A Thread of Hope

Chapter 16

Manik's pov

When I woke up this morning, myra was cuddled up to me. I kissed her head and leaned up to see nandini but she wasn't there, her blankets were folded and placed on the couch.

I got up and thought about everything, I was a single man till last night and now im married. For some reason I wasn't upset that I got married again, I think I was angry that it was forced because of alia.

Thats not saying that I do not mind being married to nandini because I do. I hate being married to her but the way she is with my daughter is something i have not seen in anyone. She takes care of myra like she would of her own daughter.

I looked down at my hand and I saw the ring Nandini got for us. I caressed the ring feeling overwhelmed with everything that had happened, then I remembered that I hadn't told mom and dad so I texted them in the gorup chat but they already knew

Apparently nandini had called them up and asked for permission and blessings before we signed the papers. Hearing this I felt like shit for treating her like that yesterday, I know I went overboard with the choice of words becasue for a fact I do know where she was when she left the house

She went to the mall and came straight back home but maybe past insecurities surfaced and caused me to talk shit. The thing that surprised me was the fact that she did not even defend herself. She looked broken and lost when I called her a slut and I immediately regretted the words as soon as they came out but my stupid ego didn't let me apologize

We were going to the park now and I had been wanting to talk to her about it and apologize for my behaviour but I couldn't build up that courage.

"Im driving" I told her when I saw her booking a cab

"Umm okay, ill see you there then" she said

"What do you mean" I asked tying my shoes

"I mean, ill walk there or take a cab and you can bring myra there"

"What are you talking about?" I asked

She looked at myra who was lost in tom and jerry. Realizing myra wasn't paying attention she looked down on the floor again.

"I don't wanna burden you or force you to be around me more than you have to. I can tell her we are playing some game and ill see her there" she said

"Don't fucking play with me" I said grabbing her arm

"Im not"

"Myra lets go baby" I said closing the tv

She ran to nandini and held her hand. I knew she wouldn't say no to myra so I grabbed myra's other hand and started walking out

"Mumma front" she said as I opened the door for her and nandini

"Baby I was thinking I will see you at the park" she said to myra

"No no no" myra wined and I smiled knowing nandini will not say no

I was right, she sighed and got in the car with myra in her lap. I closed her door and got in the drivers seat.

"Park park" myra said poking Nandini's cheek

"Yes park, we can go on swings and myra can make friends" she said kissing myra's cheek

I couldn't help but smile at these two. Nandini is an adult but with myra she becomes a kid. A frown took place on my face remembering the things I said to nandini last night and even after everything I said she made me breakfast, she got myra ready and fed.

She could have yelled, screamed, cursed at me but she didn't. She woke up and still made us food, made sure everything myra and I needed was done. I was so fucking stupid to say all that bullshit to her, I don't know about love or anything of that sort but I do know that her and I can be friends at least

We reached the park and walked to the all the swings. Myra was wiggling her hand out of nandini's but she wouldn't let her until we were on grass, then she stopped and squatted infant of myra

"Baby no running around, if you need help you can call papa and I. And no going too far, you are gonna stay here on the grass area okay" she explained and myra nodded

"Okay mumma"

"Good girl, have funnies baby" she said kissing her head

Myra smiled and kissed nandini's cheek than mine. She walked to the swings where other kids her age were, she had a few friends there that I recognized.

Nandini and I sat down on the grass, it was windy and cloudy but not too cold so nandini picked the perfect whether to bring myra here. I knew I should talk to her but I didn't know how to start. Ahh im getting scared to talk to her which is something so new for me, I never get anxious or scared to talk to someone

'Manik just do it, you have to do it anyways so lets not prolong it, just tell her everything and the rest is up to her but she does deserve an apology' I gave myself a pep talk and looked at nandini who was looking at myra

"Nandini" I called and she hummed still looking at myra

"Can we talk" I asked and she nodded looking down

"Look at me" I said and she shook her head

"Im not sure I can do that manik" she said

"Please, I just wanna talk"

"Manik I'm not sure I can look at you and not break down, the words you spoke last night were really harsh and uncalled for. You are not happy with this marriage and that's justified, I know it is really hard for you but believe it or not it's hard for me too" she spoke looking down

I shifted closer to her and tilted her chin up and as soon as her eyes met mine, I noticed how red and swollen they were telling me she cried last night.