Nandini's POV..

"How does it feels being umm! Being blind?" Manik asked hesitantly and it brought back so many harsh memories. The memories which haunt me since the night I not only lost my parents but my vision too. I turned my face towards the sky and an unintentional tear escaped my eye and maybe absorbed in Manik's shirt.

"Hey! Bella! Umm sorry! I didn't meant to sad you!" Manik immediately apologized and I shook my head.

"It's ok..!" I whispered lowly turning to him. He cupped my cheek and pecked my forehead. Feeling his touch which was so gentle and full of care there was no pity in it, I let out a sob. He pulled me in his arms more and I sobbed more. He was the first who didn't consider me a pitiful creature he considered me a normal human being. Maybe he can understand what I feel. Maybe he would be able to understand me.

"Manik..!" I whispered clutching the back of his hoodie tightly..

"Am here..!" He whispered back kissing my hair..

"Have you ever heard a tale?" I asked lowly and his chest grumbled. He was chuckling.

"Well! I had no one who told me a tale you know! So the answer is simply no!" He said in a casual tone and I slowly parted a little away still my head on his arm.

He has some past too. But it's my time to share my grief..

"Would you like to hear one?" I asked softly and he held my hand, caressing my knuckle.

Say yes na..

"I can hear your lovely voice for hours baby!" His voice was so sugary and loving. The word made my heart flip was 'baby'..

Oh Manik..! Don't...

"Ok! Let me tell you!" I said softly..

"Wow! Am excited..!" His voice was full of excitement.

Ok. Breathe in..! Breathe out...!

I raised my hand and palmed his eyes.

"You won't open your eyes during this tale..!" I instructed him..

"As you say..!" He was nodding his head.

Why always so obedient..?

"Am starting ok..!" I spoke and he hummed.

"Once upon a time, there lived a princess with her little brother, her parents King and Queen in a castle, a big big castle. She was so content with her life. She was carefree. She used to live every moment of life. She used to think that she was the luckiest. She had never crossed the castle gate. She always wanted to experience the life beyond her castle. One day she argued with her parents that she wants to go out and her parents agreed. Next day they all sat in a royal carriage and headed towards the city. All was good but suddenly in their way one of the tyre of the carriage tripped and they all met an accident in the hills. King died at the moment and princess's brother fainted while her mother was taking her last breaths while she was wailing for her eyes as something worst had happened to her she was unable to see.

"Princess!" She heard her mom's painful moan, she was asking her to come close. Following the directions of her mother's voice she went close to her stumbling here and there.

"Mumma! What's happening?" She wailed loudly palming her eyes as the pain was so unbearable and her mother held her tiny hands.

"Princess! Your mumma loves you! Dada loves you! You have to be strong for your brother! You have to be strong for yourself! It's time for me to go!" Her Mother spoke her last words and closed her eyes forever..

From that day she lost everything. Her patents! Her castle! Her vision. But she lived. For her brother! She lived in a hope for a day that will bring her happiness! She faced so many difficulties. She fell so many times. She got wounds so many times. No one was ready to be her friend. She became a social victim! It felt like she was running in a hot desert with which her feet were burning but still she didn't stopped. And one day finally a handsome prince came in her life and...!" I spoke without any pause with my hand still on his eyes when I felt something wet on my palm.

Manik was crying...

I slowly unpalmed his eyes and kept quiet. Because I was done with my tale.

_________