~Sometimes it does not matter how strong you are or how well you handle your own and other's emotions, at times everyone needs a support to rely on. Soemone to hold you tight when you feel that you will simply breakdown, someone to wipe your tears when the flood comes, someone to simply tell you that it's okay.~

Manik went numb, his eyes full of hurt that seeped through his entire body.His mind could not register the events that happened  just a minute before. Was all that he read in her eyes false? Was her care and what he thought was love, an illusion? Was he again wrong in judging her? The questions were bombarding his head and he felt like he would collapse any moment. On the other hand, Nandini was still sobbing, her face plamed in her hands. Everything was silent around them except the occasional sounds of her hiccuping. He was too preoccupied with his confused emotions to console her and here she was feeling like a culprit for destroying the most beautiful moment of their life, for crushing down his hopes and his trust. She somehow controlled her sobbing and moved to fetch her cellphone to make two calls, one for a cab and second one to Kabir. He was the only one she could rely on to handle the situation. After her, only he could handle Manik and for now she needed some time to sort herself out. She turned to find him sitting in the exact position she left him, staring at nothing in particular, but gaze still fixed. Fresh tears welled up in her eyes but as soon as she heard the sound of the cab, she just ran down to it, but not before collecting all the bouquets and notes.

A little later, Kabir hastily climbed the stairs to find Manik sitting on the ground on knees, gazing at infinity. He went to him and called him several times but no response. He then shook him and Manik finally looked at him, with tears brimming in his eyes.

" She left too, see!", The words escaped him, and it broke Kabir's heart too, to hear that painful voice of him, yet again.

" She didn't leave Manik. She can't leave you, you know that right? She would be somewhere shedding more tears than you are!", he asked him, looking in his eyes, trying to show him what he failed to see.

And then it hit Manik. Kabir was right. She could not just leave him and go. She just cannot. He looked up at Kabir, with a flicker of hope and wiped his tears.

" You are right. She can't leave me! But then, why did she leave now?", he asked aloud the question which was eating him up from the past hour.

" She left because she is scared- of herself, of destiny! I was always afraid of this same thing Manik, but I thought with you even she had overcome her insecurities! I guess I was wrong!", A deep sigh left Kabir, and it confused Manik.

Manik did not know what to say. The girl he had loved with all his heart, wàs actually so afraid of love, and he had never realised it. He just kept on looking at Kabir, searching for answers, silently asking his queries.

" Manik, all I can say is right now, it's important that you stand by her, unaffected with whatever happened today. Show her that it is not going to erase the love you have for her! She will open up to you but for that, you have to be strong for Nandini, like she had been for you!", Kabir spoke trying to explain him whatever he could, trying hard not to breakdown himself now, when there were people who were far more shattered than him.

Manik trusted him, so he thought better not pushing his limits and he nodded at him. With that, both friends got up, gathering all their left over strengths, to fight for the girl who was  both their lives in some way or the other.

Kabir dropped Manik at Nandini's apartment and giving them their privacy, he drove off to his own solace, Navya. Navya was cooking dinner at her place when she was disturbed by the continuous ringing of her doorbell. Wiping her hands she ran to open the door and was surprised to find Kabir standing with the help of the wall, trying to smile faintly at her.

But then, Navya knew him too well to believe his antics. She held his hand and dragged him in. He came in and sat on the couch, still lost deep in thoughts. She came from behind, giving him a light head massage and he held her hands in his, keeping them on his eyes, still silent.

" It's okay Kabir. It will be fine, whatever it is bothering you", she softly said, trying to calm the raising storm in him and he in a reflex brought her forward and sat with his head in her lap. She kept stroking her hairs and he silently lied down, falling asleep in some time.

On the other hand, Manik entered Nandini's apartmnet silently, as the gate was already ajar and ran to her room. He entered to see her sitting by her bed, knees drawn to chest, face hidden in her knees and arms encircled around herself tightly. Occasional sobbing sounds were heard. Manik felt his heart wretched into million peices seeing her that way. But he gathered himself and went and sat by her side.

" Someone once told me, excessive crying can cause dehydration!", he chuckled sofkly. Nandini's head shot up at the voice and she was genuinely surprised to see him sitting there. Although somewhere deep down she had wanted this but had not expected it. She looked at him without blinking even once like he would disappear if she blinked.

Mnaik held her by her shoulder and made her head rest on his chest and she melted instantly in his warmth. She hugged him tight and cried her heart out. She had no valid explanation for what she did and she was afraid he would never come back to her after this. But she did not realise that he did not need and would never require explanations to be with her. He was hurt that was true but his love for her were beyond these limits and he knew it very well.

"Relax Nandini, stop crying. See, I am right here!", He tried calming her down, but it didn't help. She started sobbing a little more.

" How do you do this Manik? How can you be so selfless? You should have been angry at me for-", she stopped mid sentence, trying to find the hurt in his eyes.

He didn't answer her, just smiled gently. She hugged him tighter, trying to hide herself in him. Within some time her breath got even and Manik quietly tucked her in bed and sat by her side as she was not ready to leave his hand even in her sleep.

That was also when he actually realized the depth of her insecurities and fears. Some times it's not always what you see. Behind the naive and caring lady, there was also a sacred and insecure girl. One night had changed the equation of all of them, but Manik was determined enough to hold on to it either way.

Nandini woke up next morning missing the warmth around her and opened her eyes sluggily to find Manik standing with a cup of her favourite filter coffee and breakfast.

"Good morning!", It twisted her heart painfully, to read the pain in his eyes but watch the smile on his lips.

" Manik, i-", she wanted to apologize, but he stopped her, shaking his head, and gesturing at the breakfast tray.

Within half and hour both were done with the breakfast and Nandini had to admit it was delicious. Manik just smirked at his victory and soon both left for office.

Now, all Nandini expected was a cold Manik but  here he was doing everything opposite. He was behaving like nothing had happened, actually he was even more caring and loving towards her. She was not able to understand the change her life had taken in a matter of one night. She was so busy in her own thoughts that she did not notice Manik calling out for her twice. Third time, he literally shouted and she at once looked towards him.

"Nandini, Mr mehta's file please!",  he again asked her and she just got up and searched out the file, giving it to him. As she turned she felt a strong grip on her wrist forbidding her to leave. She turned and saw Manik already looking at her. He stood up, still holding her hand and made her sit on the chair. He then knelt down in front of her and took both her hands in his.

"What's wrong? Where are you lost?" he gently asked her.
Seeing him that way, tears welled up in her eyes. She was acting so selfish and he was being so selfless. Nandini hated hurting someone, and here she was, hurting the one person who mattered the world to her.

" Manik-", she tried speaking but emotions were so much into her that she choked and could not speak a word more. A lone tear drop escaped her eye.

Manik wiped off the precious drop with his thumb and cupped her face by his left hand still holding her right hand in his.

"What? Thinking why am I not rude to You? Or why am I not leaving you for hurting me? Or wait, better would be rejecting me?",  he chuckled at his own question while she seriously bobbed her head. Seeing her into such self culpability, he sighed.

"Nandini, I don't know how to explain it to you. For me, it's important for you to stay in my life, even if it's as a best friend. You are my anchor, Nandini. I am still struggling to learn to Live, and I simply need you by my side. And also, I know you have your own repurcussions. We will deal with that, together!", Manik held her hand in his tightly and for the first time in the day, Nandini genuinely smiled at his cute antics. She still did not say anything, just stood up and melted in his arms. He hugged her tight, assuring each other their presence. They broke off after some time and merrily resumed their works.

It was evening when Nandini left for her home. She was dead tired with all the crying and over thinking going on presently and all she wanted was to crash on her bed for sometime. She unlocked her apartment door and went on to freshen up. As she came out of the bathroom, she heard the doorbell ringing. Opening the door she was not at all astonished to find a furious Kabir standing there. She just moved aside to let him in.

"So, care to explain?", Kabir asked with clenched teeth.

"There is nothing to explain", she replied calmly.

"You do realize that you love him, right?", he again questioned her which she chose not to reply because both of them knew he was right.

"Nandu", Kabir sighed, "why are you so afraid?", he was really frustated with the turn of events their life was taking.

"Kabir, I-I don't know. I tried, I went to meet him knowing where it was going. I thought I was ready but-", she broke into sobs, as the pain filled face etched in her memory made her shudder.

" Nandini!", Kabir panicked. He could never watch her cry. Hastily he wiped her tears.

"I know I am taking him for granted. That I am wrong to break his heart. But Kabir, I am very scared. Scared of loosing him forever, scared that destiny will snatch him from me, scared that my own heart will shatter. And I am not strong enough! I won't be able to hold all that", she confessed and collapsed on the floor, crying her heart out, falling in the pool of guilt and fear, afraid to love and yet in very much need of it.

Everything she said, all her bottled up fiascos, were heard by someone else too. Manik, who had come to take her out for the time being as her mood was still off, had also witnessed everything. He just came in and Kabir noticed him. Seeing him there, Kabir gave him a small assuuring smile and left.

Nandini had still not noticed him there. She was still weeping incoherently and her eyes were glued to the floor. Manik just sat in front of her on his knees and took her in his embrace. She readily gave in, recognising the touch, not having any more strength to fight.

"Everyone is scared of something in life Nandini, it's nothing to be so much worried about. It's okay. And see I am here, we will fight for us together", he rubbed her back and Nandini believed whatever he said. She knew she loved him, and she trusted him more than anything else.

A little later, Manik and Nandini were walking in the wet sand of Marine drive, talking nothing, just staring at the wavy blows of water. It was almost late evening and hence not many people were there. Some love birds could be seen playing or cuddling with each other. But both of them, were lost, in a world of their own thoughts, unaware of the future.