"एक छोटी सी बात मान लो,
सफर लंबा है, हाथ थाम लो!"

Space Corridor

Nandini was descending the stairs hastily, as all the lectures were done and she was already late to pick her daughter up from the school day care. And she also have to reach cafe, where she works part time, on time. Hence she was in hurry but stopped when heard Manik's voice.

She looked at him who was huffing with his hands on his knees, trying to breathe normally.

Manik: Kitna stamina, woman?

(So much stamina woman?)

Nandini: You stopped me to tell this?

Manik:(standing straight) Ofcourse not! Are you heading home?

Nandini:(irked) No, to the hell. Wanna join?

Manik: Since when, angels started going in hell?

Nandini:(sarcastically) Since, some people started irritating them.

Manik chuckled despite the fact, that it was him who got roasted by her.

While Nandini was confused with herself, since when she started conversing with people so easily? Especially boys!

She came out of her trance when he snapped his fingers seeing her lost. She looked at him and sighed.

Nandini: I'm getting late.

Manik: Oh yeah! Actually I wanted to apologise.

Nandini:(frowning) For?

Manik: The things I said in the morning, actually I didn't wanted to speak out so much, but just couldn't stop myself from saying what I felt.

Nandini looked at him to saw honesty in his eyes. But she still was disturbed with the fact that how could he so easily read out her eyes? Was she so obvious?

Seeing her lost again Manik sighed and forwarded his hand to shake her shoulder a bit, but stopped in the mid, and snapped his fingers again, bringing her out of her zone.

Manik: Lost again? See Tigress, I know that...

Nandini:(interuopted) Now you know my name .

Manik:(shrugged) But Tigress suits you. So as I was saying..

Nandini: (interuopted again) I forgave you. It's okay!

Manik:(grinning) Really? Thank you so much. I was feeling so bad you know.

Nandini: Now, if you allow me, Can I leave?

Manik made an oh face but nodded and gave way to her. He saw her descending stairs and shouted from behind.

Manik: Bye Tigress!

He saw her halting for a second before leaving, at which he chuckled, and turned around to saw the two evil twins standing there with their evil smirks on their faces.

Manik:(muttered) Phas gaya!

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Nandini was sitting in the bus on a window seat. Her mind was revolving around the morning incident. Manik's words were ringing in her mind making her restless. And more than that, the thing that how her heart never felt uneasy with him, while she starts feeling uncomfortable even when any specimen of Opposite gender comes in a radius of two metre near her, was making her feel more reckless.

Some choices, some decisions, some incidents and some bad experience, how drastically changed your life, she thought! There was one time when she never worried about the future, she knew to live life, love life, in the present. While now, her every step was a chosen one, to make a better future for her daughter.

Putting a break on her thoughts, she stood up to get out of the bus, as her stop was near. After getting out of the bus and walking a distance of some ten minutes she reached Anahita's school and picked her up from the day care. And both started walking down towards the cafe where Nandini works, which is just another ten minutes away from the school.

Nandini was holding Anahita's hand who was cherishing her lollipop.

Nandini: Bache, I'm still asking, you will be okay to walk naa?

Anahita: Yepp Mommy! I'm a bid girl now.

(Big girl)

Nandini: Okay big girl, but from where did you learn this Mommy word from?

Anahita:(toothy smile) Aan!

Nandini:(frowning) Aan? Wait! Do you mean Aayan?

Anahita bobbed her head in a big yes making Nandini chuckles.

Nandini: Oh! So is this Aayan the same boy in your class, who is cute?

Anahita:(nodding) Yesh! But, how you know?

Nandini: Mommy's magic!

Anahita pouted and Nandini giggled, when they both reached the cafe, thankfully for Nandini, on time!

Cafe Aurora, small yet cozy cafe famous for it's home-y feeling with beautiful interior. And not to forget for its famous Coffee Arabica. This cafe is run by an aged cute Gujrati  Couple, Mr. And Mrs. Amroliwala, who have only one daughter who is settled in New York, and the cafe is their second child since ten years now.

Nandini started working here from last two weeks as a part time baker, and in this span of time the couple have been very much sweet to her. She have even bought Anahita here some two-three times, and no points to guess, that she have become the couple's and staff's favourite, with her cuteness!  Though neither the couple, nor any staff working here, questioned Nandini about having a daughter at this young age, despite the fact that they were shocked knowing about it.

Nandini entered and as usual the bell chimed at the entrance, making Anahita grin. They both moved to the counter where Mrs. Amba Amroliwala was sitting with her specs on, reading some book, who looked above and smiled when she greeted her.

Nandini: Good Evening Amba Aunty!

Amba: Oh dear! Good evening. How are you?

Nandini:(smiling a little) Am good Aunty. How is Uncle Danish?

Amba: He is good, glad that his fever is gone. The old man is resting.

Nandini smiled and nodded when they both heard Anahita's voice, who was dying to get attention of the two ladies.

Anahita: Ening Mori Auntie!

(Evening Mori Auntie!)

Amba:(gleeing) Oh my goodness! Our little cute cindrella is also here? Good evening my child! Tamē kēma chō?

(How are you?)

Anahita:(grinning) Huṁ mamā chu!!

(Huṁ majāmā chu- I am fine!)

Nandini and Amba looked at her surprisingly at her Gujrati pronounciation.

Amba: Mataji!!! You spoke Gujrati?

Nandini: How do you knew this bache?

Anahita:(tilting her head) I hed when Dish uncle was telling to some-bne.

(I heard when Danish uncle was telling to someone)

Amba:(sighing) Māruṁ bāḷaka kēṭaluṁ smārṭa chē!

(My child is so smart!)

Both Nandini and Anahita frowned at her words to which she chuckled.  But then Nandini said to Amba that she will go in the kitchen with Anahita. But Amba asked her to manage her work, she will take care of Anahita, to which Nandini was resistant but agreed later, and asking Anahita to not disturb the old lady here, she went into the kitchen.

Anahita with Amba went to sit on a a table in the corner, where Amba ordered croissant for Anahita, which she started munching after thanking the lady. The two girls who work there as full time waitress and two guys working in the kitchen, would come and gush over her cuteness, whi our adorable Anahita was enjoying.

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Meanwhile, here when Cabir and Mukti caught Manik talking with Nandini, they dragged him to Fab Five's room where Navya and Abhimanyu were waiting for them. The four started asking Manik about her, to which Manik was trying to escape the situation.

Manik: What yaar guys? Now can't I even talk with a person normally?

Cabir: You can Manik Baba! But when the person is a girl that for sure is an interesting thing to know, right?

Abhi: Exactly Bro! Now are you spilling the beans or...?

Manik:(rolling his eyes) Shut Up Idiots! There's nothing like you're thinking.

Mukti: Oh C'mon Manik. Tell us, do you know her from before?

Navya:(excitedly) Manik, Is she you The One?

Hearing her Abhi,, Cabir and Mukti shouted "What" while Manik blinked his eyes and frowned.

I mean why not?

Manik glared at his conscience first and then Navya to which she shrugged and pouted.

Manik: She is the one...

Fab 4:(interuopted) WHAT?

Manik palmed his ears and glred four of them while they were still standing shocked.

Manik: Atleast let me complete, Idiots!

Cabir:(nodding) Proceed!

Manik:(sarcastic smile) Thank You! I was saying, She is the one, who saved Mumma's life that day.

Fab four made an Ohh face to which he nodded.

Navya: Really? We should thank her for sure then.

Manik: No, don't! I've already thanked her too many times that now she gets irritated.

They all chuckled and then decided to Jam a little.

And after college was over, they went to just roam around in Abhi's Jeep. And after an hour, they found themselves in their favourite cafe- Cafe Aurora, where they visit atleast once in a week or two. They went in and greeted the cashier standing there before moving towards their regular seat, and started chit chatting.

While here, after sometime Amba went to her home to serve lunch to her husband, leaving Anahita there not before asking the staff to keep an eye on her. And our Anahita was busy making drawing on her sketchbook, which she loves.

She was making her drawing with full concentration that whoever, be it customers or the staff, looked at her were going all aww on her faces. Soon she got finished with her drawing, and grinned looking at her. She blinked when she heard Manik's voice across two tables.

She titled her head and looked back to saw Manik sitting on a table near window chatting with his friends. She grinned showing her tooth and tried getting off the table, to which Soumya a waitress helped her and asked her what happened. But Anahita just thanked her with a smile before running towards Manik's table with her slow steps, Soumya following her trying to stop her.

Manik was talking with his friends when he looked at Anahita running towards his table. He was surprised would be an understatement, and so were his friends.

Manik: Princess!!

Anahita:(grinning) Loktal!

(Rockstar)

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Happy Colourful Holi Sweeties 🌈

1672 words

♡A