Chapter- 22

                                    

                                          
"Who are you?," Nandini asked with a suspicious expression. "Huh?," that is the only thing Manik could utter. Did she heard his interview? Did she come to know that he is Manik Malhotra, not Anant? So many questions were running on his mind.
"I thought you just play guitar for passion. I didn't know that you have good knowledge about music. The tune which you just played... I mean during your meeting....," Nandini fumbled. "Oh that, I heard that song somewhere on youtube. I just modified that tune a little bit. You know in Man...." and he stopped. He was about to say Manik's style. 
"What?," Nandini was confused. She was waiting for his sentence to complete. "I was saying you know it man... I'm learning New York lingo. Yo man," he tired to cover up. Nandini just gave him a weird look. Sometimes it is difficult to understand him. 
"You were supposed to go outside right? What happened?," Manik asked. "I forgot my phone. So I came back but I stopped when I heard...," Nandini stopped abruptly. 
"Me playing guitar," Manik completed her sentence to which Nandini just nodded. "I didn't know that you have become such a huge fan of me," Manik tried to tease her. "It is nothing like that," Nandini reverted. 
"But I think it is the truth. You are my fan or maybe Leader of my fanclub," he said moving forward towards her. "I'm not your fan. And by the way, that's not even your music," Nandini said moving back but she fell on the sofa. She went blank for a while. 
"Oh really?," Manik asked in a husky voice leaning down towards her. He noticed that her change in expression. But, he was unable to figure out what's in her mind. He was just few inches away. 
Nandini moved back as much as she can. She held both her hands to her chest. "I'm the leader of your Anti-fanclub," she said almost brushing his lips. 
Manik came back to his senses and moved back. Nandini also sat properly on the sofa. Both composed themselves. Both felt awkward. They don't know what's going on here. 
"By the way I forgot to mention. There is a party at my university. We can bring someone. Would you like to come?," Nandini asked trying to change the topic. "Party? When is it?," Manik asked. 
"Tomorrow evening. After my college hours," she said. "Okay done. Anyway it's been long since I partied," Manik was excited. 
"It will be difficult for me to come back here and change so I'll be taking my dress with me. I'll send you the location," Nandini said before going to her room. Manik nodded his head and they both went to their rooms.
Nandini was lying on her bed looking at the ceiling. She was confused with her feelings. Normally, if any guy come that close to her she would've tell him to back off or push him off. But with this guy, it was different. It was like she was craving for his presence, his touch. 
Not only about today. Since, the day he moved in, that night when he pushed her to the wall and grabbed her tightly. That night she could see he was broken. She didn't know about his parents that time. But there was something about him that always attracted her towards him. She knew something was bothering him. She could see the pain in his eyes. 
That night when they were walking back from Wilson's mansion, somewhere she knew that she was safe with him even though it was late night and she hardly know anything about him.
That evening when they went to restaurant. He kept staring her. She wore a red dress. He said she was looking beautiful. He was so close to her. She could hear her own heartbeat that time. He was staring at her yet at the same time she felt safe around him.
She always avoided parties at university but for the first time she was going. Yes, she never attended any parties or get together. But this time she is gonna attend her last college party. That too with a partner. Many things have been changed since last few weeks. She brushed all these thoughts thinking maybe she wanna go to the party because it is her last party here. After that she will be completing her graduation. 
She looked at the clock. It was 3 am. She moved out of her bed and silently opened her door. She made sure she created no sound. After an hour she again came back to her room. But she was stopped by Manik.
"What are you doing at this time?," Manik asked in a cracky voice while rubbing his eyes. Nandini was in shock. She didn't know what to reply. Manik came out of the kitchen holding the water bottle looking confused and sleepy. "I... I... uh...," Nandini was finding some excuse but she couldn't.
"You want some water?," Manik forwarded the water bottle towards her. She took the bottle and drank water in a hurry. She emptied the bottle and gave it to him.
"You finished it?," Manik said looking at the bottle. "Sorry I was feeling thirsty," Nandini apologised. "It's okay. No problem. I came here to fill my bottle then I heard the door sound and I saw you," Manik said in his sleepy voice. Nandini just nodded her head and wished him good night. He also wished and they both went back to their rooms after Manik filled his water bottle.
Nandini sat on the bed in a relief. "Thank god he didn't notice anything," she thought. She held her parents photograph and went to sleep.