Manik looked at the time on his watch. It's been around 10 minutes. It's been 10 minutes since he was standing there at the same place. Nandini had come to the library 10 minutes back to return her book and sign a new one. He too followed her to the library. Nandini took a new book from one of the shelves and settled on one corner not caring what was transpiring around her. Manik too settled in front of her a few tables away with a desultory book but he had no concentration on that. He was only eyeing Nandini.

The library of this lane was very old and elite, but in the era of mobile and internet, no one generally came there. There was almost no one but a handful. But Manik and Nandini came here conventionally. Nandini came here regularly to have some alone time and drown in the world of imagination so that she could forget the real world for a while. But Manik came here once a week to get a new book. It was Manik who introduced Nandini to this place and since then she never ceased coming here. 

Manik was getting exasperated seeing Nandini not paying any attention to him. "What's so important about the book that she's not even noticing me? Or she is evading me on purpose? No... No... She hadn't seen me. If she had, then she would have come to me for sure. Well, should I go once to see her?" He was fighting a battle within himself. He failed to decide what he should do. "No, I'll go later. First, let me finish the book, then I'll see her. She seems to be reading something important." Unknowingly he was jealous of the book that got her attention and not him.

He turned his gaze towards the book and endeavored to focus on it. But today he was not able to read a single line only Nandini's thoughts were roaming in his mind. The boy who never looked away from her biology book, the book which is his passion, seemed to be pale today to him only for the girl sitting a few tables away him. She had captured all his thoughts successfully.

The words of last night were roaming in his mind again and again. Not able to resist himself, he raised his face to look at Nandini. His gazes locked on her.

Nandini was reading the book in her hand with utter attention. All her focus was occupied by the frivolous book in her hand, that's what Manik had to say about the book. He couldn't see her face as they were hidden behind the book. Only her two black almond shaped eyes which held the world in them were visible to him. Her long thick hair was left open. The incompliant traces were falling on her forehead as the breeze was passing through her. Sometimes a hand of hers was coming up to push them back abaft her ear. 

Manik didn't even notice when he forgot his biology book and was persistently staring at Nandini not caring to blink. For a moment, he forgot his surroundings completely, only a pair of black eyes were floating in front of his eyes. The long hair traces on her forehead caught his breath. He was lost in his world of imagination.

"Manik... Manik..."

Hearing his name being called, Manik emerged out of his noetic conceptions. He was so lost in his world of imagination that he did not realize when Nandini got up and came near him. She was standing just beside him still he didn't have any idea of that.

Manik gulped down his thoughts and looked at Nandini with his ever-so-charming smile which made Nandini doubt her actions. She could die for the smile on his face and could stare at the smile all her life without getting tired. Only if he knew how his smile affected her.

"Nandini! When did you come? Sorry. I didn't notice you." He pretended to be surprised as if he had no idea of Nandini's presence in this library room afore this. 

"How'll you realize? If your biology book is there in front of you, even if God himself calls you, you won't hear and see what's happening in front of you. And here I'm no good...." Nandini uttered modantly. She didn't want to sound this way but sometimes it became really difficult for her to control her emotion. She couldn't bear his ignorance towards her feelings anymore. She felt exhausted hiding her emotions all the time.

Manik was startled by her tone. He couldn't read her eyes which was making him feel terrible. He looked at her face for a while before reacting. "Are you making fun of me?" 

Nandini chuckled loudly, her eyes went blank again. For a second, she forgot that they were standing in the library and they were not allowed to make any sound. Manik was lost in her smile even though the smile lasted for only a few seconds before the earnest look was back on her face. Manik didn't like this look on her face. 

"Making fun of you! Do I have the ability to do so?" She let out a breath after saying this. "Leave all this and hear me."

"I'm all ears." Manik smiled shortly. 

Nandini exhaled a breath. "Avneet has asked you to come tomorrow as early as you can."

"That I'll. But you still didn't say what you want from me."

Nandini felt as if all the touchiness from last night was rising again in her heart. She bit her lower lip to bury the thoughts once again. "You've known me since my tender age. You must have some idea of my likes and dislikes. Or you don't know anything about me?"

Manik was taken aback by the way she asked him. He raised his eyebrows looking at her and asked her back instead of replying to her. "Why do you think like this all of a sudden?"

Nandini smiled dryly. "Nothing. I said just like that. Don't mind. Give me whatever you want, I will receive that ecstatically."

Before Manik could say anything further, Nandini took her bag and left from there as fast as she could. A stunned Manik was still standing there staring at the way she left without blinking till she was completely out of his sight. He still did not understand where he had gone wrong or what his fault was that changed her so much. He didn't know why Nandini was behaving like this to him. She was not like this even a few days ago. He had no idea when she became so inconsolable. 

A deep sigh came out of Manik without his will. What danger did he fall into? The Manik Malhotra who had the answers to all the complex questions of human psychology, it's his condition today. He didn't have any answer which could define the reason behind Nandini's this behavior. He knew he wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything today, not even on his psychology book. He needed to find the reason behind the vicissitude in Nandini's behavior. 

Manik hurriedly packed his stuff. He had to meet Siddharth. He knew in this situation only he could help him and no one else. That's why Manik didn't wait anymore and ran to see him. He needed some answers badly.

Siddharth Thakur was another friend of Manik, Nandini and Avneet. He also lived in the same lane as them. He was closer to Manik, so whenever he was any confusion or he needed any help, Manik peregrinate to him only. 

"Coming." Hearing the doorbell, Siddharth's mother opened the door. She was surprised to see Manik there at this time. But she smiled asking her to come in. "Manik, you? You know you'll live 100 years."

"How can you say that?" Manik asked while entering the house. 

"We were talking about you only now. I was saying who else has such a nice son at this time." Siddharth's father spoke from another side. 

Manik chuckled. "No, uncle. You can't say that. Sid is nowhere less than me, but in some cases, he is more perfect than me."

"It's enough. You don't have to praise your friend anymore." Sid's mother stopped him. "Now tell me what will you have?" 

"We'll see that later. Now tell me where's Sid? I have some clamant work with him." He asked being impatient.

"He was here only a few minutes back. Then he got a call and went to receive that. Since then we didn't hear anything from him. Go to his room, he would be there only." 

Manik nodded his head hearing Sid's father and ran to his room. Standing outside the room, he knocked on the door. "Sid, it's me. Open the door."

Sid opened the door and looked at Manik with a frown. "What are you doing here at this hour? Shouldn't you be at the library at this moment?"

"Why? Did I perturb your important work?" Manik asked mischievously.

Sid hurriedly nodded his head in no. "What're you saying? First, come inside."

Manik walked behind him and settled on his bed. Sid too took his seat in front of him. 

"Now tell me what's the matter? I can tell by the look on your face that something is bothering you, something is not okay with you. What's the matter?" Sid became serious looking at Manik's face as it's very rare that you would see a frown on his face. But today it was there. 

Manik looked at Sid's face and he did not know what had happened. He had no idea what he should say, how he should say it, or what the actual problem was. He kept thinking in mind that how he should approach Sid about this matter. 

That's all for today. Let me know how do you feel about the new concept. Do vote and comment.

Thank you.

30.09.2022