Manan ff: Love Diaries (chp 4- The Broken Promise)

“Anjali,” Nandini said. “Yes?,” Anjali replied. “We won’t ever get separate, promise?,” Nandini asked forwarding her hand. “Promise,” Anjali said holding her hand. They smiled looking at each other and Anjali played with the musical toy Manik gifted her and Nandini played with the dolls. Varshini entered their room with dinner. “Nandini, Anjali, eat your dinner,” she said sitting on their bed and forwarded the spoon towards Anjali’s mouth. She nodded in negative. “Eat less but eat, just one bite,” Varshini said but she again nodded in negative and Nandini held the spoon which was still in Varshini’s hand and ate it herself instead and giggled naughtily looking at Anjali.

“Nandu what mischief is this?,” Varshini asked a little angrily. Nandini took Anjali’s head on her shoulder. “Mumma I didn’t wanted to eat, it’s ok,” Anjali said still resting her head on Nandini’s shoulder. Varshini smiled at both of them and their mischief continued the rest of the meal. “Lights will go off at 9, OK?,” Varshini said and they nodded. She kissed their heads and went. “What did you get by Manik?,” Anjali asked and Nandini showed her the pendant. “Wow,” Anjali said and showed her gift to her.

“Yours is also good, I also have a gift for you,” Anjali said and got down the bed opening the drawer. She took out a box and gave it to her. “Teddy bear, wow,” Nandini said and kissed it. Next day, Manik didn’t come to school. “Nandini, why didn’t Manik come?,” Anjali asked sitting beside her in the class. “Don’t know,” Nandini replied. Whole day went wondering why Manik didn’t come to school for both the sisters. When they returned home and freshened up, Varshini called Nandini as Manik had called to talk to her. “Hallo Manik,” Nandini said over the phone.



“Hallo, I m going abroad for studies,” Manik said. “Why didn’t you told me before?,” Nandini asked. “Papa got promotion so we’ll have to shift, I m coming to your house to meet you and Anjali for the last time before I go,” Manik told her. “OK, we’ll be waiting,” Nandini replied and the call disconnected. “Anjali, Manik is going outside the country and he’s coming to meet us,” Nandini told Anjali. “OK,” Anjali said and continued playing. The doorbell rang and Varshini answered the door. It was Manik. He told her everything and he went to the twins room.

“Nandini, Anjali,” he said standing on the entrance. “Manik,” they both said in unison and he came inside and sat on their bed. “We’ll miss you,” Nandini said. “I’ll miss you too,” Manik replied and they had a group hug. He smiled and went. Everyday Manik talked with Nandini and Anjali over the phone. On their every birthday, the twins promised to stay together forever. But not all promises get fulfilled. Though they wanted to fulfill it but their fates didn’t allowed them to do so. Manik always talked to Nandini more and this never went unnoticed by Anjali.

They grew up and were now seventeen years old. Today was also the day for Manik’s comeback. The grown up twins were sitting on their bed together. Nandini received a call from Manik. She immediately received it and Anjali had jealousy clearly visible on her face. “Keep the phone on speaker,” she said and Nandini just smiled at her and asked her to wait until she finishes talking and that she will let her talk too. Nandini didn’t knew about their common attraction. She just thought her sister takes Manik as a good friend just like him. “Come soon, land safely, love you,” said Nandini over the phone and this rose Anjali’s jealousy even more. “Let me also talk,” Anjali said and she gave her the phone immediately smiling at her sister.

Soon the phone call ended and there was an awkward silence between the sisters. Anjali had a sad face, her head hung down low and Nandini kept her head on her shoulder with her arms wrapped around her. She was smiling and for sometime she didn’t notice her sister’s sadness but when she did, Anjali was more than upset. “What happened? I let you talk, why are you upset now?,” Nandini asked making her look at her. “I want to tell something,” Anjali replied still looking down. “Why does Manik always come to you and not me? Am I bad?,” Anjali asked.

“No, you’re great, beautiful, cute,” Nandini said trying to cheer her up, she really meant it. “I want Manik to come to me and not to you,” Anjali said. “He comes to you just like me, what do you exactly mean? I don’t understand,” Nandini asked. “I love Manik as well,” Anjali confessed finally leaving Nandini shocked. “What?,” she asked in shock. “You’ve heard right,” Anjali said. “But he loves me,” Nandini said. “I want to become you,” said Anjali. “I can’t do that Anjali, if not Manik then you’ll get someone else, he’ll love you more than Manik loves me,” Nandini said.

“He loves me Nandini, I want him, and if you love me more than him, you’ll sacrifice Manik for me,” Anjali said losing her cool. “What are you saying? I love you more than him, I really do but I can’t do this,” Nandini said. “Why?,” Anjali asked angrily. “Because I love Manik and I can’t betray him, you can confirm it with him and let him choose between us,” Nandini said. “Call him and ask, and put the phone on speaker,” Anjali said and she did so but the call didn’t reach as he had already boarded his flight.

Nandini put down the phone in disappointment. “Anjali, if he would’ve loved you, I would’ve never refused to sacrifice for you,” Nandini said holding her face while crying. “Why? Why does he loves you? Why not me?,” Anjali now stood up from the bed jerking her hands away shouting. “Don’t be sad angel,” Nandini said with love trying to calm down her anger, she always called her angel by love and Anjali called her Nandu. “I am not your angel,” Anjali said angrily and broke the vase on the floor. “Anjali you’ll get hurt,” Nandini said.

“Let me get hurt, I will die rather than living such life where I have to see my Manik loving someone else in front of my eyes,” Anjali replied and picked up a piece of broken vase. Nandini stood up to stop her and she was barefoot as well. Anjali put the piece on her own neck, Nandini got hurt on her feet in an attempt to stop her but continued trying. She held her hand trying to move it away but that injured her neck even more. “Anjali!,” Nandini screamed as she slit her both wrists and the next moment, she collapsed on the floor.

“Anjali!,” Nandini screamed in tears and screamed for her mother. She came and got shocked seeing Anjali dead while Nandini continued crying and told the whole matter to her. She took her head in her hand looking at her sister cryingly and couldn’t believe she was dead.