An Arranged Journey To Forever

Part 87

The name "Naira" slipped from Nandini's lips, leaving Manik momentarily perplexed. But as he followed her gaze, he saw her—Naira—working at a nearby restaurant. His eyes widened as he noticed the unmistakable baby bump.

"That's Naira, isn't she?" Nandini asked hesitantly.

Manik simply hummed in agreement, his fingers instinctively tightening around hers. Nandini felt a rush of emotions—confusion, shock, and an overwhelming sense of disbelief. Why was Naira here? Wasn't she supposed to be in Los Angeles? And the baby bump—it was more prominent than one would expect in the second trimester. She struggled to process it all.

"Did you know she was pregnant?" Manik asked, scrutinizing Nandini's expression.

"Hmm," she murmured, averting her gaze.

"And you didn't tell me? Or anyone, for that matter?" His tone carried unmistakable disappointment. He needed answers, but Nandini knew that right now, finding Naira mattered more.

"Manik, we'll talk about this later, I promise. But first, can we go talk to Naira?" she pleaded.

Manik exhaled sharply but nodded. Together, they made their way toward Naira.

"Ma'am, would you like cream with your latte?"

"No, just make it quick, please."

Naira nodded and turned away, only to freeze mid-step. Tears welled in her eyes as she took in the sight of Nandini. Within seconds, she broke into sobs and threw herself into her sister's arms. Nandini held her tightly, gently stroking her back as emotions overwhelmed them both.

"What are you two doing here?" Naira asked, once they had settled in a hotel room.

A heavy silence filled the air, laden with unanswered questions and unspoken truths.

"That's not important, Naira. What are you doing here?" Manik's voice was sharp. "And why does no one know about your pregnancy except Nandini?"

He shot a pointed glance at Nandini, who sat with her head in her hands. His frustration was evident.

"And you, Nandini," he continued, exasperation lacing his words. "You clearly knew about her pregnancy and the reason she's been hiding it. Yet, you chose to keep quiet? What exactly are you two up to?"

"Manik, please calm down," Nandini whispered.

"Calm down?" he echoed, incredulous. "Do you both even realize the gravity of this situation? And Naira, enough of this silence! Speak up!"

"Jiju, please don't be harsh on Di," Naira choked out, her voice barely above a whisper.

Manik sighed, his anger momentarily overshadowed by his love for them. He took Nandini's hands in his, squeezing them gently. His frustration hadn't dissipated, but it wasn't stronger than his concern.

"I'm listening," he said firmly, waiting.

Naira took a shaky breath and looked at Nandini, who nodded in encouragement.

"I found out I was pregnant on the day of your wedding reception," she admitted. "I was barely half a month along. Di was the first person I told. I wanted to inform the family, but not before Kartik. And things between us weren't good, Jiju. Not good enough to share something this big."

She paused, her voice faltering.

"Go on," Manik urged. "What circumstances were so dire that you felt compelled to keep your pregnancy a secret from Kartik?"

Naira hesitated before speaking. "We were fighting, Jiju. He thought I was cheating on him. What was I supposed to do? Tell him, only for him to hurl accusations at me? What if he refused to accept the baby as his? What if he said—"

"Are you out of your mind?" Manik interrupted sharply. "Do you even hear yourself, Naira? I don't even know what to say to you right now. Were you two ever truly in love? You think so little of him, and yet you claim to love him? Every relationship has its struggles, but this is not how you handle them."

"What do you mean, Jiju? Are you saying this is my fault? That caring for my baby and thinking about its future is wrong?" Naira's voice wavered with emotion.

"That's not what I'm saying," Manik replied, his tone calmer but still firm. "But yes, Naira, you're at fault too. Maybe Kartik had his insecurities, but the way you're handling this shows a fundamental lack of trust and communication. If your relationship lacked all of that, then why did you even marry? Now there's a child involved, and you two are acting like children yourselves."

"Instead of assuming the worst, you should have had a conversation. You've already made up your mind about Kartik's reaction without even giving him a chance to respond." His voice softened as he added, "After being together for so long, where are these problems suddenly coming from?"

Naira sat in silence, processing his words, but her mind was still a whirlwind of emotions.

Nandini, who had remained silent throughout, now found herself questioning everything. Initially, she had believed she was doing the right thing by respecting Naira's wishes. But now, doubt crept in. Had she really made the right choice?