Mananff-Forever Mine

Chapter 42

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Manik was sitting in the living room, staring at a cup of coffee in his hand. He wasn't hungry for anything else. Barely able to sleep a wink the night before, he waited for Nandini appear from her room. He knew she was awake. He had heard the sound of moving around; getting ready He presumed. So now all he could do was wait. Just as he's been doing since last night. Not that he deserved to do anything else. He had acted like a complete idiot.

Nandini made him feel everything. And it scared the shit out of him. It made him feel vulnerable; something he swore not being ever since he was a little boy. But even if he said his behaviour was his defence, that didn't excuse his actions; and it certainly didn't make him feel any better. Seeing his beautiful girlfriend cry because of him was enough to make him want to kick himself, and his words wanted him to knock himself in the head.

He swallowed as his throat went dry at the memory. Almost raped, she said. He was too shocked to even realise the full meaning of her words. But once he had, She had already walked away by then. They once did talk about their previous relationships. Manik didn't obviously had much to say on the subject, nothing important that is. Everyone knew he never had been in a proper relationship before. Nandini had mentioned a brief fling when she was sixteen; but didn't elaborate much.

His first reaction was pure rage at the sick bastard who would do something like that to a sixteen year old girl. And not just any girl, his girl. And then that jerk had gotten away with it. How the hell?

After Nandini had refused to answer him or open the door, he had spent the night on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. It made all sense now. It was like the missing piece in the puzzle that was Nandini Murthy. Of course, he didn't know the details, which he wanted to know so that he could make that asshole pay. This is what you wanted to know na? There, happy? ... Her words haunted him.

She didn't trust people easily, she gets scared easily sometimes. Nandini knew basic self defence, she flinched at loud noises, she was so reserved at times... Damn it, he should have guessed it! But she was so good at pretending that everything was fine. He winced at the memory of mocking her when she said she was lonely. Of course, she was so good at hiding what she was actually feeling. He guessed maybe that's what she had to do after... Everything... as a method of coping...endless nights living in fear... He wanted to know more, he needed to.

Frustrated, he ran a hand down his face. He needed to apologise, fast. And then wrap her in his arms and never let go. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the door finally open. Slow footsteps were heard coming towards him until Nandini appeared dressed in a a pair of jeans and a white top. Her surprised gaze found him. Her eyes were red and puffy, making Manik wince. She looked away, as if hiding her face behind the long tresses.

'Maine breakfast banaya hai.' He began.

'Mai raste se kuch le lungi.' She whispered.

'Maine jalaya nahi hai, promise. Tumne raatko bhi kuch nahi khaya. Thoda sa khalo.' He said softly.

She shook her head.

'I'm not hungry. Aur maine Shahid ko promise kiya tha ke I'll help him with his project.'

He sighed and looked at her with pleading eyes

'Are we really going back to ignoring each other? I can't even begin to tell you how sorry i am Nandini.'