Down The Memory Lane ~

Chapter 8 - Are we Normal?

T

he next morning, I woke up and Immediately ran downstairs to handover the designs to Sahir who had come to the resort. "Here," I said, giving him the designs. "Cool." He said. I insisted him to come inside and meet my friends but he didn't come. He said that he has some important stuff to do. Work comes first. I told myself.

"Okay, See you then!" I said, waving him a goodbye.

I turned to head towards my room but I saw Manik standing there, staring me. "What?" I asked, raising my eyebrow.
"Nothing..You woke up, so early?" He asked.
"For your kind information Mr Malhotra, Nandini Murthy is not lazy like Manik Malhotra! If you have forgotten then let me remind you that, Mae he hamesha apko call krkay kehti thi kay Manik get up-

"You are late Manik. jaldi utho and come to the college fast warna I won't talk to you!" He said, imitating me.

"Right." I said, giggling.

"But now, Jaldi uthjata hun mae. I'm not lazy anymore." He said, with a fainted smile.

"Surprising! Nice change, Mr Mahlotra! But ye miracle hua kaisa?" I asked, widening my eyes.

"Ab koi mere tantrums nahi dekhta na. There's no one to scold me or order me so yeah..seekhlya." He said, smiling a little.

I didn't say anything. His reply had some deep meanings. I didn't know what to say.
"Navya..she must be searching for me." I said, changing the topic.

"Yeah," He said, "You should go.."
Somewhere deep down inside, he also wanted me to leave. He also wanted to avoid such conversations.
I nodded and left.

I went to the Navya's room and there I saw Mukti, Alya and Navya sitting together. They were planning something. "Yeh lo! Nandini bhi agayi!" Said Alya pointing her finger towards me.
"Come Nandini, join us!" Said Mukti, with an evil smile on her face. That smile was enough for me to figure out that they were up to something evil and crazy.

"What's cooking in your mind?" I asked, giving them confusing looks.

"Kuch Khaas nahi..It's just that..

"That what? Tell me?" I ordered.

"See, raat me koi pooja hai.." Said Mukti.

"So?" I asked.

"So..It would be quite boring, you know.."

"So?"

"So..We're planning to.."

"Planning to?" I asked.

"Planning to sneak out of the pooja." She answered in one single breath.

"We're not doing this." I said, warning them.

"Fine. Then you stay here ALONE and we will go have some fun." Said Alya, stressing on the word *Alone*

Urghh! I cursed that moment in which I decided to come to Goa. Damn! These girls. I said to myself.
"Fine. I'll come." I said, looking towards Mukti. As I said this, there was a wide smile on their face.
"Wait a minute.." I said, "Navya and Cabir..will they be coming with us too?" I asked.

"Obviously." Replied Alya.

"What!?" I cried.

"Don't worry nandu. Humay or Cabir ko wese he is pooja me hona zaroori nahi.." interrupted Navya.

"Okay then." I said, and turned to leave.

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I was working on some designs in my room."Nandini! Nandini!" I heard someone saying my name. I looked here and there to see who it was and to my surprise, I saw 3 people peeping into my room through the window. Their faces were not visible as they had covered their faces with a cloth. "Oh My God!!" I cried. "Somebody help me!! There's someone in my room!!" I started screaming like a crazy person.