The Forbidden Fruit (MaNan FF)

xx.

Manik didn't know for how long he waited, but he just didn't feel like going back. He was too preoccupied with his thoughts and Navya's words to process anything else. He had his hands on the steering wheel the whole time but his mind was elsewhere. He knew that what he was about to do was wrong in so many levels, but he just couldn't help it.

It's not right, the voice in his head kept on chanting but he tried desperately to shut down all such thoughts. He knew that the voice was right, but he didn't want to be right. He didn't want to risk his possible future happiness in such a way because he knew that Nandini made him happy, and that she could be his future. If that made him selfish, then he was fine with being selfish. At least that way, he would be happy.

But deep down, he knew that he wouldn't ever be happy unless he told her the truth. The guilt would always be there, eating him up, just like it was now. It would take away his peace and it would never, ever let him be happy and content. It didn't matter if her feelings towards him changed because every time he looked at her, he would curse himself for not telling her what she deserved to know. After changing both their lives in such a drastic manner, he knew that he owed it to her to tell her the whole truth; it was her right.

Manik didn't realize how long he sat there, lost in his own thoughts but he realized that it had been about an hour when the passenger door suddenly opened and upon looking, he found Nandini getting in the car. She looked a little tired, but not angry or anything of that sort. He didn't really care because after noticing her, his eyes didn't leave her for a moment. Nandini was completely unaware and clueless but when she didn't feel the car move, or hear him talk, she turned towards him to find him staring. His eyes held a certain longing, desperation, and guilt, which she found all the more peculiar. After some time, she finally decided to speak by asking him, "Are you okay?"

No, he wanted to tell her desperately, I'm not okay; I'm torn. If I tell you the truth, you might leave me just like everyone always has and I'll lose any chance I have left at being happy. If I hide it from you, I'll never be at peace and the guilt won't let me be happy, not even for a second. But he couldn't tell her any of that and knowing that fact sucked.

Instead, he simply said before starting the car, "Yeah, I'm good."

xx

Nyonika raised her head when she heard the bedroom door creak open. Her lips curved into a smirk as soon as she saw his figure enter. She had been waiting for this moment for quite some time now, and she was glad that it was finally here.

Throwing his briefcase carelessly, the man started to walk towards the washroom, completely ignoring her existence. He stretched his arms as a result of the long and tiring business trip. At the moment, all he wanted to do was collapse on his bed.

"Welcome home, Mister Malhotra," Nyonika greeted him in a sickeningly sweet tone and they both knew it was an act. She was definitely up to something, but he could care less at that moment. He kept on walking to his destination, annoyed at his wife.

"Manik isn't home," she informed him, her smirk growing wider.

"Why should I care?" he yawned, and started to turn the door knob.

"He left forever," Nyonika finally said and the man stopped almost immediately. "Do you want to know why?"

The man registered the piece of information, clearly in shock. He was never fond of his son too much, but he hadn't expected the boy to leave his house at such a young age. After careful consideration which he always took while dealing with Nyonika, he simply said, "I'm interested."

With the growing smirk on her face, Nyonika started narrating the story she already had planned out earlier in her mind.

xx

"I think it's going to rain today," Nandini said as she observed the sky from the windows, a smile on her face. "I have always liked the rain, you know," she told him.

Manik simply hummed as she said that, not paying much attention, and it was then that she realized that something was seriously wrong. She looked at him, furrowing her eyebrows, and tried to understand why he was acting so different today. Normally, he was really interested in whatever she said, because he always seemed like he wanted to get to know her more and more. Today, however, he didn't seem to care much, and the lack of attention was getting on her nerves. Clearly, she wasn't used to it at all.

"Are you alright?" she asked him after some time, and it was then that she looked up at her. She seemed a little disappointed, and for some odd reason, he didn't like that look on her face. He didn't want her to be disappointed with him.

He knew that he was slowly starting to realize why that is. He was figuring out the reason but he was afraid of the confrontation with his own self. He didn't want to admit it; it was too risky. He couldn't get attached to her after what he found out recently because now he knew that she would also leave him once she was done.

But Manik knew that it was far too late. She was constantly in his mind every day, every moment. She was invading all his senses and he knew that he couldn't let her go anymore. He didn't want to because he had grown to care about her, and that care was getting too much now. The thought of her leaving him like everyone else always had hurt him, and he didn't want it.

The realization struck, but it was what compelled him to smile at her and respond saying, "I'm fine."

Nandini, however, knew that he wasn't fine, and she would make sure she found out why.

a/n: hello! it's been very long since i last updated, i'm aware. i'm a bit confused whether or not to continue this story or not, as i don't know if people are reading it. i'm updating with one of my old chapters to reach more people. please comment here or on my profile whether or not you would like me to finish the story. i can't promise when it will happen, but i will try to do so if the response is good.

also, i just realized that with this chapter begins one of the most exciting parts of the story! please await the next chapter, i think you will like it very much as it's my favourite chapter of this story so far.

this is also not proofread as i couldn't find the time for it, sorry!