When Stars Align

distanced strings

But it wasn't just that. She had felt cornered, misunderstood. She had wanted the night to be special, just like Manik had. She had wanted to let herself feel the love he had so freely offered, but the memories of her past traumas had overwhelmed her. She had lashed out because she couldn't control the flood of emotions, because she was afraid of letting herself truly be vulnerable. And in the process, she had hurt the one person who had only ever wanted to bring her closer.

Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, and she glanced at it absently. It was a message from Samar, asking if everything was okay. She stared at the screen for a moment, contemplating whether to respond. But before she could make up her mind, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. She looked up just in time to see Nyeonka enter the room, her presence calm and warm. Nandini wiped her tears as she tied her hair into a messy bun.

"Nandu, everything okay?" Nyeonka asked in concern. Nandini simply nodded her head in response. Nyeonka did sense something off put not wanting to push further, believing that couples could find a way by themselves didn't ask anything further.

"I will be in my room if you need anything, okay?" She said with motherly love before leaving the room.

Nandini sat on the bed, her gaze unfocused as her mind wandered, the quiet stillness of the room mirroring the turmoil in her chest. She wasn't particularly thinking about anything specific-just allowing her thoughts to drift like fragments in the wind. But her peace was disrupted when she heard the door creak open, and Manik stepped into the room. A sudden rush of conflicting emotions hit her at the sight of him. For a moment, their eyes locked, and in that brief second, Nandini saw the guarded expression on his face, the kind that she was both familiar and unfamiliar with. There was something in his eyes-something distant, perhaps hurt or anger, but it was quickly replaced with indifference as he averted his gaze. She felt a pang in her chest as the brief connection between them was severed so abruptly.

Without saying a word, Manik walked over to the study table, a clear sign that he was retreating into his world of work. He opened his laptop, clicking away with an air of purpose, as if to shut out everything else, including her. The cold distance he projected stung. Nandini could feel the walls he was building around himself, and it hurt more than she cared to admit. She stood there for a moment, uncertain whether to say something or to let him be, but the ache in her heart pushed her to move towards him. Her steps were slow, almost hesitant, as she walked over and gently placed her palm on his shoulder. The touch was meant to comfort, but when he didn't respond, her hand lingered awkwardly, like an unspoken apology, a silent attempt to bridge the gap that had formed between them.

"Manik," she whispered his name softly, but her voice betrayed her vulnerability, a thin thread of desperation threading through her words. She wanted him to turn around, to look at her, to acknowledge her presence-but he didn't. His focus remained fixed on the screen in front of him, a clear sign of his emotional withdrawal. Her chest tightened with the realization that he was avoiding her. She swallowed hard, the lump in her throat making it difficult to speak further.

"Manik, I didn't mean to be rude to you. I am sorry." The apology came out as a quiet murmur, almost like a plea. She wanted him to hear the sincerity in her words, to understand that her actions hadn't come from a place of malice, but from a mix of hurt and frustration. Yet, the silence that followed felt deafening. Manik didn't even look at her. His refusal to engage made her feel small, insignificant. The coldness in his demeanor cut deeper than she anticipated, leaving her standing there, feeling lost, vulnerable, and unsure of how to repair the distance between them.

As she watched him immerse himself in his work, the weight of unspoken words and unresolved emotions settled heavily between them, and for the first time in a long while, Nandini felt more distant from him than ever before.