A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 93- Missing Pieces

Manik's POV:

A lone boat was found hanging nearby. Jai and Abhi are no where to be seen. We managed to reach the boat. Both of us are wet and tired. There was absolute silence between us. Nandini didn't even looked at me. I shouldn't have kissed her. "Nandini" I wanted to talk to her but she didn't said anything. "Why didn't you tell me that you said no to Daksh's proposal" I've finally asked her. I can never forget the way she looked at me when I asked her. She tried to speak something but it felt like she had a lump in her throat. "How does it even matter now?'' she asked looking straight into my eyes but I had no answer. "You're right, it doesn't matter" I had nothing to say. I was wrong about Nandini. Did she really loved only me back then! If yes, she doesn't deserve a person like me who didn't believe or loved her anyway. We reached the resort by late in the evening and I think all others would have reached by now. I got down from the boat and tried to help her to come out. She didn't take my hand but came on her own.

Navya was waiting for her. "Nandini, Jai said you fell in the water" she asked concerned. "Ha but I'm fine now" she said. As I walked inside, Aryaman, Mukti and Tara were waiting for me. "Why did you get wet?" Aryaman asked. "He jumped into the water to save someone" Abhimanyu said promptly. Just then Nandini walked into the resort and they saw her drenched in water. I knew what they would be thinking. "This is why I didn't wanted to go with you" Mukti said to Abhimanyu. "Arre I would have jumped into the water if it was you Mukti" Abhimanyu said as he winked at me. Oh God, did he see when I kissed Nandini! "Is this your chance to flirt with Mukti?" Aryaman was about to ask something when I excused myself to go to my room. "Guys, I'll go and change" I said and escaped from the other awkward questions. 

By dinner time, I changed and came back to eat. I thought Nandini may not come for dinner after that incident but she was already there happily chatting with everyone as if nothing happened. I thought she might be scared but I was completely wrong. If someone has said Nandini just survived an accident I wouldn't have believed them if I hadn't saw her myself. She seemed to be indulged in a serious discussion when I approached her. Jai came first before me to talk to her. "Nandini, I'm really sorry that I couldn't help you. I just got frozen as I saw you fell in the water" he apologized. "It's okay Jai, it wasn't your mistake" she smiled at him. "Thanks to you Manik, agar tum nahi hote tho aaj sab ko pata chal jata ki kya hua Nandini ke saath" he said turning towards me. I slyly smiled at him while Nandini chose to ignore me. 

"I can't do that anyway" I heard her saying. "Please Nandini, you're my last hope. We didn't have enough time earlier but now humare paas time and chance, dono hai. Please Nandini please" Neha and Karthik asked her. "You, Tara, Karthik or Jai anyone can ask but why me!?" she asked. "Because we know what he would say, I think you can make him agree" they said again. "Kya ho raha hai yaha" I asked them. "Bachelor party" Karthik blurted out while Neha said, "pre-wedding shoot". "What?" they saw each other in surprise. "Fine, both of you decide what to do first and then come to me" Nandini said. "Nandini" I called her. She made sure no one is watching us. "I thought you might be scared of that accident" I said. "I was but not now" she said and flew away like a bird. How rude, she didn't even thanked me. 

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Nandini's POV:

"Nandini, dad is calling you" Neha said as I had my dinner. "Now?" it's almost 9 pm and why would he ask me to meet him now. "Did you tell him something?" I asked Neha but she said that she didn't discuss anything with her father. "Hach" I sneezed as I caught cold. My head feels heavy after those minutes in water. Out of nowhere Manik appeared in front of me. "Kya chahiye tumhe?" I'm already irritated and on top of it, he is making it really tough. ''I got tablets for cold, you might need it" he said while I sneezed once again. "I know yahi hoga so isliye le lo" why does he think he know everything. "Mujhe nahi chahiye" I didn't take the tablets he gave me. I don't want him near me. Somehow it felt weird when Manik has his gaze fixed on me. Manik still affects me that I become extra cautious when I knew he is looking at me. And him, uske liye kuch nahi badla, he is behaving like nothing happened between us.