~ When the hardships and the numbing pain crosses it's limits, it's not scream but silence that become your best friend~

The hours seemed to pass in a blur, as Manik Malhotra struggled to concentrate on the case he had to fight, but failed miserably, because in the black letters on the papers, swam the face of his few days old wife, teary eyed, hurt at his cost. He couldn't keep the image of Nandini crying out of his head, specially when he understood that it was his fault. He had promised to keep her happy, and here he was, shredding away the promise within a week. A deep sigh left him, as Abhik's words rang in his ears again and again. Maybe he was right. Maybe, Nandini won't mind his care, or emotions. Maybe, they could have a life, together and happy.

Unable to take it anymore, he dashed out to his car, stopping mid way at a flower shop. Nandini loved flowers, he had watched her talk to them and change them every morning in all the seven vases back at her home.

" A bouquet of Orchids please?", He asked the shopkeeper, and paid hurriedly, eager to go back home, apologize to her, and bring back the smile that lit his days.

Though, irony hit him hard, when he reached back home, and rang the doorbell, only to get no answer. The door was locked, and he had to open it with his set of keys. Flabbergasted, he kept the bouquet aside, and looked for Nandini everywhere, completely missing the fact that if the door was locked, it meant she did it for only two of them stayed in that flat.

Dejected, and scared, he could feel his breaths getting heavier. Did she do what he had been asking her to do all these days?

Did she really go away?

Maybe, she went to meet his Appa? A tiny seed of hope took birth in his mind, only to be crushed later, when he saw a message from Mr. Murthy, asking him to drop by Murthy house, with Nandini in the evening.

Not a single other excuse crossed his mind then, because it's rightly said, Your eyes see what your mind knows. And his mind knew only one thing, people left him, because of him. He chose to believe that, and gulped painfully, unable to decide a further course of action. His sane mind laughed at him, asking him wasn't that he actually wanted her to do? But his heart knew, deep down the answer was no. He didn't want to leave her, neither did he want her to leave him. He loved her for god sake, and wanted to cherish her forever. But then, things don't always go as per your wishes.

Two hours later, Mrs. Chatterjee entered through a half open gate, frowning, and found Manik sitting on the drawing room couch. His head was resting back, eyes closed, and demeneour silent. She walked to him, and sat beside him, softly resting her hand on his head.

Manik's eyes didn't snap open at the touch, as she had expected. He took his own slow time to open them, for there in his eyes, lay a world of his own. A world of the monsters that had attacked him again and again, and the demons he had lost the battle to. Mrs. Chatterjee's eyes filled up watching him but Manik's were dry, drier than the sand of the deserts. He didn't speak, didn't cry, didn't complain, instead, chose to lie down in her lap, and held her hands tightly in his hold.

Sometimes you don't use words to communicate things, you use gestures. And the way he was holding her hand, was communicating a lot to both, Mrs. Chatterjee and Nandini, who was standing behind her, frozen.

She had expected him to find her, fight with her, get angry for not informing her, and then, maybe, in rage tell her that she meant something to him. Not even in her wildest dreams had she anticipated him to accept that she left, or this lack of visible reaction from him. And yet, she could see the deep frowns on his forehead, the screams in his silence, the wetness in his dry orbs. Something was stuck in her throat, and she could feel the beats in her own heart, tangibly.

No, she didn't love him. But, he was her husband, and she did want a life with him. But in that one moment, the doors of realization opened for Nandini. She understood that though it was just a few days, Manik meant something very precious to her. And she wanted to keep him, with her, forever.

She had always dreamt of the prince coming for her, riding on the white horse, sweeping her off her feet. Too fairytalish, she knew yet her heart always dreamt for a picture perfect love life. Today, standing in middle of her marital house's drawing room, she could finally see the face of the prince of her dreams. The real life prince was not perfect, rather seemed wounded, tied down with shackles, but yet, he was the one, perfect or not. He was the one she wanted to learn to love, he was the one she wanted to love her, he was it.

"Sometimes we need to speak up Manik, we need to tell people what they mean to us. We need to make people stay. Letting go is overrated", Mrs. Chatterjee's voice broke Nandini's trance, and she saw Manik gulp. He still didn't speak, his hold didn't loosen up. The only visible movement was his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

Sometimes, Manik did want to talk. A lot. He wanted to tell about the weird dreams he would have, of falling down from the bed. Or of the stars and his favorite constellations. How he liked watching the red star in the sky! How he prefered white sauce pasta over red sauce pasta contrary to popular belief. And about how much he craved ice cream at nights.

But he usually didn't. He kept everything related to him and his emotions, to himself. Because he didn't want anyone to suffocate under the burden of his extreme emotions. He cared too much, and it struck him late but too deep that not everyone liked that. His emotions, his plight was his problem, not others.

It was an irony, for the man who fought for the right of others with the whole world never considered himself worthy enough for the same.

Even today, he wished he could explain the sheering pain he felt inside his ribcage, coming home to the fact that Nandini probably left him forever, but he didn't. He kept it hidden, inside, in silence. And when Mrs. Chatterjee asked him to speak, he didn't know what to, or rather how to. The suppressed feelings came to Bay, and he felt threatened by the intensity of it, so much, that he got up abruptly and ran in to his room, away from anyone and everyone.

Mrs. Chatterjee wiped her eyes as she turned to face Nandini.

" It's not easy to love him Nandini, he might put up a lot of struggle against you. Even though you are married, you will need to strive hard to make him accept the place you have had in his heart since years. But if you feel burdened by it, by his emotional incapability, please tell me now. For later, will do more damage than I can handle!", Mrs Chatterjee almost sobbed at it, and Nandini rushed to wipe her tears.

" Nandini is not going to abandon Manik, not today, not ever. This is my promise. MaNan forever!", She smiled at the old lady, who then took her leave, and closed the gate first before running towards the bedroom.

Once in, she found him sitting on the bed, his gaze fixed to the floor.

" Manik?", Her voice stunned him, as he raised his dead eyes to stare at the door, at her slender figure looking back at him, with warmth.

" Nandini?", His voice shook, it was clear how surprised he was by the sound of it.

Nandini took rushed steps to him, and cupped his cheeks, standing on her tippy toes.

" I went out to bring some stuff. I didn't leave. And I would never!", She clarified, as soon as she could, and kissed his eyes, one by one.

Until then, Manik had been standing composed. But at that gesture of comfort, he found two rows of water drops trickling down his eyes.

No, he didn't want to cry. He wasn't weak. He hastily tried to wipe them, but Nandini held his hands, softly shaking her head.

She looked around for two seconds, confused, and when she couldn't find anything, she turned Manik, and herself stood on the bed, now finally standing taller to him.

And before he found grasp what was happening, she wrapped his arms around her waist, and rested his head on her chest, kissing the top of his head.

The tightened grip of his hands around her, told her what she wanted to know since long. She understood that she might need to read into the gestures with him, but she was ready for it.

" I am sorry Nandini. I don't mean to hurt you, though that's what I always do!", And when she thought she understood him, he surprised her by apologizing in words.

She immediately shook her head at him again, and Manik sighed before hugging her again.

Nandini went ecstatic at that. It was the first hug from him, voluntarily initiated. She hugged him back too, kissing his head again and again.

" Let's give each other one fair chance, Manik. Let's help each other to fall for the opposite. I genuinely like you Manik, I am not forced, or under pressure. Can we do that, please?", She pouted adorably and Manik could feel a smile forming on his lips, as he nodded.

" Yippee!", Nandini jumped on the bed, and the lost her balance, falling on Manik, kissing his cheek accidentally in the process.

Though Manik held her on time, the accidental tough sent shiver down both their spines. Nandini could feel the heat on her cheeks, as she moved away from him, and even Manik could not hold his blush for a few prolonged minutes, after which their eyes met each other, and Nandini started giggling leaving a smiling Manik behind.

He excused himself to use the washroom, when Nandini smirked to herself.

" Be ready Mr. Husband. It's time for you to fall madly, passionately and blindly in love with me. Oh sorry, in Vocal love with me!", She exclaimed, before sending a short and sweet prayer to her Aiyaapa, and then smiling to herself, anticipating the coming days.