Posted:
Part 21 - Walking Through A New Phase
"ahhh!! Marine Drive!! You're the best, Manik!"
Nandini erupted like a volcano... So loud that Manik had to literally insert his fingertips inside the eardrum to protect them from bursting.
He was sitting all scared for a moment and in the next nanosecond... his eyes went wide open, mouth hanging low and hand covering his left cheek.
Without caring of Manik, Nandini swung open her door and rushed out to welcome the lovely monsoon winds.
But, Manik sat in the same position for uncountable minutes and kept on gawking at something that scarcely existed for the world. It was solely confined to Manik whatever played before his eyes the moment Nandini canoodled on his cheeks.
Manik wished to hold this moment till eternity. That very juncture when Nandini's luscious lips proximated with his stubble grown cheeks, his inside melted like burning lava. He was all the more drowning in Nandini's little unintentional fondle, but 'unintentional' did not make sense until his heart was at peace.
He could have sat there for an eternity had he not gleaned Nandini's melodious voice.
"Manik... It's already been five minutes since I am out. What are you doing there?? C'mon now!!"
She dragged Manik out of his seat and then quickly hopped onto the narrow almost isolated pavement. Breathing in a deep puff of fresh, welcoming cold she stretched out her hands to their extreme length.
"Nandini what are you doing?"
Manik enquired in confusion, who till now silently observed all her moves.
"Don't question more...Manik, just climb up! And copy me!"
She insisted but then got back to what she was doing initially, not bothering whether Manik still climbed up or not.
Manik, too, was enlightened by this way of relaxation. It intrigued him to do the same, and Nandini's insistence seemed to him like a cherry on the cake, so there was no chance for him to turn down her plea!!
He glanced his eyes down the road once, just for a cross check, whether someone was present there to witness their stupidity or not but thankfully did not find any spectator apart from the passing vehicles, who for sure had no interest in watching the to be lovebirds romancing on almost empty road in the middle of the night.
The next moment, he too stepped upon the pavement beside Nandini and after extending his arms completely, he scooped in a copious amount of fresh, sea air.
The invigorating, salty winds from the sea did seem to create their magic on these innocent hearts. These enthralled them to such an extent that they felt light hearted like never before. The mere aquaintance of the winds with their soft skins made them to shiver in ecstacy, of nature.
Nandini did feel and continued to take in as much as homely air as she could, but doing something so 'strange' as people might pronounce this, was not a first for her.
She already had had such strange yet hypnotic moments back in the US, but doing this in her hometown was reviving and enrapturing.
However, it was an all new experience for Manik. He was doing this very much for the first time until his silver jubilee but now he knew this wasn't the last. This one mere gesture of opening up the arms in front of the whole wide sea with a welcoming satisfaction, just filled his heart with so much peace and calmness and the fact that Nandini herself was the reason to this thing happening, made him feel much more giddy about the whole matter.
And Manik could not stop his mind and heart to agree to the fact that he had found his long lost peace in the lady beside him.
"you're a gem, Nandini!! I never knew I could find such peace in this world. Thanks for making me realize this beauty!"
Manik whisper said, his eyes still closed.
"if you've not experienced this before... then Manik... There's so much more you've not experienced in this world, before!!!!"
Nandini said, slowly opening her eyes and then looked at Manik who still stood in the same position.
After a moment, Manik too relaxed and looked at Nandini who was busy ogling at his charming face.
"will you make that possible for me, Nandini?!" Manik asked her politely. And the reply too was not surprising, knowing Nandini's persona.
"I promise!" she said with a smile and held his hand and he too tightened his hold over her.
For the next few minutes, all in the vicinity watched an eyelock session between the couple. They were so into each other, completely forgetting the world. For both, only other person's presence mattered. That's it! Apart from that, everything was oblivious to them, completely unknown a world of strangers.
Nandini was the first one to break the intense eye talk session.
"umm...lets walk!"
Manik kept staring at her for a few more minutes. Examined her each feature patiently and then again tried looking through her eyes in hope,but when he was sure that Nandini won't look up from the ground anymore, maybe she was aware of his intense gaze, he gave in and smiled at her...
"After you!"
~~~***~~~
Both spent, about half an hour at the Marine Drive, walking. As they put each step together, they got to know each other better, all over again.
Likes, dislikes, life at school, after school, friends... Just everything. They reminced all of it again, but this time beginning as strangers.
After a peaceful ride of about 15 mins, they parked in front of Nandini's doorway.
"so..?"
"so..."
"ummm...so you're coming in with me for a cup of Nandini special coffee!!! ''''"
"okay!"
Both entered the house after unlocking and went to the living area.
"This still feels like olden times!"
Manik said looking around the house which was kept so well. After all, how could he forget...he clearly remembered coming here uncountable times in his teenage.
"I wish mom dad could meet you! They remembered you...as my bestest friend." she turned to her parents' photo which hung across the wall.
"I wish that too." he took a step forward and stood beside Nandini. Both gazed at the couple's photograph with teary eyes and afresh memories in their minds.
Manik could still grip over himself but he could not ignore the fact that how emotional and weak-hearted his lady love was. He knew it was a bad idea talking about her parents, a topic which was extremely sensitive in her life so he decided to apologize... "I'm sorry."
"ahhh...you don't have to be sorry. I guess, that was... my inscrutable... Fate." she lowered her head and fidgeted with her rings and fingers all through the sentence and it was clearly deciphered by Manik as an indication of her sensitive state.
Not wanting to waste much time, Manik tightly gripped her in his arms. He embraced her tightly as a gesture of sharing her pain, and Nandini, on getting a shoulder for support, too let down her strong walls. She let a few tears to slip down and unwantingly allowed the vulnerable she to come out.
"I am really sorry for your loss Nandini. But you need to realize what happened was ought to happen. It was destiny and none of us can change that. No doubt, god snatched away such pure souls from our lives but in return he tried to compensate too. He's given you such an amazing friend in Ryan. His supportive family too. And then...then you found your lifeline back. You got your friends back... So you should be happy about that na. Think about it...if uncle and aunty watch you from heaven, in such a state... Will they like it? Would they want to see their daughter mourn uncontrollably for them?" he parted from the hug and wiped away her salty tears while Nandini shook her head in denial.
"so for them you need to grip over yourself. You must remember them with tonnes of memories, love and happiness not with grief. You should not make them regret the decision of leaving you behind. They never wanted to see such a weak Nandini but they took this decision of leaving you to make you much much stronger so that you can hold your head high in this cruel and competitive world. You should respect their decision and... My likings too. We are friends right... And friends should take care of each other's likes and needs and I completely don't like this Nandini. I want that strong, tigeress Nandini to be in control of you. Always!! Could you atleast do that for ME??!!"
He ended on a good note and tried to cheer her up, in which he even succeeded partially.
"better?" he asked her, supporting her by shoulders. And she replied only with a silent, smiling nod.
"Ms. Nandini Murthy!!! Where is your special coffee? Pehle, you invited me in and then made me blabber so much and now this much waiting!!'Ptch'!! This was not expected from you, Nandini." he shook his head dramaically, yet another attempt to lighten the atmosphere, and here he finally succeeded! Nandini pouted listening to his complaints first, but then slapping his shoulder lightly she too broke into a heartwarming smile enjoying Manik's antics.
"you wait here...I'll get it for you!"
She smilingly went away, which led to another memorable evening in the friend's journey!
However, this wasn't confirmingly the end. There were tonnes of such high and low moments anticipating ahead in their voyage of togetherness!
_____________________________________
Uff! Finally completed! First thing... Does the last line make any sense at all?! Maine toh ainvayi likh diya! Anyway...I'm sorry for being late. This wasn't ought to happen but then I want your guys' support too. I have this writing competition which is being organized by the south Korean embassy. So you see it's on international level and am taking part in it. By the end of this month...I have to prepare my article by hook or by crook and also I have a few competitive exams coming up so I, unwantingly, will have to cut down on some of my writing time. I really wish to seek support from you guys...I hope I won't be disappointed. I'm apologizing in advance if the next update gets delayed however I will try my best, not to let that happen.
Thankyou!!
Plz overlook the errors, if any!
Love you, my lovelies!
God bless!!!!''''''
Anupamaa
Hindi TV Shows
