Pretty quickly done. ;)
~ CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR ~
The next few days passed by quite uneventfully. Nandini made good use of her leave by recuperating in her hostel room whilst Manik chose to spend his behind the closed doors of his apartment. He preferred to chill out in the comfort of his television rather than bothering to answer his calls and messages, most of which were from Soha - relentless calls and frantic messages that screamed out her panicky state of mind. She could sense that she was losing him and that drove her up the wall.
Nandini however had Navya's company to lighten up. She was shocked to learn that so much had happened while she was away. "I'm never going to leave you like this and go anywhere!" said Navya crossly. "Didn't it cross your mind even once that you should tell me about your illness? Huh?"
"Arre yaar," Nandini protested quietly. She was deeply touched at Navya's concern. "Told you. I was perfectly fine for a very long time. Didn't expect it to happen just like that."
"Shut up!" snapped Navya and ranted on. "No excuses! Didn't expect it to happen just like that! How can you be so careless! What if something bad had happened? What if you had fallen where no one was around? What if..."
But Nandini interrupted. "Okay-okay! I'm sorry. Won't happen again! Fine? I'll be extra careful from now on."
"You'd better be!" said Navya sternly. "From now on, I'll keep checking with you every now and then. And you'd better answer my calls and messages. Or else I'll..."
Nandini interrupted again. "Fine baba fine! I will. Just chill."
"... or else I'll come to your office and drag you out! And I'll be the worst monster you'd have ever seen..." Navya looked like a little kid with her sulky face.
"Fine!" sighed Nandini. She was instantly lost. Why was it that the word monster reminded her of Manik every time?
**************************
It was just dawn when Manik checked into the deserted office the next day. The corridors echoed with his footsteps as he hurried to get to his cabin. Today would be his first day at work after that fateful incident. He had tossed and turned in bed all night whilst working up the courage to move on with life... reminding himself over and over again that it was okay... that even this would pass by. But the very thought of facing all his colleagues and other departmental staff after that embarrassing suspension mail gave him nightmares.
Manik bustled out of the elevator and across the lounge. But a sarcastic voice gave him an instant heart attack and made him stop in his tracks. "Wow," It was Harshad. His voice boomed around the empty lounge. "Sooo early? It's just six-thirty in the morning. What's so urgent?"
The first thing that came to Manik's mind was to just ignore him and run away. But he composed himself and turned around to face him. "Exactly Harshad," said Manik in an equally sarcastic tone. "Sooo early? It's just six-thirty. What's sooo urgent?"
"We-ell," he drawled with his usual nasty smirk. "I had work so... no choice. Had to check in early. What to do! Life!" Harshad let out a dramatic sigh and continued. "But what about you? Why would you walk in so early? And that too... after your suspension? Oh! Let me guess... you probably didn't have the guts to face anyone. Isn't it?"
Manik just glared at him. He had nothing to say. And deep down, he knew that Harshad was right. Firstly, the intense anxiety of this day had kept him awake all night. And secondly, he felt it wise to pop in so early so that he could avoid bumping into anyone.
"So you thought that if you came in early, you need not bump into anyone and embarrass yourself," continued Harshad. He felt very ecstatic and pleased with himself at having shut up Manik. "But I knew you would come in early. So here I am."
"Wow! Talk about dedication! Keep it up! Will surely count this for your appraisal!" Manik sneered at him and gave him a couple of sarcastic pats to the shoulder. "And by the way. If you don't mind, I really need to make a move. So... if there's something desperately important that you need to discuss, then meet me in my cabin." Having said this, Manik spun around and bustled away. But...
"Oh, I don't have anything to say," Harshad called after Manik as he took a couple of lazy steps forward with his hands jammed into his pockets. "Whatever I have up my sleeve is meant to be shown. Of which, step one is already over."
Step one is already over? That forced Manik to pause in his tracks.
"I must be damn lucky to find some way or the other to show you your right place Manik," Harshad was standing right in front of him now. Close enough to feel his hot breath beat down on his face. "Or should I say that God is with me rather than with you? Or else... I wouldn't have bumped into the heartache you gave that speaker girl the other day. What was her name? Ermm... Nandini!"
Manik's wheels were spinning now. Heartache... Nandini... bumped into...
"Poor thing," Harshad tsk-tsked with false pity etched across his face. "She was so upset. I mean... anyone would be after dealing with you. But what's interesting was... even after all the shit that you gave her, she wasn't ready to complain against you. Now exactly how sweet is that? But you know how I am. I can't tolerate all this nonsense. And she definitely deserved justice. And I made sure that she got it."
Manik's chest was pounding now. Wasn't ready to complain... can't tolerate... deserved justice... she got it...
"I couldn't help my little sister," said Harshad in a low and dangerous growl. "I couldn't save her from your... bullshit. And... I can never forgive myself for that. But at least, I can help the others who are distressed because of you. Right buddy?"
Manik was speechless as he stared into Harshad's eyes. They were full of hate and boiling over with the desperate need for revenge. "You have to pay for your sins, Manik," said Harshad through clenched teeth. "With your sweat, blood and tears. And by God you will."
_____________________________
Current Affairs
Anupamaa
