Nandini's POV: What do you think of yourself, Mr. Manik Malhotra? That you can do all these sweet things and I'll forgive you? Never! Just wait and watch what I do to you!
Nandini storms out of her house angrily.
She reaches college and looks for Manik.
Nandini: Where could he be? I've checked everywhere… Oh! How could I forget? His favorite room!
Nandini notices that the door to the secret room is already open. She enters and sees sorry cards scattered all over the room. Her emotions begin to take over.
Suddenly, Manik comes from behind and places his hand on her shoulder.
Nandini turns around and sees Manik’s eyes filled with tears. She is about to wipe her own tears but then remembers what Manik did to her. She pushes him away.
Nandini: What do you think of yourself? That you can do all this and I'll forgive you? Never!
Manik steps closer to Nandini.
Manik: Nandini, just listen to me once.
Nandini: I don’t want to listen to anything! And Manik Malhotra, stay away from me. Do you get that? I don’t love you anymore, so it’s better if you stay away from me!
(Manik looks into her eyes intensely and starts moving closer to her. Nandini steps back, but with each step she takes, Manik advances toward her. Soon, she is cornered against the wall. She tries to move away, but Manik places his hands on either side, blocking her escape.)
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Nandini’s heartbeat races. She looks down and says, "Let me go."
Manik: Why? (His gaze is intense.) Does my closeness affect you?
Manik: Oh, really?
(Manik lifts her chin, making her look at him.)
Manik: Look into my eyes and say that you hate me. Come on!
Nandini: I don't have time for this nonsense.
Manik: Just say it, and I'll let you go. I promise.
(Nandini looks down.)
Manik: What happened? You can’t say it?
(He scoffs.)
Nandini: I... I...
Manik: Don’t look down. Look at me and say it.
(Nandini looks into his eyes and hesitantly speaks.)
Nandini: I... I don’t... I... I hate...
(She looks down.)
Nandini: I hate you!
Manik chuckles.
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He holds her shoulders, leans close to her ear, and says, "Nandini Murthy, you love me! The way you hesitated so much proves that you still love me. You keep saying you hate me, but the truth is, you can never hate me!"
Manik smiles at her, tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear, cups her cheeks, and kisses her on the forehead, then on her eyes, and finally on both cheeks.
Nandini tries to move away, but he pulls her back. Slowly, he moves his hands from her shoulders to her fingers and entwines them with his. Then, he gently moves her hair aside and presses a soft kiss on her neck.
He turns Nandini toward him and is about to kiss her on the lips when she suddenly pushes him away.
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Nandini: Manik Malhotra, don't you get it? I don't want you around me… it disgusts me. Your presence disgusts me! I don't want you near me. And yeah… I… I hate… I hate you! Now, is that clear? Just leave me alone, for God's sake. Stay away from me! I don’t love you! Do you get that?
(Nandini turns to leave, but Manik grabs her hand and pulls her closer by holding her waist.)
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(Nandini closes her eyes.)
Manik looks at her and says:
Manik: Nandini Murthy, if you truly didn’t love me, you wouldn’t have to say it. I would know. Your racing heartbeat, your lowered eyes, your hesitation—every damn thing tells me that you still love me. And you can’t stop me from being close to you. Just like I don’t stop you from distancing yourself from me, you can’t stop me from being near you. Just like I don’t stop you from hating me, you can’t stop me from loving you.I have given you every right over me, just as I have my rights over you! And you can’t stop me from loving you… do you get that? I know that after seeing all those cards, you’ve fallen for me even more. So stop pretending that you hate me! I love you! More than you could ever imagine. I love you as long as the sun burns in the sky, as long as the moon shines its light into the dark night. I will love you until the end of time! I loved you, I love you, and I will always love you. And you can’t stop me from doing that!
(Nandini’s eyes fill with tears. Manik wipes them, cups her face, and kisses her forehead.)
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Hey everyone,I hope you all are doing fine!Please do vote and kindly ignore any grammatical errors or typos.Please be patient 🩷The next chapter will be updated soon❤️ Also do follow me on instagram @/aesthetic_writer16 ~u
