Two weeks for final examination.

Winters have started.

Cold hands and red nose, white face and misty weather while sun peeping slowly, Morning Prayer at school in winters is always my favorite. I love it when friends put their hands in my blazer's pocket seeking warmth and that guilty-pleasure when you hold other's face with your extremely cold hands. Cold breath coming out from mouth and kids pretending as drinking cigrettes (lmao).
My other favorite thing was hiding the ID-card string inside the sweater when you forget to bring your card and your friend gives you theirs.

School life is such a blessing.

All the syllabus is covered and teachers do nothing except for giving revision test, for which I never prepared. I am entering the school and I hear Manik calling me from behind, his eyes puffy.

"Hi" he starts smiling weirdly.

"Hi, umm.. You look tired" I say.

"Arey no, nothing. Umm..., Nandini?" he says

"Yeah?"

"If I ask something, will you deny it?"

"It depends on what you ask"

*Deep inhaling-exhaling*

"You okay?"

*Quick sharp breath* "Canyoupleasespendtheentiredaywithme?

"Huh? What?"

"Can you spend the entire day with me?"

"What's there to ask? I already do, don't I?"

"No friends, not anyone, only me."

"Manik, are you okay? I mean you don't seem to be. I do stay with you all day."

"I know, but today you won't talk to anyone, only me, you'll sit beside me, you'll talk to only me and you'll share your lunch with only me. Please Nandini, please!?" he asks pleading.

"What's wrong?" I ask. He is behaving strange.

"Nothing. Don't ask questions na, please say yes." he asks frustated.

"Arey, what is there to say yes? You want me to sit beside you? What if ma'am asks?" I put a question.

"Tum humesha itna difficult kyu bana deti ho?"

"Tum humesha itne stubborn kyu hote ho?"

"Nandini please. I beg you!"

I look at him. Something is wrong, seriously.

"If I say yes, will you tell me what's wrong? I ask.

"So should I take it as a yes?" he asks smiling dimly.

And I blink my eyes, making him the happiest man on the earth.

And then the day started amd ended where I was not even allowed to talk to anyone. I was given teasing smiles by a lot of people but I was silly to understand that. Or I should say naive. Of course, there are people who grow 'over-mature' before time.

(I remember that I was asked 'what is sex' in grade 8th and I replied them- Sex means gender.  (Technically correct) *insert flat face emoji*)

If I say I didn't enjoy his company, declare me as a moron. I loved the day to the extent that I doubt I'll forget my name but not this day. BEST DAY EVER- Part 2. We were talking the whole day, everything from praising to bitching, from gossiping to bickering, from taunting to explaining. He helped me in the test, as usual but I was truly shocked when he chose to play badminton with me and refused to play football, which I thought was almost impossible to digest for the boys who heard this. I myself found my jaw touching the ground as he uttered those words. Am I that special to him?

The day passed in a blink, much to my dislike.

While coming down the staircase after school got over, I forgot my water-bottle in the class.

"I forgot my bottle in the class" I say to Manik who is coming down with me. We are on the first floor East staircase, near the water station. Water station is a place for memories. Mini Monster, remember? XD

"Wait, I'll bring" he puts his bag on the floor, gives me his blazer and football bag to me and goes up.

Manik.
The person who helped me on the second day of school. The person who considers me as his responsibility and I do care for him and get angry when he does something foolish. The person who is always there whenever I call him. The person who does everything to cheer me up.

Are these the things normal friends do?

Yes.

But no normal friend can almost knock out a person who touched me.

Best friend? Maybe...?

Yes, but do best friends punish themselves just because I got punished because of him, oh, or he just considers himself to be the reason?

No answer.

My cheeks have never turned pink the way they do when I talk to Manik or somebody else talks to me about him.

It won't be a lie if I say I come to school just to see Manik. Just to talk to him and savour the chocolates he gives me, every damn day. It feels so good when he refuses to talk to other people when he is talking to me and when he helps me in the tests, that I got to know quiet lately that he never helped anyone.

I do feel good. I do feel special.

I get this certain urge to punch in the face to people who talk bad about him. I am just an average student and he tops almost all the exams, still he considers me as his best friend.

Why is he so special to me? Or why am I so special to him?

Am I breaking the promise I made to Mom?

Yes Nandini, You are.
.
.
Why does it feel not good yet so good?

No answer.

Damn.

"Hellllooooo!! Am I invisible?" Manik waves his hand in front of me.

I return to reality. He is standing in front of me, is backpack on his shoulder and looking at me if I have grown horns on my head.

"What is wrong? I have been calling you for five minutes now. Where are you lost?" he asks.

"Uh.. Er.. Ugh...Um..*sigh*"

"Huh? I don't understand language by the way." he looks at me flat faced.

"Hmmph. Nothing. I was thinking something." I say finally forcing some meaning words from my mouth.

"You shouldn't try things you have never done before" he replies simpering.

"Very funny." I spat and force his blazer and football bag into his stomach.

"Ouch!" he says laughing now and following me.

We have reached the ground floor and there are very less people now.

"Achha baba, sorry." he says controlling his smile.

"You should be." I say finally looking at him.

"A for...?" he asks out of nowhere.

"What?" I ask.

"A for....?" he asks again.

"Umm.. Apple?" I say confused.

"Nah, Aao re aao." he says.

"What rubbish." I say again chuckling.

"B for...?"

"Ball...?

"Bhao na khao, C for?"

"Chimpanzee..?" Lol, cat was easier.

"Chilla ke gao. D for daaru peete jao..." and he continues with song rap.

"What is this?" I ask him about the weird Alphabet thing he sang.

"Oh, have you not heard about Yo Yo Honey Singh?" he asks.

"N..no..?"

"You should listen. He sings raps. I know a bit. Listen to this-

"Raat ko hoga hungama
Jab chamkega chanda mama
Suit boot ko goli maro
Pehan ke aa jaao pajama

Pajama loose loose
Butter chicken and some booze
Kudiyon ka laga hai buffet
Chaahe jo kar lo choose!"

" *gasps*Butter Chicken!" I say suddenly, my eyes shining.

"You heard only Butter Chicken in the whole what I sang!?" he asks me in disbelief.

"Hehehe" I laugh sheepishly emabarassed.

Manik looks at me in awe, his eyes glassy. "What will I do without you?" he murmurs.

"Did you say something?" I ask, because he was not clear with his words.

"You are cute."

"I know, thanks." I wink showing my teeth.

"I can never forget today" he says holding my hand.

"Me too." I look at him smiling, my cheeks pink.

"I am sorry." he says after a pause.

"Huh? For what?" I ask.

"Nothing. Umm... because Anil Bhaiyya is waiting for you and you may miss your bus...?" he says slyly.

"Oh shit!! I totally forgot. Bye!" I say and turn but he doesn't leave my hand.

"Manik leave my hand. I am getting late!" I ask pulling my hand away from his clutch.

"I am sorry." he murmurs again, his eyes never leaving mine.

"If I miss my bus today, then you should definitely be!" I again pull my hand. I feel his palm sweaty

Slowly, he finally leaves my hand and I instantly feel weird. Urghh.

Shaking such stray thoughts away, I run towards the bus, but Manik keeps standing at the same place. I wave at him until the bus leaves the premise but

Manik keeps standing

and looking at me

lost.
_______________________________

A/N: I don't know how to put this forward but I am glad that my sister bought my diary with her for some mean reasons (we are out of town for a few days) so I am putting up this chapter through phone. But why that bitch couldn't just give it to me earlier😒.