𝓛𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓒𝓸𝓷𝓷𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓕𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓑𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓼 [*Complete*]

Ch. 08 ⭐

Nandini stood on the bustling sidewalk near the mall, her eyes darting between passing taxis and autorickshaws, hoping to catch one that would get her to the bus stand in time. The minutes ticked away, and her anxiety grew as she glanced at her watch. She knew she was running late to pick up Naina from the bus stand.

Just then, as if on cue, Manik, on his way home, noticed Nandini standing there, her expression a mix of frustration and urgency. Approaching her with a confident stride, he offered, "Need a ride?"

Initially, Nandini hesitated for a moment but quickly assessed the urgency of the situation. Aware of the time slipping away, she nodded in agreement. "Yes, actually. I'd appreciate it."

The ride to the bus stand was quick, and as they arrived, Manik got out of the car, joining her in the waiting area. He wore a puzzled expression, unable to comprehend the urgency in Nandini's demeanor. "What are you doing here at the bus stand?" He inquired, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Startled, Nandini turned to the side, having expected Manik to have departed after giving her a ride. "You didn't leave?" she questioned.

"I couldn't just abandon you in this bus stand. You're not familiar with how things work in Delhi," he replied, crossing his arms defensively.

"Manik, please don't bother me! I'm here to pick someone up, and I want to make a good impression. I don't want her to perceive me as argumentative during our first meeting," Nandini requested.

"Her? Well, I won't argue with you. I'll just... remain here... and quietly watch over you," Manik declared, feeling content now that he knew Nandini was waiting for another woman.

Nandini rolled her eyes at Manik's dramatic declaration but couldn't help but appreciate his attempt at being protective. 

"Nandini, are you still upset with me for what I did?" Manik inquired after a while.

She let out a sigh. "I'm not... angry. I'm just disappointed that the man I fell in love with didn't respect me. For him, I'm just a toy he loved and could easily share with his dear friends. I feel... sad," she replied honestly.

"Look, Nandini, it was not my intention to hurt you. You always called me 'Monster Manik,' and you liked Dhruv as a person from the first day. When I learned that he also loved you, I thought you should be with someone who makes you laugh, takes care of you. I, on the other hand, have hurt you a lot from the very beginning. I bullied you, broke your father's pen, made you cry again and again. How could I let you be with someone like me when someone like Dhruv was an option? That's why I did what I did," he explained his point of view.

Nandini nodded. "You have pointed out some valid points. I'll give it a thorough look after I'm done dealing with my family matters," she told him with a small smile before turning to look at the bus stop's entrance.

"So, who are we waiting for?" Manik asked a few silent minutes later, feeling bored.

"Someone who I'm hoping would become my bhabhi [sister-in-law] in the near future," Nandini replied with a smile.

"Bhabhi... that man at the police station was really your brother?" he inquired.

"Yes. He's my biological older brother. Seventeen years ago, in an accident, our parents died, and we siblings got separated. My older sister and I were adopted into different families. Recently, we learned about each other and reunited. That day at the hospital, we were there to get a DNA test done because we wanted to confirm that we were indeed siblings," Nandini explained.

"From the looks of it, your brother seems to love you a lot. I saw him picking up Navya and you from Navya's hostel," Manik observed.

"He does. I feel like I have that protective layer of a father over my head again. Somehow, from having only one younger brother, I now have an older brother, two older sisters, a younger brother, father figure, mother figure, chacha, chachi, Ams, and Buaji. I gained a HUGE family in the last ten days, and I couldn't be happier," Nandini shared. The pure joy on her face made Manik smile as well. After all, the happiness of our loved ones brings us happiness too.