UNINTENDED LOVE - (MaNan)

Chapter-12

Nandini was sitting at the table alone. She always wanted to come to this restaurant but she just couldn't afford it. She started feeling very uncomfortable. She was looking for her so called roommate who's gone she don't know to where.

Manik, who was walking towards their table was lost somewhere. He just silently sat on his chair. Just then waiter came to their table. Nandini who don't know what to order thought to ask the person who is sitting in front her for his opinion that person is in some other world.

Manik was so not paying any attention. His mind was absent. He was not understanding anything about what Cabir said to him. He clearly need to talk to him in person. "Anant! Come on dude, come back to real world. He is waiting for our order", Nandini said.

"Sorry I didn't notice", Manik replied and continued looking at the waiter, "We didn't decide yet. We will get back to you". "Sure sir, thank you", waiter politely said and went from there.

"Anant, where did you go? Why did you bring me here? You know this place is so expensive. Here, one meal cost will be equivalent to my 2 weeks grocery. It is supposed to be a dinner. That we can have at any place", Nandini said trying to make him understand.

"I heard of this place and the reviews were good. And once in a while we can go to fancy restaurants right" Manik explained. "But maybe you think it's cool. Not me. I'm still a student. I'm not earning yet. I work at Wilson's for pocket money. I can't be dependent on my family for each and every thing. And I don't like someone paying for me at restaurants or shopping", Nandini said.

Manik was kind of surprised. He never met anyone like her. Normally the girls he met are usually talk to him because of his money. They always expect him to take them to fancy restaurants and places. But here, this girl is literally shouting at him.

"Okay. I'll keep that in my mind next time. Anyway the purpose of this dinner is to know each other better right. But since we are here let's order something", Manik said while looking at the menu. He choosed pasta and Nandini also agreed with him. They called the waiter and placed the order.

"By the time our order comes let's play one game", Nandini said with excitement. "Okay... if you say so. What is the game?", Manik gave a weird look. "It's called 20 questions. Each will ask 20 questions and they have to answer them. In this way we can know about each other quickly", she said.

Manik gave it a thought "I think 20 questions will be too much. How about 10-10 each. This will also be 20 eventually", he said in a joking way. "I won't mind", she shrugged her shoulders. "First I'll ask, if you are okay", Manik said. She nodded her head.

"First question would be, hmmm... Let me think. Okay, what's your favorite color and why?", Manik asked. "White, because it's pure. Whenever I see white, first thing comes to my mind is peace. And peace is important in my life". She replied.

"So what is life to you?", he asked. "First thing comes to my mind is family. So for me, my family is my life", she replied instantly. Manik just smiled at her. His story is completely different. He is not attached to his family.

"Tell me about your family. How are they in general?", he asked. "Well they live in India as you know. I have chacha and chachi they are world to me. My amms, I mean my grandma, she passed away 2 years back", she said in a low tone. She really misses her Amms.

"Sorry to hear that. I hope she is happy looking at you wherever she is", Manik said holding her hand. She just looked at him and gave a weak smile. "Nandini, sorry to ask you this but was it tough for you to accept your chacha chachi as your parents or guardians?", he asked with uncertainty. He was not sure whether he did the right thing or not.

"You know, my amms was happy that I won't be alone after I was adopted by my chacha chachi but others just sympathised with me. I feel I'm lucky that I'm with chacha chachi. They are my family in true sense. I was so low after my parents death. My family were with me to support me, to hold me and I'm blessed", she replied. "Truly you are a blessed soul. Jot everyone is lucky as you", he tried to give her positive vibes even though he also craves for his perfect family. Sometimes.

Manik thought to divert her mind. "so are you blessed in friendship as well?", he asked raising his one eyebrow. Nandini chuckled looking at him. "Well, I guess I'm very lucky to have such wonderful people in my life".

"Who are these wonderful people?", he asked with an intention to know her better. "here, mostly I have college friends. But my best friend is Navya. She is a sweetheart", she said stressing the word sweetheart.

"College friends? So do you have boys in your friend circle?" he asked as he remember the day when Nandini was talking to a boy outside of their house. Here, Nandini looked at him in a suspected way. She giggled. "Yes, there are boys in my friend circle".

"Were you or are you in a relationship?", Manik asked. He himself don't know why did he ask that question. "why would you ask that? I'm just friends with them. For example, Dhruv is my one of the closest friend. He drops me home when I'm late. He helps me in my research. He's a nice guy", she clarified.

Finally Manik was relieved for some unknown reasons which he himself don't know. "I just asked this question just to be beware if I have to close my room's door", he laughed. "So he was the one who dropped you the other day when you were late?", he asked just to get confirmation. "Yes. That was Dhruv", she nodded.

"what is love to you?", he asked her sipping the water from his glass. "love is trust. Trust that he will be there for me. Always. Trust that he'll never cheat. Trust that he'll never hurt me. Trust that he'll always support me in my career", she said.

"Yes, I agree. Okay so hypothetically if not computer science engineer, which field would you choose for your career?", he asked finally. Nandini just looked at him. She didn't expect him to ask this question or just say she was not prepared to answer this question. Yet. She composed herself. "well, your 10 questions are over. So, no more questions", Nandini diverted the topic.

"What? I just asked... Let me think,... Yes, I just asked 9 questions," Manik cribbed. "No you didn't. You asked 10 questions", Nandini smirked. Manik thought for a while and looked at her. "Don't tell me you even considered my confirmation question about your friend, what is his name? Dhruv, right", Manik asked. Nandini just laughed looking at his expressions.