It was around 12 when we reached Soha's farmhouse. It was a poshly designed bungalow with a beautiful garden surrounding it. The watchman at the gate confirmed our appointment and let our car in. We halted a little behind the main entrance. While I stood mesmerized by the absolute natural beauty in front of me, Manik got busy with parking. I could kill Manik had he not got me here.

"Who is going to carry these bags??", Manik screamed at the top of his voice to pull me out of the admiration trip.

"I can't.. it's your turn now", I darted back at him rudely and walked in as he gaped at me with the bags in his hand.

Soha was always a very warm host; she immediately came to receive us. She was one of those over joyous species. I didn't know if it was because she was going to be married or was it because of Manik. She greeted me with a tight hug.

"Hey Nandini..it's so good to see you after such a long time..I hope you have used this time to make me some mind blowing outfits."

"Well that's for you to decide", I replied with a warm smile.

Soha broke her affection for me the moment she spotted Manik standing behind me and pounced on him for a cozy hug. Manik struggled to stand straight with the four bags but as he saw me looking at them he immediately responded to her in an overtly cheerful manner. Although I didn't get intimidated but Manik's behavior was surely annoying me. After their PDA we started with the work we were there for. Soha more or less loved all her attires for her Mehendi and Engagement. She had a little issue with her Sangeet apparel. She wanted slits in her lehenga. It was bothersome though but she wanted it and we had to honor it. All of it was more or less sorted. Only her wedding dress had some more work left.

She invited us to stay back for lunch. I was feeling exhausted but couldn't refuse her. Manik tried to bother me by being overfriendly with her but strangely I didn't get jealous this time. I didn't know if it was because I was aware that he was faking it or because I was just tired. I excused myself to sit at a little distance and relax.

"Hey Nandini how are you doing??"

I turned to the familiar voice and found Harshad smiling at me.

"Hi.., I am good..How are you??"

"I am good as well..but you don't seem fine..that day also you vanished from the party ..is everything okay??", he queered to have a proper view of my face that looked somewhat pale.

I just smiled at his question. Although I had met him just thrice, he was a perfect gentleman who knew his ways to deal with ladies.

"No really I am fine." I said with an assuring broad smile

"Amm..okay...I don't know if I should be asking this but is everything okay between you and Manik..I mean he treats you like..."

Harshad had probably noticed that Manik was bothering me throughout the meeting by contradicting me and trying to overshadow me.

"Harshad you are right..you shouldn't be asking me about this... whatever it is even if there is anything..it is between Manik and me..so I hope you understand", I think I was direct enough to stop his queries about us.

"Okay I understand and I have an offer for you..listen I think you are very talented..you have done a fabulous job with Soha and you certainly deserve better opportunities...I have a few friends if you want I can talk to them..you will definitely have a better career with them.

"Thank you Harshad I appreciate your concern but I am happy being in AURA.", I said politely he was our most esteemed client after all.

"Hey guys!!..Whats the topic..What am I missing out on??", Manik had to come as he saw me talking to Harshad.

Even though he didn't want me anywhere near him but his eyes always knew where I was. I looked at him and his eyes shifted from me to Harshad and then back to me.

"Nothing I was just asking her to look for bigger and better opportunities..she is very talented you see.", Harshad tried to pick at Manik purposely.

"Indeed she is..and who better than me can vouch for that..I am aware about a lot of her qualities", Manik gave me an accusing look and continued with Harshad, "Waise bhi her work in AURA is done..she can go anywhere she wants..in fact I will be more than happy  for her Harshad..kyun Nandini." he gave a dirty sarcastic look at me.

Manik's words pinched me like anything. He had become so straight faced that nothing bothered him. I had served my purpose in AURA. I was there for a purpose. His words were enough to hurt me so much. Everything was getting so bitter and pathetic; I found my hope slip bit by bit. Yet I kept quite.

"Okay Harshad...I shall leave..I have an event to attend and you can go on suggesting her better career opportunities...she is all yours..aur haan I think you won't mind dropping her home right...no no not now..jab bhi you guys are done tab.", Manik's said in cold and indifferent tone

Manik left without looking at me once. He made me feel so disgusted but I could not insult myself further by crying. Harshad understood that everything was not well between us. He proposed to drop me but I declined politely.

***

Manik came back around 12. It was a long day and tiring as well. He opened the door, it was dark and switched on the lights. He looked around to find me but I was not there. He glanced at his watch, it was late. He called out my name and once again ransacked the whole apartment to find me. He was adamant enough not to call me directly and called Harshad instead. Harshad informed him that I had left long back and that too alone. Manik got tensed. It was quite some distance from Karjat to our place but I should have been back by then. He immediately dialed my number, it rung but I didn't answer .Manik's anxiety was increasing. He knew that I was hurt. Next he called Navya to check if I was with her or had come to AURA. But she also said what he didn't want to hear. Now Manik had every reason to worry. He hardened his senses and knocked at his mother's door to check if she had any clue as to my whereabouts. Neerja Aunty also got a little worried about me. Manik's worry escalated as he registered that I was missing. His face gave away his concerns for me. He stood alone and muttered to himself.

"She left me..Nandini left me."

He had to find me. But where?? I was not there at all the places I could be. No one knew about me and suddenly a name struck him.

"Abhimanyu"

But Manik had no information about him to track me. He helplessly ran down stairs. He asked the watchman to inform him if I returned and set out with his car and as he was about to leave the entrance he stopped before a taxi which was going to enter the block. Manik spotted me at the back seat and sprung out of his car. Abhimanyu got down from the other side and helped me come out of the taxi. I was pale and weak and could barely stand. My eyes stopped at Manik who stood in front of me. He looked worried and relieved at the same time. I saw his expression change from being concerned to angry as he saw Abhimanyu holding me by my arms. He grabbed me and pulled me towards him.

"How many times have I asked you to take my calls."

"What the hell Manik..leave her..you are hurting her", Abhimanyu intervened as he saw me wincing in pain.

"Really!!..tumhe bahut fikr hai iski", Manik glared at him fiercely

"Haan hai ..kyunki wo meri friend hai..do you even know usne kya kia hai??"

I tried to stop abhimanyu but he was furious at Manik's behavior towards me.

"Stop Nandini..he needs to know ..She walked back all the way from Karjat..pagal hai ye she thinks apne aap ko hurt karne se you will understand her but all this is pointless because you don't trust her..she fainted on the way..wahan ke kuch logon ne uske phone se mujhe call kia and I rushed to her...is chaos mein uska phone bhi kahin gum ho gaya..do you have any idea kya ho jata if I was not able to reach her."

"Abhimanyu please jao yahan se..it is late..I am sorry tumhe bahut pareshan hona pada meri wajah se.", I could barely manage to speak but I had to.

"But Nandini"

"Please Abhi"

He left immediately giving a sorry look at me. Manik stood here blankly and I was tired for any argument. I slowly started walking to the building. My legs gave away all the strength, I was limping unable to stress on either of the legs. Suddenly I felt and upward sweep and I was in his arms. He picked me up and began walking inside.

"I can walk", I protested and dangled my legs slightly to come down.

"Shut up!!", he was not considerate and was still angry.

He walked past the lift to the stairs. I looked at him puzzled. What was he doing?? We lived in the 12th floor. Did he remember?? He was going to carry me all the way through the stairs. This man had all the unique ideas in the world and he had found one to punish himself. I saw him struggle around the 7th or 8th floor but was adamant enough not to give up. I repeatedly told him to put me down but he continued walking. When he reached finally, I found his hands were trembling and when he put me down my legs and his arms were in similar condition.

"Nandini I think you should leave me..tum jitna mere saath rahogi..main tumhe utna hurt karunga..I am not in control of myself and with you around me I lose it every now and then..you are making me hate myself.", he admitted helplessly.

"Toh mat karo na aaise Manik..do we really need to be like this."

"You have made me like this..main aaisa nahi hun..you make me weak..vulnerable..you make me go through all the emotions that I stayed away for so long..I had promised myself not to let anything and anyone affect me so badly as you do...I can't be like my Dad..I won't be like him..I have been so strong throughout my life..I have done everything on my own..right from taking care of my dad, handling myself through chaos, making a career of my own , AURA every damn thing..you make me feel nothing is worth it..", he said in one go with immense loath and apathy.

"You have become my weakness..Yes I am insecure..I am possessive and I hate it when I see you with anyone", He grabbed my arms and pulled me to me with a jolt.

"That day when I saw you in Abhi's arms you brought back all those painful memories..your lies kill me..I cannot see you in a different light anymore..YOU REMIND ME OF MY MOTHER AND I HATE YOU FOR THAT.". his eyes were blood shot red in fury.

"Really Manik if you hate me so much then why were you worried about me..why did you hurt yourself by carrying me all along..Tell me Manik", I still wanted to know.

"You only said na if something hurts me then I should throw them out of my life..YOU HURT ME..like nothing and no one before" he looked straight into my eyes and I sensed he meant every damn word that he uttered.

I stood there like my life had stopped. All my hope my dreams everything was smashed brutally. I really didn't have anything to say or question further. He was disturbed and my presence added salt to his wounds. I hung my head down unable to think what to do next and he went away not wanting to see my face.

***

When Manik got up the next morning, he didn't see me. But this time he was not worried. He located my pair of keys on the table and figured that I had left. I did what he wanted. He let out a deep sigh and looked at the keys as if they would tell him where I was. Now he had the house for himself. It didn't have a trace of me left. Manik opened my cupboard to reaffirm, my stuff was not there. He seemed lost and was probably expecting me to squeal from some corner. He went to the kitchen to see if I was making breakfast for us then to the office room where he usually found me in the mornings working. But I was not there. He was battling with himself to let the feel sink in that I was not there. The silence and the emptiness of the house were bothering him but who could he tell that, who could he vent out his frustration on. He picked the glass jug from the dining table and smashed it on the floor as if it would make any difference. Manik sulked for some time and then made himself ready for his life ahead. He wouldn't admit but everything around reminded him of me. He took his shirt that I wore and held it close to his face. He was trying to derive my fragrance out of it and then turned to my side of the bed that was spotlessly clean and uncringed. He missed me.

He finally gave up and got ready in a jiffy. He had to go to AURA or to be exact get out of the house where he was used to see me in. When he reached AURA, it was usual. Everyone was busy and swarmed like bees all over.

"Nandini..I am really worried for you guys..kya chal raha hai dono ka", Cabir was actually worried and genuinely concerned about the both of us.

"Cabir please hamen kaam pe concentrate karna chahiye..I have started working on the alterations of Soha's sangeet dress..please look in to her bridal dress."

"Cabir chal yaar we have we have to gear up for Soha's wears..we don't have much time left", Manik entered the conference room fidgeting with his phone.

"I think I should leave you both alone", Cabir walked out before either of us could say yes or no to his proposal.

Manik was surprised to see me there. I figured out that he had thought that he had finally gotten rid of me.

"Oh exactly..its my fault..I should know that you can never let me be in peace..just when I thought that you understood you had to prove me wong.", he flapped his arms in air.

"Manik I have to tell you something", I was trying to be as calm as possible.

"Really still there is something more that you have to say..didnt we do enough of it last night or in fact in the last few days..Nandini why the hell are you being so difficult..we can't be together..is it that difficult for you to understand."

"Manik it is something important.", I was literally loosing it to his idiotic behavior.

"Important yeah right what ..what that you don't have a place to move in..you want to continue in AURA right..come on Nandini grow up like seriously", he gave me a pathetically dejected look.

I gulped in a deep breath and clenched my palms together and braced myself to finally utter,

"I am pregnant... I am going to have your baby."