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c h a p t e r t w e n t y t h r e e
As Manik entered the large yet familiar bungalow, he was surprised to find it empty. The furniture and dcor were all the same, just like he remembered. The difference was that the house that was usually bustling with people all around didn't have a single soul present anymore.
"Alya?" he called out, not shouting or anything as such, but his voice still echoed and he figured that if she was inside, she'd hear him. He heard footsteps coming from the kitchen and soon enough, there she was; a smile on her face, as if she was expecting him.
"It's so good to see you, Manik," she said, and he simply hummed, clearly not that interested. Alya noticed and expected that. She knew that it'd take some more time for Manik to trust her again as he was not the kind of person to let things go easily. He was impulsive, and a bit childish, and he usually held grudges.
"Where is everyone?" Manik asked, incredibly curious. He'd been here many times in the past, and most of them were because he would attend the numerous parties thrown by Alya's brother, Harshad. Although she and her brother were the only two people who lived in the house after their parents' death, it was never exactly peaceful or silent. Harshad held many college parties almost every other night and the word peace wasn't known to him.
"You mean bhai?" she enquired. "He is out of town for a few weeks, so the house is practically empty. I feel a little lonely sometimes but it's still better than staying up all night and cleaning up all the mess in the morning."
"Why is he out of town?"
"Some music camp, I think," she shrugged it off. "He never tells me anything properly. But anyhow," Alya changed the subject, "it's a good thing because it means that I can help you more. You and Nandini are free to stay here for as long as you like."
She smiled as she said that. Manik's heart clenched at the mention of her name and he was wondering why he let her affect him so much. Clearly, she didn't care about him. If she had, then she wouldn't leave him after he confessed his love to her. He knew how attached he got to her, and he knew that it wasn't just attachment. He had started feeling so many things for her and he felt it deeply. He wanted to cherish his time with her and plan a future with her but all he got was heartbreak. Thinking about her made him feel so many things at once, but the strongest of them all was the betrayal.
"Nandini... isn't staying," he said after much difficulty, and Alya's smile faded.
"Why not?" she had asked first, but it was then that she thought of a possibility; one that had happened before. "Wait... Manik, don't say tha-"
"She left me," he finally announced, "this morning. She just... left. After that, I found out that my own parents sent the cops after me. Man, isn't this my lucky day?" he let out a bitter, sarcastic laugh and it gave Alya a sense of dj vu. She knew that no matter what, she couldn't let Manik go down that path again; at least not with Nandini.
"Look, Manik," she carefully started, "sometimes, in love, you have to... give second chances. Everyone is not always perfect. People make mistakes but, if you truly love them and care for them, then you should learn to forgive them. You see-I"
Manik shut his eyes and blocked out the rest. He knew where she was heading with her little speech, but he didn't give two hoots about logic at the moment. All he knew was that he was hurt and as immature as it was, he wanted to think of himself as the victim for once. He knew he made a mistake at first but he had done so much to rectify it afterwards that somewhere, he hoped that it was enough. It was proving to be enough, but apparently it wasn't to Nandini.
Right now, all that mattered to him was that Nandini left him, and he didn't want to forgive her for that.
"I didn't come here for a lecture, Alya," he snapped, cutting her off. "Please just show me my room." After all that she was doing for him, Manik knew that instead of venting out his anger and frustration on her, he should be grateful. But he was too hurt to think logically and, thankfully, Alya understood that. She knew she should stop and so she did, leading him upstairs to the guest room.
"Thanks," he said once he reached, but then called her again, "Actually, by the way, I just want to clear some things up. You see, just because I'm taking shelter from you, doesn't mean that I'm interested in rekindling old relationships. I'm sorry but I'd like our past to stay as it is."
"I understand, Manik," she simply told him. "I don't have any intentions of that sort, either. I just hope that we're both over that. I know I am, and you..." she trailed off, expecting him to continue.
"I'm now over it as well," he said with a smile at last.
Alya seemed pleased with his answer as she said, "It was our past, and we should now focus on our present. Manik, maybe Nandini is your-"
"Please, Alya," he cut her off before she even began this time, "you've never even met her, so please stop defending her when you clearly know nothing."
She let him cool for a couple of seconds, and afterwards she simply said with an assuring smile, "I understand, Manik. Let's just... let it go."
He was grateful when she said that, and finally left.
"When we reached, the house was empty," the officer reported to the man, as his wife carefully watched, sitting at his side. "However, we found a suitcase and it contained the belongings of your son, Manik Malhotra."
"Is it enough proof to make an arrest?" the man simply asked, only speaking in clipped tones.
"Yes, sir," the police officer replied but then, hesitantly, he added, "but sir... he is your son."
"The house is mine, and we've disowned him. I'm putting charges; find him and arrest him," he ordered.
"Sir, are you... sure?" the officer asked, bewildered at what the man was demanding for.
"Yes," he simply spoke, the confidence evident in his voice. "Arrest him. I'm sure it won't be too hard for the Mumbai Police. He's very young, and you can start by simply checking his college. Now hurry, I want the results quick."
As the officer scurried off in haste, Nyonika switched her gaze to her husband, studying him. She was shocked at what he was doing and perhaps for the first time in her life, she didn't want her son to suffer like this.
Manik had been staring at the cell phone in his hand for a few minutes now. He was torn between whether or not to make the call. It kept on bugging him constantly and he knew he had to make a decision.
Although he was sure that Nandini must've returned to the Dhawans' mansion, and he was incredibly angry at her, he cared too much not to confirm. He had to make a call, but he didn't want to face her now. What if she picked up?
Or maybe Cabir will pick it up, he thought of the other possibility, and I'm sure he's mad at me. I can't handle that, at least not now. I'll confront him about this when we meet face-to-face.
Yet, he had to make sure Nandini had reached safe and sound. It was bothering him too much and he just couldn't help it. Finally, tired with all the constant frustration, he dialed the number of their landline phone and waited for someone to answer.
He was hoping, desperately, for it to be a servant, but as he heard the familiar voice yet again, all his hopes went down the drain.
"Hello?" there came her melodious voice, the one he loved. He didn't want to feel anything but hatred for her but as she spoke, he was finding it hard to control himself. He knew that now that he was sure she was safe; he should hang up before anything happened.
But it was his heart which didn't agree.
"Hello," he breathlessly spoke, and as soon as Nandini recognized his voice, her eyes widened and he waited in anticipation.
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
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Mangal Lakshmi
