HIS CHOCOLATE
"Hello Maanik, beta Nandini tumhare sath hai kya?" Nandini's mom asked Maanik who was on the other side of receiver half asleep as it was 7 in the morning.
Maanik immediately opened his eyes completely as soon as he heard Nandini's mom, "What? No aunty"
"Accha? Pata nahi ye ladki kaha chali gayi subah subah. Kal se hi weird behave kar rahi thi wo, mujhe tension ho rahi hai Maanik" Nandini's mom told Maanik about her worries regarding Nandini.
"Aunty, you don't worry. I know wo abhi kaha hogi. I will go and talk to her. You don't stress yourself okay, I will handle her" Maanik said assuring Nandini's mom that he would talk to Nandini and will take care of her.
"I know beta, thank you, wo ese bhi tumhari hi baat sunti hai" Nandini's mom said closing her eyes in relief as she was well aware of the fact that only Maanik can handle her daughter in her upset or angry state.
"Aunty, aap tension mat lo. Mai uss se baat kar ke use ghar drop kardunga" Maanik assured Nandini's mom once again before putting the receiver down.
Maanik got ready as fast as he could. Picking up his blazer from the bed, he almost ran outside of his home answering to his mom who asked him where he was going early morning, "Mom, Nandini".
Maanik's mom didn't question him anymore knowing very well what importance Nandini held in her son's life. Nandini was more like a daughter to her than her friend's daughter. She always adored them together.
Getting on the bike, Maanik rushed his bike to the direction where he knew Nandini must be. After fifteen minutes of driving, he stopped his bike near the tree and took off the helmet while getting down the bike.
Setting his messed hairs due to helmet, his gaze fell on her. She was sitting near the lake which was around 10 minutes away from her home. It used to be very quiet and lonely place as no one used to go there. Nandini used to be there whenever she was upset or angry.
He smiled looking at her back and appreciated himself mentally for knowing her too well to be wrong at anything related to her. He slowly walked towards her, taking utmost care not to make any sound and settled beside her. She was too lost in herself to acknowledge him.
Maanik was somewhat shocked and surprised to see his chatter box quite today. He soon noticed the tears which were rolling down her whitish cheeks making them to turn reddish. Worry instantly took over him. Placing his hand on her shoulder, he softly whispered, "Chocolate".
Hearing his voice, Nandini turned her face towards him. She smiled through her tears knowing no matter what he would always be there for her whenever she would need him and today he proved it once again.
Maanik's worried expression was about to change into a relieved one but her next act made his worries double. Seeing him, her rolling tears turned into sobs and sobs turned into hysterical cries. Before he could ask her anything, she wrapped her arms around his neck and started weeping badly.
Maanik immediately encircled his hands around her waist protectively taking her his embrace. He asked her caressing her hairs, "What happened Chocolate? Why are you crying?"
She didn't answer anything but with every passing second her sobbing was increasing and so as Maanik's tension. Maanik started rubbing her back to calm her down. For him, calming her down was more important at that point of time. Once she relaxes a bit, he would deal with the reason of her tears.
He could feel his shirt was getting drenched by her tears. He couldn't take her tears anymore. It was piercing him in his heart seeing her vulnerable condition.
He forcefully pulled her out of hug as she wasn't ready to leave him. He wiped her nonstop falling tears and softly said, "Chocolate".
She was not in condition to respond him. She kept letting her eyes flow. Wiping her tears again, Maanik held her face by keeping his both palms on her cheeks and made her look towards him, "Look at me, Chocolate look at me please".
Though only he knew the extent of anger was bubbling inside him seeing her in that condition, but he knew had to take her softly. She was just 16 and too sensitive to witness his anger. He was 20... four years older than her. Right from her birth, when he was just 4, he had been protecting and pampering her. He never ever raised his voice in front of her neither he did let anyone else to do so, nor even to her parents. But today's her condition had awaken the beast in him. Whatever or whoever the reason of her condition, her tears was... now would have to face the beast in him. But now Nandini was more important for him.
Nandini was calming down slowly hearing his soothing voice. He was no less than a magic for her. He cupped her cheek assuring her, "I am here na Chocolate. Please stop crying princess. You do know that I can't see you crying right?" Nandini nodded her head in agreement.
"That's like my chocolate. Now no more crying, okay?" He told her looking into her eyes. "And now tell me what's wrong with you? Aunty told me you were behaving weird from yesterday". As soon as he finished his sentence, he received a smack on his shoulder by Nandini for calling her behaviour weird.
He laughed a little seeing the cute frown on her face. She was glaring at him angrily. He put his down in front of surrendering her, "Okay okay... sorry I mean why were you crying?" making an apologetic face.
"Navya" she finally uttered something. He was somewhat happy, at least she said something.
Maanik asked her, "Navya what Chocolate?"
"Navya is not talking to me. Harshad was misbehaving with me. He forcefully hugged me in school and when Navya came, he told her that I was hugging him and I am trying to snatch him from her. [ Navya and Harshad were in relationship]. Maanik tum...tumhe lagta hai mai esa kar sakti hu? Mujhe to wo Harshad pasand bhi nahi hai. Navya broke our friendship and she... she said so many things to me. She...she said that I am really mean and selfish. An...and she said I can't see the people close to me happy. Le...lekin Maanik... maine kuch nahi kiya... sachhi..." Nandini said swearing to god. Her voice was shaking and words were stammering.
"I... I didn't do anything... Maanik... you trust me na?" she asked him by holding his hand tightly. Her mind was twirling with insecurities and questions. She just wanted to hear from him that she is not bad.
He was all red due to the anger as Nandini told him about Harshad's disgusting act and Navya's accusations. Maanik was aware of Nandini and Navya's friendship. Navya was Nandini's best friend... of course after him. But he could see how much Navya's accusations had hurt her. She started thinking that she is bad, she snatches other's happiness.
"Of course I trust you Chocolate. Ye bhi koi poochne ki baat hai? And ye sab bakwas hai. Don't think about all this. You are not bad. Navya must had said that in anger. I am sure she didn't mean that."
He was trying his best to convince her about Navya's intentions though he was very angry at her for saying all this rubbish to Nandini but he knew Navya was a nice girl, Harshad must had influenced her and more importantly Navya mattered to Nandini very much, and Maanik could move earth and heaven for happiness.
"And listen, aaj bol diya lekin fir kabhi mat bolna. You... you can never snatch anyone's happiness. You are the sole reason of my happiness. You are the reason of my smile. And I can do anything for your happiness, got it?" he said taking her hand in his. She smiled a little hearing his assurance about her goodness.
She hugged him feeling safe and protective in his arms. Though she was too young to understand the growing feelings inside her, but her heart deep inside very well knew...
NOBODY CAN TRUST HER THE WAY HE DOES
NOBODY CAN SUPPORT HER THE WAY HE DOES
NOBODY CAN CONSOLE HER THE WAY HE DOES
NOBODY CAN PAMPER HER THE WAY HE DOES
NOBODY CAN CARE FOR HER THE WAY HE DOES
NOBODY CAN CALM HER DOWN THE WAY HE DOES
NOBODY CAN MAKE HER FEEL SAFE THE WAY HE DOES
NOBODY CAN FIGHT FOR HER THE WAY HE DOES
NOBODY CAN BEAR HER TANTRUMS THE WAY HE DOES
NOBODY CAN MAKE HER FEEL SPECIAL THE WAY HE DOES
NOBODY CAN LOVE HER THE WAY HE DOES
Maanik too was aware of Nandini's special feelings towards him. But he would wait... he would wait till his little lady gets mature and sensible enough to completely understand his love. He would never like her innocence to fade by his hurry. But one thing was for sure, she would be his and only his one day.
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Writer: IAdoreYou
