𝐈 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐞 𝓦𝓪𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 ✅

Chap 32

"I repeat, say that damned thing looking right into my eyes, Nandini." His breath fanning her skin making her go weak on her knees.

"You're fucking fed up of me an-" Her mouth was shut off as something rough crashed directly on her soft lips. Her eyes popped out at that unexpected reaction of his. For a moment she tried pushing him away, but he seemed not at all being in the mood to leave.

His lips roughly moved over hers, a week-old stubble pricking her skin, and nails dipped into her waist gluing her closer to himself, forcing her to give in and she did accordingly too. Her palms crawled over his chest and clutched his collars in fists. Finding her out of breath, he slowly pulled apart.

She still had her eyes closed, lips slightly swollen, breathing heavily and eyes closed. Palms now rested flat over his well-built chest... neither making an effort to push him away nor pulling him closer. She looked submitted to him. She looked his.

Maybe not feeling his touch again, she pursed her lips to convey her annoyance. He stared at her for a few seconds longer in awe before placing his lips on hers again, and sucked her lower lip, softly this time. She took the lead this time and deepened the kiss. Pulling him closer by his hair. Her legs were on the verge of giving up and wrapped them around his waist.

He took a step back at her sudden action in order to balance himself and tightened his hold on her waist to give her the needed support. In the process, his feet bumped into the bottom rail of her bed making him fall directly on the bed with her on top of him. That broke her trance and she quickly broke the kiss and stared at him for a moment before getting up.

She heard him chuckle sarcastically and sat right beside her. She avoided looking at him, he looked nowhere but at her. "You came to the hospital today, didn't you?", he asked. "And saw something there... halfway maybe? And jumped to conclusions. Didn't even think to talk to me or share your issues? Once?!" She looked at him just to find him looking at her with a smile, which screamed nothing but satire making her look away not being able to match the intensity of his eyes.

He resumed, "Today was your off day no? And we were supposed to spend some quality time together, isn't it?" She still chose to keep mum. Cause these were surely not the questions that required answers and both were aware of the same.

He chuckled again and continued, "You had a hectic day at the cafe yesterday and I knew you'd still wanna wake up early just to be with me, spend time together. So I came here, snoozed your alarm, cause I didn't want you to neglect your own health just for me... and on the way back to my room, I hurt my head accidentally tripping on my own plaster." Her eyes snapped at him.

"What? Why didn't you wake me up? Oh god! Manik, you're okay now right?!", she asked urgently.

This time he chose not to answer her and chuckled sarcastically once again and continued, "I didn't know Cabir was there too. I would've never went to the hospital for such a small accident, but he was adamant and I had to give in as I didn't want to disturb Mom-Dad or... you. Cause I know how much you all are worried for my injury and I didn't want to disturb y'all further." She stared at him sadly.

"Anyway, moving on. I went to the hospital with Cabir and Lieutenant Mukti Vardhan, my appointed doctor plus my old classmate plus Cabir's the then 'Chashmish' planned to confess her feelings for me when Cabir went to collect my medicines. My blood boiled to even think of being with someone who's not- who's not you." Her eyes were glassy by now.

"I shouted at her. Maybe went overboard too. But then, even the thought of you not being with me, made me feel afraid. I was scared. Scared to lose another person of my life.. or precisely the most important person of my life. Scared that she would take you away from me. And I behaved that way. My heart overpowered my mind and-"

She advanced to hug him maybe, but he held her extended hands to stop her and shook his head with a stupid smile once again. "I- I love you." Her voice quavery.

"Me more.", He replied as a genuine smile adorned the sarcastic one.

Tears wet her cheeks, nose red as she stared at him. He couldn't help but wipe her tears ever so gently. Her tears were the last thing he ever wanted to see.

"That's where the problem is. We love each other. But what about trust, where's faith, where's coordination?", He asked. "Question yourself Nandini, do you trust me?" His palms cupping her cheeks.

She urgently nodded in the positive, "I do, Manik." He shook his head.

"No, darling. You don't. If you would've, then you wouldn't have assumed things in the worst way possible. If ever, any such situation arises, there's no guarantee that you won't behave the way you did. Don't you think so?" She looked too guilty to even look into his eyes. He felt pathetic to see her that way.

"Trust is the most important thing required to be in a relationship. Followed by mutual co-ordination, sharing every good or bad." She leaned on his left palm which cupped her face. Eyes watery.

"And these are the places where we lag behind, sweetheart. We surely love each other, but I guess that's not enough." He smiled sadly.

________

7 days went by. On Cabir's insistence, Manik caught up with Mukti at the Sports Complex and sorted things out and mutually decided on being friends as they had many frequencies that matched. And both were cordial with each other.

Anant and Cabir went to the sea 5 days back and Manik joined the office at Head Quarters as he wasn't still perfectly fit to go to the sea.

As usual, Manik returned home at about 4:30. Unlocked the main door and went straight to his room. It's been 2 days since Manik and Nandini were staying at home alone. Tara had to urgently leave for Chennai as her brother-in-law passed away the day before and her sister needed her right now.

Nandini gave an off to the cook and house helpers as they were only two people staying at home now and helpers weren't really needed. Manik used to prepare breakfast and dinners were up to Nandini. Not that they had pre-planned about it, but there was a kind of communication between them that required no words. Eyes and actions did the talking.

Manik and Nandini weren't back to normalcy yet... Not that they were not in talking terms. They used to talk but only till the basics that too were initiated by Nandini only. Manik would just give one-word answers with a stupid fake-ish smile playing on his lips and that was even worse and made her drown more into the ocean of guilt.

But that doesn't mean he didn't sneak into her room when she was asleep, just to stare at her until he forgot the count of the time, softly pushing her hair behind which came in between his view and finally kiss her a good night or she didn't wake up soon just to silently see him leaving in the morning in that white uniform looking ever so desirable... Or that doesn't mean he never checked up on her if she had food or not or she didn't cook his favorite items even after she disliked it... Or that doesn't mean he didn't worry about her late returns from the cafe even if it was a matter of 15 minutes...

Both were silent, but both were well aware of what the other had been doing.

In short, he didn't want to show her that he still cared even after she questioned his love for her and she couldn't gather the strength to talk to him normally.

He could see the pool of guilt waving in her doe eyes for his indifferent attitude and ignorance, but he had to do this. She herself had to realize how much she'd hurt him. He loved that girl to no extent and she herself had to understand it.

~•~
A/N: My story is another step closer to the end ahhh.
Can't believe it yet *sneezing face*

And one more chapter to go before a leap. Stay tuned!! ;)