Chance Connection

Part 7

Nandini was very upset after hearing Manik's accusation, so she decided to part ways and left immediately.

        Nandini (murmuring to herself) : "What does he think of himself? I shouldn't have even bothered about him. I offered food so that he doesn't have to go hungry, but he called me a thief. He is so arrogant. .. He didn't even bother to think that it would hurt my feelings .. there is no doubt that he is from a wealthy family, only they can be so insensitive. .. Cabir is not like him, he is concerned for me, but I can't bear his friend's accusation and stay with Cabir."

        Cabir was stuck in between Manik and Nandini. First, he tried to make his friend understand.

        Cabir : "Manik, all girls aren't back stabbers. You don't know her yet, then how can you come to such conclusions. Moreover, she is Abhi's friend. You don't know Abhi that well, but I do. He is not someone who makes friends that easily. If he is friends with her that means that she is trustworthy."

        Manik : "All girls are more or less the same. They pretend to be friends with you at first, and then they take advantage of you to fulfill their own selfish motives. By the time you realize their true colors, it will be too late. They will flourish after leaving you in misery. I have had one such experience and that is enough for a lifetime. I have learnt my lesson and I am not going to repeat the same mistake again."

        Cabir : "I have tried to change your perception about girls so many times, but you aren't ready to let go of your past. I know that it was a very unpleasant experience, but you have to move on from it."

        Manik : "It wasn't  just an unpleasant experience, it changed my life. It could have been worse if not for you."

        Talking about the past would upset Manik further and that was not what Cabir wanted to do. He wanted to convince Manik somehow or the other.

        Cabir : "You don't trust Nandini and you don't want to interact with her, that's fine. But please don't be rude to her or accuse her. I will try to ensure that she doesn't come close to you or interact with you."

        Cabir : "She is ready to go on her own, but I feel that it isn't right to let her do so. She is stressed and she is in a hurry. It is her first time on her own and she has no idea what's in store. What if something goes wrong and she isn't able to reach Silgiri safely. I told Abhi that I will take care of her, so I will somehow convince her to join us. Please Manik, for my sake, just this time, only till we reach the hotel. After that I won't involve you in this matter."

        After convincing Manik, he ran up to Nandini.

        Cabir : "I apologize on his behalf. I will ensure that this doesn't repeat. Please join us."

        Nandini was still upset and wasn't willing to join them.

        Nandini : "I understand your concern Cabir, but this isn't going to work out."

        Cabir : "What will I answer Abhi if he asks me why I left you alone in the middle of nowhere though he asked me to ensure that you reach safely? We have no idea what is in store, isn't it better if we face things together instead of doing so single handedly. Please agree for Abhi's and my sake."

        Cabir managed to convince Nandini and they continued on their journey. Cabir stayed in between Manik and Nandini, and they both didn't even bother to look at each other.

        After walking for a long time, they could see huts at a distance. It was already evening, so they decided that they could stay there for the night. On their way towards the huts, they came across a stream.

        Manik went ahead and started crossing the stream using the log which was laid across to form a bridge. Cabir was about to do the same, but Nandini wasn't ready to cross like that.

        Nandini : "Cabir, it is too narrow. I am scared to walk on it. I will go a little further and look for a bridge or a log that is wider than this."

        Cabir : "You don't have to be scared. You can hold my hand and I will get you across."

        Nandini : "What if I lose balance and end up pulling you along with me into the stream?"

        Cabir was trying to convince Nandini that nothing like that would happen, but she wasn't willing to give it a try.

        Meanwhile, Manik who was mid way, looked back and saw that Cabir and Nandini were chatting instead of crossing the bridge. He screamed back.

        Manik : "You can talk as much as you wish to, but not now, later. We have to reach the village before it turns dark, so hurry up."

        Cabir asked Manik to return and he explained the issue. Manik looked at the stream as far as he could see.

        Manik : "I doubt you will find a bridge here. If there was one, there wouldn't have been so many logs across the stream. All the logs appear the same size. We will be only wasting time by looking for a wider one and we don't have time to waste. This seems to be the only option."

        Nandini : "I can't do this Cabir, I will surely fall into the stream."

        Manik : "If you fall, you can always swim across."

        Nandini : "I don't know how to swim."

        Manik : "In that case, you will be stuck here. Cabir doesn't want to leave you alone, so even we will be stuck here. It would have been better to be stuck on the train instead of being stuck in middle of nowhere."

        Cabir : "What do we do now?"

        Manik thought for a while. He looked at Nandini and then at Cabir.

        Manik : "The only other option is that you carry her across."

        Cabir/Nandini : "What?!"

        Manik : "Either she crosses on her own or you carry her across. I definitely don't want to spend my night here."

        Cabir : "I can cross alone, but not carrying her. We both will fall into the stream for sure if I do so."

        Nandini : "You both go ahead, I don't want you to be stuck because of me. Don't worry about me, I can take care of myself."

        Nandini started looking around to figure out what she could do next. Meanwhile, Cabir was signaling Manik to carry Nandini across and Manik denied to do so. Cabir was whispering to Manik and pleading him, and Manik finally agreed. 

        Manik didn't want be to stuck there, so he decided to send Cabir ahead. Cabir had already tried to convince her gently and that hadn't worked. Moreover, Manik was already annoyed, so there was no way he would speak softly to her. Cabir wouldn't let Manik to behave rudely but that was the only way he felt that he could get her across.

        Manik (whispering) : "Alright, you go ahead and make some arrangement for the night, I will get her."

        Cabir went ahead and crossed the stream. 

        Manik went up to Nandini, who was looking towards the sky.

        Nandini (murmuring)  : ".. Where did you get me stuck? What do I do now? Please show me a way..."

        Manik : "You are stuck because of what you chose to do or not to do, why are you blaming someone else for that? You won't find a way by staring at the sky. No one will appear from the sky to help you, you will have to help yourself. If this is how you intended to solve your problem, you could have done so waiting in the train too, what was the need to..."

        Nandini was already upset with how things were going and his words only upset her further.

        Nandini : "What is your problem? Whether I stare at the sky or the ground, whether I wait in the train or here, how does it matter to you? What did I do to you that you behave like this with me? Whatever I did, happened by mistake and I have already apologized for that. I apologize again. I am very sorry. Now, please leave me on my own and go from here."