Chapter 14

Manik ran behind Nandini and called her out 'Nandini, just look at me'

Nandini was very emotional and she could not stop crying she turned around and just held on to Manik as if her whole world was crashing down.
Manik slowly wrapped his arms around her and they just stood there for a moment.

After a minute Nandini realized what she had done and she immediately left him. Manik was shocked yet again but didn't say anything.
Nandini left and ran towards her room and shut the door.
Manik decided to give her some space
Nandini sat down there and just kept crying and there was no end to it.

She looked up and spoke to the universe.
Why is this happening to me? You know right I can't get attached to people, I lose everyone! Then why again? What is this strange connection that I feel? I won't let you snatch anyone away from me again. I will not get affected by Manik.
She complained while crying her out.
Nandini didn't realize when she fell asleep on the floor and it was evening now.

Nandini was still inside and Manik and Fab4 were worried. What if something had happened? Manik decided to go and check up on her. He knocked on the door and called her name and she didn't open.
He got even more worried and kept banging the door. Hearing that Cabir also decided to go up and they pushed the door open together.
They saw Nandini lying on the floor and Manik screamed her name loudly
Nandini!!!!

They picked her up only to realize that she had a fever. They put her on the bed and called up a doctor. The doctor came in and checked on her. It was a stress attack. He advised not to give her any more stress and left.

All of them were really worried and could not fathom what happened that lead to this. Manik sat there waiting for her to wake up.
After a few hours, she woke up and saw Manik sitting there. She smiled but then everything flashed in front of her eyes again.
She woke up with a jerk and asked Manik 'Stay away from me!'
She got up and rushed to the door and Manik followed.
Nandini what is wrong with you? You are sick. Please come and rest back.

Mr. Manik Malhotra, you are my boss and this is not your office. You have no right to stop me, Nandini shouted back at him.

This angered Manik to no end.
Okay Nandini, let me see how will you leave.
He went and stood in front of the door. Nandini tried hard to fight and make her way out but she was exhausted and she gave up.  She felt dizzy and Manik caught her hand before she fell down.

I think I told you that you are sick? Do you believe me now? Manik stared at Nandini.

They both went upstairs. Manik gave Nandini the medicines and asked her to go to sleep. She made faces while taking them but went to sleep like a baby.
The monster Manik could not help but smile.

He went downstairs letting her rest. He started thinking to himself.
What is this girl and how the hell does she affect my mind so much? What made her cry and gave her a stress attack? She is so mysterious and I don't even understand why do I feel so connected to her.

Manik poured a drink for himself and Cabir joined him.
What are you thinking Manik? Cabir asked
Manik didn't reply
I know what is on your mind. Nandini, Nandini, Nandini. Cabir teased Manik and he told him to shut up.
This girl has made me crazy for sure, Manik replied with a little smile. Cabir smirked because he could see how Manik is connecting to someone like he never had. 
Cabir left Manik alone with his thoughts.

Manik finished up and walked upstairs towards his room and once again he was called out 'Manik!!!!'

It was Nandini, yet again. Manik rushed towards her room and saw her heavily panting and sweating. He realized it's a stress attack again.
He was very shocked to see her in that state.  He gathered himself and went towards her. He cupped her face and asked her to calm down.
Nandini was blabbering something and Manik could not decipher.

Shush shush! Please calm down Nandini. Look at me I am here. Can you please try to calm down? Here, have some water.
Manik

Nandini still didn't stop crying. Manik got frustrated because he really could not understand the reason behind her break down.
Nandini, get yourself together, Manik said it in a stern tone.
She stopped crying. Held his shirt and rested her head on his chest. As if all she wanted to get lost there.
Nandini was really vulnerable and weak.
Manik tried his best to comfort her.

Manik composed himself and said 'Nandini, I know my impression has not been really great on you so far. I am not a monster if you want to share your problem with me, you can tell me. Sometimes sharing things with a stranger feels a lot better than someone we know. I am here for you.'

At that moment all Nandini wanted was to let her heart out, let it all out. The thing that was eating her every day. She held back, she didn't want to get close to anybody.
Hearing Manik's words gave her a little confidence.
She started to say something but her voice choked. Words failed her mouth and she cried again. 
Okay Nandini, you can say it someday else. Now all you need is sleep. Please go to sleep, Manik begged her.

She denied. Can we go out, please? For a walk? I feel suffocated. Nandini pleaded him
How could he say No? He agreed.
They walked out of the room and went downstairs. Nandini wanted to go out of the Mansion but it was really cold and Manik denied.
Nandini pleaded with puppy eyes. So he said 'Okay let's go but we'll drive instead of walking or you will catch a cold and tomorrow your relatives might come and kill me for that.' Manik laughed
Nandini smiled a little and nodded. They left the Mansion.
Few minutes into the drive Nandini spotted an ice cream stall and said Manik, Icecream!!!
Manik immediately started shaking his head.
You have a fever Nandini, he shouted.
But I want ice cream. I don't care, Nandini acted like a 4-year-old kid.  
Okay fine! But only one okay? Manik accepted defeat.
He got ice cream for her and gave it to her.

Manik, where is yours? Nandini asked innocently
I don't want to eat ice cream you eat, Manik replied
Nandini licked her ice cream and shared it with Manik. He took a bite just to make her happy.
Manik adored her innocent face and how she ate her ice cream like a child.

She finished up and he asked. Can we go back now? It's very late, Nandini.

But Manik, didn't you want to speak to me? Nandini asked.
Of course, I do. But only if you are comfortable.
Okay, Manik. I have never told this to anybody in my entire life.
Nandini you can trust me, he assured her.

Nandini sighed and started speaking.

"I had the sweetest family. My mom, dad, my little brother, me, and my Grandma (Amms).
We were a happy little family.
Do you know the festival of Diwali? The season of lights and love was my favorite once upon a time. One such Diwali changed my entire life.
I was 12 years old and like every other child I dressed in my best clothes and I was playing around. Lighting diyas and bursting crackers.  Amms had gotten a new Indian dress for me. I was running around and playing and I never realized that my dupatta caught fire. I went inside the house to get some crackers and my dupatta was slowly burning and I never realized when it fell down and came out of the house happily.
Call it fortune or misfortune I was saved from getting burnt. Only to witness something that would hurt more than death. Some of the crackers inside the house caught fire because of dupatta and it entered the fire switch. The fire spread and in a few minutes, BOOOM!! There was a huge explosion.
Amms, my little brother Rishabh and me were outside the house. But my parents were inside and they succumbed to the fire and died.
I can still see those flames, everyone running around. My grandmother crying for help asking people to save my mom and dad but no one could do anything.
After the fire was ceased they tried to find the cause of it. Of course, it was the electric explosion but I don't know how the Universe planned this. They found that half-burnt piece of cloth around there and we realized what caused the fire. I lost everything. From that day to day I have died a 1000 times. I was blamed for their death. Now, I am just a body. Like a robot."

Nandini burst out in tears and kept her head on Manik's shoulder. Manik didn't know how to respond to that. He just held her and let her be. He wanted to let it all out.

"Everything changed. Nobody said it to me but everyone blamed me for it. Each day of my life I have grown up with the guilt of killing my own parents. We moved to my uncle's house. He never liked us. He treated us as a burden. I finished studies somehow on scholarships. Once I finished that. I was asked to take care of my brother and grandmother myself. So, here I am. In a new city with no soul in me and a huge responsibility on my shoulders."

She stopped crying and stared blankly at the road.

"I loved my parents. After them, I never received the love in my life. I have craved it. All I received was blames and guilt. So, I started believing there is no true love. Maybe there is? But it's not in my fate. I am a curse. I'll take everything down with me. If someone loves me they will have to die."

Manik was really shocked to no end. He could not understand what kind of pain has she kept in her heart that she considers herself a curse?
Nandini cried and Manik could not hold himself back. He pulled Nandini towards himself into a bone-crushing hug.

Nandini felt solace but after a while, she recalled and said, 'Manik please stay away from me. This is not right.'

That one sentence and silent crept in the car. Nothing was spoken after that.
Manik drove the car back to the Mansion. Both of them pondered over the events of the night. They reached back and Nandini immediately got out of the car and went to her room.
Manik too went to her room and crashed on his bed.

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Do you feel that it is sometimes easier to let your heart out to strangers? Manik and Nandini seemed to have developed a strange connection. Their first hug?
Nandini's life story. Quite an emotional ride?
I hope you like how the story is turning out so far. Please do vote and drop a comment.
I really appreciate people who take out the time to do that for me.
Keep reading!❤