Kismat Connection

Part 13

Fab6 were discussing about a multi-genre music competition they could participate in.

        Manik : "We will be able to manage most of the genre without too much effort, but classical music is going to be difficult. So what do you all think, should we try to participate in the competition or not?"

        Dhruv : "Why don't we take it up as a challenge? It will surely be more work. We have to find an instructor to teach us classical. We may have to practice more too, but I think we should give it a try."

        Everyone agreed to give it a try. They hired an instructor for the same and started practicing.

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        One day, when Manik was walking towards the college office, he saw Nandini coming in the opposite direction. She quickly covered her face with her dupatta, turned around and went away as quickly as her feet could take her. Manik got suspicious, so he went in the same direction that Nandini went, and he found her sitting on the stairs.

        Manik : "Why are you sitting here covering your face? Are you trying to hide from someone?"

        Nandini uncovered her face seeing Manik.

        Nandini : "There is a person at the office who is here to meet me. He is standing right outside the office, and I don't want to meet him now. I covered my face so that he doesn't recognize me. I asked the office boy to tell him that I didn't come to college today, but he refused. So I am thinking as to how to get rid of that person without meeting him."

        Manik : "Why don't you want to meet him?"

        Nandini : "I will tell you why, but first let me think of a way to get rid of him for today at least."

        Manik called the office boy and instructed him to tell that person that Nandini hadn't come to college that day. The office boy couldn't oppose the trustee's son, so he did as instructed and that person left.

        Manik : "Your work is done, that person has left. Now tell me, why?"

        Nandini : "Not here, let's go somewhere else."

        Nandini found a place where there weren't many people.

        Nandini : "You already know my problem. That person was here to see me .. I mean my family is still into match making. I thought they would have stopped since I am here, but they have my photo with them and they have sent that photo to the person who was here. It seems he liked me seeing the pic and now wants to meet me in person. I didn't know he will drop into our college like this. I haven't thought yet as to how to get him to reject the alliance, that's why I didn't want to meet him now. I will have to figure out a way before meeting that person again."

        Nandini thought for a while, took out a passport sized photo she had from her bag, and started looking at it.

        Manik : "Why are you staring at your own photo like that?"

        Nandini : "This is the photo which my family sent. I am thinking as to what I can do to my face to make that person believe that in reality, I don't look as I am in the pic. It has to be something which will force him to reject me."

        Manik : "Why don't you tell him the truth like you told me?"

        Nandini : "Your case was different and the situation was different too. I had met your mom a few times before I met you. She is so nice that I didn't feel like lying. I thought you would also be like your mom, so may be you will understand."