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2 months later

Mangalore (Time 3am)

Nandini's pov

Pal Pal Pal Pal Har Pal Har Pal
Kaise Katega Pal Har Pal Har Pal

Pal Pal Pal Pal Har Pal Har Pal
Kaise Katega Pal Har Pal Har Pal

Dil Dil Dil Dil Mein Machi Hain Machi
Machi Hain Hulchul Hulchul Hulchul

Kaise Katega Pal Har Pal Har Pal...

Pal Pal Pal Pal Har Pal Har Pal
Kaise Katega Pal Har Pal Har Pal

" Kanna... aaj itni early morning practice ..? asked Amms

"Woh main...aaj jaldi uth gayi..aj jaana bhi hai na... " I replied

"Achaa..haan aaj toh tum Mumbai wapas jaa rhi hai...I am so sorry Nandini...."

"Why are you sorry Amms?"

"Meri wajah se tum yaha aake rehta..apne parents se itni dur...." And she started crying..

"Amms...please aap ro mat...and kya hua mai yaha aayi toh yeh bhi toh mera apna hi ghar hai na..And aapko meri zarurat thi...and please aap rona band karo..."

"Okay Nandu...Main nhi roti..."

"Yeaiee That's like my Amms..."

"Awww...." And we hugged each other..

"Acha jao get ready Nandu..You will be late for your flight"

"Amms...Mai bus se ja rahi hu..woh rush mein flight ke tickets karana bhul gayi..."

"Aiyooo..Nandu...  ja payegi na..? "

"Yes Amms.. obviously I am not a kid anymore..."

"My Nandu is a big girl now..."

"Okay Amms aap riyaz karo...I am getting ready.."

"Hmm jao.."

________________

I got ready it was 5am.. I had to leave for the bus stop soon...

I came downstairs and Amms was ready with my favourite idlis...

"Amms...My favourite..."

"Yes..and now finish it quickly..."

I was done... and went upstairs to collect my luggage...

I came down Amms was in tears.. Same was my condition...

"Amms...You promise me You'll take care of yourself... "

"I promise You Nandu...Wese bhi aaj Ramamurthy is coming back..Toh tum ek dum tension mat lo..and haan Laya aur Venku ko kehna woh log mujhse milne jarur aaye...Aur rishu ko bhi bolna..."

"Okay Amms... Amma n Appa jarur aayege...Okay Amms I am getting late...Ab mai chalti hu..."

"Bye Nandu take care ...Have a safe journey..."

I took her blessings and started for the bus stop..

The bus started from Mangalore around 7am.. I took the window seat and gazed at the sceneries outside ..and simultaneously I was lost in the past memories ..

Finally after two long months I am going back to Mumbai...My home... Amma Appa will be so happy to see my back...I can understand how sad they became when I told them that I will be coming to Mangalore the day after I returned from Shimla trip...

Amms had a cardiac arrest...Her caretaker Ramamurthy had gone for two months...Dad was busy in his office work...Mom had to go to Rishu due to his ill health...He was diagnosed with jaundice... And only I was left...How could I leave Amms alone...Amma and Appa were ready to come... But how could I let them leave their work...

So I insisted and they had no option ... So Amma Appa gave permission in reluctance... They knew that Only I could take care of Amms...Amms had been careless those days...So I had to be a very strict grand daughter....

Taking leave from college was difficult...But after a lot of convincing... Principal sir gave me leave for 2 months...

I haven't said anything about this to my friends not even Navya....as I had no time then...

And Manik...I didn't even say him..I knew it he would be hell angry on me...The bonfire dance...And whatever happened after that my heart longs for  him...But it was something that shouldn't happen so soon... However even I couldn't stop myself...I don't know what happens when Manik comes near me... I feel Some strange pull  pulling me towards him... Don't know what is it😒

I still remember when I reached Mangalore And informed my friends everyone was angry with me... Obviously who won't be angry If your friend leaves without saying a word...?

The toughest man I had to face was none other than Mr Manik Malhotra...

When I told about this on phone...He had stopped talking to me...

Flashback

Tring ..tring...

M- "Hello where are you? abhi tak college nahi aayi... "

N- "Woh Manik I am not in Mumbai "

M- "What..? "

N- "Woh I had to come to Mangalore in emergency...My Amms had a cardiac arrest...So I am here to take care of her.. "

M- "Ohh that's sad... how's she now.. ?"

N - "She's in hospital...will take a week or two to get discharged... "

M- "So you're coming  back after a week..."

N- "No.. actually Manik... "

M-"Nandini speak up "

N - "I have to stay here for months...Amms caretaker is out of town and I don't know When will I return..maybe in 2 or 3 months I will come back"

M- "What ....2 -3 months... are you mad...how could you stay away from mm....( Pause) I mean from your family and friends.... "

N- "I can understand you..But I have no other choice... Please don't be angry..."

M- "I am not angry Because you went there...Atleast you could have said me before going..."

N - "Mere pas time nahi tha...woh leave lene ke chalte..mere dimag se nikal gaya..."

M - "Wow you could inform the faculty...but tum mujhe nahi bata sakti...Well done Mr Nandini Murthy...And listen now I don't have time to talk to you... Good-bye..!"

N- " Manik..suno toh...Manik..."

Flashback ends ....

I know Manik wasn't wrong...when I could inform the college authorities then I should have inform him atleast...But I don't know why I felt shy talking to him after that bonfire thing that happened between us... That's why I had dropped the idea to face him and say directly... Talking on phone from Mangalore seemed to be the best idea for me then...

And because of this best idea of mine...Manik had hung up the phone without listening to me...😖

And inspite of my hundreds of calls and messages there was no response from his side...

Obviously the angry Monster Manik was back..and who was responsible for it ...me the great Nandini Murthy 😒

It was too hard to melt Manik this time... But as the saying goes time is a great healer...I received his message after three long weeks....

I jumped in excitement... We both talked but the rapport we used to share wasn't there anymore... something was missing...

From Navya..I heard that he was not the Manik I had left...

But now Manik... Don't worry I am coming back...Jitna bhi gussa hai na mujh par jee bhar ke nikal lena...

But guys I forgot to tell you all that Manik and none of my friends knows that I am coming back today...

Ssshhhhh!!! Dare not say them it's a surprise...

With all these thoughts going in my mind I had dozed off... maybe for few hours ..

I woke up with the bus coming to an abrupt halt as there was an accident nearby.....The place read  Fort Road Mumbai- Mangalore Highway ...

I saw a huge crowd assembled near the fort...

I saw a jeep standing on the other side... There was one tall boy in black blazer and shorts..I was facing his back.....His long fair legs could be seen from a distance...I felt I know him...

Yes I was right...it was Manik and his friends...Thank god they didn't meet an accident...But every vehicle had stopped there for the accident..

I was in the bus...Too excited to see Manik after two  long months...I tried calling Manik...But  he stood 4 feets away from me... And seeing him I forgot my surprise..silly me

Once he turned towards me but I drew the curtains and hid me... Before he could come near me...the bus drove off...

After a long journey of 12 hours I finally reached home...

Amma and Appa were excited to see their daughter back after 2 long months..

I was the happiest coming back to Mumbai... my first home...

After dinner...I went to sleep...

But sleep was far away from my eyes...

I was waiting for dawn...when I would go to college and meet my... angry young man Manik....

Tossing and turning around the bed for hours I finally slept dreaming about Manik and our meeting after two long freaking months...

Hello readers... I am here with a new update...So how's it?? I am excited to see Manik and Nandini meeting after 2 months...Are you excited..? Let's see what happens next..  Please give inline comments and please keep voting and commenting...see you soon...