Love will Find The way

Chapter 26- Truth or Dare

Manik's POV:

Ever since I knew Siya is leaving, strangely I didn't feel bad this time. Maybe I'm accepting that I can't always have my way with her. I'm afraid that one day she will know that we can't be happy together. We are different Siya. Calm, quiet and celestial. And look at me, still confused about my feelings for you. I turned back but saw Nandini at the entrance. "Why is she standing here?" I thought. "Nandini, are you going home?" I asked her. "Not actually, Aryaman ke saath koi nahi hai tho, I decided to stay back" she said.

"No, you can go home, I will stay with him" I offered her but she insisted to stay there. Anyhow only 2 attendants were allowed with patient, so mom and Abhimanyu will stay with Mukti and I will stay with Aryaman along with Nandini. So I informed the same to mom. Aryaman ko abhi tak hosh nahi aaya. It's just me and Nandini then. Should I ask her about Sid? Or will it be awkward! I thought to myself many times. "Are you in your own world?" Nandini asked. That was when I realized I stayed in my own thoughts for a while now.

"Nothing much" I didn't dare to ask her anything. She sat there alongside Aryaman's bed. ''Nandini, you should have went back home, anyhow I'm with him'' I said. ''No, we both came together, I cannot leave someone in halfway'' she said. ''Is Siya leaving tonight?'' she asked. ''Yeah, she came to India all of a sudden'' I said. ''Are you missing her already?'' she asked. As Nandini asked, I always felt lonely when Siya is not there with me but now, no I'm not feeling alone any more. ''Manik!'' she called me again. ''Yes, I do miss her'' I said realizing I did not answer her question. ''Hum kya raat bhar ek dusre ke face dekh ke hi timepass karna hai?'' Nandini asked me as I did not talk anything for a while except answering whatever she asked. ''We are not locked in a room together Nandini, you are free to go out if you want'' meri ek baat se bhi irritate ho jati hai ye ladki, how cute!

''Are you asking to go out Manik?'' see I told you she is already irritated. ''I didn't ask you to, but if you want to'' I love irritating her. At least aise kuch time pass hoga warna raat bhar main yaha rahunga, Aryaman aur ye Nandini dono so jayenge. I know what I'm thinking is wrong but I don't want her to sleep now. If she is given a chance to fight or argue with me, ye puri raat energetic hi hogi. ''Kya hum ek game khele?'' I suggested. ''Not interested, waise bhi tumhara games bhi uninterested hi lagte hai'' she said it on my face. Till now I was happy that I could irritate her but now she is applying my technique on myself. ''Manik aur uninteresting, aise combination possible hi nahi hai, jaha main waha entertainment'' I proudly said. ''Oh, so what's your game plan then? wo bhi sirf hum dono'' she asked with hint of sarcasm in her voice but it's okay. ''Truth or Dare?'' I said randomly as I really have no idea.

''Oh, truth or dare is your kind of interesting game! Bachpan mein, school aur college mein bahut baar khel chuki hu'' she said. Truth or dare is a very common game, sometimes boring too but who are you playing it with, actually makes it interesting. Issi bahaane main usse wo sab poochunga jo main normally nahi pooch sakta. ''Ok, I'm in. Yaha bottle nahi hai tho ye online truth or dare app se khelenge'' she suggested showing an app in her phone. Such a mobile freak she is! Truth or dare bhi khud se khelti hogi, now I don't know how to use it. ''Nandini, ye online cheezein mujhe nahi batao, it's just two of us, either it is me or you, iske liye hume phone ki kya zarurat thi'' I said but wait a minute, ye itna readily kyu accept kiya truth and dare ki game. Is she thinking the same what I have thought!

''So who is first?'' I asked. ''Ladies first as always" she said. ''Tum itna sportive kabse ban gayi? Ok select one truth or dare?'' I asked her. She looked confused. ''No, no. I mean ladies first, so I will ask you to select truth or dare first'' she said. Nandini is not the girl who say anything in a straight manner. ''Baatein ghumana koi tujhse hi seekhe'' I said and I have no option so I said truth. ''Have you ever met a weird fan in a weird situation?'' her question brought an instant smile on my lips. ''Yes, very recently aur wo bhi tumhare wajhe se. That day when you are caught in drunk and drive, you know how I got you out! That police constable was my fan so he let you out with me without anyone knowing about it'' I said proudly. ''Oh I thought tumhe bahut problem ho gayi hogi but it was so easy for you'' she said casually. ''Easy! kaha easy, next day I had to call him on set for a selfie, everyone on set were confused that I called a random person and had a selfie with him'' he said. ''Was he constable who came for a selfie with you?'' Nandini asked as it was unexpected to her. After a moment, we both laughed out loud.

''That night was too funny'' I said and next it is her turn. ''It's your turn now'' I reminded her. ''So truth or dare'' I asked in anticipation of truth but to my surprise she said dare. She paused for a second and said dare. But Nandini ko itna bhi unexpected nahi hona tha. ''Then go kiss the receptionist'' I said casually. ''What will they think of me?'' she said with a scared look. ''If it is a man, he will kiss you back'' I said smiling as I saw her face. ''Hospital ki reception mein humesha male receptionists nahi female bhi honge'' she said. ''Then it will make your situation even worse, a man will at least kiss you back but a woman she will scream at you, she will think you are a lesbo'' I couldn't hold my laughter any longer now. ''Can I say truth now?'' she asked making a puppy face. ''You can'' I readily accepted her request, after all that's what I wanted. 

''Thank God, you didn't ruin my first kiss'' she sighed. ''Have you never kissed anyone earlier?'' I asked out of curiosity. ''Excuse me! Why would I tell you that?'' she said defending herself. ''You said you will select truth instead of dare, so here it is, answer my question, have you never kissed anyone earlier?'' I asked again. ''No'' she said instantly. ''Why?'' I asked her anxiously. ''Sid and you were in love but never kissed?'' ab mujhe inke beech kya hua ye jaan na hai. ''It's your turn now?'' she said ignoring my question. ''Ok shoot'' I was waiting for her to ask. ''Why are you not telling anyone about your insomnia and these alcoholic habit'' I didn't expect her she will ask this. ''Because I don't want anyone to sympathize with me. I don't want to trouble anyone. I don't want to be weak in front of family, I have to be there for them to take care'' I said. ''Being weak doesn't mean you will not take care of them, it's okay if you are tired, it's okay that there will be someone to look after you like the way you cared for others'' she said. 

''No, I can't let anyone know of my weakness'' I said. ''Then when I asked why did you tell me then?'' she asked. ''Because I trust you'' I was quick to answer and she seemed to be impressed by my reply. ''Because I know you won't tell anyone, I trust you will keep my secrets with you forever'' I said. ''Then I promise you to not only keep your secrets but when you fall weak, I shall take care of you'' she said. Yes, I believe Nandini can get the best out of me. I want someone to take care of me when I fall down and Nandini if you are there, I feel happy with you. ''After all, we're friends, I shall take care of you always'' she said smiling. ''So, my turn again?'' I asked. ''Yes'' she said. 

''Aisa kya hua, tum aur Sid ke beech that you both broke up?'' I asked her taking things in my hand again. ''You won't leave me until I tell you about Sid na!'' she understood my intention at least now. ''Sid is an oncologist, in fact he was the one who diagnosed cancer for Satya. I was emotionally, financially broke. He was the one who helped me with the expenses and his company helped me come out of the trauma. We were good friends first but he was the first one to propose me'' she continued. ''I had no reason to deny him. I accepted him. Life seemed a full circle with him. More than a partner, more than a friend, he was a great human. Satya was the happiest of all'' she said. ''Then everything is going well, phir aisa kya hua?'' I asked. ''Shaadi'' she said. ''Did you propose for marriage?'' I asked her. ''No, he proposed for marriage and I was still a struggling model in those days. He constantly supported me. His family was okay with me being in modelling field but they were not liking me following the same after marriage'' she said. ''Now I know why you broke up. Is it because of his family?'' I asked. ''No, he left them for me, he came to me and I was ready to give up all this for him and his family. But the expectations were keep going high, I felt suffocated in that relationship, finally I understood that I couldn't survive with his family demands and he couldn't live without his family'' she said cutting the story short. ''I think you should not have turn him down when he came for you'' I said. ''Its not so easy Manik, I know the complications'' she said. 

''Whatever you say, I would not have left if I was in Sid's place'' I said sternly.