Warrior Hearts

Food For Thought

Manik's POV

"Manik, what're you doing here at this hour?" Rohit asks, as I step out onto the terrace. Eagerly, I cast my gaze around all corners of the open space, but Nandini is nowhere to seen. "You don't practice out here at this time. Nandini and I do." I know, I wish to tell Rohit, which is why I'm here. Clearing my throat, I casually cast my gaze around the entirety of the terrace once again.

"All I see is you here." I say, adorning a casual demeanour. At least I hope that's what I'm portraying. "Are you sure that you duel with Princess? Or is she merely a figment of your imagination?" If there's anything I know about Nandini, it's that she will never - not once in her life - be unpunctual. And so her not being here is quite an oddity.

"Hmm," Rohit hums, as he watches me with amusement in his eyes. How the hell is that an apt response to all that I've said? Reluctantly, I turn around and begin to retrace my path back towards the terrace doors. 

"By the way, Manik," Rohit says from behind me. "If you're so eager to know about Nandini's whereabouts, you can just ask." Glancing at my friend over my shoulder, I let out a scoff.

"As if I'd care," I snap. But Rohit and I both know that my words are a lie. Otherwise why else am I standing out here on this terrace? Rohit's right, I don't practice here at this hour. On the contrary, I have a habit of practicing before noon, whereas Nandini and Rohit come out here in the evenings.

"Ay, I know your mighty ego won't allow it, and so let me just tell you." At once, I whip around to face Rohit upon hearing his words. Frankly, I've been seeking an answer for Nandini's absence since today morning. But only because I am merely uncomfortable not knowing my enemy's whereabouts. Nothing else, of course. Raising my eyebrows, I seek an answer from Rohit, impatience creeping into my bones.

"Nandini apparently made you a promise, Manik," Rohit explains. "So she's now gone to fulfil it." My eyes widen momentarily as I stare at my friend in confusion. Promise...What the hell is he talking about? I will go to the farthest corner of this world, and ensure that I find a cure for Dadi. This is my promise to you, Malhotra. A gasp escapes my lips as Nandini's words come tumbling into my mind. Good God, did she really mean all that she said?

"Where's she gone exactly?" I ask Rohit. "And please tell me you told Princess not to take the path that goes through the forest, right? It's a hub for all sorts of vile men." Judging from the panicked look on Rohit's face, I can tell that he has forgotten to mention this imperative piece of information to Nandini.

"I-I didn't," he admits in a small voice, bowing his head towards the floor.

"Oh, for fuck's sake, Rohit!" I hiss, throwing my arms in the air. "Has she taken any soldiers with her?"

"Manik, in truth, I don't know the details of her journey at all." Rohit makes yet another confession that has the hair on my arms standing on edge. "Nandini just left me a note, saying that she'll hopefully be back in a day's time." Nandini informed Rohit about her departure, but she couldn't let me know? "And that she's out looking for a cure for Dadi's illness."

Good God, I had thought that Nandini made that promise to me in the heat of the moment. But here I stand, only to find out that she genuinely meant her words. What the hell is wrong with that girl? She cannot and should most certainly not embark on adventures just for the sake of fulfilling an inconsequential promise. After all, what miracle cure will she bring back when the best of the physicians of our land have fallen short in doing so? To top it off, who am I to Nandini, anyway? Her enemy, that's who! And so why is she out there trying to find a cure for this enemy's grandmother? What does she have to gain from it all? Heck, even when I offer her jewels of the finest kind, they get thrown back in my face as if they're the equivalent to used parchment. Good God, yet again I fail to understand Nandini.

If only Nandini had informed me about her departure, I'd have advised her in accordance to the routes she must avoid, the shortcuts that she could take, and I'd have most certainly sent half of our land's soldiers with her for protection.

"Good God, Rohit," I hiss, as I tug at the roots of my hair in frustration. "Why'd you send Nandini after me?"

"Oh, so would you have preferred Anusha coming to your rescue, Manik?" Rohit retorts, staring at me, eyes wide. "You know what? That would've surely been a better plan. I bet alongside your ongoing drama, she'd have started hers too." Rohit lets out a dry laugh. "And then Nandini would have to come and rescue both of your asses."

"Had you sent Anusha, at least I would not be standing here, concerned about the ladies of this house running around our land without my knowledge," I snap. "Anusha would never embark on a futile journey senselessly."

"Because she couldn't care less about you, or the people who you hold dear in your life!" Rohit yells, his face growing red with anger. Frankly, this is the first time that Rohit has spoken to me in such a tone. In an attempt to rein in his emotions, I watch him shut his eyes momentarily. 

"Manik, I wish you could hear yourself." Rohit says, his tone much calmer now, as he meets my gaze. Confused, I watch as disappointment clouds his eyes. "Your wife - Nandini - cares enough to leave no stone unturned for Dadi's health to better itself, and you're standing here, talking about a futile, senseless journey." Sheathing his sword at his side, Rohit begins to make his way towards me. Without halting, he continues to head past me, and straight for the terrace doorway.

"Sometimes, Manik, I'm unsure about who to pity," Rohit says, as he halts at the threshold. Pursing my lips, I glance at him over my shoulder. "I am finally making this confession, Manik: At times I wonder whether you're rubbing off on Anusha, or vice versa. So I'm confused about who to feel sorry for, and who to blame for this mental corruption, and emotional deterioration. Let me know if you figure it out, though, Manik." Offering me a quick, cold pat on the shoulder, Rohit leaves me alone with my thoughts.

Sighing, I allow my feet to carry me towards the edge of the terrace. It's odd to admit this to myself, but now whenever I do come out here, I cannot prevent my thoughts from wandering towards Nandini. After all, I had laid forth half of my trap for her on the terraces of her palace.

I rather spend time with a log. Upon recalling Nandini's words, I fail to keep a smile from spreading itself across my lips. Good God, she's the only lady in my life - maybe even in all the lands - who makes my life hell when I so much as try to flirt with her. Heck, I sometimes wonder if she carries a book of wit with her everywhere she goes.

Nandini cares enough to leave no stone unturned for Dadi's health to better itself. At once the smile gets wiped off my face as I recall Rohit's words. As much as I hate to admit this, he's not wrong. 

I've made a mistake; a grave one. In truth, I don't regret all that I've done to Nandini in the past. But just this once, I do wish to turn back time, and refrain myself from lashing out at her. How the hell could I have been so insensitive towards Nandini? For crying out loud, I laid the entire blame of Dadi's ailing health on her when in truth, I know that she's got absolutely no hand in it, especially now more than ever. Otherwise why else would Nandini have left to seek out a cure for Dadi? I wish that I could reassure myself and announce that she's lying, so that I can rid myself of this guilt. But that would be a miserable lie. After all, if there's anything I know about Nandini, it's that she's blatantly honest. Be it friendship, or enmity, she does it all with the utmost level of honesty, avoiding all dirty, underhanded games. And so if Nandini's told Rohit that she's gone off to fulfil her promise, then I have no choice but to believe her.

Maybe she's even doing good by my family without expecting anything in return. Frowning, I shake my head, as if doing so will help dismiss this thought. No, Nandini cannot be this selfless. No one is. Although as far as I'm aware, she didn't seek any repayment from Rohit for helping out yesterday either.

"Fuck," I hiss, banging my fist against the banister. This woman's got the inner confines of my head in knots.