Kaisi yeh Yaariyan Season 3

Chapter 101

"Manik tum thik to ho?" Amidst & despite all the action around them, Navya had not failed to notice how uncharacteristically distracted Manik had been throughout the day. Initially, just like Ranbir, she too had felt, it was just the exhaustion from the previous night, but now she was beginning to worry. In the thick of things, they had forgotten how sick Manik had been just a week ago.

Even a little while back when the boys were busy assembling Neel's coffin, Manik was there, but only physically. He seemed totally disconnected, like he was lost in a world of his own.

Having sneaked out to the backside of the cottage, for some much needed air, Manik turned around, startled by Navya's voice. Beyond him lay the undulating hills of his childhood town.

"Yes...I...am...fine" That didn't sound too convincing, even to his own ears. But then, he didn't want to bother them, though he was feeling far from fine. For one, they had been kind enough to have come this far, just to support him, but more importantly, the only person before whom, he could fall on his knees and bare his soul, where he had no pride or shame, no reputation to live up to, no fear of rejection, was Nandini.

"Dekho Manik, hum tumhare dost to nahi hai, par jabse tum aur Nandini sath ho, humne sirf tumhare liye acha hi socha hai. Agar tumhe koi taqleef hai, tum hame bata sakte ho. Tumhari tabiyat subah se kuch theek nahi lag rahi hai."

(Listen Manik, I may not be your friend, But eversince you came into Nandini's life, I have only wished you well. If you are in any kind of trouble, you can talk to me. You don't look well, not since the morning)

Frankly speaking, she wasn't expecting Manik to confide in her. He had never done that in the past and there was no reason to believe that he would do it today, just because she had helped him in convincing Ria. But that didn't stop her from checking on him. Yes, she cared for him, because he was her best friend's boyfriend, but that wasn't the be all and end all of it. There was a time, when she used to consider him the biggest monster on the face of earth, and used to dread him as much as an acrophobic (those who have fear of heights) is scared of heights, but eventually, with time and through Nandini, she saw another side of him, and the more she saw it, the more protective she felt towards him, almost like a younger sister. No one ever knew, not even Nandini, and no one had to because there are few things in life that are utterly and exclusively personal and this was one of her deeply personal thoughts.

Manik was in two minds, whether to speak or swallow his words. Had it been in college, he wouldn't have thought twice before shrugging her off with another lie. But then old Manik had seen much less of real life. He had been living in a bubble where friends were FRIENDS and no one else mattered. "Wo I was sleeping in the car and then suddenly woke up...I donno kya hua, par I just kind of lost it. I donno if it's the exhaustion or stress, but mera dum ghut raha tha, so I came out for some air. I am actually feeling better now."

"Ek kaam karo, hum tumhare liye adrak wali chai bana ke late hai, do minute mein sar dard yu chala jayega"

(Hold on, I will bring you some piping hot ginger tea and I bet you will start feeling better in seconds)

Somethings never change, Manik remembered with a smile. Navya and her desi nuskhe, but for some reason, it didn't feel half as bad today as it used to before.

"Hey wait Navya.." She had already begun walking towards the kitchen when Manik called after her. "Wo.. I wanted to thank you for whatever you did in the morning."

Someone should have held her because she almost felt giddy, too dumbstruck to react. THE MANIK MALHOTRA was thanking NAVYA NAVELI in broad daylight?