Hold On My Heart (Complete)

17: When Love Turns to Ashes

Nandini’s POV

"Arghhh!... He told me there was a girl... Nandini, before you, I was a flirty guy—a one-night-stand type of boy. I always used girls for fun... He said there was a girl who wanted to spend a night with me, so I agreed... I was drunk that night, and I really don’t remember anything... He told me I had sex with a girl and..."

"And?"

"That girl was you, Nandini."

I was shocked!

"What... What do you mean?" I hoped it wasn’t what I was thinking. He sank to his knees, crying hard.

"I'm your culprit, Nandini. I... I ruined your life," he sobbed. I wasn’t looking at him.

I pulled my hand away, and he looked up at me.

"Nandini, say something, please... I was drunk, and I didn’t know anything. He told me the girl herself wanted to... Nandini, I swear, I’m not lying. I swear I didn’t know anything. Please don’t hate me. Please trust me."

"How could you do this to me, Manik?" I finally spoke.

"I never wanted to, Nandini. Trust me."

"I was screaming that day... I was begging you to stop... I was asking for help out loud, yet you continued." I choked back tears. "All these years, I was hating the wrong person... I hated Arnav when actually he wasn’t wrong."

"Nandini—"

"How can I choose the wrong person again?"

"Please don’t say this. I beg you... I’m telling you, I still don’t remember that day. Nandini, I was drunk, I wasn’t in my senses. Trust me."

"I can’t! I can’t trust you anymore. Even if I do, what will change? The fact that my husband—the guy I trusted the most after years, the guy I loved the most after years—is actually my rapist?"

"Don’t say that."

"Why not? You should have the courage to listen to your deeds, Mr. Manik Malhotra."

"I swear, Nandini, it wasn’t intentional."

"Still, it can’t change anything... It can’t change the fact that I hate myself. I can’t get everything back. I can’t get my mom back. I can’t get those years back that I wasted because of fear... How will you return those days to me? How will you return my mom? Can you?" I asked.

"Nan—"

"Mr. Manik, the officer is waiting for you," one of the officers said.

"I’m coming." He looked back at me. "I know I can’t give you what you’ve lost, Nandini, and I know maybe you will never forgive me. But I won’t be able to stand the fact that you hate me... I’m going to accept everything inside, and I will make sure to get the punishment. But... please stop hating me, Nandini."

"I can’t... I can’t stop myself from hating you, and yes, I can’t forgive you either."

"Nan—"

"Please, Manik! I don’t want to see you." Saying this, I left.

Coming to my old house, I sat beside the bed, crying hard. Why is life so unfair to me? I fell in love with my rapist? How will I ever forgive him? It will always remind me of those days I hate the most.

So what if he was drunk... So what if Abhi asked him to do that? I was crying that night, begging him to stop, but he didn’t.

A week later:

He is still in jail. It’s been a week now. Abhi somehow saved himself, and I chose to let him because Abhinash has no fault in this—why should I make that small boy suffer? And what about Mukti?

Abhi apologized to me, but I asked him not to show his face again. Today, I decided to meet Manik. I’m going to take my complaint back because if Abhi isn’t getting punished, then why should Manik? He isn’t the only one to blame.

Moreover, giving them punishment can’t give me my life back, those years back, and especially my mom.

When he’s out, I will divorce him because after all these things, I can’t be with him.

Manik’s POV

It’s been a week I’m staying here, and trust me, I don’t regret it. I just think about her—if she’s okay or not.

"Manik, someone is here to see you," the officer said. I sighed because I knew it was Abhi.

Coming out, I saw Nandini. I turned around to leave, but her voice stopped me.

"Stop!" I didn’t turn.

"Manik, look at me," she said, but I chose to ignore her. I can’t look at her—I’m ashamed.

"MANIK. LOOK. AT. ME."

I turned around.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"Sit." She sat on a chair while I sat in front of her. I was still looking down.

"Manik, look into my eyes."

"I can’t."

"You have to!"

"Nandini, please don’t push me."

"Or else? You’ll rape me again?" I looked at her.

"What happened? Last time you raped me because your brother asked. This time you’ll do it on your own? What’s the difference?"

"I don’t want to talk to you." I was getting up, but she held my arm, forcing me to sit.

"Now you understand why I hate the mafia so much," she said. "Manik, I’m taking my complaint back. You’ll be free tomorrow."

"No! You can’t do this!"

"Why? Why can’t I? I don’t want you here anymore because I know this isn’t punishment. You yourself wanted to come here... I will give you the worst punishment, Manik."

"Do whatever you want, Nandini. I won’t stop you because I know I deserve everything."

"Good... I’m giving you a divorce, Mr. Manik Malhotra."

"No, you can’t do that!"

"Why? You were just saying you can do anything. Then why not this?"

"Nandini, this is a lifetime punishment. Please don’t do this to me. I’m not the only culprit. I accept I made a mistake, but... Nandini, please."

"I know it’s a lifetime punishment. That’s why I want a divorce. I can’t stay with you... It reminds me of that horrific night. It reminds me of everything I’ve been through."

"You can’t do this to me, Nandini. I love you. Please don’t do this!"

"I’m doing it, Manik. And I don’t love you anymore." Saying so, she got up and left.

I punched the table harshly.

Alina❤