The Man Next Door🤍

Chapter 22

Nandini's pov

My eyes snap open when a nightmare wakes me up, instantly I recognize I was hyperventilating so I look around for Manik knowing he can calm me down instantly but he wasn't in the room

"Ma-manik" I call rubbing my chest

There was nothing

"MANIK" I scream

I hear footsteps but cabir comes up, he runs to me rubbing my back

"Ma-manik" i whisper

"Shh he isn't home, relax"

I try to relax but it doesn't work

"Relax, just breath nandini you are hyperventilating" he says holding me trying to calm me down

"Manik" I find myself whispering over and over again

"Shortie" I hear Bhai's voice

"Abhi she is hyperventilating, help please, her pulse is going crazy"

"Calm it down shortie, you are in a safe place kid, just relax" abhi says kissing my head

"I t-try" I couldn't even complete my sentence

I was trying really hard to breath and relax but I couldn't, I missed his presence, his touch. Knowing he isn't there I lean into Abhi's arms as he rubs my back while cabir pats my head

"Here, sip on this kiddo" mukti says placing the glass of water to my lips, I sip on some when I wasn't shaking so much

"Bhai" I whisper

"It's okay, everything is okay. You need to relax" he says

"I am trying" I say rubbing my arms as I curl up

"we can see shortie" he mumbles

my eyes roam around manik's room, a part of me thought he'd be here even though Cabir told me he wasn't here

"He isn't here Nandini, he left a bit ago" cabir says catching my wandering eyes

"Left?" I ask

"Yeah, he mhm he left"

"When will he be back?" I ask

My voice was still shaky, I could hear it myself

"I umm I" he hesitates

Did he leave because of our kiss last night? He left because he didn't feel the same way but he said he likes me, his body language said he likes me, then why did he leave?

"Cabu"

"I don't know kid, he didn't say anything he just left, I tried to stop him but he didn't stop"

"Was he okay?' Abhi asks

"Well no, but"

"But what?" I ask

"He wasn't happy" he says shrugging his shoulder

"Me" I whisper

"What?" Cabir asks

"I was the reason, he left because of me"

"No he didnt'" cabir says but I knew he left because he didnt' want to see me

"What is going on here?" Abhi asks

I try to smile at him but fail miserably, I got up from abhi's arms and I did see him looking at my dress aka manik's t shirt, a frown covers his face but he doens't say anything to me

I limp over to the bathroom, his scent engulfs me making me smile, he had showered not too long ago, his wet towel on the countertop like he always leaves it.