❤ You Belong With Me ❤

Part 5

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Part 5

At the mall-
About two hours of immense shopping along with heaps of gossips and giggles passed and they paid no heed to the time.
Navya and Nandini were walking out of a designer store laughing wholeheartedly with hands full of shopping bags. They were getting along quite well.
Navya said, "Nandu, Chalo na hum neeche coffee shop mein jaake baithte hain! They have the best doughnuts in the city!"
Nandini smiled apologetically, "Really? Well I would love to! But sorry Navya, not today. I've to be somewhere for lunch." "Woah Nandu, is it like... a date? Are you going on a date!?" asked Navya, suddenly all excited.
Nandini chuckled at her excitement and said, "Nahi Navya, not a date-shate. It's just Manik and his family. Actually our families are very close." "Manik! Hmmmm. Humare college mein bhi ek Manik tha." said Navya, casually. "Ohkay. Wait a second. What's the time? Aiyappa! It's already 1! I am so late!" said Nandini, cursing herself. She gathered all her stuff and hugging Navya, she said, "Sorry sorry Navya! I have to rush now... lets meet up again this week, yeah? Then we can have the doughnuts! My treat." She smiled while Navya replied, "Kitna sorry bolti ho yaar tum! You go and enjoy. We'll talk about that treat on the phone, alright?" and winked.
Nandini bidding her bye to Navya quickly got out of the mall and left in drove off to the address her dad had texted her.
**************

At Malhotra Mansion-

"Raj! Mere yaar!!! I am heree!" yelled Raman Murthy as they stood at the entrance. Raj Malhotra turned around to look at the owner of the voice. As soon as he saw them, a wide grin made its way on his face as he practically ran in their direction. The two best buds hugged each other tight, as the happiness of meeting each other in person after 15 long years never left their faces.
Nyonika along with Manik walked to them and everybody greeted everybody. She hugged Sheena, Nandini's mom while Raj spoke, "Yaar tum log zinda ho! Mujhe toh laga itne time se baat nahi hui toh kya pata..." he grinned while Nyonika hit his arm lightly.
"Rehne do Nyonika, yeh kabhi nahi sudhrega." said Raman as everybody laughed. Then he turned to Manik and said, "Look at him Sheena, all handsome and grown up! I remember that cute little boy coming to us complaining about Nandu. " as everyone laughed again, except Manik of course, who was embarrassed and looking down.
"Yeh sab baad mein. Nandu kahan hai?? Isn't she coming? I am dying to meet my little girl!" asked Raj, frowning at the Murthys. Manik who had been standing aside quietly, suddenly looked up as he mentally thanked his dad for asking about Nandini.
Though he knew they were meeting after a long long time, the fact that she could turn out to be a whole new different person now didn't bother him much. For all he knew, she could be a hipster or a spiritual freak or a bimbo or whatever. But one thing that he was sure of was that he would forever be her Monster and that would never change. And with this faith, his eyes moved towards the main entrance to look for her.
"Arey woh bas aati hi hogi. Kuch kaam se bahar gayi thi. Hum tab tak baithte hain Chalo." said Sheena. Others agreed and moved towards the living area.
"Aiyappa I just hope I am not too late!" she thought as she walked in.

Manik's P.O.V.-
Just when I was about to go over to join the elders, I saw a girl walk hurriedly towards the mansion. She wore a pair of tinted ankle-length blue jeans and a flowery black chiffon shirt. Her hair were blowing in her face due to the wind.
She sure was a sight to watch and that mesmerized me.
She finally entered and stood at the door flinching her eyes shut as if praying. I froze on my place. I couldn't hear or feel anything around me at the moment. It was like the world around me had blacked out. All I could see was her. She... she was there last night and now she is here!
When she opened her eyes, she saw me staring at her. She, just like me, froze too. She opened her mouth to say something, but it seemed as she choked on the words. Hence she closed her mouth and kept staring at me in surprise.
Our trance was broken by Sheena Aunty, who came and stood beside us. "Manik beta, this is Nandini. I hope you do remember what a nuisance you both were together."
Everybody giggled.
"Yes aunty, I do remember. Hi Nandini." I said extending a hand and gave her faint smile because I couldn't think of anything appropriate to say to her.
Nandini smiled awkwardly in the same dilemma and shook my hand, "Hello Manik!"
"Achha bhai chalo ab! Let's eat now. I am very hungry. Aur bata Raman, how's life?" said Raj as he threw an arm around Raman's shoulder and everybody moved towards the dining area.
Manik and Nandini looked at each other, smiled a little and followed them.

❤❤