The song came to an end but they were still lost in each other. Not able to control anymore..Manik slowly descends down towards the hollow of her neck...and gently places an open mouth kiss there...which makes Nandini's breath hitch in her throat..she squeezes Manik's hand which was interwined with hers..
After kissing her..Manik runs her nose along her neck..breathing in a shallow manner..n whenever his exhaled breath touches Nandini..it sends jitters down her spine..

Nan: Manik...

Manik slowly raises her..while still holding her waist and her hand and still running his nose in her neck..

Man: Nandini... i knw i have to stop..but...mann nahi maan raha.

His touches..his proximity and his sensual talks were all causing a havoc in Nandini..she was breathing heavily with her eyes closed...

Man: ye kya horaha hai Nandini?

Taking his hand which was interwined with hers..he places them on his heart..which was beating wildly

Man(still hiding in her neck): can u feel this?

Nandini with difficulty nods her head in a yes. Manik slowly stands straight..facing Nandini..just to find her breathing heavily with her eyes closed. He slowly removes their hands from over his heart n lightly places them on her heart now..just to feel the same wild rythm of her heart too..

Man: u too feel this Nandini.

Nandini opens her eyes to meet Manik's eyes..which were full of emotions..though she couldnt name them..but she found them to b beautiful..erotic..n intense.

Nan: ye kya hai Manik?

Man: i dont knw Nandini. But i want to know.. with U..by my side. These feelings r new..but i find them beautiful.. i dont want to let them go Nandini. I want to feel them..everyday..every moment..but ONLY WITH U.. coz i have never felt them with anyone else..n i dont want to feel them with anyone else either.

Nandini was all the time looking into Manik's eyes..n all she found was sincerity and honesty..Manik was being open with her..first about his past..and now..about his feelings.. but she was yet a closed book for him. A book which has lots of secrets..dark secrets in it..out of which Manik knew none.

Nan: Aap mere baare me kuch nahi jaante Manik. U know nothing. N yet u want to walk with me? Its not safe..for U.

Man: haan nahi jaanta kuch b. And i want to know..and i know..when u will feel that now is the time that i should knw something more about u..u urself would come n tell me. N i m ready to wait for that.

Nandini frees her hand n moves a bit far from him.."Aasaan nahi hai Manik. I wont b able to tell u soon".

Man (smiles): did u listen to urself Nandini? U just said u wont b able to tell me soon. Not that u wont tell me ever. N for me..this is the first step of this journey.

Nan: dont do this to urself Manik..mera past bohot...(closing her eyes) dark hai.. shayad aap...bardaash na karpaay. Dont tag me along U. It would hurt u Manik.

Man: N what if i want to get hurt? Nandini..mene kaha na..i just want to walk along with U.. i dnt knw what is the destination..but i find my this journey so beautiful that i wish to drag every single moment..so that the journey keeps going on.

Nandini loses her argument with Manik on this. She just looks in his eyes which were so convincing that she couldnt say anything more.

Man: Acha chalo..kaafi raat hogai..lets go n sleep. Baaki ki baato k liye..we have lots of time..after all..safar abhi lamba hai (winking at her)

Wishing Good night to each other..both left to catch some sleep..Manik to his room n Nandini...to Abhi's room.

In the morning..everyone had their breakfast together n left for college..but Abhi n Nandini left for their place first as they hadnt got their changes..n decided to meet them in the canteen of the college.

In the canteen..all were sitting n chit chatting together...basically teasing Alya n Dhruv..who ddnt turn up the last night..n had directly come to the college. Their evening had passed way more beautifully than they had imagined. Dhruv's parents loved Aliya instantly..n even gave a positive nod to their relationship..which had become a reason for their late night celebration.

Muk: wah re Dhruv Aliya..khud to raat bhar celebrate ker rahe the...aur hume ye yaha canteen me in saste sandwiches me hee pataa rahe ho. Thats so mean of u both.

Cab: sahi kaha partner. Ye kya pheeka sa celebration hai. Hume to fultu party chahiye.

Nav: haan..party to hume b chahiye..arre ye koi kam baat thodi na hai k hamari dost ko uska sacha pyaar milgaya.

Dhr: guys guys..plz relax..humne party k liye manaa thodi na kiya. Aaj ka lunch hamari taraf se..wherever u guys want.

Cab: ye huwi ne sache yaaro waali baat.

Man: waise buddy..i ddnt knw k tu b besabro waalo me se hai. I mean kal hee green signal mili..aur kal hee tu celebrate kerne chale b gaya.

Dhr: buddy plz..not u at least.

Nan: sahi to kiya inne.

Muk: kaha sahi hai Nandu..hume bina bataay chale gaye. Me to poori raat is Aliya ka wait kerte rehgai na.

Nan (turning towards Mukti): Inhe khushi kal mili..to ye celebrate aaj kyu kerte. Mukti...waqt ko badalne me dair nahi lagti...agar aapke paas kuch hai to wo bas abhi ka ye ek lamha hai..isliye jis waqt..jis pal khushi mile..use usi waqt celebrate kerlena chahiye..taake kal hume is baat pe afsos kerne ka mauka na mile k humne hamari khushi manaai hee nai..(turning towards Abhi) hai na BB?

Abhi was lost in Nandini's words..all the time looking at Mukti.

Ab: huh?

Nan: jab aapka dil kisi baat ko karne k liye kahe..to wo aapko kar lena chahiye na? Khaas ker jab aap jaante ho k usme kuch galat nahi..

Ab: haan..kerlena chahiye.

Nan (smiling fully): hai na? Matlab insaan ko wo accept kerlena chahiye na jisme uski khushi hai.

Ab: haan..lekin insaan ko apni priorities b pata honi chahiye.

Nan: toh insaan 1 se zyada priority b to saath rakh sakta hai na.

Ab: 1 se zyada matlab chances of choosing between them. Aur jab insaan apni priority ko jaanta hai samajhta hai..to wo use 2nd place pe kabhi jaane nahi de sakta.

Nan: zaruri nahi na k wo priority 2nd place pe drop hojaay. Usi priority k saath dusri jodhi b to jaa sakti hai..to make both as 1.

Abhi stays quite...knowing and understanding what Nandini was trying to point at. But apart from him..everyone there were sitting with confusion written on their faces.  They ddnt understand how the topic shifted from Dhrulya's night celebration to this intense priority one. But one thing they understood was tht both Nandini and Abhi were trying to say something to each other thru this..

Nan: say na BB.

Ab: har koi is baat pe sehmat ho..thts not important.

Nan: but BB.....

Abhi places his palm on Nandini's cheek..interrupting her..

Ab: i want u to finish ur hot chocolate soon.. class ka time horaha hai..u shud move to ur class.

And u guys too..finish ur breakfast soon n get going. N then we will meet after ur lectures. Today i want u guys to accompany me for a conference. U will get to learn a lot from there. See u guys.

Aur Barbie...if u need  anything...just call me up..okay?

Nandini nods her head.

Muk: guys..class ka time hogaya..

Cab: wahi me sochu tune abhi tak ye line repeat kaise nai ki.

Muk: shut up Cabir. Me waise b pehle girl's room jaarahi hu.

Nan: aa Mukti ..mujhe b girl's room jaana hai..do u mind if i accompany u?

Muk: Nandu...tum dost ho meri..u have the right to show ur rights on me..ye aise permission mat liya karo yaar. Ab chalo..

Dragging Nandini with her..they both left for the girl's room whereas others leave for the classroom.

In the girl's room..

Nan: Mukti..ek baat puch sakti hu?

Muk : of course..pucho?

Nan: do u like someone?

Mukti stops setting her hair that she was doing..n looks at Nandini thru the mirror..

Muk: like..na...nahi..aisa kuch nai hai.

Nan: ok...do u like BB?

Muk (turns in jerk): what?

Nan: shit..m so sorry..i shouldnt have said this..i m really sorry..

Muk: Nandini just relax..there is no need to panic..

Nan: nai Mukti..how can i even say this? I mean..just abhi abhi humari frndshp start huwi n i just spoilt it. Y wud u like BB..wo itna boring aur dull insan hai..ek reserved type ka..sirf kaam aur kaam..no enjoyment..nothing..n aap..u r so outgoing..frank n jolly..mene soch b kaise liya k u wud like him..m so sorry Mukti..

Muk (irritated): just stop Nandini. Abhi boring nahi hai..wo b enjoy kerta hai.. at least u shudnt be the one saying so...after seeing how he is with u.

Nan: wahi to mukti..use force kerna padhta hai even for enjoying...he is no where a match to u..

Muk: enough Nandu..mene kab kaha tht i dnt like him..infact i like him..i like him a lot.

Nan (sighing loudly): thank God..mere naatak se sach to saamne aaya.

Mukti looks at her in shock..
"Ye sab ... naatak tha?"

Nan (grinning): yup..nice acting na.

Mukti looks down..avoiding her gaze. Nandini comes closer to her n raises her face by holding her chin.

Nan: aap chehra chupa kyu rahi hai Mukti? U ddnt do anything wrong. In fact..m really happy k u like my BB so much tht u couldnt stand anything against him.

Muk (surprised): matlab? U have no problem?

Nan: mujhe problem kyu hogi? I will b very happy if u both make a couple..u wud look so cutttee together.

Muk (blushes): Nanduu..plzzzz..

Nan: okay okay..me chidaaungi nai aapko.

Muk: lekin i dnt think Abhi likes me.. wo to mujhe waise hee treat kerta hai jaise baakiyo ko kerta hai.. I dnt think he thinks of me in that way.

Nan: Mukti..u knw..hum insaan na..aksar kyu..kya..kab..kaise..haan..na..in sab k chakkar me apne khubsurat waqt ko kho dete hai. Aage kya hoga is baat ki guarantee to koi nahi le sakta na..lekin kal kya hoga is dar se hum aaj kadam uthaa ne se khud ko rokle..ye to galat hai na. U like him..ye baat aapko pata hai..but kya BB ko aapne ye realize karaaya..did u make him feel that u like him?

Mukti shakes her head in a no.

Nan: to phir? Mukti..i knw BB ek reserved type k insan hai..wo fun types hai..lekin wo sab ek delusion hai..wo apna asli chehra rarely kisi k saamne rakhte hai. Aap log unse 2 saal pehle mile..u saw how jolly he was..kya aapko lag sakta hai k us waqt b he was hiding his pain? Coz i was missing?

Muk: what? Tum us waqt se missing thi?

Nan: haan..it was nearly the same time.

Muk: i dnt believe this.

Nan: kaha na mene..aise hee hai BB. Apne dard me b muskurana jaante hai. Mukti...all i can say is..apni feelings ko waqt rehte izhaar kerlena chahiye. Kya pata..aage ye mauka mile na mile..ya agar mauka mila b..aap aur wo ek saath ho na ho. Haan..me aapse ye b nahi kahungi k aap jald baazi karo..but if u r sure about ur feelings..then dont delay in confessing them.

While saying all this..Nandini had zoned out..some memories of her past were given air with these talks.

Muk: tum Abhi se bohot pyar karti ho na?

Nan: aapko pata hai me use chota papa kyu bolti hu? Kyunki wo meri bilkul waise dekhbaal kerte hai jaise ek baap apni beti ki karta hai..meri har wish ko poora kerna unka maqsad ban jaata hai.. mere aasoo mujhse zyada unhe takleef dete hai..meri hasi unhe zyada hasaati hai.  Aap hee bataao..jo insaan aapse itna pyaar kare..kya aap use wapis pyar nahi karengi? Apna Guardian nahi maanengi?

Mukti nods.

Muk: acha chalo..class chalte hai. Phir tumhari help chahiye..tumhare BB ko pataane k liye (winking)

Nandini nods smilingly n both leave for attending the class. After the class..as decided they were going for lunch where Nandini deliberately sends Mukti with Abhi..n herself goes with Cabir..n sends Navya with fab4..as she had to check on the orphanage..n Cabir had come in his car..so she requested him to take her.

Cab (while tying his belt): kya baat hai behna..aaj apna ye bhai yaad aagaya. Dekha..mushkil k waqt me mene hee tera saath diya..

Nan (smilingly): thank u bhai.

Cab: ye jo tu mujhe bhai bolti hai na..bohot acha lagta hai.

Nan: mujhe b.

Cab: to bata..kya baat kerni hai.

Nandini looks at him with wide eyes.

Nan: aapko kaise pata k mujhe baat kerni hai?

Cabir chukles: isiliye to me Cabir Baba hu..me sabb jaanta hu. Agar mujhse baat nai kerni hoti to aap Abhi ke saath b orphanage jaa sakti thi..ya phir..MANIK k saath.

Nan: okay...point taken.

Cab: to bata..

Nan: aap Navya ko pasand kerte ho.

Cab: hmmm..par ye baat to sab jaante hai...i mean fab5 b..to tu unke saamne b to puch sakti thi.

Nan: haan wo jaante hai. But shayad ye nahi jaante k aapne ye baat Navya ko bataa di.

Cabir stops the car with a jerk. He looks at her and then again starts driving.

Nan: waise Navya ne mujhe kuch nahi bataaya.

Cab: tou phir tujhe kaise pata chala?

Nan: agar aap Cabir baba hai .to me b usi Baba ki behna hu..subah se aapke chehre pe ek alag glow thi..lekin phir class me jab me aayi..tab wo glow kahi udan chuu hogai thi. Bas...samaj gai..

Cab: wah..sach me tu meri behen hee hai. Meri hee bhaasha me mujhse baat kerti hai.

Nan: kya huwa?

Cab: jab tu aur Mukti gaye the girl's room k liye. .me navya ko apne saath legaya..n i told her i have a liking for her. But usne..she said she doesnt knw what to respond. I told her to take time lekin..she was confused..as if she doesnt want to.

Nan: did she say like that?

Cab: har baat bolna zaruri nahi hoti behna..u understand them without saying.

Nan: kabhi kabhi...hum misinterpret b to kersakte hai na..zaruri nai jo hum samjhe..wahi sach ho..hosakta hai wo kisi aur baat se disturbed ho..ya phir hosakta hai aapne aise achanak se ye sab use bataa diya..aur humari dosti ko b zyada waqt nahi huwa..shayad isliye wo ghabraa gayi. Navya ek chote sheher ki ladki hai bhai..waha ye sab nahi hota..aur agar hota hai to chup chup ke.. shayad isliye wo kuch bol nahi paai.

Cab (looking at her): mene to aise socha hee nai.

Nan: i knw..tabhi to aapke saath aai..

Cab: acha jii...tab to aapko shukriya bolna padhega..nai?

Nan: ofcourse.. lekin tab bok dena jab Navya yes bolde. I can wait till then.

Both laugh together n head towards the orphanage n then towards JW Marriott for their lunch treat.

2 weeks passed away in the same way..with them attending lectures..tuitions which was now replaced by Abhi's mentoring..spending lots of time together...forming new bonds.. all the girls had gelled together very strongly..but each one of them had a special bonding with Nandini. Where friendship bond was growing...new feelings were even brewing in the hearts of the couple..which was getting rooted deeply. Nandini was everytime making opportunities for Mukhbi to spend time together...Cabir too was trying to woo Navya again..to knw her real true feelings.. n Manik...he was now a completely different person...fun to go..jolly type person..who ddnt leave any opportunity to go around Nandini..spend some time with her..to knw his feelings..n her feelings too. Nandini too liked spending time with them..esp Manik..she was slowly coming out of the shell tht was formed around her..making Abhi a very happy man..everything was slowly setting into place..except for Nandini's nightmares...yes..she ddnt take tht long to calm down..but she did have them most of the nights..she was still not open enough to share her past with anyone..thou she had told Abhi she would soon do tht. But apart from that..everything was beautiful around them.

It was friday night..n they had decided to spend the night at Malhotra mansion on the insistence of Vishal and Nyeonika Malhotra..everyone had already gathered there except Nandini..she had gone to orphanage to spend time with Arohi n other kids..she was on her way to the mansion in the car when Navya called her up.

Turning the speaker on..

Nan: haan Navu..bolo

Nav: Nandu...kaha ho tum?

Al: doll..aur kitna time lagega?

Muk: cutie..jaldi aa na..dekh ye ladke sataa rahe hai.

Nan: agar 3 beauties shant ho to me kuch bolu na.

Ab: exactly..tab se me b bol raha hu. Barbie...kaha pohchi? Do u want me to come n pick u up?

Nan: BB..ek to me car me aarahi hu coz of u..uspe b if u say tht..........

Ab: hello...hello Barbie..

Man: Nandini..kya huwa..

Girls: Nandini..kuch to bolo.

Dhr&cab: behna/Nandini..

All got hell worried on not hearing anything from her side..but  the killing silence was broken by a painful shriek from Nandini.....

################

Hello angels...

Hru all?

I m really really sorry for..

1. Being so late in updating..

2. For such a crappy update.

All i can say is tht in the upcoming updates..a big part of Nandini'spast wud b revealed..n it wud b a disturbing and an emotional one.

I hope i pull it out correctly.

I wud really appreciate if my sweet angels wud tell me if they wish to read something specific. I wud definitely try to include that in the updates..

Sorry again

Happy reading 😊