MaNan: Strings That Bind Us

"Unseen Shadows"

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Manik sat in his car outside his house, gripping the steering wheel. He couldn't believe it. His parents-his own parents-had interfered in his life like this?

"Why would they do this? Why did they want me to marry Nandini so badly?"

He needed to hear it from them.

As soon as he stepped inside, he saw his parents sitting in the living room. Mukti and Nandini were also there, chatting casually.

But Manik's blood was boiling.

Manik (To his parents): "I need to talk to you both. Right now."

Neyonika frowned.

Neyonika: "Manik, what's wrong?"

Manik clenched his fists.

Manik: "You tell me, Mom. Why did you and Dad pay Alia to leave me?"

The room fell silent. Mukti and Nandini stared at him in shock. Raj's expression hardened, while Neyonika simply sighed.

Raj: "Who told you this?"

Manik: "So it's true?"

Neyonika exchanged a look with Raj before standing up.

Neyonika: "Manik, listen-"

Manik: "No, I don't want your explanations. I want the truth!"

Nandini: "What... what are you saying, Manik?"

Mukti: "Wait... Mom? Dad? Is this real?"

Neyonika took a deep breath, looking at her son with calm yet firm eyes.

Neyonika: "Yes, it's true. We bribed Alia to leave. But before you judge us, you need to know why we did it."

Manik scoffed.

Manik: "What possible reason could justify ruining my wedding?"

Raj stood up.

Raj: "You were blind in love, Manik. So blind that you didn't see what Alia really was. You forgot your own family, your own values."

Manik: "What are you even saying?"

Neyonika walked closer to him.

Neyonika: "A few days before your wedding, we saw Alia at a hotel. She was completely drunk, with a guy-half-dressed and all over her. The way she was behaving, the way she carried herself... it was not something we could ignore."

Manik's face drained of color.

Manik: "You're lying."

Neyonika: "See!! This is the reason we didn't tell you this!! This is the reason!! Because we knew you wouldn't believe us. You were so madly in love with her that you had even stopped caring about us. You wouldn't have listened."

Raj: "If Alia truly loved you, Manik, why did she take the money and leave? Why didn't she fight for you?"

Manik's breathing became heavy.

Mukti: "Wait... Alia was cheating on Bhai?"

Neyonika: "We don't know if she was cheating, or roaming with every random guy for money but we were damn sure that she wasn't the girl you thought she was."

Manik ran a hand through his hair.

Manik: "Even if what you're saying is true... why Nandini? Why did you force me to marry her?"

Neyonika looked at Nandini, then back at Manik.

Neyonika: "Because I knew her. Since she born, I knew what kind of girl she was. I saw the difference between Nandini and Alia. Even though they had the same parents, their values were worlds apart."