A Journey from Rejection to Forever

Chapter 6

“The deepest feeling always shows itself in silence; not in silence, but restraint.” -Marianne Moore

When you’re stumbling through your life, one day after another, as time blindly passes. All of a sudden, someone wonderful drops into your life, and like a jolt of electricity, you suddenly become more alive than ever before. Some call this love at first sight. All you know is you’ve never felt this way before and you don’t want it to end. You want to tell them that your entire life feels different and you want to continue to learn more about who they are, how they feel, how they’ve lived, and compare likes and differences. This could prove to be the most important person in your life. There is nothing more magical than being in love with someone who makes our hearts skip a beat.

Nandini saw Manik for the first time but he didn’t see her as he was too busy with his match to notice anything else. But seeing him, Nandini felt something unusual in her heart. Something which she never felt before. She felt some sudden pull towards him, some connection with him which she tried to ignore. She tried to suppress those feelings in her heart only. She knew she can’t let any kind of feelings grow inside her. She is very much aware of the consequences.

Other side Shree and Akash also got to know about Nandini. They found her different from all the girls who try to throw themselves on Manik or eye him all the time. They also took out some necessary information about Nandini which managed to impressed them quite well. They liked her a lot for Manik. She is the perfect kind of girl just the way Manik wanted.

C A N T E E N

Manik was before time as he wanted to practice for sometime and also discuss something with his coach. So, he was sitting there alone after he was done sipping his coffee.

(The story is based on the plot of 8 years ago when phone or internet was not that much used everywhere. That time smartphone or internet was not easily available.)

Shree and Akash came after sometime.

“Hi, Manik...” Shree said while taking sit beside Manik.

“Hi… I was waiting for you two from so long.” Manik said.

“Why are you so early today?” Akash said grabbing some chips from Manik’s packet.

“I had practice early in the morning so….”

Akash and Shree nodded.

“By the way we have a good news for you.” Shree said excitedly.

Manik frowned. “What good news? You are getting married?” He asked in a matter of fact tone.

Shree rolled her eyes and punched on his shoulder in anger.

“Manik, be serious. Actually we have found a girl for you and guess what she is the perfect one for you. Just the way you wanted.” Akash too exclaimed.

“Wow, someone managed to impress both of you. That’s new.” Manik was surprised.

Shree and Akash praising a girl and the girl has also managed to impress both of them together, then the girl must be really special. She has to be different.

“Who is she?” Manik asked gulping the last chips from his packet.

“Nandini… Nandini Basu. Fresher. 10th standard.” Shree replied.

Manik was amazed. “It looks like you have done research on her.”

“We are finding someone for you, then we have to do it properly.” Akash shrugged his shoulder.

Manik nodded his head.

“We will show her to you, then may be you can approach her.” Shree said.

It was time for their class so they left from there.

N A N D I N I’ S C L A S S

It has been few days since Nandini has joined Rosewood. She has become used to now this place. She has grown close to few of her classmates but Tirtha is her best friend. She is now quite comfortable here. It's not much difficult to settle in here as much as she had thought.

She has also got to know about Manik. But after that day in the ground, she didn’t spot him again more precisely she didn’t want to spot him. She was in a way running away from him. She didn’t want that sudden feeling to come over again. It’s good till it’s buried deep inside her heart. She was also confused with the sudden urge of that feeling. But he never left her mind completely. He was always there at some corner. She tried really hard to throw him out of her mind but failed.

Nandini was sitting on one corner thinking all this when Tirtha came and sat beside her. Nandini was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t realize that Tirtha had already come. Her thought broke when Tirtha shook her a little.

She was startled at first. “Hi! When did you come? I was thinking something so I didn’t realize.” She tried to smile forcefully after she composed herself.

Tirtha also smiled. “It’s okay. I have just come. By the way what were you thinking so deeply?” After a pause she again added. “Is it Manik? I have seen you behaving differently since the time you have seen him. What’s the matter?” she asked in a teasing tone.

Nandini’s eyes widened hearing her. “Is it that visible?” Nandini thought in mind. She didn’t know what to say Tirtha.

“You… You are taking it wrong. It has nothing to do with Manik. I was thinking of something else.” Nandini said but her tone shivered in between. In between she fumbled too.

Tirtha wanted to ask something more but she didn’t get the chance before that only their teacher had come. So, they couldn’t talk more, Nandini sighed in relief. She knew, if Tirtha had got any idea the she won't leave the topic and kept on persuing her till she confessed the truth.

It was time for classes to end. Manik usually goes for his practice after his classes but today Shree and Akash has dragged him with them to show the GIRL, they have chosen for him. They were so eager to show him the girl and Manik was also eager to see her after seeing his friends so excited for someone else apart from each other.

He was wondering how the girl must be. What's so different about her that Shree and Akash both are so eager to make him see her and they have also approved him being with her. That's new.

Right now they are standing beside the gate waiting for Nandini to go out.

“Where is the girl. Yaar? I am getting late for my practice.” Manik was feeling irritated. He is getting late for his practice. For him, his cricket means the most to him. He has never compromised about it for anything.

They have been waiting since so long.

Shree looked at her watch. “Wait a little more, she will be here any moment. Her classes are done so it will take a little time to reach here.”

Akash too agreed to her.

They were looking around to spot Nandini.

Finally Akash spotted her going towards the gate. He patted on Manik’s shoulder. “Look, there she is.”

Manik turned to that side where Akash was pointing but there was a lot of girls. He frowned looking at them. “There are so many girls, Akash. How will I know about whom you are talking about?” He stated in an irritated tone.

“Look at that side, the comparatively short girl with the black long hair. She is walking looking straight.” Shree pointed to a particular girl.

This time Manik could spot the girl and he went all awestruck seeing the girl.

“How can someone be so beautiful?” The only thought crossed his mind after seeing her. “She is cute too.” Manik said to himself.

Manik was continuously staring at the direction where Nandini was moving. For a moment, he didn’t even blink once. It was like Nandini has completely captivate all his senses in her aura about which she herself was not at all aware of.

Akash and Shree too noticed Manik’s reaction. They smirked looking at each other.

“Manik….” Akash called out his name but no response. He was totally lost.

Shree too called him but again there was no response from his side.

Finally Nandini went out of their side but Manik was still staring at that side.

“Manik, she is gone.” Shree said in a teasing tone.

This time Manik nodded his head a little. Shree and Akash laughed out loud seeing his reaction. Manik came out of his trance hearing their laughter sound. He looked at them with wide eyes and felt embarrassed.

“I am going. I am getting late for practice.” Manik was about to move but Akash held him.

“There is no need of being embarrassed in front of us. It's okay, buddy. We can understand.” Shree said with a soft smile on her face.

Akash also nodded and placed his hand on Manik’s shoulder. “By the way did you like the girl?” Though he knew the answer very well still he asked to tease him.

There was a smirk playing on his lips which Shree noticed. She too smirked. “What are you asking, Akash? Didn’t you notice how Manik was staring at Nandini? He didn’t even blink.”

Manik’s face turned red which was a rare scene to watch. It never happened before. They went all aww on him.

Manik hid that fast but they noticed that quite well.

He didn’t let them any chance to tease him more. He said, “I liked her, so what? You guys also liked her for me.”

Akash and Shree hooted. They jumped on him. Everyone around them noticed them but didn’t say anything as it’s quite usual for them to see them together like this. They have been seeing together since very beginning of their session.

“When are you planning to tell her?” Shree asked breaking the hug. She was excited thinking of Manik being with Nandini.

Manik thought for a while. “I don’t know. As you guys said, she is not like other girls. She doesn’t ogle at me like other girls. So…..”

They agreed to him.

“Don’t worry, bro. You are Manik Malhotra. No girl can ignore your charm. She will definitely fall for you. May be it will take a little time but she will definitely fall for you.” Akash patted his back.

“Let’s do one thing, I will go and tell her about you. Then let’s see what she says. What say, guys?” Shree suggested.

Akash and Manik looked at each other for a while and agreed to her. As Nandini doesn’t talk to boys. So, it will be good, if Shree talks to her.

They decided to talk to Nandini next day.

~~°~~

•Do comment and let me know how did you like this chapter.

Thank you.