He anyhow dragged himself and sat on one of the benches with a thud, taking deep breathes, and buried his face in his large palms, eyes were blood red.

He left for his wardroom, which turned into a complete mess within a few minutes. Clothes scattered all over, mingling with the trash that fell from the dustbin, bed totally undone and there he sat at the corner of it, fretting over his fate.

Happiness never came to him for free. It always came with a price, which mostly ended up being at the cost of his heart.

After an hour or so, changing into casuals, he lay in the middle of the trash appearing room, like a lifeless body. He couldn't think of anything, mind fully blank.

His life was again back to square one. Just like the day his best friend/ his father/ his only support system left him in the cruel world all alone to fight for himself, for his existence.. just like that day, he felt all alone again.

Nothing to look forward to, no one to share feelings too, no one to care for him.. his life was a constant cycle. Working at the office, coming back to the room, eat, sleep thinking about his ill fate, and again back to the office. Just like a machine worked.

The constant rings of his phone broke his chain of thoughts. For a moment, he thought it could be her as he rushed to pick up the call. Commander Faizal, it was, on the other side, who called up to give him the schedule, timing of final reporting, and other necessities for the next day. Manik replied to everything like a mechanical robot and hung up the phone.

Reality dawned upon him. He won't be able to see her anymore, hear her, talk to her, or feel her anymore. After what all he said to her, she wouldn't have met him either if he stayed back, so this transfer made no difference anyway.

Walking up to the cupboard, he searched out an old torn diary from beneath the piles of clothes. His eyes welled up as he took out a few pieces of paper, which somewhat seemed like some photographs. He kept staring at the photos until his vision blurred by his tears. He didn't wipe them away. One after the other, droplets rolled down his orbs.

It had been long since he last broke down and cried his heart out.

Only the walls of his closed room knew and saw the real him, breaking down, crying for some warmth, some care, some love. Otherwise, he always wore a mask and showed himself as a strong, tough officer outside the boundaries of the room.

He was a human too, he had mental breakdowns as well. But, had none to comfort him, none to hug him and softly whisper, 'Everything will be alright'.

He needed some fresh air for now. Getting ready in his maroon hoodie and track pants, he left for a long jogging session out.

His mind went back to today's evening.

Manik was still confused about why was he suddenly transferred when others got the news almost 5 days back? But for now, talking things out to her was the most important thing he needed to do ASAP.

A hand blocked his way making him look up to see the person he definitely didn't want to see. Not now, not ever.

He was enough pissed for the day, he didn't want it anymore. "Move aside, Aryaman.", he said with a deadly calm.

"Woah Woah. What happened lover boy? Or should I say 'Fake' lover boy?" Manik's eyes snapped at him as Aryaman laughed loudly. "What? Can't believe how I got to know? Ok, let me help, 'Already giving up, Miss FAKE girlfriend?' Remember something?", he mimicked.

What the heck! That was his dialogue!! That's what he said to her the second last day they went out for jogging together. He couldn't say anything, Aryaman continued, "Seems like you got it eh?! So, let me share my side of the story. You and Nandini? Seemed like a clear lie to me since the very first day. Call it my gut feeling or whatever. And then day after day, things started coming out... Nandini not having your phone number topped the list. And then one day, I overheard your conversation and boom! Everything came out loud and clear. But, I needed proofs, to prove all those fraudulent activities in front of all." Manik's eyes widened at the last sentence. "Then I started spying on you. Recorded your phone calls. Fool you, arre if you had to make her your girlfriend, you should've at least taken her phone number na?! But no. You had to talk over the landline. Don't you know all the landline conversations in Head Quarter are recorded?! Of course, you do! So, that made my tasks easier. And then, the golden night. When you locked her in your room. And the next thing I knew was, Nandini coming out of your room, crying. What happened in there, Malhotra?"

"Listen, just shut the fuck up okay! What we do and what we don't is none of your bloody concern!! Invading someone's privacy is awful, Aryaman. No one supports such act.", Manik barked.

"Privacy and all huh?! What if Malhotra uncle and aunty get to know this? What if it becomes a talk of the Navy, that 'Daughter of a Rear Admiral spent hot moments with a mere Lieutenant!' ?! That'll not only affect your profession but also her reputation."

"You know what shit you're talking right?"

"I know, Lieutenant! Walk out of her life, and save both of them. No loss of yours, neither of her." Manik couldn't process anything, he was too numb. "I knew you're sensible enough." He chuckled evilly patting his shoulder.

Aryaman left, Manik sat on the footpath not caring about his white uniform, looking down on the ground, face held no expression, eyes blood red, and the envelope in his hand.

He got up to meet her, maybe for one last time.

Things messed up in the worst way possible, that was never expected. She's the most important person in his life, and he could do anything to protect that person, even if that meant going out of his way... even if that broke his heart. He had to get her out of his life, anyhow. She didn't deserve a guy like him. She deserved all happiness in the world. But all he had was sorrows, pain, and tears to give.

He came out of his thoughts when a drop of something fell in his arm followed by a few more. At a reflex, he looked up to see it's gonna rain now. While rushing to a shaded place, he bumped into something, rather someone. That someone, who brought a meaning to his life. That someone, who managed to allocate that special place in his heart, which he never let anyone step in. And also the same one, whom he pushed away, mercilessly.

Nandini!

The horn of a car broke their small trance. Manik held her arms firmly and pulled her to the side of the road as the car passed by them. He looked at her, to find her already staring at him. Her eyes held millions of questions, but he had answers to none.

God blessed him another meet with before leaving, or maybe it was another test for him, if he could keep his heart strong or break it further.

He could keep staring at her longer. But the situation he already created between them didn't allow him further and it had already started drizzling. Sighing softly, he said looking at particular nowhere, "Go home. You'll catch cold." He let go of her hand, and started leaving.

She got a hold of his wrist in order to stop him. She had questions and he couldn't leave without answering to any, but how could she win against his strength? He heard her say, "I hate you!" as he freed his hand from her hold and chuckled sadly mumbling, "You won't have to see my face from tomorrow anyways."

Maybe she heard, maybe she didn't. He walked back to the wardroom, and packed for the next day.

The sea voyage sailed straight at 9. He looked back at the direction of the Head Quarter, which blurred away as the distance increased, his eyes welled up.

Walking back to the small room at the ground floor, he unpacked his uniforms and the photo frame which he placed by his desk.

But alas! He forgot his heart back at the harbor. He laughed at his fucked up destiny.

~•~
A/N: Thank you all for 40K!!😭🙏🏻💕
And I hope you guys won't hate Manik that much and forgive him *puppy face*

New A/N: And and and, guys, I think I didn't mention anywhere *facepalms* that, the transfer of Manik is an act where officers has to stay at the sea for 15 days and get back to the harbor and stay on land for 20 days. And the cycle continues for 6-7 months until he's physically and mentally fit to board the ship.

So now I guess you guys won't be that heartbroken anymore *sheepish grin*