As I said before, dividing the chapters in part makes me feel uncomfortable with my own book, so I decided to not do it.

Also, when you read the chapter, please keep in mind - Nandini's trauma is too much for her to handle. So before you judge her, know that you only know pieces of what she has endured. The rest is yet to come.

And we also have Ruhi and Manik in this chapter for the first time!

Last, I hope you guys are doing good. Do shower some love on this chapter, and Enjoy Reading!

For the next hour that followed by, Nandini felt it was better if she didn't look at Manik. Avoiding him felt like an easy and better option so she did so, refusing to even look up as they all sat in the living room.

Her heart was still hammering in her chest. She flinched away when he tried to help her. Years of control had slipped away today, the feelings, the fear - she could feel it running in her veins once again, making her shudder at her place.

Nandini knew it was a futile attempt. She couldn't ignore him, specially when her three years old Ruhi waddled her way to him with her tiny yet eager steps. Manik sat across the room, away from her.

The shiny phone case he held in his hand had caught Ruhi's attention. She wanted it. She wouldn't settle on her mother's pastel pink phone cover. No, the golden lion print was more fascinating to her eyes.

Her little hand gripped the fabric of his pants over his thigh to support herself while other reached out to the phone. Manik was quick enough to hold it tight before she could pull it away.

The phone was heavy for her hands, Manik knew she would drop it. And then, he was not letting her go away without an introduction this time.

How was he going to be her father if he can't even be friends with her? Now was the time to put some little effort.

Ruhi tried to pull it again, her wide curious eyes still fixed on the phone.

"Bacha, you should ask for it if you want it." Mr.Murty laughed from behind. Ruhi whined, tears glistening in her eyes as she looked up at Manik in a hope that he would melt.

"You want this?" Manik held out the phone for her. Ruhi nodded her head immediately, hand reaching out at the exact moment Manik pulled away.

He chuckled when she stared at him, wide doe shaped eyes resembling her mother's and lower lip jumbled out. Manik would have melted right away but he shook his head instead.

"Yesh." Ruhi whispered, not really in a mood to converse. She only wanted the phone.

Manik smiled,"But why should I give it to you?" He questioned, even tapping his chin in a fake pretence to think.

Ruhi looked back at her mother, and in a moment Manik and she caught each other's gaze. She looked down immediately, scared and he chuckled staring back at Ruhi. He would talk to Nandini later on.

"Luhi wantsh it, give me." She whined once again.

"But if Ruhi wants this phone, she needs to be friends with me." Manik offered, making it clear to the little girl he wouldn't give in otherwise.

But Ruhi was not be fooled. The little bundle of cuteness knew how to make her way. She looked back at her mother again before turning to Manik,"Mumma shays don't talk to shtlangels." She explained calmly.

Manik let out an another laugh, shaking his head and flicked her nose as he pointed at his own mother who smiled at the whole interaction, a little uncomfortable but still a genuine smile,"You see this beautiful lady?" Ruhi nodded, and Manik smiled,"She is my mother. And she told me that only friends share their things with each other." Manik paused waiting for her to understand his point.

And she did because next monent a tiny hand was extended infront of Manik for a handshake,"Otay, fliendsh?"

"Okay, friends." Manik laughed again as her eyes went back on the phone. He picked her up, earning a surprise yelp from her. He made her sit beside him on the couch and handed her the phone.

Ruhi took it eagerly, her small hands working to open it. A futile attempt, two and three before she shoved his phone in his face, demanding him to open it silently. Manik did with a chuckle.

He waited, but to his surprise Ruhi easily slid her fingers on the screen, opening different apps and then finally coming to the camera. She opened it, staring at her own reflection and played around a bit before accidently clicking on the click and yelped when it made a loud capture sound. The phone fell down in her lap.

Manik laughed out loud before he picked it up and helped her open YouTube and find a video she wanted to watch. She was generous when she looked up and smiled at him showing off her two cute dimples.

Manik's attention was diverted as he heard his father clear his throat.

"Mr.Murty, we really wanted to apologise for the mess we created last time. It was not our intention to hurt Ananya or Nandini." His father spoke, guilt evident in his tone.

"No, it is okay. It was just a misunderstanding, it could happen with anyone. Ananya didn't tell she didn't meet him either, Nandini couldn't understand his affection. So, it wasn't Manik's fault alone." Mr.Murty cleared. The old man was generous enough to share the blame even when it was Manik and his family's fault more.

Manik shook his head at his kindness and interfered,"I am sorry uncle, but it wasn't Nandini's fault. I take the whole blame of it. Even Ananya - I wanted to apologise to her properly for the misunderstanding."

"Manik," Mr.Murty sighed,"It is better you don't talk to her for now. She is angry eight now. She won't understand your point."

Manik frowned, wondering if Ananya was still giving Nandini a hard time. He didn't expect Ananya to be all okay with all of this but the way she was dealing it with was so wrong.

He looked at Nandini, who was still staring down. It only made him frown more when he couldn't look at her and confirm if she was fine.

"Anyways, what is done is done. There's no use of discussing it now." Mr.Murty continued, he smiled when he looked at Manik and Nandini,"Instead of it, I think we should focus on our present. Manik and Nandini like each other, and I have no problem if they want to give each other a chance."

"Yes, We wanted to talk about this too. Mr.Murty, we are fine with this relationship but - " Raj paused, looking back at Niyonika and then glanced at Manik who frowned, having no idea what it was," Do not mind us, Mr.Murty but marriage is no joke. We are just worried for our son and want his happiness."

"I didn't get you, Mr.Malhotra." Mr.Murty looked equally confused. Weren't they discussing all of this just for the happiness of their children?

"Do not mind us, Mr.Murty," Raj spoke, a little hesitant,"But if Nandini is marrying our son, we need to know why didn't her first marriage work? Why did she leave her first husband?" As soon as his father ended, Manik found himself standing up in utter shock. They hadn't discussed this.

"Mr.Murty, I hope you understand. We only need the assurance." It was his mother. Manik shook his head in disbelief.

Mr.Murty himself was taken aback while Nandini didn't dare to look up from her lap. Everything went silent except for the sound of Ruhi's cartoon playing in the background.

"Dad-" Manik started, embarrassed for his parents started this topic without even consulting him or discussing it with him but was cut of by his mother who held his hand.

"Let us handle it, Manik." She shook her head in no sternly, gesturing him not to mess up but who was she kidding? Manik was stubborn. He mumbled a no and removed her hand.

"No. We didn't discuss this, Maa. You and dad didn't tell me about any of this. I can't let you both do this." He was clear at his point and when his eyes fell on Nandini and he caught her sliding her hand on check, Manik felt more than worse.

It was a sour topic for her. Hadn't he seen her behavior? What were his parents even thinking before shoving such a personal question at her face? This was so fucking disrespectful.

"Nandini, please, No. You don't have to tell us anything. Please, Maa-Dad." Manik glared at his parents in disappointment.

"Manik." His father looked at him sternly," You need to let the elders talk. Don't interfere when you are not asked."

"Dad, I am sorry but you shouldn't have asked such a sensitive question like this. Maybe something happened and we don't know. Nandini will tell us if she wants to. You shouldn't be disrespecting someone this way." He couldn't help but get angry on his father.

Manik should have known. The sudden acceptance of his feelings for Nandini. The way they were fine with this relationship. He should have known, how did he not. Manik felt so guilty standing there and not being able to do anything.

He turned to Mr.Murty midway and asked,"Nandini - I - Uncle Can I plesee talk to her, in private?" Mr.Murty nodded, concern sitting all over his face while Manik waited for Nandini to stand up and lead him.

However, Nandini only looked at her father and shook her head in a desperate plea to not put her through this. She couldn't dare see in his eyes and hide her past. He deserved to know, but Nandini was a coward who hadn't learn to do anything other than running away.

Mr.Murty blinked his eyes in assurance and patted her head, encouraging her to go. She sighed, wiping her cheeks once again before standing up.

Without sparing any glance to him, Nandini turned around and walked out of the house. Manik followed her with distressed steps.

Nandini stopped when her feet reached the garden. She was not brave enough to turn around and face Manik as she heard him stop a few steps behind.

"Nandini -" he started, in extreme need to explain himself. Manik took it as his own fault, everything that happened inside, it was because of him and now the guilt was eating him up alive,"I am sorry, Nandini. Please look at me. I need to know if you are fine."

"I-It is not your fault." Even when she tried so hard to not choke, her voice failed her. Nandini still refused to look at him.

"Then why are you not looking at me?" He asked, hurt.

Nandini shook her head, a sob dared to leave her lips and her shoulders shook visiblely. Stubborn tears. She tried hard to block them, but they wouldn't listen like always.

Manik wanted to dig a hole and throw himself in. He felt more and more worse hearing her sob like that.

It was supposed to be a happy day. He had planned to tell her how much this meant for him. She was giving him a chance, and he was grateful but what did he do?

"Nandini," helpless, Manik tried again. He let out a sigh as she shook her head, trying so hard to stop the stupid tears. Her own arms were wrapped around herself as she dug her own fingers in her skin, an attempt to control herself. It worked always, why was it not now.

Manik knew he could never understand the ache inside her heart, even though he could see it all. It must be so difficult for her, he didn't need to be told.

It was, because when she finally turned around only to hold his hands in a desperate plea, Manik saw the way her eyes bend down and cheeks damp with the salty water.

He hated it, the look on her face was more heartbreaking than that of the sadness. She looked so broken, so fragile that he couldn't help but believe she would break with his mere touch.

He looked down at his own hands, clutched by hers as they shook slightly. So frail, so gentle like a new born baby. How could someone hurt this woman, it was beyond Manik's thinking.

"Manik- I- I am not normal,"She cried, loud and clear wanting him to believe her,"I- I am sorry." Nandini herself didn't know why was she sobbing this way, there standing in garden in her own house.

Nandini was only meant to look pretty today - something she was really good at but then it was Nandini. Stupid and always messing up things. How did she even dream of happiness knowing how she didn't deserve any of it.

God! She might look like some crazy lady. Scared that her thoughts were nothing but the truth, Nandini pulled away her arms immediately. She stepped back, one and two before Manik was holding her hands to stop her with caution.

"Nandini," he sounded helpless like he didn't know what was he supposed to do and truth to be told, Manik didn't.

"Nobody is normal." He told her, taking a step ahead and watched as she looked up at him, eyes still glistening with little pearl like tears which Manik wiped off with the pads of his thumb.

He gulped down the erre of emotions as he slid his thumb in circles against her cold skin, an attempt to calm her down,"And I don't like you because I think you are perfect. Nobody is. We all lack something. Yes, your first marriage broke but there could be many reasons. Nobody has the right to ridiculate you. My parents," He paused, finding the right words,"My parents had no right to ask such a personal question the way they did. It is not your mistake. Stop beating yourself for the things that you had no control over."

Nandini seemed too scared to believe him. She didn't even blink and for a second, Manik wondered if she was even listening to him.

He gripped her hands a little more firmly and she blinked finally,"Your divorce, it was your past. I don't need to know it to like you. I would rather give us a chance and explore it."

Manik didn't sugar coat his words. He didn't want to, because he knew when Nandini would tell him her past, it could be anything. Maybe she was indeed at mistake, and he didn't want to be a mindless hero and expect her to be all right in her past.

Nandini was also a human. She was allowed to make mistakes. She was allowed to mess up. She could do it, and he would understand.

It was a silent promise Manik made to himself as he stared at the shaken woman in his arms.

She was so precious, and Manik was going take care of her. Always and Forever.