Are we meant to be ?

Let me help

Next day

Manik calls Nandini but she doesn't answer the call

The day goes by...

He sees her near the attendance line at the Face ID
She sees but smiles  and walks away.

Manik's mind : Did she just smile looking at me? Yes...there's no one near me so it must be me...oh no I just forgot to smile...she must have felt embarrassed now...

He gives attendance and runs towards her ....

Manik : Hi Nandu
Nandu: Hi....so you can see me?
Manik :?? Oh ..sorry I just didn't expect you to smile so...
Nandu : I was just joking...
Manik : oh okay
Silence...
Manik: I called you....
Nandu: yeah I'm sorry I was busy today...so why did you call?
Manik : you called me yesterday so ...I just wanted to...
Nandu : yesterday??
Manik : yeah yesterday at about 8:30 pm ...u called na ...what was that for?
Nandu: it was nothing...( blushes and gets embarrassed and tries to avoid his eye contact)
Manik : oh it was nothing?? I thought you called me bcoz of the dare ...
Nandu: No ...
Manik : what was the dare again??.....yeah Jai asked you to confess right?
Nandu: no he didn't ask me to confess ... he just asked me to say I love you...
Manik: oh ....thank you Nandu for liking me ...
Nandu realises what she said and unable to say anything..meanwhile Manik wanted to tease her more...
Manik : Thank you for liking me Nandu but I have someone I already like...so..
Nandu: What like? It was a dare  and he didn't ask me to confess...it was not a confession..it was a dare ...I don't have any feelings for you why are you..i called you bcoz u knew...
Manik : Arey chill yaar I was joking...I knew it...I just wanted to tease you...

Nandu leaves with embarrassment and annoyed bcoz Manik said he already likes someone else and gets irritated...

Nandu pov :

I hate you Manik...I liked you for a long time and worked so hard to try to forget about you...I forgot about you...almost...but you already like someone...are you getting married? I sure you are ....she cries....but ...but ...it was not your fault...it was my fault that I liked you...why god why did I like him? Life was good before that....it's true that I had good time when I used to watch him from distance...but ...cries ...it's my fault...I should not have listened to my heart ...it's my fault....may he have good life with her...

Manik pov :

It was nice teasing her and seeing her getting embarrassed and seeing her blushing....i have never seen her like that
Wait a minute...what did I tell her...(remembers)  ....did I just tell her that I already have someone I like ..?? What if she misunderstands?
No ...I was just teasing her it's not like she actually likes me right??

Few days pass by ...
Nandu ignores Manik every time she sees him...

One day ...

Nandu's phone rings
Nandu: hello?
Jai : Nandu I will give you a few files take them to my apartment when you leave ...
Nandu: why should I take? Take them yourself whenever you leave
Jai : no it's for Manik...
Nandu: then tell him to take..
Jai : but he is sick and he has case presentation tomorrow so please take them ...
Nandu: but what is he doing in your apartment?
Jai : he shifted a few days ago ...now please stop asking questions and take the file
Nandu: okay

At 5pm Nandu goes to Jai's apartment
Rings bell
No one answers...
Nandu : did he get so sick that he can't answer the door...oh no ...what might have happened to him...oh god...what should I do? She starts panicking

Manik opens the door.....wearing only shorts...
Nandu gets shocked first
Nandu: what happened to you are you okay?
She touches his forehead and cheeks to check his temperature
Nandu: did you just have a bath ? Why did you do that? You are already so sick ...you have presentation also tomorrow ...you know I was worried...
Manik : smiles...come inside first Nandu
Nandu goes inside
Nandu: now tell me why is the laptop and books doing here ? Were you preparing for presentation? Manik you are sick why are you behaving like this?
Manik : I had bath bcoz I thought I will feel better after getting a bath as I have to prepare for presentation...
Nandu: stop this presentation and go and take rest did you eat ?
Manik : I had breakfast...
Nandu: you didn't had lunch?
Manik: I had fever so I took tablet and ate breakfast and slept until an hour ago
Nandu : now go and take rest I will make something light for you...you can eat it and sleep ...
Manik : I have presentation yaar Nandu...
Nandu : no ...go and take rest..( pushes him to his room by placing her hand on his bare chest ....then realises immediately withdraws her hands and gets embarrassment)
Nandu: first wear shirt and warm clothes...and sit here I will go to my home and get something...I will take keys so don't bother to get up
Manik : But ...

Nandu leaves to get some food for him from her home

Meanwhile Manik feels good that she cares about him...he thinks about their moments and fells asleep without knowing

After sometime

Nandu : Manik .... Manik ...Manik wake-up and have food
Manik :  Sweety ?
Nandu: I'm Nandu not your sweety sweetheart girlfriend now have this and take the tablet
Manik eats food
Nandu: is it necessary for you to give presentation tomorrow? Can't someone replace you ?
Manik : in such a short notice no one will replace Nandu ...I should be more responsible...
Nandu: tell me the topic and underline the points in the book to mention I will type the presentation for you
Manik : No Nandu ..,I can do it myself...you already got me food...you too must have been tired...go home now
Nandu : it's still 7:30 manik ....now just mark the most important points remaining I will read them prepare....
Manik : but Nandu ...
Nandu: just let me do this once ...
Manik : okay

He tells her the important points to add and marks few points to add from book

Nandu : now go to sleep...good night
Manik : goodnight Nandu thanks a lot I will never forget your help...
Nandu: I know that you don't consider me as your friend but no need to say that big words...
Manik : it's not like that Nandu ...
Nandu: now go and sleep and don't disturb me I have to prepare go

Manik goes

Manik wakes up again ...he sees the time ...it's 11:15 PM

Goes to hall Jai just came

Manik : why did you come late? Where is Nandu?
Jai : I just dropped her ...here is your laptop...she said she completed the presentation....her presentation is not bad ...after all she is my ...our ...Nandini..
Manik gets a bit angry but doesn't say anything...he is just happy that she helped him but worried that he was burdensome for her.

Nandini' s text

Hey Manik ...completed your presentation..hope hey aren't many mistakes...please check once ...take rest and have a goodnight..if you want anything you can call/text. Bye :)

Manik smiles ...and goes to sleep

Next day

Manik texts Nandu

Hey Nandu ...I gave my presentation..sir praised me ..thanks a lot you helped me a lot...

Nandu's text :I'm glad that sir liked it

Manik : of course he liked it

Nandu : how's your fever and headache?

Manik : I'm much better now...thanks to you I got good sleep 😴yesterday otherwise I would've not completed my presentation and would have had to have night out ...😢

Nandu : yaar stop it already

Manik : Can I take you to a cafe or lunch tomorrow or whenever you are free ?

Nandu: ??

Manik : As a thank you...please don't say no ...you can say no if you are uncomfortable

Nandu: okay I will come

Manik : thank you...and good night 😴

Nandu: goodnight 😴 take care Manik

Manik gets excited for the date tomorrow and doesn't get sleep