Days and nights passed in a jiffy..

Manik was busy at office with those occasional thoughts of her...

Routine wise, Manik had went to the Sports Complex in their Quarter for his regular workout after office hours, at evening.

The only difference today was, Nandini.

Yes! The girl who've been disturbing his mind since that Christmas night or rather her relation with that guy she was with to be specific.

He had contemplated with his mind a few times whether he should ask Cabir about that guy or not.

But then he chuck all those thoughts thinking why was he being so bothered about her life, her.

She could do whatever she wanted to. It should definitely be none of his concern or something that would require his acknowledgement.

After all who was he to her? A mere stranger who was supposedly her topic of teasing back in childhood..

Nandini was never a gym freak, she isn't now either. What brought her there was Aryaman.

He had called her to the cafeteria just outside the gym saying he had something important to tell her, which he couldn't say on phone.

"What happened Aryaman? You wanted to say something right?! Go ahead."

"Ahh it's nothing. I just wanted to talk to you in private." And then eyeing at Navya, he said, "But it seems you were in a mood of a friends' get together."

Both Navya and Nandini frowned at that. And then without any further words he left from there.

She found Navya, her best friend on the way while coming to the cafe, who tagged with her to meet Aryaman.

God knows for what reason he got hell pissed seeing her with Navya, that he refused to say anything to her at that time infront of Navya, Nandini thought.

And since the cafe was parted from the gym through a glass door, so she was clearly visible to him.

He could see the spiced up moment between them. But then thought he was invading their privacy by doing so..

He moved his eyes from them, but his mind and heart was constantly fighting between themselves to look at her just one more time again.

But he thought to go with his mind. Cause heart always thinks emotionally and mostly leads to wrong direction, according to him.

After almost half an hour of his heart-mind fight, he was done with his workout. Stepping out of the gym, he made his way to the cafe to fetch himself a veg sandwich.

Just then he noticed her. She was still sitting there, but alone. Lost in thoughts maybe. And probably she didn't notice him there.

Manik quickly took his tray of food from the counter and made his way to her. He didn't know why he was going to her, what'll he say to her or what might she think of him being there with her all on a sudden. It just happened, as if his feet had already decided what to do and lead him that way.

Reaching her, Manik cleared his throat just to get her attention. And asked as she looked at him, "May I?" pointing at the seat in front of her.

She just gave a small smile and nodded.

After a few moments of silence, Manik said, "What happened? You seem low.."

Nandini who was absent minded till now, came out of her chain of thoughts and said, "Uh nothing much.. just.. I don't know.."

With a sweet smile, he said, "It's ok. It's ok if you don't feel comfortable."

And added after a small pause, "But remember, you can share anything with me. I'll never judge you, trust me. Maybe I can help you out if you need me in anyway."

She felt the warmth radiating from his words giving her comfort, the much needed peace.

She smiled at contentment and shared the fiasco with Aryaman. How he had been behaving indifferent since few days.

Manik listened to every word that left from her mouth patiently and when she ended with a deep sigh, he said, "Don't stress so much. It's normal to have ups and downs in friendship. You listen what he wants to say first. Maybe it's not as big as you are thinking.. maybe it's some small issue.."

"Yaa. Maybe I'm just exaggerating things.."

And laughed saying, "By the way, thanks for hearing my shits non-stop with patience."

He too chuckled at that. And said, "Now that you seem to be back to normal, tell me what do you wanna take? Coffee?"

"No no. I'm cool! I don't wanna have anything. You please carry on with your food."

"Not happening miss! It is totally out of my mannerism to eat in front of someone who isn't taking anything!!" And declared, "I'm ordering a refreshing lemonade for you then. Wait."

And she chirped after taking a sip from her lemonade, "By the way, are you coming to the New Years party?!"

Manik opened his mouth to say something, but she herself added, "You can't say no ok! Papa & Bhai told me how a spoilsport you are, when it comes to gatherings. And Mr, if you say no na, then let me inform you, it'll not be my dad only this time, I'm in his side too."

Manik laughed and said, "Ok ok! I'll try to come. You don't need to threaten me."

Just then she received a call from Mrs Murthy saying she was needed in her house.

"I gotta go now. Mom is calling. And I'll see if you listen to this new friend of yours or let her down."

Manik genuinely smiled hearing her and nodded his head.

After she left, Manik was sitting there for some time lost in his thoughts.. somewhere he was kinda relieved hearing that Nandini and Aryaman were nothing but normal friends.

But Aryaman seemed something more than that to him, from his point of view.

He chuck those thoughts. And the moments spent with her brought a sweet smile on his face.

~•~