MUTUALLY MARRIED (#1)

TWENTY TWO

The night will be longer than what she expected. Nandini suited off her self and controlled her inner turmoil, maybe she had someone else out there or maybe love wasn't her thing. She tucked herself to sleep, her dialogues all ready stacked inside her brain to be spoken out tomorrow.

On the other hand Manik was in a state of daze. It isn't like a normal thing that your current soon to be wife knows about all your secrets, like you having a current girlfriend. It isn't an every day thing , hence lot much was at stake.

His room looked a bit dark today just like his life had always been until Alya walked in and he fell in love the very first sight he saw her. He had always longed for that perfect care and love which she gave him but then there came up a timing when suddenly she changed and her career mattered the most to her, maybe love had taken a back seat.

But he still loved her, doesn't he. Or maybe not? Or maybe it is just what Nandini said. Talking about Nandini, she walked into his life and made it all possible that the point of light that Alya got had turned on turned out to be a huge bright sky that Nandini created. He smiled, he laughed, he cried, hell that was a lot more to just this. The story has both part A and B now. Part A had Alya while part B actually wasn't completely recorded but had Nandini.

He could have played any one of the sides for his lifetime but which one was the question?

MANIK'S POV

I don't know what the hell i have gotten myself into, like seriously what the hell was i even thinking before saying a yes to Nandini. why hadn't i stopped her the day i wanted to propose Alya but Nandini showed up. What am i even doing? All i now see is Nandini around me. I feel her when she's not around. I am just so stupid and silly. Am i playing around with two girls at the same time?

Gross!

Do people call me a player out there? No i am not.

I love alya i do and that's true love.

Love at first sight and I like Nandini but breaking her heart is like stabbing a knife through my own and then pulling it out, only to keep doing that s**t again.

I can't!

I don't know what to do. I am just-

AUTHOR'S POV

Manik was surrounded by his inner turmoil when he heard a knock on his room door

"It's open." he answered the visitor.

"Umm hey want some cold milk?" Nayonika asked.

"No i am fine. You can leave." he sounded disinterested.

"I know you wanna talk about something. maybe i can help." she gave him an offer to help.

"Nothing that should concern you so i don't need your help.' he denied getting ready for bed.

"Maybe it does because it concerns my son." she replied still standing by the door.

"I am not your son." Manik spoke in a cold voice.

"I believe you are because i know you are." she spoke standing her ground.

"Just leave and stop behaving like my mom because you cant take her place. I have always told you that." Manik snapped back in anger.

"I am not taking her place, no one can but i am making mine whether you like it or not." she got inside his room.

"Just leave i dont need you." Manik screamed in anger and frustration, frustration because he messed up his life that affected the people he care about.

"Maybe you do but you don't realise. Drink this, it might help you make some great and kind decisions." she spoke keeping the glass on the table.

"I dont need anything from you." Manik's stare was cold.

"umm ohkay anything i can do for you?" Neyonika asked folding her hands before her chest.

"Can you leave me alone?" his tone was softer this time.

"I will, just always remember me and your mom always have your back. Goodnight. " giving him a soft smile Neyonika turned to leave when Manik called her back.

"Can you do me a favour?" he asked.

"yes?" Neyonika asked being hopeful.

"Can you stay for a while, like for a minute or more." he dropped down on the bed as Neyonika walked towards him.

"I'll be happy to do that." she spoke sitting beside him and held his hand. For sometime Manik just took deep breaths amaong the silence.

"Need some guidance?" Neyonika looked at him with concern.

"How do i choose between two important people of my lives?" Manik innocently asked.

"choose the one your heart wants." Neyonika replied with a smile.

"What if it wants both?" Manik's grip on her hand went tighter.

"You cant have them. Don't you?" Neyonika asked with a sad look.

"No i have to choose one." Manik felt his shoulder slump in tiredness.

"Choose who supports you and doesn't want you to change." Nayonika suggested him as he laid his head on her lap.

"And how do i know this?" Manik continued as she stroked him hair.

"Talk to each of them and you'll know your decision." Neyonika replied.

"oh yes you got me thank you." Manik suddenly hurried up and grabbed his stuff to leave.

"hey another favour?" he called through the door.

"What?" she asked.

"Could i have cheese sandwiches for breakfast tomorrow. It's been way too long." he laughed.

"Happy to do that too." Neyonika laughed along too.

"Thank you." his voice was much more sincere now before he ran off and Neyonika came out of the room when she bumped into her husband.

"I am happy with people hanging out together here. Care if i join?" he asked.

"Nope just some a mom and son converstion which needed no dad in it." she replied leading him to their room to call it a night.

"happy but a little offended to know that." Mr Malhotra laughed walking behind his wife.

Manik ignited his car engine and reached up to his spot as he frantically ran inside the house and longed for breath by the time he reached the stairs.

"Manik sir what are you doing here?" the butler asked looking at the clock.

"yes actually-" Manik began to speak when the butler spoke, " Ma'am is up in her room. She said she'll be a little busy so not to disturb her."

"Uncle her work can wait for tomorrow but my decision and answer can't" Manik said leading to the stairs. He ran up and inside the room with his heart punding loudly but was shocked upon what he saw.

Alya sat on her dressing table as a random guy kissed her. The sound of someone openeing the door startled the couple as Alya got nervous watching Manik at the door.

"Manik!" she spoke getting down on her feet.

"Sorry for disturbing." he said in a monotonous tone closing the door as he made his way out

"hey knock before you get in someone's room." the guy shouted at him which made him turn back.

"Zack shut up." Alya silenced him.

"Ohh let me do that please." saying so Manik started punching him while he reciprocated it back. The fight turned ugly until Manik threw him out of the room.

"Leave and dont show me your face ever again or else i'll bury you so deep under the ground that even your dead ancients won't be able to find you." he spatted in anger.

"You'll pay for this." Zack threatened him.

"Well this was just a free trial." Manik smirked wping the flood from his face. Zack left in a hurry saving his life as Manik turned to face Alya.

"Look its not what it looks like." she tried to deny the truth.

"Oh is it umm wait let us see it from a different angle maybe from 30 degrees aah it looks the same no change." Manik spoke in a sarcastic tone.

"Manik listen i can explain-" alya stammered looking at his angry face.

"Explain me what Alya!" he shouted, " That how you broke my trust. I knew you were ambitious about your career but i never knew it would cost our relationship."

"Manik please listen to me." she begged him trying to hold his forearm but Manik was quick to retrive it back.

"Let me tell you first. Nandini know about us from before and even though you tripped her soo selfishly off the stairs, by the way thanks for doing that great jobb." he clapped walking around her in circles. "She asked me to make a decision and i had even made it. You know i never let my love take a back seat but i guess you have already thrown it away from your car." he added laughing like a maniac.

"Manik for once just-"

"you know what Alya, we are over. Nothing's left to do and i know what to say now and especially to whom. Just make sure i never see you ever again and one more thing this time it's not about money and property, it's for who really cares for me. Goodbye." giving her a last look he walked down the stairs to the main door as Alya came running after him.

"Manik you can't do this to me." she cried.

"Bad luck Alya but you did that." Manik rushed off from Alya's home with she stumbling behind him maybe today she lost what she could have preserved for a lifetime.

Nandini woke up from her cry slumber when she heard some voices, maybe her dad was home now. She got off the bed and went to the washroom to fresh up. He face was tear stricken and her eyes were red from all the crying, she can't confront her dad with this. She had to be strong, it was just some stupid love. She washed her face and came out when she heard a knock on her window frame at the balcony. She walked up there and saw Manik almost falling off as he tried to push himself up by the railing.

"holy s**t Manik what the hell is wrong with you!" she shouted trying to pull him up.

"Uhh can i explain it later and you help me first." Manik spoke sheepishly as he held onto her hand.

"You've completely lost it." She helped him get onto the floor safe and sound.

"Mind explaining?" she asked once making sure he was okay.

"Actually i didnt wanted to you know wake up your family and create a scene." Manik scratched his head. A habit he developed whenever he was nervous.

"It's completely fine but what happened? why are you here?" she asked.

"Uhh just wanted to ask, will you marry me?" and that's when the whole world spinned around for Nandini.