MaNan: We Aren't Meant To Be Together

Chapter 1

NANDINI

I step outside the main door of my house only to meet the smell of wet sand.

Oh, how I love this smell.

"Nandu, jaldi kar, warna hum late hojayenge." Navya shouts from some distance, breaking my trance.

"Haan, aayi." I run towards her and we reach college in no time.

There's only one college in this area of Shimla and it's not far from my house, so most of the time we walk to it.

We enter inside our class and sit on our usual seats, still talking about what happened in our favourite daily soap yesterday.

Soon, our Maths teacher Mr.Mathur enters and we all stand up to greet him.

"So class, aaj hi ek new student ne join kiya hai. Wo kuch formalities finish karke aata hi hoga. Mai chahta hoon ke tum sab usse ache se treat karo." We all answer a "Yes sir." in chorus and he smiles at us.

He's one of our favourite teachers here. He's very sweet and caring, but can be really strict if needed.

The class was half-way through when someone knocks on the door interrupting sir.

I finish noting down the last word and look up to see a tall boy standing besides Mr.Mathur facing his back towards us.

He seems hot.

Mr.Mathur pats his back smiling and again starts talking with that guy.

Apna face toh dikhado.

"Nandu, iski back itni hot hai toh iska face kitna handsome hoga!?" Shweta's words make me chuckle, I know that's probably what every girl would be thinking right now.

I turn back to look at her dreaming face, "Don't know. We'll see it in-"

She cuts me, "Wo dekh." I turn back towards board and let myself drown in those chocolaty brown eyes who are looking everywhere except me.

I let my eyes wander on his face for a bit, taking in his long nose, pink lips and a paper cut jaw.

He definitely is handsome.

Navya shakes me and I drop my gaze feeling a little flushed.

"Toh aap apna parichey dijiye." Mr.Mathur says to that guy who takes all my attention.

"Pari-what!?" My eyes wide like lemons hearing his voice.

"Parichay."

"What's that?" My eyes drift to Navya and then to the guy again, when a little laugh escapes from my lips.

"Introduction." I say out loud even before realising, shocking myself just as much as everyone else.

He looks at me for more than necessary seconds, before saying, "Thanks."

I just nod my head and bite my lower lip a little embarassed.

"Hello everyone, I'm Manik, Manik Malhotra." The entire class goes silent waiting for him to speak further, but he just stares at us.

When no one says something, sir interupts the silence, "Tum kahaan se aaye ho aur kya karne?"

"What!?" Is he dumb or acting dumb.

"Erm, sir, I don't know much Hindi." Oh, now I get it.

Some of the students along with sir turn to me, waiting for me to explain him what sir's asking.

Perks of reading too many books in English and being the topper of college in it.

I clear my throat before speaking, "Where are you from and why are you here?"

He looks at me with a confused, I guess not understanding why I am talking to him.

Soon his look disappears, "I'm from London. And, I just came here two days back because my parents want me to complete my studies here as all my family is from Shimla."

All turn back to me again, and I know they want me to translate. "Wo London se hai and sirf do din pehle hi yahaan aaya hai kyuki uski saari family Shimla se hai and wo chahte hai ki ye yahaan apni padhai puri kare."

Some of them nod at me while some just give me a knowing look.

"Okay Manik. Tum jaakar wahaan, Cabir ke saath baith jaayo." Sir says and that guy-Manik looks at me.

"Go sit there with Cabir." I point at Cabir who's sitting across the class.

Manik nods and pulling his bag off his shoulder sits next to Cabir.

The class resumes again, forgetting the small encounter and we all get back to what we were doing earlier.

Soon the bell rings, indicating the end of period.

Like that the entire day passes by, with boys getting to know Manik and girls drooling over him.

When the school ends we all bid bye to each other and go in different directions.

"Nandu, ye Manik kitna popular ho gaya hai sirf ek din me." I turn to look at Navya contemplating her words.

"Hmmm."

"Tujhe pata hai, tu lucky hai."

I forrow my eyebrows and look at her, "Wo kyu?"

"Arey tu English me topper hai and tu usse ache se baat kar sakti hai, kyuki usse toh sirf simple Hindi samaj me aati hai."

I laugh hard remembering how he always looked at me with pleading eyes in class to tell him what the teacher or the students were saying.

That's the worst part of it, I had to stick with him most of the time so he doesn't get any problem. Principal's orders.

God, how I hate that sadu Principal.

"Par mujhe usse baat karne me koi interest nahi hai Navu."

"Wo kyu?"

"Bass esse hi. Tu janti hai mujhe, zada kisise baat karna mujhe pasand nahi hai."

Oh, really Nandini!?

"Par Manik toh itna acha hai. Mujhe lagta hai tum dono ki kaafi banegi."

My nostrils flare at the mare thought of it, "What!? No ways Navya! Uski aur meri kabhi nahi banegi."

"Acha meri ma, shaant hoja, gussa kyu ho rahi hai? Mazaak kar rahi hoon main."

I sigh, "Gussa nahi ho rahi hoon, it's just I don't like jab koi mujhe kisise link karta hai."

As expected I get an eye roll before she shakes her head.

After that, the entire way home is spent mostly with her rambling about how our P.E. teacher scolded her for being so lazy.

Can't blame the teacher! She is lazy!

As soon as I reach home, I go straight to my room, drop myself on the bed and close my eyes relaxing my muscles.

After deciding that it's been too long in that position, I slowly open my eyes and look directly into chocolaty brown ones, which belong to the least wanted person here now.

. . . . .
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Rabbit