Manik Malhotra - it's my love story

Decision

Manik stayed in the hospital for three days, he had a head injury, a hand fractured, other hand had some scratches which are bad too. Daily his friends and Nandini were sure to entertain him, some times all some times one after one.

When he got discharged, Nandini and her father came along to make sure Manik is happy, they bought balloons, brought some flowers and gifts for him to cheer him up.

Manik is too attached to Nandini in no time. They became total package, making jokes having fun playing chess talk around and around the bushes. Never anyone spill the beans of heart, they are happy to be around each other.

Nandini is writing all his notes on subjects for him, she is even explaining some notes and classes so that he can't be lagging in his studies, Manik is always serious about his studies and music along with Nandini

His mind heart developed an aura about her, they work on their own without his concern or his permission, whenever she is around him, his heart beats fast, his mind clouds nothing matters except her, he wonders how can she make everything look beautiful in a matter of seconds with her smile? He wonders how can someone makes everything look different? Does she feel the same? Does she have any effect on me on the same as I have?

"When are you going to get a discharge?" Bhaskar asked Manik
"Maybe tomorrow uncle"
"Once you are ok you will come to my house with your friends, parents to our house for dinner I want you all to treat with good South Indian food which you are liking nowadays"
"You don't have to make aunty work all the time uncle even though I am very much fond of her cooking those idles are just amazing" he started to lick his lips
Both daughter and father laughed "yes yes they just vanish in few minutes" both again laughed
"You look beautiful when you smile Nandini," Manik said in trance
Both father and daughter stopped laughing Nandini moved slightly feeling uneasy "thank you" she said to make him come out of his trance
Murthy too felt blank about how to react to his this compliment
"How can that bastard think of snatching such a beautiful smile of yours? How couldn't I kill him? No one Nandini I promise to you No one will strain your smile nor your dignity, you are so precious to touch see and want, we all can only admire you, never let a single drop of tear touch your cheeks they burn my heart please" he begged
Bhaskar felt goosebumps all over his body, the shame he feels for his daughter, those were his unspoken words which made him get tears Manik already made his way to his heart by protecting Nandini but these words made him precious now as his daughter
"Manik I envy your parents I never felt a need of a son we were always content with our Nandu but today this moment I feel kash if I had a son like you to protect her," he said wiping his tears
Manik nodded no "she doesn't need protection she needs inner strength, she needs techniques to protect herself uncle which I am going to make her learn soon, not only her Alya Mukhti and Navya too should learn,"
"That is why I started self-defence classes at college daily morning and everyone should and must attend including staff" Nyeonika announced
"That's a great idea," all three said at a time
She giggled happily "so are you ready to go?" She asked Manik
Manik looked at Nandini felt sad, she too looked at him "is it today his discharge?" Murthy asked
"Yes his dad is getting ready his discharged papers," Nyeonika said happily
"When he is all right and healthy you all must attend a dinner party at my house without fail" Murthy requested
"No need Bhaishab I am already feeling guilty about what happened you are inviting me again makes me ashamed"
"Never feel such please it's that fellow twisted brain not anyone fault only his so no need to feel guilty, and you called me bhai so as a sister you should come with authority" he smiled
"Ok like such I will surely attend this"
All smiled

Manik returned home but his mind is filled with the time he spent with Nandini, it is blissful to spend quality time with her, it made him more comfortable to be with her in control,

Here Nandini is happy and sad, happy as Manik health improved a little and he moved to his house which will be more comfortable, sad because she can't visit that often as she visited him in hospital.

Nandini still started visiting Manik daily with books, she completes her work, make him have some snacks then read some topics, talk little when he is almost sleepy she will leave till then Nyeonika would return, gang too will come back.

After fifteen days Manik came to college, Nandini is excited, she bought some snacks for him, and gang, she and Navya joined gang totally.

Today when Manik woke up from his nap, he heard his parents arguing, he frown and came out of his room and stood out, they are downstairs "you can't do this to my son Harsh! You can't this is wrong"
"I have no choice Nyeonika! Please understand, I am drowning"
"We will go bankrupt rather than agreeing for business marriage Harsh why don't you understand?" She is now frustrated
"Nyeo listen to me good, we have five years to fulfil this promise anything can happen, but we need money now, so let me take risk, look Soha can be good, Manik can grow to love her, if not Soha might love someone else anything can happen"
"But you are taking away Manik choices Harsh which I don't agree"
"Let him decide nah? I will explain"
"You will blackmail him nothing more, look harsh better we sell our property"
"I made choice nyeo, I calculated everything we need more, and Khurana is only source we have and he want Manik as his son in law so that he can be relaxed for his daughter as guaranty"
"Let me ask dad"
"Dad is old and he already divided property among all of us, he is having just small portion you know that"
"Why? Why did you take this project harsh? Why?" She cried
"We can't leave our works nyeo"
"But you can sell my son and come home?" Her words are very harsh but her love for Manik is deep. Harshawardhan is not different but he is now weak

Manik eyes welled up, his face turned hard. Nandini smiling face alone came to his mind, eyes burnt, heart hurts but he understood his father "mom! Can I get some coffee please" he sat besides her
"You woke up?" She is shocked she don't want her son to listen this conversation
"Yes" his face is plain
"Manik look you don't need to agree to this"
"So that papa can bow his head to Khurana?"
"Manik look we will think a way"
"If he had he would have mom, don't worry get us coffee please" he hugged his mother and kissed her forehead "I am lucky that I can be helpful to you guys don't think much, ok?"
Nyeonika face paled eyes started to rain, she hugged him cried "sorry"
"Shhhhhhhh it's ok" his clenched his jaw
Harshawardhan is guilty. He knows his son, he is always understanding and obedient. His calm personality sometimes scares him too, unlike other he goes silent if he don't have choice. Harshawardhan is seen that silence again. He is scared and guilty.

Manik after sometime came to his room, he closed door sat on bed, all the incidents of Nandini came as a motion movie to his mind, he can't sacrifice her, he can sacrifice himself. But before even started their love story he is taking advantage of her, "how selfish I am? How can I just say it's ok? How dare of me? How can I take decisions about us alone? How? Why?"
"You didn't express your feelings Manik" his mind tried to be rational
"But we were into this" his heart protested
"The game which you both started playfully can make you do this" his mind explained
Manik got more tears. "Nandini" his lips spelled as if it can calm his ragging anger and sadness. Manik collapsed.

Manik avoided Nandini for two days, he want to calm his own nerves and mood. He came to his papa office to help, he started to check accounts, all day he made himself busy so that Nandini can't cross his mind but how foolish it is? She is like his breathe, can he even try to be without it? He laughed at himself. He felt he is fool.