A Journey from Rejection to Forever

Chapter 7

“You may not be perfect, you are flawed like all humans. But you are perfect to me and that’s all that matters.”

They say out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. But there’s an exception to any rule. When it comes to expressing our feelings, our nerves get the better of us most of the time. The next thing we know, we already said things we don’t mean. When you truly love someone, it may be hard to express those emotions through words. In fact, real love may make you feel weak in the knees and unable to speak.

N E X T M O R N I N G

Manik was up than his usual time today. it's so quite unlike of him. For a change, he was also feeling some glitter in his stomach. This morning was a little different for him, after all he is going to propose someone though not directly but still it feels the same. The one girl who has managed to stuck in his mind at a mere glance only. He was nervous. No girl has ever said no to him and he is hoping that Nandini won’t also say 'no'. He badly wants her to accept him.

Seeing Nandini for the first time only, he felt something unusual in his heart which he never felt for any girl before. Laying his gaze on her for once, he felt he needed her in his life and that’s it. But one thing which didn’t go unnoticed from his gaze that she is quite different which made him realize that it’s not going to be easy for him. There is something different in her eyes which made him more eager for her. She has something in her which pulls him towards her.

Other side for Nandini, she started her day like any other usual days which was not much eventful unknown to the fact that there is something big waiting for her this day. The thing which she wants but she is not strong enough to ask for it or scared to accept it. She is very much of a simple girl and breaking any rule of her family is something beyond her reach. She is afraid of doing that. Nandini knew her family. Her father is so strict when it comes to maintaining the rules of their family. Her brother is also quite similar to him in that way. About her mother, she won't deny her husband ever. She will accept anything and everything no matter even if it hurts her.

R O S E W O O D

The started like any other days in Rosewood. Whole school was doing their own stuff. It was filled with the chirping sound of the students. Manik reached Rosewood at his usual time and found Akash and Shree waiting there for him. They ran to him as soon as their eyes fell on him.

“Are you all ready for your big day?” Akash asked excitedly. He was sounding more excited than Manik.

“Good morning to you too.” Manik said sarcastically as they didn’t bother to even wish him.

They made a bad face but shrugged it soon. They again got busy to what they were doing before.

“Good morning.” Shree and Akash mouthed at the same time. There was a tint of sarcasm in their tone.

Manik noticed that but he chuckled at them seeing their face.

“Now tell me, did you prepare anything? For Nandini?” Shree asked excitedly.

Manik frowned a little hearing her. “Why will I prepare anything? The plan was that you will go and talk to her. You will tell her about me first. If she agrees, then I will go and talk to her.” He said in a matter of fact tone.

Shree slapped on her forehead. “I forgot that.”

“Where she will be right now?” Akash asked thoughtfully looking around.

“She is junior, Akash, so she must be in the class right now. I will talk to her in the break time. Our break time is same.” Shree said.

Manik and Akash nodded. They liked the idea. So, for now they left for their class.

N A N D I N I'S C L A S S

Nandini went to her class directly after she came to school and sat beside Tirtha. In just few months, they have become really close friends. Though there are other girls too but she shared a different bond with her. She feels comfortable around Tirtha which is different. Tirtha also spends most of her time with her only.

“Nandini…..” Tirtha squealed at Nandini as she found her coming near her.

Nandini frowned hearing her. She was startled with the sudden scream. “What happened? Why are you shouting like this? You scared me.” She asked as she sat on her place and rose her eyebrows.

Tirtha turned towards Nandini and started speaking thoughtfully. “You know I have a deep feeling that something big is going to happen today. I don't know why but I am quite sure of it.” She said excitedly.

Nandini made an 'oh' face. “And what do you think is going to happen?” She again asked raising her eyebrows.

Tirtha shrugged her shoulder in response. “I don’t know that. But let me tell you my prediction never goes wrong. If I say something is going to happen, then it will happen for sure. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen.” She was so excited.

Nandini nodded her head in disbelief seeing her. “Okay, we will see that later but right now concentrate on the class, teacher is here.” She said while taking out her copy.

Tirtha made a bad face and looked forward to the teacher but the excitement didn’t leave her face.

B R E A K T I M E

“Finally classes are done for some time. I was so bored in the class. I can't understand how people hear the teachers for so long without complaining.” Tirtha said making a bad face and packed her things in her bag.

Nandini’s eyes widened hearing her. “You were sleeping during the whole class still you were bored. How?” He asked in a matter of fact tone.

They both moved out of class and were walking towards the canteen.

Tirtha shrugged and flipped her backwards. “I was bored that’s why I was sleeping. Why on this Earth teachers have to be so old? Can't they look like 'Edward'?” Tirtha said the last line in a low tone with a dreamy look on her face.

Nandini was looking for something in her bag that's why she missed what Tirtha said at last.

“So how they should be? Like your Akash?” Nandini asked raising her eyebrows when she was done.

Tirtha’s face flushed hearing Nandini. Nandini smiled seeing her all flushed by the mere mention of Akash’s name. Nandini chuckled looking at her.

“Then I would not have missed any class ever.” Tirtha replied dreamily.

Nandini laughed out loud hearing her, not knowing there was a pair of eyes noticing her every move secretly and going all aww on her. Her carefree laughter was making him go all crazy.

It’s none other than Manik….

He was standing out of the canteen with Akash and Shree. They are waiting for a chance so that Shree can go in and talk to Nandini. She can't just go in front of everyone and speak to her.

They were waiting for a long time but all the while Tirtha was there with her so Shree was not able to go in.

A few moments later Tirtha went out of the canteen for some work and Nandini was sitting there alone. Taking it as a chance, Shree went in.

Shree went and stood in front of Nandini who was busy sipping her filter coffee.

“You are Nandini, right?” Shree asked to initiate a conversation with her.

Nandini rose her head and she recognized the girl in front of her to be Shree as Tirtha had showed her to Nandini before only. She nodded her head saying yes. Tirtha passed a smile to her Nandini too reciprocated in the same way. She took a seat in front of Nandini.

“I am Shree from college section. Your senior.” Shree said with a warm smile on her face.

Nandini too smiled. “I know you.”

“How?” Shree was surprised. Seeing Nandini, she didn't think that she would know her.

Manik was standing outside with Akash going all restless. He was feeling nervous and walking to and fro to calm down himself. Sometimes he was ruffling his hair, sometimes he was rubbing his hands together to calm his ragging nerve. Akash was noticing him but didn’t say anything. He could feel what Manik must be going through.

“What’s taking her so long?” Manik asked looking at their side. He was going all restless

Akash nodded his head in disbelief. “Manik, it’s been just 2 and half minutes. You are already feeling it long? She will go and talk to Nandini. So, it will definitely take time.”

Manik nodded making a bad face. Akash was right.

Inside Shree was trying to talk to Nandini. She was trying to drop hints to Nandini but she didn’t know have any idea that, if Nandini is not getting them or she is not trying to get them.

“I know you must be thinking why I have come to you suddenly. Actually I want to talk something important to you.” Shree became serious.

Nandini’s heart started beating fast. She didn’t know what’s the reason but she was sure that it’s not something she will want to hear. Shree won't just come like this randomly to talk to anyone. She had a feeling that Shree is here to talk about her friend. But she doesn’t want it. Tirtha loves her friend and she didn’t want to come in between them after all Tirtha is her best friend and she has already seen how much Tirtha admired him. She was getting nervous seeing the look on Shree’s face.

“What do you want to talk about?” Nandini took a deep breath and asked in a low tone. She was looking down. Her palms were sweating. She had kept her palms fisted tightly.

Shree took a deep breath before starting. “If you know me, you must be knowing my friends too. After all we are together almost all the time. (she let out a chuckle.) I know you are new here and you don’t like to be friends with much people. But it’s important. My friend he really likes you actually he loves you. I am telling you he is a nice guy and you won’t find a boy better than him.”

A shiver ran down through her spine. She was shocked more than that she never wanted this. At first if anyone from her family comes to know about this, then they will kill her for sure. On top of that Tirtha likes Akash a lot. She can never think of coming between them even if they don’t share any bond like this.

Never for once Nandini thought that it can be Manik too. She knew he is too popular in the whole academy. He will get any girl he wants to. There are so many beautiful and modern girls around so there is no way he would be noticing her or even if he did, he wouldn't like a simple girl like her. So, Manik was not even an option to her. He is way too much to think of for her. She thought he is beyond her reach.

Nandini looked at Shree and nodded her head negatively. “Love? I hate the word love.” That's the first thing came out from her.

Then Nandini didn’t wait there anymore and ran away from there. She didn’t even turn back for once to look around. She had no idea who was around or what was happening around her. That’s why she missed how a pair of eager eyes was watching her. She missed that. If she had witnessed it, then she would have known that how much wrong she was.

Shree was staring at the way Nandini has gone. She couldn’t believe that anyone can reject Manik. She was too shocked to react at that moment. It's something which she never thought of.

She came out of the canteen still being in the trance and stood in front of Manik and Akash. They were looking at her with eager eyes waiting for her to say something.

“What did Nandini say? Why did she run away like that?” Akash asked when Shree didn't anything for a long time.

Manik also nodded asking the same. His eyes were hopeful. He was looking at her not only eagerly but also desperately. He couldn't wait to hear the reply.

Shree left the breath which she was holding from a long time and nodded a ‘no’ looking down.

“Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet.” ― Plato

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