The Rake

Chapter Eight

It’s been a week since his parents and friends are giving him cold vibes. Though they are talking to him, but aren’t reacting to the situations he expected them to and he knew that only he was the reason behind that. He knew how wrong he did, but that mask of monster has covered his humanity too. He was too guilty to say even a little SORRY.

Nandini didn’t even look at him since a week. She would always go past him,but never spared a look and he sighed as always.

N I G H T

It was around 2 am when Manik all of sudden woke up panting hard. He quickly got the glass of water and drank it in a go, sweating badly.

“I can’t see myself like this...I can’t be a monster!” He whispered to himself and closed his eyes when her incoherent cries reached his eyes “NO!! I..!” He stumbled as tests accompanied his agony and he looked everywhere to get rid of the guilt, to get rid of the monster he had built in himself.

“Cabir..!” He quickly took the name of his saviour and initially dialled his number too.

“Hmm Bol Ma..Manik!” Cabir yawned while Navya snuggled more to his naked body.

“Cabir..I need..I need the address of Nandini’s house!” Manik spoke in a go.

“What happened?? All of a sudden!! Is everything fine..?” Cabir sat up on the bed to which Navya wriggled but soon turned over as Cabir caressed her hairs.

“Yes..Everything is fine! You give naa!” He said to which Cabir hummed and took out the diary from the nearby table and gave the address and then they hung up.

Manik took the piece of paper where the address was written and then his car keys and soon drove to Murthy Villa.

He looked at the piece of paper and then remembeered that Cabir had told him that her room is on the second floor.

He looked at the pipe and sighed “Rabba!!” He cried out slowly and started climbing the pipe and soon got access to her balcony. He heaved a sigh of utmost relief and then peeped into the room. He slowly and steadily got inside her room, very scared owing to the punch he had got from her some days back. GIRLS ARE INDEED VERY SCARY.

His feared lips turned into a small smile as he saw the beautiful room in front of his eyes. There were two colourful jars of beautiful fireflies hanging on the cream coloured walls. The books were arranged very neatly on the opposite cupboard while there was a cupboard along side it, maybe her dresses were there. There was a study table with loads and loads and LOADS of books clearly depicting what a geek was she. ASTROPHYSICS was her subject tbh.

He scratched his forehead eyeing the STUDY MATERIAL sleeping on the bed, all cuddling to the pillow, so cutely that it didn’t fail to make Manik the MONSTER smile, for the first time eyeing a girl.

“Manik CONCENTRATE!!” Manik warned his mind and he looked around to find something.

“Ouch!” He shrieked in pain as the glass pieces of the frame he broke touched his skin. Nandini wriggled but soon sleep took over her body.

He looked at the glass pieces and his eyes softened as he remembered how much messed up she became when the frame was broken and the pain she suffered. And that’s when his heart transformed, started to transform.

He stumbled through the pieces of glass and finally got the one he was looking for. The piece which had the seller written on.

‘Sree Frames and Posters, Mangalore’ He widened his eyes “Mangalore is damn 860 kms awayy!! Godd Manikk!!” Manik took the photo stealthily and captured the picture while a smile crept on his face eyeing the perfect photo frame which he broke.



“Nandini..I will get back to you..!” He whispered to himself, closing his eyes climbed off the pipe and started the car engine and messaged his mother ‘Mom, I am driving to somewhere, I will be back in some days’ and drove off.

N E X T D A Y.

Nandini got up from the bed and walked to her Aiyappa when suddenly she noticed a drop of blood near the broken frame.

“My god!” She widened her eyes and her eyes went to the large windows which were opened. “Myy godd! A thief!! Aiyappaa!” She quickly closed the window and locked it and heaved a sigh of relief.