A Journey from Rejection to Forever

Chapter 5

“Love at first sight is a revival of an infantile impression. The first love object reappears in a different disguise.” — Wilhelm Steke

First romance, first love, is something so special to all of us, both emotionally and physically, that it touches our lives and enriches them forever. Love can happen anytime anywhere without your knowledge. First love is usually unforgettable. Whether it was a stolen kiss during a childhood game of Spin the Bottle that sparked a years-long crush, or the first time someone called you their boyfriend or girlfriend. When a man is in love for the first time he thinks he invented it.

Manik has asked his friends to look for a perfect soulmate for him who will like the real Manik not the Manik Malhotra. Whereas Nandini has no plan to fell in love or try to be in any kind of intimate relationship any time soon. She can’t afford to make her father angry who is not at all okay with this kind of relationships.

Manik was in the field practicing with his teammates while Akash and Shree were sitting out of the field discussing about their lectures. There were a few girls sitting out of the field ogling at Manik. Some of them were staring at Akash too. They were eyeing him as if he was some chocolate and they wanted to gulp him.

“I don’t understand why this girls will have to come everyday? Does Manik change everyday or what? Most importantly he doesn't even look at them.” Akash asked looking at the girls making a bad face.

Shree laughed out loud hearing him. “Manik does not change everyday but they can’t pass their day without seeing him more precisely drooling over him.” She stopped for a while before saying again. “But not all the girls come for Manik. I have seen girls ogling at you too. It’s just you don’t notice them as well. If you look around carefully, you will see that too.” She winked at him.

Akash’s eyes went wide hearing her. “WHAT!!!!!” He was not definitely expecting something like this.

But Shree was expecting this reaction only. So, she broke into a fit of laughter seeing Akash's face. He rolled his eyes looking at her.

When they were talking, Tirtha entered into the ground area with Nandini. She has dragged Nandini with her to show Manik but more than that she wanted her to see Akash. She comes in this area for him only.

They stood in a corner.

“Tirtha, why are we here? It's not game period.” Nandini asked frowning. She looked around and found some students playing cricket. But more than that there were girls siting around who were busy in staring at something more precisely at someone.

Tirtha chuckled. “I had said you that I will show you Manik. So, we are here to see him. You can find him only here. This place is his only love.” She said the last line in a serious tone.

Nandini chuckled. “But I think you are here to see Akash. Aren't you?” She rose her eyebrows looking at Tirtha. A smirk formed on her face.

A red hue crept on Tirtha’s face hearing Nandini. Nandini noticed her face and chuckled seeing her face turning red.

“Now tell me which one is Akash? I need to see who has managed to make you head over heels for himself.” Nandini asked raising her eyebrows. Their was a tint of tease in her voice.

“Girls die to have a glimpse of Manik and you are more interested in seeing Akash? I am impressed.” Tirtha was surprised.

Nandini passed a smile. Only she knew the reason why she is not interested in Manik or any other boy around.

Tirtha looked around and spotted Akash with Shree.

“Look at that side.” Tirtha pointed to that side.

Nandini looked at that side. “That boy with red haired girl?” She asked pointing towards them being unsure.

Tirtha nodded. “Yeah, that’s Akash and the girl with him is Shree. They are Manik’s best friend. These three are always together.”

Nandini nodded her head.

Tirtha then pointed to other side in the middle of the ground where a boy was batting. His back was facing them. “That’s Manik.”

Nandini turned to see him but only his back was visible to him. “He is so tall.” It’s the first thought came in her mind when she watched him from back.

For some unknown reason Nandini felt a sudden urge to see the guy. Manik.

“Let’s sit here. We don’t have classes now.” Tirtha suggested.

Nandini knew her reason so she didn’t deny. She agreed to her and sat there facing her back to the field. Now both Manik and Nandini’s back was facing each other. But Tirtha was facing Akash.

She was talking about their academy and all other things. Nandini was hearing her carefully. Suddenly she turned back and that time Manik also turned to that side. Though he didn’t see Nandini but she spotted him and she felt her breath has hitched in her throat.

“How can someone be so handsome? I can’t blame the girls for ogling at him. He is actually drool worthy.” Nandini smiled and thought in mind. She chuckled at her own thought.

She glanced at him for some time before turning her face back to Tirtha. She definitely felt some connection with him but she can’t let that grow or come out. She also didn't understand what it was.

Nandini got busy with Tirtha but time to time she couldn’t stop herself from turning back and looking at Manik.

Other side Shree and Akash was talking about something when Shree noticed Nandini.

“Akash, look at that girl.” Shree pointed towards Nandini.

Akash turned to that side. “Those two girls?”

Shree nodded.

Akash frowned. “What’s there to look? Girls coming here is not something new.” He said making a bad face.

Shree slapped on her forehead. She cursed him in mind. “I know that but look at the girl with long hair. She is sitting facing her back towards the field. I am noticing her, she didn’t try to grab Manik’s attention nor did she ogle at him like other girls do. She was just sitting there talking to the other girl..... It never happened before.”

Akash too was noticing her since sometime. He continued doing so for some more time. He also noticed what Shree was saying.

“You are right, bro.” Akash was surprised. This is the first girl he noticed to do so.

Shree was also agreed to him. “She is beautiful too.”

Then both of them shared a naughty smirk.

“Are you thinking the same what I am saying?” Both of them shouted together.

They exclaimed at a time.

“She is the perfect one for Manik.” Shree said.

Akash nodded. “We need to find information about the girl and we need to know, if she is single or not.”

That time Manik too came there and found them busy in discussing something deep.

“What are you guys talking about? You are looking serious.” Manik rose his eyebrows.

Shree passed him a smile. “Nothing serious. We were just talking randomly.”

Manik gave them a weird look but didn’t say anything.

“Will you practice more or you want to go back now?” Akash asked.

Manik looked at the time. “No, it’s enough for today. I will have a shower in the locker room.”

“Okay, you carry on. We will be in the canteen, join us there.” Shree said while getting up.

Manik nodded and left from there.

Akash started walking towards canteen when Shree stopped him. “Where are you going to that side?”

Akash frowned. “Canteen. You only said that to Manik.” He said in a matter of fact tone.

Shree slapped on her forehead. “I said that to him because we will go to office now and check on that girl. Do you also want Manik to go there with us?” She made a bad face.

Akash nodded agreeing to her.

They went to office. People there knows them quite well as Akash had been the head boy during his period. So. It was not difficult for them to know about the girl. Shree had already taken a pic of that girl in the ground.

In a few minutes, they got all the necessary details.

“Nandini…. Nandini Basu. 10th standard.” Akash read her file name.

“Junior...” Shree said in a matter of fact tone.

Akash nodded. “She has shifted here recently.”

“That’s great.” Shree exclaimed.

“We will talk to someone from her class. Then we will get to know more about her.” Akash suggested.

Shree agreed to him. They moved towards Nandini’s class and talked to some of the students. They got to know that she is new and talks to only a few students. But she is closest to Tirtha. They are not sure, if she has boyfriend or not. But she doesn’t talk to any boy of the class.

Shree and Akash came to the canteen where Manik was already waiting for them. They also took their seat beside him.

“You guys said you are coming here but there is no sign of you two. Where were you two till now?” Manik asked.

Shree and Akash looked at each others face.

“There was a new student, he wanted some help so we got busy there.” Shree replied on behalf of both of them.

Manik nodded his head.

“By the way were you serious that day?” Akash asked suddenly.

Manik looked at him being confused. “Which day?”

“That day when you were saying you want someone in your life.” Shree blurted out.

Manik frowned a little before replying. “It’s been long since I have been single so it won’t harm having someone in life.” He said with a smile.

Shree and Akash nodded.

~~°~~

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