Nandini

"Manik!!!!!" I almost shouted, dumbfounded, successfully stopping the students around me and allowing them to give me weird looks, Sana narrowed her eyes at me, and her head bobbed slightly.

Please tell me she is joking!

"Manik......" she repeated in a confused tone, making my eyes go wider.

No! No! No! Not him, it must be any other Manik in the class, not that one, not 'the joker of our class'.

Please!

My throat dried, and my stomach churned at the memory of that weird interaction. I took a deep breath to relax my anxiety which was kicking in.

"The guy who was flirting with the teacher in the class "she added, trying to make it easier to understand, but she successfully made it tougher for me, why him?

Krishna ji (God)! Why him?

I nodded at her, with a weak "OK" to make it clear that I understood what she meant by Manik, the joker of the class, the person who is on my mind right now! Affecting me in the worst way he ever could!

She grinned at me, looping her hand around my arm, and pulled me with her, towards the library block, chirping about HOW SHE AND Manik KNEW EACHOTHER.

I unknowingly and half-heartedly walked with her, listening to her blabber, and by the time I reached the staircase, it was clear that she-Manik & Dhruv three were classmates, in school, not only classmate three were best friends, but I care a damn about what they were, before right now! All I care about is, I am going to face that guy, and I don't know why the fuck am I feeling so nervous, adrenaline rushed through me, and my head spun as I climbed the first step after, a long debate with myself on the topic 'JUST RUN'.

"Nandini don't worry, it's going to be alright"I assured myself trying to relax my so excited plus nervous nerves.

What the fuck is wrong with me, and my heart which is thumping like a drum.URGHHH!

"Hello Dhruv "I looked at Sana, as soon as we climbed up the last stair, reaching the first floor of the Building, and close to my heart failure, my fluttering heart- I just wish, I could dig my nails, in my chest and pull that stupid beating thing out and crush it with my bare hands, but choosing to ignore my intrusive thoughts, I kept my eyes fixed on Sana, who was on her phone, talking to some guy called Dhruv, who is also her best friend other than Manik.

"Where are you guys? "She asked on the phone, scanning her eyes all over the library ahead of us, and looked at me only to find me staring at her like a hawk. She gestured to me to fill the entry in the register pleadingly; I nodded and complied with what she said. Internally, wishing that they'd left for some class or any other whatever-stuff-boys-do.

"Hmm yeah ok" she cut the call and smiled at me lightly as I looked at her after filling our names in the register.

Nandini Sharma & Sana SIDDIQUI [BSE(Hons.)

They are here! I read their names in the register as I filled in mine and her name. Manik Malhotra & Dhruv DIXIT [BSE(Hons.)].

"Dhruv is coming, "she said. YEAH, I KNOW, I nodded.

"You know we all ...I mean...me Manik and Dhruv" she gained my attention, while I was looking around in the huge library I visited for the first time, my favourite place, in school, in the city, but not right now, I guess.

I was just looking around to distract myself, but miserably failed as Sana started talking again!

"We three are from the same school..." she repeated, in excitement.

And, no, I don't know what she is so excited about. But I chose to zip my mouth up and listen to her blabber because all my concentration right now is on you-know-what, I don't want to prove I am obsessed with him, by repeating his name, again & again.

"And Dhruv is sweet and friendly, and Manik, he is like this from the starting, as in naughty & flirt, to be honest, he is a spoiled brat, unlike Dhruv, but still both are best friends, you know the theory of opposite attracts that's what it is here...." she kept on blabbering while I kept on listening to her blabber until a hand on her shoulder stopped her from speaking further.

She turned towards the 6-foot tall, guy standing behind her, with fair skin, green colour eyes, and fringed-up brown hair, in short, he was one of the other handsome guys sitting beside you-know-who (I know it's not Harry Potter but, taking his name is one of thing am going to ignore) in the classroom.

"Done with your bak-bak?[slang for continuous talking]"the guy chuckled sarcastically, while Sana pouted grumpily and slapped his arm.

"What? "he chuckled, rubbing his arm, which shook her head in disbelief.

"Meet Nandini...." she said, gaining his attention towards me, he looked at me, and flashed a toothy smile.

"Hello cutie, "he said, stretching his hand out for a handshake.

Nervously I smiled at him, still trying to get rid of the fact that he called me cutie.

And she told me that Vy- I mean You-know-who is a flirt. Dhruv too looks one, guessing just by appearance.

"hey," I shook hands with him, exchanging smiles with him.

"Shall we?" he asked me to walk first, stretching his hand towards the right part of the huge hall. I nodded.

And walked in the direction he gestured (while my eyes wandered around looking for him), and he followed me.

Walking beside me he too kept speaking, like Sana and me being an introverted freak just kept on humming at his every word.

******************

We reached the corner of the hall, when the figure sitting in front of me, busy on his phone, came into my view, and my steps slowed along with my heartbeat. And as if he sensed us(me) walking towards him, because he looked up from the screen.

"You are here, "said Manik pushing the chair behind, standing up, and walking towards me. My slowed steps froze at its place, and I stood rooted at my place while he walked towards me.

Nandini RUN, Nandini RUN, Nandini RUN!!!

My brain asked me to, but my stupid glued feet and fluttering heart were the biggest obstacles. In 'RUN Nandini MISSION', my eyes are glued to the 6-foot-tall human, walking towards me.

I gulped, as he almost reached me, but walked past me.

I turned towards him; he was half hugging Sana and greeted her "ASSALAMUALAIKUM AAPA(Sis)"

Both Dhruv & Sana laughed as he said 'aapa' jokingly. She slapped his arm "Don't call me that "the 6-foot-tall human, laughed with them, and his onyx back orbs sparkled under his long messy hair, which was covering his forehead. And it was like an arrow to my heart because OUCH!

I sighed dreamingly, staring at the three(him) when my consciousness kicked in WHAT THE HELL Nandini! FOCUS!!!!!!!!!!

I shook my head violently and pulled my phone and earphones out.

*********************

I was telling about this strange encounter to my online best friends when someone's eyes on me pulled my attention and I looked forward to it.

The person standing in front of me waved at me with a mischievous grin, and whispered the cutest "HI", as he took a seat in front of me.

I am definitely not going to speak to him right now, not on earth or sky or underground, I know I will stutter, or my voice will be inaudible if I say something, so being wise I choose to be quiet, and nodded with a light smile, with a light wave. And shifted my focus back to my screen, ignoring him would be better right now!

"Can't she speak? 'He asked Sana sarcastically, pointing at me, as Sana sat beside me and Dhruv next to her as beside Manik.

Okay, that's an insult! Bridget (a book character) said it right 'MEN. THEY ALWAYS RUIN IT BY OPENING THEIR MOUTH'. The feminist in me woke and all the attraction, and nervousness was lying far in a dumpster, waving bye at me.

"What "I snapped out loud with disbelief written across my face.

"Oh! so she can, "he said, with thankfulness, and continued seeing the frown on my face, "Actually, a couple of seconds ago I said 'hi' to you and you didn't reply....so I thought......"I rolled my eyes as he said it, while he shrugged his shoulders.

"Jerk "I whispered under my breath making sure no one listens to it, dropping the topic and interacting with an idiot brat, watching him pull out his air pods and plug them in his ears.

"By the way Manik, why were you flirting with the Professor "Sana said in between out of nowhere, while the four of us were busy with our phones.

Usually, I was not interested in any of such topics.... but this time, it gained my attention, so I looked at Manik, who pulled off his air pods.

"Umm...."He smiled shyly. WHAT THE HELL IS GETTING SHY ABOUT? My forehead was having more lines compared to a fucking notebook, as I stared at the shy bride, blushing in front of me.

"YOU DON'T KNOW? " asked Dhruv, gaining our attention.

"She can be our future sister-in-law" Dhruv bit his lip, managing his laugh, and looked at Manik, who was proud of I-fucking-don't-know-what!

"Means?" Sana frowned.

He smirked at her, and his fingers formed a heart as he pressed the heart against his chest, I rolled my eyes, and a feeling of jealousy rushed through me.

I, FUCKING DON'T KNOW WHY!!!!!

"She is my love, "he said, his tone held sarcasm and flirtation which tells that he didn't really mean any of it but still I felt jealous, I don't know why!!!!

Nandini

Feeling the light tap on my shoulder, I took my eyes out of the E-book I was reading and looked behind me at the person standing, Manik! He raised his brows at me, confirming something and I realised he must've said something.

So, with a pissed expression, I pulled the earplugs off my ears. "Let's go, "he repeated.

"Where? "I frowned.

"Tea stall next to the college?" he said looking behind him, gaining my attention towards where he was looking.

Wait!

My head snapped beside me then back behind Manik.

When the fuck?

Sana & Dhruv were walking towards the main entrance of the hall, leaving? busy in whatever topic they were talking about! I didn't know-I didn't realise when this happened when they walked from beside me towards the main entrance! I looked at Manik, dumbfounded, earning a smirk from him.

Urghh fuck him!

********************

"So, what's your name? "The tall joker asked, sitting beside me, my lips pressed into a thin line at his sass! And I ignored his question by looking away.

But, because his hand went behind me at the couch head, my head snapped towards him, who was sitting relaxed, his left ankle kept on his right knee, and he was looking at me!

HOOLIGAN!

"Remove your hand", I gritted, taking my eyes to my hands on my lap, and taking a deep breath to control myself.

"That's your name? "He asked sarcastically, I chuckled sarcastically to myself and looked at him, and passed him a tight-lipped smile shoving his hand, and his leg.

"Wild cat," he said, he roared teasingly, bringing his face closer to mine without realising what he was doing! My breath hitched, and my heart skipped a beat! The feeling I just felt was weird but I -umm liked it. I stared at him, in his black orbs, and so did he, my hands clutched the dress I was wearing tightly, as I gulped, completely forgetting to breathe. After a few seconds, his smile vanished, and he moved back.

I looked away immediately, closing my eyes, while I heard him mutter something under his breath.

*********************************

I looked towards him in disgust only to find him, puffing a cigarette and sitting beside me.

MANNERS ARE IN THE TRASH!

The last five minutes were too awkward. The reason was the person sitting beside me, who made me feel the most unknown things I ever felt.

Am I in a different dimension, since I stepped into the classroom, or since I saw him? Because I'm feeling the weirdest things ever right now!

And it's not healthy!!!!

He looked at me, feeling his eyes on me after a puff. And blew the smoke on my face. I frowned, moving my hands around my face, and pushing the smoke away. Asshole!

"You want?" he offered, as I kept on glaring at him, shooting daggers, mentally choking him to the death!

I sighed with an eye roll "You want to die, go ahead, am least interested" I replied savagely, after a few seconds with a tight-lipped smile, earning a chuckle from him, as he pulled the last puff, and crushed the leftover in the teacup, he was drinking in!

AS I SAID MANNERS ARE IN THE TRASH!

Boys, need to learn some manners for real!

"Can I get your number...Sana?" I asked after some time, as soon as it hit me, and eyed her, who was talking to Dhruv!

"Yeah sure-it's 9- "before I could type anything, my phone went flying out of my hand! Oh sorry! It was Manik who took my phone or better yet, snatched it.

"Hey "I tried to take my phone back from him, who placed his hand on my face saying "wait "and did something to my phone and returned it to me, with a smirk.

"Save all our new Miss new friend," he said cockily and smirked.

Controlling the urge to wipe off that smirk, by punching him in the face, I looked at my phone at the saved contacts.

"Hello "I came out of my train of thought when he snapped his fingers in front of me and looked at him.

NO AM NOT GOING TO SAY WHAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT (MY FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH HIM & THE STRANGE FEELINGS).

"Would you like to accompany me to the campus?" he asked.

"Huh?"dumbfounded, I looked at him, then Sana and Dhruv,who were busy in themselves.

"They'll take time,"he said , pushing himself up and forwarding his hand in front of me. "Are you coming?"

I stared at his hand, for some seconds before grabbing it, thinking about what it is, the feeling, I nodded slightly as I kept my hand on his, rough, yet strong. Holding his hand made me realise one thing that whatever I am feeling right now is not going to end well, but all my heart is craving for is his company. I hate him, for being my centre of attention. But I don't really hate him! The feelings are confusing, but it's lovely!