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I have done a lot of shit in the past days. Hurt her intentionally or unintentionally it doesn't matter but the bottom line is that I did hurt her.

Her words shook me to the core today. She is right in every fucking sense. What the fuck was I thinking?

I will have to make all of this right. Although I know nothing I do will make us the same but there is no effing way I'll not try. I'll keep trying until and unless I get it all back to its place.

I tossed and turned for like 1 hour thinking all this and I understood that I will not have a peaceful sleep till I find a way out of this mess.

I stood up and got seated at the study table in my room which is hardly utilised cause come on, who am I kidding? I do not study. Just enough to pass the exams.

Anyways, I took a pen in my hand and opened a notebook. The very first page.

First of all, I wrote all the important points from the conversation I had with Dad that day. The day when he pressurized me to charm Soha and make her my girlfriend and forget about Nandini.

1. Need of investors.
2. Khurrana's daughter Soha.
3. Dad needed money to get back Malhotra's on top.
4. Swore on my Mom that I'll not tell any of this to Nandini.
5. I can't break up but Soha can.

I jotted down all the necessary points I could recall at the moment and started staring at the now half filled page.

Staring and thinking of a plan or at least a loophole. I remembered my Mom's words.

'The solution of a problem lies in the problem itself.'

In that hope I again started thinking. I looked back at the notes.

Can't tell to Nandini. Hmm. Wait. Woah. I got it.

I swore I won't say anything to Nandini. And Nandini includes just Nandini. And that means I can ask for somebody else's help. And that somebody should be a well wisher of Nandini who would actually want her to be happy.

And who better than Navya? Yes she will help me get out of this.

But wait. Why would she believe me? After all I have hurt her best friend. I have hurt her sister as they call it. So then how will I convince her?

Manik you have no choice. You will have to do it otherwise you won't be able to live with the guilt that you didn't even give it shot. If you were ever true to yourself that you loved Nandini, then you will do it.

My subconscious screamed at me. It was right. I also agree that I have done some severe mistakes but I am ready to face the consequences.

Without wasting another moment, I opened my WhatsApp, found Navya's contact number from our Class Group, saved her number, and dialled her up.

It was 11:30 in the night and highly inappropriate for me to call her now, her kya anybody. I just hope it's her personal mobile not her mother's or father's.

I took the risk and was just praying for her to pick it up. I knew what I had to do.

"Pick up. Pick up. Pick up. Pick up. Pick up." I was nervous. I was very very nervous. My throat was dry and I was roaming about my room with the phone on my ear.

But the call went unattended. I tried once again not wanting to lose the opportunity of sorting all this out.

She picked the call in the first ring this time. I was a bit startled honestly as it was unexpected but I didn't let it make a difference to my voice.

*****

I was worried as hell. By what Nandu told me, I could figure out that there was something Manik was trying to convey to her through his shitty apology speech. He said there was some reason behind all the chaos.

I went in the restroom to splash some water on my face to get my brain started. While I was splashing the water, I could hear a faint sound of my phone ringing.

I quickly wiped my face with the towel and headed towards my phone. It was really late at night, if somebody would be calling me now then it has got to be Nandini. Thinking this I took some brisk steps to get across the room and reach my bed where the phone was kept to pick it up but as soon as I saw the face of it, it got disconnected.

I could just see a flash of an unknown number on my phone and wondered who would call me now except of Nandu.

My thinking procedure got disturbed when it rang again. I quickly took hold of the phone and picked it up.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Navya. Me Manik. Hope you remember." He replied with a fake confident voice. But I was surprised at his audacity. He was calling me, Nandini's best friend.

"Oh of course I remember you, Jerk. Why are you calling me?" I couldn't help but use a special endearment for him.

Note the sarcasm.

"Navya, I really need your help. Please I really really need it." He sounded desperate. Any other day, and I would have happily given in but nope, not today. Not ever. After all he did, I will never help him.

"Why do you think I will help you?" I asked him back just to get a little information out of his huge stomach. Literally.

"Cause it's about Nandini." He replied meekly. I may have to reconsider what I just said in my head a little while ago I guess.

"What about her?" I asked, curious.

"I can't explain everything right now, but it's really important for me and her. Could we meet?" He persuaded.

"When and where?" I had given in the moment he had mentioned Nandini's name so without stretching this conversation I got to the point.

"Tomorrow, before school starts. Reach Space at least 15 minutes prior. Got it?" He quickly briefed me.

"Okay. It better be something good." With that I cut the call.

He called me again and I picked it up, again.

"Now what?" I replied really annoyed.

"Please don't mention any of this to Nandini. And yes save the number."

And this time he cut the call immediately after. I got a bit suspicious about not telling Nandini part but then I chucked it deciding to hear him out first. I saved the number and jumped on my bed only to doze off moments later.

*****

Uff chalo ye to maan gayi. But now I will have to think of a proper plan. The first thing I'll do tomorrow morning is to have a small chat with Dad regarding business.

I went to sleep in the hope of a brighter tomorrow.

As decided, I went to Dad, knocked on his study door and waited for his reply.

"Come in." I heard his deep voice and pushed the door to get in.

He was as usual sitting with a file in his hand with the reading glasses on. I called him out and came straight to the point.

"Dad."

"Hmm."

"Dad is our company back to being stable with the Khurrana's investment?" He kept the file down and looked at me.

"Look Manik. I am proud of you that you helped me out when I was in need. When we were in need. We are quite stable now but that condition still stands, that is, you can't break up with her. But if you still want to get out of the relationship then I would suggest you to do something that will compel her to break up with you."

He spoke as if breaking somebody's heart means nothing to him. But dekha jaye toh even I am like him, a bit.

Guess I got the genes.

I left the study after muttering a small 'Okay' to him.

I reached Space just 20 minutes of it prior to begin. I waited for Navya to come and saw the hands of my wristwatch ticking. Exactly after 3 minutes, Navya arrived.

"Hey. You made it." I said with a small smile.

"For Nandini." She replied with a straight face.

"I don't have much time so just let me cut it short for you. I. Manik Malhotra truly love your best friend Nandini Murthy and I am willing to do anything and everything to sort the mess I have created. But for that I need your help." I said, a bit filmy but it did it's work I guess because she looked straight in my eyes and said, "Continue please."

"So let me start from the start. My father's company, Malhotra Industries as you know it, was facing a huge loss some days back and as a result all the investors backed out. That's when my father asked me or rather forced me to be in a relationship with Soha as her father, Khurrana uncle was a potential investor. I denied a lot but then I had to surrender at some point so I did. I always wanted to be with Nandini and my father knew it so he made me swear on my mother, who is not even in this world anymore, that I would not utter a single word about this to Nandini."

I was halfway through my story when she raised her hand as if wanting to ask a question.

"What?" I asked.

"Wo then why did you say yes to Nandu?" Oh so that was to ask a question. Such a drama queen.

"Coming to that, as I said I always wanted to be with Nandini and I had also planned to ask her out but then this happened so I couldn't. But when Nandini herself told me about her feelings and that she wanted to give us a chance, I couldn't deny. I just couldn't.

Although I know that at that point of time if I would have stuck to my ground and rejected her, she would have felt less hurt than she is now. I regret every bit of it. But I don't regret loving her. Yesterday her explanation blew my mind off and I realised how big of a sin I have committed."

She looked at me dumbfounded by my huge monologue. But yet I had to continue.

"So here I am ready to commit just one more sin but I don't care because this time I am doing it for Nandini. And as I said I am willing to do anything for her." I finished the explaining part. And now it was time for the planning part.

"Acha so why don't you just break up with her?" She asked rubbing her chin.

"Oh I guess I forgot to mention. My dad has put up this condition that I can't break up with her but if she wants she can. And that's exactly what I am gonna make her do. And in that, you will help me." I said with a slight smirk on my face.

"And trust me when I am free from this relationship I will give my 100% to pacify Nandini and bring her back. To me."

Now the planning part was also done. Only the execution part was left. But for that I need Navya to count on me.

"So Navya, Are you in this with me?" I asked, desperate cause she was my only hope left.

"Count me in. But beware Manik. I am watching you." She replied and I heaved a sigh of relief.

"Do you trust me?" I knew I was pushing it a bit but there's no harm in trying right?

"Don't push it Manik." She gave me her world famous glare.

"Okay." I raised both my hands in defeat.

"Acha so 10 minutes is still there for the school gates to open. When do we start our plan and what's my role?" She looked really confused.

"We start right now."

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Published On-16/3/2020