"What?" Sanchita asked frowning "Manik had an accident? How?"
"How would I know? I was just informed about it" Nandini bit her lips.
"Who informed you?"
"Manik"
"Huh?" Sanchita was no in confused. "Wait, wait, you said Manik had an accident then the one who informed you was himself?" She shook her head "what's happening? The person who got into an accident called you to tell you hen encountered an accident?"
Nandini shrugged "it's seems though"
"Who does that? That man don't have any sense yet kept hitting you all the time. What the fuck does he want now? Does he expecting you to run to him as soon as you heard the news?"
Nandini didn't reply.
Sanchita sighed "look Nandini, I know you love him. But that man is senseless. He couldn't even see how hard you tried, fight to get his attention. Sometime he behaves like a caring one then the very next second he will become number one jerk. I hate to see the crying face of yours. You will never be in peace of you kept roaming around him. He won't stay happy nor will let you stay happy "
Nandini threw her phone on the bed and sit down. It was true he never cared. There was some point she thought he is changing or may be recognising her efforts but everytime her heart shattered. Why does he behaves like she is important giving her hope then shatter it into pieces? How long she could handle it?
Sanchita walked towards her and patted her shoulder "Nandini, I am your best friend. I would never want you to get hurt. I know this love is painful. Its hurting you in the worst way possible. But if you keep thinking about it then you are ruining your life. A one sided love is always painful. And you already have been through a lot. I can't see you in pain"
Nandini nodded "I know, I have never doubted on you"
"So what are you going to do now?"
"Since he called, I have to go. At least he wouldn't blame me for anything. And I also want to know what does he want"
"Are you sure?" Sanchita asked worried.
Nandini nodded "yes, our study is about to end. And may be after this we won't see each other anymore. Sanchita it hurts. It hurts that he never cared, he was the first person I ever loved like this and and also the first for whom I went so crazy, crazy to the point I forgot myself. But at the end I came back empty handed. There's no point of my love and care" a lone tears escaped from her eyes.
"Nandini please, don't cry. You are a string girl isn't it?" Sanchita rubbed her back.
Nandini wiped her face "Thanks for helping me Sanchita. I don't know what would I have done alone"
"Come on, you can't be like this. When you want to go?"
"I will go at noon. I am hungry, I want to eat something "
"I know a place where you can chill yourself. Come on get ready"
"Okay" Nandini nodded.
~~~~~~~
At noon Nandini reached the hospital. Few ambulance arrived after her. She can see the wounded patients were brought inside the hospital on stretcher. Nandini sighed looking at the patients in pain. She really don't like hospital. She had to stay in the hospital because of her accident and now she is here for him again. She shook her head and walked inside.
"Excuse me, I am here to meet Manik Malhotra. Can you please tell me in which room he is staying?" Nandini asked the receptionist.
"You are-"
"Friend"
"Oh" the receptionist nodded her head before during her computer screen "Umm.... he is in second floor room no. 105"
"Thank you" Nandini nodded then walked towards the elevator. Once she reached the first floor she searched for the room number. Her heart was almost exploding. She really don't want him to see hurt or have any serious injuries. She knows this kind of feelings for him is useless but her heart is refusing to believe to accept the truth that her feelings doesn't matter anything to him. Nandini eyed the door then sighed and without thinking she burst opened the door only to be stunned.
"I am lat-" the words could not finish as she looked around. Several eyes landed on her eyeing her with confusion. The last thing she was expecting was to find the room crowded.
"Umm... She is my classmate" Manik's voice landed clearing the uninvited silence of the room.
"Oh" the elderly woman beside him smiled and only then the eyes on her shifted to Manik.
Nandini blinked few times to clear her shock. She thought he would be alone so she didn't knock. But she never expected that the room to be full of people. She felt awkward silently standing at the door.
"Oh dear, please don't be startled" the elderly woman smiled "come in, I am Chitra, Manik's mother" the woman introduced herself.
Mother? Nandini was stunned.
"And they are his elder brother Sahid, his cousin Pratik and she is his sister Anamika" Chitra pointed towards the three young ones standing at side. "And this is His chachi Sumitra. His chacha and farther is in the doctor canin"
"Mom" Manik groaned "do you need to explain everything in details?"
"What are you saying? She will feel awkward if she don't know anyone " Chitra scolded back.
Manik rolled his eyes "she will know them, slowly" he whispered gritting his teeth.
"You are so mean even not inviting her inside" his mother said and turned to Nandini "what's your name dear?"
"I-Nandini" Nandini replied.
"What a beautiful name! It really suits you. Since you are here we can go outside and have lunch. Stay with him till then"
Nandini just gave a awkward nod.
"Keys go, we can't keep her waiting for long" Chitra said and led everyone out of the room. Before she left she turned to Manik and winked secretly at him which Manik rolled his eyes.
Nandini sat on the stool and looked at him "how are you?"
"Good"
"How did you get into accident?"
"I was little careless. I got hot by bike" he replied.
"Any serious issue?"
"No, just some fracture in right leg. I am good"
Nandini nodded "I was not expecting your family to be here. If I knew I would have came later"
"Why? You have problems to come if they are here?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"What? No" she shook her head. "I didn't meant that"
"Then what do you mean? You can go on a trip with another man and stay with his family yet you feel awkward with my family?"
Nandini looked at him stunned "what are you talking about?"
Manik pursed his lips in thin line slightly narrowing his eyes "I don't think I need to give detailed explanation here. You went with another man alone isn't it true? He became so close to you when you went around saying you like me?"
"He is my friend Manik, don't accuse him like this"
"Oh, now you are defending him?"
"Hoe could you say that?" Nandini asked in confusion. "Yes, I went with him because I wanted to. He took me to his house because I wanted to meet his grandmother who just came from deathbed. What's wrong in this matter? You are proposing this matter like it's a big issue"
"Isn't it? You claimed to love me but you went out with him just because you wanted to meet his grandmother whom you never saw?" He frowned.
Nandini got up and glared at him "yes, I wanted to meet her so what? What's your problem? You called me to tell me you had an accident so I came here to meet you. But now you are accusing me like I have cheated behind your back?"
"Kind of"
His reply made her anger. Kind of? What the hell does he mean by that?
"What do you mean by kind of? Why are you so angry on me over this matter. I love you it's true but you never accepted it nor you ever gave any respect to me feelings. I went with Sameer because he is my friend and he respect me in that way. He knows the boundary we have between us. He is matured and understanding, unlike you" she pointed her fingers to him. She was so angry that she even forgot she was in hospital and he was the patient.
"You turned blind eye to my feelings and efforts. You have hurt me the worst way possible, isn't it enough for you? So you called me here to blame me? When you are going to be satisfied insulting me? You love to see me in pain?" Angry tears fell down from her cheek.
"I thought you wanted to see me because you had accident but again I was proved wrong. You are acting like my boyfriend when you never wanted to be one. I never expected you will point to my self-respect like this. I never expected this from you. Today one thing is clear that I really did a mistake by loving you, and may be I will regret till I live" she turned around with teary eyes and ran out of the hospital room.
Manik sat there watching her leave with blank expression.
Several days later, the final exam was finally finished. The students bide good byes to their friends. It's time for vacation and also the last day of college. In the hostel Nandini and Sanchita were packing their bags.
"God, it's finally time to go home. This hostel and room, I will miss it so much" Sanchita said with teary eyes.
Nandini zipped her bag and looked at her "I will miss too. So many things has happened. I am going to miss every bit of it"
Sanchita turned around and nodded "true, we made so many memories here. Our first arrival, first sharing momos and also first clubbing" she laughed.
"True" Nandini hugged her "I will miss you so much"
"Me too, let's stay in touch. I don't want to miss anything" Sanchita wiped her tears.
Nandini chuckled "of course, how could you think we will lose contact silly?"
"Let's go" they walked out of the room and met some friends outside. Once they are at the gate of hostel they saw a car arrived.
"My car is here, why don't I give you a lift?" Sanchita asked.
"No, I want to go alone, I will be fine"
"Okay, inform me when you reach home alright?"
"Alright " Nandini nodded and they hugged. Sanchita get inside the card and drove off.
Nandini sighed and eyed the hostel again. Once he sneaked around and gave her milk. She could never forget it. This place has so many memories, her best one and worse one too. Everything just got tangled together. She turned back to see the path of college. She knows she won't be going in there again. And may be she will never see him again. After that hospital incident she never had interaction with him again. She focused on her study and finally it's over. Sighing she turned around and walked away.
Everything is over.