~ Love and friendship are two separate, but equally special relations. Never confuse one for the other, and never belittle one for the other!~
Manik was still holding her tight in her arms when they heard Veebha calling out for Nandini. Nandini, hearing her to be mother in law's voice, pushed Manik and ran towards the door, embarrassed when suddenly Manik called her.
" Nandini..."
She turned to look at him pausing at the door.
" I did not take any pill yesterday. Sleeping late was a coincidence", he confessed and a 440 volt smile lit up on her face. She simply nodded and ran downstairs to veebha.
The dinner was done in a light environment with Manik and Nandini trying to cheer up veebha and veebha in turn teasing the love birds. After the dinner, Manik went to tuck up his mother in bed while Nandini was rearranging the kitchen after doing the dishes. Suddenly, she felt a pair of arms encircling her waist and she gasped at the proximity.
" Manik...leave na...somebody might come", She mumbled trying to get out of his grip, squirming but he didn't leave.
"No one will come", He whispered dipping his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her sweet fragrance.
" Manik...", She again pleaded as she was now going weak on her knees with his sweet torture. Manik dipped his face further dropping feather kisses all along. Soon he got her soft spot around her collar bone and licked it. Nandini by now felt like jelly. She was blushing hard and was also afraid that what if someone seriously comes around. So she finally gathered some courage and pushed him, running upstairs.
But her bad luck or his good luck, she entered his bed room,panting and Manik followed her to his room. Entering inside, he locked the door and held her hand, pulling her into him. She collided with something hard yet soft, her hands over his chest and electric current ran through them on this sudden proximity. Manik again dipped his face in the crook of her neck, kissing every inch of the exposed area. Nandini simply arched herself back, giving him proper access as she shivered under his touch. Manik then slide down her sleeves a little kissing her shoulder blade and the newly exposed area. Soon he returned back to her soft spot, biting and then licking it to soothe the pain, finally inflicting his first mark on her!
As she closed her eyes expecting him to go further, her body trembled and the uncomfortableness didn't go unnoticed by him. He softly kissed her forehead and urged her to open her eyes. She opened them to look at him, who was observing his serene beauty with only love filled eyes.
Manik knew she won't deny him anything ever but it was his responsibility to see her comfort level and he knew she wasnot prepared for it now.
" You don't have to agree to everything Nandini, I love you but more than that I respect you! Intimacy is not always about making love. I love you much more than these terms", he smiled at her and she held back the tears that were threatening to fall. She again hugged him and he reciprocated by kissing her hairs to calm her down.
What more do a girl needs! It's not always about gifts, chocolates or teddy bears to show your love. Small gestures like these are enough to win her heart! She loves pampering but not with your credit card but with your attention, time and love! As simple as that!
Soon they drifted back to sleep like always, cuddling,her head on his chest. She loved listening to his heart beat- the heart that actually beat for her!
Next morning, Manik went office a little early as he had some important work piling up. Nandini made Veebha had her breakfast and then made sure she doesn't exhaust herself. Then as she was about to leave for office, her phone buzzed. It was Alya calling her, her bestie from school. She, Alya and Mukti were the trio from school time and hence her face lit up seeing her name.
" Hii", Nandini squealed.
" Hii mom!", Alya as usual teased her.
" Alya yaar...", She retorted as always although she loved this endearment.
"Come on skype fast!", Alya laughed and cut the call.
Soon they were in front of each other, thanks to technology like Skype which help you connect with friends who are far away!
As they started taking, they had no idea about time because best friends they were, having endless things to catch upon. Suddenly Alya noticed something and looked at Nandini with anger and Nandini realising the change in her expressions looked at her trying to decipher what happened!
Nandini was surprised at the turn of events. Weren't they laughing aloud just a few seconds before and now suddenly her best friend is looking at her with some unwanted emotion in her eyes? Disgust?
" Alya? Why are you looking at me like that?", Nandini questioned afraid to know the answer though!
" What had happened to you Nandini? I thought you were not like others. You knew your values na?", Alya spoke harshly without giving a damn about the tears that had started forming in Nandini's eyes.
" What are you taking about?", Nandini asked trying to digest the new found loathing in her bestie's voice.
" That mark on your neck...love bite or a Hickey haan?", Alya asked with pure disgust dripping from her voice.
Nandini was taken aback. Her hand involuntarily moved to the mark and she tried to cover it with her dupatta.
" What the hell Nandini? Seriously? God!", Alya cursed out aloud before ending the Skype call and Nandini sat alone, her face wet with her incoherent cries.
How could Alya talk like that? And that mark? Did she seriously did something so wrong? Had she crossed her line? Was this proximity wrong? But she loved him na and so did he. Then?
Everything was eating her up and she could not take it anymore. She grabbed her cell phone and dialled the only contact she knew would hear her at any cost. But as her luck was, Manik didn't pick up the phone. He was busy in a conference call and his phone was silent. After trying for a few more times, she gave up and started crying in frustration.
Everything was so good an hour back and so bad just now. Why? How?
In the heat of that moment, her phone rang and she grabbed it desperately. She was longing to hear his voice. But seeing the caller name, she was confused whether or not to take this call. It was not Manik but her bestest friend- Mukti!
" Hello...", Nandini answered in a shaking voice and it took only seconds for Mukti to understand that something was off.
" What's wrong Nandini?", She asked worried.
All it took was a caring tone and a genuine question from Mukti and Nandini broke down, sobbing, telling her the entire matter. Nandini was crying while Mukti was trying to console her.
" Nandini stop crying...you are my good girl na...and good girls don't cry right?", Mukti said dramatically and Nandini finally giggled at the statement.
No matter how much you grow up,how much you mature but then there is that one person who still treats you a small baby!
" And now listen carefully, irrespective of the bonding between two persons, it is usual human nature to judge each other. Alya haven't felt what you had with Manik. She only knows him and it's not wrong in her part to worry or get angry at such things. No one is going to understand the exact purity of your relation, even I can't. So don't ponder over that. She will be back to square one in some time. And please, don't run the hyperactive brain of yours and start doubting your actions. Understood?", Mukti explained her with almost love and Nandini finally was satisfied with her explanation.
" Mukti...if someday something drifts us apart...somewhere our mentalities clash, our equation will change? Will you give up on me?", Nandini asked, scared and insecure.
Mukti started laughing at her question. Her friend was indeed dumb.
" Nandini madam, who told you that our thinkings match? But still we are besties na. If someday things deteriorate to this extent even, I wont give up on you. By the way you know that I am more impulsive than you and hence I might do something stupid...stop talking or something...but I know eventually we will be together. Just that ' eventually' might take a little time..", Mukti answered and Nandini laughed at her answer.
" You are the best you know na...", Nandini said.
" Yes obviously", she answered as a matter of fact tone.
" So what is the plan for Wednesday? Something special no? Will you be free enough to pick my call at 12?", Mukti teased and Nandini immdiatitely turned beet red.
" Shut up, of course I will...let's see that this time your record breaks or not of wishing me first?", Nandini teased back and Mukti burst out laughing.
" Mukti never looses you know na...and yes this time there is something special waiting for you, but I am not sure when will the parcel deliver, so expect it anytime?", Mukti asked laughing loudly and even Nandini started giggling.
" I will wait then...", She answered and both best friends started laughing.
After some time, Nandini was in a much better mood. She wrote a long message to Alya explaining her trust and respect for Manik and acknowledging her worries. And also how much she meant to her. At the end she felt relaxed and even excited.
Yes, it was her birthday in three days and she was too much excited. Although she never showed it off on her face but she had that kid like excitement on her birthday too. And this time it was meant to be special!
