__**__

"After seven years you came back...... " I said looking at her and veer who stood silent till now. 

Flashback continue

(Manik pov) 

"Oii nerd baby.. Again daydreaming? " I rolled my eyes looking up at leena who was glaring at me. 

"Can't you see I am studying? " I asked concentrating on the book. 

"God!! How much do you study man?.. I can't even read the title of the book.. " She said irritatedly pulling my book

I adjust my specs and try to pull my book but she throws it to the other side. 

"What do you want now lee? " I asked. 

"Today freshers are coming. So come let's see any hotties coming. " She said, smirking. She is trying more to get a bf but no one can handle her for more than a week. How can you handle a tomboy yaar? 

"Come on it not going to last a week. Leave me. " I whined like a kid, trying to get a book. 

"No, only if you come you will get your book.. Or I will throw in water. " Leena warned me. She will surely do it, I nodded for my book's sake.. As I can't buy a new book again. I don't have money or can ask my so-called dad. 

We both rushed to the front block to see freshers coming in. I sat on the steps beside Leena who was checking out any boys. I don't know how she is going to manage the younger one. 

I looked down at my hand scribbling nandini in my palm. I got emotional as I miss her.. I don't know how she is now. 

It has been 7 years,  First few months she called me, then no call, no message , nothing came. Leena said she might have forgotten me. 

Did she forget me? 

"Tch yaar.. Everyone is so bad.. I didn't get anyone.. " Leena said, breaking my trance. 

"I told you.. Can we leave? " I asked sarcastically. She pouted and nodded. 

I smiled and got up, side hugged her, "Don't worry, if someone is written on your fate.. He will come. " I said to encourage her. 

She glared at me, "Really?? When will he come?? " 

"After you turn 50.." I said controlling my lips. 

She looked at me fuming in anger, about to hit me.. I ran from there laughing. 

"Manikkk.. Idiot stop... You tower.. I will kill you.. " Leena was shouting running behind him. 

I turned to see her, only to get dashed on by someone hard..fallen straightly on soft body. 

"Shit.. "

"Ahhh.. Ayyappa.. " My world stopped hearing it. 

"Get up idiot.. I am not bed that you lay down comfortably. " I got up immediately to see a girl in white churidar laying on the ground. I can't see her face as her long hair covers her face. 

When she looked at me with an angry pout face, my world stopped. 

She got up rubbing her dress, "you don't have eyes.. Can't you see while walking? " She was shouting but nothing went inside my mind.. Then me looking at her. 

"Hello.. Sorry, stop shouting? Leena said, giving me my specs. 

She glared at Leena, "I am shouting. Your bf fell on me... Stupids.. " She was about to say more but some girls pulled her away. 

"Have you lost it manik... She shouting like this, you are listening. God!!?? Manik" Leena hit my head harder breaking my trance. 

I looked at her in 1000 volts, smiled and hugged her tightly. 

"Lee.. Lee. Lee.. I got her.. " I shouted and jumped with her. 

Leena pushed me, "Got who?? And you stupid.. You said you love nandini.. Now looking at that shortie like a piece of meat.. I will seriously kill you.. You

" Oh god.. Lee stop it.. "

"No I won't.. I will kill you if you see any girl.. 

" She is my nandini. " I said in one go, Leena stood statue for a minute. 

"What?? "

"The girl I dashed into is my nandini. " I said with a tearful smile. 

"Omg!!! " Leena hugged me in happiness, I smiled. 

"But why didn't she recognise you? " She asked when I realised my nandini did not see me. 

"I don't know.. " I said, looking around for her. 

"Don't worry we will find out. " I nodded

Few days went by and I followed nandini everywhere. Leena breaks into the office room and finds out that Nandini got admission in this college in the first year. And we even got her address which is just a few kilometres from my house. 

But one question arises how she came back?? Didn't her mother want to stay away from me and my family?? 

I saw that even Ishita and Raman's uncle didn't recognise me. Maybe I changed.. Yes I grew taller than before, wore specs and hoodie most of the time to hide my wounds. I am a typical school nerd. No girls see me, all boys bull me.. Of course not before Leena. 

I started admiring Nandini from afar. She has grown so beautifully that I think she will come to my chest, long silky hair which I want to touch, but has the same chubby eyes, big eyes, giggle cute pout all the same. I am just falling for her more. 

Yes I realised I love her two years back. It's Leena who made me realise. I can't believe I love her. I love my angel. 

"Ahem ahem.. " My trance broken hearing it turned to see only to get fallen from steps. Thank god I held the rail Or else.. 

"Why are you scaring me?? " I said. 

"Why are you following me everywhere? " She asked strictly, making me nervous. 

"What?? No, I didn't follow you. " I stammered. 

"Ohh really.. I saw you, Mr. nerd.. You stand here and there looking at me like a creep.. Even my friends notice it. Don't lie or else I will complain to the principal. '' She said angrily, all I saw was her red cheek.. So cute!! 

"Why are you smiling like a fool? " She asked, I looked away. 

"See, if I again find you following me.... 

" What will you do? " I turned to see Leena standing with crossed hands.. Ready to fight. 

"I won't.. Leena shut up. " I asked her. 

"Why should I?? She can keep assuming things..i won't let that happen manik" Leena said to me turning to nandini. 

"And.miss. Do you know who he is?? And why is he following you? '' Leena said, I hit my head mentally. 

"So he is following me. " Nandini glared at me, I want to hide somewhere. 

"Huh?? Of course yes... He ha that rights. " Leena said glancing at me in fear. 

"Rights?? Who gave that? " Nandin growled at me like a lion.. Mumma please save me. 

"I didn't.. 

" He did. Can't you remember his nandini?? He is the same boy you said you will be back soon. " Leena said softly, nandini frowned first and then looked at me. 

"What?? I can't understand? Who are you?? " She asked me. 

"Manik malhotra.. Your mani, his angel. Leena said softly. I held my breath seeing her thinking. Did she forget me so easily? 

"Mani... Ayyappa.. Mani.. " I looked up and she jumped into my arms. 

"OMG!! Finally I meet you... Ayyappa thankq thankq.. " She jumped like a rabbit and was smiling in tears. 

"You remember me then? " I asked her. 

"Of course I remember you idiot. How could I forget my Mani? It's just that I went to your home a few days back.. Your mother insulted me and said you ran away. " She said sadly.. Which broke my heart. 

Yeah my mother became more violent due to medicine. Mohini chachi, and ronit uncle taking care of her. 

My Avi and shravan(mohini chachi son studying in London. I used to spend money and speak to my avi daily. 

"Actually I am staying alone in the flat. I left home when I started college. " I said with a half smile. 

"Ohh.. " She nodded as she knew about my family. 

"Hello people.. I am still alive.. " We both turned to Leena and chuckled. 

"Nandu.. She is Leena, my best friend and Leena she is nandini.. My.. " I stopped and didn't know what to say.. Friend, angel or love. 

"Angel.. I know.. Hi angel. Leena completed and hugged Nandini who giggled. 

I released the breath I am holding. After that happiness, she came back to my life again filled with happiness. Like before we spend time with each other with Leena too. 

She informed her papa and amma got into a fight and moved here again. Her father again worked as my father pa, which I got suspicious at first then left. So she said not to come to her house or talk before her mother which I agree even though it hurts. Nothing is the same as before. 

"So, what next?? " I looked at Leena in confusion, in between lectures. 

"Next is accounts. " I said only to get hit by a book. 

"Ouch.

" What it is, manik? " Professor asked. 

"Nothing mam. Sorry. " She again continued, I looked at Leena who was glaring at me. 

"I asked what next about nandini? " She said, gritting her teeth. 

I frown, "I don't know about her time table Lee. "

She hit her head on a book which I got scared. Did I get it wrong? 

"You know at this birth you won't get married. Stay single and die. " She said, turning away in anger. 

"Please Lee said properly na. " I pleaded with Leena who turned to me again. 

"When are you going to say you love her? " She asked directly. 

I freeze, did I plan for it?? No seriously no. 

"I don't know. "

"You don't know.. Manik, you can't keep the love inside you for a long time. It's not right.. " Leena said

I looked down, "can we wait till college is over? " I said. 

"Yeah we can, but someone will come and get her from you." She said, got up and walked away at the same time the bell rang. 

I sat there like a statue, will she again go away from me? 

I walked to the canteen to see her friends standing and giggling at some time. I followed their gaze to see Nandini talking with someone but I couldn't see his face. 

"Aww!! He smiled.. Wow!! Nandini killed it. " One friend said, '' I frown. 

Nandini ran towards the canteen with a red face. 

"Heyy!! My baby killed it. " She got a hug from everyone and took money from one girl who became sad. 

"You can't mess with nandini murthy mam.. Heyy manik.. Come.. " She called me excitedly. 

"We will leave nandini. " Her friends walked away giving disgusted glares at me which I don't mind sitting before nandini. 

"Sorry.. " She said glaring at her friends. 

"It's ok.. I am used to it. " I said, looking down. 

"Don't say manik.. You are good in your way." She smiled, lifting my mood. 

"Acha.. What is that money for?? "

"Oh this.. Manik I didn't tell you na.. Actually I have a crush on our chairman.. You must know him.. Veer Singh. " My world stopped hearing it. 

"From the day I entered this college.. He was in my heart. Today girls were teasing me. I can't say I like him. The bet on me.. You know na your nandini won't leave it.. So I went and said to him.. You know he likes me. " She said, smiling looking down. 

Tears ready to roll down my eyes. I looked to the other side to hide it. 

"Manik.. Manikk what happened? " She asked in worry. 

" Excuse me.. " I rushed from there ignoring her shout. I run fastly hiding my tears. 

Her words ringing in my mind, leen warning... I stopped on the terrace and knelt down, hugging myself. 

Crying at my own fate, why do I never get what I want?? Why?? 

I cried laying down looking at the sky. Black dots formed between my eyes. Please take me to you God.. I can't take anymore pain please. 

I closed my eyes praying it should be forever. 

______

I groaned and sat on bed to see it's my room. How did I come here? 

"I only got you here. " I turned to see Leena standing on the doorstep. 

"Lee I.. 

" Don't say anything, I know I heard your conversation with her. " I looked down remembering it. 

"It's right na, I am so unlucky I never got what I want. I think I was cursed. " I said in tears, Leena cupped my face. 

"Don't say that manik. You are a gem, so precious it just people don't see it. " Leena said I chuckled. 

"Then why did she leave me?? She said she likes that guy.... Who we all are is Cansova. It hurts that I was waiting for her but she...if you didn't say my name..she might not have thought about me, Lee." I said looking away.

"It's always me.. Who thinks about others.. No one thinks about me.. Not even a single person. From my father, mother, family, now nandini.. All left me and played me like their own toy. " I sobbed, Leena hugged me for comfort. I shed more tears hiding into her arms. 

"Don't worry like you said.. If she is for you, she will come to you. " Leena said, whipping my tears. 

I nodded, "I want to be alone Lee.. Please. " I said with a neutral face. She looked at me for a while and walked out, closing the door. 

I looked up at the mirror in front of bed. My hair covering the till my eyes, I remove it to see my old buries on my forehead become a mark. 

I got up and walked near the mirror to see myself, removed the shirt to see my skeleton body.. Half covered with buries,half burn marks. Half new and half old. I glanced to see many specs. 

I don't have any issues.. I wear specs to hide myself. I was always hiding myself. 

_____

Leena sat nervously biting her lips in tension. It had been hours and he said he needed alone time. She doesn't feel good. What if he did something?? God!!.. She is about to get up only to stop hearing a door sound. 

She turned only to get the shock of her life. 

"Wow!! Man... You look so………. Different. " She said in trance looking at me. 

I smiled, "I need change too Lee."

"This is amazing.. " She hugged me. I just cut my hair short, wore a shirt and jeans which fit me well. I didn't let it cover my buries, yes.. First time in my life I decided not to.

"I never knew I had a handsome friend. " Leena said, hitting my arms, I chuckled. 

From that day I started ignoring nandini.. Yes, I wanted to avoid her, I used to run away from her site. But at the same time it was painful to stay away from your love. She used to call me Or message me which I ignored.. Even stopped using my phone. 

What hurt me most was that she started spending time with veer.. While college started talking about them as couples. 

"Are you avoiding me? " I stopped reading and listening to her. But I didn't look up. 

"Manik, I am speaking to you. " She said angrily, snatching my book. 

I sighed looked up at her tears eyes and looked away immediately as it's always my weakness

"Why are you avoiding me?? How many times have I called or messaged you?? Why manik?? " She asked in tears. 

"I 

" Don't lie.. I am not blind.. I can see it. " I tighten my fist to control myself. I heard the chair dragged, she sat beside me and held my hands. 

"I am sorry if I did something.. Please talk to me. " Few tear drops fell on my hands. 

"I don't have anyone other than you manik.. " She pleaded. 

"Then what about Veer? " I can't control myself from asking. 

"What?? "

I looked at her, "Then what about Veer.. You have him right. What is the need of me? " I asked her. 

She looked shocked, "Is veer a problem now?? You don't like him? "

"If I say I don't like him will you stop talking to him? " She was battling hearing it. I don't know what I am talking about or got the courage to speak to her. 

"Manik, you know I like him. And you are my friend. " She said softly. 

"That is a problem.. " I said smiling, and whipped her tears. 

"I don't understand it.. What problem if I like veer.... And being friends with you... 

" Because I love you.. " Her eyes widened in shock hearing it, "I love you Nandini murthy. But you don't, That is the problem. " 

I removed her hand and walked away leaving her behind in shock.. And I can't believe I finally confessed. 

I think this will be the end of us. 

Flashback end

"What?? I liked this idiot.. No. " She exclaimed glaring at Veer who stood silent. Leena chuckled. 

"It's true.. You were crazy for me. " Veer smirked, which made her roll her eyes. I looked away. 

She looked at me, "is this why you hate me?? I loved him, not you? "

I looked at her, nodded no, "The main story begins here..... Because my great father entered my life again.." I said smiling. 

"One side you and the other side him... I'll never know my life will change forever... "

"What happened? " She asked with curiosity. I don't think she has grown up. Because I still see old nandini in her. 

________

Words:- 3048

(A/N:- please have minimum patience.. I have to write the next part the next day only.. I know the target is completed... I will update at evening or night only..pls don't keep messaging..at evening only I have free time..) 

Target:- 300+ vote and 200+ comment... I still see nice and awesome comments.. I think🧐😔I said it clearly

Thanks for others who commented 

Few words for Leena and manik

Few words for nandini return

Few words for last manik confession

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