The Forbidden Fruit (MaNan FF)

x.

"Wow," Navya breathed out after her friend had finished narrating all that had happened to her over the past couple of days. Nandini finally took a sip of the warm coffee Navya had offered her, drained out from explaining everything. However, even though she was tired, she still felt at peace. The fear and suffocation she felt when she was with Manik was long gone. She was with her friend, Navya, and she knew she could trust her.

"I'm sorry I didn't call you," Nandini slowly spoke. "I didn't have my phone, and I've been wearing the same clothes for three days."

"No, I understand," Navya said with a smile. "You don't have to apologize for anything. I hope I wasn't too late in rescuing you." After a pause, Navya carefully asked, "Did he... did Manik... did he try to do anything with you? You know, um, anything bad? Like..."

Nandini raised her head at the question. She understood where her friend was getting at, and it was a fairly normal question she would say. In fact, now that Navya mentioned it, she started wondering herself. "Well, physically or, um, sexually, he didn't try anything, but that doesn't make him a good person."

"Of course not," Navya agreed. "But it's a little confusing, isn't it? Why would he do something like this to you without any motive?"

Nandini sighed. "I don't know Navya, honestly. I've thought about it, but I can't seem to decide on anything."

"He must have a reason."

"Maybe he's just sick in his head," Nandini decided, to which Navya just nodded. She immediately knew that her friend wasn't convinced. "What do you think?"

"I don't know," Navya said. "You said he wasn't violent or anything. He cannot possibly... like you, can he?"

At that, Nandini raised her head immediately, an annoyed expression on her face. "What crap is that?"

"I'm just saying, he married you so maybe he-"

"That doesn't prove anything," Nandini snapped, and Navya knew this was her cue to stop. Seeing her friend's shocked expression, Nandini sighed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to say it like that."

"No, it's fine," Navya said instead, getting up. "I was wrong anyway. Let's just forget this, I'll go get you some more coffee."

xx

"She's not here, Manik," Cabir informed his friend over the phone, who was growing more and more worried by each passing second.

"Do you know where she could be?" Manik asked him. "Are there any places she likes to visit? Maybe you have the address of some of her friends? Just... anything; anywhere she could go."

At the mention of Nandini's friends, Cabir immediately remembered his encounter with Navya. "There was a girl who dropped by that day saying she was friends with Nandini. Um, her name was... err, N-N- it started with N. Ne-Na-Navya! Yeah, Navya, that's it."

"Where does she live?" Manik asked hastily.

"That won't be too hard to find out, I hope," Cabir said. "I have a few contacts; I'll have someone check into her college directory." Then, carefully, he added, "We'll find her, Manik."

Manik sighed, closing his eyes, "I sure hope so."

xx

Eighteen hours, Nandini thought to herself, her eyes closed as a smile spread on her face. She was sitting outside in the garden of Navya's hostel, and she never felt more at peace. It has been eighteen hours since Navya rescued me, which means it has been eighteen hours from when I left that monster. Thank you, Aiyappa, for blessing me with such a good friend. She truly is a savior.