A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 71- Tug of Love

Nandini felt a wave of emotions inside her when Manik made her wear bangles. She knew how important is his grandmother is to Manik. Nandini thought that if he had considered her eligible to wear his grandmothers' bangles, she knew that he had considered her special. ''Happy now?'' Nandini nodded hearing Manik's voice but then realized that he was speaking to Nyonika. She just stood there without moving but her mind is filled with many questions. As Manik and Nandini retired to their room to call it a day, there was sheer silence in the room. Both of them wanted to speak their heart out, but they felt like an unknown force was stopping them. The silence was killing her within so she decided to put an end to it. ''Do you want to speak something?'' Nandini asked with a hope.

''Of course main bhi yahi soch raha hu ki tum itni khamosh kyu baithi ho'' Manik said. ''Sometimes actions speak louder than words'' Nandini justified her silence but couldn't bear it from him. ''I have so much to share with you Manik'' Nandini said to herself. ''Tumse bahut kuch kehna hai Nandini, I didn't knew where to start'' Manik said smiling. ''Why is Manik feeling the same as I'm feeling'' she smiled to herself. ''When we're just married I didn't knew we're going to come this far. Seriously I would have never trust anyone if they have told me that we are this compatible'' Manik praised Nandini. ''How do you feel now?'' asked Nandini as her heart beats raised. ''This is a feeling of deep and pure gratitude, that's it'' Manik hugged her. Nandini felt like Manik was shooting daggers at her even though he hugged her. For what Nandini felt like love, for Manik it was just gratitude. For Nandini, gratitude was not more than the love for him. For the first time ever, she craved for love from Manik.

The thought of Manik not feeling anything for her made her break into tears. ''Seriously maine kabhi socha ki you will forgo that jewelry'' Manik said. ''I don't claim what's not mine'' Nandini said after being dejected. ''No, no! That's all yours Nandini. You are my legally wedded wife. What's mine is yours too, even if I don't claim, you are the rightful heir of our family too. Mom ke saamne, you have made me so proud. You proved to me that I have a purpose in my life, you proved that I'm more than my net worth'' Manik said unable to contain his excitement. Nandini didn't want to disturb his happiness or excitement but stayed mum. Nandini couldn't sleep for the whole night thinking about Manik. She had mixed feelings about him while Manik had a good sound sleep. ''How can he sleep leaving me alone like this!'' Nandini wished she could wake him up but didn't knew what to do. ''What will I tell him if I wake him up now'' Nandini thought. ''Manik se pehle Navya ko batana hai'' Nandini is determined. She tossed in bed and Manik put his hand around her. Nandini's heart has skipped a beat sensing his touch.

She turned towards him when Manik is in his deep slumber. She slid close to him and put her hand on his cheek. Her hands turned cold as he touch him. The room was completely filled with silence, Nandini could only hear both of them breathe. She slept so close to him that she could feel his exhaled hot breathe on her shoulder. She hugged him to reciprocate her feelings. She dozed off peacefully in his arms. The next morning, Manik was the first one to wake up with Nandini in his arms. He was surprised to see them sleeping together. A naughty smile creeped on his face. He adjusted her hair to see her sun-kissed face. He planted a soft kiss on her face and expected her to get up but she snuggled closer to him. He was about to wake her up but heard his phone ring. ''Hello'' he spoke in a sleepy voice and heard Nyonika on the other side. ''Tum dono ab tak neeche kyu nahi aaye?'' she asked and it was then Manik saw it is already 9 am. He said that they are getting ready and woke up Nandini. 

''Nandini'' he shook her. ''Mujhe sone do Manik'' she said with her sleepy eyes. ''Everyone is waiting for us to have breakfast'' he said. She suddenly got up and panicked. ''You should have woke me up earlier, sab log neeche kya sochenge'' she said worried. They got ready and went to breakfast. ''Hi dad, when did you come back?'' Manik asked his dad. ''Early morning today'' he said. Nandini greeted him and sat there embarrassing. ''I didn't get to sleep for whole night, so I couldn't get up early'' she said. ''Did you say that Manik didn't let you sleep last night'' Abhimanyu asked controlling his laughter. ''Will he crack these lame jokes at home too?'' Manik asked Mukti. ''Isliye ye dono yaha hai'' Aryaman said and Abhimanyu pinched him. ''Dining table pe phones are not allowed Manik'' Shrikant reminded him. ''I'm booking tickets for our return journey dad, we're leaving tonight'' Manik announced to everyone. ''Itna suddenly plan kyu banaya'' Nyonika asked. ''It's not sudden mom, yaha aana is unexpected, anyway I need to go to office, ek project chod ke yaha aaya hu'' Manik said. ''But you should postpone it Manik, aaj raat ek party hai'' Shrikant said. ''Dad, you know I'm not interested in these formal parties'' Manik said. ''You'll regret saying that Manik, ye official party nahi hai, it's a reception party. Remember Mr. Yashwant ke beta, uska wedding reception party'' Shrikant said. ''He's my good friend, why am I not invited then'' Manik asked excited. ''To be invited, you should atleast be in touch with your friends Manik. I'm sure you can meet all your old schoolmates if you go to party tonight. It's a couples only party, so you can meet all your married friends'' Shrikant said.

''Then I'll book tickets for tomorrow morning flight'' Manik quickly changed his schedule and Nandini wondered that Manik really looked excited for the party tonight. After breakfast Nandini asked Manik that she wants to meet Navya. ''I thought you'll ask to meet aunty uncle, but its okay if you want to meet Navya'' Manik said. "I will go to meet amma, nanna also but right now, meeting Navya is so important" Nandini said while Manik asked her to return by evening for the party. "Tum kabse party mein itne interested ho gaye ho!" she asked. "Tonight is going to be wild, all my friends would be there" Manik said.

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"Itna important kya hai mujhe urgently yaha bulaya" Navya asked Nandini. "Wedding contract it's with you right?" Navya nodded yes. "Tear it up Navya, there's no need of that anymore" Nandini said. "Matlab!" Navya asked not understanding what she meant. "Ok let me put it this way then, mujhe Manik se alag nahi hona hai, nothing should make us apart Navya" Nandini said. "Nandu, ye tu kya bol rahi ho? Did you tell Manik?" Navya is surprised. "Itne dino se mujhe khud pata nahi tha but I think I'm in love with Manik" Nandini confessed. Navya immediately hugged her.

"Are you sure you love him?" Navya asked. "Of course I feel like Manik ke bina main kuch nahi hu" Nandini said. "I never thought Manik and you could be together forever! How did Manik react?" Navya asked. "I'm scared to tell him Navya, I don't know. He has a soft corner for me, he admires me but I don't know if it's love or not!" Nandini said worried. "Nandu, itna mat socho. Go and propose him, he will definitely say yes" Navya encouraged her. "I hope so" Nandini said crossing her fingers.

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"Manik" Shrikant called him. "Dad! Come sit" Manik asked his dad to come to his room. "Thank you, your mom is really happy and Aryaman told me everything about your gift" Shrikant said. "Chalo kuch thodi fayda hua uss gift se, I'm glad mom liked it" Manik said. "Just liked it se kuch nahi hoga, she will search my pocket for the bill to know from where I have bought it. Mujhe wo bill bhi dena" Shrikant demanded. "How well do you know mom right!" Manik was shocked to witness his dad's precision. "If you lie, you're already a liar, so why can't I be a professional liar then!" he said.

"And yes I have forwarded the invite to you. Tum aur Nandini ready rehna" he said. "It would be good if all of us could go together" Manik said. "It's just a couples only party Manik. It won't look good if we go there as a family. We would have also threw a reception party after your wedding if you have accepted" Shrikant said. "That money would make more sense if we use it in a right way than to mindlessly have a big fat wedding" Manik said. "Kisi ne kaha ki opposites attract, it's so right" Shrikant said. "Lavish weddings karwane wali biwi aur khudke shaadi ke paise bachaane wale pati" Shrikant laughed. "Good one, but Nandini ko bhi inn paison se pyar nahi hai dad" Manik said. "Yes I know, your mom told me everything that happened last night" Shrikant said. There was a proud look on Manik's face when Shrikant spoke about Nandini. "You're so lucky to have her in your life Manik" he said. "I'm indeed" Manik said. He suddenly remembered something to show to his dad.

"Dad, ek second, there's a wedding invite from the office" Manik said and gave it to Shrikant. "Must be someone from the office" Shrikant didn't even look at it. "No, it was only for Aryaman and not you dad" Manik said. "Tho hoga koi uske close employee" Shrikant shrugged it off but Manik insisted him. "Itna close hai tho Aryaman shaadi mein bhi nhi jaa raha hai, can you just check it dad to see who it is!" Manik asked. Shrikant read the invitation and said, "this is the girl I spoke to Aryaman about! Are they really in touch! Ye ladki ab office mein nahi hai, she resigned and didn't even serve her notice period" he said.

Manik remembered Shrikant slapping Aryaman for approving someone's resignation. "Is it for this girl dad, you have slapped him?" Manik asked to confirm. "Hmm, I thought this is all over, why did she send it" Shrikant wondered. "Who's she dad?" Manik asked. "Our manufacturing head, Ms. Tara Chowdary, she was really a key employee for us par pata nahi kyu wo chali gai. That too itna suspiciously" Shrikant said. "Main Aryaman se baat karunga" Shrikant said to Manik. "No dad, Aryaman is not going there anyway, phir se ye sab baat karenge tho usko bhi awkward lagega, just leave it and don't tell him that I told you anything about it" Manik said. Shrikant left from there after chatting for a while.

"Ms. Tara Chowdary! What's your connection with Aryaman" Manik said reading the bride's name aloud from the wedding invitation. He knew that he would go to meet her.