"This was all just a game; a game for revenge". He never meant these words but he said them, and in front of her, ignoring the sound of his breaking heart and controlling his hands from wiping her tears. Manik Malhotra, the monster of space gave up...
FAB 5 looked at Nandini with gratitude and regret. They remembered all the times, they taunted, troubled and badmouthed her and she could have easily taken revenge, by letting Harshad humiliate them which would eve help her in joining back his band, but instead, she chose to contest him and help them and instead of letting authorities take over, she actually respected their privacy and let them handle the matter themselves.
Alya couldn't even meet her eyes, she had done so much to humiliate the girl. Even sent goons to attack her, just like her brother had planned to do for her friend. The previous day, she had actually thought about her relationship with Manik and realised that she was always more invested in it than him, and he had never tried to hide that fact. He hardly ever initiated dates or intimacy, and she was the one always trying to create romantic situations for them, while he was just trying to respect her wishes as a friend. When Nandini entered their lives, she felt threatened on seeing a different version of Manik, a guy who invested time in someone. HEr thoughts evaded his mind all the time whether in hate, anger, irritation or sometimes fondness. She felt insecure seeing a middle-class girl being able to achieve the attention, she couldn't get from her own boyfriend and all hell broke loose when Manik broke up with her. But today, she reflected on all her past actions, Nandini wasn't the one trying to come in between them; it was Manik who was being drawn to her like a moth to a flame and she was trying to save a non-existent relationship.
He was her childhood idol when he was friends with Harshad, became her confidante in her teens after her parents' death and Harshad's transformation and she accepted his friendship as her only hope and slowly as she tried to rebel against Harshad he became her crush; a forbidden fantasy. After her relationship with her brother got better in high school and Mukti joined their group. Her crush on Manik grew seeing his maturity on her growing fondness for her brother after he apologised. She never even realised when her crush became an obsession as she realised Mukti and Manik's relationship strengthening. So she took the first opportunity and helped Mukti and Harshad in their relationship, ignoring all the red flags in her relief. When she realised the damage she had done, her fear of being abandoned again took over and she confessed her feelings and Manik, realising her vulnerability couldn't reject her.
It was a forced relationship filled with her false hope and Manik's understanding, but for how long could they keep up the pretence? Nandini brought out feelings in Manik and showed him the mirror of their relationship that she was ignoring till yesterday, but still, she blamed the innocent girl, who never thought bad of anyone.
Manik wasn't able to stand without the support of the wall he was leaning on. If he were to count the number of times that he had hurt Nandini since he met her, he would probably run out of numbers. Ever since he had met her, he had spent all the effort and resources he could to trouble her and yet she stood up for him and his friends against her own despite all of that. Realising this rubbed the wounds from the previous night, his regret knew no bounds. It seemed as if no matter what he did, he would always end up hurting her.
He looked up at her, with such intense emotions that she couldn't look away this time. The memories of all their meetings started playing in their head like a movie. The others just stood there looking at the two unable to understand but still intimidated by the tension between them.
As moments passed, they subconsciously moved closer to each other, one with questions in her eyes and the other with the assurance of having all the answers until they were interrupted by the sound of the door opening.
Everyone's attention moved towards the figure standing at the door with a solemn expression on his face looking at Nandini.
"It's time, Nandu."
With just these three words he stepped back giving them a moment.
The tears she was trying to hold back, suddenly escaped as she tore her eyes away from him and forced herself to turn away from Manik and move towards Navya.
Not giving a chance to the usually chatty girl to say a word, she took her in a tight hug.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't there for you when you needed me the most. I hope you can forgive me. These few months with you helped me realise just how beautiful and wholesome a true friendship can be. We might not be very similar, but the bond we share is just like sisters for me. You helped me out a lot even though you didn't realise it at the time. I'll really miss you, Navya."
Navya could hardly hear her low whisper and before she could ask her what she meant, Nandini broke the hug and moved towards Dhruv and gave him a brief hug.
"Even though not much, but from the time I have spent with you, I can say with confidence that you're a great friend. Remember what I told you yesterday. Just don't lose hope."
Dhruv stood there just as bewildered as Navya when she smiled at him and moved to Cabir. She offered him her hand but was caught off guard when he hugged her instead.
"Thanks, for not outing my secret even though I deserved it. I'm sorry about everything I did wrong to you."
Hearing his overwhelmed voice was definitely a change for her. But she just smiled and patted his back.
" It's all in the past. And your truth is your strength, not your weakness. I wish you all the best."
Breaking off the hug, she continued moving towards the door to the one she was earlier with, offering a sincere teary smile to Mukti and Alia. But just as she reached the door, she could not help herself from turning to look at the one person she left out. She had so much to say to him, but she thought that maybe getting her answers was just not in her fate.
Taking a deep breath she turned to him.
"Chalo Abhi.( Let's go, Abhi.)"
Others with confusion and Manik with painful jealousy looked on as Abhi put his arm around her shoulder and led her out of the room.
After staring at the room for a few minutes, he suddenly decided to go an at least offer her an explanation for the previous night's events. She deserved that.
Running, he tried to catch up with the two as the others followed behind still confused about the whole situation.
Reaching outside the building he frantically looked around in all directions hoping to see her, but all he could catch was a final glimpse as she sat in a car and it took off.
The car sped away leaving behind an empty spot, both at the parking lot and in his heart. Her face disappeared from his sight as she did from his life
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Sorry this took so long. Hoping to finish the next chapter soon.
