Hey guys!

I'm planning to finish off this story soon. If I update continuously then I might finish within 4-5 updates.

Avoid mistakes if any.

19.06.2022

Principal's office

"May I come in?" Manik asked knocking the door. Principal allowed him.

"What happened sir you called me here?" The principal stared at him for few seconds and then spoke.

"You have to leave the college Manik." Manik was shocked listening him. What did he do that he has to leave the college?

"May I know why?" He asked calmly to which the principal sighed and keeping his hands on the table he replied.

"Your behaviour! Many of them are complaining that you are being biased. Also I have got the news that Nandini stays at your house. Is it true?" Listening the principal he frowned.

"What happens in my life, who stays at my house isn't your concern. If students find my teaching difficult then I can understand and these speculations are false. And yes it's true that she stays in my house but let me clear it to you, she stays in my house but she pays her rent it's not what you are thinking. And what your son is doing with my student I know it. He is misbehaving with her wherever he sees her. Instead of restigating me it will will be better if you focus on your son."

The principal got offended and was going to shout at him when Manik showed him his phone.

"You can check yourself." They were the photos of Madhyam misbehaving with Nandini. The principal felt guilty and looked at Manik.

"I really appreciate if you see through your eyes instead of listening to others. If you find anything wrong in my teaching tell me directly I myself will the leave the college." Saying this he left from there. The principal sighed and called one peon and told to office management to restigate Madhyam from the college.

Manik went to the staff room and taking his books he went for his class. The rest of the day went good for both Nandini and Manik. After the college Nandini went for part time job and Manik went to his apartment.

Here Nandini was lost in her thoughts thinking about her feelings which were eating her brain alot.

"Why? Why do I have to fall for my professor? Aur koi nahi mila tha?" She said to herself and looked at the customer who just came. She welcomed them and gave them the things.

Around 5 clock Nandini was busy using her phone or you can say stalking her sir's Instagram. She literally went on insta just to pass her free time. She kept staring at his features which were giving butterflies in her stomach.

"Ahem!" She got startled sensing someone's presence. She looked up only to widened her eyes. It was Manik who came to get some stuff in the stationary.

"Sir...aap....aapko kuch chahiye?" She asked to which he bobbed his head.

"Give me some A4 size blank papers and a file." She bobbed her head and keeping her phone on the counter she went to get the things. She didn't even realised that her phone was on and his photos were on display.

Manik chuckled seeing her stalking his Instagram. He took her phone and sent a follow request and he sent her follow request through his phone and accepted his request on her phone.

"Sir, how many A4 size papers do you need?" She asked looking at him who was busy in his phone.

"Give me 30." Bobbing her head she got busy arranging them.

"Vaise Nandini I told you right you should stop calling me sir. College mein theek hai lekin bahar toh sir mat bulao." Listening him she bit her lower lip and said

"Aadat nahi hai. Aap mere professor ho aur main aapki student. Agar main aapko Manik bulane lagi toh galti se college mein bhi na bol dun. Upar se bahut kuch hota hai isliye I don't want others to misunderstand us." He frowned and felt sad that she doesn't want them what he wants.

"So, you don't want me to be your friend?" She shook her head and gave him the papers. He sighed and paid for it.

"Agar stalk hi karna hai toh samne se karo. I stay with you. You don't have to look at account. Aur haan, I don't care what others think about me. You have a special place in my heart which nobody can take." He went from from there leaving her in shock.

It took her few minutes to compose and gather his words. She got slight smile knowing she holds a special place in his heart but again the negative thoughts bombarded her mind.

"No! It's wrong!" She put off her Instagram and went back to work without bothering to check her insta.

Here Manik reached his apartment and threw his papers and file on sofa and went in the kitchen to make black coffee.

"Let's see for how long you will ignore your me." He mumbled under his breathe and poured the coffee into the mug. Later when Nandini came she ignored him and went to her room. Today luckily his mother and sister weren't there. They went back.

While having food also she looked down as if the food was more interesting then his gaze which was making her nervous.

This ignorance of Nandini kept on for more than 2 weeks which was making him hell angry.

College 11:30 am

Nandini entered the canteen with Navya when she heard many students talking about her.

"Sab mere baare mein kyun baat kar rahe hai?" She asked Navya when she rolled her eyes and said

"Oh meri pyari si innocents si behna. Jara instagram open karke dekho. Khud sir ko follow kar rahi ho aur tumhe hi nahi pata?" Nandini frowned and opened her insta and checked the following list only to get schocked.

Since she hadn't checked insta from past weeks she didn't realise it until today.

"Yeh kab hua? Maine toh follow nahi kyia unko." She immediately unfollowed him and also removed him from the follower.

"Arey unko kyun nikala? Vaise bhi tum dono acche lagte ho sath mein." Nandini glared at her to keep her mouth shut. Navya kept quiet and focused on what to order where as Nandini was in deep thinking about the insta matter.

"Arey! Do you know Manik sir aur Alia ma'am har roj sath mein jaate hai. Mujhe toh lagta hai unka koi chakkar chal raha hai."  One student said so loud that whole canteen heard it.

Nandini felt hurt listening it. Past few days all she could see, listen was Manik and Alia which was breaking her heart.

She got up from there and went out of the canteen. Navya followed her. They were walking in the corridor when Nandini saw Manik helping Alia with her books. She again felt sad with it. She felt dejected. Navya sighed seeing her behaving like that.

"Nandini... Nandini suno yrr!" Navya followed Nandini who was walking fast to move out of the college. 

Walking walking they ended up near a park. Atlast reaching her Navya stopped her holding her hand. She faced her only to see her eyes teary.

"Hua kya hai tumhe Nandini? Kuch dino se dekh rahi hun, aise behave kar rahi ho jaise koi tumhe chhod ke chala gaya ho. Batao hume." She requested but Nandini turned her face and replied with a heavy voice

"Kuch nahi hua hai."

"Jhuth! Is it because of Manik sir? Jab bhi tum unko dekhti ho Alia ma'am ke sath aisa muh bana leti hun jaise pyar mein haare huye log ban jate hai. Sacchi sacchi bata." She knew only person she could share about her life is Navya. She looked at her and said with a wobbly lips.

"Main karun kya Navya? Sab galat hai. Meri feelings unke liye. Sab kuch galat ho raha hai. This is not right. Main jitni baar bhi unko ignore karti hun he comes infront of me either ignoring me or he is always with that Alia ma'am." Navya's eyes widened listening her, she knew somewhere her best friend has grown some feelings towards Manik but she didn't know that it was so deep.

"Navya... I tried, I tried to ignore him, I tried ignoring my feelings but he... I can't see him with someone else." She cried hard in her arms. Navya sighed and hugged her tightly.

"Shh! Tumne unko bataya?" Navya asked her to which she shook her head in denial.

"Bata ke bhi kya karungi? Jab sabko humare relation pe ungli uthani hi hai. Chahe hum relationship mein ho ya na ho. I don't want to face this stupid society Navya. They are cheap! Unki mentality bahut kharab hai Navya. I can't handle them." She cried hard knowing the society that it will raise their questions on them very badly.

"Par Nandini, kabtak tum aise chup baithogi? Kya tum kabhi bhi unko apni feelings ke baare mein nahi bataogi?" Navya asked her breaking the hug and wiped her tears.

She shook her head and looked down at her hands. After few seconds she looked at her.

"Navya, kya main aaj tumhare sath reh sakti hun?" She asked in a hope that even she couldn't deny. She agreed and took her to the hostel hiding from everyone.

"Tum yahan baitho, main aati hun." Saying this Navya moved out of the room. Nandini lied down and closed her eyes. Her mind of drained out that she couldn't think anymore now.

Here Navya came to buy some stuff when she saw Manik going towards his car. Since the college and hostel was like near by they could see everyone. She was hesitating to go to him. Should she tell him about the Nandini or let be? She was debating with her mind that she didn't even realise when her legs betrayed her and stood infront of him.

"Kya hua Navya?" She came out of her thoughts as she heard him. She kept staring at him where as he frowned.

"Kuch hua hai kya? Nandini woh theek hai na?" He asked worriedly. Navya frowned and took a deep breath and a sigh left from her mouth.

"Nahi woh theek hai. Aapko yeh batana tha ki Nandini aaj mere sath rahegi. Mujhe kuch kaam hai isliye." She told a lie to him where as he got sad that he had to listen this from Navya instead of Nandini.

"Oh! Umm...okay make sure she is fine. And if anything do call me." He said with sadness flowing from his voice which anyone could make out.

"Kyun? Aap uske hai kaun? Guardian ho? Ya bhai ho?" She mumbled under her breath but Manik heard it.

"Main bhai nahi hun uska. Tum nahi samjhogi voh mere liye kya hai." He replied to her in such a tone that anyone would recognise what he feels for her.

Without saying anything to her he settled in his car and drove away. Navya sighed and looked down. After 10 minutes she went back to the hostel and entered her room to see Nandini sitting on the bed looking nowhere.

"Tum kuch kha lo. Hum fresh hoke aate hai." She passed her the bag and went to the common washroom. Nandini looked down and withing few seconds her phone beeped. She opened her phone only to see message from Manik.

I don't know tum Navya ke sath kyun reh rahi ho. Lekin just wanna say, don't spoil your health. Kuch share karna hai toh bata sakti ho mujhe. If something is bothering you, you can always share with me. Don't forget, I'm always there for you in your bad, good, darkness phase.

She cried reading his message. She herself didn't know what should she do? She knew if she will confess she will have to face the cruel society and if she won't then she will face a heartbreak.

How was it?

Nandini is wrong or right?

What do you think Navya will do now? Will she tell Manik or not?

What will Manik do?