Nandini's POV:
What would I expect more from Manik? Usne mujhe aise hi nikal diya. It's my mistake to expect that he will take a stand for me. I walked out from there and reached on set. ''Did you take the cheque'' Aryaman asked excited. ''Yes'' I said. ''Phir aaj party karna hai'' Aryaman said. Manik just came there. ''Party! Mujhe nikal ne ki khushi mein?'' I said eyeing Manik. ''Did I miss something that happened between you?'' Aryaman asked. ''This is not something new Aryaman, it is a routine for Manik, kaam ho gaya tho usse nikal ke phek dena'' I said taunting Manik. ''Listen, I did not do anything, it was Dhruv's decision'' Manik said. ''I think this is going overboard Nandini, chalo hum chale jayenge yaha se'' Aryaman said as he didn't want me to be there. ''I'm going anyway, yaha se bhi chale jaungi'' I said but I heard Aryaman saying to Manik. ''Why do you always hate her Manik! Except you, everyone likes her''. ''Did really Manik hate me still?'' this question will be unanswered until Manik wants to answer it.
Aryaman announced that he will be leaving tomorrow and he wants to throw a party. ''I think I can't make it to your party'' I said. ''C'mon its for Navya and Cabir, dono aayenge, maybe this is their last chance, at least we should try for one last time, tumhare bina ye sab possible nahi hoga'' he said. Now I can't even deny, so I agreed to go. ''You should make Navya attend the party'' Aryaman said. ''You better leave it on me, main kaise bhi karke Navya ko le aaungi but what about Cabir?'' I asked. ''Wo main aur Manik sambhal lenge'' he said. ''Manik! are you sure? because uske wajhe se hi Navya aur Cabir ab mil bhi nahi payenge'' I said. ''Don't worry, I will take care of both Manik and Cabir'' he assured. Is Aryaman really thinking that Manik would help us in getting Cabir and Navya united?
***********************************************************************************************'''Navya, I promised Aryaman that I will get you, please come na'' I pleaded her literally. ''Please Nandini, mujhe bhi samajne ki koshish kar, Cabir will be there and he will not like me being there. I don't want to be an alien there'' she said. Baat tho sahi hai but how will we get a chance again. ''What if Cabir is also there, you can try to talk to him'' I said. ''No Nandini, I don't want to disturb him again, I realized he has no feelings for me, isse acha main usse propose hi nahi karti, at least we would have remained friends'' she said. ''Please Navya, itni jaldi haar nahi maano, we can try for one more time'' she had finally agreed. ''The plan is on'' I messaged Aryaman. I went to Aryaman's place along with Navya. I saw Manik there looking after the arranagements.
''Tum dono itni jaldi aa gaye?'' he asked us. ''Hum dono Aryaman ko help karne aaye hai, tum itni jaldi kyu aa gaye?'' I asked him. ''Why would I come late to my party?'' he said. ''Your Party?!'' why did he say that. ''Would you come if you know that it is my party?'' he asked me. Never. ''Aryaman yaha rehta hai par ghar tho mera hi haina, mere ghar mein party, technically my party'' he said with a wink. ''Navya, I heard you make great mocktails, would you please make it tonight?'' Aryaman asked Navya and she obliged. ''Kya kar rahe ho tum dono!'' he asked me and Manik. We didn't reply. ''So, what's the plan?'' I asked Aryaman. ''Hum tum iss kamre mein band ho, aur chaabhi kho jaaye'' he sang. ''What do you mean?'' Manik asked anxious. ''I think I know what you're going to do'' I said. ''Are you going to lock them up in a room?'' Manik asked Aryaman. ''Wow, wo dono kuch tho baat karenge'' I said hopefully. ''No, we shouldn't be doing this'' Manik said.
Meanwhile Cabir came there and Aryaman said to me and Manik that he doesn't know Navya is also here. "Tumne Cabir ko kyu nahi bataya ki Navya would come here?" Manik asked. "Because Aryaman is not so dumb, he knew Cabir would deny coming if Navya is also invited" I said. "Hi Cabir, I have ordered food from where you have suggested, can we just taste if it is good! I mean party start hone wala hai, we can again order if it doesn't taste good" Aryaman said. "It always taste good from that restaurant, I can check if you want me to" Cabir said. "Perfect, go and check then" I said. Aryaman and Manik glared at me like I did a mistake talking then. "Come Cabir, I'll show you the kitchen" Aryaman took Cabir. He signed me to lock the door. I went behind them taking the room keys.
As soon as Cabir went in, Aryaman came out. We both locked the door. One, two and three.....boom there's a knock on the door. "Please open the door" Navya shouted from inside. Aryaman went near the window. "I'm sorry guys I'm trying to open the door, but it is centrally locked from inside" Aryaman said. "Then try looking for an extra key" Cabir advised. "Ha, we will search for it" I said. "Don't panic, have patience, we will figure out something" Aryaman said. Mission is accomplished. Manik was busy attending few guests and Dhruv was also there. I had to meet few people whom Manik introduced as film distributors. Everyone said they were eagerly waiting for the movie release date.
I went to the pool area and sat there. This place has a charm. It's so peaceful and away from the city's hustle. I removed my footwear and dipped my feet in the cool water. This is so soothing. Navya and Cabir might be waiting for the door to be opened. Manik came there. "Where is Dhruv?" he asked me. "I don't know" I said as if I didn't care. "Aryaman told me that Dhruv is here" he said. "Dhruv never came here, you can go ask Aryaman" I said. Manik went near the door but it didn't open. He knocked it but there's no response. "Do you have your phone?" he asked me. I showed my mobile to him. "Call Aryaman and say that we're stuck over here" he said. "What?" I asked. "Ha, the door is jammed, it isn't opening, call him" he said.
I quickly called him. "Aryaman, I think me and Manik, we're stuck in the pool area, door is not opening, please open it" I said. "Poor Nandini, is Manik there with you?" he sounded wicked. "Yes" I said hesitated. "Then the door is not jammed, it is locked. Humne Navya aur Cabir ke saath bhi aisa hi kiya hai na" he said. "Ye mazaak karne ka time nahi hai, you said Dhruv was waiting for me near pool area?" Manik asked Aryaman. "If I didn't tell you that, you will never go there" Aryaman said and continued, "Dhruv had dinner and he left also. Now both of you, be good to each other and sort out everything between you" Aryaman said. "Do you think you can lock us up like Navya and Cabir? Do you think we are in love Or what?" Manik asked in anger.
Was Aryaman right about Manik's hatred for me? I thought. "I know tum lovers nahi ho, but still I can't see my best friends hating each other, so there's no other option other than staying there for whole night, and don't call me again. I'll open the door tomorrow morning" he said and cut the call. "Oh God, this Aryaman" Manik gritted his teeth. "This is all happening because of you" I said. "But you were the one who was with him when you planned this for Navya and Cabir" Manik accused me. "But I didn't know that he will do the same with me too" I said. "So, ulta chor kotwal ko daatein! You are okay if it is with Cabir and Navya but not you? Double standards huh?" Manik asked.
"If you hadn't told him that you hate me, he would have never done this" I said. He looked at me and pulled near him. "Do you really think I told Aryaman that I hate you?" Manik asked and I don't know the answer. "Manik, leave me" I tried to get out of his grip but he tightened it. "Yes, I hate you" Manik said and I looked at him. "I hate you because you never listen to what I wanted to say, you never need me but you make me dependent on you. You helped me to sleep but you don't need me. You knew all my secrets but never share anything about you, don't you think I should know about you?" Manik asked. It was more of a complain but I could see that he is irritated by my behaviour. I shouldn't have been rude to him.
"Sorry" the word escaped from my mouth. "Aaj jo bhi decision tha, wo Dhruv ka hai. You know how I can't go back on Dhruv or Siya's decision" he told. "Believe me, even I don't want Navya and Cabir to get separated but they can't be together if Cabir doesn't like it" he said. I don't agree with Manik in this. "Manik" I called his name. "It's already been 24 hours that you didn't even take my name" he said disappointed. I don't know how to apologize him. "I'm so sorry Manik" I hugged him. Maybe he didn't expect this. He paused for a second before I felt his cold hands on me. Why do I always so warmth in his hugs. He slowly broke the hug and lifted my chin to make me face him.
"I'm a virgin" I told him. "What?!" he asked with a doubt on his face. "Are you shocked or surprised?" I asked him as I couldn't read between the lines. "Huh, I mean, you told me this out of nowhere now" he said. "Even you asked me this out of nowhere" I said. "I'm sorry to ask such personal thing about you" he said. "But you have a right to know" I said and he was quick to ask. "Why do you think I should about your life?", he instantly made me blush. If I had a mirror here, I'll make sure that I'm not looking like a tomato now. " I think you are the only one who dared to ask me this" I said. "Well, I have asked it as you have mentioned that you had your first kiss with me" he said. I kept mum. "Do you think I ruined your first kiss?" he asked. I remembered how we played truth or dare when Aryaman was hospitalized. I mentioned that it will be my first kiss when he dared me to kiss someone randomly. "I don't know" I said. "So you don't remember our first kiss?" he asked. What should I answer now.
How can I admit that I will cherish our first kiss forever.