TRUE LOVE NEVER GIVES UP

Chapter-47: Terrace Talk

The car pulled up to Paradise Point, and Cabir, Alya, Dhruv, Mukti, and Abhimanyu stepped out, the tension of their earlier encounter still weighing heavily on their minds. As they walked up the steps, they could hear the faint sound of footsteps echoing from inside, a sign that Manik was already pacing restlessly.

When they entered the living room, the scene that greeted them was one of agitation. Manik was indeed pacing back and forth, his face a picture of anxiety and frustration. Raj and Neyonika were seated on the couch, their expressions a mix of concern and helplessness as they watched their son’s restless movements.

As soon as Manik noticed his friends enter, he rushed over to them, barely giving them a chance to step inside. His eyes were wide with worry, and he began firing off questions in rapid succession, barely pausing for breath.

“How is she? Did you see her? What did she say? Is she okay? Did she ask about me? What did her mom say? Did you—”

Raj raised a hand, his voice gentle but firm. “Manik, calm down. Let them sit first.”

Manik stopped mid-sentence, his chest heaving with the force of his emotions. He nodded, though it was clear that sitting still was the last thing he wanted to do. He watched with an almost feverish intensity as his friends took their seats, and the moment they were settled, he launched back into his barrage of questions.

“Please, tell me everything,” Manik urged, his voice strained. “How is Nandini? What did she say? Did she look okay? Did she say anything about me?”

The Fab 5 and Abhimanyu exchanged glances, each one silently deciding who would start. It was Cabir who finally spoke, his voice calm and measured. “Manik, we saw Nandini. She’s… she’s not doing too well.”

Manik’s face fell, a mixture of fear and guilt flashing across his features. “What do you mean? What’s wrong?”

Alya leaned forward, her expression softening with concern. “She’s just really tired, Manik. She’s been through a lot, and it’s all taking a toll on her.”

Dhruv added, “She’s not eating properly, she’s not sleeping… She’s just really out of it.”

Manik ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. “I should have been there with her. I should have—” He stopped, his voice breaking slightly. “Did she ask about me?”

Mukti nodded. “Yeah, she did. She wanted to know why you didn’t come with us.”

Manik’s heart sank. He could imagine how she must have felt, waiting for him, only to be told that he wasn’t there. “I hate this,” he muttered, his voice laced with anger and frustration. “I hate not being able to be there for her.”

Abhimanyu, who had been quiet, finally spoke up. “Manik, we all hate this. But we had to make a choice. Vishakha Aunty is still really upset, and we didn’t want to make things worse.”

Manik shook his head, his jaw clenched tightly. “I can’t stand this. I can’t stand being kept away from her.”

Raj, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. “Manik, we understand how you feel. But sometimes, patience is necessary. You have to trust that things will work out.”

Manik looked at his father, his eyes filled with a mix of desperation and helplessness. “But what if they don’t? What if I never get to see her again?”

Neyonika, who had been silent, reached out and placed a comforting hand on Manik’s arm. “Manik, you have to stay strong. Nandini needs you to be strong. If you fall apart now, what will she do?”

Her words seemed to hit him hard, and he swallowed, trying to keep his emotions in check. “I just don’t know what to do,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I feel so… helpless.”