They were practicing,,It's been 1hour already but Nandini didn't come back.

"Aajayegi yaar!!" Mukti said.

"Bhai tu rehne dey,,Pata hai Aab tu nahi gaa payege.Guys lets get some food!! I'm hungry yaa" Cabir said first to Manik as he saw him restless & then to the rest of the gang.

Manik nodded & rushed to find her.

"He loves her so much" Alya said dreamily to which Mukbir smiled & Dhruv's gaze was fixed on the only soon to be his girl.

"Let's get some food" Cabir said and walked towards the hall.

......

Manik was walking through the corridor calling Nandini when he heard "I'm here Manik" ; There she was standing with a food tray in her hand,wearing a chief coat,smiling ear to ear.Manik sighed seeing her fine.He went near her-

"What is all these Bachha? You don't need to do all these" Manik said taking the heavy tray from her hand & placed that on the dinning table.

"You guys are working so hard & must be hungry too!! That's why some snacks..And I thought I'll surprise you guys but tumne pakad liya pehle" She sadly pouted at last.

" Achha,Sorry but itna saara snacks tumne akele itne kam time mein!! How did you made it ??" Manik asked eyeing the *some* snacks Nandini was talking about.

"Itnaaaa Sara khaana" There came Cabir's voice who pounced on food without saying anything.

"Aay bukkad admni sirf Tere liye Nahj hai!!" Mukti retorted seeing Cabir.

"Woow Nandini Kya Kya hai??" Dhruv & Alya asked.

"Fusilli,black-olive & feta-pasta-salad then ..." Nandini started to tell the names but Cabir interrupts saying "Wooow!! Foods are awesome just like their names bunny" to which Nandini rolled her eyes saying "Bhai maine sirf ek hi dish ka naam bataya yeh" & Everyone looked at her as if she's some alien.

"Choti Tere dishes k naam sunte sunte Cabir khana bhi khatam kar dega" Mukti said.

"Khane sey pehle naam toh sunlo dishes k" Nandini said sadly.

"Hume Aam khane sey matlab hain,gutliya kyun geene??" Cabir can never shut up.

"Nahi,We will hear the names first" Manik said snatching the bowl from Cabir's hand.

Nandini smiled and again started with the names-
•Fusilli,black-olive & feta-pasta-salad
•Cajun Shrimp Fettuccini •Appanoose Pork Griller
•Fresh Hearty Homemade Soups
Spinach Artichoke Dip
•Garlic Butter Asparagus Pasta
& lastly in dessert there're
•Panna Cotta
•Affogato-al-caffe
•Tiramisu

She finished her naming session when she noticed that half the bowls were finished.She glared and about to say something when "Hum tujhe Kya Doctor banne veja hai college yah fir yeh utpatang languages sikne ??" Cabir asked gulping down the last bite of *as per Nandini's recipe name TIRAMISU*

"Bhai it's not any utpatang language ok??" Nandini defended.

"Jo bhi Ho,,these were the yummiest food I've ever had...You're a saviour babe!!! Thank you so much" Alya said hugging Nandini after finishing her food.

"Baby I've never ever had this much amazing foods yaa..How did you made all these itni jaldi??" Manik asked.

They knew that Nandini makes the yummiest foods,She's a pro in cooking.While she cooks it's a treat to watch her as she does every work so perfectly without creating any mess.Every spices,every utensils will be at the right place in order,,according to her height.

"These dishes need not take too much time to cook,So it was easy" Nandini said smilingly.

Manik never stopped her from doing anything that gives her happiness & cooking is one of those things that gives her happiness.She cooks only if she's in mood & then Manik never says No to her but only after measuring the precautions.

After getting so many praises they excused themselves to have some rest in their respective rooms.When Manik thought to talk to Nandini.

••••
Manan's Room

"Manik I've missed my classes,,aab I'll fail!! Kya karu?? Only one moth left for the exams!! Nandini was getting restless as one of her friends in college messages her about the exams.

"Relax bachha,,I talked with your Professor,he will come here & teach everything you missed.So,tension mat lo,,I know
you'll do your best" Manik said taking Nandini in a hug.

They both were silently sitting hugging eachother in the balcony when Nandini said to Manik "Ab Bol bhi do"

Manik frowned as how she knows that he was thinking to ask something.

"I know you so tell me what do you wanna know??" Nandini said casually hugging him more dearly & Manik just smiled at her.

"She distanced herself to save herself"
-the idealist

He made a quick prayer to God for blessing him with Nandini & made a promise to keep her happy for lifetime;Sealed his promise with a soft peck on her head.

"Why you stopped singing Nandini??" Finally Manik asked the question he wanted to ask from
So many years.

Nandini took a deep breath & stood up walking towards the edge,holding the railings "Momma used to sing"

Manik's gaze was observing each n every move of Nandini.He let her be.

"She was a classical singer..Whenever I got scared from the things happening around me,she used to sing for me!!" She stopped.

Then continued again "Her voice Manik!!! It was so soothing that lagta tha saab Dard khatam ho gaya..Only peace,,only peace" She looked at Sky closing her eyes & takes a long breath again.

"Calm is a superpower"
-Unknown

"The day before momma died..Papa beaten her badly,,it was bleeding from her hands,heads.I was scared to death from his shouts when Momma came to me in the middle of the night when he got unconscious due to drinks,It was bleeding from moms lips Mani but she sang for me.I asked her not to as it must be paining but she said Music have the power to heal every pain. She was right,She sang her last music that day & it indeed gave her peace,peace for her entire life"

Manik went to stand beside her when she leaned on his hand & he hugged her sideways giving her support..

"When I was in orphanage,,I asked the owner to teach me music as it was getting difficult for me to bare the pain of mom's death but she refused saying Jab main kamane lagungi then only I can take classes Lekin that time I wasn't of my age to earn money.So, I kept quite..Main pagal ho jati thi Manik,,saans Nei liya jata tha mujhse,,I tried to harm myself but that doctor pata Nei Kya injection laagta tha that I used to calm down.Saab Dard firse gayeb ho jaate the just like momma's song.. Pata hai Manik kabhi kabhi toh I used pretend so that they give the medicines" Suddenly Manik's muscles stiffened hearing this but Nandini continued-

"Then when I turned 18,I went to find a job but didn't get any cause I didn't have proper guidance..But then someone asked me look after two kids & I agreed as the money they were giving was enough for my music classes.I joined the work & started my music classes.But the man in that house wasn't good.He tried to touch me & I somehow ran from there,I cried days after days but no one was there to sooth my pain & my classes too stopped as I couldn't provide the fees... Manik that teacher said to me k *Mujhe apni aukaat mein rehna chaiye tha,,Bhikariyon ko kabhi sapna nei dekhna chaiye* & Yes I took my teacher's lessons for lifetime" She smiled lastly.A smile which was hiding immense pain in its mask,a smile that was holding flood of tears.

Manik's hands were fisted,he was boiling in anger,,extreme anger & pain caused tears which were making their way down his cheeks but there's not a single drop in Nandini's eyes.Again that helpless feeling was over powering him.He cursed his fate for not being able to meet Nandini before.

"But then I met you,My Magician & here I'm..Main aise hi Nei kehti k you gave my life,,See!! Kya thi main !!! Ek bhikaari Aur kaha laake bithaya hai Mujhe tumne,,You made me a Princess." She said kissing his heart,,his grip on her tightened,eyes were red.Her words were stabbing him but he kept quite punishing himself for the sin he never committed.

"Love meets you at your messiest self and doesn't take NO for an answer"
-Unknown

"And don't ever blame yourself for my situations Manik,,kyun tab tum the issi liye aaj main hoon" Her words have the power to tame him.

"Mujhe maaf kardo Nandini" Manik took her in a bone crushing hug,crying his heart out.

"I love you Manik,I love you more than my life,more than you can ever even imagine.I will love you till the stars shine & the fireflies glow" Nandini confessed & fussed her lips with his.

They kissed Untill the pain soothed,Untill the memories flew.They expedited a lifetime in that kiss.They both sucked eachothers pain,,licked soothing them.Her pain was that *she suffered* & his pain was that *he wasn't there to protect her from sufferings*.

Breathless they pulled apart & Nandini suddenly said "Manik I want to learn singing."

And Manik looked at her with jerk,his Eyes were smiling,his soul was smiling ear to ear and he bobbed his head frantically making Nandini giggle.

"I want to learn from you"

"Your wish is my command Princess"

Manik bowed in front of her & smiled together.Manik took her in his warmth & she let herself drown in his love.

"At the end of the life,what really matters is not what we bought,but what we built;Not what we got,but what we shared;Not our competence but our character;& not our success but our significance;Live A Life That Matters.Live A Life Of LOVE"

"Aukaat Ki baat ki hai tu ney,,now Manik Malhota will show you what that actually means" Manik mentally made a note.

•••••••🔚•••••••

Hope you liked the chapter.Won't ask for votes & comments from now on as I've seen that it doesn't bother you at all.Publishing only for my regular & active readers.

-Thank You