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Nandini was sitting in the classroom looking
determinedly at Aryamann, who was sitting on her left row with Alya, he hardly ever sat with her nowadays.

While moving ahead with Alya, Aryamann never invited her to join them, and Nandini never went along. Days changed to weeks and Aryamann seemed to be making good progress with Alya, Nandini didn't know how far he was through because Aryamann was always busy with Alya and he hardly ever had time to discuss his or even her life with Nandini.

Their once inseparable friendship had come to a standstill and now at most they exchanged a few whatsapp messages in every few days. Aryamann was too wrapped up in his life and Nandini was too egoistic to claim her place as friends. Initially it was ego, and later it was hurt .

A lot had happened in Nandini's life ever since Alya had come to college and Aryamann was not there with her. Her Amms had fallen ill back in Mangalore, she desperately wanted to go visit her, but their semesters were due in a few days and she couldn't afford to go - her Navya di and chacha went instead.

Nandini suffered all alone in the big wide city of Mumbai, worrying about her grandmother with no one to support her - when the fear of losing her Amms gripped her, she hugged her pillow harder and wept on it - she did try calling Aryamann a few times, but he was always busy, in fact even the few times he spoke, he was so distracted that he never heard the pain and exhaustion is Nandini's voice. Hurt filled her heart and she decided to go through this alone.

Things had improved over the weeks and soon enough Kishori Murthy her Amms was on the path of recovery, but making this as an excuse, Chacha had bullied his mother to move back to Mumbai and stay with him , though reluctant, but Amms missed Nandini and between choosing to stay with her hometown memories and Nandini, she finally chose Nandini.

Now of course, Nandini didn't stay in the hostel anymore, she had moved back home at her Chacha's to stay. And to think, her Aryamann had no clue of all this?

Kishori had noticed Nandini's gloom and had decided to have a heart to heart chat with her one evening, and one thing led to the other and soon Nandini was hugging her grandmother and weeping and telling her how her best friend had ditched her and she was lonely. Kishori had caressed her daughter's face gently and had told her to not hold grudges against Aryamann and go talk to him, to tell him what was bothering her - Kishori was sure Aryamann would understand and balance his life and time better.

Nandini was confident now, she had decided to confront Aryamann and settle this matter once and for all. She needed Aryamann's attention too. Alya couldn't take it all! Hence she was sitting in the classroom and determinedly looking at Aryamann. After this lecture, it would be lunch break, and she was going to talk to him.

***

Aryamann was sitting and eating samosa from Alya's lunch box and laughing about something when Nandini came and dropped into the seat next to him. Alya on the other side of the table looked surprised at the intrusion, while Aryamann looked at her for a second and then broke into a smile and greeted her.

"You like Payasam and Chole bhature nah? I got you home-made ones" she smiled and handed him her lunch box. Aryamann looked delighted and grabbed the box to open it. Soon he was devouring on the sweet delicacies and chole as Nandini sat observing him in content.

Soon there was only some left and Aryamann seemed to realize he hadn't offered any to the girls, so picked up the tiffin box and said, "Alya, come try this, it's amazing! Much better than the hotel ones! It's so amazing!" Alya smiled and took a small bite and looked triumphantly at Nandini. Nandini couldn't help understand why Alya looked at her that way, but she didn't think further, and decided to probe on the topic at hand.

"Amms says, if you like it, she will make more for you tomorrow" Nandini told Aryamann. Aryamann looked up in surprise.

"Amms? Your grandmother is in town? I thought Navya di and chachi made these! Hang on, how come you grandmother decided to visit you suddenly?" he asked in wonder.

"Amms has moved to Mumbai a few weeks back" Nandini replied not meeting his eyes.

"What?! Your grandmother has moved to Mumbai? That to, few weeks back, and you're telling me now?" asked Aryamann with a frown.

"Where were you Aryamann? How was I supposed to tell you?" Nandini asked Aryamann quietly as her eyes pierced his heart. Alya didn't understand the implication of course, and replied, "But Nandini he was here all along!" but Nandini's eyes didn't leave Aryamann's face, and Aryamann stood there quietly, the message had reached him alright

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Next half part will up in some time. Be ready Manik is coming;)

Love,
Krishna 💙✨