Part 7

The sun was already up and the atmosphere was blooming after the previous nights thunderstorms. It feels like flowers, leaves, trees and all the others living things were washed off and got crystal cleared due to the rain water.
Manik was awake but lying down on his stomach feeling very tired with a heavy head. His face was dug in the pillow and he was covered with the warm comforter.
He opened his eyes and was flipping his eyelashes on and off and was trying to registered where he is.
He gathered himself and with much difficulty he sat up on the bed to get the biggest shock of his life. He is fully naked under the comforter without  even a single piece of cloth on him.

"What the..." He murmured but stopped himself from swearing.
"How did I end up here and in this condition..." He squeezed his eyes couple of times  and shook his head and tap it with his palms.
Suddenly Nandini's face flashes in front of his eyes.
"Nandini... She was with me last night..." He said to himself.
He tried to remembers and slowly one by one the blurry images of the eventful night came flashing in front of his eyes.
The way he hugged her, the way she came to his rescue when he was feeling lonely, the way she took him inside and changed his wet clothes.
He smiled to himself. He also remembered the way she took care of him and how he kissed her.
How she gave him the promise and makes sure that she will not leave him alone, ever.

"I love you Nandini... I love you so much... And I can't live without you... Mujhe chod ke kabhi mutt jaana..."
His own words were ringing in his ears.
"Really I even confessed my feelings to her... " he said pushing back his hair from his forehead.
Their intimacy, their closeness and, she giving her consent to make love to her, and their lovemaking also flashes in his head. Her moans and his groans, their sweaty bodies. He was in his dreamland remembering all these sweet and precious moments that he spend with her.
But suddenly reality stuck him, he is alone here.
"Where is Nandini... Where is she... Why did she left me here alone... Atleast she should've waited here..." He said out loud. Then again he thought

'Oh my God.. Yeh Maine Kya kar diya... How can I do this... How could I lost control over myself and my feelings... What she might be thinking... Oh no... Pata nahi usse kaisa laga hoga..." He was having mixed feelings. He couldn't decide that if she felt good or bad.
She is not with him at the moment so he couldn't figures it out that if she is mad, upset or angry... Or maybe she can feel happy about it too.

He came out of the bed and changed his tracks and shirt. But when his gaze fell upon the bed he saw some spots on it but he couldn't figure what it can be. He gets a closer look and noticed that it was blood spots.
He freaked out.
"Oh my God... I think I hurt her... I hurt her real bad... That's why she left before even I wake up... What did I do... " he was panicking crazy.
"I need to talk to her... I have to talk to her..." He started blabbering taking off the bed sheet from the bed and turned the mattress upside down and hurriedly he came out of the outhouse.
The sudden sunlight flinched his eyes. He closed his eyes and rubbed it off and then is walked back to the main house.
Thankfully there was no one around, not even the servants who  takes care of the landscaping. He thanked his stars and ran inside the house and straight to his room with the bed sheet under his arm.

Nandini served Nanu her breakfast, her medicine and also took her outside for walk. Surprisingly Nanu didn't asked for Manik since morning and it's mid morning. It seems like Nanu knows that something fishy went on in between them last night.
Her being an old lady with lots of experience of life as it is, maybe she wants to put two and two together.
She felt a change in Nandini today, she could not pinpoint what it is but there's definitely something different in her look today. She came out in the living  room because of Nandini's insistence. Both Nandini and Nanu was sitting and chitchatting about stuff. Nanu was admiring her face glow.

But Nandini's mind was busy on Manik's whereabouts all the while. She didn't see him came inside.
'Aiyyappa was he awake... Did he came back..' She was busy thinking about him and she didn't notice him coming down the stairs.

He came with a genuine and very lively smile and coming near Nanu he hugged her.
"Good morning Nanu... How are you.." He gave a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Nandini's heart started beating faster with his presence. His scent was spread around as soon as he came near. Her hands and feet becoming cold. Her whole posture was struck by his closeness.

"Tu nahi sudhrega na Maano... Namaste Bol puttar... Ya satsriyakal Bol... Acha lagta hai..." Nanu kept a hand on his head.
Manik was watching Nandini with his peripheral vision and noticed that she is fidgeting with her fingers.

"Ok ok Nanu... Namaste... Ab aap kaisa feel kar rahi hai..." He asked in a cheerful mood seeing Nandini in front of him. But he didn't know how should he talk to her.

"Arey wah... Aaj Bahut Khush nazar aa raha hai... Koi deal veal pakki hui hai Kya..." Nanu asked him but looking at both of them simultaneously. She knew at the back of her mind that something happened in between these two, and that something is good. Her grandson is looking very happy and he has that freshness on his face like old days.

"Kuch aisa hi samajh lijiye Nanu... Aap mere well being ke liye hamesha pray karti hai... Tou God ne aapki sunli hai... Mere haathon lottery lag gayi hai..." He whispered and jokes with her.
Nanu laughed at his liveliness. But Nandini was feeling very embarrassed and shy in front of him. She couldn't even make an eye contact with him.

"Nanu... Woh main... Kitchen mein dekti hoon... Manik sir ka food ready hai ya nahi..." She got up from her place and without waiting for an answer she went away.

'What... Manik sir again... Yesterday she called me Manik... And today back to Manik sir... Why... Is she upset with me... She is not even looking at me...'
"Maano... Kahan kho Gaya..." Nanu bring him back to this world with a mischievous smile. Because she noticed that his eyes were still stuck on the way where Nandini went.

"Kahin nahi Nanu... Yahin tou hoon..." He said and laid down on the couch resting his head on Nanu's lap.
"Ek baat puchun..." She asked caressing his head.
"Do puchuiye Nanu... Aaj main Kuch bhi answer karunga..." He was very happy.

"Tu Nandini ko pasand karta hai na... Uss se pyaar karne laga hai naa..." She asked seriously and he was stunned in his place. He looked here and there to avoid the question.
"Dekh Maano... Main Teri Nanu hoon... Tu Mujhse chupa nahi sakta... Tere chehra par likha hai... Ki Tu uss se pyaar karne laga hai.. Aur shaayad Woh bhi tujhe pasand karne lagi hai..." She was explaining him.
He got up and sat beside her.

"Nanu... Aap mere Kuch kahe bina sab jaan jaati hai... Aapko sab pata chal jaata hai..." He said looking at the kitchen door expecting maybe she will come to call him for food.
"Tou bata de usse..." She said.
"Maine already..." He was about to say that he already confessed to her, but he stopped. He wanted to make sure from her side first before giving Nanu any hope.

"Haan tune..." Nanu asked.
"Maine already plan kar liya hai Nanu... Uske saath baat karne ka.. Bas mauka dhoond raha hoon..." He said changing his answer.
His phone started buzzing. He picked it up.

"Hello..."
"Hello... Mr Manik Malhotra... How are you doing.. This is Agarwal here... Ramnath Agarwal... "
"Hello Mr. Agarwal, I'm doing good.. Aap itni subah... Kahiye What can I do for you..." Manik said.

"Nothing much Mr Malhotra.. I called to invite you.. It's my 25th wedding anniversary... So you are invited... I will be obliged to have you in my party..." Agarwal said.
"Thank you Mr. Agarwal for inviting me... When is it.." Manik asked.
"It's tomorrow night..."
"Ok.. I'll be there..." Manik was about to cut the call.

"But listen Mr. Malhotra.. There's going to be a theme party... And the theme is retrospective... And you have to come with your partner... Because it's a couples party also..." 
"Than I can't come... You know I'm not married and I don't have a..."
Mr. Agarwal cut him in the middle.

"Don't tell me Mr. Malhotra that you don't have a girlfriend or any friend... You are our respected guest and one of the young leading business man of our country... So you have to come... And I don't want to hear any excuse... So I'll be waiting for you with your partner tomorrow... To cut my anniversary cake..."  And before hearing any more excuses from Manik he hang up saying that he has to call other people also.

"Kya hua kiska phone tha..." Nanu asked seeing the lines on his forehead. Manik explained her about the party.
Nanu clapped her hands thinking something.
"Tou is mein itna sonchne waali Kya baat hai... Nandini ko lejaa..." She suggested.
"Tu mauka dhoond raha hai na... Apne dil ki baat kehna ka... Isse Acha mauka nahi milega... " Nanu said with so much excitement that her facial expressions were showing all the happiness.

"Par Nanu... Woh aayegi... Mere saath party mein..." Manik was not sure she will come... Because she is not even looking at him.
"Kyun nahi aayegi... Zaroor aayegi... Main Abhi usse poochti hoon... Nandini... Ohh Nandini... Yahan aana tou Zara..."  She called her without waiting for Manik's approval.
"Jee Nanu..." Nandini came running hearing her voice.

"Beta.. Manik ke Koi business partner ki shaadi ki salgirah hai... Aur usne Manik ko apne kisi ladki dost ke saath bulaya hai... Kya Tu jaayegi... " she directly asked her. Nandini was startled with her sudden question. She suddenly looked up to see Manik, who was constantly gazing her with mesmerizing eyes.

She felt a shiver ran down her spine. She turned her face to Nanu and asked.
"Jee main Nanu... But main kaise..." Nandini hesitated.
"Kyun Kya hua... Kya masla hai... " Nanu asked.
"Woh actually... Main... " Nandini fumbled with words.
Nanu felt her awkwardness and said herself.

"Koi nahi puttar... Bas tujhe iski saathi banke jaana hai... Kuch hi Der ki baat hai... Bas yun Gaye Aur  yun aaye... Tou jaayegi naa..." She asked expecting Nandini to say yes. Nandini has no other choice left but to say yes.

She nodded her head in a yes without giving her verbal consent. Nanu  took it as a yes.
"Chalo yeh theek hai... Dekh Maano Nandini ne mana nahi kiya... Ab theek hai naa..." Nanu said.
Nandini turned and left from there without looking at Manik.

Manik looked for her again. Nandini arranged his food on the table and left with Nanu in her room.
Manik tried to talk to her so many times but she avoided him making excuses. All day long she was busy with Nanu.

He  also got busy with his office work and phone calls. At the end of the day when he saw that Nanu is already asleep he thought of going to Nandini's room and talk but to his surprise she was also fast asleep in her room.

He smiles looking at her innocent face. He walked to her bed and kneeled down beside her on the floor.
"Main janta hoon Nandini Tum Mujhe avoid kar rahi ho... You want to play this avoid game, ok than I'm on it... Let's see kab tak you will avoid me... Tumhe aana tou padega mere paas... And I will make sure that you come to me..." He bend down and pecked her forehead and closing the door he walked out.

Next morning Manik woke up early and went to his gym and workout vigorously. He only remembers the time he spend with Nandini. He thought.
"Aaj Dekhta hoon ki tum kaise nahi aati ho Nandini... Nanu wil definitely send you to call me downstairs, if I don't  go... " he smirked.

After working out he for fresh and gulped down his protein shake and went straight upstairs on the terrace. And as per his thought Nanu was worried for Manik and sent Nandini to call him.

Nandini was very nervous to face him after their intimate encounter. But she has no choice.
She came into his room to find it empty. She thought of looking in the gym, but nope, he is not there either. She climbed the stairs for the terrace.

She came looking for him on the terrace... And not finding him she turned around to go back but she was pulled by two pairs of hands gripping her waist.
She startled by the sudden pull and widen her eyes screaming, but her mouth was closed by a strong Palm. She looked into his eyes where she see care and worry and concern for her.
"Where do you think you are going..." He asked her with softness.
"Mmmhh..." She tried to talk but his grip was very tight.
"Bolo..." He demanded.
She removed his hand from her mouth with force.

"How can I answer when you closed  my mouth..." Her breath was uneven due to the tightening of the mouth.
He looked directly into her eyes and asked.
"To ab bolo... Mujhe hi doondte hue aayi ho... And now you saw me... Where are you going..." He saw the hesitation in her eyes.
"I came to call you downstairs... Nanu wants to talk to you..." She said turning her face away from him and struggling to release his grip.

"Why are you ignoring me damn it... I wanted to talk to you since yesterday and you are just avoiding me... Why..." He pinned her to the wall of the terrace.
"Say it Nandini what's  running in your head... Please say it I want to hear... Why the hell are you keeping yourself away from me..." He asked going near to her.

"Because I'm scared Manik... Now you know why I was avoiding you... Because I'm scared..." She also told him in a firm yet solid tone.
"Scared... Mujhse... But why... Why are you scared of me..." His grip loosen and his tone soften. He was confused why is she scared of him.
"Darna Tou mujhe chahiye..after what happened... Uske baad Tou I have to be scared... That you will leave me... But..." He said going dull again.

"How will I leave you... When I promised you that I will be there with you always... I've given you my word... So there's no question of leaving you now... " Nandini gave one of the information very innocently with a cute face , which they shared that night.
"Then why... Kyun Nandini why were you scared of me..." He asked.

"I can't take rejection... What if you don't remember what happened, what if you denied what happened,... What if you are mad on what happened... " she looked into his eyes.
"You were not in your senses... I don't even know what's your reaction of that night..." She halted getting blushed talking about the night where she lost her virginity to him.
He hold her shoulders and said.

"Look at me, meri Taraf Dekho and listen to me carefully..." He bored his eyes into hers and started.

"I wasn't drunk that much or gone that I forgot everything... Two or three glasses of alcohol doesn't knock me off that I will forget the most beautiful night of my life... Yes I remember every single second of it.., and I do not regret what happened... Suna tumne I do not regret anything about that night samjhi Tum..." He pulled her more closer.

Her eyes brimmed with tears hearing him. She was thinking so many odd things. She was so scared that what if Manik don't remember, how will he react.
A lone tear dropped  on her cheek and she smashed herself into him in a tight hug framing her hands around his waist.

He was taken aback by her sudden action. But he felt relieved that atleast she is calm and she was here with him close to him.  A small smile crept on his lips after a whole frustrating yesterday's waiting.

They stood like that for sometime.. Taking in each other's presence. Without saying anything... Not even a single word.
Than Manik thought of initiating the conversation.
"You know Nandini... You have no idea what you did for me... By promising me that you won't leave me... Ever..." He rubbed her back and even Nandini was rubbing him.
"You gave me a relief... You pulled me out of my pain... You can't imagine how you supported me..." He again hugged her with affection.

"What is it Manik, that you are keeping in your heart... Why are you  feeling so lonely and depressed... Even Nanu is feeling well now... But you have stored so much of pain in yourself... Why Manik... Why do you feel so insecure... Why do you need my assurances so badly... " she separated herself from him and cupped his face and continued.
"Share it with me Manik... Apna dard Mujhe bataao share Karo... Maybe you will feel light or maybe maybe your pain will be lessened..."

Manik looked at her and didn't say anything for a couple of minutes.
Than he puts his arm on her shoulder and both of them sat on the bench nearby.
He took her hands in his and entwined her fingers with his.

"When I was only 11 yrs old my mom passed away... She suffered with brain hemorrhage... We don't know the reason how she gets that I was too young at that time, but..." He took a deep breath and continued.

"She left me... She was like my friend, my guide, my everything... She and Nanu pampers me a lot they fulfil all my wishes... In a way they spoiled me... "
"Dad loved mom so much that he couldn't take it... He buried himself in his work... He use to be out of country almost all of the year... He comes here and says that moms memories haunts him... And he stopped coming here..."

"Nanu takes care of me... I became busy in my studies... But I missed my mom so much..." He let out his deep breath and paused for few minutes.
Nandini was listening to him with so much of concentration.

She thought. 'Aiyyappa I can't imagine my life without my parents.. My appa my amma... My whole family... But for him... He loves his mom so much and aapne unko hi apne paas bula liya... He was so young at that time...'
Manik's voice brought her out of her thought.

"Than I found Neha... She studied in my college... We became friends... " he smiled remembering her.
"She was a very lively girl... Full of life... When she was around there's not a single dull moment..."

"WAS.. Aiyyappa... WAS..." Nandini thought.

"We bacame more than friends... I started liking her... And she too takes interest in me... I brought her home to meet Nanu... And she wins Nanu's heart too by her chirpiness and jovial nature... After I was done with my college, I have to go for masters out of country... Nanu suggested that we should get engaged... And after finishing my masters we should get married.. So we did it..." He paused.

"When I came back I was planning to propose her my love...
But I was shocked to see Neha in a totally different condition... She was very weak.. Very dull.. Became very fragile... When I asked everyone what's the matter... They said that she was ill... No one told me the real reason... I got very mad on Nanu and her for not informing me... They said that they didn't want to disturb me... But one day she fell unconscious and when I took him to her doctor she told me that she was suffering from blood cancer... In her last stages... I broke down..." Manik sniffed remembering those awfully painful days.

Nandini pressed his fingers in his hands and tried to assure him that she is here with him.

"We tried all the alternatives to save her... But all in vain... She eventually left us... She left me..." His eyes was red with tears... Some of the tears started flowing.

Nandini turned his face towards her and wiped off his tears. And she rest her head in his shoulder framing her hands on his waist. He too hugged him back.
He was crying silently. His tears were absorbing Nandini's hair. She too felt sad hearing him..., and his sad and depressing story. How he suffered since his childhood and how happiness is playing peekaboo with his feelings.

"So you see Nandini... Why I'm insecure... Why I'm hurt from inside... Why l want assurances from You... Because... I don't trust my fate... People who are close to me... Whom I love always leaves me... That's why when Nanu was unconscious I totally lost it... I can't afford to loose her Nandini... I just can't... That's why I make you promised me... "
He lift her face and held it in his palms.

"I can't afford to loose you too Nandini... You became a very big part of my life now and also Nanu's too... I confessed my love for you... I really love you Nandini...I cannot imagine my life without you..." He kissed her forehead. She blushed with his confession again.

"I know what happened that night between us was the first for both of us... Maybe you planned something very special when you loose yourself to that special person for the first time..."
"But you know what... I'm lucky and feels so fortunate that I was that lucky one..."
"I'm not pressuring you to respond to my love right now... I know it's all sudden for you... And this was very unexpected for you... But I will wait till you are ready to accept it... Because I saw it in your eyes... Those same feelings for me... Those same emotions for me... So until you are ready from your own, I will not pressure you..." He said with a smile.

She was watching him with her doe like eyes.
"You have dreams to fulfill... You have your goal set on something... And trust me... I will not come in your way... Instead I will help you in any which way I can to achieve your dreams... But... Be with me always... Don't even go away from me... I'm scared of my own good fortune... I already lost too much but now I'm not in a condition to loose you... Otherwise I can't pick up myself Nandini if you leave me..." He said.

"Main kahin nahi jaa rahi manik... I'm not going anywhere..." She assured him again.
"Your mom and Neha is with Aiyyappa now... In a better place...  And if they are watching you from up there... Think about it... Are they happy to see you in pain, or not coming out of that depressing phase... Maybe they are also feeling bad to see you like this..." she paused.

"Life is very short and it's a very precious gift from Aiyyappa... Manik... We should not waste time in thinking all these depressing , negative feelings... Instead we should think about the people we have with us and live for them... You know Nanu is so much worried for you... She wants you to settle down... She wants you to be happy... For that she can do anything..."
" look at her age and her condition... But she didn't leave hope and she is living happily when she sees you in front of her... Same way you should be happy that she is there for you..." She kept quiet. Than thinking something she said again.

"Let's go to mangalore a little early... Amms birthday still has few more days left... Let's go there now... You and Nanu will feel very happy... The green atmosphere, the ambience, the fresh air will cheer you up and it will also give Nanu a break from her worries... She will feel much much better... What do you say..." She asked cheerfully.
He didn't answer anything. She shook him and asked.

" where are you lost..." He said.
"Nowhere just thinking about your words... Just now you said that Nanu is happy seeing me happy... But what about you... Are you happy with me... " he asked looking into her eyes with intensity.
She shudders by that look and bend her head down.
"I am with you... " she just said that much.

She got up from the bench and said.
"Nanu was calling you and it's too late already... Let's go down..." She said and turned to leave but Manik stopped her by holding her wrist.

She didn't turn. He came close to her so close that his hard muscular chest was touching her back. He pressed her shoulders with his palms.

"Nandini you didn't say.. If you are happy with whatever happened between us... I want to know your answer..."
Nandini's breath hitched in her throat. She didn't expect this question. A shiver ran all the way through  her spine.
"Bolo na Nandini how do you feel.." He asked again inhaling her fragrance.
Words are struck in her throat... She tried to free herself but his hold was too tight.
"Woh Nanu... Is calling..." She said very softly feeling his warm breath on her neck.
"I know... But I want my answer... I'm not gonna let you go until I get my answer... Bolo naa... How do you feel... " his voice was hoarse this time which makes her heartbeat faster.

She noticed his grip loosening... She grabbed the opportunity and ran from there.
He stumbled with her sudden move.
"Acha suno... " she stopped in her tracks... And turned around near the stairs to look at him.
"Mere saath party mein chalogi naa Aaj raat..." He asked very huskily.
She nodded her head fast in a yes and gave a very hearty smile to him before running down the stairs.
He pushed his hair behind and smiled at himself biting his lower lip.

End of part 7

Hello people

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