MUTUALLY MARRIED (#1)

SIXTEEN

Manik changed in his normal attire, a white shirt and blue denims as ignited his car engine to move to the place he was being ordered to come to. Currently he was running 15 minutes late and much to his bad luck, for the very foirst time Nandini was on time waiting for him standing in the sun.

"Woah! woah! woah! Sorry for being late." Manik ran upto her apologizing for the millionth time.

"Not worth it." Nandini replied.

"What do you mean?"

"You still look like a dishevelled monkey." she joked earning a glare from Manik.

"haha very funny. Now can we move forward or else we'll have to get brunch." Manik rolled his eyes.

"Yes! Please follow me." Nandini walked ahead.

"Always after you ma'am." Manik gestured her to walk forward as he laughed.

They both walked side by side when Manik saw a park infront and face palmed himself.

"Not again. Do you want me to do yoga now?" Manik rolled his eyes asking.

"What?" Nandini turned confused, looking at his line of sight she slapped her forehead and spoke, " Oh No No. There at the edge of the street we have acafe. One of the best and my most favourite one. we're oing to have breakfast there."

"That! Oh Thank God." Manik left a sigh of relief.

"i***t. Now come." she held his hand and dragged him to the entrance. They both walked inside the cafe which was small and cozy with a homely vibe. Nandini chose a corner table for the perfect view of the road and bright sunlight entering inside.

"This place looks special to you. What is it?" Manik asked holding out a chair for her.

"As in" Nandini settled down as she kept her elbow on the table.

"I mean this place must be special to you because of a reason." Manik asked settling down opposite to her.

"It deifnitely is special. Actually this cafe is owned by one of my close friend. She was an orphan and i met her at the orphanage she was residing in long back ago then when she grew up she opened a cafe of her own with hard work. Not to forget she makes the best cookies." Nandini explained him with a beaming smile.

"Woah thats something really inspiring." Manik too smioled at her story.

"See there she is! Samaira!" Nandini called out to her best friend.

"Nandini! How are you!" Samaira came towards them, " Where have you been?" she asked.

"Duh as always busy in work and meetings. By the way meet Manik my- , He is good friend and Manik this is Samaira." Nandini introduced them.

"heyy!! Nice to meet you." Samaira greeted him.

"hii... Umm nice place." Manik replied complimenting the place.

"Thank you. It was all finalized by Nandini specially every part of the interior." Samaira smiled at her friend.

"Oh please we have done it together." Nandini patted her arm.

"I know. I know. Now may i know your order?"

"Cheese sandwich and pancakes with a hot latte." Nandini replied before turning to Manik as she asked him, "Manik what will you have?"

"Just banana pancakes and black coffee." he answered with a smile.

"I'll be right back with your orders people." Samaira nodded her head as she left the duo alone.

"Woah Nandini i never knew you have such a strong appetite." Manik addressed Nandini.

"I suggest you to be around me a little more and i assure you, you'll get used to these shocks cause you don't know me for now." Nandini laughed.

"then in that case i would love to know you Miss Nandini." Manik looked at her intently which made Nandini's cheeks heat up with a perfect pink glow.

"Angel!" A voice came from behind startling them.

There came a kid running down to Nandini and jumped sitting on her lamp all of a sudden.

"My Barbie Doll" nandini kissed the girl's cheek and rubbed their noses together earning a giggle.

"Anegl where have you been?" the little girl asked.

"Sorry my little one. I had been a little busy." replied Nandini holding her ears ina cute way that made Manik chuckle.

"Oh My God." the girl screamed eyeing Manik, "Did you get a boyfriend?" she asked in excitement.

"What! No!" Manik was taken aback by the girl, " I am her friend. Hi myself Manik." he introduced himself.

"Hi my name is Aisha." she replied before turning to Nandini as she asked, "Did i say it right Angel?"

"Perfect!" Nandini pecked her chubby cheeks.

"Just perfect." The girl giggled. " By the way angel look i made some drawings." the girl spoke.

"Show me." Nandini said as Aisha started showing her some of her drawing. watching the both of them together and their relationship, Manik was in aww with them when a particular picture caught his attention where a man was away from them i.e. Nandini, Aisha and Samaira.

"Aisha who's this?" Manik asked.

"this person. he is my dad." the little girl replied flipping through the pages.

"Doll. Why have you drawn him?" Nandini's face became stiff all of a sudden.

"Just like that." Aisha shrugged her shoulder. Suddenly Samaira came with their order and saw the picture as the color of her face faded away.

"Aisha! What have you drwan." Samaria scolded the poor girl which made her cry.

"Sam relax! She is just a kid. I'll talk to her you go." Nandini calmed her friend.

"But Nandini she-"

"Sam i told you i'll handle it. You go and work." nandini cut her off sending her an understanding look after which Samaria went away leaving the three of them.

"What's up with his father?" Manik asked clearly confused with the scenario.

"I'll tell you later but first-" Nandini replied to Manik before turning to face the crying girl " My doll please stop crying and tell me why have you drawn him?"

"because i remember him." Aisha replied rubbing off her pretty eyes.

"And how?" Nandini asked wiping off her face.

"Because he was outside my school 2 days back. he said he's my father." the girl replied between hiccups.

"You met him? For how long?" Nandini panicked.

"Not for long because mom came back and he went away." Aisha snuggled closer to her.

"Doll! You'll always listen to me. Right?" nandini stroked her head to which Aisha nodded her head.

"Next time you see him, please ignore him and dont talk. Okay? Promise me?" Nandini pulled her hand out which the kid gladly accepted.

"Promise"

"Good now go and give a tight hug to your mom." nandini gently put the kid down who ran away. And Nandini walked out of the cafe with Manik running behind.

"Nandini listen! Nandini wait!" Manik turned her by her elbow to which she shrugged his hand and kept walking till the car when suddenly Manik pulled her banging her back on the car door.

"Nandini? what happened?" he asked making her face him.

"Manik leave me. I have some important work." she looked away pushing him to get inside the car.

"No you can't walk away like that we promised a day remember." Manik pulled her back.

"No this is more important. How dare he even-" Nandini puffed in anger.

"Nandini sit inside the car and tell me everything. I'll come with you." Manik stroked her cheek trying to calm her down which actually worked as Nandini nodded in a yes and soon they both sat inside the car.

"Now tell me everything." Manik asked facing her.

"It happened 7 years ago." Nandini began the story.

FLASHBACK

Nandini was in her hall waiting for her dad to arrive when she heard the door bell ring. Thinking it's her father she went to let him but instead found Samaira crying at the gate. Watching her friend in a scared state Nandini pulled her inside and made her sit on the sofa offering her water

"Sam?What happened? Is everything okay?" Nandini asked stroking her friend's arm to ease her down.

"It's all over Nandini." spoke a dejected Samaira.

"What is over sam.? Will you tell me what happened?" Nandini panicked.

"It's all over me my dream , my kid-" the girl stammered.

"Sam please breathe and explain to me in a proper way." Nandini offered her more water.

"I went to meet Jake to tell him i am pregnant but his room was empty. His landlord said he went last night packing up all his stuff. I called him but he never picked my calls and i even went to his office but they informed me that he resigned." Samaira explained in a single breath.

"He what?" Nandini was shocked.

"It's true and then when he finally picked up my call, he told me he was with me for s*x and money. He took my money Nandini that we collected together for our restaurant. He took all of it and when i told him i am pregnant he wouldn't even believe me. He said it's definitely not his and that i cheated on him. How could he Nandini? How could he? It's all over now." Samaira gathered her face between her palms as she sobbed.

"Nothing's over. I'll get evreythng back. You relax and sleep a little." Nandini made Samair sleep and called up Jake who gladly took the call on the first call.

"What the hell Jake! How could you do this to samaira." she screamed at him.

"you've never heard the saying Nandini ' Everything is fair in love and war'." the crooked guy laughed.

"Jake just give us the money back. She had earned it by her hardwork unlike you." Nandini calmed herself down.

"So you want the money right?" Jake asked from the other side.

"I want it all." nandini replied in a stiff tone.

"then let's meet Nandini. Just me and you. What say a hotel room where it's just us." he spoke in a mischiveous voice.

"Shut up Jake!" Nandini spoke seriously.

"What if i don't? Lets see to what extent can you go to save your best friend?" Jake riled her up, "Or else what will she say others? about the money? About the baby?" he added.

"Where am i supposed to meet you?" Nandini asked.

"That's like a good girl. I'll text you the address and by the way tag along the leftover money with you because i know everything." he laughed.

Nandini went with the left over money to him at the desired time and place and was lead to a hotel room. After two knocks, Jake opened the door and welcomed her inside.

"I never knew that you could be such a characterless human." Nandini spat in anger.

"Oh come on Nandini don't be soo rude. I just took her money, not her life." Jake let her in.

"Jake she is pregnant!" Nandini screamed at him.

"But that's not my child." he replied nonchalantly.

"Yes it is!"

"Please Nandini don't drag me in your fake mess." Jake waved her off.

"Jake. Look we can talk this out so please give us the money back or else-" Nandini thretened him.

"Or else what Nandini? I was your best friend remember our trio. It's alway been me, you and Samaira." Jake came closer to her.

"that's over Jake. That's over and i hate the day, an year back when we met you." Nandini shoved him away.

"But you'll hate it more Nandini." He smirked at her. And next second Nandini fell unconscious onto the floor.