The Alpha and Me

127. Meeting Alia

127. Meeting Alia

Nandu's POV

I didn't sleep the whole night for two reasons. One I didn't want to get into that bed again. I was afraid Manik might sneak into my room to touch me. Second because my stomach was growling and I didn't have the guts to go out and grab some food from the kitchen.

It's not like I was not offered any food. Manik came in with a trolley full of food I would have loved to dig in. Then Navya too came to visit me followed by Jenna. Chris and Vicky didn't stay behind in the line as they came to see me with chocolates and junk food that I politely refused as I asked some privacy of my own.

While they were happy to see me, I was not even one bit happy about any of this.

I sat by the window doing nothing but stare at the dark sky. Although I think I saw Manik smoke back to back cigarettes while he was standing out in the open and discussing something with his father, he could die for all I cared. It was his lungs and if he wanted to spoil them by puffing ten cigarettes in one go, it was his wish.

Even so a part of me didn't appreciate it. I wanted to go out and paste a tight slap on his face. It felt like after my leave, he became even more ruthless towards his health and had taken up a bad habit of smoking cigarettes which he never had before.

I chose to ignore it and came back inside. Since there was nothing to do and even Mahir had better things to do in his real home with his real family, I was left alone to bang my head on the wall. I somehow passed the night and as the first rays of the morning erupted like streaks of gold over the horizon, a knock pulled me out of my exhausted state.

I wished I hadn't opened the door when I did. Because Manik's mom, Luna Arti, was standing outside my door, wearing a smile edged with happiness and nervousness.

"Morning, Nandini." I stared at her as she reluctantly squared her shoulders.

Moving aside, I indicated that she was free to come in. My face grew awfully cold under her gaze. Of all the people, she was the last person I wanted to see as the first thing in the morning.

"We... Didn't get to talk to each other yesterday and you never came out so... I thought..." She rubbed her hands together. "I thought I'll come to see you. How are you?"

I lifted my eyes and gawked at her face without moving. How was I? Was she really asking me that?

"How do you think I would be after..." I gestured with the hand around us. "After all this change in my life? I don't know how I am. Seriously.... I just..." I faded out with a sigh and turned around.

I hate my eyes. They have developed a habit of betraying me in front of people whom I want to show myself strong as. The trembles crawling up my shoulders didn't help either and I didn't try to hide my sobs by suppressing them.

This woman standing in the same room as me had seen me in more vulnerable states as this? She had seen me lay bare and cry all night.

"What was your first reaction when Manik..." I was stupid to be asking this. But I wanted to know. "When Manik told you we were in a relationship that was hidden from all your eyes?"

I whirled around, my teary eyes locking with hers, "That's if he told you anything about us."

"Manik confessed his love for you, Nandini." Luna Arti touched my shoulder.

I shook under her touch and tried to get away. She went for my wrists and hugged them tightly, making my skin crawl with goosebumps.

That's bullshit. I know he would never do that. And I don't get why they want to talk with me! I already gave away Mahir to his father. I would have nothing to do with him after I am gone. They could have their heir without worrying about my interventions as his mother... If that is what worries them.