ManVik SS : The Veil between Us (Part 3 Updated) - Page 5

Originally posted by: WittyKittyVixxy

Woah! That's quite a pitai of Vikrant.

Ronnie ji and Neetu ji in the background watching their puttar getting schooled.

How do you feel now?

Originally posted by: Resham

Brilliant .. absolutely brilliant....I so loved what Mannat said here...the one which I am dying to hear from her....loved the writing .....hugs ..

Thank you so much Resham!

I'm glad you liked Mannat's viewpoint.

Originally posted by: MeeraWrites

Woah! That's quite a pitai of Vikrant.

Ronnie ji and Neetu ji in the background watching their puttar getting schooled.

How do you feel now?

Feeling happier! I have so wanted to do his pitaai! Bewakoof kahin ka!

Originally posted by: Sherineil

Loved part 2 go brave Mannat! but hate this Vikrant

Thank you so much!

I'm glad you liked Mannat. Yep, Vikrant needs to wise up.

Originally posted by: MeeraWrites

Part 2

Numerous questions surrounded Mannat and Vikrant as they stood across each other, barely few feet away. The silence was so deafening that Mannat wondered if Vikrant would pick up the hammering of her heart. Her mind asked her to turn around and walk away but her body relented. The way he stood in front of her, shoulders drooped, eyes rimmed with guilt and lines etched on the forehead, a part of Mannat began to slip away.

“Ms Mannat,” his breathed into the air, barely audible.

Mannat gulped struggling to keep the calm on her face.

“I’m sorry. Sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that. I know that you can never hurt my mom. I’m at fault. I came to the outhouse to apologise but you left by then. I got your letter. I’m really sorry. Where were you? Are you staying at Harneet paaji’s place? Are you okay?”

“Sir, you should go home,” Mannat brushed away his concern. “I need to go as well,” she was about to turn around but he stopped her.

“Ms Mannat… please listen to me. I understand. You’re disappointed in me. I’m sorry. And… I deserve this cold shoulder. Whatever Puneet said… I don’t know… I don’t know what to say or where to start. Aishwarya aunty is…”

“Sir…” Mannat cut him short. “It’s your personal matter. You don’t have to discuss it with me. Please go home. Puneet sir might be waiting for you there.”

“That’s it? There’s nothing to talk?”

“Sir, I’m just your employee. I don’t wish to meddle in your personal matters.”

“Fine,” his shoulders turned stiff. “But I could ask you what we were doing in the chawl that night, right? I followed you there, I got… dizzy and you brought me to the outhouse, we were hiding from Aishwarya aunty at the chawl… I don’t remember any of these. I could ask you what and why was all that, right?”

“Right. You could ask that. I even have the answers for all that. But sir… how can I answer any of your questions? I don’t have any proofs to back my answers. And… you don’t even trust my words without the concrete proof.”

If the weight of the words could crush the flesh and bones other than the soul, Vikrant would have turned to just a mound of indecipherable something by then. Her words hurt. They were armoured with truth. They hurt like anything.

“Ms Mannat…” Squirming beneath her words, Vikrant could only utter her name.

Mannat bit the inside of her cheek, struggling to stifle the storm brewing within her. She could clearly read the inflections of hurt written all over him. She knew that her words hurt him. She was hurt too, barely hanging onto the dwindling thread of hope. She doesn’t even know if she’ll be able to crack Aishwarya Raisingh or not. She doesn’t even know if she’ll be able to save her Shruti maa or not. She missed her Babaji Da Banda; her saviour. She wanted to cry her heart out in his arms. She wanted to tell him all the ordeals she’s going through. She wanted to hear from him that Babaji has his hands on her head and her Babaji Da Banda is by her side so she doesn’t have to be scared. But he was nowhere to be found. Her Babaji Da Banda was lost somewhere amidst the giant walls of the Saluja Mansion. Her attempts to find him have left her with burnt fingers, sprained feet and battered heart. And… she was tired.

“Sir… I’ve to go.”

“Please don’t go.”

Vikrant ran his eyes over every curve of her face. He prayed if she understood the dilemma of his heart. The woman standing in front of him had thick walls around her… He realised that he has turned his Mannat into that. Knowingly or unknowingly, he has already inflicted much pain on her and not anymore. There’s no point in beating around the bushes.

“Puneet was right. There’s a reason why I proposed Mallika. Don’t you want to know?”

Mannat took a deep breath. These days, the mere mention of Mallika filled her with a mix of everything painful and uncomfortable. She didn’t like the way her body and mind reacted whenever she spotted Vikrant and Mallika together. She didn’t want to get into the whirlpool of all that. She didn’t have time or strength left to put herself through the alley of thorns again. Letting his question linger on her face a couple of seconds longer, she turned around and took a foot away. But then got rooted there hearing him.

“It’s you Mannat. Everything I did was for you. For us.”

Vikrant waited for her to turn around. But she didn’t. She stood there rooted. When he realised that they’re going to fall off the cliff to the abyss of silence, he broke the spell. He laid the cards on the table; from the fake engagement plan to the recent chooda ceremony. As he spelled it out to her he realised how problematic and insensitive the plan was. He should have backed out the moment he sensed the odd vibe the first time. He should have. He tasted regret as he tried to put forth his side of argument. He wondered if he would be granted any space to repent. He was ready to repent. To ask for her forgiveness. To bear her wrath. But he was met with silence.

Mannat’s hand rose and clutched her stomach along with the fabric of her shirt. Her insides squirmed. Her head hurt as she wrapped her head around whatever Vikrant just said. She turned around to face him. She doesn’t recognise him anymore. The hood of calmness she has been donning, slipped somewhere during his unfolding of the so called plan. She could feel the amalgam of shock, hurt, disappointment and anger shooting up from her toes. She felt played. Her eyes stung and vision turned blurry.

“What world are you living in? What did you think? The wedding ceremonies… everything might have been a drama for you. But for me… for me, you were my boss, my best friend’s fiancé… What kind of a woman do you think I’m? Huh? I’m certainly not that kind of woman who steals someone else’s fiancé or nurse feelings for an engaged man and do something about it,” her chin quivered in pain.

“Mannat… you… you’re reading it wrong. I don’t think of you like that. I know you. And… I love you. I love you Mannat. Maybe since that day we met for the first time at the gurudwara. I consider you as a blessing from Babaji. I strongly believe Babaji brought us together, for each other. I can never think bad about you. I’m sorry I hurt you. Whenever I tried to confess my love to you, something came in between every time. So I thought…”

“So you thought to make me confess ? That’s why you made this plan with Malla, isn’t it?”

Vikrant simply looked at her, guilt welling up in his eyes.

“If you loved me then why didn’t you walk up to me and tell me that you love me?” Her voice broke as she spelled it out. “At every ceremony, why did you keep asking me why does it matter to me? Rather… why didn’t you tell me why my silence mattered to you? There’s this care… and concern for each other between us since the day one. We both know that. You matter to me. You were my Babaji Da Banda. You, your words, what you think of me… they do matter to me. And why do they matter to me… did you give me the time to understand whatever I was feeling? Did you? I couldn’t understand whatever that’s between us… if it’s my admiration for my Babaji Da Banda or something beyond that. We were already in a bad place, I needed time. To… to process everything. But what did you do?” She gasped.

Vikrant stepped closer, wiped the tears off her cheeks with his thumbs gently. Soon, fresh tears trickled down her cheeks. He didn’t bother to hide the hurt and guilt dripping down his eyes either.

“I’m sorry Mannat,” he whispered and rested his palms on her shoulders.

“What did you do?” Mannat held his collar as her voice quivered. “I put forth such a grave matter in front of your whole family because I trusted you. But you didn’t trust me. You asked me to seek forgiveness for something I haven’t done. Sunita ji… the woman who claimed to be my birth mother died in my arms. She was my only chance to reach my birth mother. I was scared for my Shruti maa. But… you didn’t even give me a day’s time to mourn for Sunita ji. You proceeded with the proposal drama the next day. Made me the wedding planner. On your chunri ceremony, I was sure that no matter what the others think of me, you’ll trust me. But I was wrong. You thought I tore the chunri out of jealousy. And amongst all of these, how many times did Neetu ma’am called me names, accused me of trying to honey trap you? Everything happened in front of you but you didn’t say a word. Whenever I looked at you, you were happy with Malla. You were excited for the ceremonies. How could you think that being surrounded by all these, I would develop feelings and would break off yours and Malla’s wedding? You haven’t even confessed to me then.”

Vikrant sank a feet deeper in guilt. All of her questions are right. He didn’t have justifications for any of them. What was he thinking? How was he planning to walk out of the overstretched plan? As if on cue, her hold on his collar loosened. She slowly stepped back, making his palms on her shoulders slide down.

“And…I’ve promised Malla that I’ll never snatch her love.”

“Mannat… I told you. There’s nothing between me and Mallika. Mallika herself convinced me for the plan. She wanted to bring us together. You and Me.”

“Malla and I had a talk on the day you were practising the vows. She told me how insecure she felt seeing us together, close. She was crying... Told me that she loves you. She asked me not to steal her fiancé. And… I promised… promised her that I’ll never steal her love.”

“Mallika can’t say that Mannat. She knows how much I love you.”

“She might know. But… but now the drama you two were playing… has become reality for her.”

Vikrant looked at Mannat as if she just spoke in Persian. He did notice that Mallika has been acting weird, over enthusiastic, dramatic and lately territorial. Every time he pointed that out to her, she brushed them aside claiming to be in character so that their plan doesn’t get spoiled. And he bought that every time. He bought her suggestions every time. He has known Mallika since childhood. They’re friends. She’s Mannat’s best friend. There was no reason he shouldn’t trust Mallika. He couldn’t believe that Mallika could play double game with him. After whatever Puneet laid on the table a while ago, he didn’t know what to and whom to trust anymore. Clouds of scepticism huddled on his face and Mannat was quick to recognise them. A sad smile adorned her face and slowly dissipated into the air.

“Just a while ago, Puneet sir told you that Aishwarya Raisingh was blackmailing your mother. Why didn’t you…Why didn’t you ask him for any proof? He laid the property papers in front of you. You accepted them without any questions. He said Ronnie sir has threatened Raveena ma’am to throw them out of the house. You didn’t ask for any proof then. He told you that he had seen you following me on the cocktail party night, seen us together in the chawl, that we were in the outhouse together… still you didn’t ask him for any proof. Neetu ma’am accused me of spoiling the chunri, in front of everyone. You didn’t ask her for any proof because you believed that I did it out of jealousy. And today… Neetu ma’am accused me of trying to harm her… that I purposefully put mango in the dessert. Yet, you didn’t ask her for any proof. You didn’t even find it necessary to hear my side. A while ago you yourself told me that you believe me. That… I can never cause any harm to your mother. If you trusted me, why didn’t you stand up for me then? That day when I told you that Neetu ma’am is giving you pills because of which your health is deteriorating… that too with the proof, you didn’t trust me. And now… hearing whatever I told about Malla, you’re sceptic. You can’t believe me as I didn’t put forth any proof.”

Mannat paused for a few seconds, trying to calm her heart if that’s even possible.

“It’s true that you’ve stood by my side before. I’ll forever be grateful for that. For all that you’ve done for me since we met. You’ve saved my life. Not just once. Many times. But at the same time, you remain silent whenever I get insulted or my character gets questioned. You don’t trust me. How could… how could you love someone if you don’t trust them?”

Vikrant opened his mouth but he was at a loss for words. His chest tightened upon realising where the conversation is steering to.

“How many times have you got unwell in front of me? How many times have I asked you to get yourself checked? Yes, I did accuse Neetu ma’am of drugging you. Even if it is just to prove me wrong, have you got your check up or blood test done even once? Did you try to get to the truth? Did you?”

“No,” Vikrant couldn’t meet her eyes.

“Every morning is not a fresh page. You don’t even learn from your mistakes sir.”

“I’ve done mistakes and I haven’t learnt from them. I accept that. I did the mistake of not trusting you once, then repented and then did the same mistake again. I broke your trust. Mannat… but every time I did come to you. Bowed down in front of you and said sorry. And I’ll keep doing that until you forgive me. I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry Mannat…” he bowed his head and then soon looked up at her. “How would I choose between you and mom? If you were in my place, could you’ve chosen one among me and Shruti maa? You can’t, right? I too can’t. I love you both. Please… please, just give me a chance. I promise… I promise you. I’ll make everything right this time.”

“You don’t even know what I’m going through right now. The wedding ceremonies, the preparations… everything is real for the Salujas and Raisinghs, right? If I take a step towards you, you know what would that make me in their eyes no matter whatever justifications you give them? It will be like confirming to whatever accusations Neetu ma’am made on me. We belong to two different worlds. Let’s say we came together against all these odds. There’ll always be this fear in the back of my head if you’ll trust me or not. I would be caught up in gathering the proofs even before sharing anything to you.”

Mannat let her words sink in the air. Head bowed down, Vikrant closed his eyes in a painful squeeze for a moment and then looked up at her. Her eyes held the same turmoil that was brewing inside him. He could only watch on as she swallowed the lump in her throat and hastily wiped the tears off her cheeks.

“I don’t have any doubts on the care, concern… love… you have for me. But… you haven’t given me a reason to believe on the trust you have on me. Do you know what love is for me? For me, love is trust. The trust which doesn’t need any proofs.”

The wind howled as if questioning the twist of fate. Their eyes refused to leave each other. Both drowned in pain. Biting back the whimper that was threatening to fall out of her, Mannat gently turned around and walked away, every step painful than the one before. She can’t be weak. It’s going to be a long night for her. She has to confront Aishwarya Raisingh. The excruciating pain on her chest has to wait. The heaviness on her feet has to wait.

Vikrant kept looking at her retreating form until she disappeared into the curve of the corridor. His mind went blank. His heart went out for Babaji, the divine who brought them together. He prayed for her. What has he done! He was so blinded in love that he failed to register the gravity of his actions…words… He has got no one else to blame but himself. He knew that she’ll be going through the same pain if not more. Every one of the questions she posed came back to him and pierced his soul. Holding his head, he paced along the length of the pool.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Mallika untangled the kalire from her dupatta with a frown and held the mobile phone to her ear. She has been trying to reach her mother since an hour or so. Her mother disappeared amidst the paat ceremony without notifying anyone and now there’s no sign of her. On top of it Vikrant hasn’t returned to the Saluja Mansion yet. She had seen him slipping out of the mansion during the paat ceremony. She was certain that he might be going for Mannat. She too wanted to tail him when he left the mansion but was caught up in the mesh of other family members. She wasn’t allowed to move an inch from her seat. It did irk her when no one questioned the absence of the groom, Vikrant. Even Puneet was missing for a while. Her father at least enquired about her mom; even if that was to no one in particular. The moment she spotted Vikrant’s car in the parking area of Mezbaani, she was relieved and the next moment worried if Mannat would be there with him at that hour.

The climate was agitated. She gathered the flowy dupatta on her shoulder so as it doesn’t get tangled with the hangings of her kalire again. In the hurry of sneaking out of the Saluja Mansion, she couldn’t even change into comfortable clothes. The front door of Mezbaani was ajar. Just as she walked towards it with bated breath, praying for Mannat not to be there, the noise of something tumbling down echoed. Mallika hurried through the lobby and corridor to walk into the sight in the dining area. There were a couple of chairs tumbled down on the floor and amidst them Vikrant was trying to get up from the floor, failing and falling back with a thud at every attempt. Mallika jumped out of her skin. She hurried to him calling out his name.

With much difficulty she pulled him up and made him sit on the chair. Mallika panicked at the slight cut on his left temple. As she gently tended the cut, she noticed him looking at her dazed. It was as if he’s seeing her after eons.

“Mannat…” Vikrant mumbled and held out his hand, trying to reach her.

The frown on her face grew deeper. With the sudden surge of irritation at the mention of Mannat’s name, Mallika took a step back and almost got tripped on something. Once she found her footing, she moved aside to look at the floor. An empty bottle of red wine! It dawned on her. Vikrant drank an entire bottle of red wine. And he’s so drunk that he thinks she’s Mannat!

“I knew that you would come back Mannat. You…you came back for me?” Vikrant gingerly got up from the chair.

“Vikrant!” Mallika caught him as he stumbled.

“I’m sorry…” Vikrant said as she made him sit back on the chair. He held her arm gently and made her sit on the chair next to him. “I don’t need anything now. I have you. I promise you Mannat… I promise, I’ll do everything right this time.”

Mallika didn’t know what to do. With his demeanour, it’s clear that Mannat was there and their conversation didn’t end up well. Vikrant took out his phone and after sloppy ministrations on the screen, held it to his ear firmly.

“Sammy… cancel the décor, food, guests… everything. The wedding has been called off. Do the… necessary. Okay?”

Vikrant slid his mobile phone in his pocket and smiled at her. He could hardly keep his eyes open and sit straight. Mallika gaped at him and soon panic kicked in her. What has he done!

“What have you done, Vikrant?!”

Her voice grew a notch higher than she intended. She couldn’t have let him spoil all that she has been building up. He squinted at her as he touched his throat. His throat dried up.

“Water…I need some water.”

He pulled himself up, skimmed around in a gentle twirl and dragged his feet towards the pool. Mallika hurried to him and held him back from literally jumping into the pool. But he was adamant. He wanted both of them to jump into the pool. Mallika was nearing to the rock bottom when he recalled how he and Mannat fell into the pool the other day and how beautiful she looked with that wet hair and water drops hugging her face. Mallika dragged him away from the pool with all her might.

“Come to your senses, Vikrant,” she yelled, frustrated.

Vikrant put his hand on the nearby table to balance his staggering feet. Across the howling of the wind, thunder rumbled. Vikrant looked at the row of windows alarmed. Lightning flashed. He staggered towards Mallika and covered her ears with his palms. With the next bout of thunder, he held her closer. His one palm covering her ear and the other wound around her in a protective hold.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to be scared Mannat. It’s okay… I’m with you. Babaji is watching over us. It’s okay… We’ll go home now. I’ll talk. I’ll talk to mom and dad. You don’t worry…We’ll go home. Our home.”

He whispered into her hair as he caressed her head. Angry tears trickled down Mallika’s cheeks as she bit down the rage bubbling in her. She realised it then there. Once Vikrant comes to his senses, there won’t be no stopping him from bringing Mannat back to Saluja Mansion; to his life. Even in the intoxicated state, all that’s gliding in his mind, all he sees is Mannat. No matter what, she can’t lose to Mannat. If at all the wedding gets called off or postponed, she has to be prepared. She has to come up with something momentous. Something strong that even Vikrant couldn’t withdraw his feet from.

“We’ll go home, Vikrant. Let’s go home,” Mallika wound her arms around him, determined.

As she made a tipsy Vikrant sit on the car with the help of her driver and then settled down beside him, Mallika knew what exactly she has to do. A faint smell of exhaust fumes skittered in the air and the car whirred forward.

~to be continued...

👌👌👌👌👌👌👌 excellent read...

Waiting for the next part😃

Originally posted by: Mona_HappyLife

👌👌👌👌👌👌👌 excellent read...

Waiting for the next part😃

Thank you so much Mona!

What a wonderful part!! You excelled in the emotional parts. I was in tears reading what Mannat said to Vikrant. I wanted to go into your story and give her a big hug and let her know she is not alone. I do not know what you planned for your next part, but please pretty please can you try not to take it the ONS route? I find it absolutely disgusting that anyone can take advantage of someone not in their senses. I know it happens all the time in real life. Sorry about the rant. Can't wait for the next part.

Loved reading the second part Meera! I could picture it all! Eager to know what Malla will do here and in the show 🥲

Hoping for the best 😭

“I just read the new update and I’m honestly in awe. The way your characters evolve and how the plot twists keep surprising me—it’s amazing watching your story grow.