A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 68- Ups and Downs

"Manik aise kaise kar sakta hai" Nandini is hurt by his behavior. She was so scared of him when Aryaman came to her support. She never saw Manik reacting such extreme from the time she met him. She understood that she was at fault but what she did wasn't a wrong thing. She hoped that he would understand her but instead Manik lost his cool when he knew she met Abhimanyu. She was never used to be silent but the situation now at home left her no chance to speak. Having nothing to do and having no one to speak, she dozed off in the sofa without knowing.

She woke up when she felt her stomach growling. She was hungry as she didn't eat anything since morning. She got up from the bed and didn't realize how she ended up in the room. Nandini's phone dropped down and she picked it up and checked the time. It was 2 in the mid noon. She grabbed a water bottle near her and drank from it. All of a sudden, she saw Manik standing beside her and was scared to see him. Before Manik could speak something, Nandini threw the bottle in shock and the water was poured over him. ''Nandini'' Manik screamed when he was wet. ''Oops'' Nandini said involuntarily but Manik's serious face reminded her not to laugh. ''I'll go change and come'' was all he said and vanished into his walk-in closet. After Manik came out changing clothes, they heard a knock on the door. Nandini saw the cook in front of their door. ''Agar koi kuch nahi khayega tho hum bhi nahi khayenge'' Nandini heard Manik saying. Nandini's face fell as she heard him. She was feeling hungry and here he declared that they won't eat anything. 

''Even after knowing that I didn't eat anything, he still want me to be hungry'' Nandini can't believe Manik's changed behavior. She saw him looking at her but she felt sad and didn't want to look at him. She felt like trapped inside the room for that day and out of boredom, she called Navya and said everything happened at home. ''Should I order some food?'' was the first thing Navya asked her. ''No, even I can order but ghar pe koi nahi khaya hai'' Nandini said. ''Manik ko batao ki you are hungry'' Navya adviced. ''He knew that I didn't eat anything but still made a decision to not have lunch'' Nandini said. ''You should have not involved yourself in Abhimanyu and Mukti's issue'' Navya said. ''Aise kaise involve na ho jao, they are my family Navya, jaise Manik mere mom dad ka khayal rakhte hai waise hi ye mere responsibility hai'' Nandini said. 

''Nandini, kuch dino mein tum aur Manik alag ho jane wale hai and how's this your responsibility?'' Navya asked. Reality has suddenly strike to Nandini and it was hard for her to leave everything. Nandini did not speak for a moment and then said, ''even if I have to leave this family, I know them all, they would definitely be with me'' Nandini said but is not sure of it. ''I know tum reality se bhaag rahi ho but the thing is Manik aur uske family ke liye tum ek temporary arrangement ho. Jaise hi usse pata chale ki ye shaadi asli nahi hai, uss din se koi relation nahi hoga tumse'' Navya's words have hurt her but she tried to calm down herself. After speaking to Navya, Nandini had many questions in her mind. ''Sach mein Manik and his family would disown me after some days? What if Manik marry someone else! Would we still be like this?'' Nandini thought to herself. 

''Nahi, if he is with some other girl she would take this place. Yaha jo bhi pyar mujhe mil raha hai, usko milega. Aryaman and Mukti will no longer call me bhabhi. Maa tho mujhe apni beti jaisi treat kar rahi hai. Amma, nanna! How will they treat Manik then'' Nandini was worried as she anticipated separation from Manik. Unbeknownst to her, she felt miserable at the thought of leaving Manik. Her mind was filled with endless questions with no answers. Manik came back to his room in the evening. He was busy with his work and made no attempt to talk to her. There was sheer silence in the room that she could hear her own heartbeat. ''Manik itna gussa kyu kar raha hai mujhpe'' she thought. Hours passed by and Nandini thought it was her mistake to talk to Abhimanyu. Nandini's overthinking skills have completely taken over her and she came to this world when they heard a knock on their door. Nandini opened the door to find Nyonika and Mukti in front of her. ''Maa'' Nandini hesitated to speak. Manik heard Nandini and came till the door. ''What are you both doing here at this time?'' Manik asked them. Nyonika showed a plate with food. ''You didn't eat anything since morning, isliye maa ye le ke aayi hai'' Mukti said. Manik and Nandini looked at each other and let them in.