Love will Find The way

Chapter 55- Red Flags

Nandini's POV:

If I hadn't heard it myself, I would have never believed what Aryaman said. Tum mere saath aise kaise kar sakte ho Manik. How could I never see through you! Did I select a wrong person for me? Did Manik really loved me. I remembered how Manik cared for me, how we made some beautiful memories and everything we shared. But if I look back now, all I remember is just Manik and me and no one else around us. Doosron ke saamne Manik mujhse theek se baat tak nahi karta, all his love, affection and care is confined only to the four walls of my apartment. Why did I never acknowledge it till now. Was it just a physical attraction between us and nothing more than that! Tears almost welled up in my eyes and I couldn't walk properly. Manik did all this for Siya and he still has guts to tell that he loved me. If he loved me, he would have never done this. He would have not taken me for granted, he would have never treat me like a piece of paper. He would have never broken my heart. 

I sat in my car and I heard Aryaman knocking on my car window. ''Kya hai'' I asked him carelessly. ''Why did you do that inside?'' he asked me. ''What did I do?'' I can't believe Aryaman is asking this. ''Siya ko kuch nahi pata hai and you directly went and told her'' he sounded like he is accusing me. ''Am I looking like a fool! Why would you think Siya doesn't know anything about this'' I asked him. ''Siya ko iske baare mein kuch nahi pata tha. I know. She would have never agreed for this, if she knew'' he took Siya's side. ''Aryaman, I don't want to believe, mujhe ye sab sun na hi nahi hai'' I said sitting in my car again but Aryaman opened the car door. ''Listen Nandini, Siya aisa kabhi nahi kar sakti hai. I already told you Manik ki galti hai ye'' he repeated the same story again. ''Ha mujhe ye bhi pata hai that he did all this rubbish just because he loves Siya so much, hai na'' I literally fumed at him. ''Pyaar mein log aksar paagal ho jate hai Nandini. Yahi pagalpan mein Manik ke kar baitha hai. I hope tum Manik ke pyaar mein koi galti nahi karogi'' he said. I can't believe he said that.

''Do you think maine Siya ko isliye bataya because I want to create problems in their relation? Is this accusation is just because you found that letter for Manik?'' I asked him but he couldn't meet my eyes. ''If you really think so Aryaman, please get a life. He did so much to me and you still think I love him, I was fool to love him but now I feel so sorry for myself. Aise Red Flag mujhe chahiye hi nahi'' I said and didn't want to talk anymore on it. I came out from there. The only question I have in my mind is how could I not see Manik's real intentions? I'm definitely hurt and sad because of Manik but maine uske liye weak nahi ban na chahti hu. If Aryaman had not told me this, Manik would have easily made me agree to give up on this award myself for Siya. He has completely blinded me. Manik Malhotra, you should not have played around with me.

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I had a disturbed sleep last night that even a strong coffee could not fix it. Scooter came to me when I had given him a bowl of warm milk. His presence made me calm down from the thoughts of last night. Dogs are so loyal and precious, at least Manik jaise dhokha tho ye mujhe nahi de sakte. My heart broken into a million pieces when I heard Manik saying about me. I thought he hated me initially but we became friends initially. I felt his hugs were my home. His kisses were solace to me. I imagined my future with him, his morning face which would wake me up and his late night banter which never made me sleep. All my thoughts were just about Manik but to him, I was not even existing. He simply said Nandini ko apologize karunga and he would make me accept anything. And like a fool, I would have accepted too. Aryaman was my savior, agar wo nahi hota tho I would have been in a toxic relationship by now. But didn't I spoke rudely with Aryaman last night. Mujhe Aryaman pe chillana nahi tha.

I decided to apologize him and took my phone to do so. Aryaman did not answer my call but he called me back. ''Aryaman, wo'' I started to speak but he spoke in a low voice. ''Nandini, tell me what it is!'' there is something off with me. ''Why are you speaking in low voice, kya hua hai?'' I asked him. ''Last night jo kaand tumne kiya, issi ka nateeja hai, Siya is hospitalized'' he said. ''What?'' I was shocked to hear him. ''Are you for real? Kis hospital mein hai wo?'' I asked him. ''Don't you believe me even now, she is in City Hospital Nandini, Siya ko epileptic attack aaya hai, agar mujhe pehle pata hota ki tum aisa kuch karne wali ho, I would have never shared anything with you'' he said and cut the call. So Aryaman was right and Siya knew nothing. How could Manik stoop so low! The mistake is Manik's while I made Siya feel bad. I think I should go and see Siya. I should be apologizing her if she really doesn't know anything. 

I prayed God that Siya ko kuch nahi hona chahiye. I reached the hospital and asked about Siya. The receptionist said that they are not allowed to reveal any information about Siya and I stood there in the reception helplessly. Later, in a few minutes, I saw Cabir entering into the hospital. ''Cabir'' I called him. ''Nandini, tum yaha'' he definitely not expected to see me here. Before I could speak, I saw Manik coming towards Cabir. He is still in the black designer suit he was wearing last night. Lagta hai raat ko kuch bada tamasha hua and I feel ashamed ki uski wajha main hu. His steps stumbled as he saw me. ''Ab kaisi hai Siya?'' Cabir asked Manik. Dhruv came out of nowhere when Manik was about to speak. ''Ye sab Nandini ki wajhe se hi hua aur tum isse yaha le aaya'' Dhruv said to Cabir. ''Dhruv, I did not mean any harm to Siya and Cabir did not get me here, main khud yaha aayi hu'' I said. ''Jo bhi hai Nandini, I don't want to see you here, please go'' Dhruv said. Aryaman also came there. ''Nandini, please go from here'' Aryaman also said but Manik did not move or speak anything. ''Dhruv, I'm sorry, ek baar mujhe Siya se mila do, main usse maafi mangungi'' I did not think that all this would happen. 

''Yaha se chale jao'' Manik said after a minute. I fell the ground beneath me breaking. Manik was never so cold with me before. Aisa lag raha hai ki ye Manik ko main jaanti bhi nahi. ''Dhruv, iss mein meri galti nahi thi, I thought Siya had intentionally did this'' I need to explain myself to Dhruv. ''Galti humari hai Nandini and we are paying for me too'' Dhruv said joining his hands in front of me. Aryaman took me out from there. ''Tum yaha kyu aayi ho?'' he asked me. ''I came to see Siya, I have to say sorry to her, she is not at fault'' I said. ''Lagta hai tumhe koi idea nahi hai'' he said. ''What?'' I really have no clue. ''Manik ko film chamber and association se letter aaya hai stating that he is banned from producing/directing or acting in any kind of documentary or a movie under this association'' I was shocked to hear this statement. ''But maine aisa kuch nahi kiya'' I swear. ''Jo bhi tum ne bola tha kal raat wo waha ke cameras mein capture hua hai'' he said. How did I go too blind not to notice this. ''Aryaman, please believe me, I did not do this intentionally'' I said. ''I know ye sab tum intentionally nahi kiya hoga but for everyone aisa hi lagega na'' he is right. He made sure that I left from there and said there is no update on Siya's condition as of now. 

I was angry on Manik and Siya but I did not do any such thing to intentionally hurt them. I was so mad that I did not even think before confronting Siya. I heard the door bell and I know it is Aryaman. I opened the door and found Manik standing there. He looked weak definitely. He rushed inside and came to the drawing. ''Manik, stop'' I tried to stop him but he did not. ''Jo tumhe chahiye wo mil gaya na?'' he asked me. ''Jo kuch bhi hua usme mera galti nahi hai Manik'' I said. ''It was my mistake to replace you, par isme Siya ki galti kya hai? Usse ye sazah kyu?'' he asked me. For him, it is always about Siya. ''Manik, I have nothing to do with her'' I tried to explain but he pinned me to the wall behind. How could Manik always have his way. I cannot turn weak when he is around. ''Manik, don't dare to touch me'' I almost shouted at the top of my voice and he left me. ''Never ever dare to touch me again'' I said seriously. 

''Galti tumhari hai tho sazah bhi tumhe milegi na'' I said. ''Right, how could I go so wrong with my choice when I loved you Nandini?'' his words were enough to tear my heart apart. ''I never loved you'' my heart already turned into a rock. ''If you know what love is, you would have never done this'' he accused me. ''Do you think you know what love is! I have laughed my heart out when you said you loved me'' I said. ''Tum, na mere liye sahi ho na Siye ke liye'' he doesn't deserve both of us. I couldn't believe he tried to two timing both Siya and me. He said he loved me and does favors to Siya. If he doesn't love her, why would he want to make her feel elated? If he loved me, why would he want to cheat on me. That means, he doesn't love anyone. He only loves his false pride. ''I always wondered why Sid left you when he really loved you. I could see how much he loved you'' he said. ''But now I know, you provoke men to leave you Nandini'' he said. ''Manik, mind your language'' I shouted at him. ''I regret the feeling that I once loved you Nandini. If I have realized you're heartless, I would have never loved you'' he said. The feeling is mutual Manik, I regret loving you too. 

''You are a Red Flag Nandini'' he said. ''Yes, I am. But the truth is we both are Red Flags Manik, to each other. I wish we would have never met'' I said.