A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 119- A Fake Promise

Manik's POV:

"No, Nandini is not!" I almost shouted forgetting that Nandini is asleep. "Manik, calm down, mom thinks that way" Aryaman said. "How can everything go wrong with us? Why me and Nandini? Jab bhi humse kuch acha hota hai uske sath sath hazaaro cheezein galat kyu hota hai?" Aryaman hugged as if he is calming me down but he doesn't feel the volcano erupting inside me. "But bava, isn't this something good. We thought of many things that can make atthamma close to akka but now God has helped you himself. She might soften this time, not for you, not for akka but for the baby! Do you remember how she looks at Aarav! The care, the warmth, the love! Koi bhi keh sakta hai ki atthamma Aarav se kitna pyaar karti hai! Just imagine how will she react when she is imagining your baby in her arms" Tara said. "Why aren't you understanding? Nandini isn't really pregnant! What will mom do if she finds out that! She will never let Nandini come near her" I said putting some sense into her. "Its not like bhabhi will never get pregnant, aap dono bachchon ki planning tho kar rahe hai na!" Aryaman said. 

"Aryaman main tumhe kaise explain karu! me and Nandini, we aren't married yet! Bachchon ki planning tho shaadi ke baad hoga, what if mom finds out that she isn't pregnant" I asked him. "Tab hum kahenge ki miscarriage ho gaya, that way she will still have sympathy towards Nandini" Tara explained. "I can't believe you guys! You and Mukti stopped talking to me just because I lied to you! And now you're asking me to lie to mom again!" I was amused at their suggestion. "When you lie to your own people, it isn't a lie. I've learnt it the hardest way Manik. Jab tumhara ek jhoot mom ko khush rakhega tho isme problem ho kya hai" Aryaman said calmly. "But still I can't lie to mom and I can't ask Nandini to lie too. Wo toot jayegi, she will think I'm not capable enough to be true to mom" I said. "Think over it Manik, mom will definitely ask you about your behaviour today, she justified herself saying that you were being protective of Nandini bhabhi because she is carrying your child, but when she knows that its a lie, you'll have to choose between mom and bhabhi" Aryaman went away with Tara. 

Har roz ek naya problem aati rehti hai. I went inside but didn't disturb Nandini who was sleeping peacefully. "mom will definitely ask you about your behaviour today" Aryaman's words rang in my ears. What if I don't go home tomorrow! I'll get ready here and leave to resort. That way, at least I can avoid mom. With the thought, I drifted to sleep on the couch unaware of the time. As morning sun casted his rays through the window behind me, I slowly woke up covering my eyes with my palm. I stretched a bit because of unusual sleep position and then looked at Nandini. It was 7 am in the morning but she was still sleeping peacefully. She's been sleeping from past 13 hours and its time to wake her up. I slept on the bed and turn carefully to look at her, and my breath catches the way it always does when I see her sleeping. Her one hand tucked under the pillow, the other resting on the space between us where my heart used to be before she rebuilt it. She left her hair free and open and the I could feel the scent of jasmine oil lingering. 

Her lips are slightly parted, her breathing deep and even, and there's a faint crease between her eyebrows that suggests she's dreaming something complicated. Everything is so complicated in our lives. I shift slightly, propping myself up on one elbow, just to look at her in this stolen moment before the day demands her back. My fingers itch to touch her, but I don't want to wake her yet but she needs rest more than she needs my romantic gestures. She's been juggling between me, the resort and my family drama. But then her face scrunches up slightly, and she makes a small sound—half whimper, half sigh. She opened her eyes as if she knew I was beside her. "Manik," she breathes, and the way she says my name—like it's an anchor, a home, a prayer—makes my chest tight. "Right here," I confirm softly, my hand moving from her forehead to her cheek, brushing away the sleep creases with my thumb. 

This is the woman I chose, Nandini will be the woman I'll choose forever and for the rest of my life. I've seen her in her prime, in her success, when she won, when she was angry, when she was jealous, when she loved me. I've seen her in worst, when she was naked in front of me, when she expressed her darkest fears, her vulnerable moments, when she was helpless yesterday, still I choose her everyday, despite of everything. "Why aren't you saying anything?" she asked trying to get up but I pushed her onto her pillow again. I claimed her lips with mine as she was irrestible. Her hands ran through my hair and I began going below her lips and placed soft kisses on her neck. Nandini was already lost in kisses but we suddenly jerked as we heard the door bell ringing. "Who would it be in the morning?" Nandini wondered. "Shayad Tara and Aryaman! They came last night to see you. Tara ne tumhe kheema samosa khilaya and that's why you puked" I said. "Oh" was all she said and we heard door bell again. "I'll go and see them" I said and opened the door only to find mom in front of me.