..............Manik's POV............

It was Friday morning and again a flute melody broke my sleep...Yes the same flute melody that I had played for her years back...Honestly I was not expecting her to keep it..I was taken by surprise when I heard it the first time...I wanted to ask her why she has it till now but restrained myself...the urge to ask her crossed my mind everyday during my stay but every time I stopped myself ...Nevertheless I was getting up from the bed when Abhi spoke

Abhi – Don't...please don't get up...keep sleeping

Me – Abhi dude I guess you've mistaken me for Mukti...she slept in the other room last night remember..I am Manik not Mukti...

Abhi – Good morning Manik...I know it is you..and that is why I am asking you not to get up..!!

Me – Shut Up Abhi...I am awake...I need to get up..what is wrong with you...Stop acting weird..!!

Abhi – Manik dude...you hear this music that is playing..

Me – Yes I do...!!

Abhi – Okay so my sister she listens to this every single day..it's like a morning doze for her...She listens to this at least 3 times on repeat, sometimes even more...She gets cranky if you disturb her during this...so if you wake up right now she might stop playing it...that is something she is doing since last we came here...I don't want to push her beyond what she can take...so will you please keep sleeping till the same plays on repeat at least thrice please...

Manik – Okay fine...

My music, my friends everyone is still a part of your life Nandini except me...this melody still gives you peace, nothing's changed...except the fact that the melody no longer brings the HOPE with it as it did 7 years ago.. or does it...??

............Manik's POV ends..........

Manik finally got up 10 minutes after the alarm tone finished 3 iterations. He got ready for a jogging session where he was joined by Abhi. After jogging for almost an hour, they settled down on the bench nearby

Abhi – It feels good to jog after days...

Manik – Absolutely buddy, I mean our bodies are so accustomed to gyms and exercise that it's been only 5 days that we did not exercise and I already feel fat..!!

Abhi – Haha...true that...Imagine we haven't done anything exhausting in these few days, still we feel so tired...

Manik – Exactly...same here...that is the reason I came out for a jog...and trust me I already feel fresh..

Abhi – Hmm...one more round what say..!!

Manik – No..you continue...I guess I'll head home..!!

Manik got up to leave

Abhi – So you are the one my little sister was in love with..??

Manik – How do you know...?? (Manik Said settling down again)

Abhi – Because neither am I stupid, nor am I mad..!!....I can clearly sense the harmony and the tension between the two of you..Such contradicting emotions are only seen between lovers not just friends...so tell me who out of the two of you realized that the line from being friends to love has been crossed..!!

Manik – Abhi listen buddy..I know you want to know everything that has happened in the past but this is something personal...I really can't tell you about it..!!

Abhi – Personal..Ok so let me put it this way..Dhruv and Alya's confession was not personal...Navya and Cabir's love life too is not personal, Me proposing your sister was not personal but your realization of love is personal...Right....!!! Such a hypocrite you are Manik..!!

Manik – Abhi why are you getting so hyper about it..

Abhi – Why am I getting hyper...You think I seriously want to know the past just for fun right...Let me correct you Mr. Manik Malhotra...I want to know the past since it has left two of the most important people in my life hurt...My sister and my best friend...I want to dig in the past since it gives me a hope to heal them...but Alas..Unfortunately I am trying my best to heal someone who does not want to be healed...Sorry about that...!!

Saying this Abhi got up to leave

Manik – It was Me

Abhi (turned around) – Huh

Manik – It was ME who first realized that I love her....Come (pointing towards the seat)...I'll tell you..!!

............Flashback Starts..............

Manik - It was during our trip to Goa, the night after Dhruv and Alya's confession, I was sitting on the beach and Nandini joined me.

Nandini – Still gazing stars..??

Me – Hmm....the sky looks so beautiful and the reflection of stars in the sea makes it all the more alluring..

Nandini – Hmm...(she got hold of my left arm and rested her head on my shoulder)..

Me - you know sometimes I wish I could touch those stars..but see they are so far away...

Nandini – But that doesn't mean we can touch them...(I rolled my eyes at her)...what you don't believe me...(saying this she got and forwarded her hand)...Come with me..

Me – (I held her hand and got up)...Nandini what are you trying to do...

Nandini – Shshhh....Manik Malhotra...brace yourself for in a few moments for now Nandini Murthy shall fulfill your wish..(saying this she dragged me to the shore and asked me to bend, she pointed towards the star reflection in the water) Manik you know the only thing that is true to you is your reflection, it has your essence in it...similarly the reflection in this water has the essence of the stars shining in the sky...and that is why when you look at this water you see it shining...Fair enough you can't touch the stars in the sky but these little pearls in the water they are not out of your reach...!!

Me – Nandini Come to the point

Nandini – The point is that Manik, stars are far away..they fascinate us as they drive away the darkness...you should stop looking out for objects rather seek for virtue...objects may or may not be in your reach but the quality that sets them apart will always be around you..you just need to find it...!!

Her words made so much sense and like a little kid I started touching the water wherever it was shining...A few moments later, I heard Cabir's voice

Cabir – Nandini, Mukti is looking for you...she needs your help..!!

Nandini – Help...Ok I'll just go and check on her..!!

Saying this she left

Me – Is Mukti Okay..??

Cabir – Ya..i guess some girl thing....so what you doing here..??

Me – Nothing...you guys were busy with your respective partners so I just came here....

Cabir - ........to spend time with your partner...!!

Me – Cabir..please not again...Nandini and I are just good friends....!!

Cabir – Did I mention Nandini...I was talking about your stars...Anyways...now that you have brought her into the conversation...Do you ever plan to realize your feelings for her....??...Please don't tell me, like Alya, I have to play that game "One word that pops in your mind" to make you realize...!!

Me – Ok fine..I accept what I feel for her is more than just friendship but I am not sure...Okay you are in love with Navya right (Cabir nodded in affirmation)...how do you know it is love and not an attraction..??

Cabir – Dude are you crazy...love is not science...that a chemical reaction will give you an observation and based on that observation you deduce end result...Love is a feeling...You feel the most comfortable around that one person...around her you can be illogical, insensible, the most childish version of yourself without any fear or insecurities...

Me – But I am comfortable around you guys too...I can be as immature as I wish around you guys and my family...how do you differentiate..??

Cabir – No Manik...you are wrong...you think you are unguarded against us but when it comes to our family and friends we always build a wall around us...thick or thin that does not matter...but in reality there are certain things that we would just keep to our own self may be because we do not want to trouble or worry anyone...whatever may be the reason, but a part of us always hidden....However, someday in life we find someone who unfolds that mystery, breaks that wall and we allow her to do that, not because we want her to get worried about us but because somewhere we know that someone will share our pain, hold our hand and won't let it go until we are out of it...We are highly insecure individuals Manik but love is something that gives us a security...!!..think about it..!!

Me – Thanks Cabir..

Cabir – You are welcome brother...also..one more thing they say "When silence between two people is comfortable, you know you've found love"

Saying this Cabir left, but the conversation with him got me thinking. I remembered the time when I told her about my grades, it was something I hadn't shared with anyone but her, Is that the wall Cabir was talking about..??..I know I feel most comfortable around her, I care for her and so does she...Our silence speaks volumes...Does that mean I am love..??..I kept thinking over and over again until I found my answer..It was a sleepless night for me but surprisingly I was not tired at all.

Next morning we roamed around for a few more hours and then left for Mumbai around noon. It was a 10 hour journey which got further delayed due to rain. On reaching Mumbai, I decided to drop Nandini to her hostel since Navya had planned for a night out with Cabir. In the car, she spoke

Nandini – Manik, I can't believe it is raining in May...anything can happen na...I mean the weather these days is so unpredictable...!!

Me – Hmm

Nandini – Manik..look out,..you can't see a single star in the sky...the clouds have covered them all..??

Me – Actually I can see ONE STAR SHINING BRIGHTLY

Nandini – Really where...Manik show me na...where is that star..??

I took a slight left and stopped the car in the left corner of the road

Nandini – What happened Manik, please don't tell me the car broke down...Aiyappa...what will I do now..??

Me – Shshh....Nandini there is something I need to tell you...

Nandini – What..??

I moved towards her side and wrote something on side window. Nandini looked at it all shocked

Me – I LOVE YOU NANDINI...you wanted to see the star shining brightly (her body was too numb to react so she just blinked her eyes and I turned my rear view mirror in such a way that she could see her reflection in it)...It is you Nandini...MY SHINING STAR...last night you told me to seek for virtue and I did..I realized I don't have to aim for the stars in the sky or touch the reflection in water when I have you around..since you are nothing less than the star that has brightened my life the most...

Nandini – Manik...but....

Me – Nandini...please let me speak.. honestly I didn't realize when you transformed from being someone who made me smile to being the catalyst of the happiness and joy in my life, from a gorgeous girl I met to the most beautiful girl I know, from my friend to my best friend to the girl I love. You crossed that line so swiftly that I can't even pin point the exact moment when the transition happened..!!

Nandini – What should I say Manik...

Me – May be "Manik I love you too" (she looked at me shocked and I busted out laughing..) what...listen I told you this doesn't mean you have to reciprocate my feeling right at this moment...I know this is too sudden for you but then it was you who specifically asked me not to wait for confession once I get hold of my feeling..remember after Dhruv and Alya's confession...so I just followed what you said..I realized I love you but at the same time I know you need time...I confessed doesn't mean you should too...you can take your time....I am patient enough to wait..!!

.............Flashback ends..........

Manik – With this she hugged me with all of her strength...and all she said was a "Thank You"...not the best response to a confession like that but way better than denial...her thank you had hope in it...hope to keep me going...hope to keep me loving her...

Abhi –That is beautiful Manik..!!

Manik – (smiled)....not just that...our relationship was beautiful until I....(Manik stopped abruptly)

Abhi – Until you..??....So tell me why did you break her heart...My sister is a broken soul now and so are you...do you have any idea how much it hurts to see you guys like that...Why did you leave her Manik....Didn't you love her enough...??

Manik – What..!!...Have you gone nuts Abhi...I love Nandini...Yes I did hurt her...But Abhi I didn't leave your sister...She left me..!!

Saying this Manik walked away. On reaching home, Abhi looked out for Nandini.

Abhi – Muku where is Nandu..??

Mukti – She went out....she said she would be back in a couple of hours...Where's Manik..he was with you right..??

Abhi – He hasn't returned..(Mukti nodded negatively).... He must have gone for another round...Don't worry he shall come back soon

It was almost afternoon and neither Manik nor Nandini had returned..

Dhruv – Cabir sign these papers...I'll click a picture and send this to our PA..

Cabir – Sure Man...(Cabir signed the papers)...Hey what is the date today....??

Dhruv – 16 September

As soon as Dhruv announced the date everyone looked at each other with a shocked expression

Cabir – Oh crap....16 September...it is

All I(together)– Manik's Birthday...!!!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------End of Chapter 15 (part 1)-------

Here you go with part 1 of this Chapter....

The chapter is relatively long and hence I have bifurcated it into two parts..next part will have Nandini's confession, Manik's birthday and a few more moments...Stay tuned...!!

Thank You everyone for the support..!! :) :) :)

That's it from me for today...See you guys..Cheers..!!