Chapter Five | Illusions - Broken or Intact?

On a good Sunday morning, Nandini loved blasting her music and doing some good skin care routine. Sundays were denoted to pamper herself. Though more than often Manik would accompany her. His reason? "You would feel bored without me." She had wanted to call out his bluff many times but then it wasn't like he was entirely wrong.

Somehow, Nandini's entire world revolved around Manik. It was a simple truth she no longer tried to deny because no matter what she was doing, somehow, it would all go back to him. She was not sure when it started being that way, but it was her reality now.

Even now as she drove towards the nail studio for her nail extensions appointment, her mind wouldn't stop wandering to Manik. It had been four long painful days since they last talked about Aliya. Nandini knew Manik was hurting but it wasn't like she could do anything about it, except for watching all of his pathetic attempts to burn down their kitchen.

He made her eat cookies that could compete with stones. At this rate, Nandini might have to visit a dentist in the following days.

But even then, she couldn't just go to Aliya and tell her to accept Manik. No matter how much Nandini loathed the woman for hurting her this way, it wasn't fair to Aliya, or Dhruv too. It wouldn't make any sense. At the same time, she couldn't tell Manik to move on either, because it would feel like a betrayal to their friendship.

Nandini didn't want him more than she wanted his happiness.

The sudden noise of her phone brought her to the present. Nandini stopped the music player and let out a sigh at the caller i'd before picking up the call - for it was the only option for this particular call or caller.

"Nandini Murty, do I need to fly over to Mumbai to talk to my daughter now? What is this behaviour? Do you not remember this old guy anymore?" The gruff old voice she was too fond of blasted from the other end. Nandini rolled her eyes at the dramatics, "How can you not call me, Nandu?"

"Not Nandu, Appa!" Nandini whined at that nickname. She hated it to the core, "Call me anything but that."

Mr.Murty let out a dramatic sigh, "Fine fine. Today's generation and their cool personalities." She could hear some shuffling in the background, no doubt her Appa getting comfortable. And Maybe - maybe it should have been a red flag in itself. Nandini is usually good at catching those. "Anyways, how are you doing, princess?"

Nandini smiled, slowing down a little when she got on the busier road, "As always, Appa. Amazing. You tell me? Are you taking your medicines on time? Are you resting? Do I need to call Reva?" Reva, his personal caretaker and in charge of his meals and medicines. Reva was a woman in her late forties, so kind and caring. She and Nandini absolutely bonded whenever Nandini visited her Appa much to the old man's taste buds. Being diabetic at fifty four wasn't exactly healthy.

Nandini could imagine her father pouting on the other end as she took another turn. She was only three minutes away from the nail studio. "As if anything I say will stop you. But yes, I am taking care of myself. Though I didn't call you to discuss my health."

And that, caught her attention. Nandini raised a brow even though he couldn't see her from the phone screen.

"Is everything okay, Appa?"

"Of course." He is deliberately stalling it, or maybe not, "I wanted to discuss something with you, bacha."

"What is it, Appa?"

"There's a guy --"

"No- No- No!" Nandini interrupted immediately with a pout, "We aren't talking about this again, Appa. I thought we were past that!"

"Hey now, listen to me first." When she hummed, Mr.Murty laughed. "He is really a nice guy." They all are, she wanted to say. "He is in Mumbai as of now, and usually he doesn't settle in one place, business all over the world but he is willing to after he marries." Mr.Murty paused, "You should meet him once, bacha. Nobody is forcing you."

"Appa!"

"I am sending you his photo. At least take a look, for me please?"

Nandini let out another sigh but eventually, she had reached her destination. Parking the car, Nandini let her father stay on in the background as she opened the photo he sent along with some biodata. Twenty Seven Years old, Harvard graduate, Reyansh Aggarwal.

No way.

"He is a chomu." Was the first thing she said.

Mr.Murty gasped. "Young lady, what is wrong with your language!?"

"Sorry," Nandini laughed out loud. "But he is. Who dresses like that?"

"I see Manik is influencing you too much." Nandini bit her lip, knowing well she was at mistake while Mr.Murty continued, "Since we are on the topic, where is your best friend slash business partner slash secret but obvious crush from ages!? He hasn't called me for ages!"

Nandini was just pouting, hard at all the teasing. "He told me he would call you. He has some business going on?"

A pause. Mr.Murty sighed. "Is it the same woman? Is that why you two went over there?"

"You know that's not entirely true, Appa."

"Means I am half right."

"Appa -"

"I advised you to stay away from his business, Nandu. It is going to be messy. You will be hurt by the end."

"Okay fine." Nandini gave in. Sighed. Looked at the photo again. Reyansh. Sighed. Stared. "I will meet your business prodigy."

"Nandu -"

But Nandini's attention was already taken by an incoming call.  She frowned at the caller I'd. Why was Stella calling her from all over New York here? It must be midnight there.

Mr.Murty was still speaking, telling her at what time Reyansh wanted to meet and that he was sending her the address along with Reyansh's number but Nandini had totally not heard a single word.

"Appa - I will call you back later!"

She was already hanging up the call by the time Mr.Murty agreed. Stella picked up her call on the first ring itself.

"Hey - What? Come again - Manik did what!?"

There goes Nandini's nail appointment.

In the three years of their marriage, there had been only a handful of times Aliya saw her husband tensed like this. He had been on his laptop, and then phone from the previous hour and it is Sunday. He doesn't work on Sundays unless it cannot be helped.

Even now as Aliya folded the laundry clothes and stood in his line of vision, his attention remained on the screen in front of him while his phone pressed against his ear.

"But Mr.Kashyap - we talked about it." Aliya let out a sigh, definitely a deal gone wrong. "But we have started the project, the workers are hired and paid - No - Definitely not. I understand that you were getting a good deal, no, but the least you could have done is respect our years of partnership." Aliya paused, was he angry? Her husband who hardly ever raised his voice at anyone was angry at someone over the phone? "You have to understand that you have put me in a tight spot here, Mr.Kashyap. My company is spending millions on this project. You have known us longer than you know Murty's or Malhotra's."

Aliya froze, the soft fabric of her satin saree slipping through her fingers without so much of a sound. She could still see the look on Manik and Nandini's face before they left.

Was it what she was thinking?

Dhruv slammed the phone on the carpet beside him and leaned back on the couch, grumbling under his breath. The anger, the helplessness, the sheer tension in his shoulders - Aliya was not familiar with so much of emotions on her husband's face, all at once.

"What's wrong?"

Aliya ignored the fallen saree on the floor and picked up Dhruv's phone instead. She kept it on the table and noticed the file opened on the laptop screen. She wasn't familiar with business, much less business reports regarding construction companies but she could tell it was something bad enough to have Dhruv like this.

Dhruv, in response shook his head. He tried to muster up a smile, his hand reaching for her wrist and in a second, Aliya was sitting sown on his thigh with a red hue creeping her cheeks.

"Nothing you should worry about, Mrs.Sehgal." Aliya smiled, leaning on his chest and Dhruv hummed. "Everything is fine."

"I can see."

"Seriously, It is just a business conflict. I am sorry if I scared you." He gestured to his phone.

Aliya shook her head. "No, you didn't."

"I need to talk to Mr.Malhotra," Aliya stiffened, and she hoped he wouldn't notice how sweaty her palms had gotten. "It should be okay."

"Of course, it will be." She smiled.

Maybe Aliya should be the one to talk to him.

Aliya was already planning the part where she would talk to Manik in her head before she stood up from Dhruv's lap, and going back to her own abandoned work.

"Manik! Manik!"

Nandini was seething. All thanks to Manik - who was nowhere to be seen. The few servants she could see working around - they all seemed to avoid her gaze which only meant one thing, Manik had known and deliberately caused trouble. Even the servants knew all about his antics by now.

Poor Stella had to call her at twelve thirty in the night to tell her Manik was suddenly interested in making a deal and it is not looking good because this man paid double to get that piece of land which wasn't even worth it. It was a loss. More importantly, he snatched the deal right under Mr. Sehgal's nose.

Stella had sent her more details but Nandini hadn't gotten the time to check it. She had to cancel her nails appointment and do this on Sunday noon. She couldn't believe her luck and her best friend both.

"Manik! I know you are here!"

A crash!

and thud!

All of the servants in her sight froze at the loud sound. Nandini narrowed her eyes, climbing up the stairs and hoping to God Manik was not up to something even more stupid -

And God didn't listen to Nandini.

Because Manik was ass down on the floor, groaning as he clutched his elbow and the window - the fucking window was open. A vase, a beautiful vase now murdered on the floor, shattered into more pieces Nandini could count. Her eyes went wide at the implication. Her mouth wide open at the sheer audacity of this six feet tall man.

"Manik." Nandini stepped inside, gritting her teeth. "What are you doing?"

"Escaping you?"

Nandini scoffed, no laughed. Scoffed again and then laughed. Manik looked at her with wide eyes.

"Are you broken?"

"You are asking me?" She asked in response. "You are asking me!? Mr.Manik Malhotra what did you do!?"

At that, Manik sat down properly, though still cradling his precious elbow which was becoming a little red and was starting to worry Nandini now. It would need some ice. He was such an idiot. Nandini shook her head to avoid getting distracted by his puppy eyes.

"I swear I didn't do anything -" When she wouldn't look away, Manik stood up from his place wearily, "I am not lying, Nandini. I didn't do anything that would cause you to get this angry."

"And yet you were executing an escape plan." She gestured to the open window.

"Okay, I might have known." He paused. "A little bit. But it is the land you need. This man bought it from Khurana, that stale old bitch wouldn't give it to you but gave it to this man. And then this guy signed a deal with Sehgal's and I just convinced him to sign one with me?"

Nandini frowned. "Wait, Khurana? What are you talking about?"

Manik let out a sigh like he wasn't getting paid enough for this. "I mean, you wanted to build a hospital on this and I got you the land."

"You caused Mr. Sehgal millions of loss."

Manik shrugged. "That's not on me."

"Did you do it because of Aliya?" And no, deep down Nandini knew Manik was not that petty but then he loved Aliya and when Manik loved, he loved with his every single breath. He didn't care about what others thought, he did it for the love he cherished so much.

She had seen him make decisions that were more stupid than this because of Aliya. For God's sake, he got into business only because he wanted to be rich so he could pursue Aliya. He learned English 'because Nandini how can I not know English if I want to compete with Dhruv Sehgal?'.

Manik had fallen completely silent at her accusation. "What?"

"You did for Aliya? Because she said no to you so you went after her husband."

Manik laughed, hands rested on either side low on his waist as he laughed and laughed.

"There's no way you think so low of me."

"That's not what I meant, Manik."

"No, you did." He shook his head. "You are saying I am some lowlife cheap man who would go after another man only because he married the woman I loved. Do you know me so little, Nandini?"

And again. No. Nandini knew him. Manik was not like that. In these three years, not for once had his plans deviated from getting with Aliya. He had never for once claimed he wanted to take revenge from Dhruv or anything that sort of.

Yet, the words were out of Nandini's mouth before she could help it. "It is not like you never hid things from me."

"And where is that coming from?" Manik frowned.

"From the fact you purchased a land and spent more than necessary on it."

"It is your dream."

"And?"

"How does money matter when you want it?"

"I don't want it by ruining someone's hardwork, Manik." Nandini could feel the salty water brimming in her eyes. How could Manik not understand. "I wanted to help people. What you have done - it will ruin so many people's lives."

"You can't take responsibility for that,"

"Then who will, Manik?"

"Why are you asking me that?" Manik was getting frustrated. His elbow was stinging now, but it wasn't what disturbed him. It was the way Nandini was looking at him, like she couldn't believe he was saying all that. Like she couldn't believe he would choose her over millions of money. Like.. Like she was disappointed in him.

"Maybe you should let it remain a dream, Manik. Not every dream is meant to come true."

"Nandini -"

Nandini shook her head. "It's okay. Let's not talk about it."

"No, we should talk about -"

"I am short on time." She cut him off, looking anywhere but at him. Manik might not have feelings for her but he was still the man Nandini was in love with. "There's something - there's someone I need to meet today."

"Right now?" It was fifteen minutes before one. Who was she meeting at this time?

"Yes,"

"Can I ask who? And where?"

"Of course." Nandini looked down, biting down her lower lip as she prepared herself. "Appa saw a guy for me. He wants me to meet him, so I am. It is just lunch." She paused, still not being able to look at him. "And - I - I will be back before four." That's three hours. "I will get going, I will be late otherwise." And then, she finally mustered up some courage to look at him but couldn't go past his elbow. Red and glaring at her. "I will send someone with some ice."

"I can help myself." God. He sounded so angry.

"Okay," Nandini nodded. "I will go then."

Manik didn't say a word as she walked out of his room.

Manik hated the whole idea of Nandini meeting a stranger in Mumbai out of all places. They didn't live here, people here didn't always have the best intentions. Worse? He knew nothing about this guy she was meeting. Red flags all over.

He watched in silence as Nandini - now ready in the dull brown jumpsuit - he seriously hated that piece more than anything else in her wardrobe - as she sat in her car and drove away to meet this unknown man Manik might need to break face of by the end of the day.

He narrowed his eyes, fingers twitching. Maybe - not maybe. He definitely shouldn't do it. Nandini trusted him. He was betraying her trust but then it was for her safety. They shared locations with each other because of emergencies like these only.

A knock on his door disturbed him right as he checked her current location.

"Sir, Nandini mam told you to give you ice." Manik glared at the poor man and then at the ice so hard that if he had fire in his eyes, he would have had two melted things at his door.

"When your Nandini ma'am comes back, tell her to bring it herself." The servant opened his mouth in protest but Manik had already turned away. He picked up his car keys, and also took out a black cap from the wardrobe. "I am going out." He passed the servant but then paused, turned around on his heels again. "If Nandini m'aam hears about this, I will put that whole ice in your mouth." Manik eyed the ice and the servant gulped, already taking a step back and nodding his head. Not even daring to open his mouth. Though Manik was already gone to notice that.

He reached the restaurant fifteen minutes later than her. Nandini was sitting all alone when he took a seat near the window. He made sure he could see or hear the table Nandini was sat at, but nobody on that table would know of his existence.

Except the damn waiter who looked at him as if he needed to call his manager at seeing Manik trying different seats.

"What?" Manik asked the boy, hardly eighteen. He looked like he was new on the job. God. Manik hoped he was not the boy's first customer. He would hate for someone to hate their job at their first try because of him.

"Is there an issue with the seats, sir?"

"No. You can leave."

"But sir - the order?" The guy Nandini was supposed to meet was around six feet tall, and dressed in a dull red and black flannel. Who dresses like that? Manik raised a brow as Nandini stood up and smiled at the man. He made her wait. If it was Manik, he would be skinned alive by now.

Manik fisted his palm on his thigh. The boy took a step back. "Sir?"

"No, I will tell you when I need something."

"But -" And God. Manik knew. He knew. High end restaurants needed you to order something because otherwise you were just sitting there and enjoying their air conditioner in the summer heat.

Manik snatched the menu from the table and pointed to the first dish on it. The waiter, the boy looked even more hesitant but then slowly - not risking his sanity, he backtracked with a "serving you in a few minutes, sir" which Manik didn't quite hear because he was busy staring at the way the guy was smiling at his best friend. Was it even possible to stretch your lips like that? This guy was more monkey than monkeys were monkeys.

Chomu.

Manik rolled his eyes, leaned in to hear them.

"- and I was thinking it was time to settle at one place now. New York might be a good place." Settle at one place? Where was he even from?

"I did hear from Appa." Nandini was too kind, her smile too sweet. "What made you choose New York though?"

Exactly. Maybe Manik should give this guy some counselling? Mumbai was great for business.

"I mean, my branch in New York needs me more. Besides, I have always loved the city."

"And you know Appa through?"

"Oh," he laughed. Manik scrunched up his nose. Was there something funny? "Did uncle not tell you?"

Uncle?

UNCLE?

"Uncle?" Nandini questioned.

"Yes, Uncle. My father and uncle are long time best friends. They lost contact after college though, met at a party a month ago and reconnected."

A month and the old man already wanted to marry Nandini to this monkey faced guy.

The conversation continued even as another waiter brought Manik's order. Manik offered a thank you without sparing them a glance.

He was more focused on the way - that monkey man was placing his hand on Nandini's that rested on the top of the table. Who does skinship in the first meet like that? How old was this guy? Did he have no manners?

Manik frowned, staring at the sandwich on his table. It reminded him that Nandini didn't even like restaurants in the first place. The thought alone made him not want to eat it. But he still picked it up and ate because he missed lunch and he was hungry.

Yet, half way through his hunger seemed to disappear. Nandini laughed at something the guy said. It wasn't even funny. He didn't even know why she was tolerating this man. Every other time, she always gets up ten minutes in.

Manik let out another sigh. His phone pinged at the table as he gestured for the waiter. He couldn't sit there longer and watch this shit show.

Manik glanced at the text in the meantime.

Aliya
Can we meet? I will come by your place by four.

It was already three.

"Is she your girlfriend, sir?" Manik looked up abruptly. It was the same young waiter staring at Nandini and the guy. "Is she cheating on you?" And just because the guy is in desperate need of some therapy, "I can relate to you, you know. This girl I loved  --"

Oh. No. No. No. Absolutely not. Manik was not about to be a listener to the boy's love slash sob story.

"No."

"Are you a stalker then?"

What.The.Fuck.

"No! What makes you think I am a stalker?" And maybe that was the wrong question to ask. Because in his black cap and black attire and black shades and looking into the single direction the whole day - Manik absolutely looked like a stalker.

The boy hesitates, probably deciding that this definitely needed him to call his manager but Manik wasn't an idiot either.

"You see, she is my best friend." He smiled, "I am just looking out for her. She doesn't know this guy."

The boy nodded along, seemingly convinced and so damn naive.

"Don't trust everyone who says that to you though." Because there could be real stalkers out there spying on girls they only watched from afar. Manik was not about to go into details for the young man. "Also, if you love that girl who broke your heart, why don't you chase her."

"Her father is a policeman."

Manik nodded, stopped and stared at the young man. After a moment's thought, Manik patted the boy's shoulder.

"Why don't you do me a favour?"

The boy smiled, "Yes, sir?"

"Get me my bill, please. And I will take the rest to go."

He had never seen a smile fade that slow except for in dramas. Manik would sit in silence for the poor boy before hitting bed. For now, he was going to be busy.

And he needs to send Aliya his address too.

Nandini told Reyansh the truth. The truth he had already heard from her father before he decided to meet her. He told her he only wanted to meet her because he thought she was amazing for loving someone who was in love with someone else.

As if she was some unique piece of literature for him to study. Oh, he read a lot. Half of the time, Nandini wasn't even sure which books and authors he was talking about. She did read books herself, but she wouldn't call herself an avid reader. Nandini only read more books when she was teaching Manik.

Manik would probably understand and know what Reyansh was talking about.

The thought of Manik brought back the recent fight she had with him. She had lost control, too caught up in the emotions that Manik was willing to go as far as ruin someone because of a woman. She had known - nevermind. She needed to clear the air with him.

Nandini let out a sigh as she crossed the threshold of their mansion. However, the sights of the servants running around in hurry as they cleaned the place stopped her in her tracks.

"Excuse me?" She called one of them, the same one she had ordered to get Manik some ice before she left. Nandini looked on with wide eyes as the servant pretended not to hear her, his lips pressed in thin line as he knocked into the couch. "Hey -"

"I am sorry, Mam." He muttered immediately, and then scurried away.

"What is wrong with everybody?" Nandini needed a damn break. Her head had already started to throb a little and it was just four in the evening.

Just as she planned to get to the kitchen to get some water, Nandini heard Manik's footsteps echoing in the hallway. Moments later, the man himself was rushing down the steps - his lips stretched into a wide grin.

"Nandini!"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong." Manik chuckled, "It is Aliya." Nandini frowned, not getting it. Manik shook his head, crowding closer as he clutched her shoulders, "She is coming here, to meet me."

Oh. Nandini's lips parted. She was supposed to say something. Maybe I am happy for you, Manik. But the truth was Nandini was not happy.

Her heart was breaking, yet again.

"Oh." Was all she said as she stepped back, his hands slipping away from her shoulders. "Okay."

And then she was climbing up the stairs. Maybe, if she had looked hard enough, she would have felt the sweat on Manik's palms, or seen the way his fingers fidgeted, which did only when he wasn't sure about something.

Maybe if Nandini would have looked hard enough, she would have noticed Manik wasn't vibrating with the happiness he tried to show he was feeling.

Maybe, it just was too late now.

Or Maybe,

Nandini was just too tired of it.