In His Custody ✎ (MaNan)

✰ 47 - fatal attraction

Haaye, 39 votes for the previous update made my whole month basically, I was so nervous about it but I'm so happy it was received so well! <3 :") I will get to the comments as well, been meaning to spend some time replying acchese :") your support means so freaking muchhhh!

5800 words for this one team, I hope this makes up for the late update :P Keep in mind, Nandini's past is underlined content and Manik's narrative is normal text in his narrative.

Enjoy! (and please do spam! I love reading and responding to it!)

⭒

Manik

Climbing the ladder of metal stairs by one end of the pool, I clutched the earrings in my fist, feeling raw and tender with some uncertain emotions – ones I could not even put a finger on. I placed the studs on the bar table when I reached it, inching towards her diary once more.

In the guest bathroom downstairs, two flat thumbs swiped my cheeks, ensuring they were dry. Diwali was the festival of lights, a symbol of a new beginnings. Tears were no way to start it. 

Navya had caught me disappearing into the corridor some moments prior. Abandoning her food, she had followed me in. I told her everything, from the boggling differences in our financial statuses, to the brazen manner in which he had scolded me.

While she had a few contrasting thoughts to share, about Manik's wealth and the family he was born into having nothing to do with the kind of person he was from the inside, an enraged Navya had given me a thorough pep-talk about what happened by the poolside. There were other ways he could have kept our secret intact, solutions that did not involve charging at the girl he claimed to like. Her reassurance pacified my heavy heart.

She was such a wonderful friend.

The doorknob twitched and turned from the outside unexpectedly. Navya and I clung to each other in shock. "It's me, open up," came Manik's low voice. A complete 360 from the tone he used on me at the poolside. 

I eyed Navya so as to not unlock it. My reflection in the mirror was ghastly. Cheeks shiny and pale from crying, my nose and sclera a bright shade of red. She dismissed the suggestion saying no good could come from running away and hiding my pains.

She said it was essential to put the boy in his place, and that I had to take the chance; he could not keep treating me that way. 

When Navya popped her head from the gap of the ajar door, Manik's jaw fell as if he had prepared to say something and then scowling at the unwelcome visitor, he scanned my head somewhere further behind. Somewhat relieved by my presence, he callously ordered to the girl blocking his path, "Go from here, I need to speak to her."

"Speak to her, or scream at her?" Navya crossed her arms and frowned back at him.

Manik's features hardened as he stared at me. "You told her."

My gaze distractedly swept the floor at his accusation. "Yes, she's my best friend, of course she did." Navya did not even bother that he wasn't addressing her or talking to her. She played her part entirely in advocating for me. "And I'm not leaving anywhere."

"Out, now." He said firmly to my best friend, to no avail.

One sharp step had him towering her, while some inches away.

When Navya did not budge at all, no matter the threats or intimidating charges he took, his shoulders tensed as well. They were at a socially acceptable distance physically, but my blood was bothered by the sight of my boyfriend glowering at another girl – even if she was my best friend. Perhaps, some part of him did not feel comfortable getting any closer to her, not even to scare her.