Manik

(Austria)

'Arrey, no!! I'm telling you its true. You just think about it. Before this, nobody had even seen what NM looks. And now, everybody's sure she's dead! I mean when you haven't ever seen her, how do you know she's dead! She IS alive. I know it.'

'Come on, Navya! This is nonsense. What has gotten into you ?'

'Cabir! It's not nonsense. Just think once. Two weeks ago......'

I chuckled to myself as both their voices faded in the background as Navya followed Cabir to the store room at the back of the shop. Navya and her obsession with the mafia world!! I seriously think she was some gangster in her past life. She has been obsessed with this idea since the past two weeks, ever since the news of NM's murder came, that she is alive and is in hiding. She has been trying to convince others of this too. Poor Cabir has been seriously contemplating on visiting a psychiatrist.

Cabir came in view from where he had disappeared sometime back with an exasperated look on his face and a blabbering Navya behind him. He gave me a helpless look, silently asking me to save him from his near crazy girlfriend.

I grinned at him and decided to tease him a little more. I shifted a little in my place to have a clear view of Navya who had just exited the same room saying something about NM being very cold hearted. I decided to jump in at that moment.

'Umm, Navya! I wanted to tell you something. I think you are right about NM being alive. Obviously, how would you know somebody is dead without ever having seen the person, right! Did you tell Cabir about your theory of NM being underground?'

Navya's face lit up at my appreciation and she said, 'Even you agree, right? I was about to tell him about that next.'

With that she turned her attention back to Cabir and began rambling about how she knew for sure that NM was in hiding, in some corner of the world and was, maybe, planning her move in silence. 

I chuckled at her weird obsession and theories while Cabir was giving me murderous glares. I turned my attention back towards the guitar in my hand that I had been tuning completely ignoring him. I gently stroked the strings and smiled because of the peace this single instrument of music gave me. 

Music is my life. From ever since I remember, I had music with me. Other than my music, the only constant in my life is Cabir, my best friend, my brother. Cabir became my friend in music school. He had come from India to learn music here. After the completion of our course he decided to stay back. That was when we came up with the idea of opening a shop of musical instruments. We had instruments from all around the world but guitar was my favourite.

Even though its only been a few years knowing Cabir, I feel as if we have been friends our whole lives. He knows me like no other. All my strengths and weaknesses, my fears and insecurities, nothing is hidden from him.

I glanced back at the couple in front of me and found Navya still blabbering while Cabir looked, well, like he had been given the biggest punishment of his life. It was after we had opened this shop, that, one day, Navya had come in looking for a harmonica to gift to her father on his birthday. She is a fashion photographer working for a lifestyle magazine. Cabir and Navya clicked instantly and have been inseparable ever since.

Well, except for when she get into her super-mafia-obsessed mode. Imagine Cabir's surprise when he came to know that his innocent looking, talkative girlfriend was this obsessed with the gangster life!!

By now, Cabir looked about ready to tear his hairs out of his scalp. I tell you, Navya can literally talk anybody's ear off once she starts talking. The girl talks non-stop.

I decided it was enough torture for Cabir for a day. I looked at the clock. It was nearing 4 o' clock. Perfect!

I placed my guitar back in its place and moved towards Cabir and Navya, who were standing by the rack of electric guitars. Upon reaching them, I said, 'Aren't you getting late, Navya? You have a meeting at 5:30, right?'

She looked at the clock and realised she was running late. Her office was almost an hour's distance from our shop. Shrieking, she quickly collected her belongings all the while muttering, 'I'm late! I'm late! Oh God no!' She muttered a quick, 'Bye' to the both of us and rushed towards the door.

'Careful, Navya. Message me once you reach there,' Cabir called from behind. Navya waved her hand towards us without looking back, indicating she heard him and moved out the door.

Shaking is head, Cabir turned towards me, 'That girl! Unbelievable!' And then, coming towards me, he continued saying, 'And so are you. You were enjoying a lot at my expense some time back.' I immediately shook my head and making the most innocent face that I could muster, I said, 'Are you mad!!I would never even dream of doing something like that to you! You don't trust me? Don't you know me?' I faked hurt and Cabir rolled his eyes leaning on the counter, across from me.

Looking straight at me, he said, 'I know you all too well, that's why.' I grinned and nodded my head saying, 'That's true!'

Before we could say anything else, the door of the shop opened and in came two very beautiful girls. One was tall and slender with long straight hair, dressed in shorts and crop top. While, the other was a little short and petite with chubby cheeks. Her hair was medium length and wavy. She was wearing jeans with crop top.

Both of them approached us and the tall girl smiled at us. They came up-to where we were and the tall girl said, 'Hey, do you guys have some guitar strings?'

I smiled and said what I always say to new customers, 'Why do I feel that you are not here only for the guitar strings?'

The short girl who hadn't shown any interest in her surroundings up until now, suddenly became defensive saying, 'What do you mean?'

She stared at me as if she dared me with her eyes to answer that question, while the tall girl looked at her a bit uncomfortably. She nudged the short girl a little with her elbows motioning a silent 'No' to her. I was amused.

'I said, I don't think you came here just for the guitar strings,' I replied smirking.

She was fuming. Looks like I had just hurt her ego. 'You....', she was about ready to attack me but her companion held her back, whispering fiercely, 'What are you doing? Just let it be!'

I don't know why but I was really enjoying riling her up. And, plus, she was so easy to tease. It was fun watching her getting all worked up over nothing. Her body posture and her facial expressions, especially her eyes, all made her look dangerous. Yet, for some reason, I knew she wouldn't hurt me. This thought itself made me curious. Who is she?

Her companion held her hand tightly as if stopping her from doing something. Ideally, I should not instigate her further. She was a customer and I was purposefully making her angry. Yet, I could not stop myself from doing it once again.

'Aren't you a wild one.' Where is this coming from? Now I am sure Cabir is going to beat the crap out of me. What am I doing?

The girl looked perplexed for a second, as if she could not believe what she just heard. Hell, I can't believe what I just said!! She gritted her teeth but before she could say or do anything, Cabir jumped in between.

'O...Okay, okay! That's enough now,' he said standing in front of me. Turning to me, he said, 'Manik, why don't you go and make yourself useful. Go and check if Evelyn is done with her work or not. We don't have a whole day to waste on a single job.'

One look at his expression told me it would be good for my own health to do as he said. So, I decided it was time for me to take their leave and try not to come in front of Cabir for the rest of the day.

'Aye, aye, Captain,' I mock-saluted him and left from there grinning widely while he rolled his eyes. I crossed both the girls and winked at the short one.

'Manik!', Cabir warned from behind.

'All right! I'm leaving!,' I said raising both my hands in surrender.

I left from there with an ear to ear smile. My mind went back to the short, feisty girl. Her temper and her attitude surely was something! It was evident how confident and fearless she was. Not to mention, beautiful. Her eyes were very expressive. Though, the only emotions that she expressed today were anger and coldness, but that was enough to make me intrigued. I don't think what I said deserved a reaction like hers!! Who is she?

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Here's the second chapter (after a long wait, I know). Sorry to keep you guys waiting and I'm actually very happy that there are some people who want to actually read this even when I'm soooooo irregular with the updates. So, thank you, really!! Hope this chapter was worth your wait and you liked it. Waiting for your reviews...