Crazy, Stupid, Summer Sparks |COMPLETE| MaNan Fiction

Chapter 21: Stay The Fuck Away From 'My Girl'

As they entered the multiplex, Manik noticed that Aryaman was still clutching Nandini's hand protectively, he felt irritated; it was one thing to really fall in love with someone and hold onto her in protectiveness, and it was completely another thing to hold on to someone who loves you, for vengeance; hate dripped Manik's eyes at the sight of Aryaman.

When Aliyaa and Dhruv came there, Manik saw Aliyaa's eyes momentarily flicker at the sight of Aryaman clutching on to Nandini's hand; her face looked ashened for a second before she put on her facade and greeted her di with a hug, ignoring Aryaman. Manik noticed that at the sight of Aliyaa, even Aryaman's face got clouded for a flash of a second before he recovered. Then Manik saw Aryaman noticing him; then he pulled himself up and got back to clutching Nandini's hand.

When Abhimanyu arrived, Mukti went to greet him, they were doing slightly better in terms of interaction now; the other day when she went to the football field, even though she just watched the guys play, she was physically feeling compelled to join the game; but she kept quiet. Abhimanyu had noticed that and after rehearsals were over and everybody left the field, he had offered her to play with him; just him. Mukti had flashed a brilliant smile, for a moment Abhimanyu thought he saw Mox in the smile; then they played. Mukti was thrilled to be back on the field, she played with all her energy and laughed freely after her final goal that Abhimanyu missed; Abhimanyu laughed too, freely after a long time. Mukti was fun he thought, especially when he saw glimpses of Mox in him; back to the present, today, when Mukti greeted him and asked where Navya was, Abhimanyu sounded a bit awkward and replied that she was busy and quickly changed the topic. Mukti was surprised, but before she got a chance to revert, the doors to the screening room opened and they all began to file inside.

After the movie Aryaman suggested they went out for dinner; all agreed. After all, exams were over, it was the best time. Nandini though reluctant, agreed when Aryaman coaxed her and said his girlfriend had updated her social media status saying, she checked in the same lounge.

As they sat in the lounge, Mukti and Abhimanyu were engaged in a friendly conversation, Dhruv was fiddling with his phone, Soha had gone out to take a call and Aryaman and Nandini were whispering aand talking to each other. Manik noticed Aliyaa, she was sitting quietly and glancing at Aryaman and Nandini who were not even sparing a glance at her; he felt bad for Aliyaa, somewhere he and Aliyaa were on the same boat. He engaged in a light conversation with her to improve her mood; even though Aliyaa was reciprocating, he could see her eyes were glancing towards Aryaman and Nandini in every few minutes.

After sometime Manik noticed Aryaman take Nandini's hand and take her away from there; he got suspicious, he didn't like the smirk he saw in Aryaman's face; unless he was reading too much into things, Aryaman was upto something. He swiftly excused himself from Aliyaa and followed them; Aryaman was taking Nandini away from them towards a more secluded corner of the lounge; at that side there were only a few couples slow dancing to the music, it was darker there and it felt somehow more private. Manik's instinct took over as he stood in the shadow near the bar to keep an eye on them. They were slow dancing, immersed in each other's eyes he thought bitterly.

Aryaman was looking intently at Nandini and she looked back at him, visibly a little confused. He spoke, "My girl is here, she is dancing with him. Nandini this is the last step; either it works or it doesn't; from here our fake relation goes nowhere else. Okay? Thank You for helping me so far and sorry for what will happen now. I hope you will find it in yourself to forgive me, Nandini; this is my last attempt" he finished earnestly, his eyes were looking pained.

Nandini was startled, what was that? What did Aryaman just say she thought confused, but whatever happened next left her so shocked and numb that her entire being froze for a moment; Aryaman had suddenly cupped his hands around her face and gently pressed both his thumbs over her lips in crisscross and pressed his lips on them; for a moment in state of a freeze, even Nandini thought Aryaman was kissing her, but she realized his thumbs were keeping their lips from meeting; even then the proximity repelled her but before she could choose to act she felt someone pull away Aryaman from her and the next moment, Aryaman was on the floor with a blue-black jaw and a slightly bruised and bleeding lip. She turned around in shock to see Manik massaging his knuckles with fury written all over his face; he has the one who pulled them apart and punched Aryaman; but why thought Nandini confused as she bent down to pull Aryaman up to his feet in reflex. She was scared, worried, confused, and relieved at being pulled apart from Aryaman, all at the same time. She knew, Aryaman wasn't kissing her, although she wasn't okay with the proximity, but she wasn't miffed with him either, wasn't he saying a few strange things before pulling this act? There ought to be an explanation, she trusted him.