Manan ff : The Manager

chapter 18 ( b )

Chucking the topic, Nandini tried to focus on the food.

Nandini immediately sat on the sofa and started opening the pizza box. While, Manik quietly sat beside Nandini , all the time focusing on her childish behaviour.

But, Maniks drooling session was interrupted, as the current went off.

Completely scared of the darkness, Manik hugged Nandini and muttered "oh god. .....phir se load shading! !!!!!!"

Knowing about his fear of darkness, Nandini calmly sat ,with Maniks arms wrapped around her.

Nandini ( calmly ) : Manik. ....aapna mobile dijiye? ????

Manik ( chuckled ) : Nandu yaar. .....stop behaving like a possessive girlfriend! !!!!.....aise situation mein mobile checking kaun karta hai? ??????

On hearing this, Nandini just wanted to bang her head on the wall. Nandini ( calmly ) : please Manik aapna mobile doo? ????

Manik ( childishly ) : okay. ....okay. ....abhi deta hu. ....

After searching his pocket for few seconds, Manik took out his mobile and handed it to Nandini.

Once getting hold of the mobile, Nandini switched on the torch light.

Absorbing the light, Manik relaxed a bit and loosened his grip on Nandini.

Nandini ( casually ) : laagta hai 2 hours ke pehele current nehin ane wali. ...

Manik ( literally horrified ) : 2 hours? ???????????

Nandini immediately realised what she had uttered and became conscious.

Nandini, instinctively tries to distract Manik "I am really hungry. ...aur pizza ka bahut accha smell bhi aa raha hai. ....so. ..main toh khaana shuru kar rahi hu! !!!!"

Manik ( pov ) : candle light dinner sunna tha .....lekin aaj toh torch light dinner karne ka mauka mil gaya! !!!!!

Manik, back to his jolly mode "very bad Nandu. ...akele akele khaogi??????"

Taking a pizza slice in her hand, Nandini mockingly replied "haan toh. ....maine thodi naa aap ko roka hai pizza khaane se! !!!!"

On discovering this playful side of Nandini, Manik was overwhelmed and happily said " accha. ....agar aisi baat hai. ...toh let's have a pizza competition? ?????"

Nandini instantly said " I am cool with it. ....bring it on. ..."

Saying this, both of them pounced on the pizza box and started eating like children.

Exactly after 10 minutes, both of them where full and eyed the last slice of pizza.

Nandini ( pouting ) : aakhri slice bacha hai. .....ab isska kya kare? ????

Manik ( mischievously ) : idea!!!!

Nandini ( confused ) : kaisa idea? ?????

Without replying her, Manik took the pizza slice and divided it into equal parts.

Giving one piece to Nandini, Manik childishly said " yeh raha tumhara piece. ....iss se zyaada main share nehin kar sakta! !!!!!"

Nandini just gaped at Manik in disbelief. But then, a smile escaped her lips, seeing Maniks childish behaviour.

Once they were done with the food, Nandini started thinking of different ways to distract Manik, because she knew, that sooner or later, the fear of darkness would sink into Manik.

Nandini ( genuinely ) : Manik. ...will you. ...sing. ...for me. ....

Nandini was quite unsure of her own demand. But then, chucking the feelings of her heart, she decided to focus on Maniks fear.

While, on the other hand, Manik was touched by her request.

It was for the first time, Nandini had asked him to do something for her, so how can Manik deny.

Manik started singing. ..

Dil kahe kahaaniyan
Pehli dafa
Armaano mein
Rawaniyan pehli dafa
Ho gaya begana main
Hosh se pehli dafa
Pyaar ko pehchana
Ehsaas hai yeh naya (Manik sang as if the line's were meant for Nandini )

Suna hai, suna hai
Yeh rasm -e - wafa hai
Jo dil pe nasha hai
Woh pehli dafa hai  (2 )

Kabhi dard si, kabhi zard si
Zindagi benaam thi
Kahin chahtein hui meherbaan
Haath badh ke thamti (Nandini carefully listened to the song, trying to absorb each and every word )

Ik woh nazar, ik woh nigaah
Rooh mein shaamil iss tarah
Ban gaya afsana
Ik baat se pehli dafa
Paa liya hai thikana
Baahon ki hai panaah

Suna hai, suna hai
Yeh rasm -e - wafa hai
Jo dil pe nasha hai
Woh pehli dafa hai

Lage bewajah alfaaz jo
Woh zaroorat ho gaye
Taqdeer ke kuch faisley
Jo ganimat ho gaye (the whole time, Manik just stared at Nandini's face and tried to decipher her feelings )

Badla hua har pal hai
Rehti khumari har jagah
Pyaar tha anjaana
Hua saath mein pehli dafa

Yeh asar ab jaana
Kya rang hai yeh chadha

Suna hai, suna hai
Yeh rasm -e - wafa hai
Jo dil pe nasha hai
Woh pehli dafa hai  (2 ) ( Nandini was feeling peaceful )

At the end of the song, keeping her head on Maniks shoulder, Nandini was sleeping peacefully. While, Manik just keept on admiring her.

Manik( pov ) : soote waqt kitni pyaari laagti hai. ....aur jaagte waqt puri sherni. .....meri sherni. .....

Thinking about Nandini, Manik also drifted to sleep.