Chance Connection

Part 18

Nandini decided to tell Manik what was bothering her.

        Nandini : "So far I thought that I will never have to leave this house and go away from uncle and aunt. While talking to uncle, I realized that after what happened that is going to change, and I may have to leave them at some point of time."

        Manik had expected an altogether different reason. He had thought that may be she felt betrayed or may be she was upset that her engagement had broken, but she wasn't telling it out. It wasn't a small matter considering that she had agreed for the engagement willingly unlike him. He felt that it wasn't right to probe further at that time since their friendship had just begun.

        Manik : "Why are you worrying about it now? You don't have to leave immediately. May be you will find a solution for that too. Even if have to leave them, you can visit them often."

        Nandini remembered the chain when Manik mentioned about her locket.

        Nandini : "I completely forgot that I have to return your chain."

        Nandini was going to take the chain off her neck.

        Manik : "You can return it after you get your chain fixed. You wouldn't want to lose your locket again."

        Cabir had told Nandini that Manik wasn't upset with what happened, but like Manik even she wanted to confirm if it was really the case, or he said so because he didn't want to upset Cabir further.

        Nandini : "Are you not upset with whatever happened?"

        Manik : "I did expect something like this would have happened, so it wasn't a surprise or shock to me. Moreover, I wasn't interested in getting married, so I am actually feeling relieved. I am just concerned for my family and Cabir's family."

        Nandini : "Why did you agree for the marriage if you weren't interested?"

        Manik : "I was obligated to agree.

        Nandini didn't probe further since even she felt that it wasn't right to do so at that point of time.

After sometime,

        Nandini : "Let's go downstairs. By now, I think they will be done talking."

        Nandini lead Manik towards the entrance of the room since they could take the stairs from inside too. But after a few steps she realized something and raised her hand in front of him. Manik wasn't expecting that and bumped against her hand.

        Nandini : "Sorry, I forgot to warn you in advance that there is a clothesline."

        Nandini could go under the clothesline easily without ducking, but he would have bumped into it and got hurt. It had turned dark outside by then and the chances that he would have noticed the clothesline was very less.

        Manik : "I thought that you will need someone to safe guard you always, but for a change you are doing so for me."

        Nandini : "That is what you think of me?!"

        Manik : "I am just saying what I have seen from the time I have met you. I really felt that you can't do anything right on your own.."

        Nandini : "Everything was new out there - new place, new experiences and I was nervous and upset too, and nothing seemed to be working in my favor. Otherwise, I can manage pretty well on my own. .. Thanks once again for everything you did for me."

        Nandini entered the room and Manik was yet to get inside, when Abhi came looking for Nandini. Abhi didn't know that Manik was with her.

        Abhi : "You didn't come downstairs with uncle, so I came up."