Nandini's POV

The next thing I heard when I gained consciousness is Manik saying he didn't want to lose me! I don't know whether it was my mind or I was just imagining things but I heard his voice choke as if he was controlling not to cry.

I slowly opened my eyes and blinked them several times to adjust to the surrounding. Manik was beside me holding my hand and resting his head on it.

I made a movement and his head snapped up. I looked away not wanting to look in his eyes.

"Na-Nandini!" His voice broke and I pursed my lips to control myself.

"Yo-You are okay right? Should I call the doctor? Wait I'll call him!" He was going frantic and I didn't have any other option than to squeeze his hand tightly to stop him.

He stopped but still I didn't look at him. The bed dipped beside me and I could feel his warmth but ignoring it I gulped the tears which were threatening to fall.

"Ro-Rose!" He whispered and I shut my eyes tightly at his painful voice.

"You know I'm much worse than your parents who adopted you!" He chuckled dryly.

"They physically abused you! But see I-I'm doing worse! I give you so much pain saying all those things which I shouldn't! Still you don't say anything!" He choked and a drop of tear fell on my cheek.

I gasped inaudibly when I realised he was crying! A tear fell from my eye and got soaked in the pillow.

"I don't deserve you Rose! I don't! I was so blind in bringing you here that I didn't realise that I will be the only one giving you more and more pain pushing you in my dark world!" His body tensed and I bit my lip to control my sobs.

"But not anymore! I'm setting you free Rose! I'm setting you free!" He uttered those words and my head jerked in his direction in shock.

"Yes! You are free to go and I promise you won't face any trouble because of me!" He stared at me with his moist eyes while tears flowed from my eyes.

"You were right! I am a monster! A monster who is heartless!" He clenched his jaws and looked away.

"Wh-Who are you?" I spoke for the first time and he looked at me shocked.

"Who are you Mr. Manik Malhotra?" I asked furiously.

"Who gave you the fucking right to decide about my life? You bring me here whenever you want! You throw me out whenever you want! I am a toy for you right? You got bored with me so now you want to throw me!" I sneered and he looked guilty.

"Listen to me and listen to me good! You are fucking no one to decide about my life! Get that?" I said his exact same words to let him know how it feels.

He closed his eyes tight as he heard me saying that.

"I deserve this!" He murmured but I heard it.

"Yes you deserve this! And you deserve much more worse for treating me like this! And you know what I am NOT going anywhere! If you don't want me here then I won't come infront of you!" I said coldly and he stared at me with pain in his eyes.

"Ro -!"

"Nandini! It's Nandini for you!" I interrupted and he curled his fists.

"Nandini please! It's not that I don't want you to stay here! Okay I'm sorry! I won't force you for anything!" He pleaded but I stayed stiff.

"Now please eat something! You haven't had anything from yesterday and that is why you fainted! I don't want anything to happen to you atleast!" I didn't reply but I heard him sigh as he got up and moved out of the room.

After some minutes he walked in with a plate and came towards me. I showed no interest in having anything but he forcefully made me look at him.

"You want to stay angry, then stay but you have to eat!" He demanded and I glared at him but ignoring it he pushed a morsel inside my mouth.

After making me eat he gave me a glass of water and keeping the plate aside stared at me. Silence spread between us as I looked everywhere but at him.

"Nandini!" He sighed and held my hand.

"My past is something which brings out the worst in me! I can't fucking seem to handle myself when it comes to my past! I'm fucking messed up and I -!"

"You don't want me to be a part of it!" I ended with a sharp tone.

"Let's be true Manik! You don't trust me enough to share your past with me!" I said harshly then I intended to.

"It's not -!" Before he could continue there was a knock on the door.

Bhai and Navya walked in and Manik looked away. I smiled faintly at Navya avoiding Bhai.

"Are you fine now?" Navya asked worriedly and I smiled at her concern.

"I'm perfectly fine!" I assured her and she sighed.

"Nandini!" Bhai called and I looked away.

"I'm sorry!" He whispered as he stood beside me and kissed my head.

"I know I behaved like a jerk yesterday! I'm sorry!" He said and hugged me and I couldn't help but hug him back.

"You are feeling better?" He asked and I nodded.

"Good!" He smiled.

"Where is Rishabh?" I asked.

"He doesn't know about any of this!" Bhai said and I sighed in relief.

"He shouldn't even know about it!" I said and they nodded.

After they left I sat there and looked at Manik who was looking down as if guilty. I felt bad for him but then this time he had hurt me badly and I wanted to know the reason!

"Manik can you please leave -!"

"My Mom!" I stopped as he uttered those words.

"My Mom and I were so happy in our world! We needed nothing else in our lives! She fulfilled my every goddamn wish! You know she was a singer! Her voice it was melodious! It gave peace, solace to my heart! And her only dream was for me to become a famous singer! She wanted to see me on stage performing right infront of her with those cheering sounds!" He stopped as if imagining it and tears brimmed in my eyes seeing his condition.

"Manik!" I called softly and he looked at me with his dazed eyes.

I gestured him to come to me and he did as he layed his head on my lap. I caressed his hair with my left hand as he clutched my right hand close to his heart.

"I loved singing Nandini! I loved singing for her! She was my everything! Everyday she used to teach me! Life was so beautiful with her!" He had a goofy smile on his face which made my heart break more and more.

"That room! It is for her! All those instruments you saw there are only for her! It's a music room for her Nandini!" Tears escaped his eyes as he clutched my hand in a painful grip pressing on his heart.

I sobbed silently for what he went through and was still going through. I was wrong. He didn't deserve this. He didn't.

"You want to know why I got so mad seeing you there? I don't allow anyone there! Not even myself! And you - you were going to touch it and so I lost my control Nandini! I didn't mean to say all that Nandini! I didn't! I'm sorry!" He turned and hugged my waist crying and making me cry with him.

This was the first time I had seen him crying and I was glad I was there by his side.

He stayed like that for sometime till all his pain flowed in his tears. And I know this wasn't the end. There was more. A lot more. And I was going to wait for it. Because he atleast opened up to me.

"Manik!" I tried to separate him but he held me more tightly.

"You know Nandini when I saw you fainting infront of me I-I felt like I was the same Manik who witnessed his Mom -!" He choked and I hugged him more tightly.

"Shh! It's okay! I'm here! I'm not going anywhere!" I whispered although tears continued to flow from my eyes.

"Manik! Look at me." I forcefully separated him and stared in his eyes.

"Your Rose is not going anywhere! I'm there with you till my last breath!" I spoke staring intently in his eyes as he did the same.

"You won't leave me?" He asked as he cupped my left cheek.

"Never!" I whispered.

"I'm sorry!" He whispered back.

"Shh Manik! You need to sleep!" I tried to close his eyes but he held my hand.

"Not without you!" He said and I smiled laying beside him.

He hid his face in the crook of my neck and I threw my hands around his torso. He kept on shifting and when after sometime he didn't stop I sighed.

"Manik! What is it?" I asked softly.

"I can't sleep." He confessed and I couldn't help but stare at this adorable broken child.

"Can I ask you something?" I whispered staring at him and he just nodded.

"Can we go to that room? Please!" I asked and his body went stiff.

His eyes were begging me not to do that but it was for his betterment. I didn't give up and he closed his eyes.

"Do you trust me?" I asked and his eyes snapped open.

He searched for something in my eyes before nodding a yes. Without saying anything else I held his hand and took him to that room. We stood outside the room as Manik stared at the door with a blank expression. I opened the door and pulled him inside. As I was going to switch on the light he interrupted.

"No please! Let it be!" He pleaded and I obliged.

"Manik close your eyes!" I said.

"But why?" He asked.

"Manik please!" I said and he sighed.

I switched on the light as he closed his eyes and walked towards the piano that was kept there. Opening it I trailed my hand on it as it made noise.

"Nandini!" Manik said as his voice shook.

I turned and saw him still standing with his eyes closed. I brought him near the piano and made him stand beside it.

"Now keep your hand on your heart!" I whispered and he did as told.

"Now just listen!" Saying so my hands started playing the piano from what my Mom had taught me.

[Tune into this song - Movie : Lootera ; Song : Manmarziyaan]

Dil Mein Jaagi..
Ishq Waali Manmarziyan, Manmarziyan

Zid Ki Maari
Bholi Bhaali
Mannmarziyan
Mannmarziyan

Ab Talak Se
Kuchh Alag Si
Manmarziyan.. Manmarziyaan..

Hum Zameen Pe
Toh Falak Se
Manmarziyan
Manmarziyaan...

Sikkon Jaise
Hai Uchhaali
Manmarziyan, Manmarziyaan
Zidd Ki Maare
Bholi Bhaali
Manmarziyaan, Manmarziyaan

Be-Adab Si
Par Gazab Si
Manmarziyan, Manmarziyan ...

Hosh Khoya
Par Sambhali
Manmarziyan
Manmarziyaan

Zidd Ki Maari
Bhooli Bhaali
Manmarziyan, Manmarziyan

I opened my eyes and saw Manik already staring at me intensely with his eyes moist and jaw clenched.

He closed his eyes tight and opened them turning around and marching out of there. I called him and followed him behind in his room.

As I reached the room I saw him sitting on the bed running a hand in his already messy hair. He looked restless.

"Manik!" I called him walking inside and he looked up at me.

In two long strides he reached me and engulfed me in a hug. I hugged him back startled and he showed no sign of letting me go.

"Are you alright!?" I asked in the hug and he just hummed sighing, tightening his hold.

"Manik will you sing for me!?" I asked hesistantly in the hug as he tensed.

"I need some time Nandini!" He whispered and I nodded.

"I'm always there for you!" I promised and I felt him smile against my neck.

"I know Rose!" Saying so he kissed my neck making me fist his shirt in my grip.

"I can call you that right?" He asked breaking the hug.

"For now you can!" I said and we both chuckled as our foreheads rested against each other.

~~~

Okay so the new cover is here and i love it!

Thankyou for the lovely cover ElysianCoral