Hold On My Heart (Complete)

19. Still Waiting for Us (Last)

Manik's POV

"Nandini did what?" I asked.

"She aborted your baby," Navya said.

"How can you say that? How do you know?" I asked.

"She asked me not to tell you, Manik. Actually, she asked me not to tell anyone. But it slipped out in front of Cabir, and... Manik, I know you have the right to know. That’s why I’m telling you."

"How could she do this? I can’t believe you... She isn’t that cruel. She wouldn’t kill an innocent life just because she’s angry with me. No, I can’t believe this."

"She already did, Manik."

"No! She hasn’t!" I stood up and stormed out of the house.

"Manik, where are you going?" Cabir asked.

"She has to answer me."

"Manik, you’re angry. Don’t go."

"So what if I am? I will go, and she has to answer all of my questions. How could she do this to us?"

"There is no ‘us’ left, Manik. She’s never coming back."

"So what? She should’ve at least told me she was pregnant! But no... Arghh! I’ll go mad!"

"Manik, you’ll hurt her. Stop!"

"I won’t, don’t worry," I said and left.

With a sudden brake, I parked the car and ran inside the café.

"Where is Nandini?" I asked one of the workers.

"There," she pointed, and I rushed toward her. She was taking an order at the counter. I turned her around with a jerk.

"What the—Manik! What are you doing?" she asked.

"How can you do this to me, Nandini?"

"Leave me, Manik! This is my workplace. Stop creating a scene," she said in a low voice.

"Stop creating a scene? Really? Alright then, come outside."

"I don’t want to talk to you, Manik. Please leave."

"But I want to talk, and I will. Are you coming out or not?"

"No, I’m not. You better stop wasting your time and leave."

"Nandini!"

"Manik, leave!" She turned to walk away, but I held her again.

"Why did you abort my baby?" I asked, and she froze.

"What?"

"What what? I’m asking you—why did you abort my baby? Who gave you the right to decide everything on your own?"

"It was my baby. I did what I thought was right. And you... you’re no one to interfere."

"Oh really? Let me remind you, Nandini—I was the father. I had every right to know! But you ruined everything. Why? Tell me why?"

"Because I didn’t want the world to accuse him. I didn’t want him to feel what I’ve felt all these years... growing up without a father. So, yeah."

"So you thought killing him was the solution? Bravo. Seriously. Well done, Nandini. You gave me the worst punishment of my life for sins I never committed."

"You never committed? Then who did? Me?"

"I told you everything—each and every detail, from start to end—how and when it all happened. And still, you don’t believe me? What do you want me to do?"