Deceiving Veils

Chapter-13{Hers to walk}

Playing in roses and catching butterflies, her smile touched a twinkle as she heard a honking car. That little girl ran to main gate leaving all the maids baffled.
"Baby, slow down, you would fall down"

Her giggles filling entire house in enchanting melody; her frilly frock making her trip small. Before she could touch the floor, she was in two warm arms.
"Nandini, how many times I have to tell you not to run after wearing these tacky frocks," her mother said.

"Papa is home, Mamma," she explained her innocent urgency and slid down her mother's arms.
She heard her mother scolding maids about making her wear tacky long frill frock. She ran faster just to be taken in swing of her father's arms.

Enclosing him in her tiny arms, she looked happiest than ever. Her mother looking at them both with twinkling eyes. She giggled more as her father put his another arm around her mother. Her tiny hand reached her mother's cheek and her mother kissed it with all her love.

With a tender blow, her head slid down the tree bark and she opened her eyes. She almost was on ground and bonfire was blazing in front of her eyes. She looked around and saw familiar faces sleeping. Reality didn't take long to hit her. She was alone amidst of those three people. That beautiful memory got played in her head to roll down the ache. An ache from which she needed a break.

Nandini leaned back on tree and let tears escape. She didn't want to return to her slumber because she thought she won't be able to take the ache of realizing reality if dreams chose to be pretty.

A pair of eyes were on her as a slight movement she made. Through orange of fire, he saw her smiling in her dream and then waking up to harsh reality. He chose to pretend as he saw nothing. He closed his eyes again.
Nandini got up and walked to the moonlight. It looked ethereal. As it touched her flesh once she got out of shadow of trees, she smiled. Extending her hands, she stood with open arms to embrace it. After all, her world wasn't that unfamiliar. A few things were same. She bathing in moonlight reminded her of those nights when she would sleep under milky shower of moon.

She stood there for minutes trying to smile about things. It was soothing and her stay there vouched for that. She saw a shadow on ground which was joining her. She looked around to see Manik coming to her.

Her heart formed a knot and stomach did little somersault as he stood right beside her. Adjusting stray wisps of hers behind ear, she opened her mouth to say something but words didn't come out.

Why this awkwardness?
Maybe because she cried her heart out on his shoulder. Yes, it can be that only.

Why this racing heart then?
Maybe she was afraid to look into his eyes because she let him see her broken.

No, she didn't want him to reflect it.

Strangled in her thoughts, she didn't realize when did he put his coat around her petite figure.

"Are you out of your mind? You can't walk around in this piece of cloth," she said to him giving back his coat.

"I am not feeling cold," she softened her tone seeing him getting stiff.

He took it back quietly and wore it without a complaint.

She waited for him to speak or something but he didn't utter a word but keep staring in blank.

"I am sorry," she uttered assuming he was annoyed.

"Sorry for what," he looked at her with that question.

"I think I was a bit rude," she said in low tone looking at him.

He chuckled and shook his head.
That's it? He didn't say anything.