Nandini is staring at Manik. Her eyes are searching for that love that once didn't need to ask this question. She still asks in that hope,

"But! You really don't know the answer to this But?"

Manik's clutch on her frame becomes more claiming. In a distorted voice, he demands,

"Don't try my patience, Nandini. See, you still don't have faith in me. For your kind information, if I had known the answer to all the 'if' and 'buts' of our life, perhaps our life would have been different. But you never cared for those if and buts. The only thing you cared for is your ego."

Nandini feels the hostile heat of his breath on her face. She composedly counters,

"Ego! You didn't come to see me at the nursing home; that was my ego? You didn't even try to know why my car was found partially smashed just half km away from your bungalow; that was my ego. You didn't even try to know how did I spend those days in the nursing home bed in the hope that perhaps you will come and ask me if I am well. Was it my ego or yours that you didn't even ask me where is our baby? Do You know how did I feel that time? I felt that my baby left me because he knew I won't be a good mother. He knew that I won't be sufficient for him. He needed his father but you were nowhere. You were nowhere, Manik. I cried, cursed myself for not being able to protect our symbol of love but no one was there to wipe my tears, to embrace me amidst those sleepless nights in the nursing home bed. One night I decided to kill myself. I lost every reason to live. But doctors informed me about My Appa's cerebral attack. Perhaps God wanted to give me a reason to live. I forgot that I am the only support of my Appa. I couldn't give him the same pain which I got by losing my child. The rest you know very well. He is still in a nursing home in a coma stage. I don't know if he will ever come back to me but this is the only reason for my living now."

Nandini pauses for a moment and lets out a sigh.

"It's not my ego, Manik. It was my pain, my self-respect. I wish I never met you and I never experienced that a person can love and hate the same person with the same intensity. I love you Manik but I hate you too."

"The feeling is mutual, Nandini Murthy. I hate myself for loving you. Do you get that? I hate you."

He hisses out still controlling her torso. Tears roll down her cheek. With a choked voice, Nandini utters,

"Then kill me, Manik. I can't live with this hatred. Take your revenge. I won't stop you. I know you will take care of my Appa. I want to go to my Baby, Manik. He still calls me in my dreams. I couldn't keep our love. I couldn't be a mother. It's better to die. I can't take this anymore. I can't...."

She bursts out in cry and rests her head on Manik's chest. It seems that she has lost every energy to react. Manik is still holding her in his tight grip. If not, she might fall on the ground.

"I went to see you at the nursing home. I heard that you admitted because of your pregnancy termination. I should have tried to know that it was not your decision rather the doctor's decision to save your life. Arnav stopped me to meet you and I assumed that it was your decision. I assumed that you wanted to cut all strings related to me and the abortion of my baby was a step towards that. That day I decided to start hating you. You are right, even I came to know that a person can hate the same person whom he loved once with the same intensity. We both are responsible for the death of our child, Nandini. Our hatred for each other killed our baby."

Manik's voice gets choked gradually. Nandini feels water droplets on her forehead. She lifts her face from his chest and meets his eyes which are now red and brimming with tears.

"Manik..."

She whispers. Manik keeps on looking at her painful eyes. They still have so much love for him. It's truly said, anger is our natural defence against pain. So, when we say I hate you, it really means you hurt me because I love you. Unknowingly Manik lessens the distance. He so wants to take all those pains residing in her beautiful eyes, those quivering lips, and that heart that still beats for him. He places his lips on her left eye and sucks the tears. It feels a healing touch on her wounds. More tears trickle down her cheeks. Manik touches her another eye with his lips and does the same. Gradually, his lips come down in the search for her trembling petals. Their breaths are mingled with each other just to ensure love. As Manik's lips mingle with hers, Nandini's hands crawl up on his back to secure him in her peaceful embrace. With this kiss, Manik tries to remove her all anguish, all anger and all grouse.

"Kiss me breathlessly,

And achingly slow.

Show me how

You would die

If it weren't for my lips

Keeping you alive."

......................................................

Manik lays her down on the bed and comes over to her slowly. His hands reach to the bedsheet coving her body. With a slow pace, he discards the obstacle from her body. Their eyes are locked with each other. The best kiss is the one that has been exchanged a thousand times between the eyes before it reaches the lips. Without breaking eye contact, Manik mumbles,

"Our baby wants to come back to us. Can we give him one more chance?"

In reply, two teardrops trickle down the corner of her eyes. She answers in a trembling voice,

"Love me, Manik. Love me so much that our hatred loses its battle. Our child needs his parents in love. Love me, Manik. Make me yours again....Forever."

Manik's eyes become dreamy. He entwines his fingers with hers and sinks his face into the depth of her chest valley. He newly inhales the known fragrance and murmurs,

"My heart is so full of you that I can hardly call it mine. I am already yours...forever."

Author's note: So, they finally reconciled. All ego, all complaints dispersed. Their passionate love scene will last in the next chapter.🙈🙈🔥🔥 Some more reconciliation and misunderstandings will be resolved. This story is gradually going to its end.🥺🥺 Stay tuned and keep smiling.