"I know you are really angry with Manik. You should be. I am also angry with Manik. But..."

Nandini got worried hearing her as she didn't complete her words. "But what maa?"

"Actually that day when Manik was coming back from your place, he met with an accident. He was admitted in hospital. We got him home today only. Will you come once? I can understand, if you don't want to."

Nandini didn't reply anything. She just cut the call and got ready as fast as she could. She was coming out from her room when Mukti saw her going out hurriedly.

"Nandini, where are you going at this hour? Should I come with you?"

"I have to go now. I will tell you later. I have something really important to do."

Saying this Nandini didn't wait anymore and left from there for Manik's place.

Neela was surprised seeing Nandini there but she was happy too.

"Where is Manik, maa?" Nandini asked directly of him.

"He is sleeping in his room."

Nandini stood outside of Manik's room and found him sleeping with a frown on his forehead. He had bandage on his forehead and plaster on his arm. She didn't feel good seeing him that way. She was on the verge of breaking down.

Nandini turned back to find Neela, Maddhaym, Aryaman and Mukti standing there. Nandini wiped her tears hurriedly.

"Still you will say you don't have feelings for Manik? You hate him?" Mukti asked with a small smile on her face seeing Nandini.

"What are you all doing here?" Nandini was taken aback with their presence here. She didn't expect them to come here at this hour.

"We knew that hearing about Manik's accident, you will come here only." Aryaman passed an assuring smile to her.

Nandini looked at him in surprise. "You knew about Manik's accident?"

"We all knew but didn't tell you." Mukti cleared the air.

"I am leaving, maa." Nandini didn't say anything to them but Neela.

"Wait Nandini. If you hate Manik, then why did you come here?" Aryaman tried to stop her.

"Maa had asked me to come here once an I couldn't disobey her."

"Leave all this and come back here. Nandini, I know whatever happened was not something which should have happened. But being a mother a can the sorrow in Manik's eyes. Can you give her one last chance?"

Hearing their voice Manik's slumber broke. He got up seeing Nandini there. He came and stood in front of Nandini.

"Nandini, what are you doing here?"

This time Maddhaym came ahead and spoke up who was all quiet till now. "See Nandini. Manik had a misunderstanding about me and you. That time you were not well and you also didn't have any contact with him, that's why he took everything in a wrong way. That's quite natural.

If that day Manik had come to us and confronted us, then this day would have never arrived. But he chose to let you go. That day in shopping mall, he was worried about you that may be u am cheating on you that's why he asked me.

You both love each other but because of one misunderstanding you are going to break your relationship. It's not good. I request you two to sort it out."

"Nandini, I know Manik had made a big mistake. That's why he is suffering from last three years. But when he realized his mistake, he went to you to solve everything. You both have enough time to start afresh. Please come back and give Manik one last chance." Mukti held Nandini's hand and caressed her hair.

"Nandini, I know I am at fault. I will accept all your punishment but not this. Please come back and I will never repeat my mistake. I promise." Manik's eyes had teared up.

Nandini couldn't refuse them. So, she stayed back with Manik. It's not that she was really happy without Manik. She knew deep in her heart she could never hate Manik. She loves him way too much to hate him.

One night Nandini was standing in the terrace and was thinking about their past days. They had so many dreams together. But one accident ruined everything.

Nandini was lost in her thoughts when Manik came there and stood beside her.

"What are you thinking, Nandini?"

"Nothing. Why did you get up? Go and take rest. You are still not well."

"You have not forgiven me yet. Isn't it?" Manik let out a sigh.

Nandini looked at Manik for a while before turning her gaze to other side and gulped. The topic was still very sensitive to her and it was normal only. "Leave all this now, Manik."

"Why? You could not forgive me. It's the truth."

Nandini was silent.

"Then why did you stay back? You could have gone away. You shouldn't be somewhere where you're not happy. I don't want that."

"I can't deny everyone." Nandini whispered. She herself was not confident with her reply.

"You can go away, Nandini. I won't hold you back. You shouldn't suffer anymore because of me."

"Why?"

"I can't see hatred for me in your eyes. Every moment! I will stay away from you but won't be able to tolerate that."

Manik stared leaving from there but Nandini held his hand from behind. She made him turn towards her and look into his eyes directly.

"Now say, can you see hatred in my eyes for you?"

Manik kept looking into her eyes for a long time.

"What happened? Say?" Nandini urged.

"I love you, Nandini."

Nandini pushed him a little from her and told sarcastically, "Yeah, I saw how much you love me."

Manik again pulled her closure and told, "I love you that's why I couldn't see you with someone else. That's why I lost it. That's why I married you so that you will be in front of me all the time."

"But that was for revenge. Manik, you didn't understand your Nandini at all, right? How did you think that your Nandini will forget you and move on with someone else?"

"I know you can't do something like this. But you were not contacting me. I was not able to find you anywhere. Then I see you with Madhaym. That's where I couldn't control myself anymore and lost my mind. I can't see you with anyone else than me. Nandini, let's forget all this and start afresh just the we had dreamt our life to be. Will you give me one chance?"

"Then what will happen to Alya? Your relationship with Alya what will you with that?"

"Nandini, you have forgotten that she is my best friend. She had also invited you for her marriage but you couldn't go because of your exam. Remember?"

"Ohh! Alya is your best friend. Sorry I couldn't remember. I have forgotten a lot of thing after the accident. I can remember them only when someone makes me remember those."

"No problem, I am there to make you remember everything."

"Hmm..."

Manik pulled Nandini close to himself and kept his forehead over her.

"I love you."

It made Nandini smile to her fullest. She ruffled his hairs slowly and hugged him tightly.

"I love you too, monster Manik"

~The end~

So, here this book too came to an end. Hope you all enjoyed the ride. Don't forget to share your thoughts regarding this book.

Do rate this book out of 10.

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Bye.

02.06.2022