A week went by, a whole fucking week and every night there was something or the other that happened, my dad never needs a reason to hit me and of course it's his way of letting go of his pain and stress. I showed up with a new bruise every day like usual but nandini wasn't there to put ointment on me
This whole week she wasn't around, I didn't see her in class, I didn't see her at her window, her curtains were always drawn. I was starting to get kinda pissed not seeing her around and I'm sure cabir noticed it because he kept laughing at me. Oh and he started dating navya who also didn't know about nandini.
"Manik, just go to her house dude"
"No" I replied
"Why not"
"Does she regularly text you" I asked and he shook his head
"Havent' heard from her after that morning, she just send me a text after she had walked out of there" he said
"What was it" I asked
"Why should I tell you" he asked
"Cabir"
"No, you didn't want her around so she gave you that now what do you want"
"Fine fuck off" I said and he chuckled
"Go to her, you obviously want her"
"No I don't its just we have a project together so I need to know" it was a bullshit excuse
"Sure ya" he said getting off my bed
"Where are you going"
"On a date" he replied smiling making me shake my head
Once he left I looked at Nandini's window but nothing again. I was getting impatient now so I got up grabbing my biology notebook and the papers I had made for the project. Taking a deep breath I made my way to nandini's house, I knocked once then once again smiling remembering how she said to do so for good luck
The door opened revealing a lady who I ahevnt's seen before but then I remembered she said she lived wit her chacha chachi
"Namaste chachi" I said
"Namaste beta"
"Woh nandini, I am actually her partner in biology and we have this project due so I was wondering if"
"Han Han beta, go. We are just flying out anyways" she said and a man appeared behind her with suitcases
"Who are you" he asked
"Nandini's friend sir" I replied
"Mukesh stop it, beta lock up and go, she is in her room and remember I trust you so don't do anything to break that trust" she said
"I won't chachi" she smiled
"She is sleeping right now, she has been getting panic attacks and she is sick so be careful when you walk up there"
"Panic attacks" I asked
"Ya, we have to go now" she said and I nodded
They both left and I locked up making my way to nandini's room. I walked to her room and found the door shut so I turned the knob and it was open.
I opened the door and walked inside to see her bundled up in blankets in the middle of her bed. She looked so tiny in he bed. I walked closer and put the papers and notebook down on the Side of her bed. I sat down beside her on the bed but she didn't even move
I moved her blankets down from her face and it broke me to see dread tear marks on her cheeks, her hair was a mess, her eyes were very puffy. She was holding onto a jar of lights in her hands
I caressed her hair back and she turned towards me, she felt warm. I looked around to find a whole lot of tissue all over her room, books were scattered everywhere.
"Nandini" I called and she stirred a little in her sleep
A few minutes later she opened her eyes and rubbed her eyes a little leaving her jar of lights which I grabbed and put on her side table
"Holly cheese balls, what are you doing in my dream again, dude we cannot be having this, I told you na I dont' wanna see you in my dream it makes me sad. Still you don't listen huh, what am I supposed to do now huh tell me" she said sitting up and rubbing her eyes more
I couldn't help but smile a little hearing that she dreamt of me, but it makes me sad that seeing me in her dreams made her sad becasue of the stupid words I spoke
"Oh no you are still here" she said looking at me
"I am" I replied and she jumped a little
"Manik" she whispered
"Nandini"
"What are you doing here, are you okay? Did he do something? Are you hurt? Should we go to the doctor?" She rambled
"Shh stop it" I said holding her hand
"Im okay, why haven't you came to college in this past week"
"I didn't wanna make you feel suffocated" she said looking down
"Im sorry I said that"
"Its okay" she said coughing a little
"Are you sick"
"A little bit"
"Kya Hua" I asked and she pouted
"Kuch ni"
"Chachi said you had panic attacks" she looked down
"I umm it happens"
"Nandini"
"Im okay" she said
"Come on, go shower, ill make you something healthy" I siad and she scrunched her nose
"No I dont want healthy, what are you a dietitian or something, something healthy no gross disgusting" she said mimicking me
"You have a slight fever"
"And you are rude" she widened her eyes as soon as realized wha she said
"I am what" I asked and she giggled
"Manik" I hummed still looking at her
"You don't want me around, I suffocate you with my presence then why are you here" she asked
"Im sorry that I said those things. You don't suffocate me, you make me wanna come out of the shell I have been in for a very very long time but you don't realize you are putting yourself in danger Nandini. you are full of love and happiness and my life is exactly the opposite. I am made for the night. We cannot be hanging out together because I can't hurt you" I explained as much as I could
"I understand but being made for the night is not a bad thing. The stars come out at night and they light up the whole world. Have you ever seen a shooting star" she asked and I shook my head
"Shooting stars are said to fulfil wishes, and technically that means you fulfil wishes, you light up the world. Manik night isn't about darkness, its about being peaceful. There is a calmness in the dark. You aren't hurting me with your presence but you do hurt me with your absence. Im not saying I wanna cling to you 24/7, im saying we can be friends. I care Manik and it's not for show, I genuinely care for you" she said and I was stunned by her words
"Umm I have never analyzed night time like this" I mumbled and she smiled
"That means we can be friends" she asked and I chuckled nodding
"Yayyyy" she yelled getting up and jumping on the bed
"Careful" I said grabbing her arm
"But Nadine you aren't allowed in my house" I said and she sat down
"I understand, no offence but your dad scares me"
"He won't do anything to you" I said and she nodded
"Manik"
"Go shower" I said and she shook her head
"Im lazy, I wanna stay in bed"
"Get your ass up, you look like shit and this room looks a bomb went off in her" I siad getting up
"A bomb is living in here so you know" she said making em chuckle
"Go shower" I said and she nodded getting up
"And put on some not see through top please" I said winking at her and her eyes widened but then once she composed herself
"I know you like the view" she said sticking her tongue out at me running to the bathroom making me chuckle
"She is something else" I mummbled to myself picking up the things on the floor