9. THE RIDE!

Paras is riding Nandini’s scooter with her sitting behind him who caged his waist in her tight grip. Her chin is settled on his left shoulder while she is almost hugging him from behind. 

Manik is following them in an auto and crying about his faith for denying Nandini’s offer. He curled his fingers into a fist when Paras applied the brake unnecessarily to bring Nandini closer. And on top of that, Nandini’s laughter echoed on the empty street making him sulk. 

Manik:- ( possessively ) why is she laughing at his jokes? She has no right to laugh at any other man except me! 

The auto driver:- ( looking at Nandini and Paras ) such a cute couple!…… ( asks Manik ) Nahi sir?……….. Aapke friends hai? ( such a cute couple!…….. No sir?………. Are they your friends? )

Manik:- ( while flaring his nose ) THEY ARE BROTHER AND SISTER!….. NOW, FOCUS ON DRIVING. Huh!!! ( looking at the Paras ) Bandar ke haath mein angoor………. ( cribbed ) Mumma!…

He cursed himself multiple times but the next scene makes his eyes come out when Nandini tilts Paras’ head backward and kisses him on his lips. Seeing the bold scene he cringed his face in disgust and yelled. 

Manik:- NO……………… IT’S YUCK!!!! NANDINI!…………. 

The next second, he shouts in pain because Nandini pinched him hard on his abs bringing him back from his dreamland. 

Manik:- ( rubbing his stomach where Nandini pinched a second ago ) Mumma………

Nandini:- oh…. The shy boy turned into Mumma’s boy. Why are you daydreaming? 

Manik:- ( confusingly ) Am I dreaming? 

He looks at his surroundings to find himself in the parking lot. He relaxed his raging heart seeing Nandini in front of himself and above all not kissing that PRINTING PRESS. But Nandini’s next question gives him a heart attack. 

Nandini:- Yes!… My shy boy. Now, say what you were dreaming? 

Manik:- ( with wide eyes ) No…

Nandini:- ( in a bossy tone ) Are you going to tell me or I will show you my karate skills? 

Manik’s eyes come out of their sockets seeing her karate moves. And trust me, Nandini is the girl who can do anything. He gulped hard, still refusing to say anything but how he could win against Nandini. 

Manik:- ( scaredly ) bolta ho… bolta ho… ( I am saying… saying… ) but first promise me that you won’t kick me after listening to my dream. 

Nandini:- ( rolling her eyes at his stupid promise ) fine!…. I will not break your balls. Ok? 

Manik’s cheeks turned red hearing her bold reply but alas he composed himself and took a deep breath before saying. 

Manik:- I saw you taking interest in that PRINTING PRESS and…….. and……. Kissing………….  him on the lips. 

Saying this he closes his eyes waiting for her reaction which comes another second with a loud shout and punch. He winces in pain after receiving the famous Nandini’s punch. 

Nandini:- ( angrily ) WHAT THE HELL!!!.……. Among all the handsome boys you find Paras for my first kiss. I mean seriously?……….. No Shahrukh, no Salman………. No Kartik Aryan….. But you find that EXPIRY PRINTING PRESS. 

Manik just looks down like an obedient student and takes all the scolding like an ideal husband. Whereas Nandini is not able to digest the fact he dreamt of her first kiss with Paras. 

Their husband-wife fight comes to an end when Paras enters the frame with a big grin because Nandini herself asks to drop him. 

Paras:- ( with a smirk ) Hey, Nandini. Sorry for the delay, you must be waiting for me…. No? I am extremely sorry for making a beautiful woman wait. 

Nandini:- ( with a lip tight smile ) Sorry to burst your bubbles, Paras. I wasn’t waiting for you. You are not some sale that I will wait for you to come. 

Manik chuckles seeing her comparing Paras with the sale while Paras’ face was worth watching. 

Nandini:- ( to paras ) come….. Let’s go. I am getting late. Bye Manik…. 

Manik:- ( sadly ) Hmmm……………………….

Paras agrees and looks at Nandini’s scooter only to cringe his face in disgust. 

Paras:- We are going back on this, Nandini? 

Nandini:- Yes!…. Why,…………. Is there any problem with it? 

Paras:- don’t you think that it’s a bit old? I mean it’s too old-fashioned. What will people say if they see me on it? Truly speaking, they will laugh at me. Sell it and get another two-wheeler in its place. 

Nandini’s temper was raised because she is very possessive of her scooter and she didn’t like when someone insulted her scooter. Her scooter is very close to her heart. 

Nandini:- thank you for the advice, Paras. I would like to give you some advice too, should I? 

Manik smiles brightly and crosses his hands around his chest waiting for a savage reply from her. In a true sense, he is waiting to see the Paras’ insult. 

Nandini:- you should donate your eyes because it is of no use. And it would be better if you donate your tongue and lips too because you don’t know how to use that except from kissing random girls. 

Don’t know why but Manik felt so good hearing Paras’ insult from her mouth and above that Paras’ expression is no less than some comedy scene. He wants to laugh out loud but he maintains it not wanting to enrage the tigress. But still, he wants to capture Paras’ expressions that’s why he is looking at him without blinking. 

Paras:- ( angrily ) you are ridiculous, Nandini. Such a useless creature…….. 

Nandini:- ya… ya… same like your lips, no? 

And this is the limit of Manik’s control. He laughs out loud seeing Paras’ wide-open mouth who is trying to digest his insult. If the situation would favor then he would dance seeing HIS FIERCE LADY’S FIERCE AVATAR. 

Paras almost ran away like a coward taking his fake arrogance. While here Manik gathers himself as he wants to take advantage of the situation. 

Manik:- ( nervously ) one second….. Nandini…… I forgot that today is a car strike. So I need a lift. Drop me home, please…… 

As soon as those words come out, a taxi driver stops in front of them. 

Taxi driver:- Sir, taxi? 

Nandini smirks while Manik palms his face. 

Nandini:- Kaka, is there a car strike today? 

Taxi driver:- Nahi bitiya…… ( no….. ) 

Nandini:- ( while raising her eyebrow ) So, Manik you can take this taxi. 

Manik gulps as he is stuck in the most hilarious situation. He wanted to go with Nandini but didn’t even want to say that. 

Manik:- wo…. Woh!…… I …….. 

Nandini understood his unsaid words and smiled because of unknown reasons. The feeling that she is feeling seeing his desperation to spend some time with her is something new for her. She never felt all this before. 

Nandini:- ( to the taxi driver ) Kaka, hume taxi nahi chahiye. Aap ja sakte hai. ( Sir, we don’t need taxi. You may go. ) 

Saying this, she starts her scooter while Manik sits behind her with a shy smile and holds her waist with shaking hands. He felt an electric jolt when his fingers touched her body although there was a barrier of clothes. 

Nandini:- Manik, are you touching any girl for the first time? 

Manik:- ( unknowingly ) No….. but this is our first physical touch that’s why I am nervous………… 

Saying this he stops in mid and realizes what shit he just said. The next second his ears turned red because of shyness. Whereas Nandini giggles cutely. 

Nandini:- You are so cute, Manik. And different too……. 

Manik’s whole body turned red after hearing her. But soon he composed himself and diverted her attention. 

Manik:- Nandini, it’s a 19’s model, right? ( refers to her scooter ) 

Nandini:- ( surprisingly ) How do you know, Manik? 

Manik:- I know much about two-wheelers. You can say I am a part-time mechanic. 

Nandini:- Oh……. 

Manik:- ( after a pause ) Is this scooter so precious to you? 

Nandini:- ( with a big smile ) yes….. How do you get to know that? 

Manik:- your eyes shine when you ride it and a girl who has a car but still chose to ride this old scooter, is rare right? 

Nandini:- Good observation, shy boy……………. By the way, It’s my dad’s scooter. My brother taught me to ride this scooter. He said that whenever you miss dad, ride his scooter and you will feel him near you when the fresh air touches your face. 

Manik:- you had a brother? 

Nandini:- yes…. In fact, he is married and has a cute little daughter too. And let me tell you she is a pataka……

Manik:- you mean to say, your second version? LITTLE PATAKA!…. 

He palmed his lips immediately and bites his tongue which slips again. 

To be continued…

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