Mission Manik Malhotra - A MaNan FF [Completed]

Chapter 22 - Freedom atlast.

~ ..And I was in the darkness, so darkness I became.. ~

Manik's POV

I have tried to forget that incident innumerable times, yet it kept haunting me.. night and day.. I thought I'd have to forever stay in that darkness..Until I fell for Nandini. And accepted my feelings for her. Infact, last night, I was ready to start a new life with her, ready to be welcomed into the light again.. But here I am.

Back to Square One.

I wanted to scream out.. Tell Nandini to stop the clip, but the huge lump that had formed in my throat didn't allow a single word to escape. An overwhelming amount of fear was gripping my heart and I felt like I was paralysed. The only feeling that kept me from blacking out completely was her hand in mine.. Asking me to hold on.

I didn't need to see the clip to know what would happen. I remember that incident as clear as day anyways.

It was the last day of our high-school vacations and I was super bummed to be leaving the amazing resort where I had spent the last few days with my best-friend Dhruv and his girlfriend Soha. Dhruv suggested we could go and lounge around the pool-side early morning, before our checkout time at 8 and I immediately agreed. Soha and Dhruv reached the place much before me, and I ran in late because I couldn't wake up on time.

Sounds of panicked screaming and splashing were what greeted me as I stepped onto the pool area and I shrieked, noticing my buddy and his girlfriend drowning in the deep-end of the pool. Neither knew swimming and the sight horrified me. My hands and legs went cold and I looked around to see if I could find help, but there was no one around. I ran around, in utter confusion for a few moments, my heart racing crazily. The life-guards too hadn't arrived and I decided to act myself before things could get worse.

''Guys.. I'm here.. Hang On please..'' I screamed desperately, seeing their movements slacking. As soon as I jumped in, I noticed Dhruv and Soha had drifted to opposite directions, and if I moved to save one, the other would surely drown. It had already been more than a minute I spotted them, and it wasn't possible for them to hold their breaths too long.

That moment was the most catastrophic moment of my life, for it was upto me to choose which one I wanted alive more. I instinctively moved towards my buddy, hoping that if I get him out very quickly, I could still save Soha. As I grabbed Dhruv, I felt his body go limp. He had fainted and it was my responsiblity to hold his entire body-weight and move out in time. I could hear Soha's muffled screams as I swam out with Dhruv. By the time I got Dhruv out, I could see life had left her and she no longer moved around. I got her out, my exhausted limbs struggling to move as I dragged her out.

I don't know what happened after that for I was in such a state of trauma and shock that I felt no emotion. I was completely numb, like my very soul had left me.

What I remember clearly though is Nyonika talking to me that very night.

''What did you do Manik? You killed Dhruv's love?!!' She asked accusingly, shaking me by the shoulders.

''I didn't..'' I cried out in anguish, speaking for the first time that day. The feeling of guilt and pain was killing me as it is, and Nyonika was only increasing the pain, if that was possible.

''If you wouldn't have wasted so much time running around and jumped to rescue immediately, she would still be here. And you know Dhruv will never forgive you if he comes to know you chose to save him instead of her..''

Oh. My. God. I'm a murderer. I have killed Soha. Dhruv will never forgive me.

Every fact, every bit of hope was shattered that very moment and only these statements found home in me. No other logic seemed to make sense anymore.