A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 74- Valentine's Day

Nandini came home back disappointed. She called Inaya for help, ''Bangalore wapas aa gayi ho tho mera yaad aa gayi?'' Inaya said in her usual annoyed tone. ''Inaya, I need your help in something, office ke baad tum free ho na'' Nandini asked. ''Manik can also ask for help, why is he making you ask it'' Inaya asked. ''Manik isn't in Bangalore yet, main akeli hu'' Nandini said. ''Manik isn't here matlab, where is he!'' Inaya asked. ''I don't know, he dropped a voice message that he has gone on some work and I came back alone'' Nandini said. ''What kind of an important work?'' Inaya showered questions on Nandini. ''I don't know where and why Manik has gone but I need your help, right now'' Nandini said as her energy drained. ''Nandini, I wasn't feeling good, I came to live with my mom today, office nahi gayi main'' Inaya said. All the doors seemed to close for Nandini. ''Ok fine'' Nandini hung up on Inaya while Inaya was still asking her about why Nandini needed help.

Nandini shifted the supplies till the flat and the President of the society apartments see her with the carton boxes. ''Nandini, what are these boxes?'' he enquired. ''Hi uncle, ye sab supplies hai, I have to pack all these and deliver it to a corporate company'' Nandini explained but then she got an idea. ''Uncle, ye sab pack karne mein mujhe koi help milega kya?'' she hoped that at least he could help her. ''Ha watchman aur uske biwi hai, you can ask them for help'' he suggested and went away. Nandini is finally relieved and asked watchman for help. He readily agreed and helped her in shifting all the boxes and told Nandini that he will get his wife for packing. ''Thank you so much for this help'' she said and offered coffee to both of them. After half an hour, President and his wife had visited Nandini to know about her work. ''Oh, so this is all for corporate gifting purpose, these are very thoughtful gifts'' he appreciated Nandini. ''Thank you uncle, I should submit this by tomorrow afternoon'' Nandini said. 

''Then we can also help you'' President's wife said. ''No, no aunty, please don't take tension, I will take care, already apne watchman ko yaha bhej ke bahut help kiya'' Nandini thanked them but they insisted on helping her. Nandini felt relieved as there are now 5 members to pack them. They had packed many of the gifts as she instructed them and she thanked them for help. Even though, they helped her in packing, still 600 gifts were pending to be packed yet. Nandini thought that she should be awake for whole night and pack them so that she can deliver them ontime. She ordered dinner for her and ate it in a jiffy to continue with her work. It was past 12 o clock but Nandini was keen on her work when she heard her phone ring. ''Manik'' she ran to take her phone but disappointed when it wasn't Manik. ''Ha Navya, didn't you sleep till now'' she asked. ''Still busy in packing?'' she asked Nandini. ''Yes'' Nandini said dryly. ''Manik ka kuch pata chala'' Navya asked. ''Manik isn't missing, he wantedly went away where couldn't find him. He will only come when he want to, pata nahi wo kaha gaya hoga'' Nandini said. 

''He will come, don't worry'' Navya said to make Nandini's mood better. ''I can't think straight Navya, itna important kya ho sakta hai Manik ke liye, all of a sudden!'' Nandini said. ''What do you think?'' Nandini said. ''Tomorrow is Valentine's day and Manik disappeared all of a sudden, first Alya, then Kiara and God knows who's next, I don't even know who is there in his life'' Nandini said thinking. ''Don't overthink Nandini, Alya ab Manik ki life mein nahi hai, and Kiara! Aryaman told you that it was just a childhood crush story'' Navya tried to put some sense in Nandini's head. ''Tho phir kaha gayab hua Manik, itni achanak se'' Nandini said. She wished that Navya is right. ''You're already upset Nandini, don't think about Manik now'' Navya said as she cut the call. ''Kaha ho Manik, this is our first Valentine's day'' Nandini wished she is with Manik now but the reality had hit her when she can't even talk to him on phone. Tears rolled down her eyes as she slept on his bed. It felt like his scent is still lingering on the sheets. 

Nandini didn't realize the time and woke up after 2 hours. It was already 3 am in the morning and she decided to resume her work. She got up from the bed and saw her tears on the bed sheet. She touched it and thought that Manik would make it up for her tears and started her work with a new hope and a refreshing morning coffee. She sat there continuing her work and everything got ready by 11 am in the morning. She stretched her muscles as she sat there since hours. Nandini felt dizzy as she stood up. She had to watch her steps as she walked. She saw a call from Aryaman and called him back. ''Hi Aryaman, I was busy with something and didn't check the phone'' she said. ''Bhabhi, main nahi Manik ne call kiya hai tumhe mere phone se'' Aryaman said. ''Manik came back!'' Nandini's sleep is completely gone now. ''Yes bhabhi'' he said. ''Why didn't he call me then'' Nandini was waiting to talk to Manik. ''Bhai ka phone switch off tha tho mere phone se call kiya, but he started to Bangalore already'' Nandini felt happy as she heard from Aryaman. ''Really?'' Nandini asked again. ''Ha main khud airport pe drop karke aaya hu'' Aryaman said. ''Did he tell you where he went'' Nandini asked but Aryaman asked her to find out herself when Manik come back to her.