At Night

Manik was standing at the terrace looking at the sky when Nandini came there with two mugs of coffee in her hands. She forwarded one mug towards him and said,

Nandini:- Coffee???

Manik took that mug and dropped it down which landed just beside the night guard who was sleeping like a donkey on duty and broke into pieces. That night guard got scared and immediately looked up.

Manik:- (angrily) Tujha kya sone ka liya paisa milta ha?

Night guard:- Sorry sir.

That night guard ran away and seeing this Nandini slapped her forehead. Manik casually took her coffee mug and started sipping coffee as if nothing happened at all.

Nandini:- You are unpredictable.

Manik:- Then why you try to predict? Don't you think it's a waste of time?

Nandini:- Anyways why did you hit that therapist?

Manik:- Why did you hind the truth from me?

Nandini:- (confused) Truth? What are you talking about?

Manik:- What do you think Nandini? You will bunk your class and play sick games with me and I won't get to know anything.

Nandini:- Manik I…..

Before Nandini say something Manik hugged her tightly and said,

Manik:- I know you were helpless. But still I hate you when you care for that jerk more than me, I hate you when you back off from your promises, I hate you when you try to go away from me.

Suddenly Nandini jerked him away from her and said,

Nandini:- And I hate you for treating me like a toy, I hate you for making me helpless, I hate you for making my life hell.

Manik:- (angrily) Nandini dare you say that you hate me.

Nandini:- Why? What will you do?

Manik:- (shouted) I will push you down from this terrace just like I pushed him years back.

Saying this Manik immediately closed his mouth by his hands. It was slip of tongue, he didn't want to say this. Suddenly everything went blank in front of his eyes, he saw two small kids about 4/5 years old were playing at the terrace with a ball. One boy kicked the ball so hard that it bounced and fall down from the terrace. They went near the railing and looked down.
Manik was lost in his own world when he felt someone was screaming his name, he looked at Nandini and found her restless.

Nandini:- (worried) Manik...Manik what happened to you? Why are you sweating like this? For God's sake Manik say something.

Manik came back to his reality. He was sweating like hell and totally out of breathe. His whole body was shivering, he was feeling suffocated and dizzy.

Manik:- No... nothing…..

Saying this he immediately rushed downstairs but he was shivering so badly that he lost his balance, fall from the stairs and rolled down. He accidentally got hit by a sharp corner and his forehead got a deep cut. Nandini also ran behind him and found him sitting on the stairs holding his bleeding forehead.

Nandini:- (shocked) Shit it's bleeding. Manik come with me, you need treatment.

Manik jerked her away and said,

Manik:- (shouted) I don't need anything. Leave me alone.

Saying this he stood up. He somehow went to his room and locked the door from inside. Nandini tried to stop him and bangged the door but he didn't listen to her. Finding no other option Nandini ran towards Raj and Neonika's room.

Nandini:- (crying badly) Uncle please come with me. Manik fall from the stairs and his forehead is bleeding.

Raj+Neonika:- (shocked) What???

They immediately rushed to Manik's room and knocked at the door. But Manik didn't open it as he was busy searching for his pills. He swallowed 2 pills at once without water and went to the washroom. He tried to wash the blood which was rolling down and blocking his eye vision but it was flowing continuously. He came out of the washroom, took some tissue papers and pressed them on his wound to stop bleeding till then Raj opened the door by spare key and entered the room.

Raj:- Manik what happened? Let me see it.

Manik wasn't letting him see but Raj's one glare and he became a scared kitten.

Raj:- Shit it's so deep. He needs stitches.

Manik:- (scared) I don't need stitches.

Raj:- (shouted) Shut up, just shut up. Nandini bring him downstairs, I am getting the car.

They took him to the nearby hospital and he got 3 stitches. Then they came back and Neonika immediately hugged him tightly.

Neonika:- (crying badly) Kew karta ha tu asa? Tujha pata nahi chot tujha lagta ha to dard teri Maa ko hota ha.

Manik:- Sorry Mom. I accidentally slipped from the stairs.

Raj:- It's already late. You guys go and sleep. I will stay with him tonight.

At Midnight

Raj and Manik both were awake when the wall clock made a sound showing it's 12 am. Manik turned towards Raj and said,

Manik:- Dad….

Raj:- (still closing eyes) humm.

Manik:- It's my birthday.

Raj:- I know.

There was uncomfortable silent for a few minutes then again Manik said,

Manik:- (sadly) You are still not over from that incident, isn't it?

Raj:- Some wounds never heal.

Manik:- I am sorry.

Raj:- It's too late. You should sleep.

Manik:- Won't you forgive me ever?

Raj didn't say anything. He turned other side and pretend to be asleep. After sometime when Raj actually fall asleep Manik stood up and went to the store room. He pulled out an old dirty box and opened it. There was a few toys and few clothes of small kids. First he pulled out a small ball which was covered with mud. Then he kept it back in the box. He again pulled out a white t-shirt which had dried blood mark all over it and kept staring at it.
At that time Neonika came downstairs to drink water as she was thirsty when she saw the lights of the store room was on she went there and saw Manik sitting on his knees holding that white t-shirt.

Neonika:- (confused) Manik what are you doing here?

Manik turned back and seeing Neonika there he was shocked.

Manik:- No... nothing. Actually I just...I just came here to search for my old bicycle.

Neonika:- You were searching for your old bicycle at midnight?

Manik:- (sadly) I wasn't feeling sleepy, so I thought. Anyways good night.

Saying this Manik was about to go from there when Neonika said,

Neonika:- You said you used to hate him.

Manik:- I still hate him.

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