Hi!
I'm late for the update na. I know.
But I was out of ideas.

Actually, I read many of your comments, and you're right when you said, this story's beauty lies in Manan's communication. They have this cute, nok-jhok wala bond and they talk it out.

But usually, we see in our lives that when people hear or see something and misunderstand their partners, they hesitate to talk it out. It's a harsh reality.

I introduced this misunderstanding track between manan for 2 reasons; to give the story a reality touch, + make them know their love for each other through their pain.
And I was planning to keep this track on for few more episodes actually.

But after reading your views, I am somewhat convinced with you guys too.
So, on public demand, I decided to put a full stop on the misunderstanding track sooner, yet not making any drastic, dramatic, and unrealistic scenes.
But how to change the plot into it, I had no idea, honestly. That's explain the lot of time I took.

Anyways, here I am with a new update. Thank you for supporting me through.❤️

Happy reading!

*******

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Nandini's POV

Manik is ignoring me!
With this thought in my mind, and an unknown ache in my heart, I don't know when I fall asleep.

The next thing I know is me waking up with the annoying alarm tune as usual at 7am.

Usually I used to study late till 1 at night as my 1st year finals is in a month. But kal maine bilkul bhi nahi padha.

How can I study when all I have in my mind in Manik, Manik and Manik?
*Sighes*

I sat up on the bed with a conflicted mind.
Kya aaj Manik workout keliye aayega? Agar nahi aaya toh maine bulane jaun? Par room toh lock hai, kya karu?

He's ignoring me cuz I am kind of ignoring him. Then him ignoring me- won't it make things easier for me?

Par I never want him to deviate from his daily schedule of proper excercise and balance diet because of this ignoring shit. Isse uska health kharab ho jaayega.

Nahin.
I've to go and call him for workout as always. We can't skip it. Agar woh nahi aaya toh main usse baat karungi.

Par baat kesse karungi, jab woh mujhse baat hi nahi karna chahata hai? *Argh*

Anyways
Now, I should get ready for what I've decided. Baki sab badme dekh lenge.

With this, I ran into the washroom, did my morning routine and got dressed in yoga pants and a tops.

Walking upto my door, I could feel my heartbeats increasing and my hand just stopped at the doorknob.
Itna nervous toh main examination hall mai bhi nahi hoti.

Calm down Nandini!
Manik ko har din ki tarah morning workout keliye bulane ja rahi ho, usse propose thodi na karna hai ki tum itna nervous ho rahi ho!

Propose?!
What am I even thinking?

I shook my head and inhaled deeply, before pulling the door open.

Walking out, when I turned and closed the door, I felt Manik coming out of his room too.

I bobbed my head at him only to lock my eyes with his ever-so-magical eyes.

Oh! How much I missed him?

He's wearing his track pants and black vest, showing up his strong biceps.
But I'm more attracted to his deep magical eyes which are staring down at mine.

My breath hitched!
When I felt him stepping ahead towards me, not even breaking our eye-lock.

I don't know what to say. I don't know where to see. I don't know what to feel.
Hell! I don't know anything.
Nothing.

I'm just still like a statue, with a blank mind, only to find him very very near to me, towering over me.

Ayyappa, saans kaise lete hain?

"Breath, Nandu."

Hayye yeh husky tone!

I blushed internally at my own thoughts and blinked my eyebrows hastily to not let him know of this.

Taking a deep breath in, I looked at him again, in the anticipation of hearing more from him.

He was staring down at me. His face says he's gonna speak something. Anything.

Please say something!
Why am I so desperate though, hun?

Then he abruptly turned and walked past me to the gym room.

What the-?
I stood there like a fool, all alone.

"Kya woh kuch bolne wala nahi tha?" I whispered to no one in particular.

'Maybe you're seeing things.' popped my devil 😈. I glared at him.

'Chodo na! Acha hua Manik ne apna workout skip nahin kiya' my angel 😇 appeared, 'tumhaari wajah se.' she added lowly turning her head away from me.

Though I felt sad to confront the fact that Manik is ignoring me again, I agreed with what she said. Nodding and sighing, I walking into the gym room.

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

Third person's POV

'Shit man!' Manik mumbled entering the gym room and directly walking onto the treadmill.

Why can't I speak what I'd decided?
He rubbed his face with his palm feeling himself weak upon watching her innocent scenic face, her captivating eyes and her breath hitched at their closeness.

When he felt footsteps nearing him, he straightened himself and started the treadmill.

Nandini entered the room, only to see Manik walking at the treadmill.

Usually they should be doing some warmup and stretching for the start, but things are bit awkwardly different now between them. So, she didn't speak up.
Also, Manik is walking at slow pace now, so it won't strain him.

Conflicting in mind about what should she start with, she found herself walking towards the treadmill next to Manik's.

About like 5 minutes passed with both of them walking on the treadmill next to each other, their breaths little heavy due to the workout and sweat beads forming on their foreheads.

There heart and mind and restless for different reasons; some known, yet some unknown to them.

They are stealing glances of each other from the corner of their eyes.

Both of them want to say something, but scared..

Both wanted the other one to speak first, yet both are battling with themselves.

Finally Manik gave in, frustrated.
"F*ck it!"
He murmured and abruptly pressed the treadmill to stop and turned to face Nandini.

"You love him?" He asked not letting Nandini to adjust; first to his abrupt act, then this abrupt question.

Nandini got startled, being not able to comprehend what Manik just said, she stopped moving her legs.

"Careful"
Manik held her in place and stopped her treadmill upon finding her shocked and statued.

'Shit! She must not be expecting such direct question.' he thought. But he can't help himself but throw this question at her, before letting her free.

I need a proper closure at least.
That's what he thought.

"Tum thik ho?" He asked when she didn't move, nor replied to his question. She just keep standing like a ghost.

"Huh?"
"Han!"
"Nahin"

Manik raised his brows in confusion.  'Yeh theek hai ya nahin'

"Han main theek hun, Thank you!" Nandini added straightening herself from Manik's hold.
"Par nahin wait, who are you talking about?" She quizzed back.

When he asked her if she loves him; at first unknowingly her breath hitched thinking he is asking if she, as in Nandini, loves him, as in Manik.

But then, if that would have been the case, he should have asked, 'you love me not him?'. Right, na?

"Wahi, your handsome jet-haired boy!" Manik replied with clear disliking evident in his tone, even though he tried not to show it.

Nandini scrunched her brows.
"Kaun handsome jet-haired boy?" She mumbled audibly.

Manik got little irritated now. He is not liking even the mention of that boy in their conversation.

"Wahi jiske saath tum kal cafe main icecream khaa rahi thi" his voice came out little irritated and more harsh than he intend to.

Realisation drawn into Nandini.
"Ohhh, tum Senior Raghav ki baat kar rahe ho."

'Toh woh Senior hai.
Raghav.. hmm par naam itna bhi acha nahi hai.' Manik's mind buzzed.

Meanwhile Nandini ka mischievous maatha thanka. She smirked, 'Toh Manik jealous ho raha hai!?!'

'Uss din mujhe tease kiya tha, now it's my turn. Hehe..' she thought and opened her mouth not knowing what impact her words will have on Manik.

"Raghav is the same department as me; 2nd year student. He's quite famous, you know- hot 'n' handsome type."

Hearing Nandini's word didn't really helped Manik positively. It was like a confirmation to his thoughts that she must be in love with him. And it pained him, right in his heart.

"Aur tumhe pata hai, coincidently he is my partner too. Pandey Sir has made Senior Raghav and me partners for the main thesis. We'll be doing it together." She added while Manik shuck in a deep breath trying hard not to show the hunt on his face.

He himself is unaware; why the he's hurt that now she loves someone else than him.

Here, unaware of Manik's state of mind, Nandini does a small lap dance in her head on successfully making Manik jealous.

Somewhere she's liking it; that her husband is jealous, that he does have some feelings and it's not one-sided.

"Nandini, tumhe pareshaan hone ki, ya fir mujhse kuch bhi aur chupane ki zaroorat nahi hai. I understand. Love cannot be forced." Manik started saying finally what he has decided to, and had taken all night to gather up the courage for.

Hearing this Nandini narrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Even though we're married, our marriage isn't what we both called for. You still are a teenager who has so many dreams in her eyes, so much of world to see. Aur yahan tum mere aur mere problems main piss rahi ho."

The whole time, Nandini is hell confused, but one thing she knew that Manik is saying something serious. So serious that he mentioned their marriage.

"You are free to go, Nandini. You are free to love any man you like. I won't come between you and Raghav."
But when he whispered the last line, it strike to Nandini,

She has mess up a big time.

Manik watched down at Nandini's astonished face, her big eyes staring at him and her lips part apart wordlessly.

Knowing he has done saying whatever he wanted, and staying here more to hear from her will pain his already aching heart, he turned to walk away as fast as possible.

"Manik, Wait!" Nandini screamed in urgency and ran to him.

"Yeh kya bol rahe ho? It's nothing like you think, sach mein." She breath out while Manik stood there staring at her.

Seeing Manik blank face, she guessed that he didn't buy whatever she just said. So, she added, "Senior Raghav, he is my senior and it's my first time interacting with him cuz of this stupid thesis. Otherwise mera unse kuch bhi lena-dena nahi hai. Promise."

Manik stared at her for a minute and let out a sigh. "You really don't need to hide it any more, Nandini. I understand."

This made Nandini gasp in disbelief. How can she make her understand that he didn't understand?!
Hell.

Manik turned and walked out of the room leaving Nandini standing there not knowing what to do, what to say.

"I don't love him."

She shouted turning around and instantly found him stop at his track.

He didn't turn to face her. He still didn't believe his ears to hear what he just heard.

"I'm not in love with him"
She muttered giving him a confirmation. He slowly turned around to face her.

Then maine jo kal dekha?!
Manik wondered, but didn't voiced. His eyes bored into hers did the job his mouth didn't.

"Kal hume thesis ke baare me discuss karna tha. And he told to meet in the cafe. He came by late, so I ordered myself an icecream to pass my time. I wasn't enjoying my time with him.
Hell! He is so irritating that I wanna end this thesis as soon as possible aur unse picha chute."

Nandini finally stopped to catch a breath and looked up hopefully at Manik. He was still having no reaction, just standing like a ghost.

Nandini made a dejected face and looked down, mumbling lowly, "Believe me please."

It isn't even a few seconds when she was wrapped around with strong muscular arms and cocooned in his warmth.

Manik hugged her like his life depends on her.

No! He was not really doubting and blaming her for cheating behind his back and all shit, instead it was him.

He's unsure if he's good enough for her, knowing he's incapable as a man. If he ever be able to give her the life she deserves, the care, the love she deserves.
He's not sure.

That's why, he thought, if she has a man in her life, he would let her go. Let her be happy, and live the life she deserves.

But knowing she doesn't even like that man, and the truth in her eyes, the innocence in her face- everything is just so overwhelming that he don't want any more if's and but's.

He just want her. Her in his arms.

For a lifetime,
   if she give him this chance.

********

Finally! Ek misunderstanding toh kuch haad tak clear.
Let's see aage kya hota hai.

What you think about Manik's reaction upon knowing that Nandini is taking their status difference quite seriously?