Living in a Mirage

Chapter Eight

"If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger."

Emily Bront, Wuthering Heights

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2015

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As he closed the door of the studio behind him, Cabir's phone chimed indicating someone was calling him; thinking it was Manik, he responded, only to find it was someone else.

"Nandini, everything okay?" he asked her.

"No, Cabir, I am worried about Manik. He hasn't called yet. It has been almost 24 hours. Do you have any news from him? Anything?" he heard her voice trembling with worry.

"Nandini, don't worry. He never calls when he is there. And by now he must be on his way back," he assured her, looking at the watch wrapped around his wrist.

"Something is wrong, Cabir. I can feel it...I have to know. Please, tell me if you know his father's contact number, I have to call him," Nandini asked him as her hand made its way to her aching heart, something was wrong, it said.

"Wait, I will call Ramchand Kaka to ask him. I will let you know," he told her as a strange fear settled in. It was her worry and fear, or perhaps his own, he didn't know.

"Okay," she whispered as she closed her eyes.

Opening her eyes, she walked towards the window, throwing it open in urgency, she tried to take in the fresh air in an attempt to end the suffocation she was feeling. But it didn't go. Looking up at the sky, she thought to call out to her Aaiyappa for help. Holding her mobile phone between her hands, she intertwined her fingers and prayed for Manik's safety.

She didn't know how long it was, it felt like years had passed when she saw Cabir walking in her room, with an expression on his face that she had never seen on him. He looked worried, or was it pain? As she looked at him, her trembling heart knew that whatever it was that he has found, it wasn't good.

"Where is he?" She whispered.

"His car was found at an accident scene, near the highway. But what is more worrying is that they haven't found him. Mr. Malhotra's men have personally looked over the investigation, but...Let's pray they find him soon," Cabir stammered, his heart heavy with worry.

Nandini blinked her eyes a few times, trying to stop her eyes from watering as he repeated whatever Ramchand had found out by calling on Mr. Malhotra's PA. Remembering the old man's trembling voice, Cabir had felt worry consume him as nothing else has.

Where was Manik? How was he? Questions he had no answer to...

"No, no...What are you saying, Cabir? It can't be like that," she told him, denying every word he had said.

"I have to go there. If these incompetent police officers can't find him, I will," she decided, walking on her shaky feet, she looked for her bag, ignoring whatever Cabir was saying.

"Nandini, you can't go there, I don't think they will let you anywhere near the crime scene," he tried to reason with her.

"I will find a way, don't worry." she snapped in the hurry. Putting the money and whatever she thought needed in her bag, she made her way to the door.

"Nandini, you don't understand, there is nothing you can do other than pray..." Cabir told her as he held her by her elbows.

"Cabir, I can't sit and wait, I will go crazy. And even if they find him, Manik is too stubborn for others to force him to treat himself. I have to be there, by his side. Please understand," Nandini pleaded him as she pulled her hands away from his grip with all of her strength.