A Sunny Sunday. Manik was home today. He woke up late in morning and after taking a bath he came into his balcony. He leaned with the railing and looked around. The weather was fresh. He saw Nandini again playing around in the garden with her pet. Unknowingly now a days stealing glances of Nandini became his favorite part time especially when she was unknown of his gaze. He used to smile the way she bite her tongue on some mistake. Luckily his balcony was at a safe place. He can see in the garden but the person in the garden can't get the glimpse of his balcony. The cool breeze of late morning touched his face and he stared at Nandini. He himself was unsure of his own behavior. He never thought that he will ever crave to see a 'girl's' face. But now he was! To check Nandini once in night since she got scared in night became his daily routine. And once again he was staring at her and she was totally unaware of his stare. He bite his lower lip and went back to his room. He picked up his painting canvas and paints. Manik was a superb painter. He used to paint in his spare times..!
He sat in front of his canvas and started stroking the picture. Constantly looking at Nandini time to time. It seems he was doing all this unconsciously. It wasn't his will..! His heart was forcing him to draw..! After an effort of one hour suddenly he stood up and backed off. He stared at the picture and he himself gasped..! He had drawn NANDINI's smiling face..! The paints plate and brush fell off his hands. He ruffled his hair helplessly and almost fell on his bed. Staring at the ceiling and shook his head..
"Manik..! Never trust a woman..!"A voice echoed in his ears..! A known voice! He knew whose voice was it! He palmed his ears to stop that voice but it grew louder and louder with each second.
"Ahhh...!"He yelled furiously and got up. "No..! No..! No..!"He whined like a baby hell scared. That voice was suddenly started getting on his nerves. He trashed everything away which came in his hand and suddenly the door opened. He saw Nandini coming in..! He stared at her and backed off..
"Mr.Malhotra..! Are you ok..?"She asked worriedly and he shook his head..!
"St-stay aw-away..!"He shouted scared like a kid and Nandini was baffled..
"Mr.Malhotra..! it's me..! Nandini..!"She was shocked and was unsure even how to react. She was playing in the garden when suddenly she heard Manik's shout. She became worried and came running to him.
"Have you hea-heard th-that voice?"He asked horrified and backed off to the balcony and she moved forward.
"What voice Mr.Malhotra?"She asked softly. An urge of calming him down aroused in her heart he was her husband in spite of their conflicts she was worried seeing him in this condition. She saw him sinking on the floor of balcony and he was constantly staring at her.
"Vo-voice..!"He again spoke and she too knelt in front of him. "There was a voice..!"He tried to explain himself and she patiently held his hands.
"Mr.Malhotra..! It's nothing..! You have surely misunderstood something..!"She said politely caressing his knuckles with her thumbs and he look at her confused..! Suddenly his next move left Nandini baffled. He..! He hugged Nandini..! MANIK MALHOTRA HIMSELF HUGGED NANDINI..! He hugged her so tightly that she felt her bones almost crushing. She was startled for a second but then she hugged him back. Her hands automatically reached his hair and she ruffled them softly, trying to calm him down. While Manik was totally not in his senses. A critical situation for him..! He needed someone to calm him down..! He needed assurance...! His hot breath fanned Nandini's neck..
"I-I mis-misunderstood?"He asked again still hugging her..
"Yes yes..! You misunderstood..!"Nandini whispered lightly and he snuggled in her hair more. She was worried for him. The man who had the ability to upside the world down was hiding himself in her arms like a kid who hide himself in his mother's warmth. She kept sitting with him hugging him tightly and suddenly her eyes fell on the painting..! Her eyes bulged out of her sockets and she tried to broke the hug but Manik didn't let her move even a little. Manik made her painting?? What was happening?
"Mr.Malhotra..!"She whispered in a trembling voice and he hummed. "Why you made my painting?"She asked as if under a spell and POOP! The illusion bubble bursted and Manik broke the hug with a jerk..! She look at him confused and he stood up.
"Get up..!"He said coldly..
"Mr.Mal--!"She tried to speak..
"I said get up and get lost..!"He suddenly shouted and pulled her up.
"Ap ko kya ho gya hai? Abhi tou ap..!"She again tried to speak but..
"Shut up and get lost..!"He shouted and dragged her towards the door.
"No..!"She shouted and freed her arm.
"Why? You women all are same! Bloody opportunists..!"He shouted angrily and boom! Nandini slapped him tightly! He was shocked! His hand was on his cheek and he stared at her shocked..! While her eyes were spitting anger!
"What the hell is your problem?"She shouted angrily and grabbed his collars..!
"Kya smjhty hain ap khud ko haan? Bhagwaan ho ap? Q..? kya galti hai meri? Yai kay aik aurat hoon me?"She shouted and slapped him again. Manik didn't reacted back! Her outburst was not expected! "Main nahi jaanti kay aurat say nafrat q hai ap ko! Par mat bholiya Mr.Malhotra! Aik aurat he the jis nay ap ko janam diya! Aur ap ki behen! Jis k liye ap ny meri life barbaad ki..! Wo bhi aik aurat hai..! Aik din aisa ho ga jab ap ko pta chaly ga kay ap kitny galat ho! Main kamzoar nahi hoon..!"She was shouting and shouting..! She didn't knew how much her words were affecting him! "Aik pal me mjy lagta hai kay bohat pass hoon ap k aur dosry he pal ap meri galat fehmi doar kar dety hain..!"There was sadness in her eyes...! But his answer was so cold that her heart froze!
"Ho gai bakwas?? Now out..!"He said coldly and freed his collars. With that he grabbed her arm again and dragged her..
"No..! I won't..! I want to know the reason of that painting..!"She shouted all the time being dragged with him..
"None of yours business..!"He shouted and pushed her out..
"Wow..! None of my business? Like seriously? You made my painting and that's none of my business?"She yelled again. Least bothered of her shouts Manik banged the door on her face..! But she was adamant on her place! She knocked the door furiously..! "Mr.Malhotra! Open the damn door..! We need to talk..!"She banged the door with full force..
"Get lost..! Aagy say mery room me I tou tangain toor doon ga..!"Manik yelled from inside and angry on himself why he went weak in front of Nandini..
"Tou? Toor dain..! Mjy nahi lagta ap say dar! Baat karni hai mjy..!"She shouted helplessly. She wanted to clear herself..! She was tired! She was tired of this fighting!
"I hate you Nandini..! Please just go away..! Main maroon ya jiyoon tmhy koi farak nahi parna chaye!"Manik LIED..! He didn't hate Nandini..! Did he? As soon as he spoke this the knock on the door stopped. He heard the footsteps fading away..! He sighed helplessly and hide his face in pillow..!
---------------------------
Once again Nandini rubbed those tears carelessly away which were constantly falling off her eyes. She was angry! She was hurt! For the first time Manik's behavior hurt her! When he hugged her she thought that he had started trusting her! She was always conscious and aware of his gaze! She always knew whenever he stared at her from his balcony! She was not a kid who didn't understood his growing feelings for her! Seriously she didn't hate him now! Though she should be hating him as he ruined her life! Don't know but her heart don't want to hate him..! But today! He cleared all her 'misunderstandings' she had about him! In few words he clearly told her how she 'means' to him..!
"I hate you Nandini..! Please just go away..! Main maroon ya jiyoon tmhy koi farak nahi parna chaye!"
Manik's words once again roamed in her ears and she tried to control her tears like a baby. She was strong! She didn't wanted to cry! Not for the man who 'hates' her..!
"Na ro Nandu..! Tu us insan k liye ro rahi hai? Who ha-hates you..? Chup! Nahi roye ge tu..! No!"She murmured to herself all the time trying to decrease the intensity of her tears and suddenly her cell phone rang. She look at the caller ID and her tears increased..
"Bh-bhai..!"She spoke on the phone as it was Rishab. She was angry on Rishab but what to do he was the only blood relation she had..
"Nandu..! Mera bacha..! Bhai ki jaan..! How's my child?"Rishab's loving voice came and she started crying like a baby..! Don't know what was the feeling but Manik's 'hate' words effecting her very badly! It was not for the first time he had spoke that bad to her but it was for the first time after their first forceful encounter! After that Manik's behavior was so changed! He was polite with her..! She thought that he had changed! She started expecting from him and that was her mistake maybe! "Nandu..! Why are you crying? Manik..! Us ny kiya kuch..! Tu ruk main aa raha hoon tjy lainy..!"Rishab guessed and hurriedly spoke..
"Ni..! Bhai..! Ap mat aoa..! Please..! Mr.Malhotra aur gusa ho jayen gay..! And waisy bhi this is my house..! I am ok..! It's just I heard your voice after so many days na tou got emotional..!"I lied badly..
"My sister is very strong..! As far as I know you..! You will never accept defeat..! You will fight..! And I am sure you will get succeeded..!"Rishab unknowingly gave Nandini a good piece of advice and Nandini determinedly wiped away her tears! Yes! SHE WON'T LOSE EASILY!
---------------------------------------------------------------------