Back to the strange down hill

Manik followed Nandini while she was no where in picture to be seen.

After walking few more steps he saw the sea shore from no where and Nandini sitting on one of the big stone facing her back from his view.

He was surprise to see the view infront of him. So this was her hiding place to switch herself off for sometime.

Man: Noted if I don't find you anywhere when you get upset I should search here for you. Right ??
He asked cheerfully to lighten her mood while Nandini looked surprise to find him here.

She thought he would have left long back. Why would he care to stay here with her.

Afterall she was just his bestfriend sister nothing more according to her depressing mood.

Nan: What are you doing here. You should leave.
She said looking back at the sea.

Man: I should leave but I don't want to
He said moving towards her.

Nandini remained quite until he reached her and sat beside her on the same stone.

Man: You know you can share anything.
He said looking at unusual quite Nandini.

Man: What's wrong Nandini ?
He asked again frowning.

Nan: Just leave me alone Manik. I need some lone time please.
She said looking away again in opposite direction facing her back towards him.

Man: Not happening Nandu. I am not leaving you alone. Better talk to me or else we will have to be here forever. Because I won't leave your side until you don't get everything out from your heart.
He said calmly while she looked at him angrily.

Nan: Why do you care ?
She asked angrily gritting her teeths.

Man: I have always cared for you Nandini.
He said making her face him being surprise by her sudden change of tone.

Nan: Manik leave.
She shouted pushing him away.

Man: I am not leaving you alone.
He said making it crystal clear for her.

She frowned looking away and stayed quite for what felt like hours to Manik.

Manik got a message.

Sent me your location.
~Abhi

Man: I am getting bored.
He said pouting while Nandini glared at him.

He is not Maria who will pout and I will melt.
She thought.

Man : Let play a game...huh... 20 questions....Yup... You can ask me anything and so can I. What say ?
He said clapping his hands excitingly.

Nan: You think that... you look cute and adorable doing these antics then you have highly mistaken. You look like a clown.
She said pointing finger with puffy cheeks.

Manik smiled and nodded while he continued again making her glared at him even more.

Man: So let start....
He asked forwarding his palm.

If look's could kill he would be deep down in the ground long back with tombstone in his memories.

He ignored the murderous look and continued

Man: You start or I.... (not getting an answer) Well I should start.
He acted to think hard raising his one eye brow while rubbing his chin.

Nan: You are impossible. Why can't you just leave for a change. After this marriage and all you are going to go anyway and then we won't see each other like forever. So Why this concern and all. I don't need you just leave.
She shouted on him getting up from the stone.

Man: So you don't want me to leave.
He asked staring in her eyes while she looked away.

Nan: I don't want many thing to happen but it still happens.
She said crossing her arms.

Man: Talk to me Nandini. Trust me for once.
He pleaded making her face him again holding her palm in his hand.

Nan: Are you ever abandoned by your family.
She asked with hurt while holding her tears.

Manik simply stared in her eyes and then nodded in a No.

Nan: Well I am. So you won't understand.
She stated with tears in her eyes.

Man: Nandini...please
He tried to comfort her while taking her in a hug while she simply stopped him moving away.

Nan: After Amma and Appa death. I thought Amms will be there for me to give me that motherly love. But she simply.... (she sniffed crying more) showed her back to me. Not even for once she thought about me. When my parents were there that time they all showed their love, so much concern. And when they left, (she stopped and looked away wiping her tears). Everything was fake, all they did is pretended. Chachi used to say I am her own daughter, when amma used to scold me she use to take my side even if I am wrong and now she doesn't wish to see my face too. All was fake everything. They lied
She said anger dripping from her voice while Manik looked at her with guilt.

He knew the truth but had no choice.
He couldn't betray his bestfriends trust on him by telling her all. Afterall she deserve to know all the truth according to him but still he was no one to tell.

She looked at him suspiciously while he looked away.

After sometime he decide to speak and all this while she stared at him in confusion.

Man: Nandini you have your brother, Mukti and I promise, I will always be by your side trust me.
He said giving her a reassurance through his thoughtful eyes while she stared and moved away.

His words triggered her even more.

Nan: Don't.. .don't give me false hope. I know, you won't there be for me. You will leave soon.
She shouted staring in his eyes with pitch of hurt.

Man: Nandini....why are you saying this all. I won't....
He couldn't complete his sentence.

Nan: No, I know you won't look back for once after going to Mumbai. I am not that naive.
She said sniffing.

Man: I thought the problem out here was about your fam....
He left the word incomplete while soon realization drawn into Nandini what was she doing.

Why was she behaving so stupid infront of him.

She knew he would leave soon, now why the hell is forcing him for something which was impossible.

She looked away with rage, anger and moreover helplessness for herself.

What was she upto this was so wrong.

They can't ever have a thing, she knew well and moreover her brother would never approve any, such thing between her and his bestfriend.

Resentment was something she felt, anger on herself and the entire emotional turmoil which sent her to the edge of crying and soon her cheeks became wet.

Nan thought to herself : What was I upto, I promise to keep my feeling hidden then why the hell I reacted this stupid infront of him. He is not the one feeling any attracted to me. It's only me who has zillion of thought and fantasy of us being together. Having a future, a family.....stop there this all was in mind why the hell I am thinking this out so loud. It was Murthy family being here an issue to upset me not Manik.
She frowned with her waterfall on while Manik just stared at her.

He couldn't see her tears it was hurting him unknowingly and the face which looked so happy and full of life was today lost, she looked so lost as if fight a war with her ownself.

Man: Nandini....what's going on in your head. Tell me.
He asked her calmly not being able to handle her silent cry's while she looked at him feeling strange to what was happening to her all of a sudden.

Man: Please.....tell me
He pleaded again wiping her tears.

He knew it was something to do with him but according to him still it's just a mere attraction for her.

He didn't wanted those thoughts for her but still he couldn't stop.

Her nature, kindness and caring for all attracted him even more not just her beauty which was a factor for him to have such strong feeling.

He didn't know her side of story yet.

His pleading eyes melted her and she cried loudly all of a sudden crushing in his arms.

Nan: I don......don't.. kno...w
She hiccupped digging head in his chest while he just holded her in his embrace while his hand moved to rub her back.

Man: Just let it out....I promise I won't judge you....trust me
He said cupping her cheeks making her look at him while she cried even more.

Nan: I got feeling for you....I like you.
She mouthed making him shock.

He looked at her with bewilderment while he crused himself more in his head.

He should have taken many steps back before.

It was his fault for giving her hope, for putting this in her head.
He thought

His heart felt happy as he got to know he wasn't alone feeling attracted having all thoughts but she felt the same.

But his mind screamed another story of this all being wrong.

He was in guilt for no reason. Blaming himself for nothing.

Which was so unrealistic, no one was wrong or to be blame. This was just a start of a beautiful together which both didn't understand they were meant to be together forever.

Nandini simply stared at him for him to say something while Manik was looking blank infront of her completely.

He didn't know whether to be happy or mad.

Nan: I am sorry....
She cried removing his hand which still holded her cheeks, from not getting a reply from him.

While as she back away his arms felt empty and heart felt void.

Nan: I ruined everything.
She cried more moving back until she hit her back to the stone and was about to fall but someone holded her from behind.

She turned around to get holded by someone who left a speechless.

She looked at him with more tears while he had his eyes stick on Manik with anger, resentment and moreover betrayal which left Manik with guilt.

Nandini looked at his face and where he was seeing and soon guilt was something that pinch her deep in her heart.

With lots of difficulty she mouthed one word.

Nan: Bhai....

He looked at her and simply said.

Abhi: Get in the car.
While he was still glaring at Manik.

____________________________________

I am busy with some personal work so not getting time write but will be updating next part by tomorrow inshallah.

Do leave your views and next chapter will definitely leave you shock. 😉

Till then

Take care 😊

I hate crying Nandini but can't help. 😢