MaNan: We Aren't Meant To Be Together

Chapter 6

Only God knows what this guy wants now.

Can't he just get one thing in his head!?

Aiyappa, what should I do now?

Should I go? But he'll think I'm so easy to convince.

I shouldn't go.

Yes. I won't go.

I sit on my bed shaking my right leg and slightly biting my thumb's nail.

But, what has he planned now?

Should I go? No.

Should I go? No.

Should I go? N- But what is it?

I get up from my bed and pace from one to side to another thinking about the little boy I met earlier.

"Di, aapka naam Nandini hai?"

I smile and bend a on my knees to reach that boy's height, "Haan-" Before I can ask him further, he cuts me off by bringing a card in front of me.

Before taking it, "Ye kya hai?"

"Mujhe nahi pata. Manik bhaiya ne diya tha aur kaha tha ke abhi ek cute si ladki aayegi, uska naam Nandini hai, usse ye de dena."

I furrow my eyebrows and take it from his hand, "Thank yo-" Before I can complete, he runs off behind a tree and disappears.

I stand up and scan the card up and down, where I spot 'For My Dear Cupacake' written in bold letters.

I roll my eyebrows, before placing it in my bag deciding to open it when I reach home.

And as expected, when I reached home and opened it, it had an 'I'm sorry card with a message written inside.'

I lift the card from my study table and read it again:
'My dear Cupcake, I know you're angry, but I'm willing to do anything to make it up to you.
Please come to our park tonight at 8, just like old times.
I'll be waiting for you.
Yours, Manu.'

God Manik, why do you have to make it so difficult for me!?

I place it on the table again, brushing my hand through my hairs and huff an irritated sigh.

I gaze at the card for a long time, "I'm sorry Manik, but I won't go. You need to realise how it feels to wait for someone."

I rub my eyes with the back of my hand clearing my vision, walking out of my bedroom.

. . .

I get up from the bed rubbing my eyes and after finishing my morning chores, get ready for school.

When I walk out of my room, the first thing my eyes fall upon are different colour roses placed on each stair.

Careful not to touch, I walk down past them, "Mom."

No reply comes back, so I make my way into the kitchen, where a sorry card with a big teddy bear are placed on the slab.

"Don't tell me Manik came home." I mumble to myself before walking towards it and lifting the card carefully.

'My Dear Cupcake,
Never thought you'll be this difficult to convince.
I know you don't forgive easily, but I thought maybe I am an exception.

But guess what!? I'm not.

And you've cleared that doubt by not coming yesterday.

A part of me always knew you weren't going to come, but I still kept hoping and waited for you.

I know my mistake is huge and you shouldn't forgive me easily, but I also know, I don't have anything left to say and do to get your forgiveness.

Maybe I just don't deserve it.

So this card and the teddy bear are the last things I want to give you.

I promise I won't bother you anymore, from now on.

But still, TRY TO FORGIVE ME.

Manik.'

It would be an understatement if I said I'm shocked.

Manik is someone who never gives up no matter what and he really gets anything and everything he wants.

Right now, I don't even know how to feel about it, should I be happy that he's leaving me alone or sad that he's giving up on me!?

Aiyappa, kya maine itni badi galti kardi na jaake?

I scan the card once again and read the words imagining the probablr frown on his face while writing this.

I lift my eyes and touch the big red teddy bear holding a heart that says 'Cupcake' on it with white bold letters.

"How should I feel about this Manik!?" I look at the teddy bear in hopes of getting an answer, but who am I kidding!? He's just a non-living creature who makes you feel warm and allows you to cuddle when alone.

I place the card back and lift the bear with both my hands and put my face in the crook of his neck, "What should I do, Manik?"

"You should try to tell him why are you so persistent on not forgiving him." I lift my face immediately and there stands Manik in all his glory holding a white box in his hands.

I stand still while he takes some steps forward and places the box on the slab, without breaking the eye contact.

I suck a breath when he holds my hand and pulls the bear from my arms placing it next to the box.

Slowly, he holds both my hands in his, "Cupcake, what I did is unacceptable. But I'm your Manu, the one you couldn't be angry on for a long time. Then why now? What changed between us?"

Before he can continue, I pull back my hands from his grip, "You changed Manik. Remember you couldn't even be without seeing me for more then one day. And you spent whole six years without me in hopes that you will come back for me. But you didn't. So why should I go back to you, now?"

He takes some seconds to glance at the moisture formed in my eyes, "Can't we begin again? A fresh start?"

I chuckle and wipe my eyes, before locking my eyes with him again, "Manik, you gave me a wound that healed with time, but it left a scar that reminds me of all those days and nights I spent crying because of you."

I stop to take a breath when I see water building in his eyes, "I want to forgive you Manik. I really do, but my heart is still not placed together to be able to feel anything and my mind keeps telling me that you will hurt me again."

I don't realise I'm crying until I feel my cheeks are wet and a drop going over my lips and falling below.

Manik wipes his eyes with the back of his hand and looks at me with determination, "I will never hurt you. Never ever. That's a promise Nandini Murthy. I will keep my other promise of staying at a distance from you, to give you the space you need."

He takes a step a back still gazing at my face, "I'm sorry for what I did to you."

He takes another step back, "I'll be there if you need me."

He takes the last step back, "I will wait for you."

With that he turns around and leaves me standing still on my place just like he did six years ago, but this time, it's him who has to wait and not me.

. . . . .

Uf!

Now this is a little intense chapter.

What do you think he did that Nandini is so mad?

Do let me know what you think of this update.

Hope you like it.