The Nerd and The Brat ✔️

34. Tall, Dark and Muscles

Nandini was brought back to the present when Manik taps on her shoulder. "I am done", he said.

She turned around, smirked at his full-sleeved oversized sweatshirt. The girls are going to be so disappointed. "Is this the head boy Manik Malhotra?", she asked.

"Yes, head girl, Nandini Murthy", he replied back almost shyly.

"Wait a second", she told, "are you trying to replace your 'apology' with a sorry?"

"Cabir asked me to use that", he mumbled.

Nandini burst out laughing before pulling the boy into a hug. "No need to force a change on yourself but I am so proud of you, Manik. The defending yourself part. I am impressed", she told him and laughed again when he blushed all red.

XXX

Nandini went to the canteen again, briefing Manik over the event their college was conducting. It was to highlight the Indian culture and for the first time, they have sent out the invitations to international candidates. It would be her pride event and she was happy she had Manik with her to help her. She couldn't have possibly managed it all alone.

The scene at the canteen was so different than what Nandini could have ever imagined. There was a girl near the table where her friends were sitting. Going by the expression on her face, she looked like she was furious at Cabir, and surprisingly, Cabir was drenched and listening to her. Nandini never knew someone could make him listen to them because she was damn sure the younger twin had always been 'baby'ed.

Before Nandini could appreciate her guts, the girl had her arms around Manik. The head girl mentally groaned and reached out to pull the girl away from Manik but he already had his hands around her. He was surprised sure but she had never seen him so happy with a stranger and suddenly her mood soured as Manik ignored everyone in favor of her. It's as if the two were in their own world. They didn't even glance at Cabir, which was saying something, at least for Manik. She slumped down between Cabir and Abhimanyu, opposite to the head boy and the girl.

The girl was babbling nonsense about her journey, her college and whatever was on her mind while Manik, the idiot that he is, was subtly pushing Cabir's plate of sandwiches in front of her, forcing her to eat them. Nandini would have swooned if she wasn't busy killing the girl in her head. Who the hell was she? Why the hell isn't Cabir reacting when she was stealing both his food and his bhai? Instead, the younger twin rolled his eyes looking at the duo before grabbing Manik's bag. He took out the t-shirt Manik wore before and changed it right there in the canteen. He smirked when people hooted.

Nandini pinched his arm. "If I see you one more time either exposing or giving others the ideas of exposing, I will make sure it would be the last time you step into the college. Trust me, I would be more than willing to throw you out of the college."

Cabir glared at her. "Listen, Murthy, my girlfriend just broke up with me. My bhai has been ignoring me for the past few minutes. I seriously lost all the hope in life and you want to expel me from college. Why are you being so heartless?", he hissed.

"Girlfriend?"

"Is that the only word you understood in my whole speech?"

Nandini raised her hands in surrender. The kid has lost his mind probably due to his apparent breakup. Isn't breaking up the most common event among couples? For now, she kept the question to herself and concentrated on the head boy who was supposed to help her plan the event. Cabir was muttering something under her breath and suddenly the girl finally let her gaze wander from Manik.

"Hey, you are Nandini, right?", she asked, "The head girl."

Nandini was taken aback. She guarded her face to replace it with her best professional one and nodded at the girl.

"Hi, I am Navya Naveli from the University of Paris. I am here for the event 'Indian Culture and its impact on the world.' It's nice to finally meet you in person", she said.

She was sweet, prompted a part of her brain but Nandini knew better than to trust a sweet person. She raised a questioning eyebrow at the girl. "The event doesn't start until next week", she said.

"I know", told Navya, waving her off. "I came early to surprise Manik. He hasn't talked to me for a month. I got worried."

Yeah, the one-month disappearance. Nandini was yet to question Manik about that but right now, she really wanted to punch someone. Either the girl, the head boy, or his idiotic brother, it doesn't matter.

Cabir, the idiot, was poking the girl's arm. "Babe, why aren't you feeling my presence?"

Babe?

"Cabir, you better be dead or I will kill you", threatened the girl.

The girl was really sweet, thought Nandini to herself.

"Baby, I told you, we were at the farmhouse and there weren't any signals at that place. I have even messaged you explaining everything", pleaded Cabir.

"By the time I got your message, Cabir Malhotra, I was already at the Mumbai airport", she told, "So, please, don't you dare talk to me before you learn to check the date and time."

This was the most satisfying experience, thought Nandini. The girl was roasting the younger Malhotra, turning him into a pouting mess.

"I am really sorry but why is Manik excused?", he whined.

Nandini perked up listening to Cabir's question. He wasn't the only one to find the answer to that question.

"Because you had a responsibility towards me", she told, "since I was your girlfriend."

"Was?", asked Cabir.

"Girlfriend?", Nandini asked simultaneously. She earned a glare from Cabir but she shrugged it off.

"Yes, girlfriend. Yes, was. I am breaking up with you", answered Navya to both Nandini and Cabir.

Cabir grabbed her hand. "Baby, listen to me", he told.

"Not a word, Cabir", the girl told firmly.

It was Manik who touched the girl's hand softly. "Navya, shall we go for a walk?", he asked her, throwing her his sweetest smile.

Nandini knew she wouldn't disagree with him. No one could.

"Sure, bhai", she told and they were out of the canteen.

Bhai?

Cabir wailed dramatically. "My girlfriend broke up with me", he told.

Can this boy be any more stupid? Why was he advertising for the whole college to listen?

"Cabir, Manik will sort it out. Don't worry", assured Mukti.

Nandini slapped his arm. "Dude, is she really your girlfriend?", she asked him.

"Why would I cry for another's girlfriend?", he told, sniffing.

"Who knows", she said, shrugging. "But she is the one for you. The perfect match for you. Damn, it isn't even an hour and she had already shut your mouth, made you cry like a baby, and stole your food. Impressive."

"Aren't you the one mentally killing her some time back?", he accused her.

Nandini ignored him in favor of food.

It was almost half an hour when Manik returned to the canteen along with Navya, laughing at something Manik had told her. When they reached Cabir, the girl hugged him and kissed his cheek. Cabir had the widest of grins as he hugged her back. He broke the hug to jump on Manik.

"Thank you, bhai", he screamed.

Manik smiled and ruffled his hair. "I love you too, baby."

"Everything has changed but not this", muttered Nandini. Beside her, Abhimanyu and Mukti laughed at the twins.

You don't belong to a place. You belong to people. To your parents friends.

Navya is here. As I said earlier, she won't be a major character but important to Cabir. And as many have guessed, the gym session could only affect his out appearance and he is still the cute and sweet Manik. Next one in a while. :P