the devil's star (Completed)

Chapter 13- scars

Recap-

Nandini faints in manik's arms when she is about to break her fast, in a rush to make her gain back her consciousness, he makes her drink water and eat a ladoo. Indirectly breaking her fast with proper rituals. Manik scolds her and before leaving, nandu says something which makes manikremember his nannu. 

"She smiled and when she was about to kiss me, I turned my head so now her lips landed on mine. She immediately froze and after a few seconds, pulled away, blushing furiously. I grinned seeing my plan worked to cheer her up.

With a last peck on her lips, I went from there.

FLASHBACK ENDS"

*MANIK's POV*
It is a few days after pari fainted and I have kept myself busy in work with pari doing her work that I had asked her to do.

I am so frustrated right now. I tried several times to make her mad and sign the divorce paper but she doesn't say a word.

I don't understand her parents are so rich and she is supposed to not be able to do these kind of work then how does she able to do them as If she has being these since a kid.

I was brought out of my thoughts with cabir's worried self shaking me. I straightend my back and cleared my throat and said "yes cabir?"

He looked down at me and said with a concerned voice "what's got you so worried manik?"

I sighed and said "nothing yaar. Just work load."

He looked at me with a stern face and said "you really think I will believe this? Manik I have known you since we were in diapers. I know you inside out. Now tell me what happened?"

I sighed. How can I forget only cabir knows me this well. I finally looked up at him and said "I am thinking about pari yaar."

He looked at me and with a small side said "you finally accepted you have a soft spot for her?"

I got up from my chair and went to the huge glass door which lead to my balcony which had the whole city view and said "yes cabir. And you know, I tried multiple times to make her sign divorce papers. But she didn't. I made her do all the house work, even the cooking. But she didn't even budge. I don't even know how she's able to do these things? I mean a person who's born with a silver spoon doesn't even know how to hold a broom properly and here she is, doing anything to everything with ease."

Cabir laughed. Not like a happy laugh. A Sad laugh. As if he felt sorry for something. I looked at him confused and said "why the fuck are you laughing?"

He looked at me with Bearly visible tears in her eyes and said "who said she was born with a silver spoon manik?"

A look of confusion crossed my face and I said "what do you mean by that cabir?"

He sighed and said "manik, she is an orphan. Up until the age of 14, she had everything. The orphanage your nannu used to live in, she used to live there only. She had a vest friend too. They were inseparable. But one day, she got adopted by Mr. And Mrs. Singhania. Only to be tortured. They would beat her, stab her, make her do all the work. And when she failed to do so, the torture would increase. The contract Marriage, it was Mr. And Mrs. Singhania who asked for the money. She was clueless. She only agreed for thr marriage because she was threatened that the orphanage would be burned down and would made to look like accident If she doesn't agree. You may be thinking, why her scars aren't visible right? She uses make up to cover them because she didn't want sympathy. But if you look closely, you'll be able to see."

And with that cabir left. Leaving me in a pool of guilt. I didn't know she had to suffer so much. I thought she was a gold digger. God! I was so blind that I couldn't even see her truth. I have to go find her. I'll apologize to her too.

Since it was only 7am, I went to her room and was about to knocked on it. She said a quick come in.

I went inside and was about to apologize her but her back was faced towards me and she was just in her underskirt and blouse with the blouse strings in her hand.

I quickly turned my back towards her and cleared my throat.

I heard a gasp and she said "umm..I am sorry Mr. Malhotra, I thought Mrs. Mary (our head cook who sometimes help pari) is here. Actually I can't tie my blouse so I had called her."

I once again cleared my throat and said "um..if you don't mind I can tie it for you. And don't worry I'll close my eyes I promise."

The room felt silent for few seconds and then I heard anklets coming towards me and someone patting my shoulder.

I turned around to see pari smiling and she said "you can tie it Mr. Malhotra. And don't worry. You can keep your eyes open. You may not like me, buy I know you won't do anything like that. So yeah."

And with that she turned and I tied her blouse. I couldn't help but let my eyes roam on her back to see some kind of scars. And I saw a  bug knife running across her spinal cord.

And before I knew it, my fingers lightly grazed on it and I asked "did It hurt?"

I heard her chuckle and she said "no. When I got that one, I was pretty used to getting cuts so no. Now I have to cover them. If you'll excuse me."

But before she could go I held her wrist and said "pari, don't hide your scars. They show you fought, and survived."

She smiled and nodded her head and said "fine I won't. Now I have to get ready and go to the orphanage."

I looked at her and said "come I'll drop you."

She vigorously nodded her head no and said "no no Mr. Malhotra. It's okay. You don't have to drop me. You'll anyway have better things to do."

I looked at her and said "its an order pari. And yeah it's manik for you."

And with that said, I left from her room, with a small smile on my face that I didn't realize I had.