In His Custody ✎ | (MaNan)

✰ 71 - between and beyond expectations

I am trying to turn off my critic and stop re-reading and scrapping subsections of chapters so please be kind and let me know what you think! <3

⭒

Nandini

Stuck between a seething, overprotective brother, and the helpless, yet unyielding man of my dreams stood Cabir and I, making sense of the figments of the conversation we were allowed to be eavesdroppers on.

What was Manik hiding from me, that would make my brother say such a thing with unshakeable confidence?

What was I not supposed to know? I churned out of Manik's grip, almost pained to be by his side as several flashbacks – of my life while deprived of his company – assaulted my senses. Just when I thought there was hope for us, a chance at being something despite the past mistakes and baggage we had both made and carried with us, things had to fall apart again.

Why wouldn't he tell me whatever it was?

Clouded by my judgment and tears, I grew weaker in Manik's hold until my tussles subsided, my grip over my brother's wrist came undone and only mute sobs escaped.

Always, like it had been all along, Manik was the sole sense of control in the relationship. What I felt or wanted for us would never fare unless he wanted it to. Nothing I could say or do would change the fate of our relationship until he decided so as well.

The same man who taught me to question and rebel against the imprisonment of my familial customs and traditions chained me to himself as and when he felt like it.

I had to be better now, I had to be able to stand my ground and not succumb to the same patterns I once did, because then what even was the point of the separation, the grief and his absence, if not to work on my shortcomings and rectify my flaws? 

As if triggered by the sound of my cries, Abhi's claws latched the neckline of Manik's shirt. He drew him in, nearly collapsing himself if it wasn't for Manik's build. "How? How could you do that, huh?" Abhi cried in a whisper.

Instantaneously, Manik's hold that cut blood supply to my fingers vanished.

He swayed sideways from the sudden jolt as Abhi yanked him again, demanding an answer at any cost.

"I trusted you Manik, I trusted you both..." He hushed the last bit.

As I looked up at the two men who were head to head with each other, Manik stood upright, laden with pain but no regret. The angst my brother exhibited took a few forms after that sentence: from disappointment, to uncontrolled sorrow and then a final remorseful rage, as he shoved Manik behind fiercely.

"It's a disgrace to even call you my friend. Even animals are more loyal than you."

"Okay, Abhi, you're taking things too far... you don't know what –" Cabir vouched as he sided with Manik.

"Oh enough, Cabir! Tu aur kitna defend karega usse?"

"Defend nahi, main –"

"So you're telling me manipulating your best friend's – oh sorry, ex best friend's – innocent, impressionable sister until she is emotionally involved, and then dumping her when it's convenient is what friendship means... right... why am I surprised?" Abhi accused while the enunciated words lacerated me like freshly salted papercuts. "All I can say is I am glad I left that toxic friend group when I did."

The long before ignored wounds of abandonment, my lack of closure, the hopeless nights and the endless days that I wondered of all the 'what ifs' and 'maybes' we could have been, everything surfaced like yesterday was the day Manik Malhotra presented the heartshattering 'Congratulations Nandini Murthy' speech.