"Maine aap ko kahi dhekha hain.. I have seen you somewhere" said Manik as they were walking out of Judy's office.
"Ye dialogue kuch zyaadha hi puraana nai lag ra? Try something new mister" she chuckled. "And ya shaayadh tum sahi keh rahe ho.. because even I think I have seen you somewhere" she winked.
"You see! I am right...and haa just because I said I have seen you somewhere tumhe lagaa mein flirt kar raha hoon huh..?" he asked for which she smiled at him. Wow..she has such a lovely smile.
"So you are here for your masters.. would you mind if I ask how old you are?" she asked him doubtfully.
"I am 23 and yes I am here for my MBA. What about you? Now please don't say "Ladkiyon se unki age nai poochthe" he sighed.
"Haha! Relax..I am 21. And I am doing my final year undergrad here...you know in business administration. And I want ot continue here and finish my masters as well..but lets see what happens!" she said.
At the library:
"So this is our library...one of the best places of this university. It is open 24 hours.. you can issue macs, ipads, video cameras...we have a huge collection of books, cassettes and all interesting stuff. My favorite aisle here is the comics one....you see right there" she pointed her finger and "Oh Crap! What is he doing here?" she covered her face and ran away from there. Manik was confused "ab kya hua isko"
"oh madam! Hang on let me come... I don't want to get lost here!" he started running behind her. "Just run behind me.. I won't let you get lost" she shouted facing her back to him and running.
Everybody were watching them and making their own conclusions. "Nandu what is wrong" she could hear people shouting around. She did not give any heed to them.
Finally he got hold of her and pulled her to a corner. She was panting heavily due to running fast. He made her sit and calm down and asked her, "kya hua Nandini? Why did you run from there like that? Paagal ho kya.. look at how you are panting ! "
She put a sorry face and said, "Manik, he is William. We have a class together and he likes me. We have the Annual Ball next week and it is the girl's choice to choose her partner. I don't want to go with him which is why I have been escaping. Agar usne mujhe dhekh liya toh he will literally fall on my feet begging me to ask him to be my partner. Ullu ka patthaa.. why doesn't he understand that I don't want ot go with him... Firstly I don't want to go to the ball aur upar se even if I make up my mind, never in my dreams I would go with him...aarrghhhh !!! Why is this so difficult?" she spoke in a breathe.
"Listen Nandini! Relax.. calm down !! Breathe !! We will see that later, but for now will you please take me to thebasketball coach. I had to meet him at 12 and now it's 11.45 already. So please lets finish that first and I promise I will help you out with the William thing over lunch. Toh ab chale?" he asked cutely. She was so lost in his eyes that she din't even reply him. "Nandini!! Where are you lost? Chale madam ?" he raised a voice a bit. "Haan Haan ! chalo .. sorry meri wajah se late ho gaya!" she said and then they moved towards the basketball court.
At the basketball court:
"Hello Brendan ! How are you today?" asked Nandini to Brendan. "Hello miss! I am sorry I don't remember your name. But yes I am doing great... it's a good weather day today. So the boys are having fun!" he said looking at the students who were already playing.
"That's okay Brendan! My name is Nandini and you can call me nandu. Short and sweet. In between. Brendan, he is Manik. He enrolled for this semester and is going to be here for the next two years. He is a basketball player in India. So Judy was wondering if you could add him to your team." Nandini said and gestured Manik to talk.
Manik shaked hands with Brendan saying, "Hey Brendan! This is Manik. So yeah, I have learnt basketball from one of the best trainers in India and worked part time as a basketball coach in my college. I would be glad if you make me part of your team. I can show you few of my moves if you are interested to take a small test kinda thing"
He asks a few questions about basketball and gives him a small test with few of his already existing team. He was very much impressed with Manik's play and takes him in the team.
"Wow Manik! That was amazing. I thought you were boasting about your being a basketball coach at college...but I must say, they don't accept international students in the team so soon...and now that you are a part of it, you really are capable. Congrats by the way !" she said and they shake hands (and now that tinge of current through their veins, blood, heart, brain and everywhere...leaving it to your imagination)
"Thank you! So now lets solve your problem. Toh where are we going to have lunch? Are there any more formalities to do? If yes then lets take a break yaar.. I am tired" he said acting all tired. Oh so cute he is thought nandini.
"Okay let's go to my place and I will cook some Indian food for you! What say?" she asked all excited.
"Wow! Indian food..anytime.. lets go" he said and grabbed her hand. He looked back and noticed that she dint move and was staring at their hands. He thought she was uncomfortable and left it immediately and asked her to lead the way.
"yaar nandini.. you walk so much to come to school daily. What about me? We were also supposed to look for an apartment" he said suddenly jab dimaag ki batthi jalee.
"Haan Manik, I have pamphlettes for few apartments. After lunch, hum jaayenge.. okay?" she asked for which he readily agreed.
They reach the apartment after walking for 10 minutes. "So, welcome to my home!" she said dramatically showing him her beautiful apartment. (Nandini's room picture in first chapter).
"Wow Nandini! I must say, your room looks beautiful. The way you arranged stuff.. haan thoda girly girly hain, lekin I love this. Would you mind helping me in setting up my room once I get into it?" he asked.
"Sure Manik! We will work on it together" she said and went into the kitchen and he relaxed on the chotu sa couch at one end of the room. It was a small on bedroom kitchen house. She had basic kitchen stuff neatly arranged, cereal, bread and other ready to eat food. There was a bed, a small couch and a study table. Photos of nandini with her friends were hanged on the wall. He was looking at all of these when nandini came out with two plates, and a dish of Biryani.
"Wow thankyou nandini..i love biryani.. come lets have it" he held her hand and pulled her towards him asking her to serve fast. She laughed at his antics. They both had some yummy tasty biryani and talked about many things.
"So, now tell me miss Nandini. What do you want to do for the Annual Ball? Whom will you ask if you don't want to go with William ? Jaldhi karo nai toh saare handsome ladkon koi na koi ladki le jaayegi then you will have no choice but William" he teased her. She stood up and threw some angry glares at him taking the akimbo position..."You don't have to worry about that Mnaik. Mein nai jaaungi koi party mein....huh" she shouted and sat on the couch with a cute angry pout.
"Sorry Nandini...mein bas mazaak kar raha tha yaar... ab ithna gusssa? Who bhi on first day of friendship... That's bad NANDU" he said. She was shocked to hear friends..then nandu from him and was looking expression less into his eyes.."Kya hua? I know I am hot but that doesn't mean you check put on me" he said with a smirk which led to a cute pillow fight.
"Acha Manik!" she said, "haan nandu" he replied.."Do you have a tuxedo?" she asked. "Haan.. but what do you have to do if a have a tuxedo or not?" he asked as he laid down on the bed resting and nandu was still on the couch.
"Will you go to the Ball with me? I mean I am asking you to be my date for the night.. Please say yes Manik" he blurted out. He was shocked to hear this from her.
"Nandu, this is just my first day and I dunno any on and you want me to be your date? I know hiw famous you ar ein the college. Tum kisi se bhi pooch lo and they will agree... why do you want to go with a stranger whom you just met and dunno any thing about? " he asked with a blank expression.
"Offo Manki! Tum stranger the..par ab nai...are mein tumhe ghar leke aayi I made food for you...we had a cute sa pillow fight..now you are Nandu's friend" she said with utmost sincerity.
He was happy with her reply. "Yes Miss Nandini! I would be glad to be your date for the night!" he happily agreed. "Yaaayyy! Thank you thank you thank you !" she hopped into his arms. He was first taken aback but later gave in.
"Okay madam! Ab can we go to look for an apartment for me? Mujhe who dorms mein ani rehna hain nandini" he said with a sad expression. She laughed out loud and spent the rest of the day teasing each other, nandini showing him different places and apartments.
Huff !! long one but I dunno how It turned out to be...
Precap:
Manik meets Nandu's friends...jealous Nandu :p