Chapter 57- Life After

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6 Months Later

Manik's POV:

It's been 6 months as I shifted to New York with Siya. She never wanted me to accompany her, but she had no choice. Or should I say Dhruv and I have never given her any options too. Suddenly I felt life is less complicated as we moved here. Mom stayed with Mukti and Abhimanyu while I stayed with Siya. Duniya ke liye we have moved in together, but I slowly learnt giving her space to Siya. I felt how she is trapped with me and Dhruv constantly. In the past months, I discovered about myself that I was never there for Nandini, whenever she needed me but surprisingly Siya said that I was never there for her too. Kabhi Nandini ke saath phir Siya ke saath, maine dono ke saath galat kiya. With Siya, I have mistaken my guilt for love and with Nandini, I took her friendliness for love. Main tho kabhi unke pyaar ke kaabil nahi tha. As soon as Siya gets treated, I will tell her that we are not in love. Humare beech jo bhi hai wo pyaar nahi hai. First, I would learn to love myself. 

Ethan and Mithra were so close to Siya that I never knew back then. With them, she is comfortable. We are not on talking terms as I tagged along her without her consent. I had nothing left to do in Mumbai and my only concern is her health now. Dheere dheere mujhe sab samaj mein aa raha hai, how I need to prioritize everything in my life. I have always prioritized others in my life. Khud se zyada importance kisi ko mat dena chahiye otherwise you will end up with the blame of taking control over their life. In the hardest way, I learnt to let go off Siya but Nandini ke saath mera rishta start hote hi end bhi ho gaya. She deserved someone better. I'm staying along with Siya but now I realize how poles apart we are. 

It was one of the casual evenings even Siya invited both Mithra and Ethan to our place. ''Let's go to the art exhibition'' Ethan said. ''Mujhe tho art samaj mein nahi aata, I'm just a filmy person'' I denied him. ''Its not mandatory to understand the art Manik, ek couple mein do logon ko ek hi cheez pasand nahi aati, Siya loves art and you love her, so you love art, so simple'' he told me. ''I never knew Siya loves art'' I said and Siya looked at me. I guess it was the first time in the last few months she even looked at me. ''Lately I figured out there many more things Siya love, but I never knew earlier'' I said. Ethan and Mithra wanted us to talk and sort out the things with her. Even they knew how complicated we are. ''Manik, what is the need to tell them all that? What's between us will always be between us'' Siya spoke to me directly straightly after 6 months. I didn't know if I'm supposed to reply or not.

''There's nothing between us'' I said. ''I've been waiting since 6 months for you to talk and you said this'' I said. ''Kya galat kiya maine tumhare saath?'' I asked for an explanation. ''How could you ask this Manik, tumne Nandini ka award mujhe dilaya kyu?'' she asked. ''If your dad is alive, would he not give you whatever you wanted?'' I asked her. ''He would have given the one I have asked. But you wanted to give something which I never wanted, mujhe Nandini ka award nahi chahiye tha'' she said. ''Then Nandini's anger and hate would be justified for me but why are you angry with me?'' I know how hurt Nandini would be after what I have done. ''Mujhe nahi chahiye tha Manik, why don't you understand!'' Siya almost shouted. Jo kuch bhi maine kiya usse na Nandini khush hai na Siya. ''Galti ho gaya mujhse'' Nandini would never give a chance to confess this but Siya ke saamne tho confess kar sakta hu na. ''But Siya, I have once asked you that if I have ever have done something which you don't like, you said you will be upset, you will be angry on me but you said you will eventually understand that I have done that for you. Aur kitne din wait karna padega, when will you come back and realize that I did for you'' I asked her.

Siya is already in tears. ''Dependent Personality disorder, this is what you said explaining your condition. Uss hisaab se mujhe bhi DPD hoga, because I was always dependent on you. Mere subah tumse shuru aur raat tumpe khatam'' I said. ''Everybody is dependent on others, our concern and love are seeming like control and authority to you. But remember one thing, I will do anything for you'' I had nothing to say to her. I thought I would propose Nandini and then we will make up to Siya giving her what she wanted but this was all unexpected. But before I could realize my mistake, I lost Nandini forever.

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2 Years Later

Nandini's POV:

''Why do you hate him so much?'' I asked Aryaman on phone. ''I don't hate him Nandini, it's just I don't like him'' he said. ''Whatever had happened, he is not involved. His father married Tara, I know he is not a good person but Rohan has nothing to do with it. I knew for almost 2 years now. He is a good guy and moreover his father is dead too, There is no point for you to not like him'' I said. ''How does it matter if I like him or not?'' Aryaman asked. ''You are my only friend Aryaman, I wish you are here and we can watch my movie together'' I said. ''Ok, I will come'' he promised but I heard a voice calling Aryaman. As soon as I heard someone taking his name, Aryaman had cut the call without telling me. Is that Manik who came to meet him. 

I have not seen  redor heard from Manik after Siya being hospitalized. After that, he went to New York. Whatever Manik had done, I expected him to at least apologize me for one last time but he didn't show up. I didn't expect Manik to be banned but if Manik wanted, he would have stopped it using all his influence but why didn't he do it? Aryaman and Cabir never said it but I knew they hold me responsible for it. I'm angry with Manik for whatever he had done to me but I never wanted him to stop or give up this easily. I hate him so much but I understood his love for Siya. He can really do anything for her. But all these years, there is that one person who constantly supported me, Rohan. Aryaman always disliked Rohan because of his dad. Tara has married Rohan's father and I know how he misbehaved with the girls. But after his death, I got to know more about Rohan. He did not know anything about the misdeeds of his father. 

If I have ever done anything wrong that is only to Siya. Manik ke baare mein usse kuch pata nahi hai. She even apologized me on behalf of Manik too. How kind and innocent she is! Uske liye Manik theek nahi hai. He is obsessed with her. I hate Manik for wronging both me and Siya. I never understood something why I couldn't ever meet Manik again? He is trying to hide but I know how to meet him. Manik, you have to answer my questions and I hope to meet you soon.

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Manik's POV:

''This is the rare red diamond sir'' the girl said when I looked at it. Ethan had got me and Siya for an exhibition today. ''This is too good'' Ethan commented. ''How much is this?'' Siya asked. ''It's 1.4 crores ma'am'' she said. ''It's a beautiful ring'' Siya commented. ''It's an engagement ring ma'am'' the girl said. If I had proposed Nandini, I would have given her a ring. How pretty this ring is. Will I ever have a chance to propose her again. Like this rare red diamond, her presence has also become rare in my life. ''I would love to buy this, please pack this for me'' I said writing a cheque for her. ''Manik, are you sure you're buying it?'' Siya asked me. ''Of course, that's why I wrote a cheque for her'' I said. 

Siya said she invited mom, Mukti and Abhimanyu home. We both shifted to a 3 BHK flat from the service apartment. Siya arranged the dining table as soon as we got home. ''Hi mom'' I hugged mom as she came. Mukti and Siya hugged each other. These lunch and dinners have become a ritual since a few months. Sometimes at Mukti and Abhimanyu's place and sometimes at ours. ''Manik, Siya said you have bought a ring'' Mukti asked in a teasing tone. How was I so dumb, Siya might be thinking that the ring is for her. But mom's reaction was completely unexpected for everyone. ''Itna mehenga ring kyu khareeda hai Manik? Engagement ka ring tho hai'' mom asked me. Lately, mom is hell worried about my finances as I will be running out of my savings soon. ''Mom, I'm thinking of opening a restaurant here. For that, I'm trying to sell off the properties in Mumbai. I have already asked Cabir to get few parties to buy them. Don't worry about my finances and future, sab theek ho jayega'' I assured her. 

''It's just that I'm worried about you'' she said. ''It's good that you have taken these decisions in your life. Marriage and Career are two big things in life'' Abhimanyu said congratulating me. If I don't tell them anything now, they will assume that the ring is for Siya. I cannot even tell them about Nandini. ''Mom, maine wo ring Siya ke liye nahi khareeda hai'' I somehow mustered up my courage. ''Siya ke liye nahi hai tho kiske liye?'' Mukti asked me. ''Kisi ke liye nahi, I found that ring so pretty and it is a rare one to find too'' I cannot tell them about Nandini too. ''Shaadi ke baare mein kya socha tum dono ne?'' mom asked both of us. Mom already knows Siya answer, tho ye question sirf mere liye hi hai. ''Siya se kya puchna mom, you already know her'' I asked. ''Then what about you?'' she asked me. 

''I don't want to marry ever mom, sorry Siya, I cannot marry you'' I finally told them all at once. 


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