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

Chapter 11

 When she realized this thought of maintaining distance, she started distancing herself from herself as well as others including her parents. Nandani and her mother were never very close mother-daughter, but they were not two strangers. In all this, the vacations were over and she was back to school.

On the first day back and she started showing changes. Aryaman who was sitting and waiting for her at their usual seat was surprised to see Nandani sitting in the front seat. He felt uncomfortable going and talking to her and seeing her ignoring him.

When Manik entered a little while later he was surprised to see the seat beside Aryaman empty. He looked around but couldn't find the face he was looking for. When they reached the school Nandani got down as soon as she could. Aryaman tried to catch up with her but he couldn't, this was noticed by Manik and Cabir. They were both confused but didn't voice it out. Nandani went and sat at a corner desk in the class, she was feeling uncomfortable even being in the same class as so many students, this was when Sanket entered the class and he was surprised to see Nandani sitting in a corner. He went to her and,

Sanket: Hi!

Nandani: Hey!

Sanket: Why are you sitting here?

Nandani: no reason

She said ignoring the topic. Sanket knew something was wrong so he suggested walking her down to the ground. Nandani can be with Sanket more than anyone in the world right now so she agreed and they both left for the ground.

When they came to the ground they went towards the football area to walk for some time before getting into the lines.

Sanket: What happened?
Nandani: Nothing!

Sanket looked at her and sighed and looked behind her to see Manik staring at them. So Sanket simply gestured towards him and said,

Sanket: He did something right?

Nandani looked in that direction not knowing who he was talking about and was surprised to see Manik staring. She looked back and Sanket shook her head in 'no'.

Sanket: Then?

Nandani was looking down trying hard to avoid looking at him. Sanket had enough of her and jerked her head towards his face. He was a little surprised to see her crying but still maintained a stern voice and said,

Sanket: Will you tell me or not?

Nandani: I have bulimia.

She said about to cry hard but stopped listening to Sanket.

Sanket: Okay okay... don't cry!! We are down...

He said seeing her about to burst. Nandani looked back at her feet and started crying. Her shoulders were vibrating with all the crying. Sanket wanted to console her but couldn't because they were in school and if someone complained there will be a big matter out of it. Thankfully Maya came down searching for Nandani.

She came towards them and was surprised to see Nandani crying she immediately hugged her and was consoling her when Navya came there.

She didn't even ask any of them what the matter was and said,

Navya: Nandani!

Nandani looked at her wiping her tears and trying to smile showing nothing happened.

Navya: Please don't stand here or move here.

She said making the three confused.

Nandani asked her in confusion,

Nandani: why? Did sir say anything?

She said looking around trying to find a teacher but was shocked to hear Navya,

Navya: No! Manik has said!

Nandani looked towards Manik who averted his gaze somewhere else.

Nandani asked Navya still staring at Manik,

Nandani: What did he say?

Navya: he said to ask you not to roam around him because where ever he sees he only finds you and he is quite irritated with it.

Sanket who was quiet till now snapped back at Navya and said,

Sanket: And what are you, Navya? His little puppy? Here to fulfill master's order!

He said sarcastically which irritated Navya and she left from there stomping her feet. Nandani on the other hand kept looking at Manik and was brought out of her trance when Sanket called her.

Sanket: Nandani? (she looked at him) When did you came to know?

Maya: Came to know what?

Nandani: that I have bulimia!

Maya: What is bulimia?

Sanket: It is basically an eating disorder. May lead to weight gain, heart problems, kidney problems, and many others if not treated at a time.

He said surprising Maya.

Maya: When did you come to know?

Nandani: early last month!

Sanket: what were you thinking before that?

Nandani looked at him shocked knowing what he was trying to know.

Nandani: Leave it Sanket! For god sake! Just let's focus to cure me!

Sanket: Nothing can cure you, Nandani! Until and unless you have a good diet and a stress-free mind and of course, if you throw some shit head out of your mind.

He said glaring at Manik. Nandani just took him away from there followed by Maya, but Sanket was too frustrated so he just jerked her hand and left from there.

Nandani kept looking at Sanket's retreating body.

Sanket's reaction was not what she thought it to be. She knew he was going to be mad at her knowing the reason but the reaction he gave was much different than she expected it to be.

Nandani followed by Maya went into their lines for the assembly and went back to their class.

The entire day she kept sitting in a corner not knowing what to do. During the lunch period also she sent everyone away lying that she will join them but ended up not joining.

It was the last period when Nandani was sitting keeping her head down because of all the headaches when she felt someone sitting beside her. She turned her head and looked beside her to see Sanket sitting there.

Nandani looked at him for a min before keeping her head down again. On the other hand, Sanket sighed at his little stubborn head and passed her a note, but this time he added a little line to it,

Sanket: Read it when you reach your bus.

Nandani smiled at him and then they both sat there in silence.

Sanket has always been the person Nandani has been her true self. She was not even that unfiltered with her family the way she was with Sanket. Maybe because she screwed up family never allowed her to be a child resulting her in growing up way before she wanted to!