MaNan : Moon Light

31. Damaged & Damned

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Mukti has a bad habit, she sucks at opening up infront of anyone and rarely trusts others.

Nandini hated when the older comes late to home, all drunk and dopey smelling. Those were the nights where Mukti feels particularly sad and snuggles into Nandini's bed, whispering sorry on repeat and patting younger's head at odd hour.

When Nandini asks what she is doing, Mukti just says to stay silent and let her apologize. Younger couldn't understand why because if anything, it's Nandini who should be grateful and apologize for being such a brat sometimes.

Still, as she feels the pillow under Mukti getting wet, she doesn't interrupt the older from repeating the same word again and again.

And then there are times, where she comes in a ruin state. Blood, wounds, her weapons out and hand that holding the cigar trembling.

Before even Nandini can ask if she is okay, Mukti locks herself in the bathroom. Showering for hours and not speaking with anyone for few more hours. Those were the few times where Nandini feels the line Mukti drew around herself.

Nandini is not sure of the correct sequence. Is silent comes first and then sorry later or vice versa.

But again, Nandini knows everyone has their demons and has their own way of coping with them. Because next day morning, it will be normal, Mukti will wake her up at ass o clock to train her till she is openly cursing at the older.

"Wake up, stupid bear. Don't make me wait", Mukti's anger yet gentle voice echoed in her mind, there's a cigar in her hand but Nandini can't feel the similar nicotine mixed with almond like smell.

So, with a frown, thinking something's wrong, Nandini tried to wake up. But she couldn't.

Her hands, her legs.. she can't feel her body. She squeezed her eyes tightly as her eyelids felt heavy and opened her eyes finally.

But still there is no Mukti, there is no familiar smell.

She is disappointed to not to see her old place. The room is decorated with black curtains and almost dim, comfortable and expensive. She is alone in the room. Laying on bed, covered with a duvet.

Nandini's left arm was connected to the wire of the saline bottle. She is alone. Her throat felt dry and sore when she opened her mouth to speak, so with her free hand, Nandini pushed the tray down to the floor from bedside table to make the noise.

Within a second, the doors were opened as the couple of nurses came in rushing. "Heir woke up, alert the doctor", the panic voice came in as they looked at the floor full of mess.

Next minute, a middle aged man came in rushing, in his white coat. They checked the monitor, her vitals and vision movements. "Hello Ms. Murthy, can you tell me your name?"

"Nandini Murthy", she whispered back and the doctor kept asking her more questions, Age? 19. Where is this place? Her bedroom in the main Cobras compound. How's she feeling? Thirsty.

She drank few sips of water with the help of nurse.

"Ma'am, Mr. Khurrana would like to have a word with you", Ridhi, her personal guard said entering the room after a knock, the staff must've told him that she woke up.

Nandini looked out of the window, is it sunset or sunrise? Her mind is still blurry. "No, that old man is going to nag me. I will meet him tomorrow", she replied.

With a curt nod, Ridhi stepped out of her room and closed the door behind her.

Nurses helped her, as Nandini got freshen up and had some hot milk. Younger let the other women take care of her with no arguments, they bathed and scrubbed her off, washed her hair and then she is dressed in a neat cotton two piece with a shawl on her shoulders.