Munching the pasta for dinner, I thought about the events of our first fight.

God. ...that was one heck of an emotional tornado. ...it was for the first time I realised, how much Nandini cared for me. ....but never dared to express. ...

The way Nandini turned furious ,when Soha questioned our relationship, was a treat to watch. ....to be very honest. ...I find the possessive Nandini damn sexy. ..

Shaking my head in disbelief, I recalled Nandini's reaction, when for the first time I confessed my love. ...

I mean. ...maine kisi ko bhi itna shocked expression dete hue nehin dekha. ...jitna Nandini uss din mere muh se ' I love you ' sunn ke shocked thi. ....

Puri pagal hai woh. ...uss ne toh mere saath baith ke humare future pein bhi debate karna start kar diya tha. ...

And then came her one of the killer dialogues ' Nandini : yeh sab baatein kehne ke liye hoti hai Manik. ....what if. ...ane wale saalon mein mujhe koi aur pasand aa jaye? ???.....main kisi aur se pyaar karne laagu? ????....tab tum kya karoge? ????'

Gosh. .... the mere thought of Nandini being with some other guy just burns my world down. ....If knew that Nandini was scared of love. ...so the best thing I did was to console her and make lots of happy memories with her. ...

Yes memories. ...staying with Nandini, I realised. ..that memories hold a supreme power of turning hatred into love. ...so I gifted Nandini with lots of happy memories. ...

Talking about memories. ...the sight of Nandini breaking down, after her mother showed up, was horrible. ....I was never able to understand how deep Nandini's scars were rooted. ....the sight of a vulnerable Nandini was a nightmare. ...I was scared like shit. ...thinking about the possibilities that she would leave me. ...
But again. ...that girl surprised me. ...

Nandini actually slayed her hatred for our love. ...our relationship. ..

That day I understood, why people say ' I love you ' to be the three magical words. ...because those words from Nandini's mouth were sounding no less than a prayer. ...a prayer which I would love to listen again and again. ...

After brushing my teeth, I entered Nandini's room.
Lying on Nandini's bed, I just covered myself with her blanket. ...well. ...the blanket smelled like her. ...and involuntarily the tears started rolling down my eyes. ...

Why didn't she just listened to me, for once? ?...why she left me alone? ???....will she ever come back? ???

Chennai.

9 : 30 pm.

Finally I am standing in front of a small house, with a beautiful garden attached to it. The neon lights were making the garden look like heaven.

Well, putting a halt on my admiring session, I pressed the door bell.

Okay....I won't lie. ...I am nervous. ...rather hell nervous. ...what if Shalini turns out to be a ghost? ????....how the heck I am supposed to fight with her paranormal activities? ???....I know. ...I am talking shit! !!!.....but this is exactly what lack of sleep does to me! !!!

Well my mental story cooking session was interrupted, as a 60 year old Father, opened the door.

Father  ( smiling ) : how can I help you my child? ??

Me ( anxious ) : I just wanted to meet Reverend Joseph. ..

Father  ( calmly ) : I am Reverend Joseph my child. ..what do you want my child? ???

Me ( calmly ) :I wanted to talk to you about. .. Shalini! !!!

On hearing Shalini's name, the colour of his face changed and he started fidgeting.

Father  ( nervously ) : come inside my child. ..

I entered the house and he immediately pointed me to sit on the sofa.

It was very clear that the Father knew about Shalini. But the question is, how much he knows about her? ???

Wearing his spectacles, the Father took his seat, opposite me.

Father  ( concerned ) : kaisi hai Shalini? ???...woh theek toh hai naa? ???....usse kuch hua toh nehin naa? ???

Me ( annoyed ) : woh toh theek hai. ...lekin usske chalte main theek nehin hu!!!!!

Father  ( confused ) : matlab. ..main kuch samjha nehin my child? ????

Taking a deep breath, I put all my thoughts in a single sentence " Shalini mere fiance ke pecche paddi hai! !!!!"

Father  ( confused ) : matlab? ????

I calmly explained him the whole incident and my reason behind visiting him.

Father  ( horrified ) : I am so sorry my child. ...yeh sab kuch meri wajah se hi ho raha hai! !!!

Me ( confused ) : aapki wajah se? ????

Father  ( guilty ) : haan. ...doo saal pehele maine hi Shalini ko mental asylum se bahar nikala tha! !!!

Me ( pov ) ( horrified ) : mental asylum? ?????????????

Me ( concerned ) : can you please explain? ????

Father  ( calmly ) : Shalini ek orphan thi. ...koi usse humare church ke bahar chhod gaya tha. ...jiske baad se hum church waalo ne usse aapni bacchi ki tarah rakha. ...woh bacchpan se hi kaafi intelligent aur sharp thi. ..

Me ( pov ) ( sarcastically ) : woh toh dikh hi raha hai! !!!

Father  ( calmly ) : humare church mein James naam ka ek clerk tha. ...hum ne Shalini ki shaadi uss se karwai thi! !!!

Me ( pov ) ( shocked ) : Shalini is married! !!!....phir bhi Manik ke pecche paddi hai. ...chudail aurat! !!!!

Father  ( guilty ) : that was one of our biggest mistake. ...

Me ( concerned ) : kyon Father? ???

Father  ( guilty ) : James accha aadmi nehin tha! !!!....usska kisi aur ke saath pehele se hi affair tha! !!....jab yeh baat Shalini ko pataa chala toh woh bardasht nehin kar payi!!!!....jis din woh James ko confront karne wali thi. ...ussi din ek car crash mein James ka death ho gaya! !!!!

Me ( horrified ) : James mar gaya hai! !!!

Father  ( calmly ) : haan my child. ...James ki sudden death se Shalini ko bahut shock laaga tha. ...woh bahut violent ho gayi thi! !!!

Me ( pov ) ( hell scared ) : violent Shalini! !!!!!!!!

Father  ( sobbing ) : jab hum Shalini ko control nehin kar paye. ...toh usse mental asylum bhejna hi sahi samjha. ...

Me ( curious ) : toh phir aap ne usse mental asylum se bahar kyon nikala? ???

Rubbing his eyes, Father continued " doo saal pehele main Shalini se milne mental asylum gaya tha! !!!....aur waha par mujhse usska dard nehin dekha gaya. ...mental asylum se nikal ke maine usse Mumbai bhej diya. ....aapni nayi life start karne ke liye. ...

Me ( confused ) : lekin usse mere fiance se kya chahiye? ????

After thinking for few seconds, Father replied " shayaad usse tumhare fiance mein aapna husband dikhta ho! !!!!"

On hearing this, I just wanted to bang my head on the wall.

Me ( pov ) ( pissed ) : ayyappa aap kyon karte ho aisa? ???....life mein ek Perverted President kam tha. ...joh ab ek Psycho Teacher ko bhi sambhalna parega! !!!!!!!"