Maan utters his ultimate confession on the mike that he is holding. His intense eyes are searching for an answer in Nandika’s unassertive orbs. 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!…..Maan 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, Nandika was in a trance but the hooting and shouting of the audience broke her reverie. She leaves eye contact with Maan and looks around with embarrassed and timid eyes. Her heart is sinking. Her knees are shaking. This was unexpected. She still can’t believe that it is reality. Since she saw Maan on the stage and heard her name on his lips, it was one after another shock for her. She hasn’t expected it even in her wildest dreams that anything could happen like this. It feels like she has entered one of her novel pages. Nandika looks at Maan and tries to waltz past him. Maan immediately clutches her wrist, wobbles in denial and drags her to the dais stares. Like a stupefied doll, Nandika follows him with numb limbs. Everything appears like a fantasy to her. Meanwhile, Kabir and Navya come nearer and they also get on the stage. Although they were part of this plan sometimes, we have to go with the flow. Maan gets Nandika under the spotlight and faces the audience, still holding Nandika’s hand in a tight grip.

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

Maan glances at Nandika and curves his lips in a mischievous smile.

“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 the truth that I love her. So, I chose this public platform to make her realise that my words are as genuine as they would have been in a closed room or here, among this huge crowd.”

Maan turns to Nandika and takes both hands of hers in his hands. He looks at her eyes and utters in a clear tone,

“Nandika, 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 and simple girl. Even I had a strong belief that people only love me because of my good looks and charm. They can’t see my heart beyond this.”

His words send a shock to Nandika’s mind. These words are very familiar to her. Without breaking eye contact she unmindfully mouths,

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

Maan furrows his brows and perplexedly continues,

“And you believe that any famous and popular boy can’t love a simple introvert girl like you.”

Nandika nods bewilderedly and adds,

“You are a Rock-singer but deep down, you like soft poetry. You like soft music full of peace. But you are afraid to tell that to the world like…”

Maan 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 feelings through your pen. You are seeking for your man just like I….”

Now Nandika continues his line,

“Just like you are seeking for your soulmate, your…”

“Secret Cinderella...”

He almost whispers. Nandika’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. It feels like they were longing for this moment for aeons. However, their reverie gets broken by Kabir’s coughing,

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

Maan vaguely looks at Kabir. His eyes have surprise and joy at the same time. Navya nears Nandika 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 Kabir.”

She places her right hand on her heart and says dramatically. Nandika glares at her. She also is perplexed and delighted altogether. 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, Maan yanks Nandika 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 Nandika 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 in life.”

Nandika widens her eyes in fear. Nutty M is her alter ego. The reflection of her hidden thoughts. How will she doff this disguise so easily? Nandika wobbles in hesitation. It is not possible for her. Maan meets her timid eyes and utters in a grave determined tone,

“Nandika, 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 Nandika Murthy and Maan Malhotra with all our weird thoughts, insecurity and flaws. Only then, this world will accept us as we are.”

Nandika keeps gazing at his longing eyes for some moments. Her heart is swaying between a yes and a no. It’s now or never. It can be today and forever. It can be an ordinary story or an eternal fairy tale. She bats her lashes in approval. It seems that Maan’s every word eluded her each and every disquiet. She mouths softly,

“Let’s burn our facade forever.”