The time rung half past nine, 

The day was fresh and the cafe seemed a shrine, 

Nandini hummed her way along the counter, 

Unknown of the figure who was mesmerized by not only her laughter,

She hummed and hummed as if no other matter, 

Unaware of the figure whose heart she messed with.

He stood there dumbstruck, confused on what tugged him,

His reverie to be broken by the message that pinged him, 

"Auditions start at 10, Manik, came if fast!"

He typed back, "I'm outside the cafe, don't worry it will be a blast."

He was about to move out but the voice glued him there, 

He already had his female-lead now, the auditions were just fro the spare, 

An excitement rushed in him,

And he barged open into the cafe, standing at it's hem, 

Nandini looked up at the intruder, 

Astonished at his suddenness, couldn't he be any ruder?

"I want you", he blurted, not thoughtful of how it came out, 

"What?" she questioned at the invasion and her hearing doubts,

"I want you, I said. You are coming with me!" 

"I'm not a free-for all, Mister. Behave before I make you leave!" 

He words brought him out of his senses, 

A pang of guilt flushed behind his tresses, 

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that.

We have band auditions next door, I meant to call you for that."

"Oh no!" she replied, a little fear set in, "You don't get me there. 

I am no musician and you don't want me to be around, for all you pray."

"Please pretty please! I heard you sing. 

You are the match, just the melody I need to bring!"

"I see, you heard. It wasn't me. It was a recording.", she lied.

"Liar", he caught, "You sing. I heard. It had it, was withering like a live fire!"

"Mistaken Manik", she dismissed and continued fiddling with her tray, 

"Oh okay, then. You like it or not, I'll bring you in. You come with me to our concert after our day." 

"No way! I don't put my foot out there. I have better stuff to do, I must say."

"No you don't. You fiddle when you lie. You promise to come or I won't leave. There is no other way. "

Manik stood there stubborn, not willing to back out. 

Her boss amused on the brim of angered, Nandini knew she had to quickly sought this out.

She waited a couple minutes, hoping to see her past go, 

But, his stubbornness was nothing that would fall with a wind's blow.  

"Ok fine. I come, but only if you leave now. I have a job to serve unlike you somehow."

His face dropped at her bluntness, he remembered now, 

"Oh shit the auditions! I'll see you at 1, love. Ciao!" 

The evening dropped in and so did he, 

Their day-out had officially commenced and she had to be, 

"So, little one, where would you like to take me after a diner?"

"Me?" Nandini raised her brow, "That's an absurd plan, I thought this would be finer!"

"Oh no!" Manik chuckled, "I'm not from here and neither a hot-shot to know all about here!"

Nandini giggled as his response, her blushes on her cheeks were smears,

She had no control on the commotion of her emotions, 

He still has the power, she sighed, to get her to glow with mere motions. 

They talked and talked into infinite oblivion,

Manik sewed together new memories about her that felt familiarly obvious.

While she reminisced the old ones when she had long back told him about her, 

What wonders that little villain of their life could do, she sighed, tore them apart with a head-injury mere. 

The reddening sky blushed along with her, 

The fairy lights shined in the streets as a comfy blur.  

The flowers let a sigh, every now and then, 

The long-lost souls and finally met at love's den. 

"What's you favorite color?"

"White."

"What's you favorite author?"

"Blythe."

"And your song?"

"Chymes."

And the list was long, long, and long.

Utterly long, chatters about matters that were a never-ending song. 

He got a piece of her,  she got a piece of him, 

There were no byes to look-forward to for him, 

Just a part of him was stuck on her hem.

There evening could never have settled into a night, 

Until his phone shone bright, 

"Concert is about ready, chug along!"

He pushed away the phone after sending back them a response's ding-dong, 

"There we have the concert, you dread. You ought to come for our songs!"

She sighed, "I have no option, I understand and that's wrong!"

"Oh no, love. You do. But, I know Manik Malhotra's charm gets to every nook, 

So, rather than agony, I would say- come give it a try, I promise you would forget your love for books!"

"Impossible. But now that you've challenged, I will come and deem that books are the only rooks! "

As sweet as honey was their walk back, 

And their drive to the concert was all about their knacks,

The glimmer of the media blinded them from outside, 

A fear of history repeating unnerved her insides, 

Her brows cringed visibly, 

Taking the cue, he drove around and away silently.  

 Comfort was most, he knew, for her this was new, 

But it was anything but new, for her this was a disastrous brew.

The interviewing, the clicks, the papps, the what-ifs engulfed, 

It was a bad decision, dear heart! she shuffled. 

Her discomfort, awkwardness made it to him, 

He realized her out-of-place as she twirled her hem, 

"I'm sorry for that. I didn't realize the possibility of them, 

Here, the backstage should be better. It's a lost and found, gem!"

She laughed at the memory- he loved backstage then, 

Memories taking over- would that mean her to by happenstance's realm?

The chivalrous being was a new side of him, 

He opened the door and led the way to the VIP section for kins. 

Introductions and greetings, it was all again, 

Inevitable now were the forthcomings- dear friends.  

In the heart of beating time and the frenzy, 

A part of her seemed calm while the other half felt queasy.

Their music flooded in, a rush of satisfaction with deja vu, 

A shadow passed by eyeing her, ready to pounce as a boo! 

It was all that she wished to be lost again, 

Could she hide from the old-thin sly face and her gains?

"Never", a stealthy voice filled in, 

Nandini found herself among the crowd, a cold hand on her settled in. 

She turned on her toes to meet the voice, 

The sly smirk again- she gulped, "Oh boy!"

"Hello there, the old friend of bad time!

Do you not worry of karma, the bitch's chime?"

The glassy voice threatened her to shatter, 

In that moment, Nandini knew she should've chosen better.

She was about to turn away, 

She had to keep them safe without dismay. 

Long story short, she around would mean their loss and truth's dead,

Her being around would instigate this villain's old, lying sounds.  

Fear get's the best or the worst out is a question unsolved, 

For betterment of now, Nandini muttered in hope for resolve, 

"I'll be out before you know it!"

"Make it quick or your love would be out with a simple bout!"

A nerve twitched in her as that threat came to her again, 

History or not, love's bravery in her heart had a momentary win.  

"Don't you dare mess with him or them, it was deal!"

"Better remember this is the only one I'll follow by the quill and seal!"

Nandini fisted her hands, knuckles white, 

The power translated into a punch from no where in her sight. 

"How dare you?" her shrill voice squeaked, 

Overcoming her was his musical voice, his melody's piece. 

Nandini didn't answer, shivering took her steps back, 

"Run! Run!" her head banged. 

Her retreat was evident and so was the worry, 

"You are doing right!" Nyonika beamed at Nandini's scurry. 

Her thin voice threatened her all over, 

"Run and run, as far as you can! 

History and accidents can and will repeat, 

The end will be evident if and with your bleat!"  

--------------

Hey,

Show time. Hope you liked it!

Happy reading!

Love, 

HF