A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 56- Consequences

''Hi Nandini, you look so beautiful in this dress'' Inaya said teasing Nandini. ''This is Manik's choice, he bought it for me'' Nandini said. ''Yeah, Manik was telling the same, he said you looked good in white'' she said. ''Yes, I thought we can buy that, but Manik changed his opinion in the last minute'' Nandini said looking at Manik. ''Oh, sorry! both of you come inside, everyone is coming'' Inaya let them in and introduced her parents to Nandini. ''Hi aunty uncle'' Manik greeted. ''Oh, Manik. I heard your wedding story from Inaya, hilarious'' Inaya's father said. ''Uh, she is my wife uncle, Nandini'' Manik introduced Nandini to Inaya's parents. ''Hi Nandini, have fun'' her mother said. ''Why do they think our problem as hilarious'' Nandini asked Manik. ''Kisi ke problem kisi ke mazaa'' Manik didn't paid attention to it. ''Come Nandini, I'll introduce you to someone'' Inaya said and took Nandini with her. Manik followed them and asked, ''mujhe bhi introduce karo''.

''You don't need introduction, we already knew him'' Inaya said. ''He is our gym trainer Nandini'' Inaya said introducing a guy to Nandini. ''Hi'' Nandini said hesitantly. ''You both carry on'' Inaya said smiling and whispered in Nandini's ears. ''He doesn't know about you and Manik, take care'' she said before leaving them alone. She also dragged Manik along with her. ''Were you talking about him since yesterday?'' Manik asked Inaya. ''Yes, we already know him and is a good guy'' Inaya said. ''Gym trainer ke saath Nandini, what will she do?'' Manik asked. ''What does a normal couple does on date?'' Inaya asked Manik. ''But Inaya'' she interrupted him. ''Don't think too much, give them some time and enjoy the party. One more thing, Nandini ke aage peeche ghumna mat'' Inaya said. Inaya kept Manik busy with some or the other work to keep him away from Nandini. All the while, Manik kept thinking about Nandini. 

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''Hi Ms. Nandini, Inaya told me about you. You are her new neighbor!'' he spoke to Nandini. ''But she didn't tell me anything about it'' Nandini said. ''Oh, I'm Suraj, Inaya ki personal trainer'' he introduced himself. ''Do you go to gym?'' he asked Nandini. ''No, kabhi zarurat nahi padi'' she said. ''you already have a good figure btw'' he commented and Nandini was shocked. ''What?'' she asked. ''I mean you're already so fit'' she said. Nandini didn't knew what to do and is desperate to escape from him. She didn't find either Inaya or Manik around her. ''My gym is very near from here. Why don't you join there?'' he asked. ''You said I'm already fit, why would I waste my time and money in gym again'' she asked. ''Tumhe dekh ke sab motivate ho jayenge, you should be an inspiration to others'' he said. ''You should try meditation, just close your eyes and take a deep breath'' Nandini said. ''Okay, I'll try from tomorrow'' he said. ''Not tomorrow, haven't you heard this, kal kare so aaj kar, Kabirdas ki pravachan'' Nandini said excited. 

''Abhi! Party mein?'' he asked confused. ''Of course, you should be able to concentrate on your meditation even with the music on'' Nandini blabbered to escape him. ''Of course, aap ko try karna chahiye'' someone took Nandini's side and she felt relieved. ''Healthy body ke saath saath aapko healthy mind bhi hoga na, no one can defeat you'' he said. Nandini didn't knew the other person but thanked him in her heart. ''Actually you can sit there and relax, try to close your eyes and take a deep breathe'' Nandini asked Suraj to sit isolated and send him away. ''Thank God'' she shrugged. ''By the way, you are?'' Nandini asked seeing him. ''I'm Vikas, Inaya's colleague'' Vikas introduced himself. ''Inaya's colleague matlab, Manik ki colleague!'' Nandini asked him. ''Oh yeah, Manik is our team lead, me and Inaya report to him'' Vikas said. Nandini didn't knew that Manik is Inaya's team lead. ''Oh, I'm her neighbor'' Nandini said shaking hands with Vikas. ''I'm so thankful to you for helping me to keep him away'' Nandini thanked him. 

''I sensed something wrong as I overheard your conversation with him'' he said, ''did you and your boyfriend fought with each other?'' he asked. ''No, no. He isn't my boyfriend, in fact I met him just now. Inaya introduced him'' Nandini said. ''Oh, Inaya has become matchmaker these days, I never knew. Kaash someone can make her match with me'' Vikas said. ''Does that mean you like her?'' Nandini asked. ''Like, main uske peeche pagalon ki tarah ghoom raha hu'' Vikas said. ''Inaya is one tough lady I must say'' Nandini said. ''Par wo hai kaha?'' Vikas asked. ''I don't know, she must be busy. Come let's have something'' Nandini and Vikas has become acquainted. 

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''Inaya, I think we should go and check on Nandini'' Manik said. ''Let her be with Suraj. Maybe they're having good time'' Inaya said. ''What if he is not treating her well, if they are good together, we'll come back'' Manik convinced Inaya to check on Suraj and Nandini. They found Nandini with Vikas instead of Suraj. ''What the hell is he doing here?'' Inaya freaked out seeing Vikas. ''How did he come here?'' Inaya asked. ''I invited him, after all this is your party'' Manik said. ''Didn't we discuss that office and personal life ko hum separate rakhenge'' Inaya said. ''Vikas is also like a good friend, so I invited him'' Manik said. ''Just because I'm messing with Nandini, you can't play me like this'' Inaya said. ''Oh so you know that you're messing with Nandini! good for you'' Manik's voice filled with sarcasm. 

''This is strange na, Nandini has ended up with Vikas finally'' Manik said. ''Don't be so happy, what if Nandini said that she said that she's your wife'' Inaya asked. ''No, she won't tell it to anyone'' Manik said confidently. ''Nandini'' Inaya called her. ''Oh, I've been waiting for you so long, where have you both been?'' Nandini asked Inaya and Manik. He tried to speak but Inaya spoke first, ''Where is Suraj? and how did you meet Vikas?'' she asked. ''Oh, Suraj must be meditating somewhere here. Vicky has been a good company'' Nandini said. ''Hi Inaya'' Vikas said. ''Why did you come here? and why did you spoil her date?'' Inaya asked him rudely. ''I didn't ruin anything, Nanz wasn't comfortable with him'' Vikas said. ''Seems like you both have become good friends in short time'' Manik commented. ''Yes, he is!'' Nandini said smiling at him. ''Manik ne tumhe bulaya hoga but I don't call office colleagues to my personal parties, please'' Inaya said hurting Vikas and he had to leave. ''Bechara!'' Nandini said. 

''Oh please stop acting innocent Nandini'' Inaya is already disturbed. ''He was saying that how much he loves you'' Nandini said and it annoyed Inaya. ''Nandini, let's go'' Manik stopped Nandini from saying anything about Vikas. ''Manik, stop! We need to talk'' Inaya said. Nandini left from there. ''Before you say anything, this is not just for fun, Vikas really loves you and you knew it too. What you don't know is you love him too'' Manik said. ''Just like the way you love Nandini!'' Inaya seemed to mock him. ''I have a soft corner for Nandini, I can't see her suffer or go through any kind of pain. Absolutely I have no problem if Nandini date someone. But you are doing wrong with Vikas. You don't acknowledge his feelings at all'' Manik tried to bring her into reality but Inaya denied what Manik said. 

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''Manik, Is everything alright?'' Nandini asked as Manik came home. ''Yeah, no problem'' Manik said. ''How was your date?'' Manik asked. ''Good, but he seems to be a boring guy. It was Vikas who helped me to get out from there'' Nandini said. ''But usne kaha ki you're so cool. Inaya kal se tumhe gym join karane wali hai'' Manik said. ''No, please save me from her. I don't want to go with her'' Nandini said. ''Go to bed, kal subah uthane aa jayegi wo'' Manik said to Nandini. She went to bed bidding good night to him. Next morning, as expected Nandini woke up when Inaya knocked on her door. ''Didn't you leave to gym already!?'' Inaya asked her. ''Nandini is going for a morning walk not to gym'' Manik said on Nandini's behalf. ''Main kahi nahi jaane wali'' Nandini said to Manik. ''Then let's make a plan and join gym'' Inaya said. 

Manik took Nandini aside. ''Inaya se argue mat karo, just let's go to morning walk'' he said. ''Manik, please mujhe nahi jaana'', even though Nandini is not convinced, she is forced to go by Manik. ''Why were you forcing her to go on a walk?'' Inaya asked Manik. ''I know you're mad at me for inviting Vikas, but it has nothing to do with Nandini. Usse gym jaane ke liye force kyu kar rahi ho?'' Manik said. Manik dropped Nandini in the park for a morning walk and asked her to come home on her own as it is nearby to their home. Nandini aimlessly wandered in the park and finally settled on a bench under a tree. She thought of calling Manik but shook off that idea. 

''Hey, you're Nandini right?'' Nandini was scared as a stranger spoke tapping on her shoulder from back.