Manan : Love for Eternity

chapter 63

Malhotra mansion

Nandini rang the doorbell, only for Manik to open it. He was quite surprised to see her, and nandini was still not exactly over her jealously.

M : hi

Without bothering with a reply she went inside, she had just taken a few steps when something colided with her feet. She looked down to see coco, the dog she had gifted Manik.

Bending down she petted him, holding him in her arms, she got up and kissed his forehead, while he nuzzled himself in her arms, making her chuckle. Manik smiles finding it adorable.

M : atleast you are accepting someone's greetings

N : someone had not left without any reason

M : princess

N : and someone doesn't require an explanation to talk to you again, but guess what I do.

She walked ahead to see niyonika comming down the stairs.

N : good evening aunty

Nyo : nandini, how are you. I haven't seen you around in while

Nandini looks back at Manik but then smiles at nyonika

N : I have been busy. Anyways mom said something about an important file

Nyo : yes it in the study let me just get it for you

Nyonika goes leaving manik and nandini alone. Coco jumps in her arms making her lose her balance and manik immediately hold her in place.

His hands are resting on her stomach and her back is turned towards him. Coco has jumped off her arms and is running around the house.

M : he is growing up. He is not that small puppy anymore. Looks like you didn't come to see him, in my absence

Manik's voice didn't contain any accusation, it was statement, a statement he was sure of.

N : he just reminded me of you too much.

Manik grew silent, but she was still in his arms. Closing his eyes he savoured the moment. He knew how much he had missed nandini,what all he wanted to say but was unable to.

Nandini felt it too, the peace, even if it was for a second. But she hadn't forgotten what Manik did and could not take it anymore. He had been back for a day now, and he was not saying anything. Her ways seemed futile, so she asked him clearly

N : aren't you going to say anything.

Manik sighed and rested his head on her shoulder. But didn't speak

N : right.

Getting out of his embrace she looked into his eyes

N : I am not a doll Manik. For you to use however you want. Hugging me, then leaving me. Expecting me to behave normally like nothing happened

Before she could say anymore, nyonika's came back. The atmosphere was tense and niyonika could sense it too

Nyo : here nandini. Are you going to stay for dinner

Nandini took the file from her. Politely she spoke

N : not today auntie. I need to go

Nyo : Manik can drop you off

N : I have my car

Nyo : I'll sent it with the driver. I feel like you both need to talk

Nyonika's had sensed something was wrong, when Manik had left nandini and grown distant from the malhotra's. And today the fact that they rarely made eye contact just proved her suspicion. She wanted to give them a chance to talk out their differences

M : mom it's not required

Nyo : Manik I asked u to drop her off. Moreover it's late, nandini shouldn't be going alone.

Manik nodded and looked at nandini. He too wanted to spend time with nandini, but he was also afraid of not answering her question and seeing the disappointment in her eyes. She walked ahead with Manik following her.

When they reached the car, manik opened the door for her before going to the driver's side. The rest of the drive went in silence.

Soon they enters the gate of murthy mansion and Manik stopped at the entrance. For a minute their was no movement. It had been so long they had been in each others presence. Their hearts didn't want to leave.

N : this is what should have happened that morning. Everything would have been perfect then

Nandini didn't look at Manik while saying this but manik did, his face was sad, he was hurt that he had hurt her. Pain flashed in his eyes

M : I am sorry

Nandini didn't wait to hear more, just got down and entered her home.

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Nandini's room

Nandini is sitting on the swing in her room, looking out aimlessly. The events of today running in her mind. How she felt such anger on seeing soha close to Manik, and then how Manik didn't say a word in explanation.

She was not blind, she knew about the longing stares and the pain in his eyes everytime she looked away from him. But what she couldn't grasp was why. It was the first time, she had to decide everything on her own. Differentiate between right and wrong. Other times someone had always been there to do it for her.

While she was busy in her thoughts, Adi entered her room and came to sit by the balcony door, right in front of nandini. She looked at him, and they both sat in silence for a while. Adi pushed a cup of hot chocolate towards her, she took it but her face was passive.

Ad : earlier whenever you used to be angry, I and bhai would bring hot chocolate and then you would tell us everything. This is the only thing manik was never a part of.

N : sibling time as we used to say

Ad : yeah. Princess I didn't want to hurt you, I didn't even realize that I was. The friend part of me was trying to help manik. And you were the one who wanted me to be Manik's friend.

N : adi you weren't supposed to stand by him when he was wrong

Ad : then maybe he isn't, maybe it's all a matter of perspective

N : you are here to defend him

Nandini looked away saying this

Ad : princess you know, if it really comes to choose, I will choose you over everyone else. You are my sister and nothing else matters but that . And as far as taking sides is concerned, I don't even know on what am I taking sides. I don't know what are you and Manik really fighting about. Before he went it was all good then what happened suddenly

N : why don't you ask him, you seem to be doing that a lot, listening to his perspective

Ad : princess

N : goodnight Adi

Adi understood she wanted him to leave, she wasn't ready to hear and talk, perhaps this was manik and her fight and he shouldn't have spoken in between. Because right now his little sister was really angry on him.

Adi got up and lightly kisses her forehead, saying goodbye.

While he is leaving, he sees preeti standing by nandini's door, their eyes connected for a second, then preeti side stepped him to go in. Turning she closed the door in his face.

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That's all for today

So Manan had a small moment. Anything to say on that

Adi tried to explain himself, what do you guys think. Is he right?

Do vote and comment

Precap : difficult love