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

Chapter 19

When Nandani allowed her mom to come in she came with some things to eat. Nandani made space on her bed which was now filled with all the letters. Her mom smiled at her and Nandani asked,

Nandani: How are baby and Mama?

Asha Murty: They are doing fine!

Nandani: so when are we going to meet them?

Asha Murty: after the marriage, we will go to stay there for a while! You will meet them in the ceremonies otherwise!

Nandani: Nani is coming?

Asha Murty: She has to after the official invitation!

Nandani: that's surprising!

Her mom just chuckled and looked around the room!

Asha Murty: So what was in the letters?

Nandani: nothing special just some life updates!

Asha Murty: Hmm... Cabir use to come every 3-4 months to deliver a letter.

She said sipping her tea. Nandani smiled at it while they sat in silence. After a few minutes, Nandani asked her,

Nandani: how things have been lately? You know around?

Asha Murty: it's been fine! Bearable if I may have to add! I

Nandani nodded at this! After they finished their tea, her mom asked to come and sit downstairs for a while too which Nandani replied,

Nandani: Mom all these years maybe my room this house and its people might not have changed but I have! I am no longer the Nandu. I am Nandani now! I am more comfortable in silent places with my books than in a noisy place where people talk and nothing productive! So, please.

Her mom just nodded and let her be. After her mom left she kept all the letters neatly at her place and lay down. She left a lampshade on and soon tiredness took over her and she slept!

It was after 2 hours that she woke up to the well very loud noise.

That's what she thought!

She got up washed her face and went down to see that all her aunts who went shopping in the morning were back. She passed them a smile as they all got in and indulged in yet another conversation. She checked the time to see she slept for a solid 5 hours.

Much needed!

She thought to herself. She then looked around to find something to do but found nothing. She stepped out to take a breath when she saw all the neighbours standing. Nandani was about to run back inside when one of them spotted her and they all got to indulge in the conversation about how thin Nandani is now and how much they missed her and all that she did when she was young.

She was free after an hour when she saw her cycle kept in a corner.

She went back in and asked her mom,

Nandani: I didn't know you still have the cycle.

Asha Murty: Yeah! Do you want me to get it fixed?

Nandani: That will be great!

Her mother nodded at her when Nandini went back to her room and unpacked all her bags. It was after a while her dad knocked on the door and came in. She looked at him confused not knowing the reason for his arrival,

Ritvik Murty: everything in your room is good?

Nandani: Yeah! It's all good!

Ritvik Murty: okay

He looked around for a minute and then left. Nandani shrugged her shoulders not comprehending what to say and got back into getting things fixed. She was about to keep the dresses for the wedding in the cupboard when her mother came in and asked her to try the dresses.

She was trying on the clothes when her mother said to her,

Asha Murty: Why don't you come and sit down for some time?

Nandani: I will!

She passed her a smile and after a few more conversations they both went down to see everyone having something to drink. Nandani went and sat down with them when she got to know about her sister and to-be-brother-in-law's love story. This drifted her mind back to the person she locked in the back of her head ever since she read the letter.

After dinner, everyone went to sleep as the following day was the last day of preparation after which the wedding starts.

Nandani was reading her book when someone knocked on her door. She opened the door to see Aisha Murty and Sanya Rawat standing on the other side of the door. Nandani looked at them a little surprised when they both came in.

Aisha: Nandani, come and sit with us.

Nandani smiled at them and sat on the chair near the bed when they said,

Sanya: It's been so long since the three of us sat together and talked.

Nandani: Well I was always soo younger than you people to TALK. Also, I don't remember us talking!

She said to them casually to which they laughed. The trio or more like the duo sat there for another the entire time Nandani was dosing off. Finally, they left after two hours and Nandani crashed on her bed.

The next morning Nandani woke up at her normal time which was 5 am she was set because of boarding school. She cleaned her room and then brushed her teeth after which she head down to see her grandfather and eldest aunt sitting there. Her aunt called her to sit with them which Nandani smartly shrugged off saying that she was going for a walk. She head out for a walk and went around the society after which she came to the same lane where Manik lives. She walked there normally knowing no one must have woken up at this time but was surprised to see someone on Manik's balcony.

The curious cat that she always was, went in front of his house to see who it was and her breath got stuck when she saw Manik Malhotra standing there in all his glory. She kept looking at him but when she saw him moving his head toward her, she ducked her head and covered the side of her face with hair and kept walking.

She quickly walked from there hoping he didn't recognize him and went into the park that was just diagonal to his house and sat there breathing the Delhi air which she missed for so long. After sitting there for a few minutes after which she walked back to her home.

She entered to see her mother making her cup of tea. She smiled at Nandani and asked her about the walk to which Nandani replied positively. They both then went to the terrace and had tea after which everyone woke up and got busy with different work.

The entire day went by rechecking the work while Nandani was busy helping her mother with the little bit of work she could get an idea about while her mind kept drifting to the morning. She just relaxed knowing that he didn't see her cause there was no reaction from her friends.

Nandani at night was reading her book when a sudden thought came to her mind which made her glance in her phone's direction. She kept looking at it after which she got up and took out a piece of paper from her diary which had a signature of Manik on one side and on the other side some passwords and IDs written. She then sat down downloading all the social networking sites. She logged in to all the accounts and posted an update of the dawn that she clicked in the morning and then switched off her phone and slept.