It's been a week since I and Manik are sitting separately. After coming back to class that day, I saw my bag on previous seat near Manik, he had changed it. After asking a lot of questions to me and checking it with Vanshika, he got somewhat convinced but is still skeptical.

He comes to my seat after every class gets over, talks nonsense and when teacher comes he goes back to his place. During the class, if I look at him I always find him looking at me. Though teachers have caught him many times, he always shrugs it making lame excuses. On the other hand, I and Alya have become really good friends. She and Manik are in this school since nursery while others joined on the way. Together they all are since Grade 3 and I suddenly start to miss my old friends.

"You know, Manik used to call me Ms. Kurkure" Alya makes a bored face.

"He gives creepy nicknames. Unfortunately mine has become quiet famous now" I say palming my face, then giving a helpless smile to Alya who is now laughing hard.

"You know, in Grade 2, once it was raining in the morning. Guard uncle was about to close the main gate when suddenly Manik pushed him and ran outside the school. When Guard uncle bought him back inside, he was holding two pups in his hands. On being asked by Principal Ma'am, he told that when he was coming to school he saw them getting drenched but he got late and gate was going to get closed. When everybody expected that he will get scolded, he was applauded for his act in front of whole school." Alya ends dreamily smiling. "He loves animals, but his mum doesn't like them so they don't have pet at home." Alya adds.

Manik definitely loves animals. I have seen him giving his purposely-left food to stray dogs after school gets over a lot of times. I have seen him pouring water for birds from his water-bottle that stay on terrace staircase, even when that area is prohibited.

"Manik and I were really good friends and then you came into picture and...." Alya continues and stops abruptly looking at me.

"And?" I ask.

"An...and now we all are best friends." she ends smiling, bringing the same on my face.

"You know Nandini, Alya was a crybaby in Grade 2" Radhika comes into picture.

"And also Shweta Ma'am fed her food with her hands because she was always crying" Mukti joins.

"Why were you always crying?" I ask. "Because Manik always called her Kurkure and teased on purpose" Radhika says.

"Shut up you ALL!" Alya yells and we three burst in laughter, while Alya also joins the laughter riot after few seconds of fuming.

A few minutes of hearty conversation, I suddenly take out a chocolate from my pocket asking my girls if they want.

"Who gave you this?" Mukti asks.

"Manik gave in the recess." I reply casually opening the wrapper.

"Nice joke" Radhika says.

"But I am not joking. Manik only gave me this." I say. Hasn't he given them chocolate ever?

"But Manik never shares his chocolate with anyone, like NEVER!" Alya speaks up, and the three start eyeing me with wide eyes.

What? Really? Manik has given me so many chocolates that I have lost count. He gives them almost daily. Sometimes a whole bar or else a bite, when he doesn't have two.

"I have given her" I hear Cabir saying  looking at me. "I asked her not to take my name so she took Manik's." he adds.

Why is he lying? He never ever did any sort of that thing!!!

I look at Cabir with confused eyes and he blinks them assuring something, maybe that he'll handle these girls, I don't know.

"I want my chocolate!" Mukti slams at Cabir.

"You snatched my chocolate last week! I want it right now!" Radhika hits Cabir on his arm and now three of them are running behind each other, hitting and playing. Very soon the game has three more players- Aviral, Yash and Manik. Of course, how can these boys stay behind when their favorite game is being played!?

"Wait! Let me also join!" Alya runs to them and gets in the game.

But, wait!

Did Manik never give chocolates to anyone? Why did Cabir lie?

I need answers right now!

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A/N: Don't forget to vote!