Originally posted by: Firebolt
The thing about Manik is when he sees red, he sees nothing else. As they say the sword cuts no matter who wields it. He wants blood for blood. Pain for pain. He doesn't claim to be on any pedestal. He doesn't claim to be a hero.
But the thing about spiralling downwards is that, eventually you'll crash. Unless, unless you have an anchor. His friends. They aren't going to stop him. For instance Aliya says nothing Manik does will ever be as bad as what Harhad did. They will all defend him.
He needs someone to stop his fall. He needs Nandini.
This!!
He doesn't just need Nandini because he loves her but because she is the only one who can save him from himself, he is not inherently bad, but he doesn't live for himself. He is always ready to self-destruct for his friends even if they want it or not. It's suicidal and dangerous. His friends enable it passively because they don't call out on his BS, their philosophy is if Manik is going down the ship , we sink together , he is right.
He is seeing her sadness, her grief , her care and her broken self but he is numbing it, ignoring it because that will make him think about himself and just cannot do it. because in his mind that will make him weak and he won't be able to save his family.
