His Dire Need

Chapter 26

Sakshi and Raj's POV

Sakshi paced back and forth in their opulent living room , her anxiety palpable. The room, adorned with plush furnishings and rich tapestries, felt suffocating as she clutched a photograph she had just discovered. The photograph was a relic from the past, and its sudden appearance had unsettled her deeply.

"Raj, I'm so glad you're home," Sakshi said, her voice laced with urgency as she glanced anxiously at the clock. "I need to show you something."

Raj, sensing the gravity in her tone, followed her to the living room. Sakshi handed him the photograph their maid had found while cleaning the storeroom. It was an old picture of a small girl, from years ago. The photograph depicted a vibrant, smiling Tara in a garden, holding  flowers.

Raj studied the photo, his brow furrowing in confusion. "This is Tara, isn't it? Why is this suddenly showing up now?"

Sakshi nodded, her eyes misty. "The maid found it while cleaning, and I was shocked to see it again. We had thought we'd put everything related to Tara away for good. I was certain we had hidden all traces of her."

Raj's concern grew as he flipped the photo over, examining the back. There was an old note with uneven letters : "To Monster, from Tara."

"Having this show up now is unsettling," Raj said, his voice tinged with worry. "With Manik's recent behavior, this might affect him more if he sees it. We need to be mindful of this. It could stir up emotions we thought were buried long ago."

Sakshi's voice was filled with regret. "I've been noticing Manik's changed behavior lately. Maybe this old photo is a sign that we need to confront our past decisions."

Raj sighed heavily, the weight of their past decisions bearing down on him. "We should keep an eye on him and be prepared to address these old wounds if needed. I just hope this doesn't unravel everything we've worked so hard to put behind us."

Sakshi nodded, wiping a tear from her cheek. "I hope so too. We owe it to Manik to at least try to help him understand."

College Canteen

The college canteen was bustling with the usual lunchtime activity. Students chattered and laughed, their voices creating a vibrant, chaotic backdrop. Manik, accompanied by his friends Cabir, Dhruv, Abhi and Nikhil, sat quietly at their usual table, his demeanor markedly subdued compared to his usual energetic self.

The canteen incident had left Manik in a state of agitation. He had approached Nandini with a mix of possessiveness and frustration, unable to control his emotions. However, Nandini, unaware of the underlying tensions, had quickly ignored their awkward encounter and left to the other side with Navya leaving him confused.

Cabir, concerned by Manik's unusual silence, tried to engage him in conversation. "Manik, what's going on? You've been out of sorts all morning. It's like something's eating you up."

Manik forced a casual tone, trying to deflect the concern. "Just had a rough night. Nothing serious."

Dhruv, who had been observing Manik closely, exchanged a worried glance with Cabir. "He's definitely not himself. It's like something's been bothering him for days."

Nikhil, ever perceptive, sensed that Manik's behavior was linked to something more personal. "It's not just about attraction," Nikhil murmured. "There's something deeper going on. He's not sharing, but whatever it is, it's consuming him."