Whispers of Heart (Part 1 of the Hallway Love Series)

Chapter 5

"It is Friday tomorrow. In all these days I knew what I was planning to say but what I was going to say I never planned that! God, how am I even gonna face him? What will I say? Should I call him Manik or Manik bhaiya? GOD help me! Please!"

Nandani was panicking while she lay down in her bed thinking of tomorrow. Sleep was far far away from her eyes. She just wanted to go and see some tv show but alas, her mom will kill her if she stays up any late. She just closed her eyes and her mind started playing with all the positive outcomes that might come out tomorrow after she tells what she really feels or what she thinks she feels for Manik for the last 2 years. Thinking about all this, after a long time, she finally slept. The next morning she was late as expected. She got ready as fast as she could and ran to catch her bus. Once she reached her school, the first face she saw was of...

.

.

.

.

CABIR!

Who was glaring at her back. She looked at him confused. Before she could go to her class she was pulled by Zoya and Maya into the girl's washroom. She looked at them confused.

Nandani: what happened why are you guys so worked up?

Maya: Cabir is really mad to know what is that you wanna tell Manik!

Nandani: How did he get to know that I have to talk to Manik?

Zoya: I don't know maybe Manik told him! Because I remember Navya talking to Manik the day before yesterday!

Nandani just nodded. Before they could say anything else they heard the bell ringing.

Trio: SHIT! ASSEMBLY!

They ran to the class to keep their bags and then ran towards the ground to see almost everyone was there. They were going towards their class lines when Nandani caught Manik's image who was standing in his class line talking to Dhruv and smiling. She smiled to herself before joining her line.

The entire time she could feel Cabir burning holes. This was also seen by one other boy. After the assembly ended and others were proceeding to the class that boy came and tapped Nandani's shoulder. She turned around to see it was Sanket. One of Nandani's childhood friends.

She has known Sanket was almost 10 years now! They were both took admission almost together when the school started 10 years ago. They don't really remember how they became thick friends but come to think about it they were always in the same class in every section even after major shuffling. This made the duo even close to each other because when no one from their close friends was there, they knew that the other one was sitting right in the corner.

Nandani: HI! How come you have time to talk to me today?

Sanket: What is going on between you and Cabir?

Nandani looked at him with wide eyes. In the entire world, it was only Sanket to whom Nandani never wanted to lie. She started looking here and there fixing her hairband. Sanket clicked his fingers in front of her and when she looked at him he raised his eyebrows demanding an answer.

Nandani took a deep sigh and said,

Nandani: I will tell you everything but not now! Games period today! Please!

She gave her best puppy eyes which Sanket can never deny. He just sighed looking at her and agreed. This entire encounter was seen by Cabir who was now burning in anger.

Sanket and Nandani were going to the class together when Sanket was called by someone inside the room. Nandani was about to enter when Cabir came and called her outside. She looked around to see if she could go from there but alas no one was there for her rescue. She went towards cabir and said,

Nandani: Hi!

Cabir: what are you trying to do?

Nandani: huh?

Cabir: what? You are going to tell Manik bhai that you like him and you are also flirting with Sanket?

Nandani: What? Have you lost it Cabir?

Cabir: What am I lying about? Aren't you going to talk to Manik Bhai today?

Nandani: yes but...

Cabir: what but? I just saw you flirting with Sanket! Please Nandani doesn't...

He was never able to complete his sentence because Sanket slapped his head hardly stopping him...

Sanket: what are you saying Cabir?

He growled looking at Cabir and scaring Nandani to guts. She tried to stop Sanket but he continued.

Sanket: I was asking her why she is so uncomfortable around you! And why the fuck you were glaring at her during the entire assembly you idiot! And what do you mean by flirting with me?

Cabir: oh please... everyone in 7th knows that you like Nandani!

This came as a shock to Nandani as she looked with tears in her eyes at Sanket.

Sanket: WHAT? Have you lost it? Who told you that?

Cabir: what the way you keep on staring at her the entire day! What do you think that is?

Don't know how poor Sanket was controlling himself from punching the guts out of Cabir. So he said slowly while growling keeping in check that no one other than the three of them could listen to them in the corridor.

Sanket: You idiot!! I know her for the last 10 YEARS!! Do you even know what that time is? Knowing someone other than your family for that long? DO YOU? I care for her you...

Nandani stopped him from saying anything else to him and pulled him inside the class with tears in her eyes. Sanket's eyes were red in anger and the entire class was shocked seeing them coming inside. They hardly saw them talking to each other so seeing Nandani dragging Sanket around with her was definitely not normal for them. Feeling so many eyes on them Nandani let go of Sanket's arm and sat on her seat. Maya and Zoya were about to ask her what happened but Sanket sat beside her stopping them. Nandani kept her head down. Sanket looked up at Cabir who just entered the class in anger.

No one commented on this and sat talking among themselves.

Nandani started sobbing quietly and Sanket sat quietly for a minute before handing his handkerchief to her. She took it quietly and cleaned her face and then drank some water from her bottle which Sanket passed her. She was presentable enough before the teacher came. She was a little shocked to see Sanket and Nandani sitting together. So Sanket made an excuse of sunlight irritating him which the teacher bought easily.

Soon enough lunch period came and Sanket went away with the other boys. Maya, Zoya, and Navya came as soon as Sanket went. Nandani ignored them and took her lunch and went down followed by others.

The three girls kept cheering her up which was irritating her more. She just handed the lunch to one of them and went towards Manik........