Nandini's POV:

The snow still was falling hugging the night as the entire city hid itself in the warmth and we two wandering souls were floating in the nature which was painted white.

Walking holding his hand unaware of the destination was a journey of its own kind.

"Its..peaceful, isn't it?" He asked gaping me while I kept staring at our entwined hands.

"You're my favourite place when my mind searches for some peace in the entire world." I voiced. And he stopped walking having those dreamy eyes at me.

"Just the way you're my paradise." He held my hand tighter not hurting me in any way.

"We're sufficiently cheesy." I spoke making him laugh.

It was cold. Colder than usual. Though the snows were falling silently but still there remained a sound of them freely falling filling up our ears and I slowly shifted closer looking into his eyes.

"I was a broken-hearted and you know right broken things are dangerous... as they can slice you the moment you touch them." I stepped closer staying some inches away from the heat of his body while he attentively kept gaping me with those eyes which held nothing else than serenity for me.

"I wasn't conscious while falling for you." He smiled tucking my wet strand behind my ear and cupped my face with that chilling palm "A drunken guy probably holds more consciousness than me when it comes to you." He leaned over to seal the moment of pure bliss with a kiss on my forehead after which no question seemed to born.

Closing my eyes, I held his hand which was caressing my face and realised I insanely fell in love with this man and there's no returning from it anywhere because at every corner of my destiny was this charming man awaiting our togetherness just like my heart longed.

"I'm...scared." I whispered while he furrowed his brows.

"About what?" With his fingers on my chin, he lifted my face up causing my eyes melt in his.

"I'm scared to death, to lose you...to lose us." My lips shivered as I pronounced my deepest fear.

He smiled curling his lips up caressing his thumbs on my knuckles.

"Us? We are a magic, don't you realise that?" He smiled with his eyes. "And magics can't be defeated, yes they cam be suppressed but not for long." He kissed my cheek with his hand never forgetting to provide warmth to the other one.

"There isn't one person in this world whom I want more than you, Manik. And trust me, losing you is worse than death." I lowered my eyes because I didn't know why in spite of everything staying so perfect some indefinite pain was arising from the depth creating a void.

"Hey, hey." He wiped a lone tear on my cheek and nodded his head in denial.

"You're are stupid, do you know that? Who on earth cries for an uncertain thing?" He pressed his forehead against mine while I kept looking at the snowy ground beneath.

I breathed the thick frosty air as that particular uncertainty had been my ugly reality once.

"I've already lost someone Manik, and I know exactly the vulnerability of that phase. You ask me to stay positive that nothing can go wrong, but what about all those sleepless nights I've passed on my drenched pillow?" He distanced his forehead lifting his eyes off me.

"We never know whom we're seeing for the last time." I sniffed while he gazed me with his confused heart.

"Why would you say that?" He murmured.

I smiled painfully and moistened my stony lips.

"Because all I know is darkness and trust me Manik, the pain in that darkness is insane. It kills you and everything around. And thus the littlest happinesses I get with you, I die to secure them being all selfish...." I paused to look up at him. He was listening intently.

"Manik, I...I know I'm not like other happy girls who go to the parties and clubs with boyfriends as I believe the side of life I've seen is alien to them. I prefer the sunsets and snowfall instead, something that gives me tranquility and of course...you. I love you endlessly Manik and the immeasurable depth of my own love horrifies me because such love is destructive." I sighed silently wiping the tears which were in a constant flow.

He gently cupped my face pulling it closer.

"Listen to me Nandini and listen to me good. This love that we share cannot be defined easily because words would fall short for the emotions we feel... for what we have in between. When I say I love you, it's not any of my duties to accept the things what you love doing but I love them anyway. Because anything that matters to you and gets a smile on your face is important to me. There maybe things about you that you don't like or ignore but I love them anyway. The peace that I feel with you here under the snow is nowhere to be found and this is not about the snow, this is about who I am with under the snow." He rested his forehead on mine. "With all the love in my heart, I beg you to not let these thoughts even cross your mind, trust me your broken heart mightn't slice me but your thoughts are causing havoc inside my system. Let us enjoy this phase. Thik hain?" Thinking of not to torture that heart which kept beating for me, I bobbed lightly and he pecked my other cheek.

It was rare. That man was rare. No one that I ever heard had loved anyone with such honesty like one could render one's existence for the placidity of the other.

How could he be real?

How could everything be real?

But, when things run too smooth you're always at the fear of jeopardy.

^^^

Manik's POV:

The entire night I saw her sleeping peacefully in my white kurta. I stood by the window with its heavy curtain tied to the side. I thought about all the good moments that we shared in the lifetime of this relationship and suddenly her fear stroke my heart. Biting my lower lip, I thoughtfully turned towards her averting my vision from the snow-stuffed peaks in the serene night. Whenever it snowed the night automatically became quieter.

"We never know whom we're seeing for the last time."

Her words somewhere nested in my thoughts and I shook my head to shoo the slightest notion of it even.

"Stay positive Manik." I murmured. I couldn't let those negativities bite me because I was not alone. I had to tackle someone else too who's costlier than these wild thoughts.

Moving to the bed, I crawled up on it and adjusted myself on the tiny space she left for me and lied down beside her. I tried being as silent as possible not wanting to disturb her sleep. Pulling the same quilt over me, I twisted my head resting it on my palm and looked through the window and every night with her like this was priceless.

I was lost looking outside the window witnessing the countless lightnings slitting the chest of sky and disappearing when suddenly a weight on my chest made me aware my madam rested her head there. She snuggled more into me and I smiled. Releasing hand from under my head, I wrapped it around her back pulling her close and I knew what peace was.

"Hey, woke up?" I whispered on her forehead further covering her with the quilt making sure no part of her was overt to the cold.

She nodded a no keeping her eyes closed.

"You too sleep and don't go away in this cold. I need you." She spoke super drowsily and the next moment she was asleep.

"Yeah..." I sighed in tranquility kissing her forehead.

•••

Next morning,
At college:

Nandini couldn't believe what she was seeing before her eyes. She blinked her eyes harder for a couple of times hoping it was just her imagination. But no matter how many times she blinked, reality wasn't going to change. She witnessed Soha kissing me. Tears started to roll down her cheeks which she couldn't control, neither she wanted to even.

**

I pushed Soha harshly. I still couldn't believe she threw herself at me forcefully and kissed me out of nowhere.

"Soha! What the hell is wrong with you even?" I yelled making her gasp.

"Manik, you know right I still love you." She came closer and I shoved her hands away.

"For God's sake Soha, shut up! You're not even the girl I used to know. I even said that we will be friends for life. Even after all your madness, each time...each fucking time I tried to comfort you... tried to explain you the difference between right and wrong." The glands of my throat were threatening to blast as was face was absolutely red and I shook in anger.

"Why? Why are you silent now? Don't you know I have Nandini in my life now? Soha, if I tried I could cheat on you even but I didn't. Even though I broke the relationship I always tried being there at the hour of your need but.... but you're turning a vamp and remember Soha I wouldn't allow anyone to come between Nandini and me. Come back to what you were Soha, don't make me choosing you regret ever." Depriving her of the chance to defend any of her actions, I rushed towards the parking lot.

My eyes madly searched for Nandini everywhere as I wanted to make sure she's fine. I deserved a chance to explain things. To my surprise, I found Nandini not far away. She sat on a bench sniffing hard, I felt terribly bad for her.

"Nandini, for the last time.... I can explain things. Please." I sat before her on my knees.

"I know..." she sniffed "I know things are as...as pure to you as they are t..to me. But pl please assure me the same....from y..your mouth." She completely broke down.

I sat up on the bench beside her and cupped her face and she howled. It pricked my heart. I promised to never bring tears to her eyes. I felt disappointed of myself only.

I explained everything to her and let her decide.

"Nandini, your faith in me is unshakeable and unquestionable but still I want things to be clear between us. I didn't even know she'd do something like this." I groaned.

"I trust you till the last star in the sky exists." She sobbed.

No man could be luckier. What did I do to deserve her?

End of POV.

~~~

At the Campus:

Nandini treaded along the corridor with anger bursting each vein of her body. She went to meet someone. Definitely, not Manik but someone who's bothering her mind lately. She knew Soha still would be waiting for Manik where she always did, at the lonely staircase. It didn't take her long to find the person out and she climbed up the stairs clenching her jaw so tightly that it had hurt her gums.

Holding Soha's elbow, Nandini spun her sharply and spat "We need to talk." Nandini huffed like a mad bull.

Soha frowned for a while and replied tactfully mouthing a mysterious "Okay".

"What do you think you're doing Soha?" Nandini started grilling and Soha ignored her presence checking her nails.

"Owning my thing back." She replied sourly.

"Manik isn't any thing, Soha and listen to me for the final time, STAY AWAY FROM MANIK. I mean it Soha as do not know to what extent I can go to protect my relationship and you wouldn't like to see that." Nandini glared.

"Why?" Soha screamed.

"Because he's my boyfriend." Nandini yelled pointing finger at herself. Her glare could kill anyone.

"You don't tell me what to do." Soha answered back sternly.

Soha felt it hard for her to keep her enraging emotions in check and she angrily pushed Nandini's shoulder who stepped a little back.

"What the hell! Soha...." Nandini glowered pointing her finger at Soha commanding her to stay within limits.

"He's mine. Get that?" Soha added huskily.

"Saying that constantly won't help you win Manik back..rather it'll only book your bed at the mental asylum." Throwing her a sympathetic nod, Nandini turned around to leave but stopped.

"If you love Manik, stay away from him Soha because his happiness is standing right before you. I'd no problem with you until you started doing such crappy things." Suggesting her Nandini turned to step down.

"He's mine. He's only mine. Aur kisika ho hi nahin sakta woh. He's always..always loved me." Soha muttered under her breath while an unknown absurdity was possessing her. "Who the hell is she to tell me what I should do with my boyfriend. He's mine. Only mine. Manik is so innocent na...she..she brainwashed him. It's all because of her. She... She is the root of everything worse happening in my life. She...." Soha darkly shot daggers at Nandini who's descending down the stairs.

"Nandini..." Soha called aloud while Nandini gave her deaf ears continuing with her movement "He's only mine!" Soha screeched "And I'll make sure he never ends up with you. He's to come around."

Rushing after Nandini, Soha unconsciously pushed her off the stairs making sure Nandini couldn't protect herself. Shouting in fear and pain, Nandini rolled down the stairs and and her head got hit against the hard floor dangerously, not long after which blood started gushing out her badly injured head.

Manik's POV:

I was looking for Nandini everywhere because one of my friends told me she'd seen her boiling in anger. I needed to keep her safe.

"Hey, seen Nandini anywhere?" I asked a student passing by.

"She went to the staircase near the old library." He informed.

That library? That used to stay closed for years and nobody usually visited it. Honestly, I was curious to know what Nandini had to do there but I got the feeling that something wasn't  good.

I tried calling her and it went unanswered and I paced up taking longer steps.

As I was nearby the secluded place, I vaguely heard Soha shouting and panic stroke me hard.

"NANDINI!!!!!" My heart came to my mouth and the stomach churned right away as I saw her bathed in blood lying unconscious on the ground with hair falling all over her face.

Something in me died.

I ran to her picking her head up and resting it on my thigh.

"Nandini??" I called again while blood flew from her wounded head.

She didn't answer and I was sinking down losing the strength to even shout.

As I tried searching for help, I found Soha standing at the top of the staircase staring at me.

"So..Soha?" My voice froze "How could you?"

"Manik... Manik trust me, I didn't mean to..." she descended few steps. She looked frightened as I found her red handed.

I was lacking time as every second was precious. I picked Nandini up in my arms rushing to the hospital and my heart crashed seeing her not reacting to me. She was not my Nandini. She was becoming something else. Soha stood at the staircase being seized.

[Please do vote and comment. The story is nearing its end, so shower all your love lovelies.]

Love,
Rai.

Unedited.