MANAN - Cloud with a Silver Lining

Prologue

Location and time- SPACE college, An evening in MAY 2011

..... everyone had their heads hung low... their hidden faces had tears, regret, shame and pain... they knew they were guilty.. guilty of being mute spectators watching the most beautiful relationship crumbling like a pack of cards.. they were silent all the while..their silence killed the purest bond they always looked up to..but the irony was that even today they were quite... so quite that even the air whispers were easily heard

Amidst this two pairs of eyes were locked with each other... though their emotional eyes spoke volumes of turmoil, they felt nothing but emptiness in their souls.. the silence that was once their solace was now suffocating them

Finally breaking the silence one of the members of the group spoke

Guy1 - I don't know if we should even ask for it..but can you please forgive us

Another girl from the group spoke

Girl1 - I am sorry..I claimed to be your soul sister but now I know I am not worthy enough to be called that but can we at least remain friends

Seeing these two others too gathered courage

Girl2 - you stayed with us through all thick and thin but we left you when you needed us the most

Guy2 - We know we have let you down..but can you give us one chance.. just one

Girl3 - We promise we won't leave you alone ever

The strong gaze of the interlocked pair of eyes was still intact.. their wide eyes were staring at each other as if either one blinks even for a second the other one shall vanish...

Meanwhile...

Guy1 - We regret our actions... Believe us Nandini... please forgive us...we promise to not let you down ever...Trust us please...!!

"Trust"...just this word brought her back and she moved her eyes from him to the people standing beside him..they were his friends..they were her friends...no wait that was an illusion..a bubble in which she lived for years...a bubble that got busted not a long ago..and she spoke

Nandini - I don't know..I don't know if I can trust you guys so soon...but yes I do forgive you... Navya, Cabir, Mukti, Dhruv, Alia.. sometimes things are not in our control and unfortunately you all became paws in the hands of our cruel fate...I understand and I forgive you guys...

Navya - Thank you so much..I am so glad you have forgiven us..I am..No No!! We are so glad that you aren't leaving us

Nandini - I am still leaving Navya...Yes..!! I have forgiven you but I still haven't forgotten..I need to forget in order to trust again and to forget I need to leave...I am sorry (looks at HIM..) ..I CAN'T STAY..!!

...she turned and took steps towards moving on

Mukti - Manik you dumb head..why are you so silent...you spoke so much earlier what happened now...Why can't your vocal cords utter a word to stop her..??..

Aliya - they must be tired.. right Manik..after all they were working so hard all these days.. accusing her.. belittling her...!!..but I hope you know Manik this is the worst time to be mute

Dhruv - Shut up..!! Just shut up..Listen buddy she has forgiven us..she would forgive you too.. but you have to ask for forgiveness right..please make an effort

All this while Manik had been staring at her silhouette that was moving away from him

Cabir (places a hand on his shoulder) - Manik are you even listening... (Manik breaks his gaze and looks at Cabir) I know your silence was your peace but you need to let go of it before it's chokes you to death..Go..Talk to her..before it too late..!!

Manik - Nandini....!!!

Nandini froze at her spot..she tries moving but couldn't take a step forward..it was like someone had held her feet so tight that she couldn't move....Manik came in front and spoke

Manik - you know everyone wants me to apologize ...but I know a mere sorry will not erase the horrifying memories... you were too precious for me to loose...and see what I have done.. I have lost you..I won't ask you to stay back not because I know you won't but because I know I have lost that right...I know you won't forgive me...and you shouldn't forgive me...my crime is a zillion folds bigger than anyone else's...so I can't and I won't ask for forgiveness...I have committed a sin..I know..but am I worthy enough to ask for a punishment..can your Manik at least repent for the crime he has committed??

Nandini - It wasnt my Manik...It was your ego that was responsible.. because Manik understands me better than my own self..but then your ego and pride overcame the Manik I knew.. Your ego overpowered Manik and took him away from me ...you went so far that coming back is almost impossible now..you cannot fathom the turmoil I had gone through when i realized that you of all people don't believe me..in your arrogance, you doubted my integrity, my respect my love..I had placed my trust in you..it was fragile and your anger broke it down like a crystal cup into a million little pieces so scattered that I can't even join it together even if I try...yes your ego...your anger..your pride needs to be punished..you sow what you reap manik...I lost my Manik and now you will have to lose me..and that's your punishment..

Manik amidst everything that has happened I lost myself...I need to rediscover my lost soul and I hope we one day we meet again.. the day when you've cleansed your soul and i have discovered mine

Leave me...Let go of me Manik

Manik - I can't do that ..yes I want to repent but I don't and I can't let you go...I won't let you go.. you have to Stay with me

Nandini - I could have stayed with you but I can't stay with your arrogance..it suffocates me.. look at yourself i can't believe a few minutes ago you were so sublime, just a few words of denial and your ego couldn't take it..first try and get rid of ego and then think of repenting

Manik - you seriously think that...fine Ms. Nandini Murthy..all your wishes are granted..I would let you go..in fact I am letting you go...you can leave if you don't love me anymore

Nandini turns to leave

Manik (whispers)- I thought you loved me Nandini

Nandini - I thought you trusted me Manik..

..and they take different roads for the life ahead...two souls who wanted to move on the right path together are now walking aimlessly on two separate paths..will these paths meet somewhere..at someplace.. will this clouded sky ever see a silver lining...one can only wait and watch..!!