The next morning came along with a pleasant sunlight all around. Nandini stirred due to the sharp light on her eyes as a result moving Manik too.
She realised their position when a sharp pain rang through her neck due to stay in the same side the entire night.
Manik: Crap my neck!
She heard Manik groan by her side making her roll her eyes.
Nandini: Good morning to u too Manik....
Manik: My neck hurts like bitch.... This is anything but a good morning Nandini!
Manik said taking the duvet off himself as he stood up.
Nandini: Mine does as well!!
Nandini said as she laid down on the couch again, this time properly, taking Manik's place as well and pulled the duvet completely over herself.
Manik: Nandini, if u wanna sleep.... Go and take the bed, it will be comfortable.
Nandini: No.. I m fine here, just 5 minutes plz...
Nandini whined pulling the duvet over her head to block the sun light.
Manik chuckled at her and adjusted the curtains properly to block the sunlight and then moved over to freshen up.
15 minutes later, Manik walked out of the washroom.
Nandini: Eww MANIK.....
He heard Nandini's squeak behind him. He turned around to see her standing next to the chair, with her hands covering her eyes.
Nandini: Why the hell r u just in a towel?
Manik: Coz I just took a bath... Which usually is done naked!
Manik replied sarcastically at her making her groan.
Nandini: Shut up Manik... Pick up ur clothes and get back in.
Nandini said as she turned her back towards him, waiting for him to walk away.
Manik smirked at her reaction as he moved forward towards her, instead of going back into the washroom. He reached right behind her where she was busy picking up a pair of clothes for herself from the stuff that she had bought the other day.
Nandini continued her word when she felt his hands at the sides of her waist and his hot breath on her neck, making her shiver in his proximity when he said,
Manik: Too hot to handle....
Nandini: Huh?
Manik: Is me being like this affecting u so much Nandini??
Manik repeated again, changing his words making Nandini scoff as she rolled her eyes still not turning around.
Nandini: In ur dreams Manik Malhotra!!
Manik's smirk broadened at her words as he suddenly pulled her back, right into his chest, wrapping his arm around her waist, taking her into a back hug.
Manik: Ohh really!! So u mean, it isn't bothering u at all...
Manik asked again this time his voice turning into a husky whisper.
Nandini shivered into his arms at his breath fanning her neck as she tried to get out of his grip only to have it tightened by him.
Manik: Tell me Nandini...
Manik whispered again, directly into her ear with his lips brushing her ear as he spoke.
Nandini felt his bare chest right behind her, she fisted her hands on her clothes, controlling herself from shivering further.
Nandini: No..
Nandini replied back in a small voice hardly managing not to shutter when Manik dug his face further into her neck as he whispered over his skin, insisting again.
Manik: Are u sure....?
Nandini elbowed him suddenly out of nowhere making him stumble back as she replied loudly,
Nandini: Yes very sure....
And before Manik knew she had pushed him away and moved into the washroom. Manik heard the door clicking close and smiled broadly at her. He shook his head just at the thought of her shivering self in his arms as he moved towards the cupboard taking out his clothes and got ready.
He started preparing breakfast for the two of them and soon Nandini joined him. They made some omelets and had it when Manik asked her,
Manik: Wanna go out for a movie today?
Nandini: Movie... Sure!
Manik: There is a theater nearby, I m sure we can catch up the next show.
Nandini nodded at him cheerfully and soon they were out on their way for the movie.
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The day passed away in a blur, they roamed around in the city after the movie, having a fun day. Nandini looked at Manik, from the passenger seat of the car as he drove them back to the cottage.
She couldn't help but notice the longing on his face. He was trying his best to act normal, be cheerful in front of her. But that longing look in his eyes was clearly visible to her at sometime or other. Though they went out for a movie, he was sitting right next to her but she knew his heart and his mind was far far away from her.
As much as she wanted, she knew there was nothing that she could say or do, that would make him feel better. It was a difficult time for him and all she could do was to be next to him. She shifted off her gaze from him to outside the window.
She saw the town already on their way to call it a day. This was the thing she loved about small towns, people knew how to live a family life, it was just 9 pm and everyone was on their way home.
She looked over to Manik again to find him lost so unlikely to everyone on the other side of the window. As she looked outside, before she knew her hand reached ahead, entwining her fingers with his.
Manik felt her hand into his and shifted off his gaze to her, to find her eyes closed with her face tilted to the other side.
No matter what, Manik couldn't do anything but feel thankful for Nandini's presence next to him.
Yes, he wanted to be alone!
Yes, he wanted to shut off from the world!
But even then, he knew he liked her being there. It had been two days, and she hadn't asked him anything about his sister. Nothing about why he fled away from his house every year at this time. And he was grateful for that.
She was there for his support, and somehow even if he didn't say anything, he tried his best to hide his feelings from her, moments like these told him that she could read him better than he thought she could.
He shifted his gaze from the road back towards her, looking at the blank look on her face as he tightened his hold on her hand. A relief spread over her face immediately as she lifted off their hands on rested them on her leg as she usually did.
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The next day Nandini woke up when Manik stirred her.
Manik: Nandini.... Wake up! Nandini.....
She opened up her eyed to find him bending over in front of her,
Nandini: Hmn..
Manik: Get up! We r going out...
Nandini: Now?
Nandini asked still feeling sleepy only to be shaken again.
Manik: Yes Now!! Get up...
Nandini sat up straight on the couch picking up her phone from the side to see the time, only to rub them in disbelief.
Nandini: Manik, its 4:45 am... Where do u want to go at this Ungodly Hour?
Manik: Shh... No questions just come with me!
Manik said taking away her phone from her, as she saw him keeping it in his pocket. It was then that she noticed that he was already ready. Wearing a jacket over his T-shirt and lowers.
Manik: Don't forget ur jacket... Its cold outside.
Nandini pouted at him as she got up from the couch.
Nandini: 4:45 am on a cold october night.... U r truly a Monster!
Manik chuckled at her as she moved towards the washroom.
Manik: Its Morning....
Nandini: Whatever...
Nandini muttered closing the door behind her.
She freshened up in 5 minutes and then picked up her jacket from the cupboard as she moved towards him.
Manik: U coming out in those??
Manik said pointing towards her clothes. Nandini looked at her clothes that she wore last night before sleeping and then looked up at him walking straight out.
Nandini: I m not changing at this time Manik.... And u r there na, I know nothing will happen. I m safe!
Manik moved out behind her replying to her.
Manik: That u r... But even I can't save u from the cold!
Nandini chuckled at him moved ahead as Manik locked the cottage.
Manik: Hang on... We r not going there!
Manik called out behind her, making her stop on her tracks. She turned around towards him confused when he held her hand and pulled her towards the back of the cottage.
Nandini: Manik.. Where r we going?
Manik: Quiet Nandini.... U seriously don't want anyone to wake up at this time bcoz of ur voice.
Nandini looked ahead to see nothing but darkness in front of her. They were at the backside of the cottage and all she could see was a dense forest.
Nandini: Ma... Manik! U-
Manik: Shh... Just trust me! Come.
Manik said as he held her hand tighter and pulled her alone with him into the forest. She saw him pulling a torch out of his pocket. He walked through the dense trees skipping through the stones, leading her way.
Manik: Just don't trip here...
Manik said slowly to her as Nandini followed him closely as she warned him in a stern voice.
Nandini: Manik... This adventure better be worth it, coz I m surely holding his against u for waking me up so early.
Manik: Well... Just wait and watch, then u only decide if it is worth it or not.
They walked ahead for a few more minutes until he walked out straight into a meadow. Nandini waited until Manik moved aside from her line of sight when she saw a quite pond right at the other end of the clearing. The reflection of the trees all around them visible in the pond.
It seemed that no one ever came there and she didn't even find anything that special about the place as she turned towards Manik with a confused expression.
Manik smiled at her confusion as he turned off the torch only to hv sheer darkness surround them.
Manik: One second.....
Nandini saw him bent down as he picked up a small pebble from the ground and threw it straight ahead into the pond. She looked at the pond and then back at him when Manik chuckled.
Manik: Don't gimme these glares.... It won't work!
But Nandini could reply anything to him he pointed back towards the pond making her turn, only to hv a smile spread on her face.
There into the pond she saw a number of water fireflies glittering in darkness. She had never seen those in real until then and it was truly beautiful. And before she knew, the entire meadow was sighing in the light of the fireflies that just emerged out of trees.
She was mesmerised by the view around her, she had never witnessed anything this beautiful ever before. She had no words to describe her feelings at that point.
She simply kept on looking around her with a broad smile on her face.
Nandini: This is beautiful!!
She said out aloud after what seemed like forever.
Manik: I knew u would love it...
Manik said from behind her reminding her of his presence which she had forgotten in that enchanting view.
Nandini turned around towards him to find him sitting down at the grass with a slight smile on his face as he looked at her. Nandini walked closer towards him, taking a seat next to him as she looked ahead.
Manik: I found it a few years back.... No one comes here usually!
Nandini: I figured that out!! But this place is magical, almost enchanting.... Its amazing!
Manik: Wait for sometime.... It gets even better at dawn, right before the sun comes up....
Manik said softly as he followed her gaze right towards the pond.
Nandini moved backwards as she lay down on the grass looking up as the fireflies moved around them. Manik joined her soon enough with both their eyes fixed directly above their head. He turned to look at her, and found her eyes twinkling much more brighter than the stars above his head.
Nandini: I hv never seen fireflies ever before.... These r so beautiful!
Manik: Yeah.... Just like the stars, tiny yet breaking away the darkness...
Nandini hummed at his words as silence took over around them. Neither of them said anything as they lay there. Eyes board awake, looking at the wonders of nature. About an hour passed, when Manik sat up pointing towards the pond again.
Manik: Its time...
Nandini too sat up following his gaze as she noticed a bit of light spreading around the sky indicating dawn. The reflection of the sky got clear onto the surface of the pond as all the fireflies resurfaced flapping their wings over it making it look like crystals on the water surface.
Their shine continued increasing with each minute until the sun was up in the sky and all of them disappeared. Nandini shifted her gaze around the meadow to see it back to normal with all the lush green trees standing in the early morning glory.
Manik: Good morning!
Nandini: Indeed u made it the most memorable morning for me....
None of the two proceeded to get up or leave as they continued laying back on the grass in silence, enjoying the amazing morning.
Nandini was lost in her thoughts when she heard him suddenly say,
Manik: I was just one year old, when Mom and Dad got Her home....
She immediately looked at him to see him looking up straight at the sky. She stayed quiet knowing he was finally talking about his sister. She wanted him to talk his heart out whenever he was completely ready, and maybe it was time.
Manik: "Her parents met with an accident and died right on the spot... She lost her memory bcoz of the accident. Mom was in the hospital for some charity work and found her there. They adopted her and named her Mansi.
She was the most adorable person I knew, the most beautiful... Mom says I was the first person she got attached to, maybe bcoz I was just a small child back then. But that attachment between us was the strongest.
Di had been there by my side always, she took care of me like a mother. I was quiet a stubborn child always, never listening to my parents, teachers and all.... But she was the only one whom I never ignored. No matter what, if she said it, I had to do it. Mom used her to get to me always...."
Nandini smiled at his memory of his sister, she saw that smile playing on his lips as his eyes brightened.
Manik: "There was no day we didn't fight and no day when she didn't make it up to me. No matter whose fault it was, usually it was mine only, but she was the one who always apologised, knowing that I was too stubborn to do so. My world lay in my family. Mom, Dad, Di and Fab5.... This was my only life.
She grew up, fell in Love and soon got married to that guy. I was 14 at that time. As much as I hated the fact that she would be leaving us, her happiness was the only thing I wanted. Soon I too shifted over to Bangalore for my high school, but the bond between the two of us only grew stronger, or so I thought.
3 years into the marriage and she passed away in an accident. Her car got out of control and went down a hill, we didn't even find her remains after the blast. Mom called me in the school and informed it to me. The news broke me, I couldn't help but cry out loud at it. I cried the entire night in my dorm room, with Fab4 sitting there all around me, trying to console me and stopping their own tears. They sent our tickets the next day and I left for home. I had lost the closest person to me and I couldn't do anything about it. All I wanted was to have her back but I couldn't."
Tears were flowing out of his eyes and so were from Nandini's. She was crying not only at his sister, but also at his pain and her own father's memory. She knew his condition very well. She reached forward entwining her fingers with his, as he tightened his hold on hers.
Manik: It wasn't an accident Nandini.... It wasn't!!!
She heard him whisper as a stream of fresh tears flowed down his eyes.
Nandini: Manik....
Nandini said getting up and sitting straight as she saw him breaking down night next to her. Manik sat up too as he wrapped his arms around her breaking into fits of tears. He kept on crying on her shoulder while she sat there moving her hand soothingly through his hair, trying to calm him down when his next words shocked her,
Manik: She committed suicide.... Di killed herself! She killed herself....
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Manik opening up to Nandini!!
How can there be a MaNan story without the stars and the Fireflies❤❤
Don't forget to comment about What do u think about the part guys?
Love,
Navya😘😘