Manan FF: The Sketch Artist

Eighteenth

Nandini 

(Unedited)

I don't know for how long I kept staring at him subconsciously. I never thought I would hear something like this when it came to Manik's case. Hanged! Murder Charges! But who am I kidding? Life plays us the way it wants to.

But, this moment I am so blank that all my analytical skills went to the nearest dustbin, and without realizing, a drop of a traitor tear left my eye making me come back to reality. I wiped my eyes hurriedly and looked at him. 

He looked lost as if he himself realized the weight of his own words just after saying it aloud. His face, devoid of any emotions seems as if a bucket of iced water is dumped on him. So, this is the end of this unsaid bond we had. I seriously hope there is some shooting star in some corner of this world right now, hearing my wish of not making this our last meeting. 

'Manik' I said, mustering some courage, which merely came out as a whisper.

But he is unaffected. He is staring right at me, but there is this faraway look on his face which says he's completely zoned out. 

'Manik' I said again, this time a little louder than the last. 

'Huh' He almost reacted and looked away, getting seated beside his canvas. 

'Tell me you're lying Manik' I asked.

'Why would I lie Nandini in such a situation' He sounded vulnerable. 

I got down from the said bed and sat close beside him, letting our arms touch, hoping to provide him some assurance when I myself am lost right now.

'But it can't be the truth Manik' I said resonating the statement in mind and he gave me a look which said, 'Please don't' 

'Seriously Manik, the governor, Navya's father is not even in the town right now and such things can't take place in his absence. You're given wrong information. Siddharth told me on the way here that he'll be back in town by next week. And you said, day after tomorrow, see it doesn't make sense at all.' I said having a triumph little smile on my face thanking whichever god exists up there for a moment but the troubled look on his face never left.

'Now what happened Manik?' I asked concerned he just looked away staring at the wall in front of us.

What if there is something he is still hiding and this murder thing was just to avoid me, or to sway me away from the truth. Obviously I don't know the truth yet. Why he is here? His face totally tells he didn't murder anyone and he is a doctor, Doctors save lives , not vice-versa. Then what else? Something tells me, he's still not in a position to tell me anything. Why would he be?

I am no one, just a mere stranger bugging him. But still, I looked at him with hopeful eyes that he would answer my question, or at least tell me the reason for why did he say about the murder charges. The image of Manik I've in my mind seriously doesn't sit well with the word, 'murder' but today as I caught the sight of the distraught look on his face, I found my faith faltering deep down. 

This is the last time I'm trying on this. If he is not answering here, I'm leaving keeping this memory as just a chapter which taught me that we don't receive answers for everything we intend to in this life.

To avoid the unsettling feeling, I again asked him, 

'Is it something else Manik?'

He exhaled a long breath and said while closing his eyes,

'You got it all wrong Nandini, the death penalties generally happen in the capital town, that's where chief is right now, I'll be taken there, day after tomorrow in the morning.' He said quietly returning in his pacific composure which got me more perturbed.