Love will Find The way

Chapter 69- Taking turns

Nandini's POV: 

''Come Nandini, let's go'' Cabir and Navya are waiting for me to leave. ''You guys continue, Rohan said he would drop me'' I lied to them as I knew Manik would be waiting for me. ''But Rohan kahi dikhaya nahi de raha hai, lagta hai wo already chala gaya'' Navya said. ''I know where he is! You don't worry about me'' I said and sent them away. I hope Manik sent Aryaman from here. I headed towards the parking lot but Manik is seen chatting with Cabir there. Ye Manik Cabir se kya baat kar raha hoga, aur ye Cabir aur Navya ab tak gaye kyu nahi? I waited for them to leave but I got a call from Manik. I answered the call and Manik asked me where I was. Oh shit, Cabir must have told Manik that I will leave with Rohan. ''I left already with Rohan'' I was forced to say that. It was only after that Cabir left from there. Manik stood there with a sad look.

He got into the car then. Oh he also might leave now. ''Manik'' I shouted as he was about to leave. Glad that I was loud enough. He got down and saw me. ''You said you already left'' he said. ''But I also asked you to wait for me'' I said. Manik looked confused as to why I said that. We both got into the car and I didn't knew what to talk. ''Why did you say no to Rohan?'' Manik asked. ''Why would you want to know?'' I asked not looking at him. ''No, you said he is a good person, he doesn't get you ice cream, doesn't invade your private space at all, so why not him?'' Manik asked. I shouldn't have boasted about it last night but I didn't knew I was going to be caught by this man. ''Wo bahut hi acha tha, he deserves best that's why I said no'' I said. ''Ha uska life kyu kharaab karna hai'' Manik said. I glared at him. ''I meant why him when you already have me'' he said. 

''Manik, where are you taking me?'' I asked him. ''Jaha hume jaana chahiye'' he said. I figured out after sometime that he is taking me to his farmhouse and we reached there. ''Tumhe ye chahiye hai na'' Manik said. ''You only I always wanted us in this place, you and me, we together make this a home'' Manik said. ''Manik wo'' I didn't knew what to say. ''I'll do whatever you want, I will never take you for granted, I will always be with you, please forgive me'' he said. It was like I was waiting for this moment to happen in real, but when it is really happening, I was struck. Should I say yes to him? ''Wait, I got a gift for you'' Manik said and took out a box from his pocket and something fell off. He quickly put it inside his pocket again. He extended the box and  opened it. It had anklets. I looked at him surprised. ''They will look too good on you'' he said and bent down to make me wear them. I couldn't help but blush. ''I've seen many photos of yours in Satya's room, you were wearing anklets, so I thought you must be liking them'' he said. 

''Manik, what was that you were hiding in the pocket?'' I asked as he put something back in the pocket. ''Wo kuch nahi hai'' he stammered but I tried to check it myself. I placed my hand in his pocket and took it out. ''Ye bracelet tho mera hi hai'' I said looking at the bracelet I lost some time ago. ''Yes, it's yours. In fact I got it when we met for the first time, tab se ye mere paas hi hai. I fell for you on the very first day we met Nandini'' he said and took it from me again. ''Why did you take it again?'' I thought at least now he would give it back. ''This was yours back then but now it is mine. It always remind me of you'' he said. ''I didn't knew when it was lost, I've searched for it too, but kabhi mila hi nahi. Ye mujhe Sid ne diya tha'' I said. ''Manik, agar tumhe ye letter mili nahi tho tum kabhi wapas aate nahi ho na'' I asked him. ''When I came to know about Alya and Dhruv, I understood how troubled couple they were. I didn't wanted you to suffer like Alya, so when Rohan proposed you, I thought I should let you go if you love Rohan. If you had say yes to him, I would have never come back to you again'' he said.

''So, now that you know I said no and you found this letter so you asked me again'' I said. ''I knew you said no so I came to convince you again. Ye letter mujhe milna is all miraculous now but yeah I would have never give up on you until you decide to give up on me. Thanks for not giving up'' he said holding my hands. ''I love you Nandini'' Manik's words rang in my ears. He was waiting for my answer. ''Ab tho bol do meri maa'' he said. ''Tum ye sab kyu kiya? Agar aise situation phir se aaya tho tum ek baar aur Siya ko'' he didn't let me complete my sentence but put a finger on my lips to calm me down. I looked at him and he became conscious and took off his finger. ''I won't let it happen again, I will tell Siya and Dhruv everything that happened. This time no sacrifices, no heart breaks, together we will have it all'' he said. But what would Dhruv do if Manik said that we are together. Kya phirse koi naya tamasha hoga? ''No'' I spoke with a firm conviction. I didn't want Siya or Dhruv to create a new drama again. ''Hum kisi ko kuch nahi bolenge, I don't want anyone to come between us'' I said. ''Don't worry koi nahi aayega humara beech mein. In 2 days, I'm going to New York and'' I stopped him when I heard he is going back. 

''Are you planning to going back again?'' I asked him unbelievably. ''Yes, jaana tho padega na, waha kuch kaam adhura reh gaya. Main New York ek restaurant business start karna chahta hu, issi ke liye yaha property bhej diya. So I'll go, get few approvals for authorities, ek baar kaam shuru hua tho main yaha tumhara paas wapas aa jaunga'' he said. ''Jaana sach mein zaruri hai kya?'' I didn't want to lose Manik at any cost now. ''Nandini, I won't take too long, bas 1, 2 hafte mein wapas aa jaunga'' he said and cupped my face in his hands, ''tumhare paas'' he said. ''Mujhe darr lag raha hai Manik, I cannot afford to lose you again'' I said. The thought of losing him is breaking me inside. All these days I never thought of having someone in my life other than Manik. Pyaar ho ya gussa sirf Manik se hi kiya maine but last night when Rohan proposed I knew that I can never imagine someone other than Manik. ''Relax Nandini, hume koi alag nahi karega'' Manik said. 

''I have cut my hair for a cancer awareness campaign and hair donation as a part of it'' I said. ''Huh!'' Manik was clueless about what I was saying. ''You've asked me why did I cut my hair, so ye cancer patients ko donate karne ke liye kiya hai maine'' I said. He smiled. ''Nandini, you know whenever I imagined you, I would always see you in long black hair but now, you look gorgeous with short hair too'' he said. ''You know, if you had said yes to Rohan, pata nahi maine kya kuch scene nahi banaya mere future ke baare mein'' he said. ''So what plans you made for your future then?'' I asked him. I hope he doesn't say that he would marry Siya and name their daughter Nandini. ''I thought of adopting a girl and I would have never let your hands on this place ever. I will get everything best for her like Satya. Jaise Satya ne tumhe banaya, I would have also up-bring another Nandini who would do everything that you are doing now'' he said. ''That's a great idea by the way. So can I hope for adopting a girl in the future?'' I asked him. ''Of course, hum ek choti si baby ko ghar laakar bahut saara pyaar denge, jo bachpan humne dekha tha, uske saath kabhi nahi hone denge'' he said and we sat there talking endlessly. 

Aise baat karte karte kab subah ho gaya pata hi nahi chala until I involuntarily snoozed my morning alarm. ''Manik, it's 6 o clock already aur hum ab tak soye nahi'' I told him. ''Oh then I think we should get back to the routine'' he said. ''Main tumhe ghar drop kar doonga'' he said but I have asked him to drop me at Cabir's place as I have left my car there. I went to collect the keys from Navya. ''Tum itni subah aa gayi, raat ko change bhi nahi kiya kya?'' Navya asked many questions on the door step. Now, before the CID couple investigate everything, I should get away from here. ''Nandini'' I heard Cabir's voice and he came out to see me. ''Aaj ready rehna! Manik farmhouse bechne ke liye maan gaya, aaj hi registration hai. He had just called me now to inform'' Cabir said. Abhi tho mujhe drop karke chala gaya aur Cabir ko phone bhi kiya. ''Ok, I'll be there'' I said and left from there. Manik was waiting for me near my car. ''You are still here!'' I asked him. ''Ha, Cabir ne kuch kaha?'' he asked me. ''So ab mujhe thank you kehna chahiye na'' I asked. ''No, I'm giving you what's already yours'' he said. ''Go, get ready, you will get late'' he said. I went home and I heard the doorbell ring. Manik has just left now, why did he come here again. Ye Manik bhi na!

I opened the door for Manik but did not expect to see Siya in front of me.