Being Nandini Murty is not so easy. You get bullied because you are not that beautiful like the so-called divas in the college. You love someone secretly, whom you can't tell it because you fear of rejection.

Things change when Nandini finds an enthralled pad which can fulfil all her wishes. Her sole wish us to be beautiful. But what happens when things turn around and the magic shows side effects?

Couple: Manan
Genre: Fantasy
Words: 1498

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."~ Ralph Emerson

"Have you seen him? He's looking so handsome", Navya says drooling over Manik. Well actually, teasing her best friend Nandini. Nandini Murty is not the perfect heroine. Her chubby cheeks, her light dusky skin tone and her specs are a part of her. Her nerdish attitude defines her. In spite of having Mukti and Navya as her best friends, she loves to spend her time with her books.

"True dude. Manik is looking so handsome", Mukti says.
"Guys please stop teasing me like this again and again", Nandini replies still lost in her novel.
" Then go and talk with him", Navya snapped at her, "You never even talk to him. How should he notice you?"
"He would have noticed me if he wished to do it." There was disappointment in her voice. "You both are always around him due to Cabir and Abhi in case you remember, and I am always with you guys."
"Then take the initiative to talk with him", Mukti suggests to her, snatching the novel away. Nandini simply stands up and leaves towards the library to get another novel. The two girls were left behind, simply shaking their heads in disbelief.

"Manik let's go to Navya and Mukti. They are standing all alone", Cabir exclaims seeing his lady love.
"Chill bro. You have seen her before not even 24 hours", Manik replies nodding his head in disbelief.
"That's still much. You would know if you would be in love. Come let's go." With this, they both went and Manik was behind them.

Manik Malhotra is not the perfect hero as well, but he is quite good-looking. A fair skin tone, tall guy, good in studies and far from girlfriends. In Nandini's eyes, he is a dream boy while many other girls drool on him as well. His father has set up his own business, and he's the heir of his dad, which makes the girls run behind him.

"Hey, Navu. Hey Mukti", Cabir greets them. Both the boys hug their girls. Manik simply stands beside them.
"Where is Nandini?" Abhi inquiries breaking the hug.
"Are you having an eye on my bestie rather than me Mr. Thakar?"
"Are you mad? Obviously no Mukku. I was just asking as a formality!" Abhi tries to explain himself. He was kind of afraid of the dangerous tomboy in his life.
"Oh, really Mr. Thakar? My best friends are just a formality for you?" Mukti was obviously pulling his leg which was visible to everyone than Abhi himself. It only became clear to him when Manik laughed followed by Cavya and Mukti.
"Look at your face Abhi."
"Very funny guys. Laugh as much you want. Some day I will also get the opportunity to laugh on all of you." With this Abhi went while Mukti went behind him. Soon everyone vanished.

Having the simple habit of going to walk each evening, Nandini went near to the seashore this evening as well. Seeing the sunset from the seashore gives her a unique relief. It frees her from every tension she had. Each taunt she got over the day vanishes at this place at this moment. Probably it helps her for a new start in the morning. Without her realization, a person came and sat beside her.
"It's a beautiful view. Right?" A manly voice said. Jerking out of shock she sees beside herself to find an elderly man.
"I am sorry. I did not intend to scare you. I have seen you often around here in the evening, so I thought to talk with you", he explains while she looks at the reflection of sunset again.
"It's my favourite spot. I love being here", she explains him.
"It gives relief to you. The taunts you get, vanish. Isn't it?" He says while looking at the water as well. His two sentences shocked her to the core. He literally read her mind.
"How do you know that?" The frowns on her face were of confusion and the blackness in her eyes of fear. Meeting a person in the evening for the first time at an empty place, and he knows your feelings. This would scare anyone.

"I just guessed it. I have seen a lot out there." There was silence between them. Nandini was about to leave from there.
"Wait. Here. This is the solution to your problem."
He hands over a notepad towards her.
"What is this? Why are you giving it to me?" Nandini wanted to know.
"It's an enthralled pad. Whatever you write on it will become the truth. Anything you wish for. But remember, this is an enchanted notepad. But remember, the magic can reverse too." Saying this the man vanished in thin air leaving the notebook there only. Nandini shrieks seeing him vanish but then picks up the notebook and goes to her house. Ignoring everyone she was in her room.

In spite of not believing in magic and wishes she wanted to try to out. She saw a man vanishing in thin air which made her doubt of what he said was true or not. Maybe it could be true, and she could get Manik or there would be no difference. Taking a pen she starts writing on it.
"I want to be beautiful. I want to look like all the other girls", penning down these words she hopes for magic. She sees herself in the mirror to see nothing changed. With disappointment, she lies down in her bed and sleep takes over her.

Entering inside the washroom the next morning she stands in front of the mirror to touch her face hysterically. It was not really her face anymore. It was too much fairer than her dusky skin. Her chubby cheeks became flat which means the man was telling true. It meant she would get her crush, maybe. Everything felt like a fairy tale, yet it felt so wrong. However, things couldn't reverse now. Neither in her heart and mind nor in reality. Getting ready with her new face she went to college. Her parents were away early today. Reaching the college she goes to Muknav who pass her without even noticing her.

" Mukti, Navya", Nandini calls them out. They turn around.
"Wasn't it Nandu's voice?" Navya thinks out loud.
"Yeah. But where is she?" Mukti replies to her. Nandini was seeing them with disbelief. At that time another boy comes to her who usually bullied her.
"Hey, beautiful. New joiner?" He asks with utter politeness. Being horrified was a big underestimation. Turning won't heel she was about to run to the washroom when she dashes in Manik. He holds her carefully.
"Nandini?" He was shocked as well by seeing her fully changed to a new person.
"Manik. Do you recognize me?"
"Obviously, I do. But what happened to you? And why are you asking me like this?" He inquires from her. Nandini drags him to a silent corner and explains him everything except her crush on him. The more she told, the angrier he got.

"Are you mad? How can you believe a stranger at the first place whom you don't even know? And why did you have such a silly wish? Why you let others affect you? You should be happy to look cute and have a heart out of gold. Your looks don't define you. Your heart and your character do. People speak. It is their job to speak about others and maybe it affects many. Not the one who speaks is strong. The one, who listens to their stupid rants without taking it to heart, is strong. You are strong Nandini to listen to them all these years. But today. Today you seem the weakest person to me who got affected by other people's stupidities. Don't change yourself for others. If someone wishes to accept you, they will accept you the way you are." These some words spoken in his anger left an impact on her.

"I made a mistake."
"A big one", Manik adds.
" What should I do now?"
"Reverse your wish. Wish that you become the same girl which you were before", Manik suggested after a small pause. Together both were at her place. She writes her new wish and the wish became truth immediately. She was back to her own self. Manik takes a lighter and burns the notepad. Seeing the time he leaves from there. The next day she meets her friends who were worried since she didn't appear the last day. Before they could question her, the boys arrived. Abhi hugs Mukti, Cabir hugs Navya and Manik hugs Nandini shocking all including her. Multi and Navya raise their eyebrow at her. That was the start of a new story, which wasn't perfect. Everyone has ups and downs but getting their relationship through it is, what Manan did.