MANAN - Cloud with a Silver Lining

3-Breaking the Shell

...........Nandini's POV Cont'd.............

Me - Mukti

That was all I could utter when I saw her and Abhi's pictures on the card..A flashback of past images and events played in my head... memories ranged from being incredibly blissful to horrifyingly ugly...soon enough I realized my face was wet with tears and I started shivering with fear remembering the scary ones...I wanted to stay strong because I knew Abhi would get really worried if he saw me like it...but I was feeling helpless..I looked at my laptop screen only to see the bedpost on the other side...honestly I sighed in relief and rushed to washroom to calm myself down..I had no idea how I would have explained the reasons of my state to Abhi... thank God he was not there when those memories were making me weak.. ironically no matter how strong I become these memories were still powerful enough to destroy me..I heard Abhi's voice and I composed myself to face my brother..I went out thanking God.. relieved with the fact that since he has not seen, he wouldn't ask but I was still skeptical since I didn't know when, I mean exactly at what point he left..

Me - Aa rahi hoon yaar..chilla kyun raha hain
(I am coming.. why are you shouting..??)

Abhi - What the...!! .. I am shouting..I am here to speak with you and not the frames on the wall (I felt relieved.. may be he didn't witness my breakdown.. thank God)..

Abhi - Done crying (may be I spoke too soon..I looked at him surprised and decided to do damage control)

Me - Oh that..I was really happy...you are getting married...(Surprised at my flawless lying abilities, I gave myself a virtual Pat on the back)..I am so happy that my brother is getting married with my...(shut up nandini..now you are going overboard..I mentally slapped myself)...I mean my brother is marrying the girl he is madly in love with....!!! Understood..!!!...(phew..!!..this is going to be difficult)

Abhi - yes I understand...I mean what you are trying to say is you are very happy since your brother is heading towards a holy matrimony with YOUR CLOSE FRIEND.. isn't it...!!

I looked at Abhi shocked..how did he know...I never told him...may be Mukti did...but why.. did they discuss about me...does Mukti and everyone else know that I am Abhi's sister...more importantly does Manik know..I looked at Abhi for answers...he gave me a blank expression... why is he not saying anything..I need answers.. Stupid Nandini..have you asked the question for him to answer

Nandini - (stammering) how....do...you.....know..??

Abhi - I saw you on Mukti's friend's list...then I saw her going through your profile a few times..not just her everyone else too..I asked her she referred you as her long lost close friend..she told me due to some misunderstanding you've grown apart..but she never explained in detail..she told me that they have hurt you and that is why you've left

Me - did you tell her that I am your sister..

Abhi - No I didn't...for several reasons...if known she would have expected me to make her meet you.. which I wasn't sure if I could..Second I didn't have the clarity of the events in the past and I didn't want to be unfair towards you since the only thing I was clear about was that you were hurt because of them... I wanted to understand your view point too which obviously I couldn't since our conversations had turned minimal. Third, goings by their discussions about you, I realized that they were guilt-ridden...they blamed themselves for the your state...if not meet they would have definitely expected me to fill them in about you which I myself was clueless about...and knowing that you've drifted yourself apart from your family too would have led them deeper in the pool of guilt..that is why I remained quite