Love will Find The way

Chapter 28- Love Letter

Manik's POV:

''What's the gate number'' Aryaman asked me as I have his ticket. ''It's 18'' I said. ''Luggage poora pack kiya na? Waha jaake mat kehna ki main ye bhool gaya wo bhool gaya'' I said strictly to Aryaman as I knew he would do that. ''Yes I have Manik, but are you sure you packed everything?'' he asked with a smirk. Aisa kya hai jo main bhool gaya? ''Nothing'' I said casually. ''So you don't remember your girl friend?'' he asked me. ''Too funny, I can't pack Siya in my bag and she isn't here too'' I said. I missed Siya so much today, I didn't even remember when did I travel solo without her. I mean it's not a solo but a work trip but without her, for me it is a SOLO trip. Just then, I saw Nandini. Why is she here? She is not coming to Kashmir anyway. Then why is she here? Aryaman stood up and went to Nandini as soon as he saw her.

I saw Navya behind Nandini and Aryaman went and sat with them. I was alone there, and Cabir hasn't come yet. This is so strange that Navya has come but Cabir isn't. Usually they hang out together, so I went to Navya to ask about Cabir. ''Navya, where is Cabir, why is he late today?'' I asked her but then I saw Navya's right hand in a splint. ''What happened, are you okay?'' I asked her. ''Nothing Manik, I just got injured yesterday'' she said. ''Are you in pain? you could have taken rest instead of coming with us'' I suggested but she insisted that she will come. ''Cabir, Navya ke liye kuch medicines laane gaya, he would be here anytime'' Nandini said. ''No worries, abhi time hai, let him come'' I said. I excused myself for a coffee which I badly need now. Having coffee is so refreshing and can be soothing too. But Aryaman can never leave me in peace.

''So, Siya ko main apni pocket mein leke nahi ghoom sakta, here take your girlfriend'' he said and put something in my hand. It's Nandini's bracelet. I hope she doesn't see this. I thought I should return this to her but mauka hi nahi mila. Should I give it back to her! Where is she? I searched for her and there she is. She is writing something. If anyone see her now, they will think that she is on some serious mission now. ''Ye tumhe kaha se mila?'' I asked Aryaman. ''In your jacket, which I'm wearing now" Aryaman said. ''Stop using my things Aryaman'' I said patting him. ''Manik I never thought you're so hopelessly romantic, I mean girlfriend ki bracelet pocket mein leke ghoom raha hai, Siya is very lucky to have you'' he said. Ab isko kaun samjhayega ki ye Siya ka nahi hai. ''But I don't understand something, S is for Siya but who is this N?'' he asked. ''Really?'' I took it out and saw again. There are 2 letters engraved on it, S and N. Shayad S se Sid hoga, obviously N is Nandini. How did I not notice this earlier. That means this bracelet might be gifted by Sid to her.

''Umm, I have no idea Aryaman. I have to give it back to her, shayad kisi friend ne diya hoga ye'' I lied, but why? Why do I have to lie to Aryaman about this bracelet. Should I tell him that it is Nandini's bracelet. No, I think he will get all wrong ideas. She is still writing, what was that? And ye Cabir ab tak kyu nahi aaya. ''Ok Manik, I hope you keep it safe with you, I'll just go and get some sleep,  I had disturbed sleep whole night'' he said and left. Lucky him, disturbed sleep! I don't get that too. Is Nandini coming to me? Yes, she is! ''Manik, could you do me a favor?'' she asked. ''Of course'' I said. I hope she doesn't see her bracelet with me now. I hid it in my pocket once again. ''This is the copy of a script, Navya told me to give it to Cabir, but he isn't here yet, so will you please give it to him, when you get down'' she asked. ''Sure'' I said taking it. ''Thank you, I will make a move now, bye! Bon Voyage'' she wished. ''And please don't forget to give it to Cabir, it's important'' she said. Script ki copy hi tho hai, Cabir would already have these but he asks Navya to keep it handy always. She went a meters away and came back again.

''Will you read it?'' she asked. '''Do you want me to or do you don't want me to?'' I was confused about her gestures. ''It's all yours now'' she smiled. Her smile said a million unsaid things and unvoluntarily put a smile on my face too. ''I'll miss you when you are not here'' she said. ''Huh'' did I listen what she said. ''You, Aryaman, Navya, Cabir and everyone, I'll miss you all'' she said. ''We all will miss you there too'' I said. Obviously we will miss her. ''Manik, ye script bahut hi important hai, please inhe misplace mat karna. You don't know how important it is!'' she said. ''It's just a script copy Nandini, aise copies Cabir ke paas aur bhi hoga'' I said casually and she held my hand. ''No, when I said I mean it, it is IMPORTANT'' she stressed important with inverted commas in the air. She went off from there but her aura is still lingering around. ''This is the last call for the passengers boarding flight to Srinagar'' we heard the call but Cabir isn't here yet.

Cabir never gets late but today it's a different case. We were almost boarding and there he is. ''I'm sorry everyone'' he apologized as he came. ''There's no time for that Cabir, rush'' I said and we finally boarded the flight. We are all seated in our seats and adjusted our luggage. I held the script copy in my hand and I searched for Cabir. He is sitting three rows away from me. I thought I can give it to him after we land in Srinagar. ''Excuse me, can you please change my seat?'' Aryaman asked the air hostess. ''Kya hua?'' I asked him. ''Seat belt se kuch problem hai shayad'' he explained her. She had quickly arranged a seat for Aryaman as the flight is not too crowded. The flight is ready to take off now. I looked out when the flight was taking off. I felt something weird and I guess it is due to lack of sleep. I tried putting an eye mask on my eyes, it should work. 

After 30 minutes, I had no one to talk by my side. Everyone seemed sleepy. I looked at the script copy Nandini gave me. ''Will you read it?'' Nandini asked me a while ago. Aisa kya hai isme jo Nandini baar baar important kaha. Should I open it? Of course script hi tho hai. I opened it and turned few pages. This had few scenes of me and Aryaman conversation and then I found a white paper folded as I turned to see 6th page. What is it! I tried to open and it fell down. I unbelted myself and reached for it. There is something written on it. 

What should I call you? Dear! Yes, you have always been an endearing person to me. I know you don't like me annoying you, but I can feel that you still search for me. I feel you're not the person who you are! Kehta kuch hai aur karta kuch aur. You are like a coconut, hard outside but soft inside. This is my first movie and ye chance mujhe tumhari wajhe se mila. I know you didn't wanted me in this project, but eventually tum maan gaye. I feel my heart racing when you come near me, I don't know if I can say I have butterflies in my stomach when I see you smile. I want this for a life time now, You make me mad, you make me happy, you make me everything I'm not. And yeah, tumhare secrets mere saath humesha mere saath hi rahenge. Sirf secrets, ya tum bhi rahoge mere saath!?

I read the letter and it had put an instant smile on my face. This is such a sweet gesture by Nandini. I continued to read further.

Yes, not your secrets, I want you by my side always. I want to grow old with you. 

I couldn't process what is written here. Why did she wrote all this? My hands trembled as I read the last words in the letter.

''I LOVE YOU'' She ended the letter.