|| ENDLESS LOVE || -- A MaNan FF

|| Chapter Eight ||

On the flight to New York.

Tara and Nikki were asleep. Tara on her lap and Nikki beside her. This was the kids first flight journey and so they were not letting go of their mother. Onto her left, separated by the aisle was seated Manik and the seat beside him, by the window was empty. He seemed engrossed in work as he was typing away furiously on his laptop. Nandini looked at him feeling guilty about their previous outburst. She had pushed him away, very far away. Did she do the right thing? Why does this feel so wrong? Why does her life feel complete ever since he had joined them? Why does she get this sense of supreme satisfaction when she sees him bond with the kids? She kept looking at him. He was wearing a white button down shirt with rolled up sleeves on a pair of blue rugged jeans.

He hadn't aged or changed at all, nobody would take him to be the father of their twin three-year olds. She looked at herself. She was clad in a cotton suit, which was simple and ordinary. It had a ketchup stain from feeding Nikki earlier. She looked frail and worn-out. She didn't think about dressing up anymore, she wore no make-up. Her hair was messily tied back to keep it away from Tara who is so used to playing and plucking at it. She had a big baby bag with food and clothes for the kids in the flight. She definitely changed.

She remembered being conscious when she was with Manik. She used to give a lot of attention to her dressing to look beautiful for him even though he maintained that she looked lovely in whatever she used to wear. Is that it? Did he fall for someone prettier than her? Someone much younger? All his young female staff used to look at him with a wide-eyed appreciation that used to make her very insecure. Had he succumbed to one of those blonde damsels???

Arghhh!!!! she stopped her train of thought. This is how it had been all these years, she used to search for reasons and explanations about why he did whatever he did. Sometimes, she even blamed herself and concluded that she might not have been enough for him. With great difficulty, she had learnt to avoid this line of thought, as it only brought hurt and tears. But, now, he is asking her to open up to him, again. Love him, again, trust him, again. Will she be able to do that? Is she even capable of love again? Would she be able to trust him again? More importantly will she survive if life hands her down another betrayal??? Deep within her, she knew the answer to all these questions. She did. She did want to give him a second chance.

Manik turned away from his work to quickly check on them. To his surprise, he found Nandini looking at him with her eyes slightly moist. She quickly turned her gaze away. Her arms were around Tara and her fingers interlocked at her back. She was fiddling with the ring on her finger nervously. He saw her look back at him slowly, as if she was making a conscious effort and then her lips curved into a small smile. He loved the shape her mouth took when she smiled. It reminded him of all that was good with the world. There was a kind of innocence in her smile which had completely disappeared now. It was an awkward smile.

What is it Nandini? He asked her through his eyes.

He had decided to give her the space she wanted even though it is being very difficult for him. He didn't have any option other than to wait for her to feel home and secure with him once again. He was going to give her all the assurance and security he could give. He used to work night and day to earn money, enough money to show her the whole world, shower her with all the things she could only imagine having, give her the lifestyle fit for a princess. And now, he had all that, he had everything he had ever hoped for, sans his love.

He smiled back "Kuch chahiye tume???"  he asked.

She looked down, towards Tara who was stirring in her sleep. "No. I am fine."  Nandini replied.