Almost Not Love! |COMPLETE| MaNan Fiction

8. Unburdening His Soul

A/N : Hello readers, if you look forward to my next chapter every week, I look forward to all your love much the same way! So a 'dil se' Thank You for all your generosity!

Now coming to the chapter.

CAUTION! This is a very deep, intense and emotional chapter detailing about Manik; but please note that this is his perspective - we still don't know if this is the whole truth or not - we will get to that too at some point in this story, but that is content for another chapter later :)

For now, sit back, relax and enjoy the chapter and don't forget to show me some love and even criticism if you deem that fit - but do let me know what you feel about this chapter - FYI even from the story line perspective, this is a critical chapter - I'd say read the full thing!

Much love,

A.

***

"What's wrong with you Nandini?" Manik asked, there was both worry and anger plastered in his face.

"And hello to you too Manik. What brings you here?" she replied coldly, his words from their earlier conversation still stung.

"What brings me here? Can you please check your phone? You might find an answer there" he shot back.

Nandini looked at him with confusion clear on her face. After her call she had tossed the phone aside on the couch in anguish; she quickly reached for her phone and was surprised to see no less than eighteen missed calls from Manik, the last one being five minutes back; he had even sent her three text messages.

[Nandini, you know I didn't mean that; and I said I'm sorry. I was just upset with the whole Mukti thing. Can we talk?]

[Hey, I get it you're mad, but I've been calling for thirty minutes now, please stop ignoring my calls, I need to talk to you]

[Listen, it's been forty minutes and it's not funny anymore. Just tell me you're fine, else I am coming by if I don't receive a response in the next ten minutes]

Nandini looked up from the phone to find Manik pacing before her, he seemed really worried or really angry, she couldn't tell – maybe both?

"Sorry, my phone was on night mode, calls were silenced. I didn't see them." Nandini had softened after seeing his concern, but a part of her was still mad at him; her love life, her Aryamann, was always a touchy subject and it made her inherently defensive. On that, after such a long time, he had managed to make her actually shed tears for Aryamann and forced her to relive her long gone memories, she was upset and hollow and like in the past, such feelings always induced anger in her; hence she was in no mood to understand his concern right now. Manik had to deal with it.

"Listen, are you alright?" he asked, she could see his worry for her wellbeing was surpassing his anger.

"I don't see why I shouldn't be Manik, why are you suddenly so worried for me?" she responded with an icy cold voice. Hearing her, Manik lost his cool, he couldn't place why she was acting so pricey. They have been vulnerable before each other, so why was she closing out on him today? He panicked; no, he couldn't let Nandini draw away from him; he needed her.

"Yes, why should I worry indeed? Of course your puffy eyes that are the size of a taxi headlights right now, aren't any indication. Can you just stop this act and talk to me? Like really talk?" he flared in anger.

"I have nothing to say, other than I'm fine. You may go" she replied quietly ensuring she didn't make eye contact with him.

"I am not going anywhere. We can either talk, or keep to ourselves, I can't force you either way, but I'm not leaving you alone unless I am sure you are okay. Mukti was right, you don't look okay to me at the moment." Manik put in simply as he sat himself on the couch opposite her and looked at her calmly.