MaNan SS : The Incomplete Song (Part 10 - Pg 62 - 13th April) - Page 13

Cabir freaked out as Manik was nowhere to be seen near the car, the dent on the car was enough to indicate that Manik was there. He must have taken his anger on the car. He cursed himself for letting him go alone but at the same time he couldn't let Nandini go off too. Cabir just silently prayed that Manik has not done anything rashly. Finally he spotted Manik at the garden nearby. The tap on Manik's shoulder stirred him from his deep thoughts. His hand was bruised and blood was still oozing from his hand. He cringed with pain as Cabir wrapped it with his handkerchief. "You should have gone for the tree instead of the car. You could have maximized the injury and saved on the car's repair" he sarcastically told Manik. "Cabir..." Manik growled in annoyance. "You know that you can't achieve anything by breaking neither the car nor your hand" he continued. "Cabir, I wasn't trying to prove or achieve anything. The sudden surge of emotions was beyond my control that I just needed to funnel it somewhere!" Manik explained. "So what took you so long to come idiot? You could have helped to minimize the damage right if u came much earlier nah" he demanded. "Ab chalo, lets head back to the hotel, grab a drink and do some damage control on your hand. It has been quite an eventful day... "Cabir suggested. Manik was trying very hard in pretending to be unaffected but Cabir knew the turmoil that was brewing in him. "A serious damage control needs to be done" he told himself.

Throughout the whole evening, Cabir was hoping with the help of the drinks, Manik will open up about Nandini but he wasn't lucky enough. The finally he decided that Detective Cabir will need to handle everything on his own, in his own way. First he needs to find out who the kid is and how is he related to Nandini, then he can happily lock both Nandini & Manik until they have resolved their difference. "Manik, you want grab an early dinner?" Cabir suggested. "Kyun? There is a change in your bedtime schedule?" he asked without looking up from his laptop. "I'm catching up with a friend" he answered. "Oh, I didn't know you had friends here..." Manik retorted. "If you are planning to visit the "FRIEND" that you bumped into this morning, then you might as well skip the idea of confronting her. Koi faedah nahi, she doesn't matter to me anymore. Mujhe koi farak nahi padtha" Manik declared. "Congratulations Manik for the guessing it right. Mein ussi "FRIEND" koh milna chathi. If she doesn't matter to you, if it really doesn't affect you anymore why can't you even bring yourself to even say her name. Face the fact Manik, even her name affects you let alone the person itself." he snapped back. "Mujhe farak padtha... I need to know what happen to her. She owes me an explanation on walking out from our friendship. I need to know!" Cabir was affirmed with his decision. "Anyways my "FRIEND's' address is on my desk, so you will know where to find me in case you need too." Cabir smirked as he walked out; it's just matter of time before Manik will be lured to the bait that he left for him.

Cabir was much calmer and composed that night when he met Nandini. He was relieved that she was actually the legal guardian of Virat. Her affection for Virat was far greater than her fulfillment of her obligation to Virat's parents last wish. Virat lost his parents at a tender age; he was more in need of a family rather than a guardian. His presence helped to fill the void in her life. He once again gave her the reason to pursue her life. Cabir was surprised himself that his anger actually mellowed down, he decided not to probe Nandini right away instead he shared his journey with Navya. How Aisha changed his life, how he grew up along with Aisha as she stepped into each phase of her life. Nandini was elated to hear about Aisha and she was already excited for Virat to meet her. She was already hoping that they would be great friends too. Cabir and Nandini lost track of their time as they recollected their experience and filling each other about their eventful life for the past 6 years. Cabir was careful enough not to mention or divulge about Manik. He was very cautious and vague when it comes to Manik and Nandini didn't have the courage to ask Cabir about it too. He wanted the inquisitiveness to invade Nandini's mind, alluring her towards Manik again.

It was past 2 am, when Cabir tipped into their room as he didn't want to disturb Manik. To his surprise, Manik was still awake and working on his laptop. His dagger glance towards Cabir was enough to tell him how foul was his mood. "You are still awake, dude?" Cabir asked. "Kyu? You have a problem with that" Manik scowled at him. "Not at all dude. I'm very sleepy, so I'm going to hit the bed soon. It has been a very tiring day for me" Cabir announced. "I bet it was... You must have had a great time with your FRIEND nah..." Manik replied. "Actually we totally lost track of time as we started talking, you know catching up on old times, filling each other about our lives, how we have moved "ON"... Even after so many hours, we are still not done yet" Cabir purposely flared Manik's anger more. "Acha... So your FRIEND has actually MOVED ON with her life" Manik couldn't resist but to ask. "Yeah, why do you feel otherwise instead?" Cabir smirked as he was beginning to enjoy it... "Yeah, is that why she calls the kid Manik instead of his real name" Manik snapped. "Yeah she has MOVED ON in her life just as you claimed that you have MOVED ON in your life. She calls her kid Manik to prove that she has moved on while you refuse to utter her name to prove that you have moved it. SO I think both of you have SO MOVED ON in your respective life. If your interrogation session is over, can I sleep now" Cabir pretended to yawn. He was jumping in joy as he slowly sees Manik falling into his bait. "Before I forget, my FRIEND has invited over for dinner tomorrow. It's an open invitation, and you are most welcome to come if you are tired of staring at your laptop screen all day. I personally don't see a reason why you shouldn't because you are so OVER her and she doesn't affect you anymore" Cabir rubbed him off before locking his room door. Cabir happily went to sleep knowing the bait he has left will leave both Manik & Nandini sleepless for that night.

Manik would have really smacked Cabir if he stood in front of him for another moment. The whole night, Manik was tossing on his bed. "Cabir's words were still playing in his head."She has moved on in her life just as you have moved on in your life". Manik's touch was still lingering around her, the warmth of his closeness; the smell of his cologne was still intoxicating her. It brought back all the old memories that she was trying very hard to shun away. Worst still, she didn't know why she agreed for dinner tomorrow. A few minutes around him, she was already losing everything that she tried to hold back for 6 years. How would she withstand having him around her for couple of hours, in her house without losing her sanity?

Looking at Manik's sleep deprived face the next morning, Cabir knew he was successful at his first attempt. "Good job Cabir, Task 1 completed with success" Cabir gave himself a pat on his shoulder." Why are you looking so grumpy Manik, don't tell me that you were having sleepless night because of what I told you yesterday?" Cabir asked. "Cabir... "he roared. "Then subah subah why this angry angry look? Cabir pushed further. "Cabir, I have lost count on how many times I have told you that she doesn't affect me anymore. I have MOVED ON!!!! Why can't you get it" Manik raised his voice. "Oh, I didn't mean that, I told you before that I so know that both of you have MOVED ON. I was talking about dinner at my FRIEND's place? I thought you were having sleepless night deciding whether to come or not. Since you have told me clearly again that you have no problem with her, so I will take that as a YES" Cabir smirked as he dialed Nandini's number.

"Hey morning Nandini, hope you had a good night sleep. I just called to let you know that both of us will be at your place at 7 pm tonight for dinner. Don't bother preparing a feast, just it's only us. For me it's not the food but the company that matters. I will bring dessert over, what's Maaaniiik... oops I mean Virat's favorite dessert?" Cabir purposely irritated Manik by prolonging his chat with Nandini about dinner. Cabir felt a strong punch on his stomach the moment he ended his call."Ooouch... What was that for" he cried in pain as he tried to rub the pain off. "What was that for? That is just a heads up for what you are going to get for your entire stupid act that you are trying to stage here. Seriously Cabir that is nothing compare to really what I want do to you." Manik warned him. "Oh Manik, I'm so scared..." Cabir mocked him. "You know what Manik, if you think my stupid act is unnecessary then prove me wrong! Prove me that you have really moved on! Prove me that she doesn't affect you! Come with me for dinner tonight and prove it to me and I will back off buddy." Cabir challenged Manik."Fine!" Manik took up the challenge.

"Anyways, we need to get going for discussion on the performance with organizers at 11 today. So you can continue the punching session once we are done with that" Cabir diverted Manik from assaulting him further. Cabir secretly knew his neck is at stake if he strikes the wrong chord with Manik. The whole plan may backfire but he is all out to take his chances to get back his MaNan... Mission MaNan officially starts today. He created a secret chat group named as Mission MaNan. All of them especially Navya was elated when he updated about Nandini. Cabir requested them to postpone their flight till the eve of the performance, giving him more time to get the love birds together. He hoped that the alumni night will not only be a reunion for the students but also the eternal union of Manik and Nandini.

Ever since Cabir confirmed that Manik is joining for dinner, she was having cold feet. The calm and composed Nandini Moorthy is losing every nerve of sanity left in her. It will be a miracle if she doesn't have a nervous breakdown by end of day. Even Virat noticed the waywardness in her, "Mama, are you ok? You have been mumbling to yourself all day, you gave me chocolate for breakfast and you didn't scold me for taking my second scoop for ice cream" Virat studied Nandini. Nandini was caught off-guard by his questions, "I'm perfect fine, and I'm just being a bit lenient today. Don't push your luck too hard Virat" she managed to cover up. She managed her little Manik but how will she manage the Monster Manik, because nothing goes amiss in his eyes when it comes to her. She was sure he will scrutinize her every move and strike her down. "Calm down Nandini, you need to stay strong and unaffected for his sake. You can't let all your effort to go futile. His happiness is your ultimate goal" she reminded herself.

Manik was unable to concentrate throughout the discussion. He let Cabir to handle it, his mind refuse to obey him today. Despite his angry avatar, Manik was unable to mask his vulnerability. Cabir was right, he never moved on but the truth is he never wanted to move on, he couldn't move on. She doesn't only dwell in his music, she dwells in his heart, his soul, his breath, and he is nothing without her. Moving away from her, forgetting her is nothing less than death for him. She could have physically distance herself from him, but no one including her as the right to take her from him memories, his life. He has to mask his agony because he didn't want his burden to bother his friends. His friends are his family, his pillars of strength. He finds his happiness in their happiness and solace in their laughter. He held on his hope, something she taught him. Her hope won, bringing them together when he thought he could never forgive her. Now he is hoping that the strength of their love will bring her back to him. He was reluctant to meet her not because he hated her but because he was worried he won't be able to hold himself back any longer because he promised himself that he will wait for her to return on her own. Thanks to her invitation, it will let him see how his Hope has been doing. Tonight was his chance to see how happy she is, how much she has MOVED ON in her life, how happy is she with the boon that she wanted from him. Just by thinking about her, his lips curved into a slight smile, something that was amiss from his life for a long time. Cabir who was fiddling with his phone saw a genuine smile on his friend's face after ages. He quickly clicked the moment and sent it over to all his friends.