Humesha- An Accidental Love Story

21. Amidst the Odds

Manik

I was unable to understand the reason behind Nandini's restless state. Since the time we were locked here, she has been anything but calm. It's been around twenty minutes that we were stuck here and all I have seen her doing in this time was strolling from one corner of the room to another as if her life depened on it.

I saw as she kept pacing the length of the room alongside accusing me of things I didn't do. I understand Nandini is kinda hurt and there is something more than what is visible which is stopping her from putting her trust in me and that we weren't exactly the best of friends, rather we were always behind each other's neck which gives her all the more reasons to not trust my words but I had enough of her rants now and thus I decided to speak.

I had just began when the lights went off. I clenched my jaw at the arrival of another problem. I had always hated darkness since I was a little kid. No, I wasn't scared of it but it's just that darkness made me feel anxious and to top it all, this time I was stuck inside a goddamn storeroom with the one and only Nandini Murthy.

What luck!

"Yeh lights ko kya ho gaya?" I heard Nandini who had finally stopped walking all around the room.

"Why are you acting so dumb? College hours khatam ho gaye hai so they switched off all the lights which includes this storeroom too madam" I replied as I started tapping my foot to buzz off my anxiety.

"Manik tum- tum kaha ho?" Her voice seemed odd. I could see her silhouette in the darkness of the room as she stood in front of me but I think I wasn't visible to her. Her posture looked wierd too.

"Kaha ja sakta hu main Nandini, I am right here, sitting on this not so comfortable sofa with all these stupid mosquitoes sucking on my sweet blood" I replied, not commenting on what I thought about her stiff posture. Surprisingly, talking with her kinda helped with my anxiety.

"Oh...ca-can I sit with you?" She asked timidly which made me frown.

What is wrong with this girl?

"Do I have any option? If I say no toh fir you'll taunt me of not being a gentleman all the time so sure...have a seat" I said disinterestedly, not wanting her to think I was being nice to her.

I could here her footsteps as she walked towards the sofa but her steps seemed small and unsteady unlike her usual bold and confident ones which just depended my frown.

"Nandini are you okay?" I couldn't help but ask but all I got as a response was heavy breathing. Worried a little, I decided to switch on the torch light in my phone but realised there was no battery so I quickly fished out Nandini's phone from her bag that was dumped beside me on the couch and switched on the torch light only to gasp.

Nandini was literally hyperventilating. It looked like she couldn't breathe at all. Her face was covered with sweat and her hands were shivering. She almost rushed to the door, still shivering and began knocking the door like never before, trying numerous ways to open it. For a moment I thought the door might come off from its hinges with her rigorous knocking.

Chucking away my stupid thoughts I immediately ran towards Nandini in order to know what was wrong with her suddenly.

"Nandini kya hua hai? Why are you shivering like this? Nandini" but I got no answer. I kept repeating my words but in vain. Once I realised her state had worsened, I knew I had to do something.

"Nandini! Nandini look at me" I yelled, jerking her from her arms and making her turn towards me and once she did, I was stunned at my place. Her fierce eyes held fear in them with a puddle of unshed tears. I had never seen her so vulnerable, not even when I saw her after the Alia fiasco today.