Hustle For Love |COMPLETE| MaNan Fiction

21. The One Where She Broke My Heart

A/N : Readers, cannot say how 'stoked' I am to publish this chapter! I have written & re-written it multiple times to ensure its not too dramatic, but still has the effect! Bring out all the Femi-Nazi in you while you read it!

IMPORTANT NOTE: By the way, this chapter marks the closing of Section 2 of the book, that was predominantly from Manik's POV. Aren't you all curious to know what our good old Nandu is thinking? The next section will tell you just that! We will go back to Nandini's POV for a while now.

Hope you're excited?

Happy Reading!

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World Theatre, Audi 1, S.P.A.C.E. Academy circa 2012

(The auditorium which held the Inter-college fest, Campus grounds)

Manik Malhotra

"No, Manik" she replied back, her smile faltering. Her voice was confident and loud enough for the microphone to capture it and play it to the world.

Manik Malhotra was a reject.

I stared at her. No, this was not happening, Nandini couldn't lose to me, no she couldn't. I wouldn't let her - I had to try.

"Nandu, a-ar-e you su-sure?" I asked, my voice cracked even if I tried to sound strong.

"Yes, very much, Manik" she replied, and by now I could hear gasps and whispers in the audience. I kept looking at her, maybe she'd change her mind? Maybe..just maybe.

"Why?" I whispered, and before she could reply, I felt Cabir snatching the mic away from me and shutting it off. I mentally noted, to thank Cabir later for saving whatever little bit of grace, I was left with.

"Seriously Manik, you're asking me why?" she asked, her eyes flashing both hurt and anger at the same time. "Manik Malhotra, because you have broken a lot of hearts, and it's high time you knew how it felt like to have your own heart broken; if you ever loved me like that i.e. Else consider this as a big blow to your hugely inflated male ego!" she replied, crisply. At least she didn't have that evil smile up her face - she was hurting to hurt me - all wasn't lost. I wouldn't let her lose, I promised myself.

I kept looking at her, as I saw her excuse herself and leave the stage. My eyes followed her, only her. She met AK at the bottom of the stage, and even he looked flabbergasted - I guess no one expected this from her - my Nandu wasn't manipulative ever, all this was my doing. I was at fault.

"Boooooooooooooo" my reverie was finally broken once I lost sight of her and finally glanced at the crowd jeering at my embarrassment. I didn't care, I turned around and saw Cabir's shocked face - he advanced towards me to say something, but I walked down the stage and left.

I left the theatre and quickly started walking towards my home, I needed to breathe first, I needed to digest this - both her rejection and my insult. My monsters were dancing before my eyes, giving me one idea per second of glorious ways to snap Nandini or her reputation out of existence; but I shoved me monsters away in hate - anything that hurts Nandini, wasn't my friend.

"Manik" I heard my name and quickly turned around. It was Soha - she looked hurt, angry and mostly shocked.

"Soha, not now." I replied hurriedly and was about to go away, when she caught my elbow and stopped me. If it was anybody else, I'd have projected all my hurt, anger & anguish out on that person, but I didn't do that with Soha. What was her fault? She was probably one of those rare species that genuinely cared for me at that moment.

"Yes Manik. Now" she whispered, and as I reluctantly turned around, she flung into my arms, giving me a bone crushing hug. I reflexively tried moving away from it, but she held onto me; I tried struggling a little more, but she didn't let me go. Desperate, frustrated I didn't realise when, but I hugged her back - as tightly as I could. I was probably choking her, but she didn't complain. She was right, I needed that hug.