A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 110- A Ray of Hope

Nandini's POV:

"Ye sab jaldi se clean kar dena" I instructed them to clean up the party space as soon as possible. My head was spinning maybe due to last night's hangover. "One black coffee please!" I ordered at the cafe. "Lemonade is best for hangover" Manik's voice rang in my ears. "I didn't ask you for an advice" I said as he walked closer. "Advice hi tho hai free! Aur muft mein gyaan bhi de sakte hai, blame karna bhi kitna easy hai na" Manik said taunting me. "I didn't blame you for no reason" I said sipping lemonade. "I didn't knew you held so much inside" he said. "I'm sorry I was really drunk last night, I shouldn't have said all that" I apologized. Just then Isha entered the cafe. "Hi Manik, can we go out for shopping?" she asked him. "What?" Manik had a surprised look on his face. "I mean birthday supplies shopping, remember client wanted some personalized things, so shall we go?" she asked again. "I have zero knowledge and I don't want to go anywhere now" Manik said strictly. "And yeah you don't have to wait for someone to come along with you for such things" he said. 

"And the logistics report for last night's party, I want that by the end of the day" he said bossing around her. "But you said I can give it after New Year party" she asked. "Ha but I think this logistic report would give a clear picture of expenditure so that we can plan New Year party accordingly" Manik said and suddenly Isha is struck with a strict boss. "Will you leave now?" he asked as she still stood there. She left from there. "Why are you being so mean to her?" I asked. "Because people might get wrong ideas if I try to be friendly with them. The employee boss relation is supposed to be like this" Manik said referring to Isha. "You know na, Isha loves you" I said. "And I made it clear that I don't love her" Manik said with determination and left from there. "Manik" I followed him and said, "Please don't hurt Isha like this". I doubt Isha was feeling bad for what Manik had done. "We need to talk" I said after a thought. "I've been waiting for a moment with you Nandini" Manik said. I took him to desolated place where I knew no one would be there. 

"Last night," he began, his voice softer than I'd heard it in months. My heart began to race, but not with the joy I might have expected. Instead, a cold knot of fear began forming in my chest. "Manik—" I hissed before he said anything. "I know we've both been hurt. I know our marriage ended badly, and I take full responsibility for that. But these past few months, working alongside you, watching you bring your dreams to life—it's made me realize something." He paused, running his hand through his hair in that gesture I knew meant he was struggling to find the right words. "I want us to try again," he continued, his voice gaining strength with conviction. "I want to do it right this time. No contracts, no conditions, no walls between us. Just you and me, building something real together". The words I had once desperately wanted to hear now felt like tiny knives piercing my heart. I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing. When I opened my eyes, he was looking at me with such hope, such vulnerable longing, that I almost broke right there. This was the Manik I had fallen in love with—the one who could set aside his pride and bare his soul when it mattered most.

But it was too late. So much too late. "I can't," I whispered, the words barely audible. His face fell slightly, but he pressed on. "Nandini, I know you felt something last night too. I could see it in your eyes, feel it in the way you melted against me". "You're right," I said, standing up and moving to the window so I wouldn't have to look directly at him. "I did feel something. But feeling something doesn't mean we should act on it". "Why not?" His voice was closer now; he had moved behind me. "Why can't we at least try?" he asked with hope. I turned around to face him, and the hope in his eyes nearly undid my resolve. "Because of Isha", he blinked, clearly not expecting that answer. "Isha? What does she have to do with anything?" he looked surprised. "She's in love with you, Manik". "That's ridiculous. She's just an intern, barely out of college. I'm her mentor, nothing more" he said. "Open your eyes," I said, my voice gaining strength. "The way she looks at you, the way she lights up when you praise her work, the way she finds excuses to stay late when you're here- she's completely smitten with you" I remembered what all she did in the last one month to gain his attention.