HEALING EACH OTHER

Chapter 24 ~ A STEP TOWARDS HEALING

As soon as Nandini entered washroom she got herself changed into a comfortable nightdress and went towards the wash basin to wash her face as soon as she stood straight in front of mirror. And suddenly flashback of the encounter which she had with Arjun and Aneesha came right infront of her eyes. In frustration she closed her eyes and ears tightly with her palms but it never worked, she could still hear the words which they spoke for her. Words which she never expected, which stabbed right through her heart. She felt breathless, she felt short of breath. She felt she'll die right in that moment and she shouted loudly "AAAAHHHHH" and hit her palms on the wall due to which the water from shower started falling on her making her wet and she sat on the floor and drawn her knees close to her chest and started crying profusely.

While Nandini was crying inside, Manik who was standing outside heard her voice and ran instantly towards the washroom but the door was locked, he was continuously knocking at the door, but there was no response the only sound he could hear was of Nandini who was continuously crying and the falling water. He was still knocking and calling out for her to open the door but Nandini didn't responded at all. Manik got scared his heart started beating fast. When few minutes more passed and Nandini didn't opened the door, Manik couldn't understand what to do and he broke the door and went inside and the thing he saw was enough to break his heart, he saw Nandini shivering in cold water and crying. He instantly ran to her, hurt was written all over his face, seeing Nandini in such a vulnerable condition, but he was not able to do anything, he felt so helpless at that moment. He was sitting right in front of her and she was sitting like a lifeless soul, his star was sitting like a corp but he wasn't able to do anything.

But then keeping away all his hurt and pain he tried to calm her down and held her arms lightly but as soon as Nandini felt his touch she flinched at his touch. She moved away as if she was scared that he will hurt her too and stood away from him. Manik was left in shock.

"Nandini."
Manik whispered with hurt in his voice.

And Nandini turned away with tears in her voice. Few moments passed, Manik stood up, turned off the shower, he wanted to hold her tight heal her, take away all her pain, but the pain of the situation was Nandini was not letting him come close to her and this broke him. He felt too helpless. But keeping away all hia pain, he took towel from the rack and covered Nandini from the towel, Nandini shivered a little from his touch but then she felt comfortable and surprised all at once. Covering from the towel he whispered to change her clothes, and was about to leave but Nandini held his hands , feeling a tug on his hand Manik turned around, and saw Nandini holding his hand, Manik turned around and stood right in front of her, Nandini came closer and covered both of them with the towel and Manik just joined their forehead together. No words were exchanged, nothing was said, it was just their eyes who spoke everything and they felt at peace just by staying with each other. This how their bond was, they never needed words to express it was just their gestures and their eyes who did that everytime.

Few minutes later, Nandini changed her dress and came out, manik too changed his clothes and was sitting in Nandini's room waiting for her. Nandini came and sat on her bed and again tears made their way from her eyes, Manik came and sat down on his knees infront of her, he wipe away his tears and made her sit comfortably on the bed and asked her to drink turmeric milk which he made for her, and it was a shocker for Nandini that he made this for her.

"You made this?"
asked Nandini innocently.

"Y-Yess."
said Manik sheepishly.

"But I don't like it. I won't drink."
said Nandini

"I know. But see I made this for you. At least taste it and tell."
said Manik but Nandini still nodded in a no.

"Nandini. See agar mujhe peena hota toh main kab ka pee jaata. Yess. But it's you. "
said Manik but still Nandini nodded in a no.