The volunteer club members were at the orphanage and they started working on their tasks along with their partners. Nandini and Manik were working together and things were going fine. Nandini went away for sometime.

On her way back, she heard a few conversations of her club members and also observed that few people weren't focusing on their work.

Boy1 (junior) : "I have been trying to gain her attention from so many days. I even misbehaved today because she did and came here for her, but her eyes are on him. Also look at him, and his body. I am feeling so inferior to him. There is no way she is going to fall for me when he is around."

Boy2 (senior/partner) : "Don't lose hope. Even if she goes to him on her own, he isn't even going to take a look at her, let alone fall for her. So you don't have to worry that you will lose her to him. If you wish to we can change partners, I can get you to partner with her."

A little further,

Girl1 (junior) : "I was upset that I have to be here because of my misbehavior, but if I get to see a Greek god that too like this, then I don't mind being here everyday. How I wish he was my partner, I would have got a chance to attract him with my charm? .. By the way, I can do so even now."

She was about to go, but she was stopped by her partner.

Girl2 (senior) : "You can adore him how much ever you want but from far. Don't try to get close to him with that intention of yours, he isn't going to entertain you. If you still try to pursue him and end up upsetting him in the process, then god will only have to save you from his wrath."

Soon Nandini figured out that the source of distraction was Manik and the reason was that he had unbuttoned his shirt completely. She went to him and called him, but he didn't respond. He had closed his eyes and was using his AirPods, so she tapped on his shoulder.

Manik opened his eyes and she asked him to take off the AirPods with her actions.

Nandini : "What are you doing?"

Manik was annoyed by the tone Nandini used. He felt as though she was chiding him.

Manik : "I took a break, what's wrong in it? Even you went away for a while, didn't you?"

Nandini : "I am not talking about that .."

Manik : "Then.. I was listening to music. .. Don't tell me that you have problem with me listening to music just because you want to stay away from it."

Nandini : "I am not talking about that either. I am talking about this."

She pointed towards his upper body that was exposed because he had unbuttoned his shirt completely.

Manik : "It's my shirt that is unbuttoned and my body that is exposed, why is it bothering you?"

Nandini : "Look around .. others are looking at you and not focusing on what they should be doing."

Manik : "Then you should be talking to them and not me. Haven't they seen people modeling or swimming topless before, that they are looking at me like I am the 8th wonder for just having unbuttoned my shirt."

Nandini was getting annoyed with Manik's behavior.

Nandini : "Is a fashion show going on here? Or are you a model? Or does this place look like a swimming pool to you?"

Manik : "This place isn't a fashion show ramp or a swimming pool, but I am no less than a model."

Nandini : "It's no use talking to you."

Nandini went back to what she was doing. Manik calmed down after a while and he realized what he had done.

Manik's thoughts : "I have to be polite to her and make her fall for me, instead I got annoyed and upset her. Now what do I do, how do I rectify it."

Manik buttoned his shirt and then called her, but she didn't respond.

Manik : "Nandini .. listen.. I am not used to staying without an A.C. It is warm in here and I couldn't bear it, that's why I had to unbutton my shirt. I have buttoned it now, so that others start focusing on their work. Are you happy now?"

Nandini left from there.

Manik (to himself) : "What more does she expect me to do? She is behaving as though I am not her partner, but a subordinate. This suffocating environment and this irritating girl .. how am I going to stay calm and make progress. According to Cabir, joining the club was supposed to bring me closer to her, but this seems to be creating more problems."

Nandini came back after a while and handed him a table fan.

Nandini : "Hope this will solve your problem."

Rest of the day went without any issues.

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Next club meeting, Manik and Nandini were working on painting the walls. The paint got onto Manik's hands, and he wiped it off using the cloth his eyes fell on first.

When Nandini saw this,

Nandini : "Didn't you find anything else other than my dupatta to wipe off your hands? What problem do you have with my clothes?"

Nandini had kept her dupatta aside when she was painting.

Manik : "This is yours? It is so pale and dull that I thought it was a rag."

Manik's thoughts : "What problem will I have with your clothes, dealing with you is my problem?"

Nandini took her dupatta from his hands and went to wash it, but she couldn't get the paint off it, so she returned. He ended up upsetting her again though unknowingly, so he tried to rectify it.

Manik : "Look at the positive side, I turned your pale, colorless dupatta into a piece of art. By the way why do you wear such dull clothes?"

Nandini (murmuring) : "My clothes are just a mirror of my life. How nice it would have been if it was this easy to change my life as well. Adding color to clothes is easy, but to life is very difficult."

Manik : "Did you say something?"

Nandini : "No.. I didn't."

Manik wasn't someone who would apologize. He also didn't offer to pay to get the dupatta fixed or get a new one because of his previous experience with her.

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When it was time to go home, he offered her a ride.

Manik : "Shall I drop you home?"

Nandini : "No.. thanks. I will manage on my own."

Manik : "Your house is on my way home and also we leave from college around the same time to come here. When we have to take the same road and the destination is the same, what is the problem in commuting together. I don't offer to drop anyone just like that, I am doing so only because you are my partner."

Nandini : "We are partners only at the club that too only for a short time. It is the same with the road or the destination. When we know we are going to commute together only for a short time, wouldn't it be better to do so alone. The less we are close to each other, the easier it is going to be when it is time to part. Moreover, I don't want to spoil my habits. It will become difficult when I have to get back to it later."

Manik : "As you wish, the offer is open if you happen to change your mind in the future."

Manik bid bye to her and left. Nandini went on her way.

Manik's thoughts : "I am neither interested in commuting with you nor getting closer to you. I am doing all this only for Mukti. If not for her, things would have been different. I wouldn't have to bear you for long, I would have been done with you by now and I wouldn't have even bothered to look at you."

Manik's thoughts : "You try to stay aloof as much as you want, but I am not going to let you stay that way. You don't want to get closer to me, but the sole reason I am here is to make you fall for me. When it is time to part, it is definitely going to be difficult, not for me but for you. You will suffer the consequence of your misdeed. I will look forward to that day when I will be done with you and all this pretense."