Manan entered the canteen and Manik made Nandini sit on one table and went to order their food. For a change he ordered veg schezwan fried rice with veg manchurian gravy.

As for fab4 they walked out of canteen when Manan were heading towards canteen and then took other direction of college which is why they didn't collide with Manan. Gvg the order Manik came back to her and sat in front of her and asked.

Ma-so what's the plan.......?

Nan-what plan......?

Ma-for the day.........?

Nan-kuch nhi......kaal last paper hai so aaj padai fir kaal party.........

Ma-hhhmm......nice......

They talked randomly after that and also their food arrived so they ate directly from the dish and not their individual plate. In btwn the had a small food fight. Like Manik had filled his spoon with rice and was abt to eat but to trouble him Nandini put back all the rice from his spoon and giggled seeing his expression.

Next Nandini filled her spoon and Manik emptied her spoon. Like this completed their lunch but Manik was in no mood to go away from her so he ordered for coke for both of them and enjoyed it slowly slowly.

They were talking on anything when Manik remembered something and he said fishing out is phone from his pocket.

Ma-you know today I saw a very stupid joke...... I mean aise jokes banata kaun hai.......

When Nandini heard abt joke that too from Manik she hidingly removed her phone and started recording. She had perfectly angled her phone that Manik's half of the body could be recorded. While unaware of the recording Manik started saying.

Ma-hear this out........ek hathi swimming pool mei jata hai......waha pe 3 chiti pool mei khel rhi hoti hai.......ek chiti hathi ko dekh kar kehti hai......Woh dekh....yeh wohi hathi hai na jisne tumhe kaal cheda tha.......aaj usse sabak sikhate hai. Dusri chiti-jaane do woh akela hai aur hum teen.........

There was complete silence btwn both of them. Manik locked his phone and looked at Nandini saying.

Ma-how stupid is it........

But in reply Nandini started laughing hysterically. She couldn't control. Her stomach ached and water flowed from her eyes while looking at her laughing figure Manik was asking with a frown.

Ma-what.......kya........tumhe yeh joke funny laga.......

But Nandini was busy in her laughing session and seeing her laughing a smile appeared on Manik's lips too but when there was no end to her laughter Manik again called her to stop her.

Ma-Nandini.........

Controlling her laughter Nandini composed herself and Manik again asked but his question sounded more like a statement.

Ma-tumhe yeh joke seriously itna funny laga.

Nandini waved her hand in no and controlled her new laughing round remembering for what she laughed so much.

Nan-joke nhi........joke sunna ne wala bahut funny tha.......

Ma-joke sunna ne wal.........

He realised that she was talking abt him so Manik acted to be a strict while Nandini recalled his tone and then said.

Nan-ek min........

She took her phone and opened the video she made of his and then playing the video she showed it to Manik while holding the phone in her hand coz she know that once he got it he won't take much time to delete it.

Manik saw the video Nandini was showing him and he realised that actually he looked very ugly while reading out the joke plus his ever so melodious voice sounded screeching in the recording.

The video ended and before Manik could snatch the phone Nandini pulled it back and hided in her pocket.

Ma-Nandini delete that.......

Nan-no.......

Then she spoke puffing her mouth and trying to remove a manly voice.....

Nan-ek hathi tha........

She couldn't control and started laughing. Manik was feeling embarrassed but Nandini couldn't control her laughter.

Ma-Nandini plz delete that......bahut ghanda hai yeh.......

Nan-nhi..........aur Manik tumhe meri kasam tum yeh video delete nhi karoge.......aur dhoke se toh bilkul bhi nhi.......

And she continued laughing. Manik pinches the bridge of his nose in embarrassment and said.

Ma-yaar Nandini you are making me embarrass.

With great difficulty Nandini stopped laughing and said.

Nan-aacha aacha sorry.........

But unwillingly a giggle left her lips and Manik looked at her. Nandini palmed her lips for a sec or two and then again said after removing her hand.

Nan-sorry.......pakka wala sorry........

Both drank their remaining coke and then Nandini said.

Nan-ab chale.......muje library bhi jana hai.....

Manik would have waited but fab4 might be waiting for him and instigating them for Nandini is not at all a good idea so he agreed. They left the canteen and Nandini entwined their elbows/hands while walking.

Manik looked at their closeness and he liked it. They walked towards jam room coz they have to cross fab5 jam room to reach library. Nandini was talking abt few things while Manik was just attentive towards their entwined hands. They reached outside jam room and Nandini said proudly.

Nan-dekho mei kitni aachi ladki ho.......ek ladke ko drop krne aayi ho.......aise pehle kabhi kisi ne nhi kiya hoga......

To let her be proud of herself Manik said.

Ma-true that.......

Nan-ab tum jao mei bhi jati ho.........

Ma-okay.......and listen at the end of college come to parking I will drop you home......

Nan-okay.......

She waved at him and then Manik entered in the jam room and Nandini walked further. Fab4 saw Manan parting ways coz they were too cmg in jam room but commenting on anything was just of no use so they simply entered the jam room and started their work.

Work in the sense their friendship,joking, jamming,teasing. With passing time things got settled btwn fab5 coz they didn't wanted to ruin their friendship but there was still that 1 % problem in muklya for Nandini but they had stopped voicing it out.

Nandini entered library and studied. In btwn smile occurred on her lips whenever her mind recalled her abt Manik's joke.

They college bell rang gvg the indication of the end of college day. All left college. Nandini came to parking and saw Manik sitting on his bike with holding resting his palm on the helmet that was resting on his fuel tank and his long legs looking sexy as he gave stretched it on the floor to support the bike and cabir was standing beside him both were talking. Nandini reached to Manik with a smile on her lips.

Manik saw her and saw Nandini smiling extra brightly. Both knew the reason. Once Nandini stood beside him cabir saw her.

C-hie Nandini......

Nan-hi.......

And she looked at Manik. She smiled remembering the joke and Manik had a slight fear that Nandini might share this to cabir so Manik's expressions were all negative.

Cabir saw the action and reaction of the expressions and his smart mind joined the dots that something happened btwn them.

C-kuch hova hai kya........

Before Nandini could say anything Manik spoke.

Ma-kuch bhi nhi.......you don't need to know.....

Cabir made an ohhh face understanding the privacy btwn them and Manik said to Nandini.

Ma-tum betho........

After Manik said that cabir asked something and his focused shifted to him so Nandini authrotively placed her bag on the tank of bike over his helmet and Manik palmed it inspite of being busy with talking to cabir.

Nandini palmed his shoulders and sat behind him. Since Manik was busy she took all the time in the world in sitting comfortably,setting her hair by looking in rear view mirror. Pulling her tee shirt down to avoid creases. Once Manik was done cabir and Manik exchanged the last words.....

C-Chal phir.......

Ma-haan........chal.......kaal milte hai.........

Cabir bid bye to both of them and they too replied with a smile. Manik gave her bag back to her and Nandini took that. He wore his helmet and twisted his key. The bike roared and Nandini encircled her hands around Manik's waist locking it on his stomach.

Manik kept his leg on the bike and soon he felt Nandini's soft cheek on his hard back. Nandini had leaned on him not putting all her weight and rested her body on his with her cheek on his back.

Manik looked at her over his shoulder and then turned his bike to leave the college gate. The drove towards the express way and a beautiful silence stayed btwn them. After a brief silence Nandini spoke softly yet audible enough for Manik to hear.

Nan-Manik.

He replied concentrating on the road.

Ma-hhhmmm........

Nan-muje ghar nhi jana.........

Manik got confused while Nandini moved her face and showed its reflection on the mirror for Manik to see and said further.

Nan-I mean......itni jldi nhi jana hai.......kahi chalte hai na.........

Ma-kaha jana hai........?

Nan-kahi bhi.......

Ma-okay.......

He drove to marine drive. Reaching there he parked his bike on the side. Nandini got down and then Manik too got down. He removed his helmet and Nandini took that from him and they walked towards the sea view.

They sat at the big place looking at the sea and were quiet. Cold wet breeze was all over and flowing Nandini's hair. They were silent for a very long time. In btwn all this Nandini received Chachi's call coz she should have reached home by that time.

Nandini told her that she is with Manik and will be back soon. Chachi told Nandini to bring Manik home for dinner coz he told he will come soon. Ending the call Nandini looked at him and said.

Nan-Chachi tumhe dinner pe bola rhi hai........

Manik took time to reply and then said.

Ma-chalo aaj Chachi ki bhi khawish puri kr lete hai........

Again silence occurred btwn them. Nandini saw Manik and saw him lost in some thought. She waited for his actions but when nothing came she asked him.

Nan-kya soch rhe ho.........

Manik looked far away at the sea water and said after another pause.

Ma-you know koi 5 months pehle muje aise bolta k Manik.....ek din tum ek ladki k sath marine drive pe time spend karoge and you will be

He looked at her with soft eyes and said.

Ma-at peace..........toh shayad mei uske face pe haas deta..........

Nandini waited for sometime and then said.

Nan-aise kyu socha tumne...........

Ma-you know na Nandini........the monster side of me..........in past all this is not me........but you came........and with a blink of eye changed everything..........you changed me........changed me for good..........and today I m free from all my ropes.........this is freedom.......which I never felt before........

Nandini blinked her eye in assurance and they exchanged smiles. Unwillingly they looked aside and saw a couple locking their lips. They both turned their face to not see them and then after a small awkwardness both laughed. All this things were sometimes very strange. Nandini spoke first after all that.

Nan-you know bachpan mei......all this use to be considered as not good........mtlb agar chotte bacha washroom se nikal kr thoda ghumega toh sab aise bolte the......"shame shame"

And both giggled remembering their time of childhood (purana zamana).

Ma-true that.......but kabhi kabhi aaj bhi bacho ko tease krne mei maaza aata hai............

Both giggled again and then talked randomly. It was around 7.00 pm. Stars were shining brightly and finally Manan dcd to head back home.

They came to their bike when a Singh chana vendor walked from there. Nandini stopped him and bought 2 cones of roasted peanuts. Manik looked at it and asked.

Ma-yeh kya hai.

Nandini opened the cone and said.

Nan-hath do.......

Manik made a chullu and Nandini turned the cone in his hand and then moved away. Manik saw peanuts and then saw Nandini too filling her hand with that.

Nandini peeled a single peanut and ate. Manik looked at her actions and followed her. They ate that standing with the support of bike. Once done they dusted their hands and then sat on bike. Nandini rested her face on his back and Manik drove towards her home smoothly.

I'm sorry guys I know I am late but I have lots and lots of things to do on Friday mornings that's......I got free just now and the first thing I m doing is posting this chp. Bye