Nandini sat quietly in her room, her gaze fixed on the city lights shimmering outside her window. The memories of her first realization of love for Manik played like a movie in her mind. She could almost feel the warmth of that day, the gentle breeze on her face as they confessed their feelings for each other. A small smile tugged at her lips as she remembered the softness of Manik's voice when he admitted that he had fallen for her too.

Her smile faded as her thoughts drifted back to the present. She sighed deeply, feeling the weight of the current situation pressing down on her. She picks up the frame beside her where she and Vishakha was hugging with eachother laughing.

"Why, Mumma?" she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible. "Why can't you see where my happiness lies?"

She leaned back, hugging her knees to her chest, and rested her chin on top. The room was silent, except for the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. The silence felt suffocating, amplifying the turmoil in her heart.

"Mumma, you've always been there for me," Nandini continued, her voice trembling. "You've always known what I needed, even before I realized it myself. You've always understood my dreams, my desires... Then why now? Why can't you see that Manik is where my happiness is?"

Her thoughts raced back to the time when her mother would indulge her every whim, whether it was a simple wish or a grand desire. Vishakha had always been her pillar of strength, her guiding light. But now, that light seemed distant, almost unreachable.

Nandini closed her eyes, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. "I know you love me more than anything, Mumma," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I know you're doing what you think is best for me. But... can't you see that this is tearing me apart?"

She paused, the lump in her throat growing as the memories of her mother's care and affection flooded her mind. "You've always wanted the best for me," she continued softly. "But this... keeping me away from Manik... it feels like you're taking away the very thing that makes me whole."

A tear escaped her eye, rolling down her cheek. She wiped it away quickly, as if trying to brush off the pain along with it. "I miss him so much, Mumma," she confessed, her voice barely a whisper. "Every day without him feels like a piece of me is missing. And I know he's hurting just as much."

Nandini stood up and walked over to the window, her fingers tracing the cold glass as she looked out at the night sky. "What are you so afraid of, Mumma?" she asked, her voice filled with a mix of confusion and sorrow. "Why can't you trust me to know what's best for my own heart?"

She leaned her forehead against the window, her breath fogging up the glass. "I just want to be with him, Mumma," she said softly. "Is that so wrong? Is it so wrong to want to be with the person who makes me feel alive, who understands me like no one else?"

Nandini's heart ached with the weight of her thoughts. She knew her mother loved her more than anything, but this love was now the very thing that was keeping her from the one person she couldn't live without.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I know you're trying to protect me, Mumma," she murmured. "But sometimes... sometimes love means letting go. Trusting that I can find my own way, even if it's not the path you would choose for me."

The silence of the room seemed to echo her words, making the emptiness around her even more profound. Nandini closed her eyes, letting the quiet envelop her.

"Please, Mumma," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Please, just let me be with him. Let me find my happiness, my own way. I promise, I'll be okay... as long as I have him by my side."

Nandini's heart felt heavy, burdened by the uncertainty of the future. But deep down, she knew that no matter what happened, her love for Manik was something she could never deny, something she could never let go of. And she could only hope that her mother would one day see that too.

Manik sat alone on the terrace, the cool night breeze ruffling his hair as he gazed out over the quiet city. The others had already gone to bed, leaving him to his thoughts, which inevitably drifted back to those two months in London when Nandini was there for her internship. Those were the days when their friendship had evolved into something deeper, something they both cherished but were still learning to navigate.

He slipped into a vivid flashback, remembering how they had decided to take things slowly after their confession. The memory of their first date was etched into his mind, a mixture of excitement and nervousness that made him smile even now.

Flashback,

Manik had wanted everything to be perfect. After their confession, they had both agreed to take things slowly, to explore this new bond they had discovered. A dinner date seemed like the right way to start, so he had planned something simple yet meaningful. A cozy little restaurant tucked away in a quiet corner of London. It was the kind of place where they could talk without interruptions, where they could just be themselves.

He stood in front of the mirror in his room, trying to calm the nerves that were beginning to get the best of him. "Relax, Manik," he muttered to himself, straightening his shirt for the third time. "It's just Nandini. You've known her for years. This is no different. You've had dinner together a hundred times." But even as he said it, he knew this time was different. This wasn't just dinner; this was a date. Their first date. And he wanted it to be perfect.

When he finally reached Nandini's penthouse to pick her up, his breath caught in his throat. Nandini was always beautiful, but tonight, she was something else. She wore a simple yet elegant dress that hugged her figure in all the right places, her hair cascading in soft waves down her back. She looked ethereal, and for a moment, Manik forgot how to speak.

He fumbled for words, his palms suddenly sweaty. "You... you look..." he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "You look beautiful, Nandini."

Nandini blushed at the compliment, a shy smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Thank you, Manik," she replied softly. Seeing his nervousness, she added with a playful smirk, "You don't have to be so nervous, you know. It's just me."

Manik chuckled, feeling a bit more at ease with her teasing. "I know, I know. But it's different now, isn't it?" He offered her his arm, and together they walked out into the night.

The restaurant was perfect, just as Manik had hoped. It was dimly lit with soft music playing in the background, and the tables were spaced far enough apart to give them privacy. The ambiance was warm and inviting, and as they were seated, Manik felt a sense of calm wash over him.

But once they were settled at their table, a strange silence hung between them. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it was different from the easy conversations they used to have. They both knew this was new territory, and neither wanted to say the wrong thing. They were still figuring out what this new dynamic meant for them.

Manik was the first to break the silence. "So, tell me," he began, his voice soft, "what's been happening in your life before coming to London? We haven't really talked about that."

Nandini looked at him, her eyes softening at the genuine interest in his voice. She began to share little snippets of her life-her studies, the challenges she faced, and how excited she had been about the internship. Manik listened intently, nodding occasionally, but his mind kept drifting to the fact that this was real. She was here, with him, and they were more than just friends now.

After a while, as the conversation naturally flowed, Manik hesitated before bringing up something that had been on his mind. "Nandini," he began cautiously, "I've been thinking... maybe we shouldn't disclose our relationship just yet."

Nandini looked at him, a little surprised but not upset. "What do you mean?"

Manik sighed, leaning back in his chair. "It's just... right now, things are tense at home. Dad is still recovering, and Mom is already stressed with everything. Plus, I'm juggling studies and office work. I don't want to add to their worries by bringing this up now."

He paused, searching her face for any sign of hurt or disappointment, but Nandini's expression remained calm. "I know your parents are important to you, Manik," she said gently, "and I understand why you'd want to wait. You don't have to apologize. We don't need to rush anything. We have time to figure this out."

Manik felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had been so worried that she might take it the wrong way, but Nandini, as always, understood him better than anyone else. He smiled at her, a genuine, heartfelt smile. "Thank you, Nandini."

After their quiet dinner, they left the restaurant, walking side by side down the dimly lit street. There was a comfortable silence between them now, one that spoke of a deeper understanding. When they reached Nandini's penthouse, Manik walked her to the door, his heart full but his mind still a little nervous.

"Thank you for tonight," Nandini said, her voice soft as she turned to face him.

"No, thank you," Manik replied with a grin. "For being you."

There was a moment of hesitation before they both leaned in, and without thinking, they hugged. It was a hug that spoke of everything they didn't say out loud-of promises, of comfort, of a bond that was only growing stronger. After a moment, they pulled back, and Manik couldn't resist pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

"Goodnight, Nandini," he whispered.

"Goodnight, Manik," she replied, her heart fluttering.

As Manik walked away that night, he felt lighter and happier. He had no idea where this journey would take them, but he knew one thing for sure-he was in it for the long haul.

Flashback ends

Back on the terrace, the memory faded, and Manik found himself smiling to himself. Those were some of the happiest days of his life, even with all the challenges they faced. But now, sitting here alone, with the weight of their current situation pressing down on him, he wondered how they had come to this point. He missed her-more than he could ever put into words. He just hoped that soon, things would be right again.

The sun was just beginning to peek through the curtains when Nandini stepped out of the bathroom, fresh and ready to start her day. She was feeling a bit lighter after her conversation with Manik the previous night, though the uncertainty still lingered in her heart. She quickly wrapped herself in a robe and started brushing her hair, humming a tune softly to herself. But her morning peace was abruptly interrupted by a knock on the door.

Nandini turned to see Vishakha, Mahir, Bela, and Navya entering her room. The serious expressions on their faces immediately set her on edge. Something was wrong-she could feel it. Vishakha gestured for her to sit down on the edge of the bed, her usually stern face softened with an unusual tenderness.

"Nandini, sit down, please," Vishakha said, her voice gentler than usual.

Nandini frowned, her heart beginning to race as she took a seat. She shot a questioning look at Navya, who only shrugged, indicating that she too was in the dark. Nandini's mind raced, trying to piece together what could possibly be going on.

Vishakha reached out and took Nandini's hands in hers, something she rarely did, making Nandini's anxiety spike. "Nandini," she began, her voice laced with an emotion Nandini couldn't quite place. "I want to apologize for keeping you confined to your room. I know it wasn't fair to you."

Nandini blinked, taken aback by the sudden apology. "Mumma, you don't have to say sorry," she replied softly, though confusion was clear in her tone. "I know you're trying to protect me."

Vishakha nodded but then sighed deeply, her grip on Nandini's hands tightening slightly. "There's something I need to tell you... something I've decided. I know you won't oppose me on this, Nandini."

Nandini's heart sank. The way her mother was speaking, with that underlying note of finality, made her stomach churn. A deep sense of foreboding settled over her, making her chest tighten. "What is it, Mumma?" she asked cautiously, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vishakha took a deep breath, and then, as if she were delivering a blow, she said, "I've fixed your engagement with Ronit Maheshwari. It will take place in one month."

The world around Nandini seemed to stop. Her breath caught in her throat, and she felt as if the ground had been pulled out from under her. "What?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "You're kidding, right? This isn't true, right, Mumma?"

But Vishakha's face remained stern and unyielding. "It's true, Nandini," she confirmed. "Next month, you will be engaged to Ronit, and shortly after, you'll be married. I don't want to wait anymore."

Nandini felt as if she'd been slapped. Her vision blurred with unshed tears, and a rush of panic flooded her system. "No, no, no... this can't be happening," she muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. "How could you do this to me? How could you decide my life without even asking me?"

Her voice grew louder with each word, trembling with anger and fear. "I won't do this! I won't marry him!" she shouted, standing up so quickly that her chair clattered to the floor.

Vishakha's eyes hardened. "Nandini, this is for your own good. You will get engaged next month, and that's final. No one can change my decision."

"How can you say that, Mumma? How can you decide my life without considering what I want?" Nandini's voice cracked as the tears she had been holding back finally spilled over. "You know I don't love him. I don't even know him! How can you ask me to do this?"

Bela and Mahir, who had been silent until now, exchanged a glance and stepped forward, trying to calm Nandini down. "Nandini, please try to understand," Bela began softly.

But Nandini wasn't listening anymore. Her heart was pounding so hard she could barely hear anything over the rush of blood in her ears. Her breathing became erratic, her chest rising and falling in quick, shallow gasps as the reality of the situation began to sink in.

Navya, who had been as shocked as Nandini, tried to reason with Vishakha. "Amma, please, don't do this. Nandini isn't ready for something like this. You can't force her-"

But Vishakha's expression turned cold. "This is not up for debate, Navya. Nandini will marry Ronit, and that's the end of it."

Nandini felt like she was drowning, the room spinning around her as panic gripped her. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think. The walls seemed to close in on her, suffocating her. She needed to get out, needed to escape, needed Manik.

Manik. The thought of him brought a fresh wave of despair. She needed him now more than ever, needed him to calm the storm raging inside her. But he wasn't here. She was alone, trapped in a nightmare she couldn't wake up from.

Her breathing grew more erratic, and her vision blurred further as she began to hyperventilate. Her hands shook uncontrollably, and she clutched her head, trying to stop the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm her. She felt like she was being pulled apart, her mind and body unable to cope with the emotional overload.

Without warning, Nandini lashed out, her hands knocking over everything in her path. Picture frames, lamps, and anything within reach went flying as she screamed, a guttural, raw sound that tore from her throat. "No! I can't do this! I won't do this!" she cried, her voice breaking.

Vishakha, stunned by her daughter's reaction, tried to reach out to her, but Nandini pushed her away. "Don't touch me!" she screamed, her voice hoarse with desperation. "How could you do this to me, Mumma? How?"

Everyone in the room was frozen, unsure of how to help. Mahir and Bela exchanged helpless looks, while Navya stood in shock, unable to process what was happening.

Nandini's world was spinning out of control, and she felt herself slipping further into the abyss. Her head was pounding, her chest tight with the agony of betrayal and fear. She was breaking, shattering into pieces, and no one could put her back together.

She needed Manik. He was the only one who could bring her back from the edge, the only one who could calm the storm inside her. But he wasn't here, and she was falling apart without him. Her breathing became shallow.
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Hope u all like the chapter.....

Few words for Manik....

Few words for Nandini....

What were your favourite moments???

Thank u 🙂🙂

Love,
Kiara ❤️❤️