Love or Game (Complete✅)

Chater 58- "Painful adiós..."

"Hello...Manik.."

A virile voice is heard. I ask,

"Hello...who is speaking?"

Some silent moment passed. It seems that the person on the other side probably is not listening to me. I again say,

"Hello...please hold I am giving it to him."

However, his next words churn my heart instantly,

"Nandi...it's you?"

Nandi...the only person in this world calls me by this name. A lump chokes me. I want to answer this ardent query but the butterflies in my stomach and the ocean of tears in my eyes seal my lips. Manik observes my face and immediately snatches the phone from me.

"Hello...Manik Malhotra speaking. Who is this?"

He asks in an ardent voice and in the next moment, glances at me from the corner of his eyes and replies,

"Yes, she is here. Talk to her..."

He forwards the mobile to me and I take it with a shaky hand.

"Hello....Bhai...hmmmm...."

I try to throw out the lump of pain from my almost choked throat. I hear a sharp inhale sound from the other side. After a brief pause, Bhai utters in a melancholic tone,

"At last, I got back my Nandi...Are you still disappointed with me? Please come back...please Nandi."

His tone turns to helpless cry, and he continues,

"It's not our childhood game where you used to hide, and I found out. But this time, I couldn't find you out, Nandi...Your Bhai lost the game. Please come back."

That is it for me. I cry out loud,

"Bhai...you didn't lose. My Bhai can't lose. I am sorry...I am so sorry..uuuuu(Sobbing) I just thought about my pain, my heartbreak...but..uuuu (Sobbing) I didn't think about you...uuuuu(Sobbing) I am sorry...uuuuu(Sobbing)"

I can't handle this pain anymore. I abruptly put down the mobile and continuously sobs. Right now, I just want to dash on Bhai's chest and cry for long until my all guilt and pain come out and lighten my heavy chest. Bhai is still talking on the phone,

"Nandi...Nandi...don't cry...please...Nandi.."

Manik takes the mobile from my hand and presses it on his ear.

"We are coming to India. She is fine. There are lots to tell."

He halts for a moment and adds,

"Tell Navya that finally, I got my forgiveness. She was right; God always responds to true remorse. I got my happiness back."

................................................

48 hours passed. In these two days, so many things happened in my life. No, actually in our life. I, Manik and our bundle of joy Maan. First of all, Manik has signed the collaboration project with Decoración. However, I have resigned from the chief designer post of that company. Now, I will head the entire project as the CEO of ELYSIAN. Though I opposed this a lot Manik didn't agree. He was stuck to the point,

"This company belongs to you. I was just taking care of it in your absence. Now, you are here. I can comfortably shift to my previous chief Architect post. And in any case, I won't feel inferior to be the husband of the CEO of this company."

He and his jokes. Arya is very happy to see me happy. I will miss him the most. His true friendship is one of the precious things I have achieved in my life. I have transferred Sánchez Mansion's renovation work to another architect and both Carlos and Calida accepted it on a happy note. They are gem people I must say. However, it is still a mystery to me that how Calida came to know the love between me and Manik. I even asked her, and her reply only coagulated the enigma more. She said,

"El amor más profundo a menudo se esconde." (The deepest love is often hidden.)

Soha's reaction was varied. I know she is going through a mixed feeling. She is, of course, happy for me...for us and simultaneously she is unhappy with the fact that I and her boyfriend Maan are going away from her. She took Maan in her lap and kissed on his temple with mumbling words,

"Bye, Boyfriend. We will have Aroz con leche when I will come to meet you again in India. Take care of your Mom. Miss you."

It made my eyes prick with tears. I wish we never have to leave our happiness for another one. However, the best shock was for Manu. But I think it was the happiest shock for him when Manik said that his Captain America is none other than his Dad. Still, my 2 and almost half-year-old smart son counter-questioned,

"Whel wal u?" (Where were you?)

However, his Dad Manik Malhotra is smarter than Junior Malhotra. So, he answered,

"Your Captain America went to save the world. Now, his work is done. So, I am here...with my Champ."

Drama king! Even my little kid couldn't ignore his Dad's smartness. Right now, we all are standing outside of the Salvador Airport. Our flight to India is after one and a half hours. Arya and Alara have come to see us off. Alara hugs me and whispers in my ears,

"I am happy you listened to your heart. Love is precious. And you both are lucky to have it again."

We are now about to say a final goodbye to them when Arya tightly hugs me. I reciprocate with the same intensity. Sometimes it is the hardest thing to say goodbye to someone and unfortunately, it happens to me all the time. Arya withdraws himself and cups my face. His eyes are red and moist. Who says men are good to hide emotions? He bobs his head and meets my teary eyes.

"Always stay happy. Never look back and move forward. You are my tigress. Got it Chudail?"

He mouths in a funny tone which doesn't match the pain in his eyes. I nod with my brimming eyes. It is truly said,

"Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love."

We wave to the two most amazing people in our life and head to the entry door.

Author's note: So, it was the second last chapter of this story. But don't be disappointed. The epilogue will be worth reading. 🤗Till then...Chao. 🙋‍♀️