(Navya ran out of Canteen, Nandini follows her but Navya was gone. Nandini was running & she stopped but again got bumped into someone! It was Manik! Not only Manik, it was angry Manik. Nandini was breathing heavily as she was running behind Navya! Nandini was afraid seeing Manik's anger! Manik stepped forward & Nandini backward. He was giving tough looks & Nandini was afraid, she was fidgeting her fingers & moving backwards simultaneously. Everyone was staring at both of them & Nandini was feeling embarrassed die to it! She collided in the wall & looked back at the wall for few second & again looked in front. Manik was still moving forward towards Nandini. Nandini's eyes widened. She tried speaking.)

Nandini," Manik, vo..."

Manik (kept his finger on her lips to stop her from speaking) ," Shhh.... do not utter a single word!" (He whispers)

(Manik removes his finger from her lips.)

Manik," Why did you came to college alone?"

Nandini," Vo, i.... mujhe kuch kam tha so isliye main agyi!"

Manik," 5 minutes main tum late ho jati haan??"

Nandini," Manik tum ready bhi nahi hue the, and i didn't knew ke tum itni jaldi ready ho jaoge!!"

Manik," And why didn't you picked up my call??"

Nandini," Manik vo main Navya ke sath thi!!"

Manik," Ya right! Just stop it Nandini! Stop lying to yourself & me! & speak up the truth for god's sake!"

Nandini," Manik main sach bol rahi hoon!! & what's wrong with you? Just move aside people are staring at us! It doesn't look nice!"

Manik," I dont care!!"

Nandini," But i care! Okay! And i gave you enough explanation, and i don't think anything is left! Ab tum believe karo ya nahi, its not my problem! Fine!!"

(She left. Manik turns & watches her going.)

Manik," God! Why this girl is.... (purled his lips) so frustrating....!!"

(He left the canteen. Both enters the class. Everyone was in the class except Aryaman. Nandini's eyes were looking for him, but there was someone whose eyes were looking only at Nandini, it was Manik & Nandini knew it but she ignored & focused in class. After the 2 hours of continuous lecture, everyone were going to the next classroom. Manik was going with Cabir & Dhruv, and Nandini was with Navya.)

Nandini," Navya, Aryaman kaha hain??"

Navya," Humein nahi pata bohot din ho gaye vo college nahi aya!!"

Nandini," Kab se??"

Navya," 5 - 6 din ho gaye!!"

Nandini," Ohh!!"

Navya," Kyun kya hua kuch kam tha?"

Nandini," Haan, vo usse Mukti ka guitar aur guitar strings lene the but vo toh aya hi nahi!!"

Navya," Toh call kar lena use after lecture!"

Nandini," Hmm i will!!"

(They reached in class, & attended all the lectures, now they all were sitting in canteen.)

Nandini," Navya, give me Aryaman's number!"

(Navya gave her & she called him, she went aside to talk.)

Nandini," Hello, Aryaman!?"

Aryaman," Yes! Who's this!!"

Nandini," Its me, Nandini!"

Aryaman," Hey, hi! Miss Nandini, kaisi hain ap, humein kaise yad kiya apne?"

Nandini," Vo tum college nahi arahe na, Navya told its been a long time since u didn't came to college, so i called! Actually i need Mukti's guitar & her guitar strings!, jo usne tumko khareedne ko bola tha!!"

Aryaman," Ohh! Yeah! Actually, i was out of station, just returned today! So i will give you tomorrow or else if you want now, u can come at my place & collect both of them!"

Nandini," Okay, i will be there within half an hour, text me your address!"

Aryaman," Okay, cool!"

(Both disconnects the call. Nandini turns & found Manik standing in front of her.)

Nandini," Kya hua?"

Manik," Nothing!!"

Nandini," Toh tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?"

Manik," Kyu, i can't stand here, is there any copyright issue??"

(Manik said in taunting way & Nandini got irritated!!")

Nandini," Forget that, i even asked!"

( Nandini was about to leave but suddenly Manik hold her from her elbow & pulls her back.)

Nandini (trying to get rid of Manik's grip, but failed)," Manik, whats wrong with you, i said leave me!!"

Manik, What's wrong with me?? Seriously, you are asking me this? Ask this to yourself?"

Nandini," What do you mean?"

Manik," I mean, why are you behaving with me like this??

Nandini," How am i behaving?"

Manik," You are running away from me, may i know why?"

Nandini," Aisa kuch nahi hai Manik, tumhe bas laga aisa!"

Manik," Nandini, for god's sake stop lying & speak up the truth yar, comeon!!'

Nandini  (little loudly in anger) ," Fine, what do i say, you tell me, why am i behaving in wierd way, cz i have already told you that there's nothing like that!"

(Manik came close a little, and Nandini stepped back.)

Manik," Because of the way i came close to you thats why you are behaving like this!!"

(Nandini was surprised the way Manik said directly and clearly, what was in her heart and her angry expressions changed to surprised one, both were looking at each other now, Nandini in surprise and Manik for Nandini's yes.)

Manik," Now say am i right or not?"

(Nandini  broke eye contact.)

Nandini," Aisa....aisa kuch nahi hai Manik please let me go!!"

(Saying this she jerked Manik and left the place.)

Manik," God, this girl drives me crazy, what's in her mind i need to know!!"

(Manik follows her which Nandini wasn't aware of. Both reached at Aryaman's house.)

(At Aryanan'sdoorstep)

Nandini," Manik what are you doing here?"

Manik," I came here for my answer!"

Nandini," Manik, i already told you na, please stop troubling me and leave! I have some work."

Manik," Why aisa kisse mil rahi ho ke you want me to go!"

Nandini," Its nothing like that! Fine don't leave okay!"

(She rang bell! Door opened, it was Aryaman.)

Aryaman," Hi guys, come in"

Manik & Nandini," Hi!!"

(Everyone went inside.)

Aryaman," Nandini i thought you will come alone!!"

Manik," Why do you have any issue if i come along with her or i spoiled your private special moment!!"

(Manik said in a stern voice, Nandini pinched on his hand. Manik looked at Nandini with " What's wrong expressions, with his head tilted downwards and eyes little widened.)

Aryaman (smiles)," No, no nothing like that bro, maine bas aise hi puch lia!!"

(Everyone sat on couch. Maid offered them water, first and then came with coffee and some snacks.) 

Nandini," Aryaman, please give me that guitar and those strings na!!"

Aryaman," Ya, i just come in a minute!"

Nandini," Okay!!'

(Aryaman went and Manik also went out to pick up the call. Nandini ate few snacks and went to see the house and she stopped in front of few photo frames on the wall, and she stood there, the pics were of two kids mostly and his parents too. Aryaman came from behind.)

Aryaman," Hey tum yahan kya kar rahi ho?'

Nandini," Ahh, i was just looking around, your house is pretty nice! Manna padega you have decorated it nicely, despite being a boy"

Aryaman," Ohh, thanks!"

Nandini," Aryaman, yeh pictures kiski hain?"

Aryaman," Well these are pictures of my family members, they are my parents (he said pointing towards one pic.) "

Nandini," Aur yeh childhood pic kiski hai??" 

(Nandini said pointing towards a pic.)

Aryaman," Nandini ek toh main hoon, but dusri ko tum pehchan ke batao ke kon hai yeh?'

Nandini," Aryaman, how would i know her, its you with her! I hardly know you and her!!"

Aryaman, Its my childhood friend, Chinky, remember i told you about her in cafe!!"

Nandini, " Ohh yeah, i remember, she is so cute , so kuch pata chala unke bare mein?"

Aryaman," Ya, i got to know ke uski family is staying in US, main wahin gaya tha and i found them. But Chinky is still missing and i don't know where is she!"

Nandini," Well that's bad!!'

Aryaman," Ugh, no no not at all, i have people working over and they will soon find her."

(Nandini smiled, Manik came>)

Manik," Guys, you are here, i was looking for you on couch!!"

Nandini," Ya i was looking his house, see Manik its Aryaman's family and she is her childhood friend, Chinky, but he dont know where she is, that's so wierd na?"

Manik," Hmm yeah! So Nandini, shall we leave now, if your work is done?"

Aryaman," Arey, why are you guys leaving, dinner karke jana!!"

Nandini," Thanks for offering dinner Aryaman, but we need to leave now, kabhi aur dinner karenge!!"

Aryaman," Okay! Bye then!!"

(Both, Manik and Nandini left. Manik also sit in Nandini's car.)

Nandini," Tum apni car mein kyun nahi arahe ho??"

Manik," Kyunki vo car driver lekar araha hai! And is there any issue if i come in this car, yeh bhi toh meri hi car hai!!"

(Nandini drove car, both reach at home, have their dinner and went to their respective rooms.)

(Manik in his room, was moving to and fro.)

Manik (to himself) ," I think, there's something that Nandini is hiding from me, as in whenever i go near her the ways she behaves it feels like... it feels like she feels something for me, I need to find out, but how!! I think i should ask her again, but i tried talking to her, vo bata bhi toh nahi rahi hai, what to do now? Kaise pata karoon main??" 

( Manik was thinking, he bit his lower lip, stroked his hands in his hairs. And smirked when he got an idea.)

 Think of his bright idea, what might it be?? So guys here's next update of Is It Love?Do give your valuable feedback! Do read, comment, & share it too! Don't forget to vote!

Love, K