An Arranged Journey To Forever

105

Cabir knocked firmly on the door of Manik and Nandini's room. A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing Nandini's warm yet subdued expression.

"Cabir, hello," she greeted him with a small smile, stepping aside to let him in.

"Hi, Nandini. How are you?" Cabir asked, his tone softer than usual.

"I'm good. Manik just got a call from Dhruv—he's in the balcony," she informed him, assuming he was here to meet Manik. Cabir gave a brief nod and settled himself on the couch, waiting patiently.

Just as he was about to speak, Nandini interrupted as if anticipating his words.

"Cabir, you don't need to apologize to me. I've said this before."

Cabir exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair. "Nandini, I know, but—"

She shook her head, cutting him off gently yet firmly. "You do owe an apology, Cabir, but not for what Navya did. The family, especially Mamma, expected you to stand with them. Not against Navya, but at least for them. And for that, you don't owe me an apology."

Her words, though understanding, carried a weight that made Cabir sigh. He knew she was right.

"I know I've disappointed everyone," he admitted, voice laced with regret. "But Nandini, you understand, don't you? When you love someone, you want to believe in them, no matter what. If Manik started acting strangely one day, wouldn't you first think he was under some influence, some pressure? Wouldn't you keep looking for a reason until you had no choice but to accept the truth?"

Nandini met his gaze, understanding flickering in her eyes. She could see the turmoil within him—the battle between love and reality. He had loved Navya, but now, she felt like a stranger.

Just then, Manik entered the room, placing his phone on charge. His sharp gaze fell on Cabir.

"Hey, Cabir," he greeted him.

"Manik, I need to talk to both of you," Cabir said, his tone carrying an unusual seriousness. Nandini took the hint and stood up to leave, but Cabir stopped her.

"No, Nandini. This concerns you too. Please, sit."

She hesitated for a moment before nodding and taking a seat beside Manik.

Cabir sighed before speaking. "Guys, everything that's been happening has been exhausting for all of us—as a family, as individuals. And you two—being you—decided to leave, using the excuse that Manik wants to be independent. But I know the truth. You just wanted to escape the chaos."

Manik and Nandini exchanged confused glances. They knew he was talking about Navya, but they didn't understand where this conversation was headed.

"But for that to happen," Cabir continued, "the root cause of the drama must leave. Right?"

Manik's brows furrowed. "What are you saying? You're divorcing her?"

Cabir scoffed, shaking his head. "Oh, how much I wish I could. But I can't. Navya is impulsive. When things don't go her way, she loses control. That day, she was ready to harm herself—how foolish! If I divorce her now, there's no telling what she might do. And she's carrying my child—I can't take that risk. Once she delivers, I'll decide what to do."

Manik and Nandini nodded, both understanding the gravity of the situation.

"That makes sense," Nandini admitted. "But then why did you say she's leaving?"

"Because we are leaving," Cabir said, shocking them both. "Navya, Radhika, and I—we're moving to Delhi."

"What?!" Manik shot up from his seat. "Why?!"

"Manik, sit down and listen first," Cabir said calmly, though his voice carried a quiet finality. Manik clenched his fists but obeyed.

"Look, this has been a mess ever since she came into the house. Why should all of you suffer because of her? Because of me? And besides, why should you leave your own home, Manik?"

Manik scoffed in disbelief. "Shut up, Cabir. First of all, I am not some great, selfless hero. If you think I was leaving for you and your wife, let me tell you—you're completely wrong. I was going to leave anyway. Circumstances just made me realize I needed to do it sooner. My leaving has nothing to do with you staying or going."

He took a deep breath before continuing, "And secondly, why should you uproot your life because of her? We can make her understand, Cabir."

Cabir let out a dry laugh. "How much longer do we keep trying, Manik? Have we not done enough? I tried. You tried. Nandini tried. We all did. Did anything change? No. It's enough now. She has crossed all limits, and it's time for a decision."

Manik stood up again, this time stepping in front of Cabir. "You are not going," he said, his voice unwavering.

"Yes, I am," Cabir shot back.

Manik's frustration boiled over. "You can't just walk away from everything! Every family has problems—we don't run away from them, we face them. If everyone left at the first sign of trouble, there would be no families left in this world. Cabir, we need to be patient. Things will get better."

Cabir shook his head, his resolve firm. "No, Manik. We can't wait for 'someday' anymore. It has to happen now. We're leaving tomorrow. Goodbye."

With that, he turned on his heel, ready to walk out of the room.

But Manik blocked his path, crossing his arms over his chest. "No," he repeated, his voice steely.

"Manik," Nandini spoke up softly, stepping beside him. He turned to look at her, confusion flashing in his eyes.

"Let him go," she said gently.

Manik stared at her, shocked and betrayed. But the quiet determination in her eyes told him she wasn't just letting Cabir leave—she was choosing to trust that sometimes, walking away wasn't giving up. Sometimes, it was the only way forward.