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Happiness is fleeting so enjoy each and every moment you have!

"Nandu are you coming or not?" Riya asked for the tenth time and as usual Nandini's answer was a big 'No'.

"How stubborn you are Nandu! I miss my best friend!" Riya almost cried over the phone but that didn't affect Nandini.

"Riya I told you I don't like Holi. I literally hate it." Nandini said holding her head between her hands. It was atleast the twentieth time she was saying this to Riya but her friend wasn't ready to hear anything.

"But you loved Holi!"

"I used to." Nandini hung up on her best friend.

She stood up from the reclining chair and walked towards the kitchen to make herself coffee. That had been her routine since four months when she shifted to her new house in Shimla. After returning from her hometown she worked day and night and with her first salary she searched for a rented house. And Shrey was a great help.

Shrey found a landlady for Nandini who rented her a room with a kitchen, attached bathroom and a balcony on the first storey. The rent wasn't too much, it was just five thousand per month, a pretty affordable price for her. Well, Riya didn't like the idea of her friend staying alone in some other house but Nandini being the stubborn friend wanted to live alone without being dependent on anyone. So Riya had no choice but to accept Nandini's decision.

In the last five months Nandini had proved to the company what she was capable of. She had become a favourite amongst her colleagues apart from her friends Riya, Shrey and Advik. Yes Advik too was included in her friends circle especially when he started dating Riya last month.

Regarding the budding friendship of Shrey and Nandini, everyone thought them as a couple. No, they weren't like that but their freindship grew over the past months especially in the absence of her boss slash tormenter Manik Malhotra. Nandini shared every little thing with Shrey and Shrey did the same. Their bonding sometimes made couples jealous but that didn't impact their friendship.

Riya knew about Shrey's and Nandini's growing bond and she exploited that to her benefit especially when she needed it the most. Like she knew Nandini wouldn't listen to her so she had texted Shrey that Nandini wasn't joining them in Holi celebrations. She had a gut feeling that Shrey would definitely do something which Nandini wouldn't deny.

Nandini, who was busy reading a novel while sipping her coffee, rushed to the kitchen when the milk had already splattered on the gas stove. Slapping her forehead she turned off the knob and wiped off the spilled milk with a cloth. She would always wait for it to reach the boiling point but when she would be busy with something it would create a mess on the gas stove.

Once, the milk was boiled she returned to the balcony to breathe in some fresh air. Last three months she had been living a peaceful life because her boss Manik Malhotra wasn't in town for some business purposes. The company was being managed by Advik alone. Nandini wished that he never returned but would that be a possibility? Probably no.

Nandini's phone chimed and she received a message from Shrey. She was about to reply when her phone rang up.

"What's up Nandini?" Shrey cooed from the other side.

"Nothing Shrey! What about you?"

"I'm leaving for the office. Today is holi and I'm an invitee." He chirped enthusiastically.

"Oh that's great! Enjoy then!" Nandini answered leaning on the railing.

"Why me alone? Aren't you coming too?"

"No Shrey! I'm not interested in playing Holi." Nandini sighed.

"Come on Nandini. It's such a colourful festival full of warmth and vibrance. You should come and enjoy." Shrey gushed.

"I know Shrey but what will I do there if I am not playing."

"Fine you can atleast see us playing. You will make your friends happy Nandini." Shrey insisted.

"Did Riya say something to you?" Nandini frowned.

"No why would she?" He sang. "Why only Riya is your friend? Am I nothing to you Nandini? Can't I say anything to you? Or rather request you to come?" Shrey babbled on the phone.

"Argh Shrey stop it! Fine I'm coming but I won't play Holi okay?" Nandini blurted out.

"As you say Ma'am!" Shrey disconnected with a smile on his face.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Nandini's look

Donning a beautiful anarkali kurta with gotapatti, gotapatti dupatta, and palazzo pants, Nandini arrived at the garden of her office where the celebrations were being held this year. It was the month of March, spring flowers were in full bloom spreading it's fragrance all over the backyard. Nandini stopped on her tracks at the entrance for admiring the beauty of the garden that had a small pond, a small wooden bridge, some shades and a vast open space strewed with spring flowers here and there.

Nandini had never stepped into this area as the staff was forbidden to enter here unless on special occasions like this. Awestruck by the beauty of the garden, she took out her phone from her sling bag and clicked some pictures of the area. It was at that time Shrey noticed Nandini and walked towards her.

"You look pretty Nandini! And thank you for coming here!" He greeted offering her a glass of juice.

"No thanks Shrey I don't drink!" She smiled.

"It's just a glass of juice. Don't worry I haven't spiked it." He winked.

"Thank you! Anyways where are the others?"

"I'm here Nandu! Glad to see you here. But it's strange someone said just once and you're here and my repeated requests didn't bear fruits." Riya crossed her hands cocking up an eyebrow.

"No it's nothing so. I was just getting bored at home so thought of joining you guys. But I'm not playing Holi." Nandini warned in a friendly tone.

"Nandini come I will show you the garden!" Shrey held his hand out that she gladly clasped.

Once they were gone Riya murmered 'Love is in the air!' Advik who happened to witness the scene twitched his brows and glared at Riya.

"What?" Riya asked being confused.

"She's cheating on my bro!" He stated glumly.

"No Advik, your brother had narrated a fake story to my parents. They aren't dating each other." Riya announced, "Moreover Shrey and Nandini look so cute together!"

"No Nandini looks better with Manik!" Advik emphasized.

"See Advik! I don't know what's the matter between the two but I'm very sure they're not dating at all. And for your information Manik and Nandini had dated two years ago. Nandini left him. There might have been a good reason to do so." Riya exclaimed.

"Nandini has moved on so that's why now when my friend is happy with Shrey I don't want any problems for her. They look good together. So don't bring your brother here." Riya commanded with authority.

"But why didn't bro tell me anything?"

"Ask your bro then." Riya shrugged and walked away.

Her body language showed Advik had spoiled his girlfriend's mood. He would have a tough time dealing with her.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

"So Nandini how are you feeling now? It's better than being locked up in home right?" Shrey asked wiggling his brows.

"Yeah right!"

"Nandini!" Shrey shrieked pulling Nandini closer as someone was about to dash into her while playing the festival of colours.

Nandini blushed as Shrey's hold on her arm created tingles throughout her body. Though her arm wasn't bare but a mere touch on her sleeves made butterflies flutter in her stomach. They were friends but something was changing. Nandini's blushes, his smiles, their eyelocks suggested a different tale. But Nandini always brushed off such thoughts from her mind because she felt second love was a myth.

"Listen Advik! Leave me I don't want to play!" The yell of her friend Riya grabbed Nandini's attention and she straightened up.

"Riya what happened?" She asked marching towards them followed by Shrey.

"Nandu tell Advik that I'm not playing Holi today!" Riya shouted making the two cover their ears.

"Why are you bringing your friend between us? Aren't you alone bold enough?" Advik smirked.

Hearing those lines, Riya clenched her fist and turned towards Advik.

"Don't provoke me!" She hissed showing her big nails. Without waiting for a response she pranced upon Advik messing up his hair.

Nandini who saw people gathering didn't want any ruckus there. So she intervened in her best friend's fight with her boyfriend. However, it didn't help. In fact, in their struggle, Nandini stepped back and her feet slipped on the grass and she fell backwards into the small pond.

"Nandini!" Shrey screamed and grabbed her hand at the right moment.

With some force he pulled Nandini harder that both of them fell down on the grass with Nandini on the top. Riya and Advik had stopped fighting then. Some people gathered around and looked at Nandini and Shrey.

Despite being surrounded by people, Shrey was looking directly into Nandini's eyes while Nandini's hair covered his face. Even she couldn't avert his gaze, staring straight into his eyes. This continued for a few moments until Nandini's phone buzzed in her sling bag. That little noise broke their eyelock and Nandini rose to her feet with Shrey's help.

Nandini on seeing the gathering around them felt embarassed and tried walking away but Riya held her hand. She clapped and dispersed the crowd. Coming closer, she batted her eyelashes at Nandini.

"What?" Nandini asked looking away.

"Keep going!" Riya laughed and ran away.

Hours later, Nandini and her friends were having a good time eating traditional dishes from the stalls while having fun around. Despite the fun Nandini hadn't touched colours nor did Shrey. Shrey wanted to apply colours on her only by her permission. On the other hand, Riya was planning to shock Nandini by throwing her into a tub full of colours. When Shrey came to know about her devious plan he asked her not to do so as that would make their friend sad. So Riya gave up her plan. She was just feeding herself with gujiyas and jalebis out of tension. She wanted Nandini to play Holi but had no idea how to persuade her in playing Holi.

Nandini was sitting under a shade browsing through her inbox. She had received some messages from an unknown number. She was busy with her phone when Shrey approached her.

"Nandini if you don't mind can I please apply some colours on you?" He requested politely holding a plate of colours.

"No Shrey please!" She cringed away.

"Please Nandini!"

"No no no!"

"No Manik No!" Nandini frowned as she saw Manik walking towards her with a plate full of dry colours.

"Manik I don't like colours!" She whisper yelled.

"Come on! Riya said you enjoyed playing Holi a lot during your childhood." He had a mischievous smile on his face.

"That was childhood. And now I'm an adult. Okay!" She said directing her gaze on Manik's actions, "Please stay away!" With those words she scurried towards the end of the garden of Manik's house.

She let out a deep breath when she found herself in a safe spot. But turning around she found her boyfriend right before her. Inhaling a deep breath she stepped back. But Manik being the mischievous man took few steps towards her. While Nandini moved one step back, Manik moved one step further until she hit the wall of the garden.

"Oh shit!" She murmured.

"No escape you see!"

He smirked as he laid the plate on the ground and rubbed red colour on his palms. Seeing this Nandini's eyes shot up and she tried to flee before he could catch him. Unfortunately, she failed and he caught her dupatta with his coloured hands. Slowly and steadily he pulled her closer by her dupatta and Nandini finding no escape came crashing on his chest.

"That's like a good girl!"

"Manik please don't put colours on my face with your hands!" She pleaded.

"Your dupatta is already red in colour and you don't want me to apply colours on your face with my hands!" He trailed off. "What shall I do then?" He asked innocently and she shrugged off.

Then with a smirk, Manik rubbed his cheeks with red colour and turned Nandini to face him. His hands grabbed her waist tighter pulling her further closer such that her face came extremely closer to his. Then swiftly, he rubbed his left cheek against the soft skin of her cheek and instantly her right cheek was painted red by Manik's cheek. The entire process produced a spark of electricity in Nandini's body.

"How's that?" He bit his bottom lip.

A wave of colour flushed Nandini's cheeks. She felt goosebumps on her skin, as Manik rubbed his thumb over her chin and lower lip. In a lightening speed, Manik claimed her lips. He bit her bottom lip to gain access to her mouth. He played with her tongue while Nandini pushed her body closer to him standing on his toes. She felt his hard tip brushing her thigh. A soft moan escaped her mouth as he continued his sweet torture on her. They pulled apart after two minutes of French kiss.

Blushing, Nandini ran away but Manik didn't leave her. He picked her up and threw her into the tub full of colours.

"Manik!" She yelled splashing water everywhere.

Manik smiled smugly and entered the tub and deliberately fell over her. Like an expert, he ran his wet hands all over her body except the private parts. Just when he was about to rub his hand over her bosoms, she stopped him.

"Not here please!" Heat rose up her cheeks as she looked away and stood up.

"Sure!" He flashed his thirty two and carried her to his room in bridal style.

"Nandini! Nandini where are you lost?" Shrey's repeated words snapped Nandini out of her memories.

"It's fine if you don't want me to apply colours on you." He said raising his hands in the air. She said nothing but fiddled with her phone.

"What's there on the phone?" He kept the plate aside on the cemented bench and grabbed her phone and found a few messages. They read:

Happy Holi gorgeous!

Are you missing me my love?

Wanna cuddle?

Dare not play Holi without me!

You look sexy during Holi! It had a picture of half naked bikini wearing girls.

"Who the hell sent you such messages?" Shrey barked out.

"I-I don't know! It's an unknown number and the person has been sending me messages since morning." She answered softly.

"Let me see!" Shrey dialled the number and it was ringing. He put the call on speaker.

"Hello who's this?"

"Manik Malhotra! What are you doing with Nandini's phone?" He asked.

"Same question to you! Why are you sending such lewd messages to her?" Shrey growled in anger.

"That's my choice. She's my girlfriend." Manik's voice matched that of Shrey.

"I already know your little secret. So stop feeding me lies Mr Malhotra!" Shrey rolled his eyes off.

"Mr Dixit! Mind your own business!" Manik said in an acerbic tone.

"That's what I'm doing Mr Malhotra! But it seems you're not minding your business. Stick to your work abroad and let Nandini play Holi in peace." Shrey replied tersely.

"What she's playing Holi?" Manik queried.

Nandini's heart thumped as she could feel Manik's anger rise. In these five months, he hadn't disturbed her much especially the two months when he was there in VirginStream. Except making her work day and night, and sometimes threatening her he did nothing as such. And in his absence in the last three months Nandini was at peace. Except a few threatening messages there was nothing from his side. To save herself from reading his messages she even changed her number but today again she received his texts. Her fear seem to come back, but she tried her best not to get intimidated by his voice or his stupid messages.

"Yes she's playing Holi with me and her friends." Shrey revealed and hung up.

"So it was Manik Malhotra our boss. It's easy for him to take your number." Shrey remarked, "Hold on was his messages the reason you didn't want to play Holi? Come on Nandini! You shouldn't fear him. What he can do? Fire you? Let him do that! You just can't let your boss overpower you. If it's a sexual abuse, tell me I'll report him to the police and will teach him a good lesson. And about the job, don't worry you're talented you can get a good one easily." Shrey babbled without letting Nandini to say something.

"Shrey calm down please. It's nothing like that. You're just overthinking." Nandini asserted.

"Okay fine!" He sighed, "Nandini I don't know what's his problem with you. But please do not allow him to enter into your private space. Don't change your desires or wants for one person. He is nothing to you. Just remember that. And even if something happened between you two, just let me know. I won't judge you I promise." Nandini just nodded.

"Anyways leave all this. Tell me whenever you want to." He smiled to cheer her up. "And I'm going to have something. If you want to stay here then stay. I'll be back after sometime." Shrey said gently and spun on his heels.

"Shrey wait please!" He turned back and raised his brows.

"Will you leave without applying colours on my face?" She cocked up an eyebrow.

"Oh no! Th-that's great!" He beamed proudly.

Taking a step forward, Shrey took some yellow colour on his palm and applied a tiny streak on her right cheek. Seeing his awkwardness, Nandini giggled and emptied the whole plate over his head astounding Shrey. Shrey dusted off the colours from his head, face, neck and shoulders glaring at Nandini with his colourful eyelashes.

"I'm not leaving you this time!" He yelled but Nandini outsmarted him. She sprinted towards the opposite direction before Shrey could catch her.

Riya smiled happily as she saw her best friend playing Holi after two long years. She thanked Goddess Parvati for the miracle she sent in the form of Shrey. She prayed for them, to save them from evil eyes.

~•~•~•~•~•~

Later in the night, Nandini retired to her bed once she came back from Riya's house where the latter had thrown a dinner party for Holi. She felt good at heart. All the fears, doubts, inhibitions apparently evaporated in the night air. She felt calm and poised after a long time. And all that happened because of Shrey, her saviour and angel.

The whole day she was obsessed with the idea of not playing with colours like the past two years. But after meeting Shrey today, his words impacted her a lot in a positive way. She had let one memory of Holi soil her other celebrations. She had to let that go. She had to let go of all the memories that ached her heart and soul. Though she had a glimpse of the past, but that didn't deter her way of overcoming things. She had to forget Manik, if not that, atleast ignore him like a flu. That's what she thought when she lied down on her bed.

A ping made her look at the phone lying on the bedside table. She received a message again from Manik.

Played Holi huh?

Great!

But don't think your happiness will last long.

Just wait and watch you'll be ruined Nandini Murthy. Just wait for my arrival!

All her strong thoughts flew out of the window as she went through the messages. But still she tried to calm herself down. It was simply an empty threat that he had been giving her while his stay abroad. She prayed to Goddess Parvati so that tomorrow, her most important day goes well without any problems. Murmering those prayers, she closed her eyes to sleep which was itself a miracle for her that now she could sleep peacefully at night.

~•~•~•~•~•~

3436 words

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