KAISE BATAAOON TUMHE...

not everything unexpected is good.

Manik's P.O.V.

The drive through Cabeer's house was pretty boring. The songs played by the cab driver were reminding me of the times when T series brought bollywood songs remixed with Hindi Devotional pirated songs. Horrible days. I still remember how mom used to tell me that Gulshan Kumar grew rich selling the casets of such songs. And people were liking it moreover.
Jagjit singh and Anup jalota got a lot of popularity singing those bhajans. And unfortunately, my cab driver had some sort of obsession with those songs still and since i didnt want to be impolite I decided to let go.

Cabeer was in the garden when i reached. Nandini sat there too. The two of them were seem to be too busy conversing, I dont think any of them noticed me there. Abhi was no where to be seen.

"Hii" i spoke when i reached fairly close to them.

"Manik?? Tum yaha??" Nandini spoke surprised. She had no idea aboutt me comming over, but Cabeer did. He grinned and I grinned back. Then he excused himself and left.  I had no idea why.

"Haa madam. Mein yaha. Matlab hadd hai. Thodi der ke liye tumhe Cabeer ke paas kya chod diya tum toh bhool hi gayi ki main bhi exist karta hu. Na koi phone call na koi messege. Chal kya raha hai madam?" I sat on the bench and playfully scolded. Though i am actually a little sad that she didnt called me.

"Kuch nahi chal raha hai Manik. Bass Cabeer aur maine aaj bohot masti ki. Tumhe pata hai, aaj Cabeer ne mujhe drums bhi sikhaaye. Aur phir usne apni photo album bhi dikhaayi. Aur tumhe pata hai. Cabeer main aur Abhi went to jam bar. Manik vaha par itne saare musicians the n ky bataoon. Abhi aur maine gaana bhi gaaya. Aur pata hai, vaha par mujhe kon mila. Devenshu Yadav, humaara senior. Manik voh itni achhi veena bajata hai... usne mujhe sikhaane ka promise kiya hai. Kal college me." Will she ever stop??

Okay will i be a bad person if i say i am jealous of Cabeer right now?? I mean she enjoyed so much with him. And we never had so much fun. Cabeer is more outgoing than me. I am an isolated person. I like being alone in my room with guitar in my hand.
But I am happy. She seems she loved it today. She cant stop grinning.

"Very good. Kal Devanshu se main bhi milunga. Aur abhi khair hume ghar chalna chahiye. Late ho gaya hai. Mom will scold us. Chale??" I requested.

"Manik thodi der aur n?" She whined. Eh? Thodi der aur?? Well that is Cabeer's effect on women, they never seem to leave him. He could make any women have so much fun that they love him.

"Nandini, fir kabhi aa jaana n. Abhi ghar chalo. Please. Mom daatengi. And dont you want to spend time with me??" I pouted.

"Aisa nahi hai Manik. Thodi der ruk jaao, Cabeer is getting coffee for us. Voh bohot acchhi coffee banata hai. Okay??" Well, its true, but i havent yet eaten. And i am hungry.

"Tumne khaana khaya??" I asked. Coffee before food is not good.

"Haa aaj mene aur Cabeer ne Pasta khaya. Tumne khaya kuch?" Pasta. God i am already hungru and she is not helping my case.

"Um...nahi." i tell her. But i dont think she has anything for me to eat. Now i have to wait till i reach home.

"Manik....kyu nahi khaya??" She asked a little angry. My angry bird.

"Arre voh Arya aaya tha. Uske saath drinks ke liye gaya tha. Fir vaha se direct yaha. Toh nahi khaya. Mujhe bhook lagi hai." I reasoned.

"Had hai Manik. Chalo. Pehle khana khaao"

She urged me to Cabeer's dining and then moved the wheelchair to kitchen where Cabeer was preparing coffee. She took sometime and i got a lot of salad, an egg white omlet and fruits.

"Finish it now. I cant prepare a meal so bear with it."

I smiled at her. It was more than enough. I just wonder how she manage to make the omlet.

"Nandini how did you made the omlet?? You cant reach the stove."

"I didnt. Cabeer did. I just instructed and its good. You can eat it."
Cabeer made food instead of eating. Impressive. Bail buddhi main kuchh toh hai.
And its good too.

After eating so much and a cup of Cabeer's coffee, we left. Mom's scolding was just an excuse. I wanted Nandini all to myself for a few hours.
She was resting her head on the window closing her eyes. The only way i knew she isnt asleep is because of her singing. She is humming some song. I cant decipher what.

"What are you singing??"

"Nothing special. Manik. Stop the car n??" She asked.

"Here? Why?? Is everything fine??" I asked. I know she doesnt have a problem like motion sickness then??

"Yeah everything is fine. Just stop the car. Such a cool breeze flowing."

"Nandini in 2 days its new year. Of course the breeze will be cool. And moreover its not safe. This road is so secluded. Anything can happen." I tried making some sense to her.

"Manik please n. Five minutes" she pleaded. Five minutes is all i am giving her.

I sighed and stopped the car at the corner.

"Khush."

I opened the windows and let the felt the breeze.

"Manik close your eyes."

What?? Anyway i dont wanna fight. I closed my eyes.

"Take a deep breath........ release. Do you feel it Manik? The calm. The winds are so thundurous. But it is so... calm. And do you smell the mud. Its amazing how calm it is. All of it." She said.

I did felt. It was so soothing. I felt every thought leaving my mind. So relaxing. I opened my eyes after sometime and looked at her. She was busy with her calming excercise. And i got involved in looking at her. Her hairs as the breeze pass through them. Her face. Her smile. I didnt knew when, i fell for her again in that moment.
The time stopped when she opened her eyesand looked at me. We both glanced into each others eyes and got close. Close. Close. Closer.
And then.................................................. ............................................

She screamed. I looked at her confused, she wasnt even looking at me. She was looking at something over my shoulder. I turned back and saw 2 big fatty police men there. The 2 were in a very angry mood.

Oh shit.