Love Will Find A Way

Chapter-63: Revelations

Nandini slowly opened her eyes, her head throbbing with pain. She could feel the sting from the cut on her forehead, and as her vision cleared, she saw the worried faces of everyone around her.

Navya was right beside her, and Dhruv was holding a first aid kit. Manik was at her side, his face etched with worry and regret.

"Nandini, can you hear me?" Navya asked, gently checking her pulse.

Nandini nodded weakly, trying to sit up but feeling a wave of dizziness. "Yes, I can hear you."

"Just lie down for now," Navya instructed, her voice calm but firm. "You took quite a fall."

As Navya cleaned and dressed the cut on her forehead, Nandini's mind raced back to what had happened. Manik's harsh words, his anger, and then the sudden, painful fall. She bit her lip to stop the tears, not wanting to show her vulnerability in front of everyone.

Manik's face was pale, his eyes fixed on her with a mixture of guilt and fear. He looked down, avoiding her gaze. She knew he felt responsible, but she couldn't bear to make the situation worse by telling the truth.

"What happened, Nandini?" Vivek, her father, asked, his voice filled with concern.

Nandini forced a weak smile, her heart aching with the effort to keep the truth hidden. "I... I slipped on some water," she said softly, glancing at Manik. "It was an accident."

Manik's shoulders sagged, relief and shame mingling on his face. Cabir, who had been observing the exchange closely, seemed suspicious but didn't press the issue.

Navya finished bandaging her forehead and gave her a reassuring smile. "You need to rest now, Nandini. You've had a shock."

"Thank you, Navya," Nandini murmured, her eyes flicking back to Manik momentarily. She could see the conflict in his eyes, the unspoken words. But she was too exhausted, too emotionally drained to confront him now.

Everyone started to leave, urging her to get some rest. Nandini felt a strange mixture of relief and sadness as they departed. She was grateful for their concern but felt a deep, gnawing pain at the deception she was forced to maintain.

Once they were alone, the room felt heavy with silence. Nandini turned her head slightly to see Manik still sitting beside her, his eyes red-rimmed and filled with regret.

"Nandini..." he began, his voice breaking.

She raised a hand to stop him. "Manik, please. Not now. I just... I need to rest."

He nodded, swallowing hard. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.

She closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks despite her efforts to hold them back. "We'll talk later," she said softly, her voice trembling. "I just need some time."

Manik nodded again, his hand gently brushing hers before he stood up to leave. Nandini listened to his footsteps fade away, her heart heavy with the weight of unspoken words and unresolved feelings. She closed her eyes, willing herself to find some semblance of peace amidst the turmoil.

As the door closed behind him, Nandini let the tears fall again. In the darkness behind her eyelids, she couldn't help but replay everything that had happened. Manik's unexpected outburst, his harsh words cutting through her like a knife.

How could he say those things after everything they had been through? After the moments they had shared, the closeness they had felt? Her heart ached with the betrayal, the realization that perhaps she had been living in a dream, a fragile bubble that had now burst.

The man she thought she could build a future with had just shown her a side she didn't recognize. She had to find a way to protect herself and her baby from the storm that was Manik's anger.