A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 73- Shattered Hopes

Nandini is upset as the driver gave her a ride back home. ''Itni jaldi wapas aa gaye beta'' Nyonika asked Nandini as she came home. Nandini didn't answer anything but left to her room with tears. ''Lagta hai Nandini akeli aayi hai mom, Manik tho hai nahi car mein'' Mukti said. ''Nandini akeli roti hui ghar aayi hai, you should go and talk to her'' Shrikant sent Nyonika behind Nandini. Mukti and Aryaman have also followed Nyonika. They knocked on the door but Nandini gave no answer. Nyonika anxiously banged on the door when Nandini finally opened it. ''I was changing my dress'' Nandini reasoned. ''We were scared, but bhai kaha hai, why did you come alone?'' Mukti bombarded Nandini with questions. ''Manik didn't come with me'' she said. ''Wahi wo kyu nahi aaya? Matlab usne tumhe akeli kyu bhej diya'' Nyonika forced Nandini. She stayed calm for a minute. ''Kya hua bhabhi! how can we understand the problem if you stay silent, aap rote hue kyu ghar aa gayi'' Aryaman asked. 

Abhimanyu joined the team and they all force Nandini to open her mouth. ''Tu meri beti jaisi hai Nandini, please bata dena kya hua?'' Nyonika requested her. ''Maa, Manik sent me back home, he didn't come. He asked me to send the car back to pick him up'' Nandini said. ''Ye tho hume bhi pata hai ki you came alone, but why did you come back without Manik'' Abhimanyu asked as he can't wait for Nandini to gossip about Manik. ''I asked him not to drink alcohol tonight, but Manik jhoot bolke pee liye hai. He was lying even when I caught him red-handed'' Nandini said. ''Manik aisa nahi hai beta, he doesn't drink often'' Nyonika tried to convince Nandini about Manik. ''I know he doesn't drink often but for tonight, I requested him to not drink. Even after requesting he still got drunk and then he lied that he didn't drink'' Nandini said. ''It's too bad to get drunk, Manik shouldn't have lied to Nandini'' Abhimanyu. ''Tum aag mein ghee mat dalna'' Mukti gave a sharp look at her husband.

''Not just that unke purane dost, purani girlfriend unhe sab mil gaya, he sent me away when I confronted about it'' Nandini almost had tears in her eyes. ''Did bhai meet Kiara there?'' Aryaman asked Nandini. Mukti looked at Aryaman. Nandini nodded yes wiping her tears. ''Lagta hai inn dono ko pata hai Manik ke girlfriend ke baare mein'' Abhimanyu said pointing to Aryaman and Mukti. ''Mujhe bhi aaj bahut kuch pata chala Manik ke baare mein. Manik said that he will get drunk and he will do whatever he wants to do'' Nandini said. ''Driver nahi Manik ko lene main jaa raha hu'' Aryaman said as Nandini was in tears. He started to get Manik and asked the driver to go home. ''Manik ko hum aisa kuch nahi karne denge Nandini, main baat karungi usse, please chup ho jaa. Don't cry Nandini'' Nyonika said pacifying Nandini. ''Sorry maa, main thodi upset thi isliye itna kuch keh diya'' Nandini said after a few minutes. ''Nandini beta, never think that I'll support my son. Ek maa hone se pehle main bhi ek aurat hu, ghar ki laxmi ho tum, aise nahi rote hai. Aane do Manik ko, main aur papa usse baat karenge'' Nyonika said. ''Manik won't return in a state where he can listen to you maa'' Nandini said.

''We will talk to him tomorrow morning, ab tum aaram se so jao'' Nyonika said. Nandini couldn't sleep thinking of Manik. ''Was Abhinav right when he said Manik really doesn't love me! What if I propose him and he rejects'' Nandini suddenly got up from the bed as she thought. ''Nahi, Manik can't deny my love for him. Why is Manik hiding about his previous relationships from me! Yaha aane ke baad 2 relationships ke baare mein pata chal gaya hai. What if he has many more secrets'' Nandini was scared to think about Manik's past. ''Kya sach main kisi ki pyar ke layak nahi hu!'' she felt depressed thinking of Abhinav's words. Minutes turned to hours and she didn't realized the time until she heard Aryaman and Manik's voices. She opened the door only to find Manik stumbled. Aryaman tried to support his brother and Nandini can't believe Manik got drunk until he has no sense. ''Aaram se shor mat karna'' Aryaman said to Manik. ''Okie Aryaman, my baby brother thanks mujhe help karne ke liye'' Manik said kissing Aryaman's cheek. He saw Nandini near the door of his room.

''Pata hai aaj Nandini mujhe waha akela chod ke chali gayi. You're my brother and you love me, sirf tum aaye ho mere liye'' Manik said. ''Chodo Aryaman, I'll take him to the room'' Nandini said holding Manik's hand. ''No, I will sleep in Aryaman's room tonight'' Manik took his hand back from Nandini. ''Ye kaisi bachpana hai Manik, bhabhi se kyu naraaz ho tum'' Aryaman asked. ''Purani girlfriend se mulaqat ke baad main kyu dikhungi isse'' Nandini couldn't hide her jealousy anymore. Aryaman helped Manik to get into his room and he made him sleep on the bed. Nandini kneeled down to remove his shoes but Aryaman asked her to stop. He removed Manik's shoes and helped Manik to remove his suit. Manik patted Aryaman's back and said, ''tu jaake so jaa, Nandini mujhe nahi sone degi, at least tum so jaana ache se. Shaadi ke baad har insaan ki halaat kuch aisa hi hoga'' Manik said. Aryaman paused there momentarily and Nandini asked him to leave. ''Bhabhi Kiara bhai ki 7th grade ki girlfriend thi, she was just a childhood crush'' Aryaman spoke on Manik's behalf. ''Lagta hai tumhe Manik ke girlfriends ke baare mein bahut kuch pata hai. I will definitely ask you if I need any information'' Nandini said closing the door.