KAISE BATAAOON TUMHE...

ANOTHER PERSEPECTIVE

Manik's P.O.V.

"It always ends with you, Mr. Raj Malhotra. Always. I spent half my childhood finding you. Litsening rumours. Following them. Searching you in them. I doubted my mother. I...i mean, i doubted her. The only person who has always been truthfull to me till... till now.
The other half of my childhood, i spent on fighting each person who gets closer to me. Half of my youth has been spent despising you. Hating you for what you did to my mother. Hating you for not being there for us. And just when i thought that you are no longer required to be remember everytime, i get this. My mother's uncondititional love for you, reminding me again why i thought 'Love' was nothing but a joke. It plays with you. It messes with your mind. It weakens every part of you that's left sane." I spoke out loud. Looking at the men's potrayal. See how he is smiling in it. Looking as if he is the innocent one.

"She was betraying me Mr. Raj Malhotra. Going behind my back. All of this for you. And you never cared. Never cared for her.... i cant blame her for what she did. She loves you. But, you know it still hurts. It hurts me to see her love that never died. She shouldnt be like this. So vulnerable. So fragile. She should despise you. Hate you. Hate me too because i must remind her a lot of you. She should hate me. But she doesnt. She love me like she loves you." I said hoping to release my anger and pain. It always works just not today. Everytime someone reminded me of how much i am like my 'father' I used to come here and see him. It helped. But its not helping today. Its not helping. Each word i say increases my anger and hurts me more. I dont know what would relieve it. But i cant get all of my anger out. And i cant go out like this. I know i will hurt someone if i see them.

Hours pass and i could see the light fading from the sky. I dont want to sit here. All i get here now is another reminder. Nothing is working.
So i push myself up. My legs were numb but i dragged them out of the room closing the door. My legs gave up and i kneel beside the door. I look to the right finding my room only a few blocks away. I stood up and didnt walk through its path. I guess all the work is being done my senses. I walked down to the backside of the garden. Dipping my legs in the pool i sat there. All thought leaving my mind. Nandini was right when she said sitting beside the pool dipping your legs in it works. But now a worse feeling rise up in the chest. Numbness. I hate feeling like this.

I felt someone. Beside me. But no legs in the water. Instead a shadow in the water. Wheelchair?? Nandini?? What?? I look up and see her. Her smile vanish as she looks at me.

"Manik.. kya hua?? Tum ro kyu rahe ho??"

I touch my cheeks. Aah!! Tears. Never left my face. Did they? I didnt realize they were there. I opened my mouth but no words came out. I tried again and felt the lump in the throat. I didnt bother trying again, i know i will break down if i did. I looked back at the water.

"Manik??" She called again. But i was not ready to talk or even look at her in the eye. I know what was to come if i did.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and more tears ran down my eyes. I lightly held the hand there over my shoulder.

"Manik?? Batao n kya hua??"

I could talk now. But i cant tell her. I am not ready to talk about him.

"Kuch nahi hua Nandini. Tum yaha kyu ho. So jaao. Medicines li?"

"Manik topic mat change karo."

"Topic tum change kar rahi ho." Main sirf ek topic avoid kar raha hu. I said silently. "Medicines nahi li n?? Pata tha mujhe. Ek kaam karna hota hai tumhe. Voh bhi theek se nahi karti." I said.