Kismat Connection

Part 11

Nandini bumped into someone on her way to the class. That person was texting on his phone when it happened. His phone would have fallen on the ground if he hadn't caught it on time.

        Person (screaming) : "Can't you see..."

        That person was none other than Manik. He stopped when he realized it was Nandini.

        Nandini : "I am very very sorry, I was getting late for my class, so I was in a hurry."

        Manik : "It's alright."

        Unconsciously, Manik had reacted different from usual once again. Nandini picked up her things which had fallen from her hand.

        Nandini : "I will leave now. Sorry, once again."

        Nandini left from there. Manik found a paper lying on the ground where Nandini had dropped her things. He picked it up and kept it with him.

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        Later, during the day Manik returned the paper to her.

        Manik : "I think it is yours, you dropped it when you bumped into me."

        Nandini : "Thank you! I thought I lost it and I will have to make a list again."

        Manik : "What were you making a list of?"

        Nandini : "Job vacancies. I was planning to take a part time job. It will help me take care of the extra expenses instead of putting pressure on my grandma."

        They spoke for a little while and bid bye to each other.

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        When Manik was at home, he remembered his conversation with Nandini.

        Manik's thoughts : "She is new to this city and she wants to do a part time job. What kind of job will she find with her current qualification? There is no guarantee that the place where she finds a job will be safe."

        Then he realized what he was doing.

        Manik's thoughts : "Why am I thinking about her and her safety? Last time too, I didn't think before doing what I did . If it was someone else in her place, I wouldn't have spared her. I not only let her go, but I also acted in her favor. It's so unlikely of me. She is neither family nor friend, she is no one to me."

        Manik tried not to bother about her and diverted his attention. He carried on with his daily activities, but he couldn't take it off his mind completely. At night, when he was getting ready to sleep, the thought came back to him again and he couldn't go to sleep. So he decided to deal with it.

        Manik's thoughts : "I can check with dad if he can give her a job, but if he asks why I am showing interest especially after rejecting the alliance, what am I going to tell him? I don't know myself why I am thinking about her and her safety."

        Manik's thoughts: "Even if I manage to give him a reason and dad agrees, will Nandini accept it. She isn't ready to take help from her grandma itself, then why will she accept a favor from me or my family? Like she is no one to me, even I am no one to her."

        After thinking for quite sometime, Manik came to a conclusion.

        Manik's thoughts : "Next safe place would be our college itself. She can work under one of the professors for stipend. Getting a list won't be a problem for me. She is a scholarship student, so she will be easily accepted by any of the professors without any recommendations. It won't be any kind of favor too. It will be a suggestion or advice like how she gave me. It is left to her whether to go with it or not."