"Nothing Navya.. chalo let's go..." said Nandini

And I could see Nandini blushing...

"Kya Manik ... full on mazaaa....mmmm.... not bad" commented Cabir

"Shut up Cabir...Teri wali kesi hai..." I taunted and Cabir just turned his face😂

____________ 

Nandini's pov

I saw Mukti and Harshad becoming cosy... but my glance broke their cutchie coo moments....

"Nandini ....kya chal raha hai tum dono k bich..? " asked Navya

"Kuch v nahi...Dekho na Mukti n Harshad look good together" I said this to divert her attention

"Hey Alya.... wassup.. how's your journey with Dhruv? asked Cabir

"Boring" came her cold reply

I could see her checking out Manik... 🙄

__________

Manik- "Guys let's move on..Its about 3 pm.. we're getting late..."

Cabir- "Haan bhai..we just started at 12...so see it's just 3... wese tujhe itni bhi jaldi kya hai Manik...zara dosto k sath bhi time spend kar"

Manik- "We have to return as well...u remember ? "

Cabir - "Of course I remember ... tu bas enjoy kar😉"

Navya-"Mujhe toh zoro ki bhook lagi hai.... Kisi k pass khane ko kuch hai.? 

Dhruv- "Yaar Navya remember you had noodles kuch der pehle "

Navya "Haan toh abhi itna chale hai hum... bhook lag gayi fir se"

Nandini- "Dhruv kyun pareshan kr rhe ho Navya ko....wese i am also hungry"

Alya- " Guys Nyonika mam has sent some food so let's have it..."

Cabir- " wow I am impressed  Nyonika cares about us...Chalo guys lets have food in jungle...😋 "

____________

Manik's pov

So all were busy stuffing food .... haan i ate it too.... but I just wanted to kill that Navya.... ek toh she disrupted my beautiful moment.... and now because of her everyone is busy eating.. huh...

Meanwhile i saw Nandini going...i followed her...

"Nandini kaha ja rhi ho tum? "

"Manik..woh i am thirsty...just searching a stream... "

The word "stream" reminded me of our pani wala moments😍

"U should have brought water na... "

"Uffo Manik...bhul gayi main"

"Pani lana koi bhoolta hai kya"

"Manik are you here to Help me out or you will continue with your taunts"

"kk...sorry....mmmm.... yaha toh koi stream nhi dikh rahi... "

"Dhyan se dhundhoge tab na milegi.... Can you see these footprints of animals... I am sure this will lead us to the stream"

"stream..and imagine these footprints will lead us to the lion's den ? Tab kya karogi... haan"

"Thik h u stay here...i am going."

"Arey no....I am also coming in case you need my help" I winked

"See.. finally i spotted the stream.." Nandini said in excitement

"Hmmmm....U r Einstein Brain na.." I mocked

"Very funny" she pouted

She was busy washing her face ..... drinking water.... and i was gazing at her natural beauty

"Manik ye lo...tum v pi lo..." I saw her standing with a bowl kinda thing made of leaves....water was dripping from the so called bowl...

"Hmmm"

"Kitni care karti hai teri" Mr Paglu Dil was going awwwww over it

"So ho gaya...ab chale" I asked knowingly

"Haan chalo...."

We realized that in search of the stream we came too deep in the forest...and almost lost our way... and after 2 hours of going round and round the jungle we were standing before the temple...Let me correct before the temple stairs.

"Aiyappa..... itna ghumne k baad... finally we are here...and so many stairs.... 100 stairs...like seriously? 🙄 She was murmuring to her Aiyappa

"Nandini it's just 100 we can easily climb it...u just chill"

"Oh really Manik... only 100 stairs na.... yun hi... we ll climb na? "

"Yeah of course"

"Shut up ... Even  now I also want to kill that Nyonika... like seriously... she  is behaving like a military personnel.... always orders....u need to do this...that.... huh😏 "

"Abhi... she is in the camp...You won't be able to kill her now..for that we have to complete this task and then you can go and kill her " I laughed

"Manik... tum na ... jyada bolo nhi...ok..."

"Fine... jokes apart... let's start....its almost evening... "

The temple stairs were lighted with earthen lamps... The upper ones looked like tiny stars sparkling in the evening sky...

"Manik mujhse nahi hoga....my legs are hurting .....tum jao...I'll sit here..."

"We are a team....so we have to go together"

"Maine kaha na mujhse nhi hoga...tum jao...."

"Okay fine...now don't blame me for this"

With these words I lifted her in my arms.... and started climbing the stairs...

"Manik mujhe niche utaro....niche utaro..." She was screaming

"No way out Miss Nandini Murthy..... "

"No...koi dekh lega... mujhe niche utaro..."

"Dekhne do... and now finger on your lips sssshhhhhhhh"

"How can I ? My arms are around you na..? " And i smiled at her cuteness😍

Perfect scenario.... I was walking upstairs with Nandini in my arms.... lost in each other  and the earthen lights seemed welcoming us with their flickering glimmer.

( Background music)

sham bhi koi jaise hai nadi
Lehar lehar jaise beh rahi hai
Koi ankahi, koi ansuni
Baat dheemi dheemi keh rahi hai
Kahin na kahin jaagi hui hai koi aarzoo
Kahin na kahin khoye hue se hain main aur tu
Ke boom boom boom para para
Hai khaamosh dono
Ke boom boom boom para para
Hai madhosh dono
Jo gummsum gummsum hai yeh fizayein
Jo kehti sunti hai yeh nigahein
Gummsum gummsum hai yeh fizayein hai na

Suhani suhani hai yeh kahani
Jo khamoshi sunaati hai
Jise tune chaha hoga woh tera
Mujhe woh yeh batati hai

We reached the top.... Put her down.... She got busy in praying to Mata Rani...And i got engrossed in watching her praying and murmuring something unknown to the goddess....😍

Main magan hoon par na jaanu
kab aane wala hai woh pal
Jab haule haule dheere dheere
Khilega dil ka yeh kamal

Scooping her again in my arms we started our journey downstairs

Ke boom boom boom para para
Hai khaamosh dono
Ke boom boom boom para para
Hai madhosh dono
Jo gummsum gummsum hai yeh fizayein
Jo kehti sunti hai yeh nigahein
Gummsum gummsum hai yeh fizayein hai na

Yeh kaisa samay hai, kaisa sama hai
Ke shaam hai pighal rahi
Yeh sab kuch haseen hai, sab kuch jawan hai
Hai zindagi machal rahi, jagmagati jilmilati
Palak palak pe khwaab hai
Sun yeh hawayein gungunaye
Jo geet lajawab hai
Ke boom boom boom para para
Hai khaamosh dono
Ke boom boom boom para para
Hai madhosh dono
Jo gummsum gummsum hai yeh fizayein
Jo kehti sunti hai yeh nigahein
Gummsum gummsum hai yeh fizayein hai na

Ultimately we completed the mid point of our journey...and it was now time to  return back to the camp....But here too came a problem😒

"Thank you Manik...."

"It's okay...aaaaah....my back..... too heavy yaar..." I teased Nandini

"What... who's heavy.? "

"Tum or kaun"

"shut your mouth...i am not heavy..huh.."

"okay" and i laughed badly😂

"Anyway it's dark...so ab kya Kare"

"Yeah... pitch dark...hmmm.. let's find a shelter.... baki sab bhi nhi dikh rahe"

"All have gone leaving us behind😒"

In the meantime...i found a small shelter... resembling a hut... It was all dark outside...The only lamp that was hanging over there was put off by the chilly wind..... I tried lighting the sticks with the help of stones...but failed...

"Tumhe andhere se darr lagta hai na Manik....? "

"No...who told you that?"  I said confidently to hide my weakness

"Mmmm...dikh raha hai... You're nervous and you can't light the sticks...Leave i'll do that"

And she leaned forward to light the sticks...and smart girl Nandini succeded....

I felt relieved seeing brightness all around... We got seated....Sensing cold i wrapped my blazer around Nandini's shoulders.... She was now feeling comfortable....

The night was a long one.... sounds of crickets were heard.... Fireflies could be seen glowing..... There was  peaceful silence prevailing all over the place...

We both were tired... I saw Nandini resting her head on my shoulder...she seemed sleeping peacefully in my presence..... This was one of my best days ever.

Gradually sleep took over me .... we remained in the same position until morning with our heads lying on each other's shoulder....😍😍

So this is a long update... There might be some typing errors.... I really don't know how's the update? So drop in your comments as i need your reviews asap...Ok see you guys...