An Arranged Journey To Forever

Part 88

"Jiju, you cannot blame me for everything. You have no right to interfere in our personal matters like that!" Naira exclaimed, her voice rising involuntarily. She hadn't meant to sound so defensive, but emotions got the better of her. Manik was taken aback by her reaction.

"Naira, mind your tone!" Nandini's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Manik is family, and he has every right to point out when you're wrong. Are you implying that if he has no say, then I don't either? Think before you speak!" Her sharp gaze bore into Naira, who instantly regretted her words.

Shame washed over Naira as she looked at Manik. "I'm so sorry, Jiju. That's not what I meant," she murmured, her voice trembling with remorse.

Manik sighed, his expression softening slightly. "It's alright, Naira. I'm not here to judge you, but understand this—if this was just about the two of you, maybe living apart could have been an option. But in this case, you don't even have that choice. There's a child involved. For the sake of that baby, you need to talk to Kartik. I won't say more than that. However, hiding this from the family was undeniably wrong, no matter what your reasons were."

Naira nodded, truly understanding the gravity of her actions now. As Manik cast a fleeting glance at Nandini, who stood watching him with a vulnerable expression, he silently walked out of the room, leaving behind an air of unresolved emotions.

As soon as he left, Nandini turned towards Naira, her expression unreadable. Then, without warning, she stepped forward and stood inches away from her.

"If you weren't carrying those babies inside you right now, I swear I would have slapped you so hard," Nandini hissed, her anger barely contained.

Naira's eyes widened in shock. Not because Nandini had never spoken to her like this before, but because she had just unknowingly revealed what Naira had been hiding.

"Di... How do you know I'm having twins?" Naira asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Nandini scoffed, crossing her arms. "I'm a gynecologist, Naira. What did you expect? Your baby bump is bigger than it should be for a second-trimester pregnancy. It was obvious."

Naira swallowed hard and looked away, feeling exposed.

"Tell me something, Naira. Have I ever turned my back on you? Have I ever refused to support you?" Nandini's voice cracked with emotion.

Naira quickly shook her head, guilt crushing her chest.

"Then why? Why didn't you come to me? Why did you lie to us, saying you were in L.A.? Calling us only once in two weeks, sometimes not even that... Do you have any idea how selfish that was? How did you think you could handle this all alone?" Nandini's eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Naira could no longer hold back. She broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Di..."

Nandini, though still furious, couldn't bear to see her sister like this. She sighed, wiping her own tears. "No, Naira. Sorry won't fix this. It's time to make things right. Tomorrow, we are going back to India. We're telling Mom, Dad, and Bhai everything. No more secrets. Do you understand?"

Naira, still crying, nodded weakly. In that moment, Nandini pulled her into a tight hug, and Naira clung to her, needing that comfort more than anything.

Once Naira had fallen asleep, exhausted from her emotions, Nandini carefully adjusted her blanket and ensured the room's temperature was just right for both her sister and the unborn babies. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out, preparing herself for another battle—this time, with Manik.

Her hands trembled as she opened the door to their bedroom. She wasn't ready to face him. She wasn't ready for his anger, for his disappointment.

But the moment she stepped inside, she was pulled into his arms.

Nandini froze. Shock, confusion, relief—all hit her at once. Manik held her tightly, as if silently telling her that no matter what, he was still there. Her eyes welled up as she buried her face in the crook of his neck, gripping his shirt as if anchoring herself.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered, her voice barely audible. But Manik heard it. And he knew this was not just an apology—it was a confession of guilt, of regret, of love.

"For what?" he asked softly. "I'm not angry, Nandini. I'm just... disappointed. But I know you needed this hug. It's not just Naira who's going through a tough time. You are too. We all are."

Nandini shut her eyes as fresh tears fell. "I know I should have told you. I know keeping quiet was wrong. But I felt it was Naira's decision to make... It wasn't my secret to tell."

Manik sighed, understanding her perspective yet unable to completely shake off the hurt. "We had a rule, Nandini. No secrets between us. And you broke that."

She pulled back slightly and cupped his face, looking straight into his eyes. "Manik, I love you. Do you doubt that?"

"No," he admitted without hesitation.

"Then trust me too. You always say where there is love, there is trust," she reminded him gently.

Their gazes locked, and something shifted between them. For the first time that day, they truly saw each other, not as two people on opposing sides but as partners trying to navigate a storm together.

Manik exhaled, his expression softening. "I understand. I love you."

It had been a long time since he had said those words aloud. Nandini's heart swelled, and before she could think, she leaned forward, pressing a lingering kiss to his lips. Manik, caught off guard but not unwilling, pulled her onto his lap, deepening the kiss. It wasn't just an embrace; it was a reaffirmation of everything they were to each other.

Later, as they lay on the bed, emotionally drained from the day, Nandini suddenly remembered something.

"Manik, Naira is having twins," she said softly.

His eyes widened slightly. "Really? That's amazing. I didn't even get to congratulate her properly."

Nandini took a deep breath, determination setting in. "Listen, call Kartik. Tell him to be at Murthy Mansion by tomorrow evening. It's time to fix things."

Manik nodded, understanding that she had made up her mind. This time, they wouldn't let things spiral further. It was time to bring the family back together.