MaNan: Unadulterated Love|| Completed

18. Fighting for 'Us'

~Sometimes it does not matter how strong you are or how well you handle your own and other's emotions, at times everyone needs a support to rely on. Soemone to hold you tight when you feel that you will simply breakdown, someone to wipe your tears when the flood comes, someone to simply tell you that it's okay.~

Manik went numb, his eyes full of hurt that seeped through his entire body.His mind could not register the events that happened  just a minute before. Was all that he read in her eyes false? Was her care and what he thought was love, an illusion? Was he again wrong in judging her? The questions were bombarding his head and he felt like he would collapse any moment. On the other hand, Nandini was still sobbing, her face plamed in her hands. Everything was silent around them except the occasional sounds of her hiccuping. He was too preoccupied with his confused emotions to console her and here she was feeling like a culprit for destroying the most beautiful moment of their life, for crushing down his hopes and his trust. She somehow controlled her sobbing and moved to fetch her cellphone to make two calls, one for a cab and second one to Kabir. He was the only one she could rely on to handle the situation. After her, only he could handle Manik and for now she needed some time to sort herself out. She turned to find him sitting in the exact position she left him, staring at nothing in particular, but gaze still fixed. Fresh tears welled up in her eyes but as soon as she heard the sound of the cab, she just ran down to it, but not before collecting all the bouquets and notes.

A little later, Kabir hastily climbed the stairs to find Manik sitting on the ground on knees, gazing at infinity. He went to him and called him several times but no response. He then shook him and Manik finally looked at him, with tears brimming in his eyes.

" She left too, see!", The words escaped him, and it broke Kabir's heart too, to hear that painful voice of him, yet again.

" She didn't leave Manik. She can't leave you, you know that right? She would be somewhere shedding more tears than you are!", he asked him, looking in his eyes, trying to show him what he failed to see.

And then it hit Manik. Kabir was right. She could not just leave him and go. She just cannot. He looked up at Kabir, with a flicker of hope and wiped his tears.

" You are right. She can't leave me! But then, why did she leave now?", he asked aloud the question which was eating him up from the past hour.

" She left because she is scared- of herself, of destiny! I was always afraid of this same thing Manik, but I thought with you even she had overcome her insecurities! I guess I was wrong!", A deep sigh left Kabir, and it confused Manik.

Manik did not know what to say. The girl he had loved with all his heart, wàs actually so afraid of love, and he had never realised it. He just kept on looking at Kabir, searching for answers, silently asking his queries.

" Manik, all I can say is right now, it's important that you stand by her, unaffected with whatever happened today. Show her that it is not going to erase the love you have for her! She will open up to you but for that, you have to be strong for Nandini, like she had been for you!", Kabir spoke trying to explain him whatever he could, trying hard not to breakdown himself now, when there were people who were far more shattered than him.

Manik trusted him, so he thought better not pushing his limits and he nodded at him. With that, both friends got up, gathering all their left over strengths, to fight for the girl who was  both their lives in some way or the other.

Kabir dropped Manik at Nandini's apartment and giving them their privacy, he drove off to his own solace, Navya. Navya was cooking dinner at her place when she was disturbed by the continuous ringing of her doorbell. Wiping her hands she ran to open the door and was surprised to find Kabir standing with the help of the wall, trying to smile faintly at her.