Nandini's POV

"Ab baaarish acchi nahi lagti tumhe?" (Don't you love rain anymore?) Manik's voice came as a low echo from the dark-damp walls as we climbed the derelict staircases of the red abandoned building.

His voice didn't change over these five years. Only difference is now it sounded more rugged, more manly.

In its decrepitude, the building was home only to wildlife that sheltered within. Manik took the stairs up and I followed him until we reached halfway through the stairs and entered a banister from where we could see the entire Piazza del Duomo; a glimpse of the Cathedral of Milan in all its grandeur, the Palazzo Carminati facing the Duomo di Milano, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and the Royal Palace of Milan, the seat of government in the city – thronged with colourful shops and road-side cafes in a row. Hundreds of people could be seen strolling on their morning businesses.

The rain was still splashing upon our faces but the roof saved our head. We were now leaning on the broken window in the banister. Manik was facing me with all the intensity he possessed and as if as a ritual I was looking anywhere but at him.

"Looks like the rain is not gonna stop anytime soon" Manik muttered to himself looking outside, mopping the wetness from his hair as he safely placed his guitar in a side.

"I have never seen you so irritated in the rain. You loved it, toh ab kya badal gaya?" (then what has changed now?)

I knew he wouldn't take my hint to shut up like a gentleman if I ignore him. Because he is not a gentleman. I also knew I couldn't ignore him either. It didn't matter what he spoke but when Manik Malhotra spoke it was like being told what to do. And even though I was busy wiping the dampness off my skin and hair his stilled gaze on me was inexorable. So I calmed my nerves and looked directly at him.

"Firstly you had never seen me in the rain before. And secondly do you really think Manik you'll give me this 'meets by chance', 'accidentally stuck in the rain' craps and I'll buy it?" The fact that he still thought so naïve of me angered me.

"Oh God! Now don't tell me you think ki yeh baarish bhi maine karwaya. (Now don't tell me you think that I have made the sky rain). Sorry to disappoint you. Ab isse pahle ki tum blame karo let me clear it to you issbaar mujhe tumse puch na chahiye 'Peecha kar rahe ho mera?'"(Now I should ask you "are you following me?")– Suddenly his tone changed into one of playfulness. He mocked the same tone as I did a month ago in the market.  

He thought he could make me believe otherwise after the rate of 'predictable coincidences' he was causing. Hah.

I didn't bother to answer anyway.

"Okay fine I came to the instrument ateliers... For their interviews and some shoot. Ab tumhe toh yaad hi hoga I am here for a documentary." (Hopefully, you remember that I am here to make a documentary)

"Of course. I can clearly see the camera in your hand" I didn't intend to be sarcastic. I just wanted him to know that his lying skills had deteriorated over the years. He had come to interview and shoot without a handy, instead he carried a guitar! Couldn't be farther from the truth, right!

Manik clicked his tongue as if he had just lost a bet. 

"For once stop doubting me, will you?" 

"Manik -"

"Please". And he was back to the ways he knew would disarm people.  Why it was so difficult not to believe him?

"I – I don't know. I... I..."

Carelessly, Manik chewed his inner jaw in comprehension, "I have a phone with better resolution. Now I can afford a rich phone. You atleast can count on this, can't you?"

Manik ended his spiel which I was again sure was a made up one but I had no proof to charge him. It was also true that Milan was one of the traditional and classic music hubs. There were streets dedicated to stores and people exclusive for its domestic instruments. And anyone with anything to do with music wouldn't miss a tour around this city. But I didn't want to know anymore who to believe – the intuition that believes all instincts and gives a damn to any logic or the brain that creates its own logic that justifies its fancy beliefs.

As if he could read me, he grinned. "Waise tum yaha kya kar rahi ho?" and he was quick to rephrase himself "I mean not in Milan, I mean checking me out and all in the street?" He couldn't keep the smug out of his voice. He couldn't or he didn't I didn't want to get into that debate.

"I was just enjoying music. It doesn't matter who it was". Hope he got me clear and the rain stopped soon. This encounter was absolutely unexpected and uncalled for.

As if knowing my inner irritation, at the same time, the broken glass pane shut with a boom from the frenzy gale outside. The stronger part of my brain so wished his face to be a little closer to the window reach so that I could see a satisfactory result but the weaker section of my heart panicked and I pulled him back instantly. Thank god he wasn't close enough to get hurt, there were half broken glasses.

Godddd!!! The contradiction in his character is contagious. Stay. Away. From. Him. Nandu!

"Waise tum akele? Tumhara woh nagging Bandar kaha gaya?" (By the by how come you're alone? Where is that nagging monkey of a friend of yours?)

"How did you know Aryaman has accompanied me if you're not 'following' us, as you 'claim' ?" Woah the rat is finally out of the bag!

"Guessed", he shrugged, "I have never seen you both apart from the time I'm here".

I looked at him acutely trying to see through his stories but there was nothing but nonchalance. When did his eyes ever speak the truth anyway? My heart chided.

"May I ask you the same?" He looked at me quizzically. "Why are you alone here? Didn't Fab 5 accompany you?" I wanted to make it sound like a matter of fact but my voice betrayed at the wrong time. There was a ting of concern that sounded so strange to my own ears.

Manik had a habit of rubbing his palms in anxiety and biting his lips in amusement. And that time he did both. I didn't want to run the precious horses of my brain so I waited for him speak up but when he didn't I knew I had to probe further.

"How's Fab 5?"

"Thik hi honge."(They'd be fine probably) I didn't exactly expect this answer. Fab 5 was his lifeline for whom he did many rights and many wrongs too. He could never be careless about them. But I didn't ask much. It's his weak nerve and I don't know why even today it hurt me to see that helpless look on his face.

"Woh sab thik hai" (They are good) he assured with a small smile.

"Aur tum?" (and you?) the words slipped my tongue before I could grasp them. Shit!

I promptly walked away along the railing observing the balcony and the piazza from different corners. I couldn't look too interested in his personal affairs. But he didn't seem to pay attention though as he continued.

"Woh Aliya is a fashion designer now. Dhruv's got his own dance academy." I didn't think he would share but he did. "Ohh and Mukti is engaged to Zubin."

"Zubin runs a professional consultancy firm. They were in a relationship from quite some time now" he explained it for me and I nodded.

"And Navya?" I inquired.

I really wanted to know about Navya, she was my first and only friend in Space. But Manik just shrugged. Of course he wouldn't know about a substandard small town girl like Navya. Moreover he had something more to add –

"Main chacha chachi ke waha gaya tha but tum waha nahi thi" (I went to uncle-aunt's house but you were't there)

"Kyun? You thought insulting chacha chachi would be fun too?" Gone was the concern from minute's ago and now my voice returned Manik what he gifted me with – pure mockery.

"They never told anyone about your whereabouts.... "

"Chacha chachi never told me abou-"

"They didn't know. I was outside."

"What were -"

"Dhruv... He visited your home a couple of times. He was really upset after your disappearance... He's sensitive about his friends you know so....."

"Tum kyun gaye the waha Manik?" (What brought you there Manik?)

"You have never visited them in this five years." It was not a question, it was a statement, "Rishav has become quite a gentle man you know! I'm happy that he turned out to be strong and... and the panic attacks didn't make him..... like it did to Dhruv". I had no idea what was he trying to prove with these irrelevant statements.

Manik seemed to be intelligent enough though to understand the direction of this conversation heading to and wisely switched the topic and I was relieved to be honest. I wasn't up for any bitter confrontations. Not now, not yet.

I turned to look at his silence and saw his both lips folded inwardly as he pressed them together to hold a cigarette inbetween; his palms curled around the stick to flame it up, his head a little tilted downwardly with a frown and his eyes focused on the smoke as it burnt... Manik was never a smoker but what amazed me more was his indifferent body language. Nothing affects this man, nothing... not our past when he could physically see my heart break, neither our present when we could literally hear eachother's heartbeats! He wanted to play it cool so let it be his way.

"May I?" Manik looked up at me as he shoved off the lighter. His frown turned into pure amusement as he saw me held out my hand simply indicating to the patch of cigarette in his hand.

"Umm what about Fab 5 I mean music? You guys were a band nah.... back then in college?"

"They lost their heart for music." Oops! Tragic! Okay!

"Aur tum?" (and what about you?)... "Since when you became interested in documentaries? I thought you loved to make your own music and perform?" I asked him as I smoked out those negative thoughts with my first inn.

"I still do. But I suppose music demands more from us than vice versa. It demands peace and..........." He paused "and it demands a heart."

I didn't like how pessimistic it sounded. I don't know about his 'peace-storage' but Manik did have a heart and that too in the right place. It might be not so right when I was concerned but it was for Fab 5 and his dad and definitely for music.

But it's also true music requires 3D-s – dedication, determination and discipline. Manik had the first two in bounty but the third one was almost an archaic word for him. He was too erratic and temperamental for a long race in such fields. Still to say he hadn't the heart for music is too much.

"And I have already lost my heart. Haven't I?"

.

.

.

.

.

Now what the hell was this supposed to mean?

....................................

One thing about this present "more controversial version of" Manik was good that he didn't enjoy my uncomfort so much as he used to do before so he again anchored the direction of our talks to an easier one –

"I was actually shocked to see you here in Verona, you know?" His mirth was back.

"How am I supposed to know?" But mine (mirth) was still struggling for a comeback from his previous words.

"Tum yaha kab I mean kaise ayi... Verona mein? I mean I didn't know you were trying in international colleges" (When - I mean how did you come here, in Verona?)

"I –"

"Nandu!" our conversation got interrupted by a voice from outside. I crunched over the window to see Aryaman standing below the building and gestured me to come down and then I looked back at Manik who was waiting for me to continue.

"Some other time maybe" I copied his shrug and left the conversation in middle. Just like he does most of the times.

"Come let's go. Your Bandar is here" he slung his guitar on his shoulder, held my wrist and pulled me alongwith him. And again nothing seemed to affect him...nothing.

"It's Aryaman." And he is not mine!

"What were you doing at my house Manik?" I asked one last time hoping for an honest answer this time at least.

"I WAS MISSING MY STAR"

***********************************************

"Stay away from him." Arya said with a sense of authority without sparing a glance at him as we moved out of the alley. "Nahi who bas baarish –"

"I know how the weather is Nandu. Just stay away from him. He's not right for you" I didn't want to drag it more so I changed the topic "Tum kab aye?" ... (When did you come?)

"As soon as the rain stopped that is ten minutes back". I didn't say anything further and silently walked with him. Our tiny warning-session didn't take more than two seconds. As we were about to take the turn to the main street I glanced back to see if Manik coming with us as the road ended there. I roamed my eyes –

.

.

.

.

And he was not there... nowhere to be seen! Again!

Tum pe jake rukti

Dil ki saari raahein

Tumse saari baatein

Tum bin suni raatein........

********************************************************

I looked back to ask Manik if he would accompany us. But he was nowhere to be seen. He vanished as unexpectedly as he appeared. Ayyappa what game is he upto now? I couldn't stand there and think. Arya dragged me with him. We were about to take the road to Milan railway station when a sound of a car screeching and rushing on the other side of the road caught my attention. But it couldn't be. That alley ended at the building we were in; there was no other probable way out for Manik to get out. But then it was the same Black SUV.

I settled myself on my bedroom floor with my dinner and a mug of coffee. In between I stopped and tuned on my recorder holding it near my ears so that I could focus just on sound... only on the sounds of the recorder and not on those of my thoughts. Today in the afternoon Arya and I recorded some local informal interviews. And now I had them to decipher their accents and broken speech, some in English and some in their local Veronese/Milanese dialect, to decode what their culture actually sounds like. It's a part of ethno musicology where we have to analysis why and how people make music.

"And I have already lost my heart. Haven't I?"

"I was missing my STAR"

And at that moment I realised handling his twisted answers were easier than Manik's simple confessions!

*********************************************

As I held the notepad in between my folded legs and the pen in my fingers I raised the volume of the recorder and soon enough engrossed me in the sound waves.

*****************************************************

Writer's POV

We wait for them to share things to satisfy our thirst of curiosity. But little do we know is they may leave us hungrier where they satisfy more.

_____________________________________

Hope you all enjoy this part : ) Don't forget to PRESS THE STAR BUTTON, COMMENT & SHARE the story if you like it...

Love, 

Neer :)