You & I

The Beauty

her eyes make the stars look like they're not shining »

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Nandini's Pov

I sat down on the seat near him but didn't dare to look at him cause I could feel somebody staring at me. But it couldn't be Monster Manik, he doesn't even want to acknowledge my presence.

I tried to concentrate what Ustaad jee were trying to tell us but all I could think about was him, sitting beside me. Or me, sitting beside him.

Looking at him from the corner of my eye, I found him writing down something. Most probably a new song? After all the Fusion Concert was around the corner. And FAB5 was always the highlight of the night.

Not realizing that I was still looking at his paper, I found him turning his head towards me. But I was still unaware of that fact. I kept staring at his paper until he closed the notebook.

I snapped out of my dreamland and looked at him. His eyes were burning and I was on the verge of hyperventilating. Was this how I was going to die? Haye Appa, please save me.

That's why they say “curiosity killed the cat”. Manik's fist clenched, trying to control his anger. I gazed down in fear.

“Nandini”, I heard someone calling me. The voice sounded familiar and it didn't belong to Monster Manik. Huh, my savior!

“Yes?”, I slowly looked up and found Ustaad jee standing in front of me. He looked at Manik and then at me.

“You'll be collaborating with FAB5”, he announced and my eyes widened. I shook my head in disagree. Everybody turned their head towards me.

“But, Ustaad jee”, I tried to change his mind but Ustaad jee walked away, without listening to me. Why was he making me enter the monster hole? I wasn't that brave.

“Deny”, I heard a growl from beside me. I turned my head towards him. Anger was clearly visible.

The bell rang and I ran to Ustaad jee, who was going to leave the class. Thankfully, I reached him on time.

“I can't work with them, Ustaad jee”, I told him and he looked at, not seeming to care at all about my life.

“If you want a good grade, you have to”, he told me. I looked at him speechless. He turned around and walked away. Well, he hates me too, I guess!

I saw Monster Manik walking down the hallways. Not knowing any better, I ran behind him. Maybe we could sort this out.

Reaching him, I placed my hand on his shoulder accidentally because I needed to catch my breath. He turned his head, looking at me and then at my head. I pulled my hand away as soon as I cold.

“C-can yo-ou talk to U-ustaad jee?”, where's the confidence, Nandini? Stuttering will not help you. This was a bad idea.

“Why don't you make yourself useful?”, he gritted his teeths and I could feel a shiver running down my spine.

“I tried”, my voice sounding low as if I hadn't said anything.

“I don't care. Make sure you don't work with us and if you do then keep praying for your life because I won't make it easy for you to survive”, he smirked evilly.

“But”, I tried argue, he looked at me.

“Move”, he yelled at me and pushed me aside which cause my foot to twist. Not wanting to fall down, I grasped his arm tightly.

My eyes shut, I held on to him for what felt like an eternity. When I opened my eyes, I found him looking at him.

Not finding the courage to let go because that's how scared I was of him. I kept waiting for him to shrug me off but he kept staring into my eyes.

“Manik?”, I turned my head towards the person calling him. Alya was standing just a five feet away from us. Returning towards Manik, it felt like he just came out some trance and he slowly pulled away.

When he walked towards Alya, I felt an emotion. A feeling I never felt before, something so strong that my heart clenched in pain. It was a weird feeling. Maybe it was fear.

“Nandu, what are you doing here?”, I heard Navya's voice. I turned around and hugged her tightly.

“What? You missed me that much?”, she asked me and I smiled.

“Be glad I'm still alive”, I told her and she looked at me confused.

“Let's go to the canteen and I'll explain everything”, she looked at me and shrugged her shoulder.
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Aw, they already started falling, just not in love but let it be the floor. So, you guys are reading but not voting, what's that supposed to mean? Let's set a target, what about 20 votes? Okay.

Amna xx