ʟᴏᴠᴇ- ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴜʀᴇ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ | ✓

~ f o r t y s e v e n ~

She doesn't know why was she crying, or maybe she does. Maybe she was crying at her fate, which was hell bent on testing her as to which level she will completely break and will ultimately end her life.

Just like how cruel it is being to her now. She wanted to laugh at her own fate. There was a time, when she was struggling to feel loved, craving for the support of her family, wanting them to trust her. And now, when she was going just fine in her life, he came and loves her so unconditionally without her even asking for it, but it was her this time, who can't give him what he actually deserves.

Manik's heart broke in several pieces seeing her helplessness. His heart was crying for her, he was crying for her. If only it was in his hands, he would've steal all her sorrows and make them as his own.

Taking gentle steps towards her he knelt down in front of her sitting figure. He saw her body stiffing as she felt his presence close to her. He slowly raised his hand and it hovered upon her head but never touched, until Nandini raised her head and his hand was in her head.

Nandini looked at him with tear stricken face and his hands itched to wipe those tears away.

"If I told you about the darkness inside of me would you still look at me like I'm the Sun?" Her voice came out in whisper but he heard her clearly.

"Trust me Nandini, I will never have you without the darkness that hides within you."

The sincerity in his voice and the look in his eyes made her heart flutter. She never craved to flung herself in someone's arms after her family, but now she was craving, for his warmth. His words were lighting the dead hope in her heart.

She saw him standing up back in his feet. She looked at him and he forwarded his hand to help her to stand up. Although she was very much capable to stand on her own, this time she chose what her heart desired. She looked in his eyes as he looked back into her. His eyes speaking volumes. She hovered her hand over his and finally placed it in his, and he instantly engulfed hers in his.

He pulled her up and she stood in front of him.

"Thank You." For Nandini, this thank you wasn't for helping her to stand, but for holding her hand, for being there for her, when no-one else was. And he knew it, so he just smiled and gave a light squeeze to her hand.

"I will be there, Always!" Nandini's lips twitched to form a small smile.

"Mumma?" Anahita's voice made both of them look at the door which was opened by Ishita with the key, who was standing at the door behind Anahita.

"Loktal!!!!" Anahita grinned and came running to him and hold his other hand, while his one hand was still holding Nandini's, which both didn't realised.

"Hey Princess!!" Manik smiled genuinely for the first time in these days as he took into her enchanting smile.

Ishita had a smile throughout seeing them. She had noticed Nandini and Manik when she entered in, she had also noticed their gloomy faces but didn't commented. She came inside and kept Anahita's bag and her handbag on the sofa.

"How was your school Princess?"

"Okay- Okay!!" Manik smiled with the hand gestures she spoke.

"Okay okay? Madam got into a fight today." Ishita spoke narrowing her gaze at Anahita.

"What? Did she got hurt?"

"Did she won?" Nandini and Manik spoke in unison and hearing him, Nandini's head snapped in Manik's direction and glared at him while he gave a nervous smile.

"Seriously Manik? You didn't even asked the reason." Nandini chided him and he shrugged before looking at Anahita.

"Okay. Why did you fight Princess?" Manik asked as he kneeled in front of her and Nandini rolled her eyes at the gentleness in his voice while asking the reason.