform but they were nowhere to be found. Nandini also came out looking for them, they both gave each other a look and continued looking for them. Nandini was getting really worried as FAB5's performance was her responsibility. Mr. Singhania came to them 'Nandini, where are the rest of the band members? They're up in 5 minutes!' Mr. Singhania voiced his concerns, 'I don't know dad they're not picking my calls.. Even Navya is missing' 'what do you mean missing? There's a huge buzz about FAB5 performing, our school trustees are out there waiting for their performance.. This was your responsibility Nandini' for the first time in years Mr. Singhania told Nandini off, and he was right in his place, this talent show was a huge deal for everyone, as too much time and money had been invested in the show.
Just then Manik got a call from Cabir, he put the phone on speaker and answered 'where the hell are you?! Everyone's looking for you. It's time for our performance!!!' Manik yelled at Cabir the minute he picked up the phone. 'Manik listen to me, Alya's dress didn't fit so we all came out to get a new dress for her before the performance starts but now we're stuck in heavy traffic..' Cabir was cut off by Manik, Nandini and Mr. Singhania as they all screamed together 'WHAT?!!!'. Manik continued 'are you crazy? How can you all be so god damn care less man! That too for a bloody dress! We have a performance and I need you all here RIGHT NOW!' Manik was furious because he didn't like it when Mr. Singhania yelled at Nandini for FAB5 being missing. He felt protective over her, in his mind only he has the right to yell at Nandini and no one else. 'Aur waisi bhi why did ALL of you need to go with her for the stupid dress?' Manik continued yelling when Cabir cut him off 'Manik will you at least listen to us! There is no point yelling now, we know a quicker route and we're trying to come as soon as possible but till then we need you to buy us some time' said Cabir. 'Time? Seriously Cabir? How am I supposed to do that?' Manik asked in disbelief, not impressed with Cabir's idea, 'Perform solo!' Cabir replied. 'No way! I'm not performing solo' Manik stated in his arrogant tone. 'Than perform with Nandini' said Navya, 'what?!' said Manik and Nandini together. In the mean time Anjali had texted Mr. Singhania their plan to purposely make MANAN perform together, so Mr. Singhania agreed with them. 'Yes Nandini, this is a great idea!! You have a great voice and so does Manik.. You both can pull this off' 'but dad..' Nandini tried to object but was cut off by Mr. Singhania 'no ifs or buts, I want you both ready and on stage in 2 minutes while I do the announcement of your performance' and with this he walked out. Manik and Nandini looked at each other awkwardly, 'get ready fast and meet me backstage' Manik said to break the awkwardness, and with this he left to prepare for the performance. Nandini was still skeptical as she left music when she left Manik but she didn't have a choice today, she has to perform with him.
Manik was already on stage strumming his guitar, when Nandini walked in. Manik looked at her and for a moment his heart stopped beating.
Nandini's dress:
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