Manik utters his ultimate confession on the mike that he is holding. His husky passionate voice echoes in the auditorium. The audience maintains silence for a moment and the next second, they cheer with loud applause,

"Awwwwwwwww.....Awesome!.....How romantic!.....Manik Malhotra....please introduce your lady love to us....She is so lucky....we want to see you both on the stage....o..o....o...o.......o...o."

Until then, Nandini was in a trance but the hooting and shout of the audience break her reverie. She leaves eye contact with Manik and looks around with embarrassed and timid eyes. Her heart is sinking. This was unexpected. Since she saw Manik on the stage and heard her name on his lips it is one after another shock for her. She hasn't expected it even in her dream that anything can happen like this. Nandini looks at Manik and tries to waltz past him. Manik immediately clutches her wrist and drags her to the dais stares. Like a stupefied doll, Nandini follows him with numb limbs. Everything is appearing like a fantasy to her. Meanwhile, Cabir and Navya come nearer and they also get on the stage. Manik gets Nandini under the spotlight and faces the audience, still holding Nandini's hand in a tight grip.

"Guys, I know it is abrupt and shocking for all of you. In fact, for the person, I have just proposed."

Manik glances at Nandini and curves his lips.

"I don't know whether I am wrong or right to publicize our personal matter like this but I had no other option. The person I love is just not ready to accept this truth that I love her. So, I chose this public platform to make her realise that my words are as genuine as it would have been in a closed room or here, among this huge crowd."

Manik turns at Nandini and takes her both hands in his hands. He looks at her eyes and utters in a clear tone,

"Nandini, I don't know why aren't you believing me? Maybe you have that stereotypical belief that nobody can fall in love with a nerd. Even I had a strong belief that people only love me because of my good looks. They can't see my heart beyond this."

His words send a shock to Nandini's mind. Unmindfully she mouths,

"You believe that your inner qualities are often overlooked because of your outer handsome appearance and you hate this attention."

Manik furrows his brows and perplexedly continued,

"And you believe that any famous and popular boy can't love a simple girl like you."

Nandini nods bewilderedly and adds,

"You are a Rock-singer but deep down, you like soft poetry. But you are afraid to tell that to the world like..."

Manik completes her words,

"Like these eyes, barriered by these glasses love to see wild dreams. Your simplicity doesn't match your wild thoughts and that's why you want to express your feeling through your pen. You are seeking for your man just like I...."

Now Nandini continues his line,

"Just like you are seeking for your soulmate, your..."

"Secret Cinderella..."

He almost whispers. Nandini's heart skips a beat. Unknowingly the word escapes her mouth,

"Lost Boy!"

Both are staring at each other as they have discovered the Eden garden on earth. Their reverie breaks by Cabir's coughing,

"Ahem...ahem...we are waiting for a dramatic proposal and a sweet acceptance. But here you both are playing Chinese whisper!"

Manik vaguely looks at Cabir. His eyes have surprise and joy at a time. Navya nears Nandini and whispers in her ear,

"I will fight with you some other time for not telling me this secret love story of yours. But right now, just accept his love. Look at his eyes, girl. Awwww...so much love! I wish I would have met him before Cabir."

She places her right hand on her heart and says dramatically. Nandini glares at her. She also is perplexed and delighted at the same time. Delighted as her first love is none other than the mysterious boy. The only person to whom she can be emotionally naked but perplexed because she can't decide what she should do. Suddenly, Manik yanks Nandini to the edge of the stage and looks at the audience.

"Time is over for Chinese whisper. Today we have to accept it in front of the world."

He turns at Nandini and adds,

"Let's end the life of Nutty M and Lost Boy. Let's tell the world who actually we are and what is our desire from life."

Nandini widens her eyes in fear. Nutty M is her alter ego. The reflection of her thoughts. How will she doff this disguise so easily? Nandini wobbles in hesitation. Manik meets her timid eyes and utters in a grave tone,

"Nandini, life rarely gives a person to choose his or her true purpose. We are lucky that what we desired we got. Now it's our turn to accept it wholeheartedly. If we desire the world to accept us as we are then first, we have to accept this truth that we are not Nutty M or Lost Boy. We are Nandini Murthy and Manik Malhotra with all our weird thoughts, insecurity and flaws. Only then, this world will accept us as we are."

It seems that Manik's every word eludes her each and every disquiet. She mouths softly,

"Let's burn our facade forever."

Author's note: I couldn't wrap up the story in one epilogue as usual.So, this is the second last chapter. The next will be the epilogue...I promise.❤