Thanks for ur support guys… I am sorry this is a very small update but i was not able to write… I am sorry
Chapter 28 : Chapter 28
(Nandini) “Hey, what was that about? Does he have a stomach ache? I could have given him medicine for it…..” She smiled deviously.
(Navya) “What makes you think eased my anger? We fought naturally. Not with words but legs and hands. Since I know that he can’t hit me, all I had to do was hit him. He defended so well, but when I only had to attack, obviously, I will attack faster with all I have.” What?
(Nandini) “He said that you guys didn’t” Why would he say that?
(Navya) “He lied.”
(Nandini tensed for Manik, asked Navya) “Why? I don’t get it? Why did you fight?”
(Navya) “Isn’t it simple? I needed a punching bag to get rid of my anger and that was him. Come on, lets go and eat.”
(Nandini’s POV) We had a nice dinner. We talked random things. How am I going to tell her?
(Navya) “Its already getting cold in September.”
(Nandini) “I thought you were an outdoor person.”
(Navya) “I am but I can’t stand the cold.”
(Navya again spoke) “You know, you should probably forget about Manik Bhai, Nandini. I am not angry or anything. I am just telling you. Being in a relationship with him will not be
easy.”
(Nandini) “No relationship is easy.”
(Navya) “True. But it is not easy at all with him. He wouldn’t put almost any effort on his-part. You would have to struggle to keep up with him. At least, that is how he has been from what I have seen. And don’t argue on that. I am so sure because he and I are similar. We don’t trust people. In my case, Cabir did everything he could to gain my trust while I had to just get rid of my insecurities. It is not an easy job for me but Cabir put more effort than I ever would have. If you are with Manik, it would almost be the same.”
(Nandini was about to cry thinking about how bad is Navya saying about Manik, controlling her tears she spoke to Navya) “He is not like that at all.”
(Nandini’s POV) I was about to cry. He is not what she paints him to be. He has been working so hard to make me feel comfortable, she just like that dismisses his feelings. I was thinking that I was confused but, here I am, sticking up for him.
(Nandini again) “He is not like that at all. He is working so hard to gain my trust and… and…… Navya, there is something I need to tell you.”
(Navya) “What is it? And please don’t tell me something about Manik Bhai.”
(Nandini) “I am scared of touch.”
(Navya) “What?” She looked surprised.
(Nandini) “I am scared of touch. I cannot even bear a casual handshake.”
(Navya) “What are you blabbering? You are perfectly normal. You could hug me?”
(Nandini) “No. I cannot. Even now, I had to suppress all my urge to push you away when we hug. Not just you, anyone.”
(Navya) “Why?”
(Nandini in a soft and sobbing tone) “I was gang raped when I was fifteen.” (Terrified, Nandini slowly looked at her face, she was shocked no doubt. I didn’t want her to know, I didn’t
want her to change the way she treated me but she has to know.) “Ever since then, I just couldn’t trust people to touch me. I had undergone treatment and it was a long time before I could even hug mom. Just when I thought I could get over it, I was forced again by my first fiancé. Every since then, I decided, maybe the best way to overcome this fear was tolerating contact, especially the opposite gender. It was foolish but I couldn’t see any other option out of it. I dated so many people but usually when they touch me, it felt like worms crawling all over me. Somehow, I was able to endure it. Please Navya don’t hate me after knowing this and also please don’t blame Cabir that he never told you about this because I never wanted anyone to know”
(Navya’s POV) I was stunned, horrified to hear what Nandini was saying. She has to be lying. A cheerful girl like her had… I can’t even imagine it. I always prided myself that I could comfort people with words but I am at loss as to what to tell her. I could only listen to her, nothing else. Not a single word came to my mind to tell.
(Nandini continued) “Ever since Manik did that, I got that fear again. I didn’t dare to face my family like that again. I didn’t want them to find out. They would be hurt if they knew I was…., you know… because I was a Murthy. So, that is why I didn’t want you to tell dad. But it got worse over time. At one point, I couldn’t even touch my patients. I forced myself and still am. But,”
(Navya) “But?”
(Nandini) “But, if it is true, I should be scared of Manik. I shouldn’t feel comfortable in his presence. When I think back what happened when I was teenager, I would vomit every time I think about what happened. But its not the same for Manik. I thought if he touched me, I would repel and feel nauseous. Instead, I felt safe. I don’t feel frightened. I want to stay with him more. Yet, I am scared. I don’t know if it is my feelings covering up for him.”
(Navya not able to take it anymore spoke) “Just stop”
(Navya’s POV) I couldn’t bear to listen anymore. She is torturing herself with these things. Seeing Nandini look lost, I couldn’t believe this is the woman I knew. She really loves
Manik. I would be fool if I didn’t notice what is happening between her and Manik. They are almost like they have lived together for years.
(Nandini) “What?”
(Navya) “Just stop. So, you love Manik?”
(Nandini) “Yes.”
(Navya)“Sigh. You are scared what will happen, right? You are scared if Manik will change in future or that he is just infatuated. I will talk with him. Although, I usually say that people in love should deal with their problems and feelings themselves, I will make an exception this one time. Don’t look surprised. Although I don’t like it, if you truly feel for Manik, I will help you.” (Navya doesn’t know at this point of time that Manik knows everything)
(Navya again) “Nandini, Manik would make you cry.”
(Nandini) “I am crying even if I am not with him. I feel worst and depressed without him and one more thing Navya, Manik already knows about my fear. He knew even before he raped me. Maybe, that is why he got me drunk.”
(Navya’s POV) That heartless @#$! I wish I could have punched him also. At least, he didn’t want to harm her emotionally but I still can’t forgive what he did! (At present Navya is of the assumption that Manik only knows that she has fear of being touched so she asked)
(Navya) “Does he know the reason for your fear?”
(Nandini) “Mukti told him when she came here.”
(Navya’s POV) She said almost like a whisper. Why do I get myself in such situations? I really want to protect this girl from any harm to come and Manik Bhai may be the biggest boon or biggest bane for her.
(Navya) “Fine” I replied grudgingly.
(Nandini) “Thank you, Navya. Please ask Manik what’s in his mind once for me”.
(Navya) “Don’t thank me yet. I do not favour Manik. I am doing it just for you.”
(Nandini) “In any case, thanks.”
(Navya) “Its locked. I will ring the bell”
(Nandini) “Hey, Wait! I have the key.”
(Navya) “Manik Bhai will open the door.”
(Nandini) “No. He has not been sleeping at all. Let him sleep a little.”
(Navya) “You both are already behaving like husband and wife. I don’t see why you can’t ask him directly.”
(Nandini) “Navya”
(Navya) “I got it. I got it.”
He was sleeping in the sofa cum bed when we entered. Payal was by his side. I took Payal with me to Nandini’s room. Later, she came in to sleep.
(Navya) “The sofa is new”
(Nandini) “I got it about two weeks back. It seemed like he would be coming over again and it would be uncomfortable sleeping on the couch.”
(Navya) “He seemed to behave like a gentleman though he could have decided to be like that from the start.”
(Nandini) “Please don’t start again, Navya.”
Both wished each other Good Night and slept peacefully…
Precap : Navya and Manik Talks
Sorry again for a small update