"Aiyappa, aj toh apne bacha lia, how weird he was! Koi kisiko aise kaise kiss karta hai, yucks mera toh head pain karna start ho gaya just by going close to him" said Nandini catching her breath as she leaned over a pillar at the corridor.
"Wah Nandini, you have nailed it totally, ate hi fab 5 ke leader se takkar. Maan gayi tumko, aj tak koi nahi bach paya unke bullying se. Pata hai, Mukti nei toh mere dress ke ander cockroach dal dia tha" said Navya.
"Kitne ghatiya log hai yeh, kisi ke kamzori ka faida uthana its not good. I just hate these kinds of people. And Cabir who inke sath friends hai, I am going to inform chachi about this" said Nandini.
"Cabir, ko kaise janti ho tum?" asked Navya with a chocked expression.
"Unfortunately, he is my cousin now let's go I don't want to be late for my class, by the way Navya can you come to my home after the class? I need to see which chapters are done, I have started late na, isliye" said Nandini.
"Koi baat nahi, zyada kuch nahi hai I will show you," said Navya and both of them went to class.
In the music room, Manik was sitting with his guitar and playing a tune. Aliya, Mukti and Dhruv were just sitting as well. Cabir entered, "hello, guys what's going on? Sab kuch itna thanda kyo hai?" he asked.
"Arreh, aj we could not rag a girl toh not feeling accomplished," said Mukti. "What? Who saved her from fab 5?" asked Cabir.
"Kisine save nahi kia, she saved herself by hitting Manik with her foot" Dhruv described everything.
"That girl has to pay for it," said Manik. "Accha don't be angry, you know my cousin has also joined this college, who bechari science department mei sar rahi hogi, I should meet her and check that she is ok, otherwise my mom and Chachi are going to screw me" said Cabir.
"Wow, your cousin, humse vi mila, do one thing just bring her here" said Mukti.
Cabir nodded and went to meet Nandini.
"Finally, the day is over, it started at a bad note but then the classes were good" said Nandini.
"Ha, hum toh dar hi gaye the" said Navya.
"Oye Nandu tu iss black and white Madhubala ke sath kya kar rahi hai?" asked Cabir as he reached up to Nadnini.
"I don't want to see your face, you know what your friend tried to do with me? These tacky people are your friends?" said Nandini in disgust.
Cabir got shocked "What happened?" he asked .
Nandini told him the whole story. Cabir banged his head on the nearby wall, "Nandu, plz ma ko kuch mat bolna, I promise aisa fir kabhi nahi hoga" pleaded Cabir.
"Nandini iss kei baaton mei mat ao, aunty ko sab bata dena" advised Navya.
"Madhubala, tu iss mei mat par" said Cabir.
"Mujhe kuch nahi sunna, I am going home" said Nandini and Navya followed her as she showed her tongue to Cabir.
"Cabir, beta ab toh tu gaya. Nandini tujhe nahi choragi"said he.
At, Nandini's house,
"wah, Nandini your house is so big and beautiful," said Navya.
"It's our ancestral house, we are a joint family. Chachi and mom never differentiated between the kids, seems like we have two mothers. Ya they are a bit strict on Cabir but I think he deserves it" said Nandini as they laughed.
Nandini's chachi and mom welcomed Navya and they were getting along good. Then Nandini's dad and uncle arrived. Nandini introduced Navya to them.
"It's good that you are making new friends, where is Cabir? Make sure that you guys are not late for the dinner invitation and Navya beta you two also join us" said Nandini's father as he went upstairs.
"What invitation? " asked Nandini .
"Your dad's old friend and business partner is hosting a dinner party tonight, he has been to abroad for a long time. And we two families have been away for a long time so by this chance, we could be able to meet up" said Nandini's chachi.
"I'm not a fan of the lady of his house, that woman is too proud of herself and just mean. But we have to endure her for one night. Chalo tum log vi ready ho jao and uss Cabir ko mai phone lagati hu" said Nandini's mom as she walked away.
"Chachi, seems like mom really dislikes that woman, she had a disgusting expression on her face while talking," said Nandini.
"Ha beta, woh that woman, your dad's friend's wife is very snooty and mean kind of person. She is the second wife and only married the rich businessman for money. She is not friendly at all, but we will have to deal with this, one dinner does n't harm" said Nandini's chachi.
Cabir came home. Navya thought of teasing him "ha chachi you are right, we will deal with this" she said by looking at Cabir.
"Mar gaye, seems like they are talking about me" murmured Cabir.
He reached down to the feet of his mom "Ma, mujhe maaf kardo aisa kabhi nahi hoga" he said.
Nandini and Navya were laughing.
"Nalayak !ab tune kya kardia?" she asked by holding his ear and bringing him up.
"kuch nahi" said he nervously and went upstairs.
After a while, Nandini and Navya came down. Nandini was wearing a white kamiz with deep blue churidaar and dupatta of the same color. Her hair was straight but was banged from the downside and Navya had worn a purple salwar kamiz that was Nandini's, she could not go to hostel. All of them went to the venue of the dinner.As they reached there Cabir yelled "OMG!" Nandini looked at him with confused look but he stayed silent and she ignored him.
They went inside the beautiful bungalow "wow the interiors look very classy and expensive" said Nandini.
"Ha, pura palace hai" said Navya.
Cabir was silent and was biting his nails in tension.
The host couple arrived and Nandini's dad hugged the man. The woman and Nadini's mom hugged each other with fake smiles on their faces.
"Nandini, yeh wahi hai Mrs. Neyonika Malhotra just look at her how fake she will act" whispered Nandini's chachi.
"Nandini, beta you have now grown up, I last met you when you were just 7" said Mr. Malhotra.
"Itni vi badi nahi hui, height dekhiye" said Cabir teasing Nandini and she pinched him.
Everyone laughed.
"I think she looks very beautiful and her height is just fine" said Neyonika.
Nandini smiled. Nandini felt that Neyonika was good.
"Accha, where is your son?" asked Nandini's father.
"Manik!" called Mr. Malhotra.
"Abbomb footega, Cabir tu kahi in logo ke beech shahid na hojaye, God save me" uttered he.
As Manik came down Nandini's eyes became wide in shock. Manik also had the same reaction on seeing her and both of them uttered "TUM?"
"Wow, you guys know each other" uttered Mr. Malhotra.
"Ha, uncle we are in same college that's why" said Cabir trying to cover up.
Manik greeted the elders.
Nandini's chachi spoke to Nandini's mom "di, yeh ladka kitna sohna hai na?" she asked.
" Itna vi sohna nahi hai" she uttered.
"He is so tall, just like you" said Nandini's father.
Manik smiled.
"That's great that you kids are friends, why don't you kids go and talk while we dig up some old stories. Manik be good to them" said Mr.Malhotra.
Manik nodded and they went outside to the poolside.
Near the pool,
Nandini and Navya were sitting at one side of a table and Cabir and Manik were sitting at the other.
"Aisa lagta hai, koi bura sapna hai, iss monster ke sath dubara, mera sar dard kar raha hai" said Nandini.
"Cabir, why did n't you tell me before that she is your sister, agar kehta toh mai ghar se bhag jata" said Manik.
"Dekho, you guys, fight karke koi faida nahi, you guys talk and settle your differences varna our parents will feel bad, come on. Madhubala lets leave them alone" said Cabir as he gestured Navya to stand up.
Navya patted on Nandini's shoulder and went away with Cabir.
Nandini was holding her head with a frowned face.
"See, I know I should not have done like that, so can we forget and move on?" asked Manik.
"What move on! By your attitude it's clear that you are not sorry at all you are only doing this out of formality, you mean monster" said Nandini angrily.
Manik was also angry, he tried to be nice but now she had asked for it. "Monster, ha you want to see what a monster really does?" he said and went close to her, he held her by the arms and made her stand.
She looked into his eyes, "what are you doing?" she asked.
"Completing what I had left at the morning" saying this he looked at her plump lips, then all of a sudden he leaned in and kissed her on the lips.
Stunned for a few moments by his unexpected behavior, her eyes opened wide in shock. Then as his warm lips savored hers, sucking and teasing them, her body went numb for a moment. His hands left her arms and grabbed her waist, pulling her closer, crushing her against his chest. She struggled to get free but her reaction only made him kiss her more deeply. His lips became more impatient, yet at the same time more gentle; the anger had vanished, his body scent seemed to overwhelm her senses and she shivered in his arms.
To be continued...