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

BONUS CHAPTER 4

MUKTI'S PROBLEM?

It was one day when Mukti was attending her classes in school. Alya told her about how Nandani proposed to Manik on the ground and to be honest Mukti was mad about it. She never knew why she never liked Nandani as a person.

Was it because of the gossip she heard?

Or was it because of how she irritated her in the van as a child?

No clue!

Mukti went to the washroom during the class and as she entered she saw two juniors whispering to each other,

Girl 1: I know! I heard the same thing!

Girl 2: Arry I saw it! I was there only she just walked to him and they talked for hardly two minutes.

Girl 1: But yrr we have to appreciate yrr... Even after so many rumours, she went with such confidence too bad be refused.

Girl 2: How do you know he refused?

Girl 1: Arre you only told me she was talking to him for 2 mins. How is it possible that he said yes?

The other girl nodded, as they both washed hands and left. Mukti however didn't find it comfortable seeing that students were gossiping about her brother like this. She quietly went back to her class and sat there quietly. Abhimanyu noticed the change in mood as soon as she entered the class and thought to talk to her after it.

Once the class was over Abhimanyu went to her and asked,

Abhimanyu: What's up?

Mukti: Nothing!

Abhimanyu: Wow! That came out a bit colder than expected to be!

Mukti (looking at him): What do you want?

Abhimanyu: To know what is going on in this head (he said knocking her head lightly)

Mukti sighed and said nothing after which the teacher came and Abhimanyu had to sit straight. During the dispersal time, Mukti was standing near her bus talking to Abhimanyu and noticed that Nandani was coming just seconds before Manik came. Mukti scowled at this confusing Abhimanyu as he thought she made a face after watching Manik. When Manik came near them Mukti asked him to come to the bus but made a face again when Nandani looked back at them in surprise before leaving with Navya.

Abhimanyu noticed this for a few more days after which he finally asked her,

Abhimanyu: What happened to you? Why are you scowling looking at Manik again and again?

Mukti: When was I scowling at Manik?

Abhimanyu asked her confused,

Abhimanyu: Then who are you making faces to?

Mukti realized who he was talking about after which she said,

Mukti: I will tell you in recess.

Abhimanyu just nodded and waited for recess to come. At that time The duo stepped out together before going towards where Manik was standing. They stopped at a distance when Mukti looked around and spotted Nandani she said,

Mukti: You know that Nandani proposed to Manik?

Abhimanyu: yeah!

Mukti: And Manik rejected her?

Abhimanyu: No but he didn't accept it!

Mukti: So what does that mean? According to you.

Abhimanyu: That he doesn't know about what he wants?

Mukti: so now tell me why can't Nandani understand this thing? I mean Manik has told her then why can't Nandani understand it? Why does she have to roam around him all the time? Sometimes they are coming together I understand but every day? Do you even know what the juniors talk about them in the washrooms?

She said bursting her feelings out finally! Abhimanyu on the other hand was surprised to see that there was so much Mukti was keeping from him he looked at Manik and then at Nandani and then said,

Abhimanyu: Mukti! Even I use to follow you when we got into a relationship. So what's wrong if she does the same? You can't expect her to switch off her feeling as soon as Manik says no, right? With time everything will come back to normal like it always was!

Mukti: Abhimanyu, I understand what you are trying to say. But in all this, you are forgetting one thing. When we got into a relationship no one knew except our friends and there was no gossip! How can you expect me to calm down when teenagers are gossiping over my brother in the corner of the washrooms, stairs and god knows where!!

She said finally getting frustrated with this. Abhimanyu sighed and said,

Abhimanyu: Mukti! Manik is old enough to handle these things now and you don't have to worry about it! He knows what he is doing and how so... calm down yeah?

Mukti nodded after which Abhimanyu continued,

Abhimanyu: You can't fight all the battles for him you know that right? There are some things and decisions that he has to take himself! Let him take those. I am not trying to be rude to you but you have to understand that you have to give him the space he deserves.

Mukti nodded and had her lunch with Abhimanyu after which she said,

Mukti: You really think that I should stop worrying about it?

Abhimanyu: I really think so! But if you still want I can talk to Manik about this and he will look into it okay?

Mukti nodded feeling satisfied with the answer and as Abhimanyu said he discussed this with Manik over the next few days not wanting to invade his personal space. Manik just shrugged off the topic but it kept lingering in his mind the entire holidays. He tried to think that maybe after the holiday things will go back to normal, but when on the first day he saw that Nandani was still around him and that she was crying in front of Sanket, something snapped in him and he called up Navya and asked her to deliver the message not knowing how much that broke a soul.

On the other hand, even though talking to Abhimnayu helped Mukti a bit she still couldn't get it out of her head that Nandani is around Manik. And having her on the same route and talking to Aryaman and Alya all the time irritated her more.

No one indeed wants anyone to bad-mouth or gossip about them or their loved ones! When such things can take an ugly turn no one knows and this is what Mukti feared the most.