A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 52- Lost and Found

''What?'' Nandini asked. ''I mean, if I ever love someone I would tell you first'' Manik said. ''Oh, so what's so special about me?'' she asked. ''Don't feel special, even if you love someone you should tell me. Remember our agreement says that if you love someone I should convince your parents and you should convince my parents if I love someone'' Manik said. ''You're such a monster'' Nandini said pinching him. ''Ouch, what's wrong with you'' he said. ''Acha, can I ask you something?'' she asked again. ''Har question pe mera permission lena zaruri hai kya? Kuch bhi poocho'' he said. ''Aryaman said that you know Inaya since years'' she said. ''Ha, maine bhi tumse kaha na that I knew her since my college days'' Manik said. ''No, I was going to ask you that is she the one with you in New York!?'' she asked not looking at him. ''No, I already told you that there's nothing between me and Inaya'' he said. ''I know but main ye puchne wali thi ki, does Inaya know about your friend?'' Nandini asked awaiting Manik's reply. ''Aryaman aa gaya, let's go'' Manik changed the topic. ''Chalo chalo, we're already getting late'' Aryaman rushed them inside the movie theatre. 

Three of them settled in their seats and movie has started. ''Tumne ab tak mere sawaal ka jawaab nahi diya'' Nandini said turning to see Manik. ''Agar sawaal jawaab hi karna hai tho yaha kyu aaye hum, movie dekho. Ghar jaake baat karenge hum'' Manik said. It was a romantic horror movie and Nandini kept pressing Manik's hand whenever something paranormal occured on screen. ''Tumhe itna dar lag raha hai tho why did you come to see this even?'' Manik asked. ''Call it as my toxic trait or a guilty pleasure'' Nandini said and he burst into laughter. People around them stared at Manik. ''Manik, bro this isn't a comedy film, don't laugh'' Aryaman said. Nandini pinched him for trying to create a scene. More than the film, he enjoyed watching her. In the interval, Aryaman went to get some snacks. As few lights were on, Nandini then left Manik's arm. Manik felt someone tapping on his seat and turned back. ''If you're a couple, go and get corner seats. Please don't disturb'' he said politely. Nandini felt embarrassing and she shifted to Aryaman's seat. 

''You're still sitting beside me'' Manik reminded. ''I'll ask Aryaman to sit that side'' she said. Seeing Nandini shifting to his seat, Aryaman occupied her seat. They were engrossed in the movie again and Nandini is less scared now as the story progressed. He slowly took her hand and entwined his fingers with hers. ''What are you doing?'' she asked almost like a whisper. ''Tumhe divert kar raha hu, ab tumhe dar nahi lagega'' he said in low voice too. ''Isse distracting nahi, flirting kehte hai'' she said. ''Do you think I'm flirting with you?'' he asked. His face is now so close to her face now. ''Screen uss taraf hai, you're not just flirting but embarrassing me'' she said. ''Main tumhe sirf irritate karna chahta hu'' he said. Nandini glared at him. After irritating for almost an hour, they made an exit from the hall after the show. ''Aryaman hum baahar wait karenge, get the car'' Manik said. ''Where's your car btw?'' Nandini asked. ''Inaya took it home'' he said. 

''Why don't we all go to parking and get it'' Aryaman said and got into the lift. ''B1, B2 or B3?'' Manik asked after entering lift. ''Guys, I think I forgot where have I parked the car'' Aryaman said blasting a bomb. ''What? how could you forget?'' Nandini asked. ''Jald baazi mein aa gaya but forgot to take a photo of parking'' he said regretting. ''No problem, we will go and search'' Manik said and went to basement 1. Aryaman pressed the car keys and there was no sound from any car. ''Lagta hai car yaha nahi hai'' Nandini said. ''I think keys mein kuch fault hai, remote control doesn't seem to work'' he said. ''Let me see'' Manik said taking keys and found them not working. ''Ab hum karenge kya!'' Nandini asked worried. ''Let's just go home taking a cab and then main kal kisiko bhejunga'' Manik said. ''But anyway ab mall khaali hoga na, that would make our job easy'' Nandini said. ''Bhabhi, ab raat ko kisi naye movie ki benefit show premiere hone wala hai, so there would be more cars coming in and tab tak hume humara car dhoondna hoga'' Aryaman said. ''Manik, dad ki car hai and I don't want to be irresponsible'' he said.