Malevolent Love (Complete✅️)

Chapter 78 - "Who said I am alive...?"

Mukti didn't let him finish and asked,

"Wait..that means Aryamaan was right. Nandini had danger from Manik."

She paused for a while and shuttled her piercing eyes between Cabir and Manik's confused faces.

"For your kind information, I was not talking about Nandini. I was talking about Aryamaan. But it is truly said; sin can't be suppressed for a long. You yourself proved it. I don't know what Manik did to her but I know that he defiantly did something to Aryamaan. Tell me the truth, Manik. Was it you who pushed him from the terrace? Don't try to lie because I have the proof."

Mukti mouthed in determination while pointed her finger at Manik's baffled eyes.

"Proof?"

Cabir uttered in sheer surprise and anxiety. Mukti thrust her hand into her pocket and took out something. She lifted her hand in front of Manik's face. Cabir and Manik saw a chain with a pendant is hanging from Mukti's fist. It was a normal gold chain having an 'A' letter pendant attached to it. Mukti asked with a flat tone,

"May I know, how Aryamaan's chain came to your bedroom? Oh my God, don't tell me you saw this chain with Nandini and..you...Manik just tell me...what are these going on? I am freaking out, Damn it!"

..............................................

Manik walked to the bed and perplexedly looked around in search of Nandini. Only then, a flash of lightning and thunder roared outside. Simultaneously, the bathroom door opened and Nandini came out. She was wearing a two-piece nightgown but right then the robe was not on her body. As she came out Manik turned at her. Nandini startled for a moment and anchored to her place. Both of their eyes remained connected for some time. Eventually, Manik uttered in a hesitant tone,

"The nurse...she..couldn't come. You sleep...I am here. If you need any help...."

He awkwardly stopped. Nandini moved her legs and ambled at the bed. After a long time, she uttered,

"I can't sleep."

She grabbed her nightgown robe and hastily wore it as she was trying to cover herself from Manik. Her gesture jabbed his heart sharply. With a broken voice, Manik mouthed,

"Don't be afraid, Nandu. I won't do anything to you."

A deep sigh came out from Nandini's chest. She replied,

"What more you can do, Manik? I have nothing left to save from you. You took away my trust, my peace, my love and even my dignity. Perhaps I am the only girl who is not safe with her husband in her own house. I am not afraid of you...not anymore. Because I have nothing to lose now."

.........................................

"You lost your second chance, Manik. I don't know whether it is a punishment to you or me...but...I can't live with you...not anymore. I need to be free from this suffocating love of yours. Because you don't love me, Manik. You just want me to cage. You want to possess me like a trophy. Your love is malevolent. It doesn't know to reciprocate. It only knows to hold, to snatch and to own. But I am not a thing, Manik. Neither I am a doll whom you can play with. I need freedom...I need my life too."

Manik kept on looking at her eyes for a long time. Both were trying to dive deep down each other's heart. With a trembling voice, Manik uttered,

"Can you live without me?"

A thunderbolt shattered the pitter-patter of the rain. Nandini replied in a stone voice,

"Who said I am alive?"

Author's note: Read the full chapter in Inkitt.