Old wounds that weep sour.

That night I spent listening to Honey Singh songs. The songs were really good and groovy. I felt silly that Honey Singh was such a big star and I didn't know him. "I'll tell Manik that I learnt that song and also Blue eyes!" I thought happily waiting for the night to end.

Blue eyes, hypnotize teri kardi hai mainu! I swear chhoti dress mein bomb lagdi mainu!! ;D

Next day came soon, much to my hatred. I am still sleepy. "I have to meet Manik! ABCD! Blue eyes! Get up Nandini!!" I murmur and get up, but there is this little pain in my lower stomach. Ignoring that, I get up and get ready for school.

"Mom I have little pain here" I say pointing towards my lower stomach. "Baby, if it's paining much then you should not go school" Mom suggests. "No mom, I have test today, I can't miss school." I say, because I have to see Manik, my heart says.

I come to school to see the school like always, chirping. The top of the building was covered with fog, beautiful. I met Radhika on the way and we both keep our bags together in the class. I just step out of the class and bump into Manik.

"I am sorr... Manik!!" I smile seeing him.

He sees me and smiles a bit but covers it with a frown and goes past me without saying anything. Radhika looks at him and then at me saying "You guys fought again?"

"No Radz, we didn't fight. I don't know what happened to him." I say looking at Manik.

Like daily, I wait for Manik to join me but today when he came out, he didn't even look at me and went away from me. I am still thinking what went wrong because yesterday everything was good, in fact it was better than all of the days.

"Another tantrum queen! Nandini lets move down. We'll ask him later" Radhika tells me and I go with her, my morning somewhat spoiled.

During the prayer, Manik was silent, unlike he does daily. He wasn't whispering and pestering Cabir, he wasn't pulling my hair, he wasn't getting bored of Principal's lecture, and he didn't even look at me. In short, he wasn't Manik, Manik- my best friend.

"Manik"

"Maanikkk"

"Maan-nikk!" I whisper-sing this time

"Manik!"

"What!!" He whisper shouts this time.

Déjà vu! (Special cucumber recipe)

"I learnt the YoYo Honey Singh rap you sang yesterday" I say gleefully.

"So?" he asks with a bored face.

"So...? Arey, you know I also learnt a few more songs" I tell.

"So?"

"What is up with your 'so'?" I ask partly annoyed.

"Nandini, there are a lot of people who already know his songs. You have not achieved any milestone by doing that, stupid." He says with a bored face, a hint of mockery shone beneath.

"Manik, why are you saying like this?" Aviral says from his behind. "At least talk nicely. Where is your chivalry?" he adds.

"No Aviral, its fine. Let him say whatever he wants." I say, my mood totally off. Of course, I am stupid. I didn't know about YoYo Honey Singh.

The rest of assembly, we were quiet. I didn't say a word. Moving silently to the class I sit beside Alya.

"It's okay, he'll get fine in sometime." Alya consoles me.

I see Manik coming towards the seat but the next thing he does totally confuses me. Manik picks his bag, goes and sits with Sahil, third row last seat, away from all of us.

This, my heart, is thudding in my chest and I don't know what to do. I get up to go to him and ask the issue but class teacher enters and I am unable to talk to him. I turn back to see him but he is the same, busy talking to Sahil, as if I don't exist.

Time passes and it is the 4th period. I turn time to time to see him but he is busy ignoring me. The pain in my stomach grew sharper and harsher and I lost the strength to stand up.

What happened to him?

Gathering all my strength, I go to him. My vision all blurry, pain increasing, I stand holding the table as my only support.

"Sahil, could you please leave for a minute?" I ask Sahil politely.

"Sahil won't go anywhere. Why are you here?" Manik asks without looking at me.

"I am here because you don't want to talk but I need answers." I say sternly. "Manik what happened?" I add softly.

"If I am not talking to you that means I don't want to talk. Can't you get that in your little brain?" he says rudely.

"Why?" I say, my voice breaking. "Why did you change your seat?" I add, almost in a whisper.

"Because I... *deep inhaling* Nandini please leave" he says steel-ly.

"I want to know the goddamn reason!" I ask sternly

"BECAUSE I HAVE LOST A LOT OF TIME BEHIND YOU AND I HAVE OTHER FRIENDS ALSO! GOT THAT!?"

"What?" I whisper in disbelief.

"I have other friends also. YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE MS. MURTHY!" He shouts angrily. Now the whole class is looking at us.

I look at him, my breaths heavy.

A crashing sound comes from inside my chest.

Heartbreak?

"I hate you Manik" I say angrily yet meekly. My vision blurry, throat paining, nose red.

I hate you Manik.

My stomach almost about to explode, I turn my head towards my back and with the support of tables I go out of the class, as soon as could. Radhika comes from behind and holds my shoulder.

"Nandini..." she says softly.

"Radhika, can you please tell Roshi ma'am that I want to go home? I am not feeling well." I say not looking at her. She takes me to the sick room and I lay there. The room is dark and empty. I burry my head deep in the pillow and squall. I cry loud. Thankfully nobody was there to witness this. Crying, I close my eyes and recall everything that happened today.

What went wrong?

Half an hour later, a maid comes and informs me that Daddy has come to pick me up. She brings my bag from the class and I go and hug Daddy, my tears not ceasing to flow out.

"Everything will be fine" Daddy kisses my head and I leave with him.

I hate you Manik.

______________________________________

A/N: I wrote this chapter after putting the entire Mt. Everest on my heart. 

"Where there is love, there is pain. And when there is pain, there is realization of Love!" 

(I know this is lame. I suck at poetry.)