Surprise Surprise Surprise!! Was too happy with you response on last chapter that couldn't help myself writing this chapter!!

Now you know the key to early updates 🥴?

Warning - Long Chapter ahead, one you start writing longer updates, there is no going back *sighs*

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"तबाह होकर भी तबाही नही दिखती,
ये इश्क हैं हुजूर इसकी कोई दवाई नही बिकती!"

"So students what kind of conversation you want to move with today?" The Philosophy Professor - Mr. Rastogi asked from the second year students, as it was Friday means not a study day for him.

"Let's go on the age old topic sir- Love." Someone from the group of students spoke making most of the class laugh and Mr. Rastogi waved his hand.

"Oh C'mon, get over that topic already. Bring something new, no?"

"Sir what about Magic Realism?"

"Sir Feelings."

"Sir Relationships."

"That's what I said didn't I? Love and Heartbreak sir."

"Sir no, something deep."

"I don't think there can be anything deeper than Love and Heartbreaks."

"Rohan, You're saying like you've gone through many heartbreak."

"Ofcourse Shweta, you only broke my heart yesterday remember?"

Mr. Rastogi and other students chuckled at the last sentence. Forty students in the class and there were eighty of ideas. Mr. Rastogi made the students silent and took a seat on the first desk table facing all the students.

"Okay, let's go with the majority. You young generation never goes beyond Love and Heartbreaks, no? Let's talk about it then."

Students started hooting and Mr. Rastogi smiled. Meanwhile, Fab Four were looking at Manik who was sitting with a blank face.

It has been four days they are trying to know that what happened to him. He was anything but his usual self. Although he tried to show tha he was chirpy especially in front of his family, but these four knows better. His silence was worrying them.

Abhimanyu who that day decided that he will tell Manik everything he knows, couldn't tell it after he saw Manik already depressed. If anything Manik was looking heartbroken, the reason he doesn't know. And that's why he didn't wanted to hurt him more.

Only if he knew!!

Manik had all the time managed to skip his friends' interrogation. He knew he can't hide it longer, because from inside he was breaking.

Every night he would close his eyes to sleep only to jerk them open as his mind would flash Nandini's and Anahita's image with a faceless guy, enjoying and laughing with him, who must be Nandini's husband and Anahita's father.

And the thought was enough to shatter his heart into more pieces if possible. A sane part of his mind would give him ideas that maybe she isn't married or she is too young to be a mother and wife. But what he saw that day wasn't a lie. What he heard that day was the bitter truth.

Nandini has a daughter and that daughter is none other than Anahita. Even imagining Nandini with anyone else was making him feel shattered.

How did those authors glorified or romanticised heartbreaks in his favourite books, he wondered. For Manik, it was a kind of death and he was forced to keep living.

And only he knows how hard it was for him. To not able to control his tears remembering that day and still putting up a smile for his family and friends.

Reason, he was being distant with them. He would spend as less time as possible with his family and friends. And it was breaking him more and more. To not being able to share his heart with anyone, because ultimately his tears will hurt them. And that's the last thing he wishes for.

He came out of his trance when Cabir nudged him, and he looked at front to saw Mr. Rastogi talking about Love and Heartbreaks, and the class was enjoying whatever he was telling. He chuckled mirthlessly, is everything and everyone trying to make him remember what he never forgot? He couldn't concentrate. If it was any other day, he would've actively participated. But today he was attending the class only to be saved from his friends' questions.

"Okay, seems like you guys are too much heartbroken, no?"

"Yes sir!!" Most of the boys shouted in unison and Professor shaked his head in disbelief.

"Okay then, let me ask you a simple question. Since you're heartbroken it will be easy to answer." He continued gazing around the class.

"Tell me, would you rather get shot or heartbroken?"

The class was surprised even Fab Four raised their eyebrows in surprise. Professor made students answer one by one, firstly those boys who were too heartbroken, according to them. And not surprisingly enough for Mr. Rastogi, whomever he asked would reply that they would choose getting Heartbroken, obviously heartbroken or not, they would still be alive.

Mr. Rastogi then asked Cabir who kept sitting scratching his head.

"Sir a counter question."

"I was expecting Cabir, ask!"

"Shot where? Then I would choose accordingly." Mr. Rastogi shaked his head and smiled. He already knew his answer.

"Shot right at heart Cabir."

"Then I'll prefer getting Heartbroken. But Navya, don't break my heart okay, otherwise I'll shoot you." He joked at last looking at Navya and everyone burst out in laughter. But when Cabir looked at Manik he sighed sadly. He looked at his friend's who mimicked his expression.

"Manik, although I know your answer too, but let's hear it out too."

Manik was looking at Professor and without standing up he gave his answer.

"Shot!"

"Say it again." There was silence and Mr. Rastogi was surprised and so were his friends.

"I said Shot."

"Why?" Everyone were curious.Manik looked in Professor's eyes and blinked.

"Because getting shot can be healed." Mr. Rastogi had a small smile on his face and then looked around the rest of the class.

"Who agrees with him." And when no-one answered or raised their hands he continued, "then luckily, none of you had been heartbroken."

Whole class looked at Manik and so did Mr. Rastogi while Manik was looking at his notebook. He could feel everyone's stares on him but he chose to be unaware. He was now scolding himself fo uttering out that, as now he was sure his friends won't leave him. Sighing tiredly he kept his head on the bench but kept his eyes open, because he knew the moment he will close them he would see images he doesn't wanted to see.

Mr. Rastogi didn't said anything to him and continued his discussion with the class. He heard someone asking the professor, whether there is any reality in the famous dialogue of SRK that says "Agar kisi cheez ko dil se chaho toh puri kainaat usse tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jati hai..."

(If you desire anything from the depth of your heart than the whole universe will work towards getting you that.)

Mr. Rastogi smiled hearing the student's question and his gaze fell on Manik who was still sitting with his head down on the bench. He sstood up and walked to his table and stood facing the class and leaned back with the support of the table.

""If two points are destined to touch, the universe will always find a way to make the connection - even when all hope seems to be lost. Certain ties cannot be broken. They define who we are - and who we can become. Across space, across time, among paths we cannot predict - nature always finds a way."

Manik raised his head and looked at Mr. Rastogi who was already looking at him with a small smile on his face and he kept talking.

"And if you are talking about Love- Real Love- then let me tell you, Jonathon Caroll once said- Real Love is always chaotic. You lose control; you lose perspective. You lose hope and ultimately you lose the ability to protect yourself. The greater the love, the greater the chaos. It's a given and that's the secret."

Almost every student in the class was staring at Mr. Rastogi with a blank face which made him laugh a little.

"It's okay, I guess it was too philosophical to be understood. I hope somone would have got what I was saying. Anyway It's almost time so let's leave you a bit early. enjoy Students." Giving a wave of hand Mr. Rastogi moved out of the class but he didn't failed to notice the visible frowns on Manik's face. As soon as he was out students started moving out of the class which brought Manik back to present. He saw his friends looking at him from his side view and hence he hurriedly picked up his bag and started moving out.

Last thing he wanted right now was to answer his friend's worries with a fake smile. As he silently moved out of the class Fab Four groaned.

"What the fuck is wrong with Manik? Why the hell is he ignoring us?" Mukti voiced out her frustration. She was very much woried for Manik. He never did this. If anything he was always the first one to share his problems.

"I know right, and guys, what was that? The answer he gave to Sir? Do you think it is anyway related to his The One?" Hearing Navya Abhi's heart thumped. His mind played all the possibilities related ti it. What if Manik now knows the truth and that's why he was so heartbroken. Did he messed it up all in his Buddy's life. He ran his hand through his hair before moving out of the class. Rest three saw him moving out and frowned more.

"Oh god not again. I'm so frustrated now with both these guys. Cabir please tell us beforehand if you are also going to do the same?" Cabir looked at Mukti and Navya and sighed. He was also worried hell for his both best friends. And the thing that he doesn't even knows that what is bothering them was making him annoyed at himself.

"Mukti, Navya go behind Abhi."

"No, I'm not going. I'm done asking him the reason behind his worries. He had been behaving like I'm not trsutable. I'm not talking with him. Infact right now, I'm not talking with anyone. I'm heading home." Cabir and Navya looked dejected seeing Mukti walking out.

"I'll go with Mukti, she is more disturbed and anyway, Bhai would want some space, as he says. You please look fot Manik, hmm?" Cabir nodded with a thankful face and Navya moved out not before giving a hug to Cabir which he needed anyway. He too headed out of the class in search of Manik, not sure where to find him.

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Manik was walking in the empty corridor. He didn't knew where to go. He didn't wanted to go home because he wasn't ready to face his family's worried face with full of questions. He knew, that they know something is wrong with him. Yet he was thankful that none asked him the reason. At time he wished to just lay his head in his mother's lap and cry, cry till he won't be able to cry more.

Why does it hurt so much? He had always craved for romantic love. Though he knew, with love comes pain, but with this much instensity? And that too when he didn't even enjoyed being in love completely.

He had read tons of books which describes the feeling love differently and almost all of them were beautiful. But for him, it was different.

To him, Love felt like- Breathing and Suffocating. Sobbing and smiling. Yearning and Fading. To ache that much harder. To live that much larger. It's every moment. Every single, tiny one. He have felt all of it, for her.

Her!

Nandini!

"Manik." Manik's breath hitched in his throat hearing that one voice.

That one person's voice, he was craving to see and fighting to run away from. His heart started beating loudly in his chest.

He still has his heart working right? He thought.

He kept walking. He didn't stopped. His heart was asking him to have a look at her at least. He hasn't seen her since that day. She didn't came to college.

Ofcourse, her daughter was in hospital, what did he expected?

And this thought made him took faster steps. His eyes burned with unshed tears. He could feel her coming behind her, because he wasn't able to hear anything except his heart beating loudly.

Why? Why is she coming behind him now?

Why can't she leave him alone, as he is.

It was fine when she wasn't coming to college. At least he was handling his heart fairly well, who was craving to see her, to look in her deep doe shaped eyes, to hear her sweet voice.

Why now?

Doesn't she know that it will break him the moment he will look in those eyes.

Those eyes, which were all broken that day.

Those eyes which were thanking him for saving her daughter's life.

Daughter.

Yes, daughter.

She has a daughter.

She has a family of her own.

Who is he?

A mere friend?

He can't do this

He can't handle this pain his heart is feeling.

He will die.

He want her but he can't have her.

Why him?

His steps halted suddenly. He was breathing heavily for walking so fast. He closed his eyes panting. More than his legs his heart was paining.

He couldn't do it.

He can't ignore her, can he?

What is her fault, If he loves her?

She never asked him to fall in love with her.

It just happened.

Her mere existence was enough to make him fall in love with her.

Why?

Why?

Why?

He was crying inside but closed his eyes to not let a tear shee out of his eyes. He took a deep breath when again heard her voice.

"Manik."

And that was it. Her soft voice had it's own magic on him. He exhaled a deep breath before putting up a plain face and facing her.

And as he stood facing her, he couldn't differentiate between his heart breaking and his heart fluttering.

He took intl her apprence, she was as always looking simple yet beautiful in her black long sleeve kurti with matching palazzo. Her face devoid of any makeup, still enchanting him. She was beautiful but not His.

He inhaled sharply as his mind registered. What was he doing? She was not his to stare. Not his to look at her like that.

For God sake it hurts like someone is stabbing him with knife again and again.

He avoided looking at her and cleared his throat. He was tapping his foot on the floor because he wasn't able to stand here, in front of her.

Why was god so hell bent on testing him?

"Are you okay Manik?"

"Mhmm.." Nandini looked at him and felt weird. He wasn't even looking at her while every other time he she would catch him looking at her.

And now when she took into his appearance she frowned more. He wasn't looking like his usual self. His face had like lost it's charm. His sparkling eyes were not glowing.

Was he okay?

She had been looking for him since today morning. She had came to college today after four days, after Anahita's accident. That day still haunts her like anything. The day when she saw her little daughter lying on that ICU bed and fighting for her every breath would still bought tears in her eyes.

Thankfully Anahita was discharged yesterday and she was okay too. Except for the head injury she just got some scratches on her elbow and legs. No doubt her daughter was very brave. Although she would feel pain at time but after medicine will be calmed down. She was about cranky too but nothing that Nandini's hugs or Ishita's tasty food couldn't help with.

Although Nandini didn't wanted to come to college today but Ishita insisted her to attend some classes atleast, it's the matter of her attendance. And moreover due to medication Anahita would be asleep for almost whole day. So she came with a promise that Ishita will call her if Anahita demands for her presence.

And also, she wanted to thank Manik. If it wasn't him, then she can't even imagine what would have happen. He came like a light in the darkness. He came like a hope. And no thanks can be enough to show how grateful she was to him.

"You. You wanted to say something?" She came back to present and saw him looking around which made her feel sad. Was he ignoring her? Was it because of that night or because she didn't told him about her daughter?

But what should have she told him? It's not a pleasant story to tell. Although she always felt herself blessed to have Anahita as her daughter, but the story behind wasn't a happy one to share. And she never wants her daughter to be tagged as Illegitimate or with names. If anything her daughter is her Pride. She sighed and looked at him who was now staring at his shoes.

"I wanted to Thank you. You don't know but what you did for me is something, I will always be obliged to you. You just didn't saved my daughter's life, but mine too. I don't think if something would've happened to her, what would I've done with myself. Thank you so much Manik."

My daughter.

It pinched Manik. His heart bleed. Why the reality is so harsh? It was better in his dreams. He was better in his dreams. He shaked his head and looked at her, who was looking at him with grateful eyes. Oh, how he wished to see love for him in those beautiful eyes.

But some dreams and some wishes, are meant to be that- Unfulfilled!

"How's Pri, uhm, How's Anahita?" He didn't knew why he didn't called her Princess.

Nandini looked at him with brows furrowed. What happened to him, she thought. She knows that he know her daughter. She knows that he calls her Princess. Although that day she was too drown away in her pain but Ishita told her that how broken Manik looked seeing Anahita on the ICU bed. She shaked her head with unnecessary thoughts.

"She is fine. Got discharged yesterday. A bit cranky at times but manageable."

A small smile came on his lips as he imagined Anahita being all cranky. He was relieved hearing that she was fine. Only he knows how he stopped himself from visiting her, taking her in his arms, but he didn't. Because he wasn't ready for scene that might be meeting his eyes.

Everytime he would stood in the hospital parking and would leave from there because he didn't wanted to give a face to the guy in his dream. He wasn't ready to meet Anahita's father and Nandini's...

But that still didn't stopped him from keeping a check on her by talking with Dr. Mathur, who treated Anahita. And yesterday he came to know that she was discharged and he was happy for her.

His ears perked up when he again heard Nandini speaking, still his eyes didn't met hers. He wasn't ready for that.

"You can come to meet her anytime Manik, if you want that is!" She continued, "Although I know, No thanks can be enough to show my gratefulness but still all I have right now is Thanks. But yes if there is anything you want which I can give You, I promise, I'll do anything for you."

Hearing her last words, Manik looked at her who was looking at him with a small genuine smile. He looked deep into her eyes.

"Anything I want?" Manik whispered asked, and Nandini was surprised with the look he was giving her. But still she nodded her head.

"If I can give you, I'll give anything you want."

"I want You."

Those words were just on Manik's lips but he couldn't spoke them out aloud.

He couldn't.

He just gave her a small smile and nodded his head in no before taking three steps still looking at her. Nandini was also looking at him with frowns. She was feeling weird. Her heart was beating at abnormal pace in her chest, reason she was unaware off.

Nandini looked at Manik who turned and walked in the empty corridor. She kept looking at him until he disappeared from her vision.

She was confused.

With his behaviour, and her own's!

First time in years she felt something.

Some feelings she can't put into words.

And that was scary!!

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How was it?

Writing emotional stuff is so so damm difficult for me, even more difficult than comedy *tired sigh*

Hope it did came out emotional and not cringe.

I can't see my Manik so sad 🥺

Don't worry one or two more chapters then he will find out whole truth (hopefully 🥴)

Waiting for you reviews!

QOD- Do you believe in SRK's dialogue earlier mentioned?

Ps-Any book recommendation for me?

Next update - Depends on my schedule and zeal to write, Max by Friday.

3541 words!

~A♡