TRUE LOVE NEVER GIVES UP

Chapter-50: Between tears and Smiles

With her heart pounding in her chest, Nandini carefully scanned the area around the venue. She needed to find, a way to reach Manik. The thought of finally seeing him after all these months filled her with both excitement and trepidation. She noticed a side door, slightly ajar, likely used by the staff. It was her chance. Taking a deep breath, she slipped inside.

The corridor was dimly lit, with several rooms lining the walls. She could hear muffled voices and music equipment being moved. Nandini kept her head down, trying to remain unnoticed as she made her way through the winding hallways. She was determined to find Manik, and nothing would stop her.

As she turned a corner, she saw them—Fab 5, standing together and chatting. Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly ducked behind a pillar, not ready to face all of them at once. Her eyes locked onto Manik, who was standing a bit apart from the group, talking on his phone. She could see the tension in his posture, the weight of something heavy on his shoulders.

Nandini waited until he finished his call and started walking back towards the group. Summoning all her courage, she quietly followed him, her footsteps light and careful. Just as he was about to rejoin the others, she rushed forward, grabbing his arm and pulling him behind a nearby wall.

Manik, taken by surprise, instinctively raised his hand, ready to defend himself. Nandini froze, closing her eyes in fear. Her heart pounded loudly in her ears as she braced herself for the impact. But it never came. Slowly, she opened her eyes and saw Manik's hand, suspended mid-air, his eyes wide in shock as he looked at her.

He whispered her name, "Nandini...?" His voice was barely audible as if he couldn't believe she was standing in front of him.

Nandini nodded, her eyes filling with tears as she looked at him, seeing the same emotions reflected in his eyes. The months of pain, confusion, and longing all came rushing back at that moment. They stared at each other, lost in the other's gaze, the world around them fading away.

Without a word, they moved towards each other, closing the gap that had existed between them for so long. Manik wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace. Nandini melted into his hold, burying her face in his chest as the tears flowed freely. She could feel his heartbeat against her, strong and steady, grounding her in the reality of this moment.

Manik held her tightly, his arms wrapped around her like a lifeline. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply, as if he was trying to memorize her scent, to reassure himself that she was there. His tears fell silently, dampening her hair as he struggled to control his emotions.

They stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, oblivious to the world around them. All that mattered was that they were together again, after what felt like an eternity apart. The pain and confusion of the past months seemed to melt away, replaced by the overwhelming relief of being reunited.

"Nandini," Manik whispered against her hair, his voice choked with emotion. "I missed you so much."

Nandini tightened her grip around him, nodding against his chest. "I missed you too, Manik," she managed to whisper back, her voice breaking as the tears continued to flow.

They held each other for what felt like forever, neither wanting to let go, afraid that this moment would disappear like a dream if they did. The silence between them was filled with unspoken words, the weight of everything they had gone through, and the love that still burned brightly between them.

As they pulled away from the hug, Nandini looked up at Manik with tear-filled eyes, her emotions overwhelming her. The relief of being reunited was quickly replaced by a flood of questions haunting her for months.