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Kindest souls are the purest souls!

"Manik are you okay?" Nandini asked worriedly seeing his injured leg. He had given no explanation for how he was injured and that very thing was gnawing her head.

"I'm perfect!" He lied as he walked past her.

Nandini then heard a thud around the corner and found Manik lying on the floor.

"Manik!" She yelled and squatted down to examine his state.

His skin was as hot as a burning coal. Hot tears brimmed up in her eyes as she checked his body temperature anxiously. With no help around, she brought a pillow and placed it under his head. It was impossible for her small frame to pick up Manik and bring him to the bed. So she did what she could at the moment. Dipping a piece of cloth in cold water, she placed it on Manik's forehead. That's what she had been doing that whole night until the morning when he opened his eyes and smiled at her affection and graciousness.

The sweet memories brought tears in her doe like eyes. Brushing them off, Nandini rushed to the spot where Manik fell down from the bed.

"Manik! Manik! Are you okay?" She enquired as she tried to move him.

Manik laid motionless on the floor, his eyeballs moved under his eyelids and he murmured something inaudible to Nandini's ears. Quickly, she got up and moved out of the room for help. Riya's parents came up running as soon as they heard Nandini. Together they helped Manik to get up and put him on the bed.

"Nandu he is burning! Come to the kitchen I'll give you some ice water." Nandini nodded and looked up at Riya whose face displayed a lot of questions.

"Nandini how did you both patch up?" She asked in hushed whispers.

"I'll answer your questions some other day!" Nandini replied politely and then vanished into the kitchen. Shrugging off, Riya left for her room.

With the bowl in her one hand and a cloth in the other, Nandini climbed up the stairs carefully when her phone went off. Keeping aside the things she picked up the call. It was Shrey.

"Sorry to call you at this hour. But I felt something wasn't good. Is everything all right there?" He enquired.

"Umm yeah everything is good. It's just that our boss had fallen sick."

"Oh! Take care of your boyfriend then!"

"Shrey he's---"

Nandini's words remained unsaid when she heard a beeping tone from the other end indicating Shrey had hung up. Shrey owed a lot of explanation from Nandini. She thought to explain it to him the other day. Sighing, she went inside Manik's room and placed the bowl and the cloth on the bedside table. Manik was still lying in a half conscious state with his lips moving slightly while his eyes remained closed. Nandini sat before him picking up the cloth but a painful memory made her drop that and she walked away from his bed.

Nandini didn't leave but stood by the window watching the clouds hiding the moon behind them. It seemed the moon and the clouds were playing hide and seek at this late hour. Her feelings too appeared and disappeared like the beautiful moon behind the clouds. She seemed flustered. She felt a knot in her stomach, an uneasy feeling that showcased her anxiety. Her inner self was in a conflict. On one level, she wanted to help him out but on the other level the past memories made her heart cry thereby turning it into a rock. She fidgeted with her fingers, bit her bottom lip and finally arrived at a decision.

She couldn't be cruel and obnoxious like her sadist tormentor because she had a heart, a heart that was the kindest of all. Yes for a moment her heart had frozen bereft of any kind of feeling. But the tenderness of her soul melted her frozen heart with its warmth.

Determined, Nandini came and settled herself on the bed. She picked up the cloth, dipped it in the ice cold water and placed it on Manik's burning forehead. After five minutes she removed the cloth that had soaked his temperature turning warm in turn. Again she repeated the same process. Half an hour later, Amrita came inside with another bowl containing some herbal concoction.

"Nandini I made this kadha. When he wakes up make him drink this. I know rich people don't believe in all of this but it's miraculous solution to bring down the fever. You are the only one who can make him drink this." She explained as she placed it on the bedside table.

"Thank you aunty. You're very sweet!" Nandini smiled.

"That's my duty as the host Nandu. And yeah don't over exhaust yourself. Try to take some nap in between."

"Sure aunty! Goodnight!" She added as Amrita departed.

As Amrita left, Nandini's eyelids closed due to tiredness. She was sleep deprived since a few days so she decided to take a short nap. But before that she touched Manik's forehead and his temperature had come down than it was an hour ago. Perching on a stool, she stretched her hand on the bed and laid her head down. In a few minutes sleep consumed her.

Later on around 3am Manik snapped open his eyes and felt a shooting pain in his thigh. Getting up he raised his pajama and caressed the skin of his thigh. A deep cut had reopened soaking his pajama red with blood. Looking around he found a cloth lying on the bedside table. He cleaned the wound and applied a cream that he carried in his backpack. Now he shifted his attention to the lady sleeping on the edge of the bed.

A ghost of a smile appeared on his sunken face. A memory of the bygone years flashed through his eyes. He didn't even realise when his lips formed a curve. He was completely immersed in admiring the beauty sleeping before him.
Nandini, with a jerk, opened her eyes and found Manik smiling at her. She was dazed by seeing a monster grinning like a Cheshire cat. It had been days actually years since she saw his last full smile.

"What are you smiling at?" She asked taking a grip on her emotions.

"Nothing!" Manik's smile vanished like a tortoise hiding under its shell. "What are you doing here? You should go and sleep!" He said politely.

"Umm you had high fever so Amrita aunty told me to take care of you." Nandini answered half heartedly.

"Okay so you didn't do this on your will?" He questioned her.

"N-no!" She stammered and then something grasped her attention. "What happened to your leg?"

"Nothing just a mild injury!" He replied looking away.

Nandini who didn't know what to talk to him looked here and there to start a conversation. It was the very first time after two years he was talking like a human. So it was natural for her to get perplexed. Then suddenly she remembered the kadha kept on the side table.

"Manik you need to drink this. You'll feel better." She told holding the glass.

"I'm fine I don't need this!"

"Manik please!"

"Nandini please. It tastes disgusting. I still remember how you had made me drink this that night after the rains. Since then you didn't allow me to go out in the rains." Manik blurted out bewildering both Nandini and himself.

Nandini's lips quirked up into a half smile but it disappeared as soon as it came. A wave of painful memories sank her heart into an abyss of melancholy and dejection.

"I don't remember anything what you're saying but you need to have this, not for me but for aunty." She stated with her cold eyes.

"Fine!"

He sighed and gulped down the glass in a go making a weird face as soon as the liquid travelled down his throat. Minutes later Nandini got up and walked towards the door. She heard a shuffling behind her.

"Please don't leave!" Manik implored holding her hand.

"I'm feeling sleepy!" She replied.

"Fine you can sleep on the bed if you want to!"

Nandini didn't want to sleep on the same bad where the monster slept. Her conscience didn't allow her to. She released his grip on her hand, and strolled towards the sofa.

"I'm fine here!" She concluded wishing him a goodnight.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~

"Manik you're not well. You don't need to go to the sets today." It was the fifth time Amrita tried to pursuade Manik.

"I'm sorry aunty. I just can't let it go. I'm fine. I don't have fever. And it's all because of your kadha. It worked wonders." He smiled as he wrapped his coat around him.

"I'll see you later!" He said and turned on his heels.

"Amrita aunty it's fine. Bro never listens to anyone especially when it comes to work. Don't worry we're there to look after him. Moreover Nandini will surely take care of him." Advik said staring at Nandini who just gave a faint nod.

"Okay Maa we're leaving. Bless us luck for the shoot. And why don't you join us?" Riya asked with a hope.

"Riya I've so much work to do at home. You guys enjoy." Riya inclined her head in approval. "And Nandini take care of Manik!" Amrita added.

"Yeah aunty I'll!" Nandini fake assured and left for the sets with Advik and Riya.

When they reached everyone was busy with their work but Manik seemed tensed. He was pacing up and down the street folding his hands at his back.

"You owe me an explanation!" Riya nudged Nandini.

"Yeah I owe an explanation to others too." Nandini gazed at Shrey, standing at a distance from her, who averted her gaze. "I'll explain everything to you later but the truth is Manik and I aren't in love at all." Saying this she scurried away. Riya, shocked as she was, took a deep breath and diverted her attention to the other staff.

"Shrey why are you avoiding me?" Nandini asked as soon as she walked upto him.

"Am I Nandini? I think you're avoiding me since you're busy with your boyfriend." He said tartly.

"Shrey I haven't got time to say you this but he is not my boyfriend. I don't even love him. It's just a fake story that he created for God knows why." Nandini clarified and seeing a twinkle in her eyes she sighed.

"So are you saying you aren't in love with Manik Malhotra? And everything is just cooked up by him to serves his big fat ego?" He furrowed his brows.

"Yes Shrey that's what I said! But I don't know what is his motive behind this fake drama." Nandini admitted.

"That's great to know I-I mean I was just shocked how in just a few days you fell in love with the person you seem to hate." Shrey faltered almost dropping the coffee cup.

"I am glad you understood me." Nandini admitted as she occupied the chair next to him. "And yesterday it was all because of Amrita aunty I needed to take care of him." She continued. Shrey smiled hearing out everything.

Meanwhile Manik who stood a few metres away from them, was constantly looking in their direction. He wasn't even pacing up and down but his brows were creased enough for Advik to surmise that his brother was in some kind of tension.

"Bro what happened? Why are you so tensed?"

"Umm nothing much but I just got to know the actors can't come due to a landslide and I can't afford further delay in the shoot." Manik replied still staring at Nandini and Shrey.

"Ohh so that's what all this tension is about!" Advik glanced at Shrey and Nandini. "Um I've an idea why don't we cast Shrey and Nandini in this advertisement."

"What?" Manik asked completely shocked.

"See bro I know you both are a couple but Shrey and Nandini look cute together." Manik glared at Advik. "I-I mean bro they're perfect for this ad. And I would have recommended you in his place if you weren't sick. So let's start the shoot with them." Advik concluded his words with a goofy smile on his face.

"I don't think Shrey can play the role." Manik stated sourly.

"Are you jealous of the two?" Advik wiggled his brows.

"No why would I?" Manik looked away.

"Fine then let's test Shrey." Advik grinned and strode towards Shrey followed by Manik.

"Hello Shrey and Nandini what's up?" He greeted them with a huge smile.

"Nothing Advik! What about you?" Shrey asked deliberately ignoring Manik who stood with a smirk on his face.

"Well there's a problem. The actors can't reach the sets because of a landslide and we need to complete the shoot today itself. I was thinking why don't you both act in this ad?" Advik queried.

"But we haven't acted ever." Nandini and Shrey blurted the same at the same time pissing off Manik.

"We know that so we will check this out." Advik announced. "Shrey think you're a nerd who loves Nandini a popular girl of the college. How will you propose her?" Shrey looked confused. Manik who was hearing all this clenched his jaw harder.

"Just try Shrey and get into the character. Come on!" Advik urged.

"He can't do Advik. Leave him alone." Manik scoffed.

"I can do it!" Shrey said surprising Manik.

"Nandini you need to slap the nerd in this role." Manik ordered turning towards Nandini.

"Bro I'm the storyteller here." Manik shot him a glare. "Fine carry on with your story." Advik shrugged off.

Shrey almost getting into the character fixed his tie, grabbed a bicycle and spectacles to act. Nandini, moved to a corner and acted that she was waiting for a bus.

"Hey Naina the bus won't come today. Would you like a ride on my bicycle?" Shrey's character Vivek asked politely.

"I would love to if you had a car!" Nandini's character Naina replied in a sharp tone.

"But I promise to show the world to you. You just need to hop on."

"And why do you think the most popular girl will go on a ride with a nerd?"

"Because this nerd loves you. And as I can see the princess's beautiful heart I am pretty sure she won't say a no to this nerd."

Nandini as Naina was about to say something to Shrey aka Vivek but unable to bear their roles Manik came up between the two.

"Fine your time is up!" Manik concluded.

"So you liked it bro, Didn't you?" Advik intervened.

"Do whatever you want!" Manik left the spot immediately.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

The shoot started late at noon after lunch. Everyone was ready. Nandini donned a beautiful blue silk saree with minimal jewellery but she looked drop dead gorgeous. Her long jhumkas made her look so pretty. As she entered the set every eye turned towards her including Manik and Shrey's. She tucked her hair behind her ear and came straight up to Shrey.

Nandini's look

"Beautiful!" He remarked almost making her blush.

"Ready for the shoot?" Manik raised an eyebrow maintaining a poker face.

"Yes!" Both of them answered.

Nandini's character Aadya, belonging to the middle class, had to walk the ramp to advertise her product 'Sparklers' amidst other big banners. She didn't get a model and was walking the ramp herself. She was an outsider and making a mark amongst big names was a challenge for her. She had never worn heels so wearing a heel was more challenging to her than anything else. Well, even for Nandini it was a tough task.

So when Aadya would walk on the ramp in a saree showing her product in a traditional saree she would be intimidated by the audience, the clients, belonging to the upper class society. She would trip on her saree almost breaking her heels. Everyone would laugh at her and then a gentleman would come up and buy her product.

"Lights camera action!" The director yelled and the camera rolled on.

Sporting a confidence look Nandini aka Aadya came to the stage with the energy drink in her hand. She walked the ramp until the edge smoothly with all eyes focussed on her. For a moment, she felt scared and tripped on her saree. Then and there she became an object of ridicule. No one wanted to buy her product. Her eyes welled up.

"Well done!" The director shouted showing Nandini a thumbs up.

Shrey's look

Now the camera turned to Shrey, who in his business suit came forward to help the helpless girl. He grabbed the bottle of energy drink and showed to others saying:

"Don't go behind the dazzling crowd. Recognise true talent. I'm the buyer of Sparklers made by this beautiful lady."

Everyone lauded his downrightness. Shrey's character Mr Anant Singhania side hugged Nandini as they walked together on the ramp holding each other's hand.

"And that's a wrap!" The director screamed in happiness seeing his new actors' brilliant performance.

The scene was cut but Nandini and Shrey were still holding hands giggling at each other right there on the ramp. Manik on seeing this, took few long strides towards them.

"The shoot is over. Nandini go and get changed." He ordered. "And Shrey why don't you go and take some rest? You look tired you know." He gritted his teeth.

"That's none of your concern Mr Manik Malhotra." Shrey replied back.

"Of course it is because you're my employee!"

"Nandini wait!" Shrey ignored Manik and followed Nandini.

"This chocolate is for you for your outstanding performance and excellent script. Along with the ad a message will also be communicated to the viewers." He handed a bar of diary milk to Nandini.

"Ah you're so cute Shrey. Thank you so much!" She bit her lips thinking what she could give him. Then she plucked a pink rose from the decoration in the corner.

"This is for you!" She smiled.

"What is this for?" He asked.

"Pink roses stand for elegance, sweetness and femininity. That's my way of saying thank you to you." She gushed.

"Thank you!" Shrey leaned and pecked her cheek turning her all red in a second.

Manik, who witnessed everything, kicked the pot containing roses and stomped off the next instant.

~•~•~•~•~•~

It was quarter past ten Nandini had made her bed on the attic. Today she wanted to sleep at the attic while Riya was in her room. She got down to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. While going up she found a shadow following her. She ignored it and stepped inside the attic. She was about to switch off the lights when the shadow entered.

"What are you doing here Manik?" She furrowed her brows.

"Came here to wish you goodnight." He sang.

"Okay you should go and rest otherwise the fever will be back again." She said without meeting his menacing gaze.

"It's still there, you know mild fever. How about if I spend some time with you?" He plonked himself down on the bed near Nandini.

"Even if I don't want you to sit here you won't listen." Nandini mumbled and looked outside the small window.

"Aww you know me so well!" He mocked.

"Manik please leave. I need to sleep early---"

"So that you can go for a morning walk with Shrey?" Manik cut her off. "Hold on we're leaving tomorrow! Do you want to go with him in a private car or something?" He trailed off.

"That's none of your business Mr Manik Malhotra!" Nandini snapped. Her patience was running out. All she wanted was a peaceful night without any disturbance.

"Temper huh? Well why don't you gift me some roses?" He smiled smugly.

"For what? What have you done Manik? Don't even compare yourself with Shrey. He is a good human unlike you the monster." Nandini replied with scorn.

"Pretty much daring huh! Let's see how long can you continue with your boldness." He stated stroking his chin.

In a moment, he rose to his feet and grabbed a clay idol of Goddess Parvati from the side table.

"Nice idol!" He examined the idol.

"Manik keep that where it was!" She held his hand trying to snatch it away.

"Why? Is it so precious for you?" She nodded and he smirked.

"Shit! I just dropped it!" He said with an innocent face bringing Nandini to tears.

"Why do you hurt me why?" She broke down falling on her knees.

"I didn't hurt you I mean the idol just dropped from my hand." He made a sorry face.

"Stop lying. It was the last gift of my grandmother and you broke it into pieces." She yelled as tears coursed down her cheeks.

"Oops I'm so sorry grandmother!" He looked up at the ceiling joining his hands in prayer.

"Please leave!" She begged.

"I thought your boldness wasn't as fleeting as those clouds hovering in the night sky! Anyways as you wish I'll leave." Manik chinned her up and sniggered. "Take care!" He patted her shoulder and took her leave.

"I hate you Manik Malhotra and I'll hate you forever!" She cried out louder.

With her tear laden vision, Nandini gathered the broken pieces of the idol but what was broken couldn't be fixed. So was her heart that had been ripped apart by Manik, it couldn't be fixed ever. Everytime, her heart was wounded again and again making it bleed with every new wound.

How can her heart be stitched when everything in the universe once broken can't be the same anymore? Will God show her mercy? Will her broken heart be stitched with love again?

~•~•~•~•~•~

3660 words

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