"Oh wow.."Manik's eyes widened in shock as his eyes fell on the collection of Indian Musical Instruments that was the library of Gurukul had.

"Pick up any instrument of your choice.."Rama gestured towards the instruments "..and then come to the common room for your next session.."saying this Rama turned towards the door "..and be quick..Amma doesn't like latecomers.."Manik simply nodded after which Rama walked out of the room.

Manik was fascinated with the collection of the instruments that was in front of him. He felt like a child who was lost in his favourite candy store.

"Kya choose karu.."he scratched his chin. "kuch samajh me nahi aa raha..they all are so wonderful.."he shook his head and sighed.

But before he could get more confused his eyes fell on the sitar that was kept on one of the top shelves.

Fascinated by it he picked it up and kept on the desks of the library. "Wow.."his eyes were shining with excitement.

Though he always played Rock but deep down Indian classical music always fascinated him. He always wanted to learn Indian Classical Instruments like tabla,sitar..Veena..but he never got the chance.

Apart from placating Nandini the other reason why he said yes for this WORKSHOP was that he wanted to learn..

..he wanted to widened his horizon of knowledge...

...and what could be a better opportunity than to get his wish fulfilled by learning it from a legend like KISHORI MURTHY herself.

....there was no way in the world he could miss an opportunity like this...so here he was..

...fulfilling his two precious dreams.

He ran his hand over the sitar and smiled.

He wanted to tune it but couldn't..as he didn't knew anything about it.

He picked out his cell phone to find a video relating to tuning of sitar but unfortunately there was no internet connectivity.

"Man.."he shook his head in annoyance as he kept the call phone back in his pocket.

He was about to rotate the Kunti of the sitar but that's when he was stopped by someone "Ruko..tum galat kar rahe ho.."

Manik's head snapped up and his heart started to beat faster as he saw Nandini walking towards him.

With every step that she took his heart started to race at a different pace altogether. ""Isko aise nahi karte..give it to me.."she stood next to him and gestured him to step aside.

Though she wasn't looking at him but she could feel his gaze on her face which annoyed her...

...not because she was uncomfortable..

...but because she was feeling something in her stomach..

...butterflies..

She was feeling giddy much to her annoyance but of course she didn't wanted him to know so she decided to pretend as if she wasn't paying any attention to him.

(Key word: pretence)

Without looking at him she said "hatne ka kasht karenge aap.."her words broke his trance.

That's when he realised he was gawking at her..and the fact made him embarrassed..so he nodded and stepped aside while looking anywhere but her.

Nandini stepped in and started to tune it. Though Manik tried his best to look anywhere else but he failed miserably as once again his eyes returned on her.

But this time he was watching her with awe as he was super impressed by the way she skilfully  started to tuned the sitar.

"Tumhe yeh sare instruments..I mean..sare Indian musical instruments play karne aate hai.."he questioned.

"Haan.."she replied without looking at him as she continued to tuned the sitar."Impressive.."she heard him saying.

Nandini didn't say anything as she knew that  he truly meant it. "Music means everything to you...haina.."

Manik's words weren't question rather it was a statement of fact. Nandini could hear the curiosity in Manik's voice which proved that he was genuinely intrigued.

So sighing and still looking away she finally answered "Let's just say that..music give me peace.."

She finally finished tuning the sitar and keeping it back on the desk she gestured "it's done..now it's ready...you can play it now.."

"I don't know anything regarding this.."he looked down."will you help me learning it.."he requested "Since you know how to play it can you show it to me..."

"Amms will teach you..isn't that the reason why you came here at first place."Nandini snapped finally looking at him.

But immediately she regretted her impulsive act as Manik's face fell...though he tried not to show it but it was quite clear that he was hurt.

Though she thought that she wouldn't be affected by him anymore but in that moment she knew she was wrong..

...she was affected by him..

...that's why the pain which she inflected on him was giving her pain only.

Composing herself she said "I am sorry..i didn't mean to sound so stern..I apologise.."

"No need to apologise..."Manik shook his head as he spoke. "Please don't say sorry..you didn't say anything wrong..please don't." She looked down so he continued "..if you don't mind..can you please play it just once..if it's not too much to ask.."

"Sure.."she took the sitar and started playing it.

Soon the entire environment of the room changed..

...it turned magical.

Nandini was lost in Music...

...and...

....Manik was lost in her.

Finally the piece ended. Nandini opened her eyes to find Manik staring at her.

She looked away and that's when the her eyes fell on the clock..

...her eyes widened as she realised that she had been playing the sitar for around 40 minute.

"Aiyappa.."she closed her eyes. "I am sorry Manik..I didn't realise that I played it for so long.."

"It's okay Nandini..it's absolutely fine.."Manik tried to calm her. "In fact I should say thank you.."She looks at him with confused eyes. "Thank You..for what.."

"For playing such a beautiful piece.."Manik smiled."It was magical Nandini..it really was"

"You liked it.."Nandini smiled.

"No.."Manik shook his head. "I didn't.."

Her face fall but before she could feel bad about it Manik continued "I loved it.."her head snapped up "in fact I just realise something.."
Nandini's curiosity got the best of her so that's why before she could stop herself she ended up asking "What.."

"Yahi.."he looked straight into her eyes and replied "..ki..your music has the potential to make me forget about the existence of outside world..in fact I can watch you..for hours.."

She looked down in embarrassment."thank you..but I think you are being too generous.."

"No..I am just saying the truth.."Manik stated as a matter of fact. "Trust me on this.."

The moment he uttered the words "trust" her head snapped up and her entire expression changed in a second as she reminisce something..

"I promise...I will never hurt you again.."

"Yahi ki tum hamesha..mujh par trust karogi..."

""Agar Mai chahta toh...yeh jo hamne kiya na.."KISS"..toh sabke samne bhi kar sakta tha..jaise tumne woh punch mara tha...but woh kya hai na..unlike you I have got CLASS.."

"Finally..I get to do this.."

"Mission Nandini Murthy---ACCOMPLISHED"

Manik flinched as he witnessed the change in her expression...he saw how her eyes changed from being warm to dead cold.

"Amms next session is about to start in five minutes...she doesn't like latecomers...let's go.."Nandini walked out of the room without looking at him anymore.

"I know that things won't be easy.."Manik looked at the direction where Nandini left."I know i tried but..I guess my efforts.."he sighed. "...it just wasn't enough.."

"But I promise..I am going to do my best..I will do everything in my power to win back your trust..I won't force you into anything...but that doesn't mean I won't try..I have broken your trust...so I will be the one to mend it too.."

"I don't know whether we can go back to what we were seven months before or not..but I promise you that I will make sure that Guruma gets her smiling and vivacious Nandu back.."

"..I promise..."

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A/N:-

We have officially entered in the second half of the story.

Now..the forthcoming chapters will have too many KYY season 1 moment..

I hope you all are ready for it.

I will see you all soon❤️❤️

God bless ❤️