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Manik was looking for Nandini but she was no where to be found. He was feeling restless. He searched for her almost everywhere. He was asking everyone weather they have seen Nandini or not. They also denied.

Manik remembered what happened in the morning.

Flashback
After Manik took Nandini in college, Nandini said, "Manik, you should leave now."

She was looking here and there, Manik asked being confused, "Whare?"

"To Fab5. You should practice. Fab4 must be waiting for you." Nandini said.

"They aren't. They know I'm here with you." Manik said with a smile.

That time Fab4 too came there.

"Hey, Nandini, how are you?" Alya asked side hugging her.

"I'm fine."

Cabir asked. "I heard you guys were talking about us. That's so sweet of you two. You both think so much of us. It's making me emotional."

"Cabir!" Manik gritted his teeth.

"Sorry. Bad joke." Cabir muttered while others smiled.

"Guys, I need to go to library. See you all later." Nandini said and walked away.

"Nandini." Manik called from behind but she didn't turn back.

"Manik, I think she needs some alone time. Let her be for some time." Mukti said.

"No, I can't. You won't understand." Manik ran to the direction Nandini went.

He was searching for Nandini but couldn't spot her. So, he directly went to library and asked librarian, if Nandini had come there or not but he denied. It made him more worried.

He was running here and there but Nandini no where. Manik decided to look in the terrace. When he reached there, his breath stuck at his throat. Nandini was standing at the edge of terrace.

He called her but she didn't hear him. It was as if only her body was present there. Her mind was somewhere else. He ran and reached near her. Manik tried to hold her from behind. But jerked his hands and moved away. "DON'T." She shouted making Manik startled.

"Nandini, that's me only.  It's okay."

Manik was panting due to all the running. Nandini was still silent looking down. Manik could see her dilemma.

"You had kept all this hidden in your heart till now. Whatever happened that night wasn't normal. We can understand. But let it all out. I am here. We can talk whatever you want to. I'll hear you. I'm asking you since that night. But you didn't say anything nor you shared anything. Just say. Let it all out."

Manik took a step towards her but she moved back being scared.

"Nandini, why are you so scared? Listen, you don't need to be scared. Talk to me."

Nandini was crying hysterically. She started saying. "How did I let it happen? Pandit ji! I couldn't understand his intention. Careless! I was so careless! You had warned me. You warned me so many times. But I didn't hear you. I just thought about his face value. I never doubted him because he was my teacher and amms's student. I stopped you always. I asked you to be careful but see what happened?"

Nandini was sobbing hard. Manik nodded his head negatively. He was about to hold her but thinking about her reaction he stopped himself. Nandini fell on the floor crying badly.

"Please, calm down. It's not your fault."

Manik also sat in front of her. He was about to cup her face but Nandini moved her face behind. Manik fist his palm to calm himself.

"Listen, Nandini. Why are you blaming yourself? You aren't wrong. It's all that pandit's fault. So, stop punishing yourself." Manik was making her understand.

Nandini heard everything and tried to calm down. After some more time, she became normal and then they came downstairs.
end of flashback

Manik was getting frustrated when he spotted Navya coming down from stairs. He ran to her. Navya was startled seeing him coming like that.

"Where is Nandini? Where is she?" Manik shouted on top of his voice.

"She said she wants to be alone. So, she left."

"WHAT??? Where did she go?" Manik shouted imagining all the possible happenings which scared him to death.

"I don't know." Navya replied being scared of his anger.

"What do you mean by you don't know? I had told you clearly not to leave her alone even for a moment. Then why did you let her go?" Manik's restlessness had no bound.

After the morning incident, Manik was getting more scared. He knew how much she tried, she is still not fine. She is still in that trauma and they have a long way to go to overcome it.

Manik was passing through the room where Nandini used to practice when his heart started beating in faster pace. He opened the door slowly. He looked around but it was empty. He was about to go closing the door when he heard a sniffing sound from behind the door.

Manik turned back and looked behind but what he saw, made his heart sank. There was Nandini, sitting in the corner curling like a ball shivering badly.

Manik panicked and sat in front of her.

"Nandini, what are you doing here?" Manik was about to hold her when she again moved back to stop him from touching her. Manik fisted his palm to control himself. He calmed himself down and tried to calm her down. "Nandini, what's wrong with you? Are you okay? You are sweating."

Nandini was just crying. She didn't even pay heed to what Manik was saying.

"It's okay, Nandini. Calm down. Take a deep breath. Relax."  He himself took a deep breath to show her. Nandini looked at him still crying and shivering.

That time Manik's phone buzzed. He took out his phone and it was from chachi. He looked at Nandini for once before taking the call. "Hello, chachi."

"Manik beta, where's Nandini? I've been trying to call her for so long but she is not picking up." Chachi told being worried.

"Chachi, don't worry, I will drop her home soon." He replied looking at Nandini's devasted state. She was still sobbing looking at other side.

"Okay."

Chachi cut the call. Manik put his phone in his pocket and turned towards Nandini.

"Nandini, look at me. It's me. Your Manik."

Nandini was still looking away not turning towards him. He was asking again and again. He too was getting fraustrated. This time Manik gritted his teeth and told sternly, "Nandini, look at me."

Nandini turned towards him. She was not crying anymore but she was shivering.

"It's me, Manik. Your Manik. See I am here only. I'm not going anywhere. Not even for a moment. Nandini, relax."

But Nandini was not ready to hear him. Manik held her arms forcefully and was trying to take her out of the corner. Nandini's body stiffened. All the memories when pandit was forcing her came in front of her eyes, she again started panicking.

Manik couldn't take it anymore and unwantedly slapped her lightly. Nandini was startled for a moment and she too slapped him with all her force. Manik was shocked with the sudden slap. He didn't expect that. Nandini looked at her hand and realized what she just did.

Manik held his cheeks. Nandini for once looked at her face then looked down.

"That's the spirit. That's like my Nandini who always fights back. So, just calm down. Relax. I'm there for you." Manik was saying her to calm down continuously which actually calmed her down. She wiped her sweats from her forehead with her palms slowly.

"Feeling better?"

Nandini nodded her head slowly. Manik smiled at her. He got up and asked her to get up as well.

"Where is your phone? Chachi had called me. She called you but it wasn't available. She was so worried for you." Manik asked when Nandini got up.

"Maybe it's in my bag. I didn't notice."

"Fine. I've told her that I will drop you soon. So, let's go."

Nandini nodded and started walking with him. Manik messaged everyone that they are leaving.

Nandini settled on the passenger seat and Manik was driving the car. Suddenly something stuck his mind. "Nandini, I had asked you clearly to be with Navya, then why did you leave alone."

Manik's voice was soft yet stern. Nandini was till now looking outside but hearing him, she turned her gaze towards him. She remembered what Navya had told her. She felt worse for what she did in that room. But neither she could take pandit out of her mind nor she could handle what those students were saying.

"What happened? Where are you lost?" Manik asked seeing her not answering and getting lost.

Nandini's trance broke. "Nowhere. I... I just wanted to be alone for sometime."

She looked down at her lap. Manik stopped the car as they reached Nandini's place.

He turned towards Nandini and spoke softly. "Nandini, I know you are hiding so many things inside you. You are scared. But I have always told you that I am with you no matter what and you can share anything with me. I won't judge you. Please talk to me. Let it all out. Keeping everything inside won't help you at all to move on."

Nandini looked at him for a few moment.

"I will tell you, Manik. But I need some time to gather myself. I know you want to help me. Trust me I will tell you all. Just give me sometime."

Since that night, it was first time when Nandini talked to him like this. He couldn't be happier. He nodded his head in approval when Nandini passed him a smile. Then Nandini went in and Manik drove off to his place.

Precap: Guessssss.....

How was the chapter? Liked it?

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What's about Manik? Loving him?

Guess what the students were saying whom Nandini heard?

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Also if you are interested, then you can check out my new book "Tales of Heart"

Bye.

26.09.2022