Together Hamesha (MaNan Version)

Chapter 15

Next morning, Nandini woke up to the sound of her alarm ringing. She switched it off, got out of bed and went to the bathroom to freshen up. She came out of the bathroom and was drying her hair when her phone pinged. She picked up her phone from the side table and opened the message she just received. It was from Mukti on their group for Manik's birthday. It read :

Hey guys! Let's meet at around 2 at the venue to do all the preparations for Manik's surprise party? Also, don't forget that we aren't supposed to wish him😂

It's Manik's birthday today. According to their plan, they had decided that no one would wish him until the party. Nandini sighed. 4 days ago, she had been so excited to make this day the best birthday of his life. And now, she was going to be the one to ruin his day. She didn't want to do it but did she have an option? No. She had to choose an occasion that would make it look believable. And his birthday felt like the perfect opportunity to do what she had decided so that Manik or anyone else, for that matter, wouldn't doubt her actions. But before that, she had to face the others after the act she pulled through yesterday. She knows that nobody likes her after what she did yesterday and they probably wouldn't even want to see her face but she had to go. She had to go because if she didn't, she wouldn't be able to make them hate her. She had prepared herself for all their taunts and accusations. She was brought out of her thoughts when her phone pinged again. This time, the message was from Cabir. It read :

Hume yaad hai😉 Hum college se saath chalenge. Lekin Manik ko busy kaun rakhne wala hai? 

There was an instant reply from Mukti.

Aryamann aur Dhruv. 

Nandini texted on the group too.

I will meet you guys directly at the venue. Won't be coming to college today.

She had decided to skip college. She had to stay away from Manik in order to not fall weak and change her decision. And she needed time to coerce her heart to be strong for what she was going to do in the evening. Then, she quickly searched for Aryamann's contact and messaged him.

Hey! Need a favour. If Manik nags about meeting me, please just make some excuse and don't let him meet me. If I meet him, I won't be able to stop myself from wishing him and our plan may fall flat.

Nandini texted Aryamann because she thought that maybe he didn't know anything about the things that went down between Manik and her yesterday. When Aryamann's reply was an ‘Okay’, she was positive that he didn't know. She shut her phone and went to the kitchen to make herself some breakfast. 

At the college

Manik had been constantly trying to call Nandini but not once did she receive his calls. She didn't even reply to the message he had sent her. Manik was walking towards the jam room when someone jumped on him from behind. He was about to lose his balance but steadied himself. He turned to look at the person and rolled his eyes when he saw the person's face. 

Manik : Mukti tuu… Yeh kya tha?

Mukti : Kya tha matlab? Maine do baar tujhe awaaz di lekin tune suna hi nahi. 

Manik : Ohh. Sorry. Woh mei.. 

Mukti completed his statement.

Mukti : Nandini ke baare mei soch raha tha. Kya hua? Usse baat nahi hui?

Manik : Nahi yaar. Mei kal uske ghar gaya tha par woh ghar par nahi thi. Fir maine usse message bhi kia lekin uska koi reply nahi aaya. I don't know Mukti. I hope she's okay. 

Mukti : Manik don't worry. She's fine. Aur woh aaj college nahi aane wali hai. 

Mukti said confidently. Manik was confused at her certainty.