Chapter Twenty One
737 Words
The youngsters were sitting in Malhotra living room. Mukti was standing with a notepad while Nandini was near the sofa, back hugging Manik from his neck.
"Guys! Let's go to Las Vegas" Cabir suggested to which the guys hooted.
"This gonna be amazing" Dev said cheerfully making all of them smile.
"And girls, let's visit Koh Samui..I have heard about it a lot" Sona said and that was it, the girls too hooted.
"So the bachelor's and the bachelorette will be funnn" Manik said and Nandini tightened her hands around his neck, kissing his cheek.
"You know! There are a lot of brothels there" Cabir said making Nandini smile who again pecked Manik's cheek and said "I trust my man"
"So girls! It is shopping time now" Alya squealed in happiness.
"Should we come too?" Rithvik suggested,just to spend some time with his wife to which everyone gave a big NO.
"This will be truly a girl's thing so no guys" Asha said making all the others laugh hard.
"So will you miss me?" He asked softly to her to which she smiled and said "Obviously! But Manik..Enjoy this trip because after that we will live together only..So cherish your time as a bachelor" He giggled and pecked her lips softly to which everyone fake coughed.
"Accha! Today is already 07..We have just some days left!" Sona exclaimed and all the others nodded and at last went to their rooms while Manik went away with Nandini to drop her home to which Rithvik and Asha asked him not to and he silently agreed.
Nandini noticed everything about him but decided to talk about it later.
It was around 11:30 pm when she called him but he picked up a little late.
"Woh..Sorry! Was just stuck with some files" He apologized to which she smiled and said "My workaholic Malhotra! Always you can't apologize" And he closed his eyes and lied on his bed, ruffling his hairs.
"Manik..Urm! Are you stressed?" And she asked after a peaceful silence between them.
"No..Its just about work" He tried to divert the thing but he knew how miserable he was when it comes to fakeness and lies.
"Tell me please" And just one soothing voice he knew which can change his mood completely.
"Nandini..I am scared" And he closed his eyes. He knew how incomplete he was, how weak he was emotionally and how much he needed because at the very point, he knew how his childhood was.
"Manik..Why?" She asked as her eyebrows twisted.
"Nandini..I need love! You know Mom and Dad, both were working professionals during my childhood! And I had my Naani with me..But one..day..I lost her Nandini..completely! She left me..She left us for abode and I don't know why..I had lost a part of me..The laughing and smiling Manik was lost!! Then you came as a ray of light, Nandini.." And he hung the call. How he dared not unfold those dreadful days of his past where he lost a part of him.
He closed his eyes and wrapped the quilt around him. He didn't want to sound rude by cutting the call but he couldn't take it anymore. Not anymore, he knew.
He closed his eyes and whispered "Why did you leave me Naani" No photo of her was there in the mansion so that Manik could forget him..but everything failed.
He clutched the quilt and cried bitterly. And that's when the most needed hands encircled around his masculine yet so soft body.
He widened his eyes and turned to the other side who smiled and held him closer.
"Yo... You here?" He tried to sound normal. She smiled and thanked both the Malhotra senior and Murthy senior for constructing the house in just 10 km distance.
"What happened Manik! Tell me" She hugged him and ruffled his hairs to which he snuggled to him like a baby and cried bitterly
"I loved her so much..but I lost her! Will you even?" And that was it. She held him closer and wiped his tears "She had to go Manik! But I won't...And she's always with you..with us blessing us" And he clutched her closer.
"Dont be Manik" And she kissed his eyes.
"I love you and you know that humesha se" And she hugged him again while he snuggled to her, thanking his Waahe Guru and her Aiyappa for giving him a perfect match like her
- Writer
