~One Fine Saturday~

"Mom!!" Navya whines into her phone as she enters into the kitchen, all ready to go somewhere on a saturday morning.

"Please mom, stop it." I speak into mine as I talk to my mother sitting across the globe.

"Stop what? I need to know everything. You hardly ever call me now. It's been around a month and you're already drifting apart."

"I'm not drifting apart mom," I roll my eyes. "I am getting busy. Assignments, classes, other stuff."

The toast pops out of the toaster just in time. I reach out to it and put in another one for Navya.

"Mom, I will come see you and bring Nandini along and then you can ask her whatever it is that you are dying to ask, okay?" Navya sighs.

"Mom, tell you what. You tell me the date you'll land here, I'll fill you in with all the gossip." I tell my mom.

"That is a little difficult to bargain around." My mom says sounding skeptical.

"What do you mean?" I frown while I butter the toast on my plate.

"That deal, you remember, that your dad was trying to get done?"

"Precisely. Yes." I take a bite out of my toast.

"Well he's just stuck with that for time being."

"Still? Mom it's been months now!" I speak with a mouth full of toast.

"I know, I know. But he is stuck, sweetie. And until he is stuck, I am too. So whenever we get a green flag on anything, I'll let you know." She says.

"Okay then, until that happens, no gossip from me."

"That is not fair." Says my mom.

"What is not fair is that I don't get my parents back because of some stupid deal."

"And like you mind that, huh?" She laughs lightly.

I close my eyes tight and smile, "Guilty, guilty."

Although I miss my parents, especially my mom, I don't mind this freedom at all. And now that I have acquired the abilities to deal with Navya, I don't mind this arrangement anymore.

"Well, at least one good thing came out of this. You and Navya are starting to get along." She says and my eyes dart to Navya, who is still talking to her mom in clearly audible whispers, something about apples.

Leaving out the terrible argument we had yesterday, Navya and I are on good terms. Well, if not that then we are a work in progress for now.

"Yeah, I think so." I say.

"Okay then, tell me about boys." My mom says, and on account of which I nearly choke myself on the piece of toast in my mouth.

"What? What? What about boys? What about boys?"

Stop blabbering.

"Honey, boys. Some are just disgusting others are cute and disgusting and others are cute, hot, and disgusting and.. You know, it goes on. In the end disgusting in consistent." Says my mom.

"Mom, there are no boys." I say while I try to stop my mind from wandering off to particular certain someone, if you know what- uh, who I mean.

"Oh baby, there are always gonna be boys. Especially when you're so pretty and cute."

"Mom. There are no boys." I roll my eyes hard. "None that matter." I add later.

And in a way that is true. There are no boys. Not anymore at least.

"Okay, I get it, you're not ready to tell me anything yet-"

"There is nothing yet, mom! I've only been here for a month and you think there would be anyone around me yet? I have two friends, three if you count this girl Natasha that I met in English and have been sitting with at lunch. But seriously mom, that's about it." I say.

I met Natasha or as she prefers to be called, Nat, in the literature class two weeks ago and instantly befriend her. She's a bit too talktive for my liking but I think she is a really nice person. I liked her the moment she said she has read Mortal Instruments and we've been friends since that particular moment.

Though Navya isn't much fond of her, courtesy her talkitive nature. But she will have to deal with it because I think Nat and I are going to be friends for a very long time.

"Are the other two people Navya and her best friend, what was his name.. Karan?"

"Yes, yes. Them."

"Okay, well, whoever it is I just want you to stay safe and be happy, okay?"

Happiness for me is in a different world, mother. Right now I'm just alive and functioning.

"Yes mom, I know but now I really got to go, I'm starving and I need to eat." I say and after exchanging a few 'I miss you' and 'I love you' my mom finally lets me off the phone.

By the time I am done, Navya turns around with a glass of hot coffee in her hand and takes the toast from the toaster placing it on the plate.

"Morning." I say, cautiously.

Without a word Navya just smiles at me for three seconds before she digs into her breakfast.

Okay.. So we are not clear on this front.

"So, how'd you sleep last night?" I ask, hopping up on the stool around the kitchen island.

Yeah, we went furniture shopping too. My mom asked me to do that because she wasn't sure about the spiders living in the curtains just as much as I wasn't sure of the creaking chairs and stools.

"I slept fantastic. Never slept better." Navya replies.

"Okay. That's good." I say.

Navya isn't moving her eyes off her phone and she isn't blabbering like she usually does. I can definitely tell she is mad.

And she has the right to be. I was way out of line. I mean, this place is part hers, she does split the bills half so she can bring anyone she likes.

"I slept last night too." I speak up.

"Great news." She smiles sarcastically without lifting an eye off her phone.

This is so unlike me. I have never felt the need to make Navya unmad at me, if that's even a word. We have always had one and only one agenda and that is to get the other person mad at the other person. But I don't know how to reverse it with Navya.

I don't know how to approach Navya and if she would be interested in listening to me at all. All she has been doing is dodging even small talk.

How small can a talk be than small talk?

"Okay, I'm off." Navya suddenly gets up from her seat and puts the dishes into the sink behind her.

She picks her peach coloured sling bag from the kitchen counter and places it on her shoulder before trotting off to the door, her blue stilettos clicking against the marble floor.

"Navya, wait!" I call out and walk after her, leaving my footware in the kitchen.

She stops and turns to face me.

Okay. Here goes nothing.

"Look, I am sorry." I breathe. "Please don't give me the cold shoulder. There aren't many people I know here and not all want to talk to me." My mind drifts to Manik for a second but I bring it back because now is not the time. He is the one because of which I am in this situation. "I just don't want things awkward between us all over again. I mean, things just started getting better and now this." I sigh.

"This is what you did, not me. I was trying to do good. I was being a concerned roommate and a worried sister and you just threw me off like that." Navya replies.

"I know, I did and I'm a jerk for doing that. But please, I am sorry. Please don't leave me out and ignore me. I need people. I just... I need you." I look at her and for the first time I see a sister I've never had, a sister I always wanted.

My life is a total mess. I don't know if it ever will get sorted or if I am ever going to get a closure but just because of that I have been pushing people away. People who actually want to be in my life and aren't faking concern so they can get some!

Breathe, N.

"Nandini, if looking out for you is going to make me look like an outsider here then I don't know if I want to live here anymore because I think I am always going to want to look after you." She takes a step ahead, "I know I'm not your favourite person in the world but if you are going to treat me like what I do doesn't matter then-"

I walk up to her and take her hands in my own, "Don't say that. Of course, it matters! Everything matters. I don't think like that anymore. I agree I hated the idea of you being here but now I'm getting used to what it is like having a roommate and I like what it is. You're my sister, Navya and you were just being there for me. I am sorry for being an asshole. You were right, I have not been sleeping a lot lately because I'm just.."

Lie. Again.

I'm just cooking up a lie, gimme two minutes.

"...I'm just stressed. I'm under a lot of stress all of a sudden and I don't know how to deal with it. That's why I can't sleep at night and that's why I am all cranky bitch at day."

I don't know why but something tells me I shouldn't tell Navya the real reason behind everything. Something tells me I am not ready to face her reaction yet. Or maybe I just don't want anyone to know what a loser I am to go back to the guy who actually treated me like I never existed and then all of a sudden became interested in me for a day and then vanished in thin air next day.

"Nandini, we all have stress. I do too but I don't push away people who care, even though there aren't a lot of them." She says. "You can't push away the only people who cares for you. Even though you have tried to act normal all this time, I know you're trying to hide something and it's okay if you don't want to tell but keeping it in is never going to help you. You're only going to keep piling stuff up until it comes out one day and when that happens, it won't be good. Not for you."

"Okay, yes." I say, "Agreed. No pushing away of people who care. I promise. And this place is equally yours as it is mine. You can bring whoever you want, whenever you want, I won't cross that line again." I squeeze her hands between mine, looking at her, feeling hopeful as the stone cracks.

"You won't go all super bitch on me again? Borderline super bitch is allowed but crossing that border is way off limits."

"Totally off limits." I smile and she mirrors my expression.

I drop her hands and put mine on my sides.

"Awkward hug or whatever?" Navya asks.

"I think it's time for awkward hugs to get less awkward." I say and hold out my arms for our first hug ever.

"So am I ever meeting this mystery guy?" I ask as Navya pulls back.

"Oh no." Her eyes move towards the grandfather clock hanging on the wall behind me. "I'm late!" She says and rushes out towards the door.

"Meeting mystery guy?" I shout out after her.

"Yes, but I will be back by- I don't know what time.." I follow her out to the door. "And oh, you will meet him soon but not just yet."

"Okay, okay. No hurry. I'm right here."

Navya starts to get into her car but before she closes the door she jumps back out, "Oh, by the way, Karan told me to inform you that he's coming over. If he asks where I am, I'm gone shopping. Alone. Bye!" And with that she slides back in the car and gets going.

It seems weird that Navya asks me to hide this from Karan. I thought they told each other everything. Well, maybe somethings are best untold.

I shut the door and walk back in to the kitchen to get my phone.

I pick it up from the kitchen island and slide it into my pocket. Then I head straight to cleaning the mess this kitchen is in. Navya had two toasts and a cup of coffee, yet she managed to wreck this kitchen in her own way.

Minutes passby and I feel I am satisfied with my cleaning. Now all that's left to clean is myself.

I take my phone out of my pyjama pockets and find three missed calls from Karan waiting for me.

I open my phone and call Karan but just when the call connects, the doorbell rings. Maybe I don't have to call Karan and maybe now whatever his plans were will have to wait until I take a bath.

I walk up to the door as another bell rings. "What is the rush, cookie? I'M COMING!"

He hates it when I call him cookie more than he hates it when Navya uses that word. But it's fun to annoy people sometimes, especially your friends.

Reaching the door I pull it open, "You know I heard the bell the first time." I say.

Karan spread his lips into a wide grin, "I know. I just like to annoy you guys." He steps in.

"Yeah, well the only person you would have gotten a reaction from is Navya and she's not here." I close the door and walk where Karan stands.

"Where is that little brat?"

"Uh.. Shopping." I say and walk towards the staircase.

"Since when does she go alone? I don't remember a single day in the past year when she went shopping without me." He says.

"Aw. You feeling bad?" I make a sad face at him.

"I am feeling rather torn apart. I don't know how I will survive this act of betrayal." He places a hand on his heart and feigns hurt.

I laugh, "Isn't that the exact reason why I am here? To help you survive Navya's betrayal?"

He looks at me for a moment and tilts his head, studying me, "Well, I think you'll do."

I lightly hit his arm and he laughs, "You have no choice. So tell me, why are you here?"

"We are going out."

"Out where?" I ask.

"Anywhere but I need to drag you out of here and cleanse you. You are too much of a bore these days and you are turning into a dull person," He frowns, "Though I see you are progressing on your own but it's still not enough."

"And you know exactly what could make me normal again?"

"Well, I think we can explore that while we are out. So-" But whatever Karan is going to say he doesn't.

The doorbell chimes in before he can complete and he gives me a flat look that says go take that door.

I give him a pat on the shoulder and run off towards the door.

I open the door wide and prepare myself for the glare of the sun that usually hits my eyes when I open the door but it doesn't happen this time.

Instead of the sun glaring in my eye I find it blocked by a tall body.

And everything comes rushing back to me.

For a moment I feel a rush of relief running through me but it dies the next second when realisation hits me.

My mood that started to elevate, drops.

The person in front of me stands still, his eyes searching mine as I try to keep my calm and stop my body from shaking because of the adrenaline rush.

And this time it's not because I have butterflies in my stomach but because every vein in my body is buring with anger.

And it looks like my face holds the feeling swimming through my blood because Manik's words says so.

"I have an explanation."

Any person in their right mind will slam the door right in his face if they were in my shoes. And so will I.

Without giving him a second glance I take a step back and swing the door to close it but Manik slides his hand in between and repels the force I apply.

He puts his foot between the door and pushes his way in dispite my constant attempts at pushing the door close.

"I just need to talk. That's it." He says as he suceeds in opening the door.

"Well, get a hint." I say and get back to my attempts at shutting the door but he keeps blocking it like a rock.

"Let me explain myself. Sno-"

"No. Don't. Don't call me that. You can't."

"At least, let me in. Let me talk to you, please."

No matter how real his voice sounds and how real the emotion behind it sounds, I am not falling into that trap again. Not again.

"Get out." I clench my jaw hard.

"Nandini-"

"MANIK, GET THE HELL OUT!" I don't even realise when my voice reaches sky high.

As I start to lose my calm, I start to shiver. I feel the tears welling up behind my eyes and my blood boils with anger. There is a constant feeling like someone is poking at my heart with a thin but very sharp object.

"I'm-"

"Didn't you hear what she said?" A third voice enters into the space and I immediately know who's voice it is.

I stay put at my place as Karan comes from behind me. "She said, get out." His voice is filled with nothing but detest.

I can feel it radiating through him when he stands this close to me. But it's not just coming from him. It's like suddenly the space around me is charged with negative emotions.

Anger.

Rage.

I look up at Manik and find him shooting daggers at Karan. His eyes moves between Karan and me where there is no space at all. He doesn't like the fact that Karan is standing so close to me.

"What is he doing here?" Manik clenches his jaw so hard that I'm afraid he might break his teeth.

"I think you should be the one answering that." Karan says.

"Nandini-"

"Doesn't want to talk to you." Karan interrupts him. "She made it pretty clear when she asked you to 'get the hell out' don't you think so?"

Manik moves his eyes from Karan to me and I watch his face turn soft as his eyes land on me. He holds his stare for a few seconds before he moves it back to Karan and his face turns steel again.

"Out." Karan says.

Manik takes a step back without breaking the eye contact with Karan. Then he looks at me with his eyes asking for a chance to speak but I am not in a state to listen to him or even see him right now. When he reads the decision in my eyes, he turns back around.

Karan slams the door shut on Manik's retreating back and turns to looks at me.

"Are you alright?" He asks.

"I.. I just need a minute." I say and I walk back to the stairs.

Karan follows.

"He's not going to hurt you, Nandini. I'll make sure of it." Karan says.

It's too late for that, I want to say but I think it's better to not get into the details of it.

"I'm going to go and take a bath and get dressed. I'll meet you down here in some time. You just... do whatever you feel like." I say as I run up the stairs to my room.

I enter my room and lock the door behind me. I stand with my back pressed against the door and try to catch my breath and my thoughts that are right now, all haywire.

Where did he go? Why did he go? And if he had to go without a word then why return now? Why ask for a chance to explain? Why does he need a chance when he blew up the best chance I gave him?

So many questions and the only one who can answer them is the one I don't want to see.

I can't see him.

I can't see him without breaking down or without flaring up. With the anger that I felt around him today, I was afraid I'd burn myself down. I was trembling under the effect of it.

I can't see him, no. Neither can I let him talk me out of this with that easy way of his.

Manik is and has always been smooth with words. He is that charming guy that all girls want but nobody can really have. He says things that makes you want to believe him and I fell right into that trap. Maybe it's one of his twisted games that he plays. The kind of game that he played with me. Maybe.

Why else would he turn 360 degree in just one night and then vanish in thin air for the next two weeks leaving me behind to think of all the worst possible scenarios?

I can't.. I can't do this anymore.

My heart can only break this much. I can't take anymore of this. I won't be able to.

I don't think I even have the slightest idea of what or who Manik Malhotra really is. I thought I did but I don't. The Manik who was my bestfriend seems to be a whole world away now. A world that is lost, maybe destroyed.

I... I just.. I don't know who this guy is.

-------

Hello people!

Now is the time to take you all into world of Manik Malhotra and drag Nandini along. Now this story will take an amazing U-turn and I hope you all like what I am planning!

Ignore the typos, please.

See you next chapter!