"What about your husband? What happened to him? Where is he?"

He asked making me frown. My husband?

I looked at him as if he's putting some kind of joke here.
I love u to death n when you're sorry for the misunderstanding that happened between us 5 years ago, then from where the hell did my husband came from?
Wait! Oh Wait!

I stare at him connecting the dots; news of me getting married as known by my previous neighbors, me having kids, and their father leaving them... means...

"No!" I yelled as soon as it strikes me. He flinches with my sudden tone n glance questioningly.

"I'm not married!" I stated causing his eyes to go wide & mouth hung for a minute he keeps on staring at me like he saw some ghosts. God knows what's going on in his mind!

"Oh!" he finally gave a reaction that doesn't go good with me.

I mean, I thought, he'll dance happily knowing that I'm unmarried n single for him. But...
Is he seriously in a relationship with that skimpy secretary of his, what's her name again? Ya! Piya!

"You are not happy?" I asked directly. Let's clear it out today, here, now itself. Full n final! I thought.

I'm really irritated with the news article every now n then about him; pictures of him with different girls hugging n smiling in so-called business parties, and mostly that Piya! 'Are they gonna engage?' reads the headline with their pictures sticking together in some client's anniversary party. Aaargghhh...

I don't know why I keep on surfing everything about him. DAILY.

"N.o ... I mean. yes..." his stammering words brought me back.

"I mean to say, so, they r ur son & daughter?" he added more like a question while I just nodded for him to continue his shares of words.

"And u r not married?" I again bobbed my head in 'yes'.

"So, u had someone in ur life who left u after u got pregnant?" he almost whispered but the surrounding is too silent or maybe I'm too closer to hear him.

Wait! What did he say?

"What???" I shouted throwing me hands in the air in utmost shock.

What is he imagining?

"Are u insane?
Shit! For god's sake, halt ur stupid, idiotic brain from coming up with such weird possibilities?" I shouted almost immediately while he sat shocked, surprised n confused.

"I was not pregnant." the words came out on its own from my mouth making him raise his brows n I myself got puzzled at what I said?

"My goodness! I'm going crazy!
Deep breath in" I inhaled a deep breath in & out raising my shoulders and pressing my lips together to calm myself...

Opening my eyes, I looked at him sitting silently with so many expressions which I ignored for now.

"First listen to me from the very start, then... Only then run ur mind!" I ordered sternly n he nodded for me to continue.

"As u know, I'm an orphan. ...But I didn't tell u my dark stories.
After I got 18, they throw me out of the orphanage on the road. I used to work as a cashier in the mart but that didn't earn me enough to rent a house n continue college studies. I had to spend three cold nights on a bench on the subways, alone withstanding the drunken dirty eyes. That's when, like an angel, comes a 24 years old woman, Neha Di! Without any relation, she brought me to her house, gave me food and warm clothes to sleep sound.

When she got me, she provided me a place to stay, money to continue college, and food to eat for free. She used to say that she understands me & my situation as her parents had died when she's a kid. She wanted to help and that I'd pay back once I got my job. As I'd no better choice, I agreed n started living with her. She used to be all cheerful n happy n was in a relationship as I guessed. Then she became my sister, and I'm so grateful to her for what she did for me when I was no one to her.

But suddenly one day, she fainted n I got to know that she's pregnant. Then when I asked, she told that it was her long-time boyfriend whom she loved a lot n they were happy, but recently his attitude changed, their fights increases, their distances increased n that's when she discovered that she's pregnant and he's cheating on her with his boss... But still, she pleaded him to forget his boss n to start a family with her n her unborn child. But he ruthlessly left her saying he's gonna get success if he follows his boss, who'll give him a better life which she couldn't give. And he left. After that, she became all gloomy n sad, shedding tears for her bastard boyfriend. She'd sold her cloth shop to get money with which she bought some stocks."

 I paused to look at her n take some breaths before again starting  "Now coming to that valentines night when I'd decorated our hideout n I proposed, but u..." I trailed off seeing his remorseful, guilt-ridden expression.

"Even though I was hurt, very hurt... but somewhere I knew something is wrong... something is off with u and I'd planned to talk to u at least once the next day!
But the next day didn't come!" I almost mutter the last words inaudibly.

"That night was the worst night of my life, ever!" I declared with tears started forming in my eyes n Manik lowers his head.

"Not only because of ur words, but also because that night snatched my sister n made her kids orphan." I added with saline making its way through my eyes. Manik shoot up his head to face me with puzzlement n surprise written all over his face.

"Hmm... When I was traveling home already devasted, a phone from the hospital came stating Neha Di had got into accident n breathing her last breaths.
With so much going through in my mind, I just rushed to her n found that doctors had delivered her twin kids safely as she's in her 9th month then. But, Di's condition is not supportive. In her last breaths, she... s-said..to r-repay her... s-soul ...by giving her kids a m-mother's love."

I just broke up as I couldn't continue with the vigorous tears flowing away n the breaking voice as the flashes of that dreadful night flows in front of my eyes...

Manik just pulled me into a hug and I cried in his arms, soaking his expensive formal suit. I don't know after how much time I got normal; that's when I felt something wet on my shoulders.

You are crying!

I pulled off the hug only to see Manik's eyes with tears. I shook my head in no while wiping his tears, and he did the same to me...

"After that, I left that house with all her belongings here and told them that she got married n left. I didn't want any gossips about me n the newborns, so I choose to leave with them, the very next day. I didn't even get a chance to go to college to get my degree n certificates.
With the just born babies n me having no experience or knowledge, it was difficult to even make them stop crying; know when they crying out of hunger or they had peed in their diapers.
But somehow I'm trying my level best to give them the love n care they deserve, the facilities n support they deserve. I'll keep on trying..."

"U r already the best!" He spoke looking into my eyes with a smile that brought a small smile on my lips.

"But still I couldn't fulfill many of their wishes... I need to work hard." I muttered not breaking the eye-lock.

"I'm sorry, Nandu for not being with u when u need me the most... for breaking u more" he literally grabbed my palms in his hands n folded his hands with mine.

He just called me after a long time... My ears were dying to hear it from him.

I know, it's not entirely his fault. It's the situation where even I were in his place, would have doubted somewhere. Even I would have questioned him for betraying me after giving me hopes...
He's from a lower-middle-class family who'd face many difficulties along his lifetime and somewhat he's insecure about me, even when I laughed around with other guys, he never liked it. I knew about his impulsiveness and anger issue which arose not every time but when it does, it's disastrous.

If he's at fault for not once clearing the misunderstanding, then even I'm responsible to leave him without confronting him & not going to him to know the sole reason for his behaviour.

"It's okay! Even I should have come to u" I said putting a smile while looking directly into his hazel eyes.

"Nandu... I l-" the doorbell cuts him and I jerked my eyes at the clock, it's 4:40 pm.

My children have arrived!

I ran off to open the door and they both rushed in, taking off their shoes n socks near the door, and their bags on the ground near the sofa.

They took their seats on the chair n glare at Manik while catching their breaths...

I got them water and they started talking about their day...

"Mumma... Ria called us on her birthday party on Sunday. What will we give her as gift?" Naina asked.

"Umm- a coloring book" Neel suggested.

"No budhhu! She's many coloring books and drawing books too. Even she has more barbies than me.  Even Sophia is gifting her a guitar... But what will we give?" Naina pouted.

"U gave give her a Make-up toy set" Manik spoke before I could and it was instantly liked my Naina, who got all excited.

"Yes! A make-up kit. She'll love it... it will be so different than others. We'll gift this!" She declared grinning happily.

"But that would be costly!" Neel poked his elbow saying her and instantly her smile subsidize.

"We can buy her a teddy" I suggested trying to make her happy like before but she just hummed n they both walked in the room to change. I sighed audibly.

--------------------

"Let's go Mumma" Neel n Naina shouted coming out of their room in jumpsuits.

"Where r u all going?" asked Manik standing up.

"We r going to the nearby park, where children play every evening." I informed him while setting my salwar-kameez and clipping my loose long hair.

"I'll join u" he said n walked to the door where Neel n Naina r all excited to meet their friends.

We came out of the building n started walking on the roadside for about half kilometers of walkable distance to reach the park. I'm walking on the road while protecting the kids away from the vehicles n Manik walking beside me, protecting me?

I felt a tug on my Kurti, only to see Neel trying to gain my attention. I bend down at his level for him to say in my ears

"Why is MM still here?" he asked n I looked up to see Manik walking ahead slowly, looking around the area, not knowing we had stopped.

"He's my friend, Neel. He came to meet me after so long so he's gonna stay for a while." I answered before we resume walking.

But I don't know up till when he's going to stay with me.

As soon as we reached the park, they both ran towards the playground area to their friends already playing in different swings. While I waved to their mothers, or aunt, or guardians sitting at a distance together n gossiping while keeping an eye at their children. Usually, I used to join them, but Manik?

I walked to them with Manik following me, "Hello, Mrs. Dei. U r back. I hope ur knee pain is okay now?" I asked one of them who's not coming for a week due to her knee pain.

"Yes! Yes! Pain is less now. I was getting bored, sitting at home; so decided to get some fresh air." She replied.

"Who is that man, Nandini? I've never seen anyone meeting u." Mrs. Desai, the gossip queen, asked eyeing Manik who's standing a foot behind me & looking at the children playing.

"He's my college friend, Manik. We meet after a long time actually." I replied with a smile and Manik too turn his head to us listening to his name.

"I think, I've seen him somewhere?" said Ananya, sister of Pintu, Neel's friend said gaining everyone ladies' attention. She's a big-time show-off as she's working as a model for some company.

"You might have! He's Manik Malhotra, owner of MM Heights." I cleared the doubts and all eyes went wide, surprised, amazed. I just gave them today's hot gossip topic.

"Mrs.Dei, Can u please keep an eye on Neel n Naina?" She nodded.
"I'll show him around. Excuse me then. " I said before they bombard their questions, I dragged Manik to the jogging track around the park.

"What was that? Why did u tell them about me?" Manik asked as we r walking side-by-side on the track between the trees.

"No reasons. I just wanna tell them; even I have someone, someone famous!" I shrugged.
They always used to ask me about me, where r my family, my friends, my kids' father. I never had anyone apart from my kids.

We didn't talk much after that, we just walked around, look around and after an hour or so, we return back home with the kids.

Actually, since everything is clear now, the past is clear, the present is clear. And I don't know, what should be in the future? What is he thinking, being all silent? Whether I should ask him to give 'us' a chance? Will he accept me with my kids? Does he have chosen anyone else already?

I don't know!

 As we reached our building, Neel n Naina ran to get the lift while I noticed Manik not walking in with me. I turned back to see him standing at a distance eyeing me.

"Are u not coming?" I asked.

Is this the end? A strange insecure feeling with a fear of losing him again and a bit hurt too developed in my heart while I looked at him anticipatingly.

"No. I've got an important job to complete as I've been here since morning. ...So, I'll just leave from here" He said shoving his hands in his pant pocket.

"Mumma... come lift is here" I heard Neel's shout.

"Oh-kay then. See you!" I said before he turns and walked to his car, sat inside n left.

See you, when? I wanted to ask. Alas!

Maybe 'our' journey is till this.

After this it's 'you' and 'me' separate at different paths...

I thought walking to the lift n getting back home, with my Neel n Naina. just three of us, for each other, always!

*******

Sad ending!!!

A/N:

Sorry! Just kidding!! This is not the end!

How many of u are relived?

Okay! So, how you want the ending to be like?

DO give me suggestions n views as I'm still wondering about the ending n maybe ur idea help me out!

Thank u  :)