Chapter 28
Tbh, I don't really recognise my own writing anymore. I mean is it only me? Like I had this chapter written from before and when I sat down to edit it, I ended up almost rewriting it, and adding in almost 800/900 words more. Like does that make sense?
Anyways, I hope this chapter clears up a little more about Manik and Nandini's sides.
Enjoy Reading!
"It is okay, Manik. Nandini is exhausted and the fever is quite normal for her condition. The medicine will help lower her temperature and if there’s any emergency, call me again." Dr.Vardhan was a gentleman. He was in his late forties and he had probably known Murty’s for long, Manik understood from the way he talked of Nandini.
"Doctor," Manik called out when the doctor was about to hang up. The man stopped and smiled, as if he was waiting for this moment, "Is - What do you mean by her condition? Is this normal?"
Does Nandini have these panic attacks often? Was what Manik wanted to know.
"Yes. You can say that."
"Can- Can you tell me more?"
"I can, but you need rest for now. Take care of her, Manik." Dr.Vardhan smiled, "You have my number, call me tomorrow and I will tell you everything you want to know."
Manik replied with a nod and the line was cut from the other end. He sat down on the bed and then there was silence all around.
Manik could hear his own breaths, each heavier than the previous one. It took him a few moments to gain the strength to look up from his hands alone. Nandini looked so pale despite all the makeup she was wearing. She had lost some weight, not that she weighed any more than a feather before. She still looked beautiful in blue like she did the night they first met.
Manik didn't know how he even thought Nandini must be doing fine all these months? What was he even expecting? Her living her live happily? To say, Manik did expect that and he would have been happy if that was the case.
Manik would rather see her happy without him than see her suffer this way.
He had thought of this for six months - the moment they will finally come face to face. He had so much anger, so many complaints and so much bottled up feelings but now, seeing Nandini lay on the bed like that - it stripped him of his every emotion. Manik felt empty as he gazed at her closed eyes.
Manik came out of his thoughts as Mr.Murty walked in the room. This time, he was alone and in his sleeping clothes. He must have made Ruhi sleep in his own room. Manik stood up when the old man reached near him.
"Manik," Mr.Murty sounded worried, "Come let's sit down." Manik followed the man and sat on the opposite couch in the corner of the room.
"I am sorry I couldn't talk to you properly before." Mr.Murty said, "Tell me, how have you been, son?" The affection in his tone made Manik's eyes teary. It had been so long since someone had talked to him that way. He missed the elder Murty too.
"I am fine, Appa." A lie. Manik knew Mr.Murty was aware of it too. Manik was too messed up. His father wouldn't talk to him, his mother did but every conversation, every call ended with the same 'move on'. His siblings were another story all together, while Cabir was there for him, Manik didn't want to burden him with his personal problems.
"How’s everyone else at home?"
Manik shook his head, looking down and embarrassment crossed his face the next moment.His parents hadn't even wondered for a minute about Nandini and her family's well being.
"Appa, I am sorry for all the things Dad said last time. I - I am so ashamed right now." He almost cried, tears welling up in his eyes and Manik couldn't even gather the courage to look at the man in front of him. Still so gentle and kind to him. Manik couldn't face him after the way his family showed their backs to Nandini when she needed their support. God, it made him feel horrible about the whole situation.
Mr.Murty didn't seem to mirror his thoughts as he let out a chuckle, "Manik, com'on bacha. It was between the elders. You had nothing to do with it. If anything, I should be the one to apologise for not encouraging Nandini to contact you." Manik looked up at him in surprise. "I know. I know I said I don't regret sending her to London, but it is also true that maybe I could have convinced her but I just wanted her to be safe, Manik. I don't blame you for your parents' actions, you are not responsible for it but I also didn't want to push Nandini into this mess again."
Manik did understand. He could see now.
"Is everything alright with Nandini, Appa?" The way Mr.Murty's eyes soften at his question, tells Manik that he hadn't expected Manik to still care. Manik found it stupid to even think of.
When Mr.Murty didn't answer him, Manik looked down with a heavy sigh. "This, it is such a mess, Appa."
“Are you scared?” Mr.Murty asked.
Manik had no idea how to answer that. Was he scared? Yes. But what was he scared of? He didn't know.
"I - I don’t know, Appa." He said.
"I did warn you before, Manik. Nandini must have done so too."
Manik couldn't disagree. He still remembered the conversation he had with the elder Murty. Nandini had warned him too. His parents did too. Everyone did, to be honest. Even his friends had a thorough conversation with him.
Aliya and Mukti had sat him down and gave him an hour lecture on how difficult this relationship would be for him. He was told how he could not expect a fifty fifty partnership from Nandini in this relationship, at least not any time sooner. Manik did know everything before he got into this.
But then, nobody warned him of how it would mess up with him too. Nobody told him how it would make him question every theory of love he had known. Nobody told him of these kind of nights where Nandini would be laying down on the bed, sick and he would be conscious, with no other option but to endure it. Manik was not ready for this.
“Do you want to leave?” Another question and this one made him gasp out loud as his head shot up at the elder Murty. Manik fell silent for several moments, actually considering it. He knows he can, and maybe he should.
Manik should walk out, that's what everyone expected him to do but then, he looked back at the sleeping Nandini and every noise in his head blurred. Every doubt, every question disappeared and all Manik could see was the woman he had fallen for love despite all the odds.
Manik was gone for Nandini the moment he set his eyes on her, it was the truth he couldn't or wouldn't even dare to deny. It was not only her beauty that had captured him. No. Nandini was much more than a pretty face.
Everything about Nandini fascinated him, the way she smiled, the way she spoke, the way she carried herself, the way she loved - so hesitant, shy but there. It was there because Manik had felt it, he had experienced it all. Nandini had given him the butterflies he had only heard of in those romance novels or movies.
So, he answered, "No." He looked at Mr.Murty and let his lips curl up into a smile, "If I had to leave, I wouldn't have been here, Appa."
"Shall I tell you a secret then?"
Manik heard the underlying question. Mr.Murty was asking him if he wanted to know what exactly had happened with Nandini but Manik simply shook his head. He was sure he would never want to hear it from anyone other than Nandini. It was her right to tell him, or decide when she wanted to.
"Okay fine. Allow me to tell you then, you are just as stubborn as her." Mr.Murty let out a chuckle, "Nandini told me she wouldn't talk to you and yet she called me daily and asked about you each time."
See. The butterflies.
"Nandini is an exhausting person to love, Manik." Mr.Murty said, "But once you get through her, I promise you will meet a wonderful person who has nothing but love to offer to you."
Manik did not need to be told that but he smiled. "Thank you for giving me another chance, Appa."
Mr.Murty dismissed it with a hand wave, "I didn't do anything, Manik. Nandini did and I chose my daughter's happiness above everything." A yawn left his mouth and Mr.Murty apologised.
Manik shook his head as he stared at the clock. "It is late, Appa. We should sleep."
Mr.Murty agreed, promising to talk more tomorrow and after exchanging good nights, Manik wondered if the old man forgot to tell him about the spare guest room or he simply didn't care. He also wondered if he should go and sleep there.
Manik was a gentleman after all. But then, Nandini was his fiance and she was sick. It wouldn't be so kind of him to leave her alone, right? Manik would apologise tomorrow. With that thought, he slid into the bed beside Nandini, maintaining his distance and trying hard not to startle her in case she woke up in the middle of the night.
Manik did, however, reach over to her and kissed her head before resting on his side.
When Nandini woke up the next day, the first thing she noticed was heat. She was engulfed with warmth from all possible sides. Her feet were burning under the duvet and there was a dead weight on her waist. She was literally suffocating under the heavy blanket.
The moment she moved, a whine escaped her lips and the thought of Ruhi entered next. Nandini's eyes went wide at the conclusion that she didn't know about her daughter's whereabouts. She pushed the weight off her waist, realising now that it was infact an arm above her. To get out of the blanket was a task in itself, Nandini sighed the moment she did and it was then she noticed the figure beside her. Manik.
God.Nandini wasn't even breathing anymore. Manik looked so peaceful sleeping beside her, without a single care of the world outside. His expensive suit did look uncomfortable to sleep in, but it didn't feel that it mattered to Manik.
Nandini also noticed his blazer thrown on the couch. "Manik?" She called out softly, unsure if she should even in the first place. Maybe she should just let him sleep, Nandini decided it would be for the better.
So she left the bed and ran out of the room first to knock at her father's, knowing well that if Ruhi was not by her side, then she must be with her dear Naanu. Nandini had no remembrance of the previous night - except for the fact she was in front of Manik - a rude and sarcastic Manik and it was scaring her.
"Nandini, bacha." Mr.Murty was already up and he seemed relieved seeing her alright. "How do you feel now?"
Nandini just bobbed her head twice, "Appa, Ruhi?"
Mr.Murty opened the door fully and gestured to the bed. "She is fine, still sleeping." He walked inside followed by Nandini who finally sighed as her eyes fell on her daughter.
"Appa, what is Manik doing here?"
"Nandini. You had a panic attack yesterday."
Somewhere, Nandini had expected it. If not yesterday, than someday it was bound to happen. The demons that used to be under bed at first now lived in her head and Nandini at times failed to fight them. Moments like that always ended up in panic attacks.
Even then, she couldn't help the shock that covered her face hearing her father. She cursed herself for letting it haopen in front of Manik, that too yesterday. What must be Manik thinking of her now?
"Nandini, it is okay, bacha." Mr.Murty sighed, "You can't control how you feel," He added in after a pause, "Manik was scared too."
And Nandini knew Manik was always brave. Never for once had he stopped himself from saying what he wanted to, and now knowing that she scared him, her condition scared him - it only made Nandini want to run away once again.
Running away was easier, it took less effort than to stay and endure. Nandini ran away once and she had never stopped running away until she met Manik. Manik made her want to stay and Nandini ended up running away from him too.
She looked at her father conflicted. "I - I will wake Ruhi up."
Yes. It would be easier to face Manik with Ruhi. Nandini did as decided and both the ladies were talking among themselves with Ruhi in her arms as they entered inside the room.
Manik was already up and he had his eyes trained on his mobile screen, his finger scrolling up on something - either some texts or some office emails. The former made more sense considering he had left his bestfriend's wedding in between.
He acknowledged their presence with a smile and kept his mobile at the side table.
"Good Morning, both of you." Nandini tried her best to give him a smile, and thankfully the awkwardness of it was filled by Ruhi.
"Manit is hele mumma!" Ruhi giggled, opening her arms wide for Manik to take her. Nandini looked at her amused because even if Ruhi had been fond of Manik before, Nandini hadn't seen her daughter wanting to go into his arms like this ever.
The six months might have made Ruhi miss him too. Probably, a kiss from Ruhi on Manik's cheek was the answer to Nandini's doubt.
"She is going to be clingy. She likes you."
"Is it?" Nandini didn't know if the question was aimed at her or Ruhi but she guessed it was for Ruhi only since Manik was facing her with a smile. Ruhi bobbed her head and blabbered some more gibberish that Manik could still hardly understand at times.
"Manik?" Manik looked up at her in question, "Can - Can you be with her? I will go and freshen up."
"Sure."
"Manit hash a pletty phone," Ruhi told him for the nth time, trying to explain once again why she wanted to watch her favourite cartoon on his phone, not her mumma's.
"But Mumma has a pretty phone too." Manik argued, bouncing her up and laying down comfortably with his back against the bed and Ruhi sitting on his stomach.
"Mumma takesh hel phone back!" Ruhi almost glared at him in despair. Okay, Nandini had a busy schedule most of the time and her phone would ring at specific intervals, and it was a disturbance for Ruhi.
Manik let out a chuckle at her desperate attempts and picked up his phone to hand it to her.
This was exactly how Nandini found them. On the bed, with Ruhi sitting on his stomach and both of themlaughing at something Ruhi had said. Manik saw her first and Nandini saw his smile falter just for a second before he managed to compose himself.
He sat up and made Ruhi sit on the bed despite her whines of protest. Nandini took this as a chance to walk up to him. Her hands shook by the time she reached him. Manik didn't even speak a word until she settled in front of him.
"Manik."
"You want to say something?"
They spoke at the same time. Manik's eyes softened as he nodded.
"Say, I am listening."
"I - I wanted to apologise for what happened yesterday."
"Can you look at me please?"
"Huh?" Nandini did, in surprise. Manik was looking at her as if he was trying to figure out something.
"Are you okay?" Was all he asked.
"Wh- What?"
"Are you okay?" He repeated and when Nandini still didn't answer him, Manik himself brought his hand up to check her temperature, "Your fever is down. Good."
Nandini didn't say anything. She stared at him with a frown on her face. Did he just refuse to acknowledge her apology?
Manik seemed to have different thoughts though as he looked at her so relieved. "You are fine, that's what matters."
Nandini didn't agree. She shook her head and looked down when the first row of tears escaped from her eyes. She was aware she shouldn't cry. The moment Ruhi will notice, she will start crying too.
Manik knew as he cupped her cheek making her look up, "I am not angry at you for your panic attack, Nandini. For those six months, yes. But you are not responsible for what happened yesterday. I should have been considerate. I am sorry."
And it made her sob, "You should be angry."Because then it would make sense. It would justify his reaction yesterday.
"I am. I am really angry at you but your health matters more than my anger, Nandini."
Manik wouldn't argue or fight with her when Nandini was not even feeling well. He wouldn't scoop that low to hate on her for something as simple as feeling.
But Nandini still shook her head. Why was Manik holding back his anger? Why was he not shouting at Nandini? Not screaming at her? He was supposed to throw things in anger, why was he not? Was it not how men got angry?
This - it didn't fit. It was a mess. Nandini didn't even know but she was ugly crying by now. Manik didn't seem to understand the reason as he stared at her in shock, confusion and helplessness.
"Nandini - Stop crying baba." Manik looked like he was close to panic as he scooped forward and wrapped his arms around her with hesitation all over his face. However, it all blurred when Nandini pressed herself in him more, crying out loud and with every sob that left her lips, Manik could feel his own heart break along with hers.
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen2U.Com