A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 97- The Closure

Nandini's POV:

"Manik, what was that?" Aryaman followed us. "You should have asked Tara's family when they were questioning there!" Manik still looked angry. "Why did you tell everyone about both of you. What do I tell them hume khud nahi pata hai tum dono ke baare mein'' Aryaman said. He didn't look his usual self. He didn't just speak in a rage of fit, there's a pain hidden in his voice. "For God's sake, tell us the truth" he demanded. "What truth?" I was clueless what Aryaman was talking about. Was he right when he said he doesn't know why we are separated? Why did Manik does this to his own family? Don't they deserve to know the reason. "Manik, you've suddenly declared that you wanted to marry her and Nandini, usne bhi suddenly announce kiya ki wo tumse alag hona chahti hai. What do you think of yourselves? Kabhi shaadi kabhi talaak, ye sab tum dono ke liye mazaak ban gaya hai" Nyonika maa spoke as she came there. 

As much as I know her, she never raised her voice. She was a lovely person but now, she's a different person altogether and I don't blame her. "I thought all of this is fate, but tum dono baar baar yaad kar rahe ho" she lashed out at both of us. Mukti, Abhimanyu, papa joined after Nyonika maa. "What's going on Manik? We couldn't even stand there after what you've did" papa said to Manik. Manik was not wrong when he told that but why are they making a scene out of it. "Manik ne koi galti nahi kiya, why are you even blaming him?" I asked. "Tumhe humare beech bolne ka haq hi nahi hai, you've lost it long back" Nyonika maa almost shut me up. "You've spoke with me after almost two years mom, and you're asking me this" Manik looked into her eyes. Why didn't they talk all these days? 

"Why are you taking each other's side like an ideal couple, itna hi ideal couple hota tho ab kyu separate ho gaye tum dono" Mukti asked. "Why didn't you tell them anything" I asked Manik. "We even asked you many times Nandini, tum bhi kuch nahi kaha" papa said. "Tab ki halaatein alag the uncle, par ab aisa nahi hai and you really deserve to know" Manik held my hand when I said that. "Nandini, don't!" he said. "But why?" I don't understand why Manik is holding back. "Somethings are best untold" he said. Manik and his senseless logics. "Bhabhi, please tell us" Aryaman asked. I took a deep breath to close this chapter of my life once for all. "Nandini, please don't, please" Manik tried to stop me again but Nyonika maa pulled my hand. "Tell me Nandini, what's it?" she shook me. It showed how keen she was in knowing about us. Manik on one side and Nyonika maa on the other side. The pressure was real. 

"We were never married to get separated" I said and everyone looked shocked. "What?" Nyonika maa asked. "Our wedding wasn't real, we were in an open relationship" I said. "Kya matlab real nahi hai" Mukti asked. "We just decided to get married because of parent's pressure, when everything calmed down, we thought of taking divorce" I said. "Then why did Manik oppose the decision, this is not true" Aryaman asked me. His voice is intimidating. "After my parents' death, I didn't feel like being with him. All this was a sham and I don't have any reason to continue all this" I said. "Jhoot" Nyonika maa's scream scared me. "How could you do this to me?" she slapped Manik and I didn't expect this. "You cheated us Manik, you betrayed all of us" she looked emotional and disheveled. She then collapsed all of a sudden. "Maa'' Manik almost held her but Aryaman didn't let him. Papa held her and Mukti cried. Amidst chaos and cries, Aryaman and Abhimanyu shifted Nyonika maa from there. 

Manik ran behind them. Navya came searching for me. "Aryaman, maa ko hum hospital le jayenge, shaadi ke baad Tara ko batana, please stay here until then" Abhimanyu said. "Tara ko baad mein batayenge, but I will come with you" Aryaman said. "No, you're bound to be here. Ye bhi tumhara hi ghar hai and she is like my mom too" Abhimanyu said with tears in his eyes. "No, she is my mom too" Abhimanyu's car disappeared in a minute. Manik was about to leave but then Aryaman stopped him again. "Don't you dare to go and see mom again" Aryaman warned Manik. "Aryaman, I can explain" Manik tried to speak but he wasn't ready to listen. "Maine khud se zyada tumpe trust kiya hai Manik, how could you do this with us" Aryaman blamed him too. "Tum dono itne ache acting kiya hai ki hum ko tum dono pe shaq hi nahi hua. Hatsoff to you Ms. Nandini" Aryaman said. Navya stood by my side. "Aryaman, where are everyone? Tum sab kaha gaayab ho gaye?" Tara came searching for him.

"Mom ko heart attack aaya hai" he said and Tara said she will go with him. "Are you happy now?" Manik asked. "Manik, wo..I didn't expect all this would happen". All of this happened within a flash of a moment. "I can't believe you've did this. Maine baar baar mana kiya phir bhi you went ahead and told them everything!" Manik's eyes were swollen and red. "Yes, I accept maine galti kiya hai. I shouldn't have told your parents about us! I was under the influence of alcohol and that's the biggest regret of my life. Agar main uss din kuch nahi bolta tho shayad aaj Anitha aunty and Mohan uncle would have been alive. Aaj tak maine wo nahi bhul paaya. Uss din ke baad maine kabhi piya nahi tha. But you, tum tho mahaan ho na! Maine kabhi kuch nahi bola ghar pe kyunki main dar gaya tha. How could you do this even after knowing the consequences" Manik poured his heart out. Was I really wrong? Did I make a mistake telling them the truth. "It was a half baked truth and I hate you for this'' he said. 

"Maine kuch galat nahi kiya" I said trying to defend myself. "Did you just see my mom Nandini? Uski ye haalaat ki wajhe tum hi ho. Maine baar baar mana kiya tumko but you said it deliberately. I know main galat tha, I've been tightlipped about us whenever they'd ask me, because I know they would react this way. Sach bolne se situation aur bhi bigadh jayega, your truth will be of no help. You know what! Do you know this career restart and all itna easy hai, nahi! Tumhare liye Aryaman ne kiya hai ye sab. Tumhara wo social media marketing head, kya de rahi ho tum usko, peanuts! He is on Aryaman's payroll. Half of your team's salaries are paid by him. But you've let him down telling truth. Except for that Abhinav, everyone is being paid for you and that fellow, he isn't helping you but he will make sure to be with you when you fall down. Ye duniya kitni cruel hai, tumhe iska andaaza bhi nahi hai. No, actually Aryaman made sure ki tumhe aisi koi andaaza na ho!" Manik said spitting the truth. 

What's truth for Manik is my life's biggest lie. I feel ashamed of myself when he said that Aryaman was protecting me. After this shocking revelation, I don't have any strength left to speak anything. "Kuch bhi karne se pehle maine tumhe 100 baar sochne ke liye kaha tha. You've disappointed me" he said. For the first time, I saw hatred in Manik's eyes. Not even when I asked him divorce. Manik ke liye uski family bahut important hai and why are they avoiding him now? Maybe this is the much needed closure we both needed. Manik wasn't letting it go all these years but he will have to hate me now and we will have to move on in our lives. I've moved to my room. "Mere wajhe se ye sab kyu ho raha hai Navya?" I hugged Navya as I couldn't stop my tears. "That was an accident Nandini, tum ne kuch kiya nahi" she said. I packed all my luggage and set out to leave. "Hume yaha nahi rukhni chahiye, we should leave" I said. "Kisi ko tho batana padega na" Navya said. 

"Kisi se kuch nahi bolna hai Navya. Yaha sab Manik aur Aryaman ke ishaaro mein ho raha hai, I was a fool to think this is all true. Aur yaha se mujhe ek paise bhi nahi chahiye. My self respect holds more value than the money they're going to give. I don't want to stay here even for a moment" I said. I don't know if I have taken this decision in haste but I can't put my self respect at a stake now. As I marched out with my luggage, Cabir stopped me. "You are not in a stable mind Nandini, think over it" he said. "Everything is not about money Cabir, move out of our way" I said. "Jab Manik se divorce liya tho uske baaton se bura kyu lag raha hai" he asked. I was in no position to answer him but I have to do it for myself. "Manik ke liye main ek khilauna jaise thi. He liked the toy very much, he treasured it but only until someone asked for it. Bachpan se Manik apne cheezon ko share karna seekh liya and he was always been appreciated for sharing or sacrificing it. One day, he will do the same to his favorite toy, which is me. He left his money behind, parents and his father's business and felt proud about it" I said. 

Maybe one day, he will give off me to someone else. Par main sirf uska khilauna nahi, and my self respect comes first.