Manan SS- Unusual Encounters... Note- pg 36 - Do check it out!! - Page 23

Nandini's POV:

I was currently hiding behind a pillar near the door to the terrace. Abhi was standing on the other side which was beautifully decorated , if I do say so myself.

It was decorated with red and white roses, a red carpet adorned the floor from the door to the centre of the terrace along with lights hanging. All this with the background of the setting sun . It was amazing and I couldn't help but smile.

Mukti was really lucky. I hope she accepts Abhi's proposal. I don't want to see his heart to break. Like mine did... Technically, my heart wasn't broken. But it felt like that.

Sigh! I leaned back against the pillar sitting down. I still couldn't stop thinking about Manik. What he did hurt me a lot. And I don't even know what I did to make him behave this way.

This just makes me aware of how much of an impact Manik made in my life. Even before all this happened, he was constantly in my mind. Thinking about him made me smile, he made me happy.

I wanted to see him again, to hear his voice, I longed for it. I admit I do have feelings for him and I thought that he did too, seeing the way he was behaving when he was around me.

"Manik..." I sighed , looking up at the sky.

No One's POV:

Nandini was still in deep thoughts about Manik when she heard footsteps approaching the terrace. From her hiding spot she could see who was in the corridor and who would enter the terrace.

She looked up to see Mukti walking towards the door, a curious look on her face. She stopped when she saw the red carpet, leading to the center, causing her to smile.

Nandini couldn't believe it, she was seeing Mukti smiling for the first time. Mukti walked ahead, amazement in her eyes. She was clearly happy.

Nandini sent a quick prayer to her Aiyappa that everything would go smoothly. Abhi approached Mukti from behind, with a bouquet of flowers.

"Tum?!", Mukti gasped. "Tumne mujhe bhulaya yahan?"

"Mukti..." Abhi started to say but Mukti cut him off.

"What's all this huh? Yahan kyun bhulaya mujhe? Aur yeh sab? Mene kaha tha mujhse dhoor raho. Phir bhi tum mujhe akela nahi chd sakthe!"

"Mukti mere baat tho suno, please.Yeh sab tumhare liye hai. Haan tumne kaha tha dhoor rehene keliye par me nahi rehe saka" Abhi said.

Nandini was listening to their conversation when she heard another set of footsteps. She turned around to see Manik in the corridor, walking towards the terrace.

Her eyes widened at seeing him. "Who yahan kya kar raha hai? Kahin Mukti aur Abhi ke baare me patha chalgaya ho?" she thought.

He was almost reaching the terrace now. Nandini didn't want to ruin Abhi's evening. "Kya karu?", she was thinking of ideas to stop him from causing a scene.

All that was running in Manik's mind was that he had to get Nandini back. He was praying that it shouldn't be too late.

Just as he entered the terrace door, Nandini grabbed his hand and pulled him towards her behind the pillar. Abhi and Mukti didn't seem to notice this at all.

Nandini was still gripping onto his hand while Manik held onto her. He was stunned to see her. Nandini felt a blush creep up on her cheeks. Even after all this he still made her blush.

Both were looking deeply into each others eyes. After all they were seeing each other after a few days.

"Mukti please!!" Abhi's voice rang out, bringing them out of their daze.

Nandini scrambled out of Manik's hold and looked to where Abhi and Mukti were standing. Manik followed her gaze to finally notice his surrounding, all the decorations , his eyes landing on Abhi and Mukti at last.

"Mukti?!" he muttered, utterly confused.

He looked at Nandini and pulled her back.

"Tum yahn ky..." he started but he shushed him.

"What?" she whispered.

"Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?" he whisper-asked.

"Me ? Pehele bathao tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?" she asked.

"Me..." Manik was speechless and confused as hell about what was going on.

"Tumhe wahan hone chahiye tha na? Tho phir yahan kya kar rahe ho? Aur Mukti yahan kya kar rahi he ushke saath?" he asked.

"What do mean mujhe wahan hone chahiye tha? Aur Mukti wahan hai kyun ki Abhi us se propose kar raha hai", Nandini said clearly annoyed.

"What Abhi Mukti ko propose kar raha hai?!", he repeated.

Nandini simply nodded.

"Par... woh... woh tumhe propose karne wala tha na? Tho Mukti?"

"What?!! Yeh kya bakwas kar rahe ho Manik! Abhi aur mujhe propse karna!", Nandini said shocked.

"Kyunki woh tumse pyaar kartha hai na" Manik said slowly, not sure of himself anymore.

"What nonsense! That disgusting Manik. Abhi mera bhai hai. Woh mujhe propose karega! Have you gone mad? Chiii!! Me soch bhi nahi sakthi. Woh Mukti se pyaar kartha hai.", Nandini said .

Manik couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Abhi uska bhai hai... Abhi Mukti se pyaar kartha hai..." these words were floating in his head, when it suddenly flashed.

He understood what she was saying. Next thing he knew he pulled Nandini into tight hug. Nandini didn't know what was happening and was shocked at first.

But then she relaxed against his touch. She missed this so bad.

Manik was immensely relieved. He felt like he could breathe again. He felt like he got his life back. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and buried his face into her hair. He was never letting go of her, never again.

Nandini was enjoying this feeling but then she remembered all that had happened and all the hurt she felt. She pulled away from the embrace, sadness filling her.

Manik looked at her and saw that she was sad. He confused as to why she was behaving this way.

"Nandini, kya hua?" he asked, getting worried.

Nandini on the other hand was trying to control her feelings but it was impossible since she saw Manik again and he was standing right next to her, as if nothing ever happened.

"Kyun kiya Manik? Tumne aisa kyun kiya ?" she said, her voice barely audible. But Manik heard it.

"Mene kya kiya? Nandini kya hua ? Bathaao na" he said not understanding.

"Manik..." She could barely say his name. "Tum mujhe kyun chodke chalegaye? Kahan the tum? Itne din tumne kyun nahi baath kiya mujhse? Aur... aur us din tumne mujhe maarne ki koshish kyun ki?!" she managed to say, trying to hold her tears in.

Manik was taken aback. He realized that he had hurt her when he had avoided her these past few days. It was his mistake.

"What? Maarna? Nandini I know ki last few days mene tumhe avoid kiya tha. Kyun ki I was upset? But mene kab tumhe maarne ki koshish ki?" he was confused about that.

Nandini then told him about the evening when Manik was angry andhe almost knocked her down with his car. It was the last time she'd him before today. She couldn't face him anymore, so she turned towards Abhi and Mukti.

Manik was horrified at what she told him. Did he actually do that? To Nandini? He remembered that evening as it was when he had misunderstood about Abhi and Nandini.

He had been so distraught and in rage while driving. He remembered there were people in his way but he was too blinded by his anger that he had not seen that Nandini was there.

This revelation struck him hard. He was hurt to the core that he would do such a thing. He ran his fingers through his hair and looked at Nandini. Seeing her like this nearly broke his heart and it was all because of him.

Manik wanted to come clean about the whole situation. He confessed everything about over hearing Abhi making plans, spying on them, his misunderstanding, everything.

Nandini just listned to all he had to say as he appologised over and over again.

"Tumne mujhse kyun nahi poocha. Mujhse baath kar liya hota na. Yeh sab assume karne ki kya zaroorath thi?" she said slowly.

"Nandini, I know tumse baath karna chahiye tha. Galthi hogayi mujhse. I'm sorry Nandini", He appologised again , not knowing what else to do, what else to say.

He saw Nandini looking Abhi and Mukti. He looked at them too. Abhi had tried to tell about his feelings over and over again but Mukti wasn't willing to accept.

"Mukti!" Abhi said firmly, pulling her close and holding her hand. "Mukti, mujhe jo kehena tha mene keh diya. Ab me wahi bhaat pirse nahi kahunga. I love you Mukti. And I believe ki you deserve to be happy. I know ki tum bhi mere bare me yahi feel karthi ho. Tum sirf pyaar se dhar the ho. Me hoon tumhare saath Mukti. Hamesha."

Mukti just stood there silently, looking at Abhi. Abhi stepped away from her and let go of her hand.

"Mukti, ab sab tumhare haath me hai. Sab tumhari marzi. Jo tum kahoge woh me maanjaaunga. Ab me tumhe aur pareshaan nahi karunga" Abhi said and took another step back. He was hurt.

They stood in silence for a minute, Abhi took it as a rejection from Mukti and turned away when-

"Abhi..." Mukti called out to him.

He turned and looked at her, the love shining in his eyes. Mukti felt it and she ran into his arms. Abhi held her tightly , a smile on his face. Mukti pulled back only to look into his eyes and hug him once again.

"I love you too Abhimanyu!"

Both of them were smiling and so happy to be with each other.

All of this was witnessed by Nandini and Manik. Nandini felt so happy for Abhi. But seeing all of this was too much for her. She then realized that she had tears running down her face.

As much as she wasnted be happy for Abhi, she couldn't help but feel sad about herself. She'd lost the hope of her own love , her own happiness. She couldn't bare it anymore so she left from there.

Manik was staring at the happy couple. He was moved by what Abhi had done. Abhi had not given up . Manik remembered Cabir's words- "Fight for her Manik". He could not give up so easily. He had to fight.

He looked around to see that Nandini was no where to be seen. He ran away from there, searching for her. He looked around to find her at the end of the corridor.

"It's now or never Manik" he said to himself and sprinted towards her.

"Nandini!!!!", he yelled.

Nandini turned towards him just as he reached her.

"Nandini I know ke tum mujhse naraz ho and I know that I hurt you. I accept ki woh meri galthi hai and mujhe aise nahi karna chahiye tha."

All this while Nandini was looking at the ground, unable to meet his eyes. Slowly Manik lifted her chin up so that he could look into her eyes. He slowly wiped away her tears, caressing her cheek.

She couldn't help but lean into the touch. A slight blush on her face.

"Jab tum aise blush karthe ho na tho tum bohot cute lagthi ho" he said to which Nandini blushed even more. She turned her face away from him because she was still hurt.

"I thought I lost you..." Manik said slowly. "I thought I lost you Nandini aur woh mujhse bardaasht nahi hua. Kyun ki you light up my world. Kyun ki sirf tum hi ho jisne mujhe jeene keliye ek nayi umeed di hai. Tumhare bina me adhura hoon."

Nandini slowly looked at Manik, not believing what he was saying. She looked into his eyes and could see that he was fighting back tears. In that moment she realized that she loved him, with all her heart. That without him she was empty.

"Jo mene kiya hai woh galth hai aur me tumhare maafi ke laayak nahi hoon. Par I won't give up that easily. I will fight for you, for us because you are worth it Nandini. Tum mere liye sab kuch ho Nandini, apni jaan se bhi badkar. Aur me tumhe phirse khone nahi dunga. Me tumhare saath rahunga humesha."

Nandini was overwhelmed with feelings. She couldn't hold it anymore. She rushed into his arms and held onto him tightly. Manik, surprised at first, but embraced her too.

Both of them held on to the other, never wanting to let go. Slowly Manik pulled back a little and looked into Nandini's eyes. Tears had flown down her cheeks but this time they were filled with happiness. They looked into each others eyes, lost in their own world , until Manik said the magic words.

"I love you Nandini." He said wiping her tears.

Nandini's smile knew no bounds. She couldn't believe it.

"I love you too Manik" she said looking at him.

Manik's heart felt like it would explode from all the happiness. He caressed her cheek, looking lovingly at her. Then he leaned forward and kissed her forehead. The touch sent shivers down her spine and blushed profusely.

Manik smirked at her blushing face and pulled her into another tight hug. Nandini buried her face in his chest and she could hear his heartbeat.

"We'll be together..." He said.

"Humesha..."

"Humesh..."

***************************THE END***********************

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A/N:

Thank you everybody! I hope you liked the update. I'm not good at writing romantic dialogues so please bare with me.

This is the end of this SS. If I do come up with any other ideas then I will definitely post it here.

Once again Thank you everyone! Thank you India-Forums!

😊😆😳