I move my eyes on his entire face. That fair skin is now half-covered with an unkempt beard. He had soft silky hair. Of course, those are there but very unruly and unmaintained. Those bright eyes are clouded with stress and despair. The dark circle and puffy undereye are indicating that he might not have a peaceful sleep for eons. His lips are dry and his frequent licking of those is specifying that he is thirsty. I walk to the desk and lift the jug to pour some water into a glass. Manik is still standing like a statue. Perhaps he is too tired to even talk. I gulp the pain and discomfort and near him.
"You must be thirsty."
I say in a flat tone while forward the glass to him. He glances at it and asks,
"You are very surprised to see me here...right? Even I am surprised to get you here...so soon and so easily."
My eyes become narrow to hear him. Was he trying to find me out? Why? I forbade him to search for me.
"I am not that surprised to see you here. In fact, I was quite sure that you will find me out when I came to know that ELYSIAN is collaborating with Decoracion. Still, I tried to hide from your reach. But I didn't know you will be so desperate to meet me. Why Manik? Now, I have nothing to give you or you have nothing to snatch from me. I left my past life long back, long behind. I don't even want to remember that I am Nandini."
I know my words jab his heart brutally. I didn't want to hurt him but I can't control my emotion. My hand is still stretching to him holding the glass. The despair and pain in his eyes deepen. He takes the glass from my hand and saunters at the sofa kept beside my working desk. He hesitates for a while and turns at me to ask,
"Can I?"
He indicates the couch. In reply, I only sigh. He sits on it. It seems that he slouches his tired frame after a long time.
"Yes, Nandini I was desperate to meet you. I know you have lots of doubts, questions and grievances and I have lots to admit. You left your past long back, long behind but unfortunately, I couldn't. Perhaps my guilt never allowed me to forget my past. You left and I just let you go. Because I thought that whatever I did to you it was an unforgivable sin. You will never forgive me and I never asked for that impossible forgiveness."
He pauses for a second and sips on water. Perhaps he feels dried up. His words fill my heart with new anguish. Today I won't spare him from my bitterness.
"May I know why have you felt the urge for that forgiveness today? You are the same Manik and I am the same Nandini. Nothing has been changed."
My words are as sharp and deadly as a dagger. However, surprisingly he smiles and replies in a composed voice,
"Because someone told me that there is no sin in the universe for which we can't ask for forgiveness. At least we should try with a pure heart and pure remorse. No, Nandini....I am not that Manik which you knew and buried in your past. That Manik only knew about his revenge but this Manik knows revenge doesn't pay back our happiness. It only destroys. My vengeance not only destroyed us but other's happiness too."
'Others'..the word brings lines on my forehead. Is he talking about Bhai and Navya. I near him and desperately ask,
"What do you mean? Bhai and Navya are okay...right? They got married I think."
He stares up and meets my eyes with a pale smile.
"Does marriage ensure happiness? Yes, they are married...as you wanted but they are not happy because their brother and sister are not happy."
He utters strongly. I slowly sink into the sofa leaving a fair gap between us. Right now, I so want to see my brother. I blink my eyes a couple of times to dry up the tears which were almost there and mouth with the same sarcasm,
"But you should be happy. You got what you wanted. You wanted to give the same pain to my brother and me and you succeeded. And about me...well, I know what I am doing. I am..ha..happy in my life. No past, no callback."
Did I stammer to say it? Well, I know this is not the truth and we can't hide it from ourselves. I shift my eyes from him but can feel his on mine...constantly. He asks with the same compose,
"Today I won't counter your any word, Nandini. I want you to blame me, scold me even curse me for what I did to all. But don't lie to yourself. Past can't be removed from our life so easily neither we can be happy without our loved ones. You are punishing yourself because of my mistake. Forgive me Nandini, forgive your Manik and stop torturing yourself. I beg of you."
His voice gets choked but it is not enough to simmer down the fire in my heart. I turn at him and lean forward to meet his frustrated eyes.
"What do you think, you can control anybody's emotion? When you wanted you just used me to fulfil your revenge and crushed my heart like trash. Now, you suddenly have felt this remorse and come to me for forgiveness. Am I a toy to play with? Or my emotions are in a switch on switch off mode? No, Manik Malhotra. You won't get my forgiveness so easily. Or I can say ever. I hate you from the bottom of my heart. You killed my all emotions. Love is just a synonym of deceit for me now. You just go away from my life. Just go...I can't forgive you. I want to forget you forever..forever."
I can't control my emotion any longer and burst out. I don't know when I grabbed the shirt on his chest and kept on yelling like an insane. Suddenly, all the surrounding becomes blank and dark in front of my eyes. Still, I keep on ranting as,
"Go away...go...away..."
After that, I can't remember. All of a sudden everything gets wiped out from my sight.
............................................
Suddenly she droops on my chest like an Ivy. I immediately hold her from her shoulders.
"Nandini...Nan.."
My words halt as my eyes fall on her face. She has fainted. My heart skips its beat for a moment. I pat on her cheeks and keep on calling,
"Nandini..Nandini...please get up...What happened? Nandini..."
But she doesn't respond. I look here and there for any help but can't see anything. Suddenly a door catches my attention. It must be her bedroom door. She needs to be lied down. I shackle her loose body in my chest and get up from the sofa. Then I pick her body up in bridal style and walk to the door. She still feels like a delicate doll in my arms. I shoo away my thought and enter the room. A night lamp is partially illuminating the room. It's as simple as a bachelorette's room. There are minimalistic furniture and space but neatly organised. I carefully place her on the bed. I need to sprinkle water on her face to get her sense back. However, I can't see any jug or something in the room. Suddenly I remember she gave me water from a jug kept on her desk. I was about to go to get it from the outside room when something catches my attention. Unknowingly I lift it from the bed. An avenger toy. Captain America. Unmindfully a smile curves my lips. Maan's cute face flashes in front of my eyes. I keep the toy in its previous place and come out of the room. Taking the jug in hand I again come to the bedroom. She is lying in the same position. I sit nearby and take some water in my palm to sprinkle on her face. As the droplets touch her face, she shivers and frowns. I again spritz an ample amount of water on her face. This time she whispers,
"No...don't take...him...away from...me...Ma..man."
I can't hear her properly and take my face near to her. Suddenly my eyes fall on her lips. They are full and wet because of the water splash. My heartbeat surges. Those pouty petals are pulling me like magnets. I lean forward more holding my breath and gently touch those aphrodisiacs with my rough lips. Her breath feels like heaven on my face. After a long time, I taste the ambrosia. I know I am doing wrong. She is unconscious and I am taking advantage but still, I can't ignore this allure. Without thinking further, I sink my eager lips deeply into her. I am the parched field and she is rain after a long wait. Her lips grab mine and she parts them as she is inviting me to taste her nectar. Simultaneously, her hands clutch the cloth near my chest. A suppressed moan with almost inaudible word escapes her mouth,
"Manik..."
That was for me. I embrace her upper torso and lie on her body while insanely sucking her lips. I am chanting her name like a garble mantra.
"Nandini...Nandini...I love you...please come back...Please forgive me..."
The night witnesses our pure love.
..............................................
"Ahhhh..."
Navya tries to control her painful moan as Cabir enters her. Since their marriage, every time they have involved in intercourse, she feels this pain. She never told Cabir about this because she doesn't want to make him worried and secondly, nowadays this physical closeness looks like a routine to her. Cabir just does his duty. A husband duty. She closes her eyes and tries to sink into the pain. Cabir hands are entangled with hers. With every jolt, she is feeling only the pain. Suddenly Cabir whispers in her ears,
"Madhu, I want my baby back..."
Author's note: So, Manan became one again🙈🙈 but only physically and without Nandini's knowledge. What will be her reaction when she will gain her sense? Cavya's conversation will be continued in the next. How will Manik get to know about Maan being his blood? To know all these, stay tuned. ❤👍