Nandini opened the door of her flat and went inside to switch on the lights. Manik was still standing outside the door only. She asked him to come on after switching on the lights and then closed the door from behind.

Nandini went ahead and Manik followed her through the small corridor that led to the living room.

Manik stood at the end of the corridor and was amazed to the beauty of her home, perfectly well maintained. There were not many decorative items but every thing was nicely and properly in place unlike his home which is always messy. He was actually mesmerised by the beauty and simplicity of her home.
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Nandini caught him stealing the look of her house. She waved her hand in front of his face and he looked her.

She questioned him from her eyes and he smirked at her and said ; "wow... , I mean its beautiful. How do you manage.?"
Nandini just shrug her shoulders and said ; "what's the big deal in it.? And waise bhi I like to keep it simple and sober and clean of course."

"Aacha you wait here ; I'll get you some change." after a pause she said.
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After some time Nandini bought clothes for Manik to change. She handed them over to him and Manik looking at it started with his same old teasing habit.
"I thought you stay alone ; magar ye kapde to kisi ladke ke lagte hain not yours..."

He was looking at the clothes and then looked at her and with a smirk said "tumhare boy friend ke hain.? Tumne bataya nahi kabhi that you have I boy friend too.?" Manik tried to play with her.

Nandini stood there looking at him and after a while said ; "do you need them or not ..?"

"yaaa of course . These will surly make me sick." Manik said seeing the clothes he was wearing.
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Nandini showed him the guest room and Manik went inside to change and mean while she too went in her room to change her clothes.

Both were still changing when suddenly lights went off and it was a total black out.

Around 5 mins have already passed by and it was still all black. Nandini was shocked to see that black out. The building has a power back up and the lights should have been back within few minutes only.

She put on flash light of her cell and moved outside the room. She went towards the intercom and asked the security about the black out. He told her due to rains there has been some problem but they are checking it and lights will come back soon. Nandini then heard a sound from the other room. She quickly remembered that Manik is still there in dark.
Nandini went towards his room with the cell.
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"Manik..!" Nandini called out his name standing on the door but there was no response. She again called out his name but to her surprise he didn't responded. Nandini felt weird and bit tensed.

As she entered the room ; Manik who was in his usual play mood , hiding behind the door ; patted Nandini from behind on her shoulder.

Nandini got scared from this sudden pat from behind and started shouting. In that hustle , she dropped her phone from her hand and got slipped on the rug lying on the floor.

Manik tried to save her from falling but instead he himself felt on the floor and Nandini felt on top of him.
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The flashlight of the cell was still on. Manik could clearly see Nandini's face that was all scared and eyes closed . She was holding his t-shirt. Manik's eye was struck on her. He has seen her many times before but this time from so close he was witnessing her beauty for the very first time. Her hair were all wet and its strands were covering her face. He softy removed those strands and placed them back of her ear. Nandini opened her eyes when she felt his touch. Her eyes met with his eyes. She was looking into them for the very first time. Both were lost in their own worlds. The eye lock continued. No one was ready to blink first. It seemed they are having a competition. Manik moved his hand in her hair but before he could do anything else ; the lights were back.
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Both came back to reality and Nandini got up from Manik and felt the room. Manik sat up and was still sitting on the floor. He remembered what happened just few mins back and it bought a smile on his face.

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Nandini came straight into the kitchen when she left the room. A cold vibe passed through her body. She felt weird. Memories of past suddenly flashed in front of her eyes and to avoid them she started preparing for the dinner.

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Manik who was still sitting on the floor in the room saw her phone lying there which had fallen from her hand and then she forgot to take it back. He picked it up and came out searching her. He saw her in the kitchen and went there. Nandini sensed someone standing behind her and she turned around to see Manik standing there.
"Mmm.. Woohh actually tumhara phone..." Manik very hesitantly said and handed her phone to her. She took it and kept it aside and again got busy with the preparations. Manik stood there looking at her from back. Just when Manik was about to leave she turned around and handed him a coffee mug.
Manik jumped with joy. "Thank you sooo much yaar..!!! It was sooo needed...!! Thanks ... You are saviour really.. Thanks..!!" . Manik got the coffee without even asking for it and that too when it was much needed ; after getting drenched in rain. Nandini smiled at him and turned back again to finish with the dinner. Manik took the coffee mug and went to the living room.
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Manik was wandering in her living room and taking a look of each and every thing that was playing its part in enhancing the beauty of the room. His eyes fell on the photo frames hanging on the wall. One frame had the pictures of her family and one had pictures of her and one another girl which probably seemed to be her friend. His eyes fell on Nandini's picture. She was smiling in all of them. Manik could see her smile reaching her eyes. She was smiling from her heart in those pictures. Manik could hardly remember when he saw Nandini actually smiling and that to from her heart. Whenever he has seen her smiling ; it was just a fake one. Seeing her smiling face in those pictures ; a smile appeared on his face to.
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Just then Nandini came and stood by his side. Manik looked at her smiling and said ; "beautiful pictures...! N lovely family." Nandini looked at those pictures with a smile and thanked him.
Manik then pointed his finger on the empty photo frames that were there and asked her ; "why are these empty..?"
Nandini's smile vanished at once when she looked at those frames. She looked away from them and to avoid any further discussion she left the room without looking at Manik ; saying ; "dinner is ready Manik ; I will get it."
Manik felt strange on this behaviour of hers. He sensed that something is wrong.
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Nandini arranged the dinner the called Manik. He came to the table and looked at the dish served in the plate. It was a rice dish. Manik widened his eyes when he looked at it and then looked at Nandini. She was watching his expressions and when he looked at her ; she very hesitantly said to him ; "sorry..!! I could make this only at this hour. Tumhe issi se Kaam chalana padega."
"Sooorryyy...???? Kaam chalana padegaaa..??? Are you mad...???? This is too much. I mean Maine expect nahi kiya tha ki tum is time par bhi itna aacha Khana bana dogi. It's looks and smells yummm..!!! Main to shayad coffee peekar ya fruits khakar hi so jata... Thanks to you I am getting food .. I mean good food after soo many days." Manik got excited seeing the fresh , hot and yummy food in front of him. Nandini was relieved to hear this from him. He sat and started eating without waiting for her to start. She saw him eating like a baby and smiled at his innocence. Manik looked at her and with the food stuffed mouth said to her ; "look I am hungry. Aur Khana dekhne ke baad I can't wait so sorry for this junglee behaviour." He had food in his mouth because of which he started coughing. Nandini quickly poured the water in the glass and went beside him to make him drink the water. She bend down a little and started rubbing his back. He was still coughing and she got worried.
"Manik .. Relax.. Easy..!!" She tried her best to comfort him. After few mins Manik got better and she poured some more water in his glass . Manik while drinking water saw her from the corners of his eyes. Her hand was on his shoulder and a worry could be easily sensed on her face.
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Manik kept the glass down and she asked him for more water. He just nodded with his head to say no.
"Are you okay now..??" Nandini asked him looking at his face. Manik looked at her and the concern she had for him. Their eyes met again. This time Manik broke the eye lock after few mins and said ;" yaa I am fine now. Thanks a lot..!" . Nandini turned her gaze away from him and sat back in her chair. Both seemed to be nervous. To avoid any more nervousness of the situation ; Nandini took the charge and said ; "we should not talk while eating." Manik just smiled at her and both started with their dinner.