Healing Echoes

Chapter 3 - Nandini to go to College?

Author pov:It was a bright day, both Manik and Nandini were suffering from inner turmoil. Where one was depressed due to her traumatic past, and the other longed for love and care. Nandini Murthy was dwelling in her world of darkness and she didn't want to come out of it, as she thinks that this world is far better than the outside cruel world. Manik Malhotra, all he wanted to do was torture and bully people because he thinks that this world doesn't deserve kindness. But inside him, he has a really soft heart that he doesn't show.

Nandini's Pov:I was sitting quietly in my room when I felt thirsty and decided to go out. However, I heard someone playing the harmonium-it was my sister, Navya. Suddenly, panic washed over me, and I screamed. My sister stopped playing and comforted me, holding my hand and offering reassurance. She encouraged me to try playing the harmonium myself, but my anxiety intensified, causing me to lose control. She gave me my medication to calm me down and left me in my room.Later, I overheard my sister discussing my enrollment in college.I protested, ,'Sister,I won't join any college'.Shocked to see me,she explained the importance of meeting new people and regaining a sense of normalcy.She told me'How long will you live in this world of darkness,it saddens me very much to see my sister like this.I want to see you happy like before.If you will go to college,you will talk to new people,might also make friends who would understand you,and make your life meaningful.'She requested me to please join the college.
I went inside my room and started crying and thought to myself'I don't want to go to this college,I would rather stay in this darkness than to go out but sister wants me to go ,she has a hope that if I will go to college I will become normal.Sister,you have done a lot for me,this is the least I can do for you.Yes,I will go to college for you but I won't interact with anyone,I won't attach myself to anyone there,and that's my promise '.I wiped my tears and went to my sister.Despite my fears and reluctance , I agreed to go to college for her sake, but I also told her that I won't engage myself with anyone!
My sister hugged me gratefully and went to speak with the principal about my admission.Lost in thought, I wondered if attending college would worsen my condition or if my sister's hope of me finding happiness there was justified. . After a while ,my sister came and told me that I will be going to college from tomorrow and that I should prepare myself.She says'If you face any problem in college,I m just one phone call away....just call me and I will be there,okay?'I nodded.She left the room. I was really scared from inside ,I was having thoughts that what if i will face the same situation like my past.My hands were trembling and I couldn't sleep,consumed by worry about how I would be treated by others. As I drifted off, I held onto the hope that my sister's support would see me through whatever challenges lay ahead.

Manik's Pov:It was 1 am, and I couldn't sleep, so I called Cabir to see if he was awake too. I heard a knock on the door... I went to open it, and there stood Cabir. He asked, 'You're not feeling sleepy, right? Neither am I. Let's go to the dining area and have some drinks, what do you say?' I gave him a smile and replied, 'Okay, let's go.' We were having drinks when Cabir said, 'Aren't you tired of all this?' I looked at him confused. He continued, 'Don't pretend. I know you freed Lakshay. Manik, why are you hiding your soft side? Why do you want to portray yourself as bad?' I stayed quiet. After a pause, I said, 'Because this world doesn't deserve kindness. If it deserves something, it's only cruelty... because you reap what you sow.' Everyone thinks my parents died in an accident, but I know it was murder. Viaan, my dad's friend's son, murdered them for money. He wanted to replace my dad as CEO of the company. But he couldn't become one,so then he barged in our house and wanted to name the property of our house in his name.When dad caught him and threw him out, it hurt his ego. So, he planned my dad's murder. He killed my dad, mom, and brother. I still remember that day... I was small, playing with you in the garden,waiting for them to come home. My Uncle (my dad's brother) came, disheartened, and took me and you in his lap. From then on, he raised me like a father. I loved him. At 14, I lost my Uncle too. Viaan killed him for the property. I tried to find Viaan everywhere, but couldn't. Then I heard he'd had an accident. The police couldn't find him, so they assumed he was dead. But I know he's alive. Once I find him, I swear on my dad, mom, brother, and Uncle that I'll make him pay. Cabir also became emotional and hugged me. He felt sad for me and said, 'Why is life like this, Manik? My own parents disowned me, left me to die in an orphanage, then your parents adopted me, gave me love, and life also took them away from us.' I hugged him back and said, 'Cabir, this world doesn't deserve our kindness. Let's be our old selves again and make them pay for their deeds. We'll torture everyone so much that they won't dare to mess with us again. And I'll find Viaan and punish him... that's my promise to you, a brother's promise to his brother.'

Hey everyone,I hope you all are doing good and I hope you will like the chapter....do give your reviews in comments and please vote🫶also please ignore all the grammatical errors or any typos🫶
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