(One month passed, Nandini recovered fully & Mukti was free from that workshop thing & was sleeping after meeting Nandini. Everyone was happy with this, but Nandini was most happy. In evening, all hospitalized stuff was removed, Manik didn't came to meet her after evening & Nandini , worried because of that, as she knew that Manik was pretending to be normal, but actually he wasn't! Nandini was feeling suffocated & bored, so she went to the terrace, she was thinking about Manik as well & found Manik sitting there on the staircase! She went near him! It was 10 pm.)

Manik (stood up)," Arey! Nandini tum yahan, akele, tum yahan kya kar rahi ho? Listen abhi tum stairs mat chadho okay! Tum jao neeche tum just abhi abhi theek hui ho!"

Nandini," Arey jab mera itna acha friend who took so good care of me, & now when i am recovered vo mujhse milne bhi nahi aya, vo yahan pe hai toh main neeche kya karungi & vese bhi its been one long month main ek patient ki life jee rahi hoon aj free hui toh toh let me enjoy life!!"

Manik," But tumko sona chahiye tum soyi kyu nahi?"

Nandini," Tum bhi toh nahi soye??"

Manik," Mujhe neend nahi arahi!!"

(Nandini sit besides. Manik, both were sitting silently. Nandini begin counting on her fingers. Manik was looking at her.)

Manik," Kya kar rahi ho, counting stars??"

Nandini," No calculating tum kitne din se nahi soye and kitne der tak bologe nahi!!"

(Manik was still silent, he lied down & begin watching the stars. Nandini also lies besides him, & continued further.)

Nandini," Stars are so beautiful na!! Its so peaceful around here!!"

Manik," Hmm!!"

(Nandini looked towards Manik.)

Nandini," Manik, do you love stars?"

Manik," Hmm!!"

(Nandini felt as Manik wasn't interested in talking, so she quietly begin looking towards stars! After a while she get up & was about to leave, but Manik stops her.)

Manik,"Arey kya hua kahan ja rahi ho?"

Nandini (turns) ," I thought you don't want to talk & need some time alone so that's why, i was.... !"

Manik," Amm, no its not like that.. Its just that, i like silence & peace, but its not a problem you can speak whatever you want to!!"

(He said with a little smile. Nandini sits & looks towards Manik, who was looking towards stars.)

Nandini," Manik, i know tum theek nahi ho & its been a long time you are pretending normally as if nothing happened, but aur jarurat nahi hai! Tum as a friend mujhse share kar sakte ho!! (Manik was still silent)
Manik, us raat jo hua it wasn't so normal ke usko yun hi bhula do, and tumne apne andar sab kuch store karke rakha hua hai, but not anymore you need to get rid of all the thoughts stored inside you & suffocating you, just throw & spit them out, feel free & relaxed, live your life. You have full right!!"

(Manik was still silent, he sit. Nandini keeps her one hand at Manik's shoulder, Manik looks towards her hand on his shoulder & then towards Nandini who was smiling. But Manik didn't smiled. Cold breeze was blowing & playing with Nandini's hair strands. His eyes turned red, pain & tears were clearly visible in his eyes. Nandini removed her hand & smile vanished from her face, she hold Manik's hand & locked her fingers in his fingers. Manik was still silent, he didn't utter a single word. Nandini left his hand, she was upset now because Manik didn't respond her. She left his hand & stood up to leave the place. Manik held her wrist & pulls her with a jerk, but that pull was more forcefull that Nandini loses her balance & ends up sitting on his lap & her head hit with the railing of stairs.)

Nandini(cried with pain)," Ouch!!"

Manik (feeling sorry begin rubbing her head)," M sorry maine ye intentionally nahi kiya, it was just an accident!!"

(Nandini gets up, she was embarrassed as she sat on his lap, both were embarrassed equally & didn't made eye contacts & were restless too for a while. They were just looking here & there & nandini was fisting her hands. Nandini after getting up begin leaving the place, but Manik stops him.)

Manik," Don't go, please!! Atleast not like this!?"

(Nandini was little normal now, & restlessness of both of them reduced.)

Nandini (turns)," Okay!!"

(Nandini turns & sit back near Manik at a little distance. Manik's eyes were teary & slightly red.)

Manik," Alisha & I, we weren't a recent couple who were in relation from a short span of time, its been a long time we were dating each other, we shared a very strong, unbreakable bond. But on our engagement whatever she & her brother did wasn't correct at all, it was all a lie. I tried so many times that she just listens to me once, but she didn't gave me a single chance to explain. She just believed her brother, that's fine he is her brother she should believe him. But, what about me? What about that trust, long & strong relation of us, she just left & broke each & everything in just few moments, without giving me a chance to explain even. I trusted her, main uske lie kuch bhi kar sakta tha, i gave her my property even, but what she did to me, played with me & my feelings! She should have trusted me!!

(Manik gets up & came down from the stairs, walk a few steps further, Nandini also followed him but stood behind him.)

Manik," She broke me, my heart, my feelings, everything, i am shattered, i can't trust anyone, she just finished me & my love, my life!!"

(Saying this Manik shouted out Alisha's name loudly on the top of his voice, bends down on his knees covers his face & cries. Nandini was looking at Manik, tears rolled down from her eyes, when she saw Manik falling down she just move forward, sit in front of him on her knees, tears were still in her eyes, she raised her hands & tried to remove his hands from his face.)

Nandini," Manik, stop crying please, just look at me once please stop crying. I am here for you & will always be there for you, no matter what happens. Please hath hatao na.!!"

(Nandini fails in removing hands of Manik, & tears were rolling down continuously from Manik's eyes.  Nandini couldn't control herself she hugged Manik tightly that her upper body touched Manik's arm, she also begin crying, Manik felt a hug & he removed his hands & placed them down to earth, Nandini breaks the hug as she realized that he has removed his hands. Manik was looking down, his face & eyes was blood red & tears were rolling from his eyes, Nandini wiped his tears, cups his face, raises it up & kiss on her forehead. Tears from Nandini's eyes rolled down & fell on Manik's hand, Manik hugs Nandini tightly, Nandini's hands were still on Manik's face, Manik's lips were touching Nandini's neck. Nandini managed to free her hands & hugged Manik tightly again. Both were hugging each other tightly, their upper bodies were tightly touching each other's body. After a while, Manik & Nandini broke hug. Manik wiped his tears & so do Nandini.)

Nandini (curiously)," But Manik, Alisha on that night was talking about someone Alya, her sister, uska kya, what about the blame she accused you for?"

Manik (curiously he held Nandini's hand)," It was a lie Nandini, trust me, it was all a lie, maine Alya ko.... (he stopped).... infact we were toh not....."

(This time the noise of someone climbing up over stairs interrupted Manik & Nandini's conversation. It was Mukti. Manik & Nandini just calm themselves down & wiped their tears. Mukti came & sat with them.)

Mukti," Ap dono itni raat ko yahan kya kar rahe ho??"

Manik," Vohi jo tu kar rahi hai!!"

Mukti," Kya??"

Manik," Filhal toh bethe hai!!"

Mukti," Hahaha very funny!!"

Manik," I know i am very funny na!!"

Mukti," Ap dono mujhse kuch chupa rahe ho kya??"

Manik," Nahi toh!!"

(Nandini got worried & begin lokking here & there, which Manik & Mukti noticed.)

Mukti," Nandini tu aise kyun behave kar rahi hai? Now I'm sure you guys are definitely hiding something, comeon spill the beans right now!!"

Manik," Haan hum bilkul chupa rahe hain tujhse kuch!!"

(Listening to this, Nandini's eyes widened.)

Mukti," See i knew it comeon say, whats it??"

Manik," Ab chupa rahe hain hum toh it means we don't wanna tell you na, you get that only you!!" (Manik says laying stess on the word "you")

Mukti (Making an o face)," Hooo, how mean yiu guys are, bana lo apna gang, fine i won't talk to you guys ever! Nandini tujhse toh bilkul bhi nahi!!"

Nandini," Arey maine kya kiya?? Manik bol raha hai, main toh chup hoon yaar!!"

Mukti," Ya ya main toh bewkuf hoon, i cant get understand anything from your wierd behaviour right??"

(Both Manik & Nandini were silent, which rose Mukti's anger.)

Mukti," I just can't believe you guys still not have anything to say!! Fine I'm leaving this place, I'm sorry that I interrupted your secret conversation & disturbed you!!"

(Mukti stood up & turns to leave, both Manik & Nandini stopped together.)

Manan," Mukti stop!!"

Mukti (turns)," What??"

Manik," Listen i was just pulling you leg, we aren't hiding something, its just that humein neend nahi arahi thi islie we were sitting here & hum bas aise hi chit chat kar rahe the about stars and all!! So nothing to share & hide, so relax & baith ja!!"

Mukti," Haan yaar, mujhe bhi neend nahi arahi thi islie main yahan ayi!!"

Manik," Haan toh maine bhi vohi bola ke humein bhi neend nahi arahi, toh hum bhi vohi kar rahe hain jo tu kar rahi hai!!"

(Both, Manik & Nandini took a sigh.)

Mukti," Ok fine, chuck that guess what, jo maine workshop complete ki hai uske karan mujhko ek month ke liye free entry mili hai  to attend concerts of many renowned singers and for last 10 days, i will get a chance to learn from them about singing because i scored highest in the test held at last.!!"

Manik & Nandini (together)," Wow congratulations Mukti, thats great news!"

(Mukti looked towards them & they both looked towards each other & then looked here and there.)

Mukti," Thankyou guys, but i must say, kafi achi bonding ho rahi hai ap dono mein!!"

Manik & Nandini (together)," Nahi aisa kuch nahi hai!!"

(Again Mukti looked them & they both at each other's face.)

Mukti," Haan haan i get it completely!!"

(Everyone laughed, went down the stairs, & sleep in their respective rooms.)

💖 Do you like the friendship bond of manan?

💖 Do you like the way story is going? (I'm loving it)

💖 Do you like Nyonika supporting Nandini for helping out Manik, understanding her love for Manik & supporting her?

💖Anything you wanna say about Mukti?

💖Any feedback you want to give about story?

Tadaaa a new update, i am enjoying the manan friendship a lot , the way they are gettig close to each other!! Are you guys enjoying the story? Vese manik was teeling complete story but Mukti interrupted!!
So guys here's another update. Do read it, vote, like, share & give your reviews! Do not forget to vote, hope u like it!! Happy reading!
Love, K