UNINTENDED LOVE - (MaNan)

Chapter-9

Manik went to his room to call Cabir. Since he didn't know much about New York's restaurants so he thought maybe Cabir can help him in choosing one. "What's up buddy? How was your baby sitting yesterday?," Cabir asked in a joking way.

Manik who was not in a mood for this teasing so he just ignored it and asked about his suggestions for restaurants. Cabir who was in traffic got his signal so he hurriedly said- "There is a place called Purple Orchid Hotel. You'll find all kinds of cuisines over there. Manik I'm driving so talk to you later. Bye" and he ended the call. Manik sighed looking at his mobile and noted that restaurant name in his notepad.

Suddenly his phone started ringing. He saw Soha was calling. He sighed and answered the call. "What the hell Manik, why are you not talking to me? I'm noticing that you are avoiding me. Why?", Soha shouted with anger. Manik took a deep breath and answered calmly - "Soha, I just came here. I'm not staying with Cabir so I'm still figuring out to adjust".

Soha said okay trying to understand his point of view and told him about the interview he have to attend. "How can I attend the interview? You know I'm not in India. And I don't have any plans to come to India for now", he said. "You don't have to come here. You can give your byte from there also. It is a virtual interview so relax," she explained.

Manik after thinking a while he agreed but he asked for few days to prepare for which she said okay. "okay then bye. I'll talk to you later," Manik said. "But nowadays we are always talking about work. What about us?," she asked. Manik sighed. "Okay so what are you doing now?," he asked. "I'm talking to you only. It is late night here," she answered in a low voice.

After a pause she said, "Manik, I know our relationship is all about give and take. I know what you think about all the relationships. But are you going to let your parents relationship to ruin your life forever? What happened with your parents that you've become like this? Why do you hate relationships?". Manik lost his temper, "don't talk about my parents. I've mentioned this enough already. I don't wanna talk about them."

"But don't you think I also have the right know about this?", Soha shouted at him losing her patience. "Honestly speaking, no. I don't think do have the right to know. Did I ever ask you about your ex husband? Like what happened between you guys that you got divorced? No right? I don't wanna know all those things. I live in present and I don't care what happened in the past.", he said in a unapologetic way.

Soha thought not to drag this conversation further so she just said she'll talk to him later and hung up the call. Manik threw his phone on bed and took his guitar. But he noticed that his strings were broken. He remembered that since that day he never bought the strings so he just played some music on his speakers and laid down on his bed.

Here, in the university Nandini and Navya were in the canteen and Nandini started telling Navya about her evening plans. "Hold on, you are saying that you are going out on a date with your new roommate? Oh my god Nandu, I'm so happy!", Navya started screaming with excitement.

"It is not a date. We are just going out for a dinner. Actually I don't know anything about him except his name. And I think he is a guitarist too. I mean the other day I saw him playing the guitar.", Nandini said calmly.

"Whatever it is dude, I'm already loving this Anant guy. How I wish him to be South Indian. But at least he is Indian right so no worries. Since you are going to the date so what gift are you gonna give?", Navya asked out of curiosity.

"Gift? Why gift? As I said earlier that it is not a proper date. We are just going for a dinner that's it.", Nandini said with an irritated tone. "Don't tell me your stupid fireflies will not glow this time too", Navya said with a disinterested tone. "Oh hello, my fireflies are not stupid okay. They are the purest and the sweetest. It is not like I told them not to glow but what can I do when they don't give me any signal.", Nandini defended.

"Okay so you are telling me that even if you like a guy but you won't be with that person just because your fireflies doesn't glow. Am I right?", Navya asked. "If we both love each other and if it is a true love then my fireflies will definitely glow. Navya, my mom used to say this. If there is a true love then only fireflies glow. And I truly believe in my mom's theory.", Nandini replied with a smile.

"Okay fine. I'm not saying anything about your mom's theory but I just hope that they glow for you tonight.", Navya sighed as she can never understand Nandini. "And I just hope that they glow when the right time comes", Nandini said with determination.