MaNan FF: The Forbidden Fruit (Chapter 26 on Page 82) (25/05/16) - Page 16

Originally posted by: sunset17

Loved it...ur ff is so different... Dats d sole reason which keeps me hooked on to this...keep updating

Originally posted by: Cooldude101

Nandini I hope you get you're freedom! And as for the update I am eagerly waiting for the next one cause no matter how much I applaud you, it won't be enough to express my feelings after reading your story so please continue!😳

Originally posted by: arshuaar

different concept...
beautifully penned...

c h a p t e r t e n

"Wow," Navya breathed out after her friend had finished narrating all that had happened to her over the past couple of days. Nandini finally took a sip of the warm coffee Navya had offered her, drained out from explaining everything. However, even though she was tired, she still felt at peace. The fear and suffocation she felt when she was with Manik was long gone. She was with her friend, Navya, and she knew she could trust her.

"I'm sorry I didn't call you," Nandini slowly spoke. "I didn't have my phone, and I've been wearing the same clothes for three days."

"No, I understand," Navya said with a smile. "You don't have to apologize for anything. I hope I wasn't too late in rescuing you." After a pause, Navya carefully asked, "Did he... did Manik... did he try to do anything with you? You know, um, anything bad? Like..."

Nandini raised her head at the question. She understood where her friend was getting at, and it was a fairly normal question she would say. In fact, now that Navya mentioned it, she started wondering herself. "Well, physically or, um, sexually, he didn't try anything, but that doesn't make him a good person."

"Of course not," Navya agreed. "But it's a little confusing, isn't it? Why would he do something like this to you without any motive?"

Nandini sighed. "I don't know Navya, honestly. I've thought about it, but I can't seem to decide on anything."

"He must have a reason."

"Maybe he's just sick in his head," Nandini decided, to which Navya just nodded. She immediately knew that her friend wasn't convinced. "What do you think?"

"I don't know," Navya said. "You said he wasn't violent or anything. He cannot possibly... like you, can he?"

At that, Nandini raised her head immediately, an annoyed expression on her face. "What crap is that?"

"I'm just saying, he married you so maybe he-"

"That doesn't prove anything," Nandini snapped, and Navya knew this was her cue to stop. Seeing her friend's shocked expression, Nandini sighed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to say it like that."

"No, it's fine," Navya said instead, getting up. "I was wrong anyway. Let's just forget this, I'll go get you some more coffee."

"She's not here, Manik," Cabir informed his friend over the phone, who was growing more and more worried by each passing second.

"Do you know where she could be?" Manik asked him. "Are there any places she likes to visit? Maybe you have the address of some of her friends? Just... anything; anywhere she could go."

At the mention of Nandini's friends, Cabir immediately remembered his encounter with Navya. "There was a girl who dropped by that day saying she was friends with Nandini. Um, her name was... err, N-N- it started with N. Ne-Na-Navya! Yeah, Navya, that's it."

"Where does she live?" Manik asked hastily.

"That won't be too hard to find out, I hope," Cabir said. "I have a few contacts; I'll have someone check into her college directory." Then, carefully, he added, "We'll find her, Manik."

Manik sighed, closing his eyes, "I sure hope so."

Eighteen hours, Nandini thought to herself, her eyes closed as a smile spread on her face. She was sitting outside in the garden of Navya's hostel, and she never felt more at peace. It has been eighteen hours since Navya rescued me, which means it has been eighteen hours from when I left that monster. Thank you, Aiyappa, for blessing me with such a good friend. She truly is a savior.

It surprised Nandini just how happy she felt. After all, she had only been with him for three days, but the feeling of being free was still so great. Even so, she couldn't shake off the feeling that maybe, just maybe, her happiness was going to be short-lived.

It's probably nothing, she thought instead, I'm just being paranoid. Manik isn't here, and I am fine.

While Manik was driving anywhere and everywhere, just to search for Nandini, his cell phone beeped and all he could hope was for it to be Cabir. As he checked the message, he'd never been more thankful. Indeed, it was Cabir and he had sent him the address of a girls' hostel where Navya was supposed to be staying. As he took a U-turn, he only prayed for Nandini to be there.

I'm sorry, Nandini, he thought, I have no other choice; I've got to do this. I swear, though, this time, I'll do it right.

"You should come in now, Nandu," Navya said, worried for her friend. Nandini had been resting in the garden for an hour now, and it wasn't exactly safe. The garden was located outside the building, and although Manik had no clue where Nandini was, she still feared he would find out. If he got to know, he would sneak in through the security at the gate very easily and then, if he found Nandini, she would be exposed to danger once again.

"I'll be fine, Navya," Nandini smiled instead. "I just want to enjoy my freedom."

"Look, Nandu, it isn't sa-"

"Seriously, stop worrying about me. I'm fine and if anything happens, I'll scream for you. Go to sleep, okay? I can see you need it," Nandini made the observation.

"But..." Navya trailed off. She felt incredibly sleepy due to her hectic day, but she also cared about her friend. She just couldn't take the risk.

"Please, Navya, for me?" Nandini pleaded, and Navya gave it a thought.

"I'll go change and then I'll come back for you," she suggested instead. "You should be done by then, and it's a much safer option anyway, right?"

"I'm cool with it," Nandini smiled, and after a couple of more questions on whether or not she'd be absolutely fine, Navya turned to leave.

Nandini leaned back in her chair. The cool, light breeze of the night helped soothe her. Surprisingly, she liked the silence very much. It described her current state of mind completely: calm, peaceful, serene. After the past couple of days, she was sure that this was exactly what the needed. The silent night served as her remedy.

As Manik tiptoed to the back of the building, he felt incredibly relieved to see a very familiar figure resting in a lounge chair. Her eyes were closed and he knew the opportunity was right. However, he tried to plan his move very, very carefully. He didn't want to scare her, or make the wrong move yet again. He wouldn't kidnap an innocent person again; Manik Malhotra was better than that.

With a lot of careful consideration, he chose to cough. When she didn't respond, he coughed yet again and it was then that she started opening her eyes, a bit troubled. As soon as she saw him, her eyes clouded with fear and he hated that look. She got to her feet and stepped back, keeping a distance from him. He, however, didn't move from his spot.

"I'm not going to kidnap you again, Nandini," he softly spoke, and the way he spoke her name gave her the chills again.

"Why are you here?" she asked, her tone loud and fierce. She knew she needed her strength.

"I'm here to take you with me, back home," he calmly spoke, "but only if you want to come."

"Yeah, right," she scoffed. "You didn't care the first time."

"And I regret that."

"Clearly," she spoke, the sarcasm dripping out of her voice. "What makes you think I'm going to go with you? Are you nuts?"

"Then I'll wait till you're ready."

"I won't ever be ready," she vowed. "I didn't choose this, Manik, you chose it for me, and I will not obey that. I make the decisions of how I want to live my life, not someone else. I want my freedom and I-"

"What's done is done, isn't it?" he cut her off. "I know what I did was wrong but give me a chance here. Do you want to back away without even giving this a chance? Just, for once, come back with me, and if you don't like it, I won't force you. I promise I'll let you go and give you the freedom that you want."

Nandini eyed him carefully. He looked and sounded genuine, but she knew better than to fall for his tricks again. "You mean... go back and live with you as your wife?"

"I won't try anything on you, I can assure you of that," he promised. "And I won't hold you back if you ever want to leave. You can trust me."

"Trust is earned, not handed over," she simply said.

"Then let me earn it," he pleaded. "At least, give me one chance, just one. I swear you won't regret it."

Nandini looked at him as she pondered over it in her head. She didn't want to risk letting go of her freedom but, at the same time, she knew he wouldn't stop chasing her anytime soon. Still, she didn't trust him in the slightest, not after all that he'd done.

As if sensing her inner turmoil, he suggested, "Think about it. I'll wait for as long as you like."

Nandini didn't know just what had happened to him. He was, surprisingly, trying to be very considerate for the past couple of days, and she just couldn't figure out why. He definitely had some motive and she knew that she had to find that out, at least for her own peace of mind. Silently, she turned to go back into the building and was surprised when he didn't stop her for even once. As she ascended up the stairs, Navya's room being her destination, she kept on thinking about it. She would see all the possible angles, and she just hoped she wouldn't make the wrong decision.

She was thinking of agreeing to what he said, but her purpose wasn't really to give him a chance. She just hoped that her plans wouldn't put her in trouble again.