Since the response was so satisfying, I ended up writing this chapter yesterday itself.

A comment in the media box to shed some more light on Ananya's character.

Also, A very random question - how did you come across this book? Or is it your first time reading any of my books?

And hope you enjoy reading it :)

Manik was worried. Nandini didn't reply to his text. She left it on seen. Did he upset her? He was probably in a bad mood - owning to an argument he had with Soha in the morning and didn't even bother checking his mobile for few hours.

Manik was beating himself up when his phone dinged, indicating a message. He saw Nandini's name from the notification bar and a smile itched to his lips.

Maybe he was just overthinking.

Or maybe not.

Because Nandini had cancelled their plan.

'Manik, can we go tomorrow?'
- Nandini

Manik knew for an instance something was wrong. Nandini was taking a leave today for this reason alone, she wouldn't cancel it - unless something happened.

Something like an argument with Ananya. Manik's already sour mood soured further and he ended up dialing Mr.Murty's number instead.

To his relief, the elder man picked it up on fourth ring.

"Manik, How are you?"

"I am fine, Uncle," If it was any other day, Manik would have greeted him more properly and with more respect, but his insides were clawing at him at the moment,"Uncle, Nandini cancelled our plan. Is everything okay?"

For a few moments, Manik heard nothing and he almost wondered if the line got cut but it wasn't the case. His connection was working just fine.

"Uncle?"

"I don't know, Manik. Ananya was home today, but I haven't heard from them."

Mr.Murty himself sounded worried and Manik's heart sank more. He was sure something did indeed happened.

"Okay, uncle." He hung up the call and himself dialed Nandini only to have her number unreachable. Worry crept inside Manik, he certainly wasn't familiar with this ignorance from Nandini.

Even on the days when she refused to talk, he knew how she was, where she was.

Should he drive to Murty Mansion? He should. Manik sighed, taking hold of his keys and set a foot out of his room when his phone rang.

The elder Murty's name flashed on the screen and Manik picked it up in an instant.

"Manik, they fought. Nandini is unreachable but she informed the servants to tell me not to worry. "

"Where can I find her, uncle?" Manik asked, desperate.

"I don't know. Nandini never tells me where she goes, but I trust her to be fine. She even left Ruhi home so she won't be careless. Don't worry."

How could he not worry? No, Manik was even more worried. She left Ruhi behind, Nandini left her daughter behind whom she doesn't even let stay away from her eyes for ten minutes straight. Manik could only imagine the state she would be in.

"Manik, I know you are worried but trust me, Nandini is strong. Ananya and her had been fighting constantly for few days, so she just stepped out for some time. It is good she did. Give her some space."

"But what if she needs me, uncle? You know how she would never ask anyone to be there. I must atleast make sure she is fine." 

"Manik-" Mr.Murty sighed, not knowing how to make the boy understand. It was not the first time Nandini took time for herself,"Okay, try calling her. I will see what I can do."

"Mhm, what do you do when you are upset?"

Manik asked. It was one of those night calls, and Manik suddenly told her he wanted to know her more. Nandini was flustered but she agreed - only with a condition that she wanted to know him as well. Thus, they ended up with the famous twenty twenty questions.

Nandini fell silent for a second, wondering she was actually okay telling him about her. While she was not proud of her choices, her personal space was something she always tried to protect.

Still, it was Manik. She told herself.

"I lock up myself in my room," She told him, causally as if it didn't mean anything,"I don't like speaking when I am upset so, I stay in my room." I cry, and I break apart - was something she didn't told him.

"And?"

"And sometimes, I even run away."

"Where?"

"Beach? Ruhi loves beaches, so we go there once in a while. It is nice there."

"Cool, atleast I know where to look for you in case you ditch me!"

Manik laughed, and Nandini couldn't help but laugh too. Ditch him? As if.

"I won't ditch you, Manik."

"Yeah, I won't let you. I am going to find you and make sure you stay with me then."

Nandini only laughed at how determined he sounded.

Beach. Manik remembered the conversation. Ofcourse, she is at a beach and hopefully, she will be there by the time he reaches there.

Nandini was there, a little away from everyone - alone and she looked so lonely sitting there and staring at the sunset. Just to make sure his hunch was right, Manik called her again, and this time her phone vibrated in her hand.

He saw her look at the phone and watched a small smile creeping on her face before shame took her and tears made its way out of her eyes.

Manik didn't even have the time to react because sitting there, Nandini was literally having a break down all because of a phone call from him.

He halted in his steps, hesitation took over instantly. Was he even supposed to be there? His name made her cry so much, did he even deserve to sit with her?

The answer was a no but Manik was not going to let her sit and shed tears to herself.   With some slow but firm steps, he walked forward and sat beside her, staring at the ocean infront of him instead.

"It is indeed nice here."

Manik smiled when she looked at him startled. He stared back at her, her eyes red and swollen, cheeks puffed up and nose red and runny. Shit, how was she still so pretty?

"Manik."

"Yeah? I told you I am going to find you and make sure you stay by my side," he told her simply,"you can't ditch me, Nandini."

"I- How did you know I was here? No. Why are you here, Manik?"

"Why? Are you upset I found you?" He questioned, a frown on his face and Nandini shook her head.

Words were a jumbled mess in her head and she couldn't risk getting them on her tongue. Nandini looked down, sliding her hand across her cheek when a white hanky appeared in her line of vision.

Nandini sniffed, but took the hanky to use it instead.

"I can already tell Ruhi is a better kid than you."

"I am not a kid."

"I believe you, Nandini."

"I am not, Manik."

"Yeah, I said I do believe you, Nandini."

A whine leaves her lips and Nandini is palming her own mouth realising what she did. Manik laughed.

"See, you are no kid."

He chuckled this time and took the hanky back that she handed him. Nandini pouted but said nothing this time. She was clearly losing it.

"You told me you go to the beach when you feel down so that's how I found you."

And there, Nandini scolded herself in her head for letting it slip away. Manik was not supposed to know. It was her hiding space but ofcourse her heart was a pounding machine when it came to him. Words flew like water would in a lake and lately, she seemed to have no control on her own tongue.

Nandini was starting to change, she could feel it too.

"I won't come here if you don't want me to." Manik saw it all, ofcourse. Nandini shook her head in embarrassment.

Silence surrounded them and all they could hear was the children playing in background, couples laughing, running around, all chaos.

Nandini looked around - everyone seemed happy. She looked at Manik and at the man on their opposite side who had his arms wrapped around his newly wedded wife. They seemed so happy. The man had a wide small on her face as he whispered something in his wife's ear.

Can she ever provide Manik that? Nandini didn't believe so. She didn't think she could love anyone now. Yes, Manik made her feel the whole zoo in her stomach - but that intimacy? What about his needs? Will he ever want to touch her seeing her used body?

Nandini was starting to get fucked up in her head too. Intimacy? How can she think of it when she couldn't even gather up the courage to ask him why did he sound so low in the morning text? What made him upset?

Why were his eyes not twinkling? Why did he not grin at her like every time?

"Manik?" She called out.

Manik hummed in response, eyes fixed on the setting sun, at the colors in the sky - bright orange and red. It was beautiful how even the dying sun was able to lit up the sky so bright.

Nandini compared him with the sun. Manik was so bright and even when he was down, he managed to brighten up her mood by simply being there, talking to her and not asking her what made her cry like a child.

"Are you okay?"

Manik sensed more fear from her tone than the worry. He smiled, a soft smile and turned to face her,"I am fine, and you need to relax," he assured,"I am angry, but I am not angry at you."

Do you need to relive your anger on me? The words were on the tip of her tongue but Nandini didn't say them. She let out a shaky breathe instead and eyed around around. They were in public, and she was safe.

"I had a fight with Soha." He spoke all of the sudden.

"And you are angry because of that?" Nandini pondered.

"Yeah, she is such a rude brat. I swear I am so angry. Mom didn't even scold her!" Manik scoffed, more in disbelief than disappointment.

"What did she do?"

Bad mouth you. Manik wanted to say, but he stayed silent, not wanting to upset her. Soha had gotten on his nerves today and although he had repramind her, he hated how his mother instead of telling her to shut up, told him to calm down.

Yeah, as if Soha was a glass doll and he was going to break her with a simple yell. Manik hated how over caring his mother was for Soha.

"Just crossed her line like always." He replied, instead.

"W-Why is she like this?"

"You mean rude? Or brat?"

"Both?"

"She-" Manik sighed,"It is a long story, but she is always like that! I mean, I know she means no harm but she makes me angry."

"That's what siblings are for though."

"Is it?" Manik asks, and for a moment Nandini saw the sadness looming in his eyes,"We - I, Soha and Cabir are not that close. "

Nandini tched, much to his surprise,"Me and Ananya, we used to fight so much."

"Really?" Manik didn't believe it. Nandini was too much of a giver to fight. Manik believed she would even give up her life if Ananya asked.

"Yeah, one time Appa got us shoes, two colors but we both liked the red one over white, so we fought," Nandini chuckled, remembering the exact moment,"She pulled my hair and I smacked her head with the shoe."

And to Manik's surprise, Nandini laughed at her own story. He watched in awe as she tried to hold in her laughter.

"She had this bump on her head and threw the shoes to me, asking me to take it. I bragged about it for a whole week while she whined."

"That's -

Manik was speechless. Nandini fought for shoes with her sister. She hit her sister and bragged about the shoes she won.

"Really?"

"Yes. Ananya was always a spoilt brat. Appa and me spoiled her but even then, I was also a child so yeah, that 'it is mine' used to get in between sometimes. The shoes were mine, I chose them first."

"W-Why don't you fight for me then?"

Manik didn't know if he was supposed to ask that but knowing how Nandini was, he was curious. Was he not worth fighting?

"Because I am not a child anymore, Manik. Life has taught me many things and the most important is to how to let go."

And then I am too scared to fight, Manik. For I am not sure if I am even worth it. - Nandini's eyes shift to the couple on the opposite end who are now walking hand in hand.

"Silly, you should never give up on your things," Manik smiled, as if he saw through her, as if he knew where she was looking at,"and the people you love. You deserve to be loved, and you deserve to chose who to love."

"Do I?"

"You do. And I will make sure you never have to give up on anything, Nandini."

Nandini didn't reply. She looked down at her lap, replaying the words in her head for they make her heart swell with happiness.

And in moments like this, Nandini wanted to relay on someone, on Manik. She wanted to let him know of worst of her fears even if the thought of him knowing them scared her even more.

She is hiding harsh truths, ugly scars and a lot a man would tolerate his woman hiding and Nandini is so scared that one day Manik is going to find it all out and throw her away.

But even then, she enjoys the moment she is in, she holds into it desperately, letting a smile grace her lips.

And while she was busy in dictating her thoughts and feelings, Manik stared at her, simply without even blinking.

He didn't know what he liked about her. What did he like the most in her? Was it her eyes? Or maybe her lips? Her cheeks? Maybe her nose? Her smile? He didn't know. There was just this connection between them that Manik couldn't explain. He felt as if he knew her from years. He wanted to protect her. He wanted to make her smile and he wanted to save her from every evil in the world..

"Nandini," he voiced out loud, gaining her attention easily as she looked up at him,"I think - I am falling for you."

And Nandini swore her heart skipped a beat.