Marriage Vows

20: Part 3

Manik entered his room first.. while Nandu came behind after a while, after getting freshen up in her room, and changing into comfortable pj's and tee...

Manik also settled on the bed after freshening up.. He was sitting on couch, looking upwards and his arms crossed over his chest.. Nandu entered the room, she kept the box from her hand on the floor and closed the door, locking it.. Manik knew that Nandu would come so he kept sitting in the same position..

Nandu went and settled next to him.. she looked at him for a while....

after that she caressed his head... Manik turned his head a little and looked towards her.. she could see his wet eyes... Manik simply looked at her... while she kept caressing his head...

Nandu: Manik aap theek ho?

Manik: hmmm

Seeing Manik still silent... and just looking at her also brought tears in her eyes...

Nandu: Aapko pta hai na mein aapke saath humesha hu... I am standing right beside u, u can talk to me, your silence won't help resolving things.. and rahi baat baaki sab ki toh sab theek hai.. Me khud dekh kr aai hu.. kal subh sb normal hoga...

Manik was just looking at her.. she looked helplessly towards him.. Manik lied down keeping his head in her laps...

Manik: what should i even say Nandani.. see kya ho gya.... This is why i never wanted the truth to come out, and specially not this way.. see kitna ugly ho gya sb... Mom Dad ki nazrein jhukhi huyi thi aaj... Mom was so vulnerable... Dad sharminda the.. and i can not see my parents that way.. Cabir.. usko dekha hai na tumne.. he is so expressive.. and aaj kesa expressionless face lekr bhaitha tha.. Baat bhi nahi kr rha tha kisi se, he didn't even looked at me.. Aur aaj for the first time he was so frustrated... i have never seen him this way.. mene usse humesha protect kiya hai.. mene Cabir ko full pamper krke rkha tha... Uski koi demand ko deny nahi kia mene.. chahe mom dad se ladai kr ke hi puri ki ho.. but i have fullfilled all his wishes..

He was speaking what all he had.. specially the things which he couldn't say in front of others... The side of him which was only known to nandu.. where he was a stupid kid who would think all stupid possibilities, or a not so serious person what others know him... she was patiently listening to him caressing his head... Suddenly he got up and faced Nandu taking her hands in his..

Manik: Suno

Nandu raised her eyebrows and said

Nandu: sunao

Manik said making Nandu shocked

Manik: what if Cabir demands this time ki me yahan se durr chla jau... ya i leave all of them.. What if he starts hating me.. what if..

Nandu stopped him in between..

Nandu: shhhh

She kept her hand over his mouth... and her fingers on her lips shushing him up...

Nandu: kuch bhi mat sochiye.. aesa kuch nahi hoga.. these things are not at all possible.. and Manik sab theek hai, Cabir bhai is calmed down.. Mom Dad are normal... kal sab happy happy hoga.. aap aesa kuch bhi mat sochiye..

Manik frowned and nodded in yes.. Nandu was about to remove her hand when Manik held it in the same position.. And kissed her hand... And said removing it

Manik: Thanku for always being there... I knw at times i act really stupid... I sound silly in what i say, my words make no sense.. But i am glad u r there with me to make me understand things..

She smiled and said

Nandu: fir toh mujhe bhi aapko thanku bolna chahiye...

Manik: acha... why is it so..