The Forbidden Fruit (MaNan FF)

vi.

"I hope you like Chinese," Manik said as he put down the tray of food on the bedside table.

Nandini didn't speak. She didn't want to converse with him at all. After she had confessed her hatred for him, he simply walked out of the room without saying anything. Nandini didn't chase him; she didn't want to. The piece of information he gave her was still unbelievable to her, but she couldn't understand why she wasn't doing anything. She had to do something.

"My parents come back on the weekend," he said as he poured water for her on the glass. "Well, probably. They're away for a business trip. Chances are that they won't return together."

Manik brought the glass closer to her lips but she didn't take a sip. Instead, she turned her head away. She didn't want to see his concern. It was not like it made any difference. She absolutely hated him and he couldn't change that no matter what he did.

Manik sighed as he put the glass down. He guessed he shouldn't do anything for now as it might just make things worse. Maybe I should let her be for some time, he thought to himself, and let her process everything in order to get used to it.

But would she ever get used to it? He didn't know.

"If you need anything," he spoke with difficulty, "I'm downstairs."

She scoffed. Just what exactly was he trying to do? Or prove, maybe? Did he want to put her under the impression that he was a 'good guy' who actually cared for her? She knew that it wasn't true. It was probably all just a pretense. She knew who he was inside; a ruthless, conniving monster. She didn't care how harsh her words were. He just ruined her life and she felt completely justified to think of him this way.

"Go away," she muttered, and all he could do was oblige.

xx

Manik plopped down on the couch, closing his eyes. He shouldn't have done this, there were other options. He remembered suggesting to Cabir that they should take some time to get her consent. He could pretend to be in love with her and then trick her to run away with him. It was a terrible decision, but not worse than the one they made.

"It'll be too late," he remembered Cabir saying, "she'll probably find out something by then!"

Manik knew that she would find out. Nandini was getting too involved in Cabir's secret and Cabir Dhawan wouldn't have any of that.

Why did you have to do this? He thought to himself, as if it would somehow reach her. I liked you, you know. You were... sweet. And you would've been perfectly fine if you just kept to yourself.

He was in his thoughts, trying to relax on the couch with his eyes closed, when he felt a hit to his head. His eyes opened immediately, only to have a blurred sight and see everything go black once again. As he lost consciousness, he only remembered seeing her figure.

Nandini put down the heavy ornament she found on the table nearby. She tried shaking Manik's shoulder to confirm whether or not he was actually knocked out. Once she was satisfied, she ran out of the large mansion doors which were, surprisingly, unlocked. Once outside, she spotted a gate quite far with the guard napping. The opportunity was perfect and she ran out of the gate as fast as she could. She was out in the road but she didn't stop running. She was tired and panting but she knew she had to run. She just had to.

To her luck, she spotted a taxi and got inside it as fast as she could. With heavy, deep breaths, she gave the taxi driver the address to her house. More like, the mansion of the Dhawans. As the car started, she tried to get herself to relax, but couldn't for some odd reason.

You're going home, Nandini, she thought to herself, then why can't you be happy?

She had a strange feeling that maybe her destination shouldn't be the Dhawans.