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

Chapter 9

The entire day Maya kept teasing her about what happened and till the end of the day, Nandani was so embarrassed that she had literally no idea how to face Manik once they went back on the bus. So Nandani went there a little early to see Manik was already there sitting in her/his seat. She got irritated and went to sit beside his seat. She opened her hair and moved her hairs from her forehead to the back, took the novel she was reading in the morning, and continued. It might have hardly been 5 min, when she heard someone calling her. She looked outside her side of the window to see Aryaman standing near the window.

Aryaman: if you don't mind keeping it with you.

He said handing his bag to her, Nandani nodded before taking his bag from the window and keeping it beside her, and getting back to reading her book. Within 5 min the bus was full of all the children. Aryaman also came and sat beside Nandani after passing her a smile.

Nandani passed him a smile too and went back to reading the book. Soon Cabir came and sat with a "thud" beside Manik. Manik gave him a look and started looking outside. Both Mukti and Alya were on leave. The bus started to leave when Aryaman started a conversation with Nandani,

Aryaman: Which book are you reading from morning?

Nandani: Fault in our stars! Tragic love story.

She said shrugging her shoulders. Aryaman nodded at her and started looking here and there. After a min, he got bored so he knocked on Nandani's book. She removed it and looked at him,

Nandani: haan?

Aryaman: I am bored!

Nandani: So what should I do?

Aryaman: Well talk to me!

He said as a matter of fact. Nandani gave him a look and kept the novel back in her bag and said,

Nandani: You have known me for the last 2 years?

Aryaman: Yes?

He asked not sure what to say!

Nandani: So why are you talking to me now?

Aryaman: well because you were less lost today and for a change was staring in the book than into nothing.

His reply turned two heads towards them and Nandani's face paled a little. She looked past Aryaman at Cabir and Manik who were looking at them.

She just smiled at Aryaman and said,

Nandani: well you have been staring!

Aryaman: I have been observing!

Nandani: It's creepy!

Aryaman: It's cute and you know it.

He said looking into her eyes which were staring back. Their stare was broken by Cabir's chuckle which was more of a sarcastic laugh.

Nandani looked at him before looking back at Aryaman and smiled at him while tucking her hair behind her ear.

Aryaman smiled back at her and said,

Aryaman: which section by the way?

Nandani: Section F!

Aryaman nodded before saying,

Aryaman: you have always been a reader or am I seeing it for the first time?

Nandani: Well, like you said I was less "lost" (she said gesturing with her fingers and making Aryaman chuckle) that is because of reading. (she said after a pause) I am kind of a new reader, so, I am still looking through the genres, trying to understand them.

Aryaman nodded and asked,

Aryaman: so which is your favourite so far?

Nandani: FANTASY (she said excitedly) I loved fantasy!

Aryaman laughed a little at her and asked again,

Aryaman: which book did you read to come to that conclusion?

Nandani: Oh I have this entire series of TVD, I read that!

Aryaman: TVD?

Nandani: The Vampire Diaries! It is also a web series!! God, I loved it!

Nandani said Aryaman nodded at her with a smile and he looked outside to see his stop approaching,

Aryaman: Well that's my cue!

Nandani looked outside and nodded.

Aryaman: See you tomorrow?

Nandani nodded with a smile.

Aryaman smiled back and waved his hand and left. After he left Nandani started looking at her side of the window when she heard Aryaman,

Aryaman: NANDANI!

Nandani got up and went to Manik's side of the window and gestured a 'what' to Aryaman,

Aryaman: LETTER! SEAT POCKET!

Nandani understood and gestured a thumbs up and waved him bye.

Manik and Cabir saw all this and started looking at Nandani curiously.

Nandani saw the seat's pocket to see a piece of paper. She looked at it confused. She opened it and started reading it,

Well, hi!

We are up for a new start, aren't we? The last year where we all could have fun before maturing a little and getting serious with our studies! Well, whatever happens in all this remember that acing your exams and studying well is nothing if you are not a good person by heart! You have to be kind and caring and a little understanding if you have to fit into the world we all will be exposed to!

Until we are not, let's have fun!

I love you

Sanket

Nandani smiled at the recipient and folded the letter back when she saw a small piece of paper with it. She took and opened it too where it was written,

I know you always want to read it as soon as you have it so I gave it to you a little late! I don't want to miss the chance to talk to this girl!

Sorry

Aryaman

Nandani chuckled at his note and kept it together in the same envelope and wrote the date on the top.

Manik saw her smiling at the letter and ignored her to look outside, soon Nandani's stop came and she got down from the bus to see her mother standing. She looked at her confused and said,

Nandani: what on earth are you doing here?

Asha Murty: Well they are home!

Nandani: They who?

She asked confused.

Asha Murty: Nandani have you even seen the date today?

Her mother asked her surprised,

Nandani: I have seen...

And she stopped in the middle when it clicked on her...