ANAM CARA || A MaNan Fanfiction

chapter 19: Drunken Moments

Manik was having a tough time handling Nandini. She was totally drunk and not in her senses. Manik stood in front of her, while she had her eyes closed. Manik very softly said, "Nandini". Nandini opened her eyes to see Manik standing, looking at her adoringly. She stumbled back while trying to stand straight but Manik held her hands. M:Nandini let's go downstairs...I'll drop you home you're too drunk to attend the party now
N: NO...mai toh yaha hi rahungi
M: Nandini please understand naa
N: Noo means noo
M: fine I'll drag you to your car
N: You won't be able to
M: Why do you think so?
N: because...I'm gonna run awayyy.
Before Manik could assess what Nandini had said she ran towards the door.
As she was about the reach the door the glass pieces of the broken alcohol bottle stuck on her feet yielding blood. Nandini screamed, "Ouchhh... Manik! " .
Manik immediately reacted to her shriek and came towards her, only to see tears in her eyes. Nandini had tightly closed her eyes and was rooted to her place. Manik also felt the pain after seeing Nandini like that. He still hadn't understood what had happened that Nandini screamed but he stepped forward and holding her hands asked, " What happened Nandini? Why did you scream?", Nandini opened her overflowing eyes and moved aside hissing. Manik looked down to see a small pool of blood where Nandini was standing. Getting scared he looked at Nandini and then understanding the situation cursed himself at his stupidity. "I am so sorry Nandini i didn't know that the bottle's pieces are here," Nandini nodded her head in a no. Manik by seeing her face understood that she is in too much of pain. "We need to get your dressing done Nandini" "No manik i don't want to just remove the pieces, I don't wanna go to the hospital." "No Nandini we have to go to the hospital". Nandini spoke in utmost innocence on her face, " if you take me to the hospital i won't ever talk to you again" "Arey Nandini what is this? Don't act immaturely" "Niii means Niii i don't like hospitals they are yuck ". A smile spread across Manik's face when he saw Nandini's expressions. "Accha okay mai kardu? " Nandini looked at him confused and asked like a kid, " Tum karoge? " Manik nodded and forwarded his hand to her. She placed her hands on his and tried moving but she hissed feeling pain. "Aaahhh Manik i can't move", said Nandini in distress. Manik saw her state and understood that she won't be able to walk. He was thinking of a way to take Nandini to his car because the first aid box was in his car. He had only one option but he was skeptical about it as he didn't want Nandini to think that he took advantage of her drunken state when she's sober the next day. He sighed as he knew he doesn't have any other option. "Nandini i am sorry" he whispered to himself and then lifted Nandini up in his arms.

Imagine like this.

Nandini who wasn't in her senses started swinging her legs trying to get down, but with one stare from Manik she quietened.
Manik smiled hiding from Nandini and then put up a strict face for her. He came down and quickly took her to his car. Opening the passenger seat he placed Nandini very gently and took out the first aid box from his car. Manik came and without thinking twice settled on his kness in from of her on the ground, kept her bleeding feet on his knees and very carefully removed the glass piece from her feet. If Nandini had been in perfect state then the respect she had for Manik would have definitely increased by this move of his . Nandini closed her eyes and clutched her lehenga furiously hissing a bit. Manik looked at her face, it looked pale to him, and then at her hands which had almost turned white cultching her lehenga . Manik moved his free hand over her fisted hands. Nandini feeling his touch there opened her eyes and found him looking at her hands. He then uncultched her hands and said, "Hold mine", and gave his hands to her. Had Nandini been in her senses she would have definitely refused once, but right now, the drunken Nandini needed comfort which only and only Manik could give. She was holding his hands very tightly and he was smiling while dressing her wounds as her touch was giving him shivers. He, after completing her dressing, was looking at her swollen feet. He tenderly creased her feet earning a soft moan from her.
Now Manik was now confused as to what to do now because Nandini was not ready to sit at one place. While he was thinking about his plan of action, he felt a tug at his sherwani. Nandini who was sitting on the passenger seat beside him was tugging at his sherwani with full force in a bid to draw Manik's attention towards her. Now that Nandini had Manik's attention she made a very cute pout and was looking at the other side with her hands folded to her chest. Manik's hearted melted at this sight. Nandini caught him looking at her awe struck and said, " Whatt? Why are you staring at me? I am angry with you okay". Manik frowned listening to her and then asked, " What happened? What are you angry with me? ", Nandini irritatingly replied, " What kind of a host you are? Apni guest ko khana bhi nahi khilaya. Huhh!! 😏 Mr. Stupid Malhotra." Manik banged his head with his palm and thought, "Strict Nandini is far more better to handle than drunk kiddish Nandini. Anyway this kiddish cute sa Nandini is much better than normal sober Nandini. " Manik was lost in his thought and seeing him like that Nandini screamed out of irritation," Manikkkkk" startled by her sudden scream Manik asked, "Haan is it paining somewhere what happened? " "Offooo Nooo mujhe bhookh lagiii haiii...i want Fooddd" Manik sighed deeply but with a sweet smile. Thinking a little he came to a conclusion. He put the seat belt around Nandini and closed the door behind which Nandini sat screaming at Manik. He rushed to the other side taking the driver seat. He drove off onto a nearly isolated road. While the streets were less crowded and tranquil, the atmosphere in Manik's car was exactly opposite. Nandini was screaming on top of her voice, "Manikkk khana chahiye. I want food. Right now. Manikkk give me food. I am bhookhaa ". Manik was not even a bit irritated with Nandini instead he was smiling looking at her. He very sweetly explained to her, "Nandini I'm taking you somewhere to have food only baba. Just wait for a while". Nandini was still in her own world. Nandini unexpectedly quietened down. Manik, who was waiting for Nandini to go on another rant about food, was surprised with her silence. Manik keeping his eyes on the road said, "What happened why did this all india radio shut down? ", on not getting any response he briefly looked at her only to find tears trickling down her cheeks. Manik immediately stopped the car at the side and turned towards Nandini. "hey what happened Nandini? Why are you crying baba? "
N: Manik you don't have any problem with me behaving like this?
M: Whattt?? No Nandini
N: You know Manik when I used to behave like this with Harshad naa he would get angry saying I am immature and a kiddish fool . Am I immature and a kiddish fool Manik?
M: No Nandini you aren't (wiping away her tears from her cheeks by his thumb) You are the most intellectual and interesting person I have ever met.
Nandini smiled through her tears and then muttered slowly, " chalo Manik bhookh lagi". Manik laughed to himself and started driving again.
After a drive of about 10 minutes Manik reached a place. JUHU CHOWPATTY. Nandini got out of the beach and squealed, "Manikkk beachhhh," Nandini almost ran towards the shore but stopped in the middle and kept her hands on her waist. She turned around and said, "Manik khana kaun yeh sea dega? ", Manik giggled and pointed towards the Pav bhaji stall at a little distance. "Yeahhh Manik pav bhaji. Yummy chalo naa jaldi". Manik smiled and then along with Nandini went to get some pav bhaji. Soon he got two plates of it one for Nandini and one for himself as he himself was very hungry. As soon as Nandini saw the plate she attacked it, digging in the bhaji and then eating with all satisfied moans and sighs. Manik was having a gala time watching the stubborn Nandini do such petty things. When Nandini was finished with her plate Manik was still finishing his. Nandini eyed his plate just like a kid who wants more even after finishing her share. Manik looked at Nandini staring at his plate. Getting what she wanted he forwarded his plate to her and said, "Khaalo yeh bhi. I don't share when it comes to my food but I can't eat also when someone is watching so intently." Nandini giggled making an innocent face and then opened her mouth in a big O asking him to feed her by his hands. Manik was quiet surprised at this, but then he remembered Nandini isn't sober, so he willingly started making small small bites for her and feeding her. Seeing this tender care even the drunken Nandini for once like the sober one remembered that even her mother had the same gentleness when she used to feed her with her own hands. Soon she ate all of it and then said to Manik, " hogaya pet full 😋😋". Manik didn't say anything but just smiled looking at her innocence and thought ," Oh god I pray that she remains this cute forever. That look of satisfaction on her face when she was eating from my hands is to die for. Please god give her strength to fight all the things that made her so stone hearted. I hope you get back to being this Nandini." Manik's thought was broken when Nandini placed another demand in front of him,"Manik why isn't it raining? I want it to rain. Baarish karwao naa Manik" Now Manik was in a fix ,"Nandini how will I make it rain? "
N: I don't know Manik just make it rain na" M : Nandini understand naa i can't make it rain"
N: Fine then go alone I am not going with you. Hmphh.
Manik was looking at the sky in the hope that maybe there are some chances of rain but to his dismay the sky was clear. He was running the horses of his mind and an idea struck him. He looked around for Nandini but couldn't find her. He was about to launch a search mission for her but he found her sitting on the sand, cross legged and looking at him with a very cute pout.