Insatiable Desires

Chapter 22

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Nandini was working in the kitchen, preparing lunch for Manik and herself since everyone had gone to a neighbours wedding and will be returning tonight. She heard the front door opening and heard Manik talking to someone. The front door closed before the footsteps moved upstairs as Manik went to wash his face and hands.

She filled a glass with water and carried it outside when he came down a few minutes later. Handing it over to him, she asked, "Khana laga du?"

"Haan" Manik said and she nodded, walking to the kitchen. She carried the lunch outside, serving it to him. While he had his lunch, she moved back to kitchen and prepared buttermilk for them since it was hot today.

Pouring it in two glasses, she handed over one of it to him while sitting beside him and sipped on it. After they finished drinking, while she carried the utensils to the sink, Manik walked upstairs to their room. Cleaning over the utensils and the kitchen, Nandini walked up.

While Manik was laying down on bed, Nandini walked over to fold the clothes scattered around. While she was working, he followed her movements, his eyes closing as he fall asleep. However, his eyes snapped open as he heard her vomiting in the bathroom.

Getting up, he walked towards her and rubbed her back as she retched. He helped her get up before she rinsed her mouth while he walked out. He was sitting on bed as she walked out, looking lost in her thoughts. She looked towards Manik as she sat beside him and said,"Suniye." When he looked towards her, she told him nervously, "Woh na–abhi hume ved paas chalna chahiye." Manik frowned at her in concern but she didn't give him time to speak as her eyes lowered when she murmured softly, "Shayd mujhe din chadhe hue hai."

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Her hand tightened on his shoulders, whimpering as he arranged her in his lap and pulled her closer by her waist while his other hand delved inside her long hair, raising her face up as his lips gently devoured hers. Minutes passed before she pulled away, gasping for breath, her head falling against his chest.

He froze as he felt her sobbing against his chest and gently called out, worry in his voice, "Nandini. Kya hua? Mere se kuch hua? Kahi dard ho raha hai?" Nandini shook her head, making him sign in relief and wrap his arms around her as he further asked, "Tu khush nahi hai?" She frantically shook her head making him sign, waiting for her cries to subside. When her sobs slowly turned to sniffs, he cupped her cheeks and raised her head, wiping away the tears as he asked, "Kya hua?"

"Woh–woh agar," Nandini started, her voice cracking by the end as she let out her fear, "Agar is bache ko bhi kuch hogaya toh?"

"Nandini," Manik started gently, ignoring the sudden guilt that hit him, as he assured, "Kuch nahi hoga."

"Lekin voh doctor–usne kaha tha ki main–main kamzor hu pura time bache ke liye," Nadini said back, a fresh layer of tears in her eyes but he immediately shushed her as he said, "Woh tab hoga agar tu uski kahi baate nahi manegi aur apne khaane peene ka khyal nahi rakhegi."

"Toh woh kese karungi main?" Nandini asked softly, already dreading the upcoming months since she didn't want to go through the pain of loosing her child again. Manik assured her gently, "Main dekh lunga woh sab. Tu fikar mat kar. Bas iss bache ko rakh apne andar."

Nandini looked at him before asking, "Aur phir bhi kuch hogaya toh?"

"Toh bhi main tere saath hu," Manik assured her softly. To ease the environment, he teased her as he said, "Ab zyada mat roh, warna teri tarah rotlu bacha hoga. Aur ab uth mere upar se, tu moti ho ri hai."