PLAYBOY[Manan's Ff]

chapter 4

Nandu's POV

These days, Aliya is continuously talking about Manik and how he looks his attitude made me notice him. He doesn't talk to me much unlike when he is with his friends means Kabir's gang. Sometimes it makes me feel unfriendly but of all other people he is good to me that's what I'm happy about. He never gets irritated whenever I insist on writing notes and helping him to do his work.

From her, I came to know that he had joined the cricket team too. She was making me know every detail of him. I tried to get her to stop fanning him,, but she never listened to me like always.  When she found out that I sat beside him, she enquired about many things about him. I said that he didn't talk much to me and made her say, "Ohh! Ya, I forget no one talks to you except me; then he doesn't even see you, right!!" emphasizing each word made me feel sad and low. Why does she always remind me even if I don't care about that? Sometimes I wondered If she was my friend or not... So I just listen to her whenever she says about anyone without me speaking. She had other friends, unlike me,, talking about dresses, jewellery, fashion and all. They never found me as a person even. Mom always wanted everything best for me and gave me money to buy anything I wanted. She sometimes insists I have a brand when she finds mine are not so good. But I don't want to use that money for those branded. So I wear my casual dresses, you might say they are cheap, but I don't mind if they are good-looking and comfortable for me.

I was watching an interesting thriller movie with Santa. I got him this name cause he always gives me chocolates. Before he could say, I said I can't ..you only open your door." I'm your guest, so you go ", without taking my eyes off the screen. But he just stuck to the screen Like he was not listening to the doorbell.  So I got up to open. But I couldn't ignore it as the bell rang continuously. I opened the door, but the person before me made me shocked. I don't know whether I'm shocked or surprised. I found him on the doorstep asking me, "What are you doing here?". Him saying that this is his house. Now I realized everything: he joined the school the same day when Santa came to my home. Then he is none other than Santa's grandson. When I was in my thoughts, he entered, asking me,  "Why are you here?".I stammered. I'm ...I'm...not knowing what to say. Should I leave or stay like every day? But when Santa came to view, he defended me, saying that I was living in the neighbourhood and helping him in the kitchen. He asked, "Whether we both know each other? Before I answered, Manik answered that we were classmates and made Santa smile. Then Santa asked me to join the movie as the break got over.

Debating myself I settled to watch, as mom will come home late today. After that, I made aloo paratha, which Santa wanted to eat. So I made it for them. We settled down to eat. While we were eating, Mom came to call me. But Santa convinced her to eat here itself. I know they're enjoying the food. Santa introduced Manik, and then she enquired about my life and friends in school; when She came to know Santa we were classmates. I stopped eating with that. He might tell the truth, but he covered it up for me and made me feel free. I don't want her to feel stressed about me.

I mouthed him 'Thanks', but he just ate ignoring me. Manik asked Mom for me to stay after dinner to clear some doubts in his homework. I doubted it but stayed silent. I don't want to talk to him now.  She left after that. Should I say that I helped him wash dishes or that Santa helped me after we completed our work and dried them?

Then Santa said about Manik, "he was a very good student back in Mumbai, but his parent's death made him devastated, letting everything go down".So please help him with his studies; I know he will become normal if you help him in his studies. I just nodded in response.

I went and stood before his room door debating whether to knock or not. He opened the door, revealing himself in shorts and showing his abs with a t-shirt in his hand. Seeing him half naked, I turned back, closing my eyes as heat rose to my cheeks.  He called me to come in. Now he is completely dressed.

I went in and asked him about his homework. But he asked me to sit and take away my glasses. I made a weird look. What is he even talking about? What is he going to do with my glasses? I thought.  I questioned, "What are you asking for?". You heard Right. I just asked you to remove your glasses for god's sake! he asked again. He waited for some time, but when I didn't do it." If you think I'm your friend, then do it for me", he said again.

I don't want to take them away. It became part of my dressing. I did it before, but why is he even asking? It doesn't matter to him. I got up to leave "It's okay if you think I'm not your friend", he pouted.

'I really wanted to do by seeing his cute face, but once again, I realized he was Kabir's friend too. Like Kabir, if he'll too tease me ' thought made me back off from not doing it."Is he the same person who I've known!"I doubted. I questioned, "What do my glasses do with your homework?". For that, he chuckled and said, it's not about my homework!!. Then why are you asking me to do it..? I enquired.

Is that your room showing my house. "Yes, "I said reluctantly. "Do you have siblings ?" he interrogated. "Why are you asking many questions?"I demanded.'Nothing !! Just coming to know about my neighbour,' he shrugged.

Then he remembered and asked, "Your mom doesn't know about bullying, Right!'' he confirmed. I nodded. 'Why?', he asked understandingly."If she knows about bullying, she will again change my school definitely, I don't want her to worry about me. Already she is doing more for me without thinking about herself, "I stated. He asked, "You were bullied in your previous school, too"Yes', I replied with a sore throat. If he interrogated for more details"I'll definitely cry. My tears were struck in my throat by those memories.

Seeing my discomfort, he patted my shoulder. He insisted that he'd drop me on my doorstep. I accepted gladly.  Mom opened the door and asked him to 'come in but he left, apologizing to her. he assured Mom that he would come some other time as we were neighbours.

I slept peacefully. The next day, I got up and saw Mom had already prepared breakfast for me. Mom said the maid would come in two days. So I went to Santa, and he today made bread toast for both of them.

Seeing me he made it for me too. When we were having breakfast, Manik joined us. Then Santa asked him to go with me. But he grabbed the toast and went in a hurry. Before leaving, he came back and whispered to me, "Don't say to anyone in school that we're neighbours", in my ears. He left making my heart break with those simple words.

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Hey guys... How is my update? Let me know your opinion. Why did Manik ask about her siblings??  Why do Manik don't want others to know that they're neighbours?? I think you already know...If yes or No Comment your thoughts about Manik and Nandu.....

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