Cabir opens the door and says, "Manik, I" He notices Manik and Nandini sharing a close moment. They come to their senses and quickly drift apart. Cabir hesitates. "Sorry... I'll come later," he says, closing the door behind him.
Manik tries to get close to Nandini, but she raises her hand. Nandini: Don't even try to come close to me, Mr. Manik Malhotra. You've done enough-played enough games with me. Enough is enough! Just leave me alone and go.
Manik: Leave you alone? I'm sorry, but I can't do that.
Nandini: Why?
Manik walks closer. Manik: Because I know how it feels to be alone... to want someone to talk to but have no one there. I know that pain, and I won't let you suffer through it alone.
Nandini: Please stop acting like you care about me, because you don't.
Manik: Nandini, please... tell me what happened.
Nandini: Enough, Manik! Stop pretending like you don't know what you did.
Manik: Nandini, please! I really don't know what I did. Just tell me-I'll fix it.
Nandini: Forget it! Boys like you only play around. Making fake promises is in your nature. Girls are just toys for you-someone today, someone else tomorrow. I'm done!
She turns to leave, but Manik grabs her by the waist and holds her hand tightly.
Manik: Nandini Murthy, if you think I was just playing around with you, you're wrong. I've loved you since the day you entered my life. Every single moment-I've only loved you. You're the one who makes my heart beat. When you're not around, I look for you like crazy. I am incomplete without you. And you think I was just passing time? Remember this, Ms. Nandini Murthy - Manik Malhotra can do anything but betrayal,deceit .That's not my cup of tea. I've been loyal to you.You didn't even think once about me like the person who lost every person he loved,my parents and brother and uncle but now I won't lose you!! Do you get that? Even if you try to leave, I won't let you. You're my life, my reason for surviving. And I won't let you go. Get that straight into your small head-I won't let you go, even if I have to force you to stay!
Nandini looks at him with teary eyes. Manik's grip softens.
Manik: Manik:Now just tell me what did I do that made you misunderstand me?Did someone say something ?Just tell me and I will fix it.I am sorry if I hurt you but please just give me a chance to explain
Nandini cups his face and is about to speak when a vase falls and breaks due to the wind. She snaps out of the moment and remembers Manik's conversation with Cabir.
Manik: Yes, Nandini? Tell me.
Nandini drifts apart from him.
Nandini's POV: Should I give him a chance? What if he's innocent and I misunderstood him?
Nandini's reflection: So you want to give him a chance? Like the guy who used you for a bet?
Nandini: Maybe they were talking about something else. Maybe I misunderstood...
Reflection: You know your biggest flaw? You trust too easily. You forgive too easily. Did you forget what your ex did to you? And now you're doing the same with Manik. Do you want to be miserable and alone again? To return to that dark place?
Manik holds her shoulders, snapping her back to the present.
Manik: I am asking you something,at least react! Please, Nandini...I can take anything but this silence. Just say something, goddamn it!"
Nandini grabs his collar.
Nandini: You want an answer? Fine. Listen carefully-relationships are like that vase. Once broken, they can't be fixed. You might heal from wounds, but the scars remain. There's a saying,"Those who betray you once will betray you a thousand times.You don't need to drink the whole ocean to know it's salty."So keep your sorry to yourself and don't ever show me your face again!
She releases his collar and storms out.
Manik's POV (teary-eyed): I don't know what I did... why you're acting this way. But I swear-I'll earn your forgiveness. One day, you'll come to me and confess your love. I have lost my loved ones once buti won't let that happen again.I won't let you go away from me.!
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Nandini reaches the college canteen and bumps into someone. It's the mysterious man in a hoodie.
Nandini: I'm sorry.
Mysterious Man: One shouldn't say sorry so much that the word loses its value.
Nandini is shocked to see the mysterious man again
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Nandini: Who are you? Why are you always covering your face?
Mysterious Man: I am someone who can hurt others for you... but I can hurt you too if you don't listen.
He walks away.
Nandini: Wait!
Nandini's POV: What did he mean? That he can hurt people for me... but hurt me too? Weird.
Mysterious Man (from a distance): What you find weird now will soon become your reality. You'll understand very soon.
Nandini: How did you know what I was thinking?And one second What's your name?
Mysterious Man: V.Ms.Nandini it would be better for you to stay away from Manik otherwise it won't be good for you and him.Bye now!
Nandini: But-hey!
He vanishes.
Nandini's POV: Who is this V? Why is he so secretive? Why did he tell me to stay away from Manik? How did her know what I was thinking?I need to find out!
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Hey Everyone I hope you all are doing well!I hope you all like the chapter!Please do vote and comment and kindly ignore any kind of grammatical errors!🩷Please be patient the next chapter will be updated soon🩷Also do follow me on instagram@/aesthetic_writer16 ~u
