" I dont believe it..she ddnt get nightmares today.. thats a big improvement in her condition. I dnt knw what to think about this..but pata nahi kyu it feels it has something to do with Manik.. jaise Barbie uske saath hai..aur jaise Manik use safely apne paas pakda huwa hai..it feels as if he is trying to take away her pain. I have always seen something different in Manik's eyes whenever he looks at Barbie..that look..it feels as if he is trying to see through her soul..trying to read her..to know what hurts her. But i know..my Barbie isnt ready for it yet..n I feel Manik too knows that..thats y he doesnt push her. Seeing Nandini getting comfortable with Manik n Manik taking care of Nandini just like i wanted someone to in my absence, i think now i can take that decision. I know its a very big decision..n i knw its gonna effect Barbie..but now i have to take it. I was against it in the beginning..but now..i m reconsidering..n i think as soon as my mentoring gets over..i will announce my decision. As it is..mentoring mein 2 weeks hee baaki hai..that wont b a problem. I knw this is gonna b a very big decision..but its high time..i have to put my Barbie out of this misery. Aaj when my alarm rang at 6 in the morning..i just panicked on remembering tht my Barbie was all alone tonight..but when i saw her sleeping peacefully on Manik..i was initially shocked..but then i was happy..happy tht at least my barbie got some sleep. I knw bohot late soye honge wo dono..and all they had was just a shawl..thts y i covered them with a comforter.. i dnt knw jab wo uthenge to kaisa feel karenge..mayb there would b some awkwardness..but i hope they both sort it out on their own. N before anyone sees them..i think it would b better i wake them up. Its already 8 am..n soon enough..everyone will b up."

Abhi went to the terrace to wake Nandini n Manik..but seeing them sleeping so peacefully got a sweet smile on his face and ddnt give him the heart to wake them up. He sighs n goes inside again..not before closing the door so that at least others wouldnt see them like this. Here, the sun was completely over the horizon..spreading its warmth n light all over the globe..but two souls were getting irritated with its bright light. Where Nandini was trying to hide her face by getting deeper into the crook of Manik's neck, Manik was hiding his face with the help of Nandini's hair. Unconsciously, he was spreading Nandini's hair on his face..n when a light morning breeze blew through them..Manik couldn't control that smile that formed on his lips as he inhaled Nandini's smell. But the breeze and the silkiness of Nandini's hair made it a difficult task for them to stay spread all over Manik's face. As soon as the hair slipped a bit from his face..that sweet smile was turned upside down into a frown. He again sleepily spread the hair on his face n those frown lines began to cease. Yet another time the hair slipped..n again those frown lines appeared.. Manik again spread the hair on his face..but this time pulling it a bit harshly..which broke Nandini's slumber. Irritation was clear on her face due to constant pulling of her hair. It was the first time in such a long time that she had got a peaceful sleep..but someone had to spoil it..tht too by constantly pulling her hair. But that irritation was soon replaced by confusion n then shock when she found her "comfortable bed" to be raising lightly every second..as if breathing air. Not only this..she could even feel hot breaths on the top of her forehead. Soon enough she realised she isnt in her cozy room on her cozy bed..but here in the terrace on the most uncomfortable couch..sleeping on Manik with her body completely lying over him in the most uncomfortable way. Yet she couldnt understand y this felt much more cozier than any of her soft beds. She ever so lightly tried getting off from him..but as soon as she did that..Manik tightened his hold on her back..keeping her in place. Nandini got frozen on her spot..not knowing how to face Manik in such an embarrassing situation. But when she ddnt hear anything from his side..she ever so slowly moved her head to see him..n releases a sigh of relief on finding him still sleeping. She again carefully tries to loosen his hold..but that only causes him to tighten the hold. But what he said next made Nandini's eyes go wide..

" sleep Nandini..I will watch over u.. I will keep them away from U"

Nandini was shocked..surprised to see and hear Manik talking to her even when he was fast asleep. Did that mean he was indeed watching over her when she fell asleep on him while playing their game? Did that mean he kept repeating that so much that now it has engraved into his subconscious level too? Was this the reason that Nandini could finally sleep peacefully..after such a long time..coz she knew that there was someone to watch over her when she falls asleep? Hearing those words from Manik gave her a nostalgic feeling..after all..it wasnt the first time she was listening to them..though not from the same person. Lots of emotions n thoughts made their way into her mind..n Nandini tried harder to get out of Manik's hold.. finally she succeeded. She slowly got off from over him..covered him properly..n left the terrace directly to the locked room. She so badly wanted to go there right now..but she stopped on her tracks remembering that all her friends were at her place at the moment..n they yet ddnt knw about her past. Yes they got to know many things about her..but there was still a lot to be unfolded..which she wasnt ready for at the moment. She knew she wants to open up to them..she now trusted them completely..but she even knew no matter how hard she tries..it wouldnt b easy for her..or for any person as a matter of fact..to just open up about their horrible disturbing fact after keeping it in for nearly 2.5 years now. There was a time when she wanted to share her pain..her grief..but no one was around her..she was all alone..until she learned to tackle..to keep her secrets to herself. And now when she really has some trustworthy people in her life..its naturally difficult for her to open up completely to them. She just needed some more time to make herself more comfortable around them..some more time to prepare herself to tell them the worst part of her past. And she was completely willing to give herself that time. As for now..she just pushed all those thoughts somewhere behind her mind..n headed towards the kitchen to prepare some breakfast for everyone. In the kitchen she was greeted by Navya..or rather..a lost Navya. .who was standing in front of the boiling milk..lost in her own thoughts..not even realizing that Nandini was standing next to her..who had come right in time to turn off the stove..as the milk was ready to pour out of the vessel. Nandini frowns looking at Navya. She takes the milk n pours it in the mugs..which already had stirred coffee in them..making the coffee ready to be served. After making the coffee ready..she took the tray to the dining table. When she came back..Navya was still standing on her spot. Shaking her head..Nandini goes n stands next to her..

"U know whatever it is..u can share it with me. Aise hee andar rakhogi..to aur koi solution nahi milega"

Nandini's voice snapped Navya out of her trance.

"Aah Nandu..tum..tum kab aayi? Wo hum bas ye coffee..arre..coffee kaha gayi?"

Nan: coffee already tayyar hogai..aur mene wo dining table per rakh b diya.  Kya baat hai Navvu? Kaha khoyi ho?

Nav: Nandu..wo.. (closing her eyes) pata nai kaise kahe tumse.

Nandini holds her hands n squeezes them assuringly.

Nav: Nandu..baat humare aur Cabir k baare me hai.

Nandini smiles n gestures her to continue.

Nav: Pichle kuch dino se hum Cabir ko notice ker rahe hai..wo har baar koi na koi bahaana dhoondte hai humare aas paas rehne ka..jaise hume hostel se pick kerna..phir drop kerna..phir shaam ko kabhi chai pe lejaana.. hum samajh nahi paa rahe k aakhir Cabir ye sab ker kyu rahe hai.

Nan: seriously Navvu? Tumne sirf pichle dino se notice kiya? Me to ye pehle din se notice ker rahi hu. Aur ye kya matlab k tum samaj nahi paa rahi. Navvu..tum bewakoof to nai ho jo samaj nahi paa rahi..upar se tum hindi filme b bohot dekhti ho..usse toh tumhe seedha samaj jaana chaahiye na k wo tum me interested hai.

Navya blushes n looks down.

Nan (mischievously ): aur aise tumhara uske naam pe laal hona..mujhe aisa kyu lag raha hai k tum b interested ho..hmmm?

Nav: Nandu..tum jaanti ho na wo humare saath kaise behave kerta hai. Humara mazaak udaane ka ek mauka nahi chodte. Tum hee bataao..agar koi kisi ko pasand kerta hai to kya wo aise karega? Dhruv ko hee dekh lo..agar Aliya ka koi mazaak udaata hai to Dhruv foran uska saath deta hai..lekin hume dekho..humara mazaak to khud Cabir udaata hai.

Nan: Navu..pehli baat to har insaan dusre se alag hota hai. Uski soch..uska approach..uska izhaar ka tareeka..pyaar kerne ka..zaahir kerne ka tareeka..dusre se alag hota hai. Cabir aur Dhruv do alag insan hai do alag soch k saath. Unhe compare mat karo. Aur dusri baat..maana k Cabir tumhara mazaak udaata hai..lekin wo kabhi kisi aur ko tumhara mazaak udaane nahi deta. As if ye right sirf uska hai. Shayad ye Cabir ka tareeka hai tumhe apnapan dikhaane ka.

Nav: lekin Nandu..hum abhi b samaj nahi paa rahe...kahi ye sab jaldi jaldi to nahi horaha? Humara matlab..abhi hum 2nd year me hai..jo 2 maheeno me khatam b hojaayga. Phir humara final year..usme padhaai..job ki tension..wo sabse serious year hoga..hum is waqt sirf padhaai pe dihaan dena chahte hai. In sab k liye aage bohot waqt milega. Yehi sab soch k hum patna se yaha aaye the.

Nan: Navvu..jaanti ho hum insaano ki kya fitrat hai? Hume jo cheeze asaani se milti hai..hum use for granted lelete hai. Ye sochte hai k abhi to ye humare paas humesha rahegi. Hume uski value tab tak pata nai chalta jab tak wo humse door nahi hojaate. Aksar hum apni khushiyo ko kal pe daal dete hai..ye soch ker k abhi to zindagi bohot lambi hai..aage jaake hum jee lenge. But what we fail to understand is that life isnt predictable Navya. If something that is constant in life then thats Change. Hume har din aise jeena chahiye jaise its our last..jo cheez hume khushi deti hai..jise hum chahte hai..use khona nahi chahiye..balke dono haatho ko khol k use apnaana chahiye. Aur agar wo cheez palat k humse pyaar kerta ho..to use khona bewakoofi hai.

"100% right"

Navni turn their heads to find Muklya standing at the door of the kitchen

Muk: Navya..Nandu sahi keh rahi hai. U knw u r lucky..at least Cabir tum me apna interest dikhaata to hai. (Sayin so she turns her gaze)

Al: Navya..we all know Cabir since we were kids. Wo bachpan se hee mazaakiya tha. But yes..we have seen him behaving differently with u. Mazaak to wo har kisi ka udaata hai..aur jab koi aur uska saath de..tab wo aur zyada josh me aajata hai. Lekin not in your case. Tum to khud use moo tod jawab deti ho. U knw..tum dono ko dekh k "made for each other " waali feeling aati hai.

All their words make Navya blush. She looks down avoiding their gaze.

Nav: shayad aap sab theek keh rahe ho. Hume aise door nahi bhaagna chahiye. Har din ko aise jiye jaise aakhiri din ho. Jiyo..haso..muskuraao..kya pata..kal ho na ho..

Girls: n here is our Navya back!!!!

All giggle together. Navya and Aliya carry the breafast trays to the dining table with Nandini n Mukti following them. Nandini stops Mukti back n says..

Nan: mene jo Navya se kaha..wo aapke liye b use ker sakte hai.

Mukti looks at her with confusion written on her face.

Nan: har insaan ka express kerne ka tareeka alag hota hai. Kuch kuch insan to express b nahi kerpaate..but that doesnt mean they dont care.. dont hold back ur self..just because u dont see him openly expressing...n specially when ur heart knws whats the truth.

Mukti smiles at her in gratitude n nods affirmatively.

Muk: i wont.

They were arranging the table when they heard a worry stricken voice echoing in the hall..

"Nandini" "Nandini"

On realizing that its Manik's voice..Nandini just couldnt gather enough courage to face him after that embarrassing situation. But when Mukti nudges her..she goes out of the kitchen to see him in the hall..looking here n there. .searching for her..worry, concern all over his face. And when he comes face to face with Nandini..relief washes over him. His tensed muscles seem to sag involuntarily.

Man (sighing): u werent there when i woke up.

Nan (avoiding his gaze): woh..i was in kitchen.

Manik comes closer to her n says..

"Are you ok?"

Nandini simply nods. Manik smirks n says:

" i hope u slept well..inspite of the fact that u werent sleeping on an even, comfortable bed..but rather on an uneven chest..though i wont say 'uncomfortable'..

Recalling about this morning n their sleeping position..a red hue spreads over Nandini's cheek..she tries to turn n go when Manik holds her wrist n brings her closer to her..bending down to her ear..

"I wouldnt hold back from saying that i had the best sleep of my life..though it was short..but sweetest..n i wud really want to sleep that sweet sleep again..n again"

This was enough to turn Nandini into a ripe tomato by now. She struggles in his hold..n Manik finally lets her go..smiling fully. Nandini rushes to her room n directly into the bathroom..she locks the door n stands there..breathing heavily.

"Whats wrong with me? Why m i behaving like this? Y does Manik effect me so much? Everything that he does..he says..makes me blush like a hormonal teenager. Y does it feel as if butterflies r having a competition in my stomach..a competition of who could fly the highest? Ye ajeeb si feeling kya hai? Aur sirf Manik k saath kyu? Yes i knw that he is dofferent from others..i mean a different..special friend..but wo sab isliye kyunki we both have something disturbing in our pasts..tht was what connected us on the first hand. Aur ab..it feels i no longer need his words to understand what he wants to say..still i feel there is something m missing out..Aiyapppaaa..ye itna confusing kyu hai? Jo b hai..this is not the ryt time to think about it. I need to hurry n go to the orphanage. Werna aaj to Ruhi mujhe nikaal hee degi."

After having breakfast with everyone..Nandini tells everyone that she is heading to the orphanage. Everyone agree to accompany her..n then head to the college from there itself. The girls got ready from Nandini's wardrobe..whereas abhi helped boys with thwir outfit for college.

In college:

Nan: Ruhi..baby m sollyy..dekho..mumma kaan pakad k solly bol ri hai .plz bacha..mumma se baat karo.

Folding her small hands on her chest n grumpily moves her head to other side..

Ruhi: No.. aap itte din shay nee aai mele paash..me katti hu.

Nan: acha? To aap katti ho abhi tak? Mujhe laga aap shayad ghee ka dabba banna pasand karoge. Lekin koi baat nahi..me kisi aur ko...

Ruhi immediately jumps on Nandini's  back..wrapping her hands around her neck. Nandini holds her by holding her legs around her waist. She starts running around the orphanage..making Ruhi giggle and laugh out loud. Everyone were in awe in seeing such an adorable mother daughter pair in front of them. Nandini was completely drowned in Ruhi's love..she saw and heard nothing apart from her laughing face n voice. Manik was looking at her with all love he has.Suddenly..he was snapped out of his gaze with whistles that were filling the atmosphere. He was stunned to see Nandini whistling..bringing sweet n big smiles on everyone's face present there. Soon..her whistling was replaced by a soothing n melodious voice..which made Manik n fab5 to gawk at the owner of the voice.

(Song: chanda chamke cham cham)

Chanda chamke cham cham chikhen chaukanna chor
Chiti chaate chini chatori chinikhor

Nandini started singing..with Ruhi on her back..n going around all the kids..moving side to side..doing little dance steps..  everyone was enjoying their time..

Chanda chamke cham cham chikhen chaukanna chor
Chiti chaati chini chatori chinikhor
Kitna mushkil yeh gaana zara gaake dikhana

At this point..Reyansh comes forward n sings..

Chanda chini chamke chaate chaukanna chikhe chor
Chanda chamke cham cham chikhen chaukanna chor
Chiti chaati chini chatori chinikhor

Khadaksingh ke khadakne se khadakti hain khidkiyaan
Khidkiyon ke khadakne se khadakta hain khadaksingh
Khadaksingh ke khadakne se khadakti hain khidkiyaan
Khidkiyon ke khadakne se khadakta hain khadaksingh
Kitna mushkil yeh gaana zara gaake dikhana

This time Sonu comes forward n sings..

Khadak khadak ke khadake khidki khadaksingh ka khadke zor
Chanda chamke cham cham chikhen chaukanna chor
Chiti chaati chini chatori chinikhor
Chanda chamke cham cham chikhen chaukanna chor
Chiti chaati chini chatori chinikhor

Here..watching them enjoying to their fullest..Abhi comes n sings the next..

Pakke ped par paka papita paka ped ya paka papita
Pake ped ko pakde pinku pinku pakde paka papita

This time Tarush sings..

Pakke ped par paka papita pakda pinki paki ka kapda
Kapda (everyone laughs)

Nandini then continues..

Pakke ped par paka papita paka ped ya paka papita
Pake ped ko pakde pinku pinku pakde paka papita
Kitna mushkil yeh gaana zara gaake dikhana
Pakke ped par paka papita paka ped ya paka papita
Pake ped ko pakde pinku pinku pakde paka papita
Chanda chamke cham cham chikhen chaukanna chor
Chiti chaati chini chatori chinikhor
Chanda chamke cham cham chikhen chaukanna chor
Chiti chaati chini chatori chinikhor
Kitna mushkil yeh gaana zara gaake dikhana
Chanda chini chamke chaate chaukanna chikhe chor
Chanda chamke cham cham chikhen chaukanna chor
Chiti chaati chini chatori chinikhor

Nandini ends the song with whistling again. All the kids clap their hands in joy..n the happiest soul there was..Ruhi.

After 2 weeks:

Al: i dont believe how time just flies away. See na..now we have less than 2 months for our finals.

Dhr: u r ryt baby..but see the positive thing na..itna kuch huwa in past few weeks.

Man: yes..n the main shock is..our joker getting a joker as his partner.

Cab: aye Manik..mujhe joker bolta hai to theek hai..but Madhubala ko joker mat bol yaar..

Man: aww..bura lag gaya?

Cab: ofcourse..joker to male ko bolte hai na..to madhubala ko joker bolke u r making her a male..n in turn..me a gay..

Nav: hawwww...matlab yaha b tumhe khud ki padhi hai..aur hum soch rahe the k humare liye bol rahe ho..huh..tum na..

Cab: arre meri jaan..chill hojaana..u kne na i love u..phir chahe tu madhubala ho ya joker..jo b ho..ho to meri hee na.

Navya blushes n looks down.

Muk: waah re Cabir..tu kabse itna romantic ban gaya. Waise nice to meet a different Cabir too.

Nan: waise Dhruv is ryt..a lot has happened in these 2 weeks..right Muku?

Mukti avoids her gaze n just nods.

Nan(self talk): what is it Mukti tht u r hiding? 2 weeks se i m trying to knw..aakhir huwa kya tha us din..jaha ek taraf Bhai n Navya couple ban gaye..something has changed between u n BB..n BB b kaafi change hogaya hai tumhare saath..what has happened..

Ab: so..today is my final day of ur mentoring. And..i need to say something to u all..Barbie..m sorry i ddnt tell u this earlier..but here i m. N i have made a decision....

#######
Uneditied chapter
Hello angels..
Hru
Sry for the delay n for this crappy chapter..
Need ur votes for this..
Do u want me to show Cabir n Madhubala's confession? I havent planned for that..but if u want wud show..but yes..wud definitely show what happened between Mukti n abhi..