Murthy Mansion

Nandini's room

Manik followed Nandini to her room who asked him to settle on the couch placed in front of the bed, herself settling in front of him. Nandini was fidgeting nervously with her dupatta, and that brought a slight frown on his face, but neverthless, he started looking around the room to take in its beauty. He turned his head to the right and... (" What the fuck!"), was his only thought.
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The right wall of the room was filled with pictures of him and Fab 5 from various award functions. Most of them were his.

"All these pics? She has not even left a single award. Does that mean she is a .."

His thoughts were broken by Nandini who said in a nervous voice,  "Yes I am a great fan of your voice and Fab5's music."

"How did you know what I was thinking?" he asked, surprised at her words. He was just getting shocks after shocks today. First he came to know that it was Nandini whom he was going to meet as a prospect. Next this. " I know how to read faces." She said with a slight smirk on her face. He noticed how she was slowly getting relaxed and that made him sigh in relief. Thats why he didn't like this. He knew that if their first meeting would have been in some casual get together, they would have hit it off differently. Now they have to converse formally and try to take a life decision based on it.

". Ohh...Well so you're a Psychiatrist?", he asked trying to make her more comfortable.

"Umm....not exactly. I have my degree as MS in Neurosurgery. But I also did a course in Psychology back in US. So yah..I sometimes help my fellow colleagues in cases."

Manik nodded and started looking around the room again. There was a moment of silence. Both didnt know what to speak. Nandini chose to break the silence.

"Umm kya tumhari koi girlfriend thi? I mean.... Shit! I really don't know. This is the question they normally ask in the books. And you are so famous. I mean I don't have any problem with that. And I'm not gonna judge. I just...God! Forget I asked." He was holding himself from laughing at her mumbling. She was cute when she was nervous.

"No."

"Huh?", she asked looking at him confused.

"I don't have a girlfriend. Actually I am not that open to anyone other than my family which includes mom, dad, Fab 5 and now Navya Bhabi aur shayad age ek aur bhi koi khas add honewala hai.",  he said looking at Nandini who blushed but hid it successful without his notice and smiled. "Tumhara koi bf to hoga na. In college. ", he asked but was met with an amused chuckle from her.

" Umm actually no. I don't really believe in love. So yeah..never tried in the past." She said it so casually that shocked Manik. The girl whom he had felt attracted to just by hearing about her and who had made a small place for herself in his heart without even meeting him, didnt believe in love? Love? An emotion that was everything to him? He has been waiting for a love like his parents from the day he understood its meaning. His lyrics flowed in thoughts of his longing for love. He felt a slight pang in his heart hearing her words. Somewhere his heart had started hoping for Nandini to be the one for him.

"Why?", he asked keeping aside his overthinking. Maybe she has a reason behind her feelings.

" Love needs trust Manik. And I find it difficult trusting someone. You can say I can never really trust someone fully other than my family and best friends." She looked at the disappointment in his eyes and sighed. This was what she was afraid of. She knew that it won't be easy for her to give a chance to someone. And she very well knew this would disappoint the other. Thats why she thought she wasn't really ready for it yet.

" Would you try trusting me?" He didnt know why he said that, but he was anxious to hear the answer. She looked at him with unknown emotions. He tried to read her face but soon realised how great she was at hiding her thoughts from people.

"Mushkil hai. (Its difficult.) "

"Namumkin to nahin hai na. ( But its not impossible.) "

They kept looking at each other. None spoke a word for a moment. Both were thinking something. Nandini was about to spiral into her chain of thoughts when she her his deep voice.

" I will make you trust me Nandini. I don't know what will be our equation after this. If you'll choose to give me chance or not. But even if we are not betrothed, I want you to trust me. As a friend. As someone who admires you. I want you know that about me Nandini." He said with so much sincerity in his eyes that it scared her. It excited her too. Her nerves started acting again and she broke the eye contact with her heart beating fast. " I wish you do Manik", she thought to herself not having the courage to tell that to him.

Manik saw her fidgeting with her fingers and understood her restlessness. So trying to divert the topic he asked teasingly "Waise tumhe main itna acha lagta hun ki tumne ek wall pura mere pics se bhar dia hai? (You like me so much that you have filled a whole wall with my pictures?)"

Nandini looked up to see him smirking. Her nervousness started fading  and she blushed going into a defensive mode. " Excuse me! Maine kaha I love your voice. Aur ye sare pics tumhare nahin un sab awards ke hain jo tumhare ganon ko mile hain. Maine ye sab isliye lagae hain taki mujhe yad rahe ki koun se ganon ko badi recognition mili hai. Aur tumse to main aj hi mil rahi hun. To tumhe main pasand kaise kar sakti hun? ( Excuse me! I said I love your voice. And these pictures... I 've put them up to remind me of the songs that have got recognitions. And I've just met you today. How can I like you?)"

Manik couldn't control his laugh. She looked so cute trying to justify herself. But Nandini fumed seeing him laugh.

"You know what , obsessing over someone you have never met is a kind of mental problem aur main pagal nahin hun." She said sassily making his jaws drop.

Manik was shocked beyond expectations now. Yeh to pehli bar kisine The Manik Malhotra ki mu pe uski bejati kar di. ( It was the first time someone insulted him on his face.)

"Do you think ki pagal hi honge jo mere fans hai? ( Do you think only mad people are my fans?) " he asked sounding offended and Nandini shrugged.

"Half of them ... yeah.." she said and Manik suddenly felt like crying now.

" Nandini yaar itni bejati kafi hai aur mat karo. ( Nandini this enough insult. Don't roast me anymore.)"

" Offo Manik. Your voice is you identity. It soothes the pain in anyone's heart. Your real fans love your voice and don't really care about your looks. They would have still loved you if you were not this handsome. But others are just obsessed by your looks. They may be your fans but they won't ever understand you deeply. Got it?"

Manik was lost in her words. It was the first time someone had recognised the real thing in him. His talent not his hot looks. He suddenly felt heard. That all the effort he puts into his lyrics and his music were really heard.

They were interrupted by Anant who came to call them for lunch.

At the lunch table Nandini sat between Yug and Anant and Manik sat beside Cabir.

Cabir asked in a low tone "Kya bhai bada looong time tak baat kar rahe the. Aisi kya baten ho rahi thi haan? ( What took you so long dude? What were you talking?) " He wiggled his brows teasingly and Manik elbowed him.

" Chup kar aur khane pe concentrate kar. ( Shut up and concentrate on your food.)" he said and Cabir just zipped his mouth with a smirk.

"Are Sarthak where's Abhimanyu? I didn't see him?", they heard Raj ask.

" He's in Pune for some bussiness. He'll be back tomorrow." Sarthak replied and they nodded.

" Papaji aur Maaji bhi nahin hai." Neyonika asked and Anjali told them about them being in Bangalore for some relative's wedding.

With few talks and teasings lunch was over. After lunch all sat in the living room.
After some talks, Malhotras decided to leave. " Acha to phir ham abhi chalte hain Viren ji. Is rishte ke baare mein apas mein baat karke apko bata denge. ( I think we should leave Viren ji. We'll talk about the proposal and let you know.)" said Raj as they walked towards their cars.

"Ji bilkul ham bhi is bare baat kar ke aapko bata denge.( Sure. We'll also ralk about it and let you know soon.)" Viren said and they parted their ways with exchange of wishes and smile. There was a secret talk between two pairs of eyes which didn't go unnoticed by their siblings.

Okay...so thats it for today.

What do you think about the conversation between ManNan?

Do you think Nandini will give a chance to Manik?

Till the next update then...