"Come here." He gestured with his hand stretched out towards me. He stood up from his chair. I looked at him preplexed only to find him smiling in his ever so calm manner.
When did Manik Malhotra become like this ?
He raised his eyebrows forcing me to make a move. I placed my hand in his and he slightly pulled me towards him. It felt so different. He was controlling me. He took both of my hands in his large ones rubbing my knuckles and I let him do it. It just happened unconsciously.
"Don't let anyone affect who you are. You alone are the strongest girl. You don't require my or anyone's support. And I am not with you just because you cannot take care of yourself. You surely can and I would never demean your self respect. I am here, with you because it is my choice. Don't think like I am going to tell you what to do." His words were sincere but.... Why was I his choice ?
"Then why don't you let me go. It is clearly not understandable for me that how am I your choice ? Didn't you never talk to me, didn't we never even said a good morning to one another." My confusions, doubts everything came out and this time without tears. I was fighting like my parents taught me. To know my worth and my place. To make sure that I don't forget who I am. Nandini Murthy.
"That's how the situation was made. I never meant to make you feel unwanted. " He took a deep breath. "Look, I know it sounds strange and totally unreal but this is actually what I want. Just give me some time and you will realize that whatever I am saying is not just because of the time that we are in." He completed. He looked like he wanted to say a lot but did not know how to. What he was demanding was extremely out of course. But I guess I had no other option and the way Mr Manik Malhotra almost pleaded was an exception.
"What will you do ?" I asked and I regretted right when I heard him chuckle. I felt extremely embarassed.
"Everything to let you know how precious you are." He replied in a serious tone and it was the longest since I had been looking into his eyes as he talked. It sent a shiver down my spine.
"How long !!??" Were we really negotiaging?
"Till you complete your exams." He said and my breath hitched.
"I know nothing. I will fail." My mind never got back to normal life which included the most basic thing, studies. I never realized that one day I will actually have to tackle all the wordly troubles once I step out of my misery.
"Relax. You will not fail. You can do it and you have to do it. I will help you." He offered casually.
"You ?"
"Of course, I was the best student." He flaunted trying to change the atmosphere. Well, I started considering his actions positive.
"Yeah. Papa used to praise you all the while." I added looking into nowhere.
"That's better. " He commented and he had all of my attention. "He will be so happy to see you remembering him with a smile." He added and that is when I realized that I was smiling, lost in my own land. My smile grew as I imagined him smiling at me, like he did all the time.
It felt so light and content filled as I did not feel like crying anymore. What changed over a night ? Or in a few hours ? What will it be in a month ?
"So shall I consider it a yes." He asked and his eyes shone with some hope. This was certainly not The Arrogant, Jerk Manik Malhotra. It was someone else, someone better. May be he was.....Manik.
I looked away not replying and his chuchkle revealed that he was taking it as yes, definitely.
"Lets go home." He said still keeping my hand in his and guiding me to his car. It did not feel like pity anymore. He was controlling me but it did not feel odd, he did not seem a stranger anymore.
