* unedited *

A Happy Day?

N A N D I N I

For the first time in ages that I woke up, I smiled. Smile was the only thing in my mind, which was filled with happiness and energy for a change. Last night washed away the tiredness I had been feeling all this while. I finally felt as if I was fitting in somewhere, not that I knew everything, but I did know something, and as the proverb goes, something is always better than nothing.

Walking around my house lazily, I relaxed on one of its sofas. I was very comfortable at Zubin's place, but this was what I always craved for- my home. And Manik allowed me to stay back here.

I never really had to worry about it being closed since months because he got it cleaned time to time and not even a single thing was moved from where it originally was, my home was my home and nothing could change it.

Life seemed settling. Mukti was alive! I wasn't still being able to accept that. Ofcourse I was hurt and angry and all of that, but the happiness to have my best friend back was above everything else. Which also reminded me of Zubin. I haven't been able to talk to him since last night, it was as if Mukti and Zubin just disappeared. But even Manik didn't care, because somewhere he still trusted Zubin and he knew his sister was safe with Zubin, just like Zubin didn't check on me because he knew I was safe with Manik. That was the parallels of our life, but the truth.

Stretching my arms and yawning lazily, I tied my hair into some kind of a messy bun before picking up the phone and calling the first person on my mind since I woke up. It was answered within the first three rings with a warm and comforting voice, "hello?"

"Hey Aryamman!" I almost whisper shouted happily. I've missed him over so much happening in the past few days, and I missed the friend I had in him.

"Aah Nandini, you just disappeared last night? But well, I didn't bother to check because I knew you wouldn't be alone, Manik has to be there with you and as much as I hate to admit, he does care about you. So yes, tell me! Mujhe kaise yaad kiya?" He said almost in one breath and I bit my lower lip.

"Well, I was wondering if I could meet you in personal today?" I hoped. I really had to thank him for saving my life in that accident, and this was the best way I could.

"Are you, Nandini Murthy, asking me out for a date?" His voice was loud and happy and I giggled.

"Well, if you want to take it that way, then yes... date, it is. Shall I see you for lunch today?" I asked, my voice trying to match his excitement.

"Oh, sleeping beauty. It's already past lunch time, it's 4!" He reminded and my eyes widened. I was up with Manik till sun rise and I slept late and I was sleeping till now?

"Oh sorry," I was embarrassed clearly. "How about a dinner? Do you have any plans for the evening?"

"Umm no, not really. Evening sounds like a perfect plan! But you can come over to my house, you know? My mother will be there, and it's Diwali, we can have some fun. More than a date, it's going to be something like a night with my family. Hmm?" He asked and my breath got stuck for a moment.

Diwali. My mother.

After last night, I don't think I'd ever be able to see Nyonika Aunty as a mother or a lady or even a human. I'd always see her as a murderer. A murderer who killed Manik and Aryamman's father, and a murderer who tried murdering my best friend.

"Uh-Ary-aa-man...," my mind raced for excuses but nothing. God, save me.

"Oh, Manik ofcourse!," he interrupted my thoughts. Before I could neglect his assumptions, he already said ahead. "Okay, family plan cancel. Tell me where can I meet you?" He said.

I made a mental note for apologising to him about this also. "How about Sun n Sand beach? There's going to be water, peace, stars, lights, a perfect Diwali set up, and also I know the most perfect hotel by the beach," I exclaimed.

"Sounds like a plan. Should I see you at 8 then?" He asked and I nodded happily before keeping the call.

Life was perfect, just like I always wanted it to be. But there was a part of my subconscious mind that raced back, making something poke. Was I forgetting something?

I felt I was, but I immediately pushed it away. Today was a happy day, and I was letting nothing affect it.

❤︎

M A N I K

"Jee, yeh sab vahin rakh dein! I don't want yellow, I want white tulips. Do you understand white tulips?" I shouted at the reckless organiser and he nodded before moving away. I felt a very warm touch on my shoulder and I looked behind to find Cabir.

"Manik! I've never ever seen you this excited for Diwali. I mean... tu kaam kar raha hai. Like you've not kept it on a thousand hired organisers, you're doing it all yourself. Yeh kya black magic hai?" He laughed and I fake smiled, mocking the sarcasm back at him.

"Well, I just wanted to do this myself. Aise hi!" I shrugged it away and he frowned at me as if he was Sherlock Holmes and he had to find out this mystery called, why is manik working by himself?

"Wait! Wait! Wait! This is not black magic. This is Nandini Magic!" He shouted in conclusion and I stared at him blankly. Was he actually Sherlock Holmes?

"Let me guess, your princess is coming tonight!" He shouted in conclusion, happiness avid in his eyes and I took a deep breath, but smiled. "Yes she is!" I informed, "But this is all not for her. It's Diwali, and you know how much it is important for me, right?"

"Yes, surely tu uske liye nahi kar rha. You're doing this all for me! Oh my baby, I love you too. Chal let's get married tomorrow!" He pat my shoulder and I rolled my eyes, ignoring him as I continued the work.

"So when do you tell her that you love her, hmm?" He nudged me again and I made a disgusted face. Me? Love? Not happening.

"I don't love her!" I pointed and he stared back. "It's been a long time since I allowed any people into my life, and it's like I shared a part of myself with her. There's finally someone except you, mukti and the bittersweet relation with Zubin and Aryamman. And what makes me happy is, unlike everyone else, she wouldn't choose someone else over me. She'd choose me despite me being dark or me being a monster at times, she makes me feel me without the pretend. It's like after a long time, I see someone who's here in my life for staying by me, and not my money or looks or anything. And I want her to stay like you," I smiled, explaining.

"I like how she's a rainbow in your dark valley; but how long does it survive?" He asked squarely and I raised an eyebrow at him.

"I don't have to worry about her leaving. She would have left if she wanted to when I dragged her through hell and she still appreciated me as if I was making life heaven for her when all I've done is given her the pain she doesn't deserve. And she still chose to stick by me. She has looked into my eyes, seen my devils, and then smiled. She fell for my darkness, the very thing I thought she'd fear. She's not different because of anything else but because of the fact that she is similar to me. She doesn't realise this, but she's stronger than she thinks. Sometimes, I've seen her. She says nothing at all, but simply stares upward into the dark sky and watches with sad eyes, the slow dance of the infinite stars. I've seen her being brave and not cry. I call her a princess because I want her to be one in front of me. She's been a warrior in front of the world for too long, it's time for her to be a princess now," I wish I could stop my smile but I didn't have to.

"Manik Malhotra, it's been a long time I've seen you talk like this for someone, so highly. I hope you're not being over confident with your choices," he challenged and I looked at him in the eye.

"You decide when you meet her tonight. She promised to be here for the Diwali party. I wouldn't fake appreciation, you know. You meet her and choose if she's worth it but as much as I can promise you, she's going to blow your mind. She's innocent, but not the naive you'd be able to play with. She has an aura, and I want you to test that for yourself," I smiled again and he looked impressed when he nodded.

"Just a reminder, I haven't seen you smiling so much in a while. I'm happy for you, whether you think you like her or you don't, she's keeping you happy and that's all that matters," he smiled back before walking away, leaving me alone staring at my half decorated mansion again.

I have made some commitments for her to fulfil because impressing Cabir isn't an easy ho although he's a very happy go lucky kinda man, but I'm sure that girl would amuse me. She always amuses me, and I wouldn't be surprised if she amused me again.

❤︎

N A N D I N I

"So, life's been an episaga of a movie, hmm?" He asked drinking champagne and I smiled nodding. It has been more like a movie than anything else, unbelievable most of the times.

It had been two hours since we were there and it didn't seem like that at all. Time passed away with Aryamman even sooner to realise. And the most perfect surroundings made it even more comfortable. I had already thanked him for saving my life and we were half way through our dinner, and just catching up on life like normal best friends do. No matter how Manik's story turned out to be, it couldn't affect the friendship between me and Aryamman, atleast.

"It has. But it also feels nice, you know. Life has finally settled down, it seems the chaos is over, the storm is over, and finally the clouds go away and there's going to be sunlight again. Happiness again!" I smiled and I'm sure my eyes twinkled as I say this. I didn't tell him about Mukti of course and there was a part of me that was just so guilty for hiding such a big thing.

I had just been feeling that since the past two hours, while Manik has been taking it on his heart since years and I couldn't even imagine how it would be to live with a rock of guilt on your chest all the time. His anger to the world, his darkness, his cruelty, everything is justified with just this one feeling.

"I can say I'm happy for my friend's happiness then," he smiled but there was something clearly missing from his face, the smile, the charm, that something that shines in his eyes that always draws me to him.

"Aryamman , something is wrong with you. Tell me, what is it?" I pushed again. I had asked him this question when he came too and he had refused, this time he has to tell me. "Mom!" He sighed and my breath got stuck in my throat and my mind raced to all the nightmares he could be going through.

"She's so sad, Nandini. It's Diwali tonight. It was dad's favourite festival. She's always been sad around this time of the year, but this time it's miserable. Probably it's the age and loneliness striking her remembering her husband, but I can't see her this way. I've seen her crying at nights, drinking in the mornings, crying to herself since a week. I've always known her as a caring and loving mother and it breaks my heart to see her so sad," he sighed and I bit my lower lip.

No matter how much I believed Manik's story that he said, my heart cried for Nyonika the moment Aryamman said this. If this was the truth, is she was so vulnerable, maybe she's actually repenting her actions. And just at the time she needed her family with her the most, I kept her step son away from her by forcing him to meet me here.

"Want me to come along? Let's go, pay her a visit?" I had spoken before I could make my mind and his eyes immediately lit up. "You want to come visit my mother? You don't feel she's bad just like everyone else? You believe in her?" He asked, hope shining in his eyes and I didn't believe in her was the truth but I didn't want to tell him that. His heart was pure and I'd do my everything to protect it, or atleast to stop me from hurting it.

"Id like to visit her. For you," I placed my hand on his and he gave me a grateful look and my mind couldn't help but dive at his face, how vulnerable it would be when he actually got to know his mother's true face, the lady whom he worshipped all his life was nothing but a devil that his step brother claimed to be.

We got our dinner packed and sat in his car as he drives me to his house. I would have felt scared visiting that woman after knowing so many of her dirty secrets but I knew I wasn't because he was there with me. I stared out at the city which was dawned with colourful lights in every house and Diya's shining everywhere. This again brought up the poking feeling, as if I was missing out something and I pushed it back. There was nothing I could be forgetting on such a precious day.

He parked his car and we got down, I held my floor touching white kurta a little above my heel as we walked inside. But instead of feeling the welcoming feeling while getting into a home, we were welcomed by a fresh thunder of a roar, a voice that I recognised way too well even in my dreams.

"Nyonika! Something happens to her and I swear I'm not leaving you!" Manik tried his best to control every bit of his anger and stop himself from crushing his mother with all the venom his eyes spat. I was about to run to him and stop him when Aryamman held my wrist, nodding negatively. His eyes were staunch at his step brother, who's back faced him.

"For the millionth time in this night Manik, I have not kidnapped your Nandini. I don't know where the fuck is she! Stop harassing me for a crime that I haven't done; because you already have punished me for the one I have. Leave!" His mother's voice was no less and she was as furious as she was.

My mouth opened apart to speak something but words dried in my mouth. I stared at his back that faced me, my vocals ditching me. Why was he finding me? Was I missing out on something?

"Manik....," the whisper I let out was small, barely heard by myself but he immediately snapped back his head and his eyes met mine. There was relief washing over his face before he jogged from where he was and took me into a bear hug by all the force he had and I stumbled behind by a bit but held on to him tight my left hand while my right remained in Aryamman's.

I could sense his body relax with his arms tightly locked with mine and confusion sprang in every cell of mine, but before I could draw a conclusion, he broke away from me, his hands reached my cheek. There was some fear in his eyes that I had never seen before. "Are you okay? Where were you? And why didn't you c-.....," his voice slowly faded as his eyes turned from me to his step brother standing beside me with a not so welcoming smile.

I felt his eyes twisting and every bit of his face changing expressions from fear to relief and then furious before screaming vulnerability and betrayal. Before I could decipher why, he immediately hid it behind a neutral expression. Before I could react again, my mind rushed back and an early morning conversation came running by.

"My father loved Diwali, so every year, I keep a grand celebration at my place. Tomorrow it will be, too. Can I expect you to be there?"

"There are a lot of people in this world, but it's all about who's presence really matters"

"And I will be waiting, for you"

He had finally started opening to what he feels when I shut him out completely because of my own negligence and forgetfulness. My eyes followed his and stopped at him staring at my hand which was interlocked with Aryamman's.

I felt every emotion a human could feel at once and there was something in that moment that screamed I had lost him. I had lost him before even I could have him all to myself.

~ the worst distance between two people is misunderstanding ~