Since it has been more than two months I updated, I hope you guys missed this book.

In March, I had a fall out with my bestfriend. To say, we don't talk anymore and I had no idea how to handle myself. I can't promise quick updates, but I will try my best to update once in a while.

There has been so much happening an I am just trying to cope up. Hopefully, you guys are doing well too.

Enjoy Reading, and if possible - do share your reviews.

If there's anything Nandini has learned from life, it is to accept. Accept, whatever is given to her without any complaint. Be it her mother's death, her father's busy schedule, Ananya's tantrums, her in laws treatment or Vihaan's behaviour- she has always accepted without any complaint.

But with time, like everything fell apart, her belief did too. Nandini started to hate things. And then there was a time, she hated nights. They were not only long but also a place for her demons to rest. Nights enveloped in darkness and silence held her demons, the one Nandini will forever be scared of.

Demons were scary, large, cruel and they laughed at her with no mercy even when she begged them to leave. Nandini had no where to run from them, they were her home afterall.

But now, Nandini waited for the nights because at night, before the scary creatures could disturb her, Manik did with a simple call and somehow the days where she slept with Manik speaking on the other end of the phone, the demons didn't come. Maybe because they were scared of Manik. Nandini didn't know.

She slept peacefully on those days without any nightmare or any fear in her heart, except for that what if Manik found out about her past? It was a worry that would not leave her, no matter how much she tried.

"Nandini, are you even listening to me?"

Manik spoke from the other end, a whine clear in his tone and Nandini let out a small chuckle.

"Yes, Ofcourse." She was not. She was lost in her thoughts yet again but Manik doesn't need to know that.

"Oh really?" Manik was being dramatic now. Nandini could picture him with the biggest pout sprawled on the center of his bed with his feet touching the floor,"I see, tell me what did I tell you a moment before?"

"You - You asked me if I was listening to you." Nandini was smart for a reason. She heard him whine again, and a laugh escaped her this time. Manik became silent at that.

"You laugh too." He exclaimed, almost as if scared she would stop and take a step back.

"You say it as if it is the first time."

"Not first time, but I hardly hear you laugh." He was not complaining. Nandini knew him better by now.

A month of knowing each other, they had definitely started to know each other better. Manik had managed to break her shell a little bit, almost by a layer and he could feel it everytime she called him. Yes, Nandini called him sometimes on her own and each time she did, Manik picked it with a bright smile.

While he settled on calling her twice a day, he texted her atleast five times a day. Three of them to ask her if she ate well alone. Nandini enjoyed it, even if she never said anything, Manik knew how much she loved when he cared for her.

It was one of those moments when he got her flowers, he expected her to get awkward but she smiled instead, blushing and thanked him. The shine in her eyes forced him to greet her with flowers whenever he found the opportunity, be it a dinner date or a work visit.

"Nandini," he called out all of the sudden, Nandini frowned hearing the hesitation in his voice,"actually I wanted to share something."

"Yeah?"

"Actually - " Manik paused, maybe deciding to not ask," I was asking if you can take out some time tomorrow. We can go for our engagement rings shopping."

"Sure," Nandini replied, even though the confusion didn't leave her for she knew Manik was too excited for the engagement shopping to be hesitant about it.

What was it? She wondered but didn't ask.

And the next morning when Nandini was sitting infront of the dressing table, finishing her makeup, she picked up her mobile to ask Manik when was he coming.

She did so, in simple words, 'Manik, when are you coming?'

The text was a bit over dramatic for her own taste, but Nandini didn't know what else to say. So she doesn't ponder over it much, instead her attention is driven to his profile picture.

In the picture, Manik seemed to be sitting on a couch somewhere, smiling and his fingers making the V sign. Nandini smiled, red hue creeping on her cheeks and unknown to her, she spent the next few minutes staring at his picture.

His smile is pretty, she realised. Out of all the things, Nandini liked his smile the most. It is gentle and it encouraged her every time she faltered. She chuckled, shaking her head and a ding on her phone indicated a new message from Manik.

'Tell me when are you free? In the evening?'

A pout settled on her lips, for more than one reason. Manik didn't use any emoji like he always does. Was he upset? Nandini is already concerned and then, weren't they supposed to go in the morning?

An upset sigh managed to leave her lips and she walked out of the room, wondering what to reply. She had seen the text and it only made sense to reply now.

Nandini was typing when she reached the dining table. Engrossed with her eyes still on the phone, she failed to notice Ananya walking from the other end. The two run into each other, Nandini's phone falling on the table and Ananya snickered.

"Ananya. Can we talk?"

The words left her mouth before Nandini could hold onto them and the way Ananya's face hardened further, regret settled deep inside her because she knew, it was going to be anything but pleasent.

Ananya was aware of how close to a villain she sounded every time she argued with Nandini. She knew how much her sister was hurting due to her harsh words but then, what about the hurt Ananya felt?

What about the embarrassment she had to go through? And even after everything, all she wanted was to not talk to Nandini, but ofcourse, her sister wouldn't get it.

She would try so hard. Every time, and Ananya hated the way she looked like she was the only victim when Ananya was no less.

It was a misunderstanding including three people, two families so why was she the only one at the losing end? She didn't even want to be understanding at this point.

"Ananya, Please. Let me explain once?"

Nandini pleaded, desperate to solve things and go back to how they were. How could a mere misunderstanding make them stand against each other? They were sisters. They shouldn't be fighting this way.

"Explain what di, what is even left to explain?" Ananya asked and when for a moment Nandini didn't response, she chuckled, crossing her arms against her chest,"Okay, fine di. I will let you explain. Tell me why did you have to steal my finance from me?"

"Ananya, I told you already. Manik is not a thing to steal. I didn't steal him, he likes me as well. Why won't you understand?"

"Is it? So now I am third wheeling in between you both?" For the first time amidst all the fiasco, Ananya seemed more hurt than angry," But you make no sense di! You want to marry Manik and you want me to be happy about it? Do you know how much I boasted around my friends saying I was going to marry Manik? Do you know how embarrassing it is to tell them the truth?"

Nandini knew. She understood. She didn't expect Ananya to be happy about it but at the same time, the sister in her wanted nothing more than for Ananya to be understanding to it.

It was wrong but Nandini was not aiming to be right either. She only wanted happiness and seeing Ananya drifting apart from her hurt her. Nandini wanted to solve their equation but now standing infront her, it almost seemed impossible.

Ananya looked anything but understanding. Nandini shook her head, eyes glistening and her heart breaking with every passing second,"Ananya -"

"Stop di. Stop please," Ananya raised her voice this time even though her own voice broke at the end,"I could have made Manik like me had I been given the chance. Had I known this would happen, I would have contacted him in that one week but I was such an idiot to think I will come of as a clingy person."

"No actually," Ananya spoke before Nandini could even say anything," You know di, all of this mess, it happened because of you. If only you had been happy with Vihaan. Why didn't you just stay with him di? Why didn't you put some efforts to make him love you instead of trying to allure Manik?"

Ananya's voice was loud against her own pounding heart. She could hardly hear anything. Everything blurred for a second and she watched Nandini still at her place, mouth parted in shock and eyes blown wide.

And Ananya knew she fucked up even before Nandini opened her mouth to say something.

"Ananya - Y-You think I didn't make efforts?"

"I- I don't know di. I don't know. Stay away from me. I have nothing to offer you except for hate, so don't talk to me. Take Manik, be happy but stop budging me."

Every word from her was like a sharp needle pricking her heart, harsh and painful. It hurt so much that for a moment Nandini couldn't even breathe. She could only stare at Ananya as she ran away to her room.

Another moment and Nandini was sitting on the chair, hand gripping the back of it as if her life depended on it and heavy sobs shook her fragile figure.

Efforts. So many countless efforts Nandini did. She did every time he hurt her. She did everytime he told her he didn't love her. Nandini did make efforts so why did Ananya say she didn't?

Allure. Nandini didn't. Manik liked her first. He misunderstood first. So why was it being framed as if she allured him?

Where did it go wrong? Nandini didn't know. She didn't know what was she suppose to do, so she did the only thing she had ever learned to, she ran.

She ran to her room, slaming the door shut and sliding across it to be a mess on the floor. Falling apart and crying like a little child who lost her parents in a crowd and doesn't know which way to take now.

While her phone lay alone on the table outside, the text typed -

'Sure, I will be waiting for you Manik.'

But never sent.