In Murthy Mansion,

Nandini woke up from the sleep along with the 🌞 Sun. She got up from the bed and got ready in a hour. She went downstairs ,

Ishita was in kitchen making breakfast for them while Raman was reading a newspaper in the hall .

"Ishi maa " Nandini screamed standing in the hall and settled down beside the Raman on sofa.

"What u want baby?" Ishita asked from kitchen.

"Please keep milk on stove for boiling .... Today I will have milk bourn vita in my room " Nandini said and Raman looked at her.

"Why in room today?...... Everyday toh u drink while having breakfast....umm" He asked .

"I need some alone time Papa " she said sadly moving her head like a old woman.

"Wooo.....My little kid is grown up " Raman chirped with a smile seeing his little doll is grown up but still she is so innocent.

Nandini nodded and went in kitchen grabbing a 'SAD' mug  she poured milk in mug and added two spoons of bourn vita and went towards the balcony of her room .

Sipping on milk she enjoyed the view in front of her and cool breeze , while seating on the Modak Hanging  Swing Chair .

But something unusual caught her attention and she choked on her drink and got up from her position and hurried towards bedroom to get ready as soon as possible for academy.

.........||

Door bell rang and Ishita opened the door to find young man was standing outside the home. Looking all confidant from his posture with keeping his head high with arrogant look on his handsome face.

"Ummm .....I am...I " ohh he was nervous from inside Ishita noticed and chuckled to herself.

"U r Manik , right?" she asked and he nodded.

"So Nandini finally invited u for breakfast ....Come in " Ishita said with soft smile. Manik frowned little but thought it would be better and she will not ignored him in front of her parents.

He entered with small smile on his face and they reached near dinning table Ishita asked him to sit and he obliged.

"Raman look ....Manik is here" Manik heard Ishita's  chirpy voice.

Manik roamed his eyes arround his surroundings and found Bourn vita ,  2 mugs placed on dinning table with a different type of dish and spoons on the particular spot.
He was confused seeing them because they looked absolutely childish to him because  one mug was showing 'Happy' mood and on other one was showing 'Angry' mood with there respective emojis. And plate was decorated with Barbies pictures along with spoon.

(Ignore barbie mug here)

"Do Nandini have small sibling or cousin or niece or nephew?" Startled by his question Ishita  , Raman looked at him in confusion.

"What ?" Raman asked while taking his position on his chair while Ishita followed Manik's gaze and understood why he is asking such question.

"Manik we have only one baby ....Our Nandini....And all this things belongs to her" Ishita cleared his confusion and chuckled.

"Soo childish.....And immature" he too chuckled at her antiques.

"She is still my baby.....She is too small yet matured.....So don't say anything to my princess" Raman barked at them because how they can say this about his little daughter.

"Ha....Small Baby of 21yrs old ......And hell matured enough that she still chooses Mug to drink milk with Bourn vita according to her mood " Ishita said sarcastically and Manik chuckled but Raman groaned.

"Ishita" both Raman nd Nandini screamed in annoyance but Ishita laughed only and Manik was in shocked hearing her calling her Mom by her name. Nandini was on her way to dinning table when she heard her mom's voice

"See she is still holding 'Sad' mug " Ishita again teased.

"Aaa...Papaaaa" she cried out in frustration.

" Come here and sit at ur place , baby and have ur breakfast" Raman said softly.

"Still baby" Manik sighed and murmured to himself but Ishita heard and give him approving nod. Nandini and Raman rolled there eyes at duo .

"What u will have plane Dosa or cheese dosa ?" Ishita asked Manik.

"I want cheese dosa" Nandini chirped and give him a smug look.

Ignoring her Ishita asked him again "And  u , Manik?"

"I would love to have sponge dosa if possible" Manik requested and Ishita agreed.

"Ummm....Aunty please do add cheese too " he said giving same look to Nandini and she huffed.

After few minutes all of them started there breakfast and Ishita was serving him properly with affection and he was also enjoying her company and it was first time for Nandini to watch him mingling with someone so quickly. She always saw him being reserved jerk but today he was different and real with Ishita. It was shocking but she remembered Ruby's words and thought he is charmer. She was happy to see him carefree but she was still angry on him nd he has to make it up for her.

"Manik why are you here?" Nandini suddenly asked him out of nowhere.

"Off course because of u " Ishita said in his defence.

"Haa...U only invited me that day " he said and find her murmuring curses for him to herself and he winked at her secretly and she glared him.

" I think He is here for free breakfast Nandu " Raman whispered in her ear and she chuckled and both of them started laughing. Where Manik Ishita was silent spectators.

..........||

Having no other option Nandini agreed to go with him to avoid argument in front her parents. Actually she had option she could told them truth but that would have spoiled his image in front of them so she choosed to go with him.

Raman and Nandini were standing outside waiting for Manik to come and Manik was leaving but he stopped.

"Manik " Ishita called and he turned back.

"She is more precious to us and so innocent for world" she said. "Don't ruin her innocence.... Don't hurt her " Manik instantly looked at her.

"U knew?"

"What do you think?....I can't see how upset she was from last few days....And when today I saw u nervous.....Then I knew reason behind her sorrow is u" she further explained.

"Then why aren't you mad at me?" he asked as she was treating him very sweetly from beginning. And this confused him.

"I feel ur must be worthy person if my feisty cat is still defending u from her dear Papa ....If not then u must be in hospital by now" she chuckled at thought of her feisty daughter and her over protective father.

"I don't know....But surely I will try to save my money , from now onwards by keeping check on my actions .....If not then ur daughter is  enough to expanding my hospital bills " Ishita laughed on his answer and affectionately ruffled his hair.

"U better be stay with ur words or else I won't let u in my daughter's life again " She said in little bit stern nd concerned voice.

"Thank you" he said with genuine smile , she frowned at his remark but eventually smiled at him affectionately when she got that he said thanks for trusting on him for this time.

..........||

Manik and Nandini reached at the academy. Throughout there journey he was thinking about how to mend things and also about the Ishita , he himself was shocked that how he have bonded with her so easily. May be because , she is sweet and protective mother , and a person with gud heart, Just like Nandini.

And Nandini was silent but was constantly glaring him and also was frustrated with his behaviour. She wanted to forgive him but he is like not even apologizing her. . She was also feeling emptiness without him from last few days. And she will start talking first is not happening she can't keep her self respect aside for him.

She was about to got down "Nandini " she stopped and looked at him.

"Thanks for breakfast" he said with a smile but she glared him and shook her head in disbelief and got down from car and slumped the door behind making loud sound. She was expecting him to say sorry .

..........|||

"Hey Nandu why u r so grumpy darling" Aayan asked as he saw her annoyed face.

"Nothing.....I just didn't like today's breakfast" she said looking at Manik . After that car incident he tried to talk with her but she ignored him totally and now they were with there friends who are clueless about cold war between Manik and Nandini.

"Why is it so?" Naina asked.

"Because my mother was serving a breakfast to a monster so sweetly"  Nandu scoffed with anger. Manik slightly chuckled.

"What?... Monster?" Rohan and Aayan said unbelievably

"yes"

"Then why ur mom served him ?......It could be dangerous for ur family" Innocent Naina was concerned.

"May be that monster was a charmer " Manik smirked at Nandini and infuriated she walked out from there.

"What's with her today? ....She is behaving differently" Rohan asked

"Yeah darling was upset since few days" Aayan second him.

"Don't worry guys she will be all fine tommorow... I will see her " Manik assured them and they agreed to him reluctantly. As they were not sure that he could make her calm .

..........||

Manik was driving back from the academy with grumpy Nandini beside him on passenger seat. She was more irritated with him as well as with her. She don't want to go with him because she was angry but again she wants to be near him.

This contradictory thoughts were turning her insane as she wasn't sure what actually she wants and reason behind her messed mind was him. She was so engrossed with her messed up mind and fucked up thoughts that she didn't realised car has been stopped.

"Let's get down" his voice bring her back to real world and she looked outside and found them away from usual streets.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"Outside the small isolated park" he stated.

"And why is it so?" she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Get down , I will explain" he ordered her in calm tone and his attitude infuriated her more and she turned her face.

He get out from car and opened her door and asked her to come out but stubborn she was making him impatient. And he was clenching his fist of injured palm to suppress his anger and she didn't wanted him to got hurt  so she unwillingly came out of car.

"What's ur problem Manik?....Why we are here?" She asked. But getting no response from him irritated she turned back to sit in car but hand held her and turned her towards him.

Holding her waist from his one hand he pulled her close to him and her breath got hitched because of proximity and his intense gaze on her. She tried to get out of his hold but his hold was firm.

"Why aren't you forgiving me Nandini?" he asked with rage and impatience in his eyes.

"For that person needs to apologise first , isn't it?" she retorted directly staring into his eyes.

"I did apologize to u that day itself.... Even after that also I tried so many times" he said in calm and accusing tone.

She remained silent for minute and not getting her response he took her affected hand slowly towards his lips and kissed her fingers softly yet passionately.

"Does it still hurts?" he asked and she looked at him with gloomy eyes.

"Yes it hurts but not this fingers but ur actions...Why are you like this Manik?..... Always impulsive ready to pounce on person even without thinking what he/she may feel "She accused him pointing her finger at his chest.

"But it was more irritating , that this state of urs hurts me more.....I don't know why but everytime I saw pain of past behind ur anger it made me hurt.....I feel to erase that pain of urs....But again ur impulsive behaviour hurts me.... and still after ur such behaviour I always wants u to share ur past with me....Why this is bothering to me Manik ..... when It shouldn't....why? " she busted out her frustration , anger , hurt through her tears and she cried in his warmth and he was completely lost in the thought that how anyone can be this selfless how she can care for a person like him. He caressed her hair to soothe her .

"Because u r too good for this world and u r pure hearted, innocent minion who can't see anyone in pain" he smiled  stroking her hair and she looked at him somehow trying to see sincerity in his eyes. She remained still in his embrace and stopped crying .

After feeling her breathing normal he freed her and asked "Come with me"

"Where?"

"There on bench or swing?" he asked.

"Why we need to go there?" she asked.

"To share my past " she was surprised that he wanted to share and she was happy. So happy that she didn't replied.

"If u don't want to th...."

"On swing" she said excitedly.

"But before that promise me u won't ask any further questions" he said.

"okay"

.............||

They were swinging from last five minutes and Manik was all silent somehow was embarrassed or confused to share .

"Is it about ur ex girlfriend?" she asked seeing him lost somewhere and suddenly he looked at her and nodded in no.

"No ..... She was good looking girl but we were never in serious relationship that was just  imfacutuation in teenage..... And we broke up on good note , she was understanding and we both weren't in love....So it wasn't related to her " he replied her sincerely and she suddenly felt her heart bloom with unknown pleasure.

"Then what is it?"

"First reason was my dad brought that guitar for me when I was 13/14 .....I was so fascinated towards guitars after watching heroes playing guitar in movie...... Seeing passion for guitar in my eyes he brought guitar on very next day and he introduced me to music....He admitted me in music class and I didn't knew that I can really play well and it will become my passion " he said with hurtful yet blissful memory of his childhood . And she listened to him carefully but didn't asked anything even after having flooded mind with numerous questions but she was bounded by promise. She caressed his arm with her hand somehow trying to soothe him.

"What was another reason?"

"My friends ..... U  always complained me na that why I am like this always angry , monster and lives alone?"  he asked her with humourous pain and she nodded with gloomy eyes.

"U know..... I always  feared about loneliness.....That was the only fear I had in my life since childhood..... May be that was the reason I used to easily mingle with people and make them my friends.....On very first day of school I started mingling with people and I made friends....In every class I used to have lots of friends with me but I didn't had one true friend in my whole life.....They always were good company to me but never were true friends " he said this part and then pause for some time and again started.

"But later I found that they weren't with me but with my intelligence and money.....They used to use me for getting average numbers in exams or to flaunt that I am there friend who is topper....But I was always in limelight not because of my grades but because of my mischiefs.....I was kind of a bad boy with good looks and intelligence.....We were a gang used to rule school and college ...... I was rich and spoilt brat whose father used to grant his small , big or any kind of wish.....I was having every luxurious thing in front of me that would be dream for any teenage boy.....And all who were with me was lucky to have me in there life .... Till the time that day came " he sighed with last line and she intervened there fingers with each other and asked him to continue.

"That day came into my life and my world rotated in 360 degree  , everything changed drastically..... I backed out myself from Malhotra's wealth after that incident and I shared this news with my friends but they were shocked and somewhere they were feeling that it was just my impulsive descion nd I will change that soon....They stayed silent for whole day neither of them try to console me or soothe me but they passed disappointed looks at me but never tried to read my inner turmoil.... At the end we reached at Academy I told Miss Ruby I wouldn't be able to continue my acting and then realisation drowned to my friends that my descion was firm . They passed me nasty looks and moved out I followed them and tried to stop them....But they broke all the ties of friendship with me even they said that they have nothing to do with a penny less person who is nothing but garbage now ...... Anger took over me and I faught as I recalled every memory of us ..... But they said it was nothing but a fake delusional world where I was living.....They humiliated me with my guitar which I had took with me from academy after bidding bye to academy ...   they said it will help u for ur survival....When u will start begging do use ur guitar it may help you to get some attraction nd money.....They throw my guitar in front of me and left .....I collapsed ,  I broke down  , I cried.....And That was the last day when I was vulnerable in front of world "

He completed his story in unstable voice and in the last he was again vulnerable in front of her but he wasn't crying but was stiff and hard . Pain surely made him strongest . But she could feel inner him . Lack of words she instantly hugged him with intensity to soak in his pain.

She was shedding his unshed tears through her eyes and he hold her with same intensity to share his pain and make himself free from that unbearable sorrow.

"Let it go Manik" she said after few minutes and he looked at her .

"Don't hold on something which is not worthy and moreover it was past " she tried to make him understand.

"It's not easy " he sighed.

"It's not difficult either " he looked at her

"Okay tell me few things.....Do u still want those friends of urs back .( he nodded no) .....Do u have soft corner for them somewhere in ur mind ( he thought for few seconds and again nodded no)....Are you still poor money less boy ( he instantly nodded no) ...... Do u want to take revenge from them ?"

"I think I already took by standing on my feet all over again gaining everything which I wanted" he said firmly.

"So in short those people were not near you in any possible way but still ur holding on pain because of them .....What logic is this Manik? " he was stunned with her question because she was right.

"Do you love ur music..... Just music....Not the source or person behind u joined music" he was again lost of words for few minutes and then he said

"Yes.... it's my passion Nandini" he closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

"See all this is simple u just need to let go of the things which never meant to be seek ur attention on first space but still u wasted ur years over that .....And u need to hold on the things in which ur peace lies "  she said looking into his eyes.

Cupping his face in her palms " Manik there is no point to cry over spilt milk .....No matter how many times u will thought about it it will give u pain only ....It will not give u peace but letting go off will surely give u peace" she kissed his forehead and he closed his eyes soaking her warmth.

"I will try " he smiled faintly. "We should leave now " he added and she nodded.

He was convinced with her but still some part of him was hurted and knowing this she instantly closed his eyes with her one palm bend down and kissed him at his heart. She kept her lips there for 10 seconds and ending serene moment she asked ,

"Does it still hurts" she kept her hand over his heart and he held her hand over him .

"It has founded it's peace now " she smiled or may be blushed little at his confrontation.

He was feeling immense relief he listened to her and thought of letting go his sorrow but her lips made him implemented on his thoughts and he was over with this incident of guitar and he will surely start playing it again with same passion.

This evening was filled with his truth , hurt , vulnerability and she gathering him , composing him and taking him out of his past to beautiful present and leading him to best future.

"Thank you " he said genuinely looking into her  eyes and with a peaceful smile and she anticipated by giving her beautiful smile.

They stayed there for some more time in complete yet soothing silence he was so much  relived but was stunned by the beauty seating beside him she was innocent , childish but wasn't immature  . Even she was more than matured , her words were simple but real , she showed him a simple path which was more peaceful than keeping grudges in mind for whom he doesn't care nd similarly that person also doesn't care.

Where she was engrossed with so many thoughts and emotions by seeing his each emotion and emotional state while listening to him. There were so much into her plate to look after because he had shared one part of his sorrow and not the whole story. But whatever it was she just felt right at that time to give him peace. And somehow she got succeed and she was pleased with that.

...........||

They drove back to there houses he dropped her Infront of her house getting down from car she turned back.

"Ur punishment is still pending Mr Malhotra" she said with mischievous grin.

"And for what?"

"For this (she showed her injured hand which was almost healed) and for this (she showed him his injured hand who was yet to healed as his cut was deeper thab her) "

"What?... Why?"

"Because it did hurt me " she shrugged and he accepted his defeat.

"Okay I am ready" he surrendered.

"So be ready in tomorrow morning" she smirked and he was already scared.

"Bye Manikkk" she screamed and ran into her house he smiled and went back to his house with content smile.

............ End..........||

If u found any mistake let me know.

How was the chap?

........Aish ❣️...,.....