Humesha A MaNan FF (COMPLETED)

Echoes 💔

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The Murthy Mansion was quiet that evening, bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. Nandini sat by the window in her room, her fingers tracing the rim of a warm cup of tea. Outside, Cabir and Navya laughed together in the courtyard, their laughter ringing like music through the halls.

Her heart clenched. Watching them, she couldn’t help but remember… a time when she and Manik had shared laughter just like that, just the two of them.

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Flashback – Seven Years Ago

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Chapter – “A Father’s Gentle Steps”

The sky was painted in shades of pink and orange. Manik had returned home early, a rare surprise for Nandini. She was in the kitchen, humming softly, when he stepped in behind her.

“Making my favorite?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her waist.

Nandini leaned back into him, smiling. “You’re impossible. You know that, right?”

He chuckled, pressing his lips against the back of her neck. “Impossible… but loving you makes it worth it.”

She turned to face him, their eyes locking. In that moment, the world seemed to shrink around them—the chaos of work, the stress, the world outside—all fading away.

“Manik…” she whispered, her hand resting against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.

He cupped her face gently. “Nandini, I promise… always you. Always us.”

Their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss, full of warmth and a promise of forever.

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Back in the Present

Nandini’s eyes glistened with tears. Cabir leaned closer to Navya, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, their closeness igniting memories she had tried so hard to bury.

Her chest tightened. I used to have that… we used to have that…

The memory of Manik holding her close, whispering words only meant for her, hit her like a wave. She missed it—the laughter, the shared silences, the tiny stolen kisses in the hallways, the way he had made her feel safe and cherished.

She buried her face in her hands, trying to steady her breathing.

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Manik, who had been nearby, noticed the tears and worry etched across her face. He knew this look all too well—it was the same one he had seen in her eyes the night they had fought, the night they had parted.

Without a word, he walked to her door, knocking softly.

“Nandini… can we talk?” His voice was gentle, careful.

She wiped her tears quickly, composing herself. “I… I’m fine, Manik. Go away.”

He stepped inside anyway, closing the door behind him. “No. You’re not fine. I see it. I see everything. The moment I look at you, I see it.”

Her lips trembled. “It’s… watching them… Cabir and Navya… it just—”

Manik approached her slowly, taking her hands in his. “It’s okay to feel, Nandini. It’s okay to remember. It doesn’t make you weak… it makes you human.”