4:00 pm, Anjuna, Goa.

No! No! No! This couldn't be happening! Why's my luck so rotten?! Aiyappa, what am I going to do now?

It had been about half an hour since Manik and I had reached Goa. We had almost reached Anjuna beach-the location of the magnificent Singhania vacation home. However my tiny bladder had gotten the better of me and I had asked Manik to stop at a public restroom. All I had to do was cater to the nature's call-at least that's what I'd thought! Turned out that I'd got my period!

Ugh! How could this even be possible? I'd already completed my cycle this month, so why was I experiencing the resurgence of the dreaded and bloody vagina volcano?!

I guessed that it was probably due to the stress I had been under, these last few days...stupid hormones! I didn't even have a pad with me since I'd left my purse behind at the restaurant.

I peeked outside from the stall, to see if there was someone from whom I could borrow one, but the restroom was completely empty!

Shit! Now I'd just have to buy it from the drug store. But, what would I tell Manik?! I didn't have any money! I'd have to ask him for it, but how? If he saw me going to the medical store, he'd definitely know that something was wrong! This was so embarrassing!

I had no option...I had to tell him the truth! But how would he react? Aiyappa, please don't let him get annoyed or disgusted with me!

I made my way out of the washroom, moving cautiously.

Manik had been waiting right outside for me. As soon as he saw me, it seemed like he realized that I wasn't alright.

"Nandini, are you okay? Why do you look so pale?" He asked in a worried voice, taking a step towards me.

"Um...It's...It's...nothing...." I stuttered, making his suspicions grow deeper.

"Nandini, tell me what's wrong? Are you sick or something?" He asked, his eyes filled with a hint of fear at the thought of me falling ill.

"No...not exactly..." I answered. "I don't know how to tell you...you'll just get disgusted!"

"Nandini, please, just share your trouble with me..." Manik said in desperation.

"Manik...I...I'm down...my monthly cycle-it's begun...and I don't know..." I stammered further, looking at the ground and speaking, too ashamed to look him in the eye.

"Nandini...I understand...just tell me what you need..." He said, in a slightly hesitant voice.

That's it? No-Eww! That's gross! Etcetera, Etcetera...

His attitude had surprised me a great deal. He never stopped surprising me! Anyone else would have immediately shut me out, and prevented me from speaking about this sensitive and 'girly' topic, whereas he was asking me about what I needed?! This made my respect for him as an individual increase a great deal!

"Manik...I actually need money to go to the drug store...I need to buy...you see, I left my purse at the restaurant..." I stammered, yet again.

"Nandini, slow down...you're saying you need to buy sanitary napkins, right?" He asked, in calm voice.

"YES!" I immediately let out a sigh of relief as he understood my broken words.

"Okay, how about you wait here...and I'll go and purchase it from the medical store that we saw three blocks down the road. I don't think it would be advisable for you to walk around in your condition..." He proposed, in a soft voice.

I just nodded my head in approval of his plan, since I was at a loss for words.

"Cool...wait here...I'll be back soon..." He said, as he placed his hand on my shoulders to calm me down. With this last statement, he turned around and started walking towards the drug store.

How? How could someone be so sweet and understanding? For the outside world, Manik was a monster, but how had no one seen the angelic soul that lay beneath his tough exterior? How was a guy like him still single? Any girl would kill to have a boyfriend like him! I- would love to have a boyfriend like him!

No! Nandini, what are you thinking? You're the one who proposed friendship, right? You can't distract him from his plan! Right now, that should be his only focus! Any feelings you have for him can be addressed after he's successfully been cleared of all the charges against him!

I tried pushing away these meandering thoughts as I waited for him. He came back with a small brown paper bag in his hand after a few minutes.

"I hope this is okay..." He said, handing me the bag.

"Thanks!" I said, as I snatched the packet and went into the washroom as quickly as I could.

When I went into the stall, opened the bag and had a look at the packet, I realized that he had bought the most expensive brand of sanitary napkins! The shopkeeper must have taken advantage of his ignorance and sold him this particular pack! Aiyappa, what's wrong with Manik? I knew that he was rich, but why did he have to be wasteful with money? Especially since he was on the run!

I quickly wore a pad, and cleaned up, before finally making my way out.

When I stepped out, Manik immediately came over to me.

"Was it...appropriate?" He asked, shifting a little uncomfortably in his place.

"Yes...Manik...I don't know how to thank you...you didn't have to..." I struggled to express myself.

"Nandini...you don't have to be so ashamed! Nothing that concerns you could ever disgust me." He said firmly, cupping my cheeks and looking into my eyes with an intensity that made my heart flutter.

I nodded my head slowly as my cheeks reddened due to his gentle touch.

After a few seconds, he broke the eye lock rather awkwardly. I understood why-friends weren't supposed to stare into each other's eyes!

"Besides, it's really nothing...you should see how Mukti emotionally blackmails me to get stuff done for her when she has her period! She's like Manik-tu yeh le aa! Manik-ye kaam kar de! She drives me mad and I can't even say 'no' to her! Seriously, you're a blessing in comparison!" He said giggling, lightheartedly.

I chuckled at his statement and appreciated his attempt to ease the awkwardness between us.

"So shall we go?" He asked.

I nodded and started walking behind him, when suddenly, my stomach let out a large growl! All the stress about my period had made me forget about my hunger pangs, entirely! It had been hours since I had eaten the food aunty had packed for us. Not only me-I was sure Manik was hungry too, but since he'd been concentrating a great deal to drive over the mountainous terrain of the ghat roads, it had probably escaped his mind.

I wasn't going to ask him to buy me food! I had troubled him enough for one day!

However, my treacherous stomach gave me away immediately as it let out another loud growl!

Manik immediately stopped walking as he heard my stomach rumbling.

"Nandini, is that you? Are you that hungry? Why didn't you just tell me?" He asked with an amused laugh.

"No...it's nothing..." I was about to lie as my stomach rumbled yet again!

He laughed again, and said, "To be honest even I'd like a sumptuous meal right now! So let's just get something to eat!"

I was beyond happy...I couldn't control my hunger any longer!

However, Manik's face crinkled in frustration, as he looked at the contents of his wallet.

There was only a twenty rupee note in it! For the first time in his life, Manik Malhotra, was nearly penniless! It was truly a rare and astonishing sight to behold!

"Nandini, I don't have cash...I spent it all trying to fix the car and buying the presents for aunty! I had saved money for just another meal for both of us, and planned on asking Cabir to send me some cash later, but I used that residual amount to buy the pads for you so..." He said, moving his fingers through his hair guiltily.

Shit! It was all my fault!

"Manik, why don't you just withdraw more from the ATM?" I asked, in a hopeful voice.

"Nandini...if I do so, then they can trace my transactions from the account very easily! Nyonika will send someone to apprehend me immediately, and everything will go to waste!" He said, flustered at our predicament.

No! I couldn't let that happen! His plan had to work!

"Manik...it's okay...we don't need to eat right now..." I tried to make him feel better.

"Well...that's not it! Even if we don't eat now, I can't be cashless like this!" He exclaimed, as he contemplated a solution to our problem.

"But Manik, how will we..." I was about to ask him about our next course of action when he cut me off.

"I have an idea!!" He shouted like he had had an epiphany. His eyes glowed as he spoke.

"Come!" He said, as he ran towards the car.

I struggled to catch up with his long strides. What was on his mind? I was thoroughly confused!

As soon as we entered the car and buckled up our seat belts, I made an attempt to clear my doubts.

"Manik, where are we going?" I asked.

"The beach..." He replied, with a gleeful smile on his face.

"But why?" I asked, puzzled.

"Offo, Nandini, just trust me!" He said.

Well, if he was so sure that his idea was going to work, I wasn't going to raise any objections.

We reached the beach in the next few minutes. Manik immediately jumped out of the car, and opened the back door so as to get access to the rearmost seat.

I heard Manik grunt as he tried to reach something kept in the backseat.

I looked out of the window to see the beach right in front of us. There were a large number of food stalls and souvenir shops. However, what interested me even more, was the variety of street artistes that were performing at the beach side. I had heard that Anjuna beach was the creative hippie haunt of Goa, but I'd never seen it with my own eyes. It was a wonderful sight to behold! I could see two teens showcasing their gymnastic skills as the crowd cheered them on. On the other side, there was a man who was playing the flute beautifully.

But the question remained...what exactly were we doing here?

My query was soon answered as I saw Manik emerge from the backseat with a guitar case in his hands.

Wait! What? His plan was to perform on the street and earn money? Was he out of his mind? What if someone recognized him?

I stepped out of the car immediately and asked pointing at the guitar case, "This is your plan? Are you mad? What if someone recognizes you and calls the police?!"

"Nandini...people in Goa are way too drunk to be watching the news! They're so busy partying that they become oblivious to the outside world...especially on this beach, which is famous for amateur performances!" He explained.

"Besides, meeting you has made me realize that I'm not as famous as I thought I was!" He said with a wink. Before I knew it, he had started walking to the beach shore.

"Manik wait..." I tried to stop him, but my voice seemed unheard.

Ugh! He was so stubborn! Why didn't he ever listen to me? Fine! If he wasn't worried about his own safety, why should I be?!

I immediately turned my back towards him. Even though I was dying to watch him perform, I controlled myself, from peeking, when I heard him take his guitar out of its case.

However, when I heard the first guitar chord played by him, my annoyance flew out the window! It was the most pleasant and wonderful melody I had ever heard! And when I heard him sing the first few lines, the hair on my body stood up...he had the most beautiful and soulful voice! The magnetic pull of his voice made me turn around.

Roothe khwaabon ko mana lenge
Kati patango ko thaamenge
Haa haa hai jazba
Ho ho hai jazba
Suljha lenge uljhe rishton ka manjha

Ha manjha, ha manjha, ha manjha..

I was greeted by a breathtaking sight as I turned around. The pure bliss I saw on Manik's face as he sang, made my heart fill with an unspeakable amount of warmth. His voice had the exact mix of technical brilliance and raw passion, and I wasn't the only one who noticed it. I watched as the crowd shifted their focus from the other street performances and began to gather around Manik.

Soyi taqdire jaga denge
Kal ko ambar bhi jhuka denge
Haa haa, hai jazba
Ho ho, hai jazba
Suljha lenge uljhe rishton ka manjha
Ha manjha, ha manjha, ha manjha..

Since the crowd was obstructing my view, I immediately went closer and fought through the group of people, to catch sight of Manik again.

His face lit up as he saw me right at the front of the audience. The audience remained captivated by his lovely voice, just as I was. He looked right at me as he sang, making me blush like a fool, as more people among the crowd spotted me.

Rishte pankho ko hawa denge
Rishte dard ko dawa denge
Jeet kabhi haar kabhi
Ghum to yaaro honge do pal ke mehmaan
Riste dehleeze bhi langege
Rishte laahu bhi to mangege
Aansu kabhi, moti kabhi
Jaan bhi mange yaaro kardenge kurbaan

Bisre yaaro ko bulalege
Soi umeede jagade ge
Ha ha, hai jazba
Ho ho, hai jazba
Suljha lenge uljhe rishton ka manjha
Haa aa manjha..

For a few seconds, I forgot where we were as well as the spectators around us. It seemed like Manik, was singing for me alone...that he was communicating with me indirectly through the lyrics of the song. I had never seen him so contented in the last few days. Music...seemed to complete him, just as he had revealed when we first met. None of it was a lie...

O o roothe khaabon ko mana lenge
Kati patango ko thaamenge
Haa haa hai jazba
Ho ho hai jazba
Suljha lenge uljhe rishton ka manjha
Hmm manja, hmm manja hmm manja...

He had the most peaceful and satisfied expression as he finished the song. Within a few seconds itself, there was a thunderous applause of appreciation from the crowd. They were clapping and hooting to no end, and I found myself clapping and cheering the loudest among them.

Manik bowed as he soaked in all the praise and approval he was receiving. It was then that I realized that this was his true calling. He was a born musician...even if he was the heir to the Malhotra business, the world couldn't be deprived of a talent like his...

Slowly, I watched as members of the audience walked up to Manik, and left different denominations of currency in his guitar case, as a token of their appreciation. Some even shook hands with him, and congratulated him.

I thought the Manik Malhotra would be offended at receiving such small amounts of money, but to my surprise, he accepted them graciously.

I watched as a small kid came up to him, and gestured him to bend down. It was highly amusing to watch a six foot tall pillar of a person kneel down to match the height of the child. I saw her whispering something in his ear, to which he let out the heartiest and the most delightful laugh I'd ever heard. It made by heart skip a beat!

It was at that moment that I realized what he was like when he was truly happy and carefree! I realized that I'd do nearly anything to keep this smile on his face...hamesha. What I felt for him, wasn't a school girl crush or an infatuation. I was almost sure that it ran deeper than that...way too deep. I realized that-I was in love with Manik Malhotra! And it scared the hell out of me!