N A N D I N I

*flashback continues*

I couldn't see anything. It was all so black and painful. My head pained and also there was a piercing pain in my feet.

After struggling for long, my eyes that felt like metal lids were opened.

Everything was blur at first but then I could see a white ceiling and extravagant decor.

This was definitely not the hospital. This was definitely not my own room.

"Good Morning Nandini!" I heard a chirp and with all the collected energy, I saw Manik Sir entering inside the room.

This was his house. And well... it was his room and his bed.

My forehead had a white bandage wrapped and my left foot had a fracture cover.

Manik sir kept the tray he was carrying at the side table and helped me sit up.

I was so confused already with all this pain in my head that I couldn't register anything.

I looked at Manik Sir in pain. His hair were ruffled, not set like the usual times. He was still wearing the clothes from the party, only his upper coat was missing. Half of his shirt was out. His eyes were red and he looked sleepy.

Had he been crying?

"Well, to start with. You met with an accident with the truck. I took you to the hospital and it's one full day you've been unconscious. But I thought that you'd like to see some Home like surroundings, so I brought you here", he said with a neutral face.

"And also, because it happened because of me...", his voice faded and there was guilt on his face.

I gave him a weak smile.

He handed me the coffee and pain killers.

"I want to freshen up a bit first..." I said awkwardly.

"Oh sure, I'd help you", he said slowly.

His hands gripped my arms and I shivered. But I didn't have enough time for this as he pulled me to my toes.

"Thank you!", I murmured quietly trying to walk away.

I took a move ahead but there was another ceasing pain in my foot and I stumbled miserably.

Manik Sir's hands gripped my waist quickly and I landed up in his arms.

My hands were both on his chest, my foot under strain, as he gripped me and his eyes met mine.

His eyes had some feeling in it which I couldn't identify anymore. He definitely cared. But there was something more to it, some pain, so fear, some guilt, and maybe some-..... love?

He helped me limping to the washroom. He stopped right at the door as I stepped inside.

"Nandini?" He called. Once again, his voice sounded miserable and vulnerable.

I stopped and turned behind.

He gave me the look that said he was helpless as he walked to me. The distance between us kept reducing and my heartbeat kept increasing.

He came close until here was no space between us left anymore.

His hand cupped my cheeks and I was lost in his eyes that depicted an emotion I have never seen.

My hands unknowingly gripped his shirt.

He tucked in some lose hair of mine, leaving me even more confused.

His thumbs rubbed near my eyes as if rubbing the already stained and dried tears of mine.

"Please never cry because of me!" He said slowly in my ears. His voice seemed cracking, as if he would break down any moment.

"S-...." I tried saying but he turned away from me. I felt dejected.

"I'd just get you another pair of clothes, you can change", he said and he left from there. I realised I was in my red gown which seemed immensely uncomfortable at this moment.

I was shocked. What was his new behaviour about?

No rude behaviour. No monster mode. Nothing.

After a minute, he returned back with a pair of clothes, which belonged to some girl.

"You can have these...", he said and I hesitated.

I didn't even know whom they belonged to, maybe they were of some random girl with him. I didn't want to get into some other girls left clothes, who might have just spent the night there.

My eyes were stuck at the clothes and as if understanding my mind, he already cut me.

"Oh- Oh...! This is my tee shirt and Aliya's jeans. She has her spare clothes here, actually everyone has. Stop getting any stupid ideas in your mind and freshen up fast!" He almost ordered and despite my broken leg, I jumped in my place.

my tee shirt

my tee shirt

My face flushed in embarrassment and I looked everywhere except him though the corner of my eyes saw him smile.

Did The Manik Malhotra just smile? He didn't smirk rudely or laugh at my embarrassment, he just smiled. The genuine smile. The million dollar smile. The 'makes me skip a beat' wala smile.

"I'd be waiting, call me if you need anything...." He said and I jumped in the washroom.

I wasn't really used to this silent Manik. The one who doesn't glare at me, who doesn't smirk, who doesn't order. He's so kind and silent as if I am his boss when it's the other way round.

While I changed with so much difficulty all thanks to the ankle plaster, my mind replays last night.

"Please don't leave me like Soha did. Please"

Shit. No. He isn't thinking anything like that.

I try splashing cold water on my face but nothing gets it out of my mind. Nothing.

I quickly wear the oversized black sweat shirt over the fitted ripped jeans and run outside although my foot pains like hell.

"Please don't leave me like Soha did. Please"

I ran outside to see him sipping coffee at the balcony, and he had already changed.

I just ran to him, but I stumbled in between which caused me to fall upon his back, like back hugging him or something.

He seemed so shocked that he almost flipped himself and the next moment I was sandwiched between the balcony grill and him.

His eyes stared at me from head to toe and I looked away uncomfortably.

"Would you mind if we change your wardrobe and you wear only my clothes from today?" He murmured under his breath without self conscious but I heard it.

My face turned crimson red with the blush.

In all the haste, I forgot I was wearing his tee shirt. And it kinda suited me.

His eyes were still staring at my outfit. I didn't know how to react.

I just fake coughed to bring him out of his world, or wherever he was lost.

"You... you look......", his voice faded and I didn't even ask him to continue.

His eyes gave me the answer that his voice couldn't.

I've always heard that guys get flipped when they see their girls in their clothes. But neither was he my guy, nor was I his girl. Yet this was happening to us.

While I was sandwiched between the balcony grill and his huge body, my stubborn hands involuntary reached his chest and found its place there.

"Umm... voh... last night.... before you know I passed out.... voh... you had said... something-........", I hesitated after each word not knowing how to bring the topic up.

"Nandini! I have decided something", he said and looked at me and I nodded at him to go ahead.

"You wouldn't be my person assistant anymore...", he said and my eyes widened.

Did I do something wrong? Did I say something wrong?

He was looking at my amused expressions and controlling his urge to laugh out loudly.

I finally looked at him with a neutral face. I didn't know if I should be sad and ask him why or should I be angry and walk out.

"Oh my god Nandini, you're so cute...", he said and he burst out laughing pulling my cheeks.

His laugh is so melodious just like music to my ears. I pouted looking away. He probably saw that and stopped laughing.

"I meant, you wouldn't be just my personal assistant anymore, you'd be my friend....", he said and huskily and I took a breath of relief.

"Oh oka- WHAT?" I shouted. Did he just ask for friendship?

"Yes. So from today, you'd call me by my name...", he smiled. I frantically nodded negatively.

How? I mean how? I've called him by his name so many times in my mind but it's kinda different and weird to go form sir to Manik.

"Oh you've forgotten my name as I had forgotten yours? Revenge le rahi ho....", he barely whispered as he came close. Dangerously close.

He burried his face in the crook of my neck sending jitters all down my body.

Before I could say anything, his lips gently touched my neck.

It felt like a feeling of sudden coldness in all that heat. I shut my eyes closely not aware of what to do as I felt his lips kissing my neck once more.

My heart flipped and my stomach felt butterflies everywhere.

"Manik!", the word left my mouth before I could even register.

"Say it again", he ordered bringing himself back to his place, looking at me with a smile. I nodded negatively and looked away.

"So you want me to do something else?", he said bring his face closer to mine.

His lips and mine were just an inch apart and I could feel my hot breath mingling with his cold one. I gulped my saliva and closed my eyes.

"Manik...", the words left my mouth again.

I opened my eyes to see him standing, looking at me with a smile.

"I like the sound of it...", he teased. I smiled.

He just came closer and the next I knew was that I was in his embrace.

His hands wrapped around my back and waist and he jerked me closer until there was no more space left between us. Our bodies touched together and my small body fit perfectly in his large arms.

I kept my forehead on his huge chest, listening to his heart beat, which was my new favourite music.

Despite being cold, there was some heart between us. Some new emotions, something we both had to discover. Together.

I liked being in his embrace more than any other place in the world. The way his arms were wrapped around me protectively made me believe that no evil could cross me. I found Home in his arms, peace in his embrace, and love in his eyes.

Love?

The next, I was flying in the air. Yes, he had carried me in the bridal style before I could even register.

My eyes remained glued at him dreamily while his at the surroundings, making sure to not hurt my ankle.

He gently kept me on the bed- his bed.

He closed my eyes by his hands, whispering in my ears, "sleep, you need rest. In the evening, all our friends will be here too....".

A smile took over my face and I felt my eyes growing heavier.

I felt his lips touch my forehead planting a long, wet kiss there.

After a few minutes, a blanket was put over me. But I couldn't sleep.

Just after that, I felt a heavy arm around my waist and a familiar touch on my back as I felt Manik's face bury into my neck, back hugging me.

Now, I slept at peace. I don't know how I turned around, stirring in sleep, getting engulfed in his arms, and there is no other place I'd rather like to be.

~I was a wanderer before I met you, but now, your arms are my home and you are where I belong~

_________

~•PRESENT•~

Manik's POV { first time, isn't it? ;) }

I was in my own world, as always. But there was a constant smile on my face to see all of us right here, together.

Everything has changed enormously. Fab5 is together yet we are not the same. We just meet once in 4-5 months to practice and discuss things. Or even if we all keep meeting, Cabir wouldn't come.

He keeps making some or the other silly excuses, he still can't get over what had happened one year ago- well, never mind.

We had just completed practice and we are all seated in the table on my terrace when Aliya was cribbing about something to Dhruv and Cabir was bickering constantly.

"Oyee, mein, 'The Cabir Dhawan', is irreplaceable", he said proudly.

I'd hate to admit that the way he said 'the Cabir Dhawan', it sounded like, 'The Manik Malhotra', just the way she used to keep saying-.... well, never mind.

"Mukti, you're right. He's useless...", Aliya snapped.

"Aise hi ho gaye ho, jabse meri Nandini gayi hai na-....", Cabir stopped as if realising what he had said and all four eyes turned towards me.

After such a long time we were talking about something like old times, and her name had to destroy it all.

"What? Mari nahi hai voh, you guys can talk about her...", I growled as I picked the pack of cigarettes from the side and left from there.

I went towards my room balcony and just as I go there, so many memories come flooding back.

I picked up a cigarette, lighter it up and put it between my lips.

"Manik, yeh tum kya kar rahe ho, you know na this will destroy you...", Nandini said, and I immediately turned behind to see her standing there, with her hands on her hips and a cute pout on her face.

I looked at her in shock. "Please usse phek do Manik, mere liye?" She said softly pointing at the cigar.

I nodded my head in a yes and with an open mouth, I moved towards her smiling face.

I touched her face and the next moment, she disappeared.

Fuck! I've been hallucinating her too!

I took the bloody cigar and threw it away.

She wouldn't let me live at peace. And Cabir says this is love. Love doesn't pain, love brings you at peace. While she, it just hurts. She's just fucked me up.

She's fucked everything up. I can't breathe normally anymore it seems. I can't work because that reminds me of her. I can't sing because everytime I close my eyes, I see her. I can't sleep because all my dreams are about her.

This isn't what you call peace. And this is no where around love.

Argh.

This girl fucked me up. She destroyed me more miserably then when she had built me.

And I still can't stop think about her.

~love is all about pain, and if your aren't up missing someone at 2am and it didn't break your heart, then it wasn't love~