Tales of the Heart

Chapter 9

THREE  YEARS  LATER

It was a cold winter morning. The area was covered with a blanket of fog still it's not easy to conquer this busy area. 

This morning started as usual for the people of Windy Lane. At the center of this lane there's a park. The usual crowd was still there. Kids were playing among themselves and elders were jogging. 

A girl was doing yoga under a flower tree. She was looking beautiful in that crop top and pant. It's none other than Nandini. She had all her concentration in her yoga only. Before she could finish her session, she heard her sister's voice from her back.

"Di, you are here!" Avneet was huffing as she had run all the way to look for her sister. "Everyone is looking for you."

Nandini made a face looking at her. "Uff! Avneet, can't you see I'm not done with my session yet?"

"Forget it. You can complete it later. Now come with me." Then she didn't give Nandini a chance to say anything and dragged her.

At the backside of the park Manik and Siddharth was waiting for them. Manik has completed his graduation and he is a well known psychiatrist now. He had become really famous in just a few years. 

Siddharth has also finished his graduation and joined his father's business along with helping his mother in studio. 

Nandini was in last year of her graduation and Avneet had joined college recently. 

"We're here." Avneet shouted as they reached there. 

Manik and Sid were discussing something among themselves. Hearing their voice, they turned back. 

"Where were you both? We've been waiting for so long." Sid frowned.

"What will I do? Di was not ready to come."

Ignoring everyone else, Manik stood in front of Nandini. "Last night you didn't return home?"

Nandini turned her face to the other side. "No."

"Why?"

"I didn't feel like that's why. I don't like going to that house." Nandini's voice was stern.

"But do you know how much Manik was insulted last night by that person because you didn't return home?" Sid came forward and stood on Manik's side.

"What!" Nandini looked at him with wide eyes. "He insulted Manik! But why? Is it only because I didn't return home or he is scared that I'm getting close to Manik?"

Avneet noticed that the situation was getting serious. If this goes on, then Nandini will lose her calm and that would be a disaster. So, she jumped in between. "We don't know all that. Now leave all this and let's go for jogging. We have college too."

Siddharth and Avneet started jogging and they crossed Manik and Nandini. Manik was about to leave too but Nandini stopped him holding his hand. "Mani, I'm sorry. You had to hear so many things last night because of me. I know..."

Manik looked at Nandini and stopped her. He softly placed his one palm on her cheek. "Shh. You don't have to say sorry to me for him. I'm willing to hear everyone for you. Because I love you and we can do everything for the person we love. That's what you say, right?"

Nandini smiled for the first time since morning and nodded her head. Manik took her in his embrace wrapping his arms around her shoulder. Nandini too threw her arms around his torso. He kissed on her head and caressed her hair lovingly.