"I can't tolerate a single drop tears from her eyes"

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Flashback continue

(Author pov)

"you think hiding here.. He will never get you? " Manik turned to see his brother standing with a neutral face. 

"Cabir… how are you here?? " Manik asked walking to him

"That's not important…. What is important is.. 

" How are you still alive? " Arya asked, coming from behind with a pack of chips. 

"You guys want me to die too. " Manik chuckled sadly. 

Arya sighed and looked at Cabir who was looking at Manik without blinking, "We know you ok.. And know you can't fight against that devil. So for dying daily.. It best you can run away or 

" Die." Manik completed his words. Cabir looked away. 

"I can't… I am living just for avi and na.. " He stopped telling her name. 

"Nandini… you love her but she likes some other guy. Arya said, Manik nodded. 

"Manik, I think you know when we were born in this family.. Our fate is already written.. Whether to be strong and fight.. Or be weak and die.. Your father is playing with you like a ball. It's your turn to choose to live or die. " Cabir said, gazing out the city through a glass window. 

Manik stood silent for a few minutes, looked at both immediately with widened eyes, "Did you both join with him.. In mafia?? " Manik asked, looking at Arya and cabir in shock. 

Both nodded silently, Manik groaned in tension, "Why?? You can't do this. "

"We don't have a choice, Manik. Why do you think your father and our father sent us to London….for training." Manik looked at them with tears. 

"He is coming next month here manik… next month you are turning 22…your time is coming. "Arya said, patting his back. 

" No I don't want this life…. I want to study, earn well and take care of Avi and ma.. " Manik said, shaking his head. 

Arya and cabir looked at each other.

"Cabir please, I have already lost everything..I can't do this. First Avi, ma and nandini…I can't.."

"Then run away. " He snapped his head at Cabir. Arya was shocked too. 

"Bhai..have you lost it? " Arya said. 

"Run away manik.. That is the only thing you can do to be alive and not to be part of this world. Cabir walked away, leaving Manik in tears. 

Arya followed him, "Why did you say that?? We came here to convince him to join the mafia , right?? " Arya asked in confusion. 

"Did you see him… '' Cabir said leaning on the car, "He lost his childhood, mother,...I am surprised that he didn't become curel like us. He has an innocence in him, Arya.. I don't want it to break. Let him be happy at least. " Arya smiled and hugged him. 

"Thank god I thought of you too, thinking like dad. " Arya said. 

Cabir glared at him, "I am not like him. " Arya raised his hand in surrender and sat in the car. 

"What is the girl's name manik love?? "

"Nandini murthy.. I think you know she used to play with manik and speak to us too. " 

"Nandu.. " Cabir whispered, Arya nodded. The car drove away. 

______

"Nandu beta… you are already 5 minutes late.. Come fast. " Raman said, wearing his watch. 

Nandini came down slowly, took her bag and walked out ignoring Raman shouting to have breakfast. 

It's been one week, manik her best friend told he love her. She can't believe it, like Manik loves her. She never saw him like that. Like she used to miss him during this 6 years gap.. But love??.. She never felt it for anyone. Even Veer is just a crush for her. It's stupid college spreading rumor as love. 

"Puch.. Can't you see…who are you? " Nandini said, rubbing her forehead. 

"I am Cabir malhotra, manik brother."Cabir said

" And Aryaman Malhotra " nandini frowned and then eya widened. 

"Birr bhaiya.. ..arya.." She hugged him tightly in happiness, Cabir smiled a little and caressed her hair.arya smiled to extend and kissed her forehead

"How are you both?? " She asked, smiling. 

"We are fine.. Happy to see you back here. " Arya said. 

"Yeah papa brought me here.. Ma is still angry. " She said, pouting. Both nodded. 

She looked around to see someone but he nowhere found

"Can we talk somewhere nandu? Arya said, seeing her looking around. 

"Yeah." Both drove to a nearby coffee shop, talked about their whereabouts. 

"What happened to you and manik?? Not speaking? " Arya tries to start a conversation about him. 

Nandini looked down, "No, we are fine. It's just that I caught up with my exams. " She said with a small smile. 

"Oh.. Great.. That idiot sitting in one room not even talking to anyone.. I don't know what happened? Arya said, making a fake pity face. Nandini had a worried face thinking about him. 

"What do you think about love,nandu? " Arya asked to get to know more. Cabir sat silent looking outside but listening to them. 

"Love.. Haan. "

"Come on, you can say whatever you feel. "

"Love for me.. It's my parents marriage,Because I know they had love marriage. And I can't find a crazy lovely couple anywhere. Papa do all romance in between gap and always show she love her by his all act. Amma scold him before us but the blush on her face say how much she loves it. I never seen only love between them. They fight alot but at end of the day, they sit and speak. They need each other at the end no matter what. First time I saw my father brought me here ignoring my amma words. I hope they speak up soon, as I miss their naughtiness. They prove me, love is not all about telling or romancing. When papa didn't even have a single penny.. She trusted him and came to mumbai, start a new life. Both supported each other and stood for them and God birth them us. I don't think I can see any love story like them. "She said smiling which made Aryaman smiled. He glanced at Cabir who listening her. 

" Then about manik.. " Nandini snapped her head to Cabir. 

"His life is totally different from yours. I think you know it. Poor soul suffering all alone." He chuckled slowly, keeping the cup down. 

"Can you do me a favour Nandu? " Cabir asked. Arya frowns at what he is planning. Nandini nodded. 

"Can you ask manik to go from here? " Nandini eyes widen in shock, "Why?? Why should he leave? " She asked in fear. 

"I think you know about our family business. " Nandini frowns as she knows they are mafia one, nodded. 

"His father forced him to be into this. Manik suffered due to this so much. His father is coming next month, he will kill manik if he doesn't become part of the mafia. " Nandini palmed her mouth in shock hearing it. 

"No no.. How could he kill his own son?" Nandini asked in shock. Tears ready to roll down from her eyes. 

"When he can torture him to death. He can do this too. We said to him. he won't listen. But if you say, he will surely. His life is at sake" Cabir finished when his phone rang. 

"We have to leave. Please think about it. Bye. " Cabir said, walking out caressing her head. Arya hugged her and left. 

"Why did you lie to her?? Why will chachu kill him?Manik is the heir of malhotra yaar" Arya said. 

"You know this, Arya. But nandu doesn't know. " Cabir said, starting the car. 

"I can't understand it. "

"Fear of losing someone. Is a way to express our love. Love can't be forced on Arya. She herself needs to think about manik. " 

"Omg!! You are fucking genius. " Arya shouted in joy, cabir smirked. 

"But she likes someone right?? " Arya said. 

"Hmm.. After this I don't think that tiny crush will last forever. " Cabir said, smirking. 

"You are such a devil bro. Arya said, laughing loudly. 

_______

"Heyy babyy. '' Veer hugged nandini from behind. 

"Hey.. " She removed his hands and stepped away, "I said right, don't touch me in public. "

"What?? Come on, you are my gf.. Can't I touch you". Veer said cupping her face, Nandini became uncomfortable about moving back when her eyes travelled to Manik standing on the door looking at her with tired sad eyes. He just walked away. 

Veer tried to kiss her when Nandini pushed him hard, "Veer what are you doing?? " 

"Just a kiss.. "

"I said don't touch me.. Now you are trying to kiss me. " She shouted in anger which took all the attention. Veer got angry but controlled it. 

"Don't shout. 

" You don't touch me. " She walked away searching for manik. 

"Leena.. Where is manik?? " She asked Leena, who was walking to her class. 

Leena frowned but said, "He will be in the library or terrace. " She said and walked away rudely which hurt Nandini but walked to the terrace first for her luck he was there. 

"Hm.. Mani.. " She called, but Manik just lay looking at the sky. 

She sighed and sat down beside him, "Please talk to me Mani. "

"What there to talk Nandini? " He asked, and didn't notice her shocked face listening to him saying her name. 

"Did you call me by my name? " She asked. 

"I think that is your name? " Manik stated the fact , shrugging his shoulders without looking at her. Nandini got angry and pulled him up by holding his shirt. Then only she noticed his appearance. 

The hoodie, cap, specs went he was wearing a blue shirt and black jeans and even his hair cut short.. Looking handsome. 

"You.. " She whispered, caressing his mark on his forehead. Manik turned his face to not feel her touch which hurt her. 

"Why are you ignoring me?? Speak to me Mani…"

"Speak what Nandini?? 

"Don't call me nandini. Speak whatever Mani..like we used to do. " She pleaded to see him mum. 

"Are we the same as before Nandini. " He asked, looking into her eyes for the first time. 

"Aren't we? " She whispered back. 

He nodded no, "We are not the same as before. After six years you came back but don't even remember me. But I still remember you. Every inch of you I remember. The chubby cheeks, smile, giggle, this eyes, how you used to say ayyappa every time.. I remember everything. But did you.. You didn't because you didn't miss me. I used to remember our memories every second, maybe I was so alone unlike you,who have a beautiful family. " He smiled sadly which didn't go unnoticed by him. 

"I missed you too.. " She replied,"I used to miss your scolding, your teaching, your sorry, your smile, and innocent face.. I used to miss it. " She said in flow and Her eyes widened at it releasing it. 

Manik smiled, "Ok.."

"Just ok?? You don't have to say anything else. " She asked in shock, Manik nodded no. 

"Nandini glared at him pulled him holding her collar, " You stupid Manik Malhotra, after blaming me and I told you how much I  miss you. You say ok, you monkey. Speak to me. " She shouted looking at him. 

"We can't be the same… you like veer. 

" Don't bring him between.. 

"Let me speak. " He said strictly, nandini shut her mouth, "I can't see you as my friend anymore keeping my love inside me. When I got to know you don't love me. I don't feel right. So please let's end our friendship.. 

Slap!! 

Manik words cut down when he welcomes a slap by nandini. He cupped his cheek which burns and looked at Nandini who stood in tears, fuming in anger. 

"How could you say it??You think our friendship can end so soon. How could you??You want to leave me Malhotra.. You promised you won't leave me." She shouted holding his sleeve. 

"I always kept my promise to nandini. I stayed, I was waiting for you and it changed into love. I have always been waiting without leaving you. It's you who leaves me, not me. " Manik smiled, removing her hand, turned and walked to his bag. 

"What if I say I love you too.. Will you stay back?? " Manik, freezing hearing it, turned to nandini who stood looking down holding her shivering hands controlling her tears. 

He chuckled, hanging his bag on his shoulder, " Don't try to fake love to keep me with you nandini… I don't believe it. " 

"No no… I am telling the truth.. " Nandini hurriedly held his hands. 

"Please believe me.. Give me time.. How you took 7 years to realise your love. Give me time too.. I want to realise what I have for you.. Please manik. Don't leave me. " Nandini said with pleading tears. 

Manik's heart ached to see her crying,  held her tightly, "Shh stop crying nandu.. It's not good for your health."

"No, say you won't leave me. " She said, hiding into his chest. 

"Ok.. I won't leave you, please don't cry." Manik said, whipping her tears. Nandini nodded and hugged him. 

Manik thought and smiled, "May God give him again a chance. "

"Sorry manik.. I can't lose you.. So I have to lie..I have to do what Cabir bhai said..you have to be alive. ." Nandini thought by hugging him. 

This was seen by Veer who, tightening his fist in anger, walked away. 

Flashback ends. 

I glanced at Nandini who stood silently looking down in tears. 

"Again we started our friendship in a way to search for our love."

"Months passed, and we were so happy. I was fulfilling her wishes. College, cafe, malls, beaches we went everywhere. All I want to see is her happiness at that time. I am stupid can't see other acting or be real with me. " Nandini looked at me in tears when I said that. 

"Why? Don't say what I am thinking" She whispered. 

I chuckled, "what you think is right. Every truth comes out right.. You came too… .. . By him. " I said looking at Veer who looked down immediately in shame. 

"I am sorry.. " He whispered in guilt. Nandini frowned and asked, "Why?? "

Veer looked at me and her, said

"Because… .. . "

Cliff hanger 😁

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Words:- 2418

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Few words for writer(me🙈) first

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Few words for nandini

Few words for veer

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