MaNan: Unadulterated Love|| Completed

10. Closer!

~Some moments are a lifetime of happiness~

It was getting darker but Nandini was still sitting in the same position by the pool side. She was actually blank, neither feeling cold nor anything else. Only one face was flashing in her mind, that sharp cut jaw, toned cheeks, chocolate brown orbs and a never ending smile. She was not able to think about anything else but him. How can someone endure so much suffering alone?

She just could not fathom what ever Kabir narrated. A caring person as she was, she felt bad even for a stranger and here it was about Manik, her boss, a Friend and much more. Frustrated, she dipped her face in her hands and started sobbing.

Kabir was also sitting at the same position, just rewinding that fateful night in his mind, again and again. Navya was preparing dinner for them. She was equally worried for Manik but then she was also worried about Nandini.

After some time Nandini entered the house and directly went to kitchen. Navya was relaxed to see her. Both exchanged a small smile and served the dinner. Navya called Kabir for dinner but he denied. Nandini then dragged him to the table saying to eat first as she had something important to say. All of them finished the dinner, did the dishes and then after some time again took the positions at the couch.

" Kabir, the promise that had binded Manik all these years, forcing him to put up this facade, we need to break that", Nandini's words took Kabir and Navya by complete surprise. He looked at her with his eyes popped out, silently confirming if what he heard was right.

" Yes Kabir, you heard it right. You know human psychology says that until the time you nurture your wounds they are going to stay raw. We need to make him vent out every frustration he has been bottling up for years", the determination in Nandini's eyes were like small flickers of hope for Kabir.

"But Nandini, I don't think he is going to break a promise that he had held onto for more than ten years of his life", Kabir was skeptical and it made Nandini's heart ache a little more for Manik.

"He won't, but we can!", Nandini took Kabir by surprise but Navya smiled. She was getting what Nandini was trying to say.

" What exactly do you mean?", Kabir was growing impatient and Navya placed her hand over his shoulder.

"Kabir, there are two hurdles in our way. First, Manik's promise of not falling weak, and second is his promise of not trying to find his mother", Navya spoke, and Kabir nodded at her.

"But that night, at the poolside, he did cry, in my lap. And also, crying and falling weak are two entirely different entities", the former part of Nandini's revelation took both Kabir and Navya by surprise.

"And, also, he didn't have any nightmares either", Nandini was embarrassed to confess it aloud, but that was needed at the moment.

Kabir did not reply for a while. His mind wandered back to that day, the peace he had observed on Manik's face that day.

" What are you trying to suggest Nandini?", Kabir asked her, directly.

" All I want to say is, we can try and make him vent out everything, the suppressed anger for his dad, the hurt and betrayal he felt when aunty left, the helplessness he faced when Nidhi Di was on death bed, the frustration of listening to the taunts of uncle- every single thing, and once he expresses all these, I think his insecurities will be eventually decreased and with that the need of those pills also. But one thing we need to remember is to not SYMPATHIZE with him, no feeling sorry for him. He does not need sympathy, he needs assurance- assurance that no one will ever leave him again, neither his employees, nor you and neither m-", she paused before including herself, for she wasn't sure if she would be able to live the promise she was making.