Manik & Nandini - Stars & Fireflies 105
Someone once said that death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live. The death of trust and that feeling of being let down by someone is the worst kind of pain. Your heart breaks into a million pieces yet no one can see it, you cry some silent tears which aren't visible to the world and you die a bit with every breathe yet you are alive.
It was a huge 2 storied penthouse occupying the entire 20th floor of a swanky apartment in Bandra. As you enter into the house the opulence and the gradeur will take you by surprise. There was a multihued chandelier right in the middle of the hall which was surrounded by huge red couches on one side and an entire musical setup on the other half of it partitioned by a glass waterfall wall. The hall led to a huge terrace. There was a bar counter on the extreme right of the hall next to the staircase. The house had an Italian kitchen and a connected dining space and the stairs led to the four bedrooms and a games room upstairs which doubled up as the home theatre. And oh yes the rear of the dining hall had a mini recording studio.
It was a dream house for anyone thought Nandini as she stood in the master bedroom while Manik was taking a shower. She saw a huge terrace with a swing and a small garden giving the serene view of the sea; yes it was a sea facing pent house as Manik loved sea; it was Manik Malhotra's new address. Nandini opened the glass door and went into the terrace; she was looking at the sea calm, quite unaffected by what's going around it and not displaying what's going inside it. "So much like Manik." she said to herself. She knows there is so much going inside him but he will not show but she won't leave him alone; he needs her and she will be there to heal him back to life, back to DJ. "This is a house Manik I will make it a home." She said to herself and smiled.
Manik was standing under the shower since a long time, how long even he lost the track of time. He was trying to cool his burning scars with the cold running water. Reliving the horrific day again and again as he closed his eyes eveytime; Nandini being taken away, DJ being hurt, his mad search to find Nandini safe but finding her hurt, losing his mother and finally walking away from DJ. He cried some silent tears; he had cried so much that tears have now dried up but the pain it was still there, the pit in his stomach that made him feel pukisg it was still there but he was Manik, The Manik Malhotra and he never gives up. He switched off the shower and looked into the mirror clearing the mist and said "time to start new" and walked out.
Meanwhile in hospital everyone was stunned and shocked as they sat in the waiting room. "how can Manik do this?" Dhruv was still finding it hard to believe. "he left the house, DJ. Manik could never even think of doing this in past and now he walked away I think we need to talk to him." Mukti said and took out her phone only to be stopped by Abhi. "Guys keep yourself in Manik's shoes he has been through a lot in the past few hours where he almost lost everything he loved. His anger for DJ is justified yes his step is wrong but that's how Manik is for him everything is an extreme." Abhi tried to reason with them and explain things. "right now he needs love, he needs healing yes Nandini is there but he needs us too. He needs someone to understand him and give hime time. Its like no questions asked blind love. He will come back to DJ he loves her too much to stay away but he needs time and lets us give him time and support.' They got Abhi's point and agreed to support Manik and work on clearing the misunderstanding between Manik and DJ. Finally after some more deliberations they all left home except Abhi and Damini.
Manik walked out of the shower to find Nandini waiting for him with the coffee on the terrace. He smiled and walked upto her and took her in a back hug and dropped a kiss on her shoulder. She shivered and smiled and he said "Thanks!" she wrapped her hand around the nape of his neck and climbed on his toes and asked "thanks for what?" Manik looked at the sea and said "for coming with me." Nandini turned aroung and handed him his coffee mug and said "Manik I love you and when I say that it means I love you in every situation and support your decisions so not coming with you doesn't exist here." Manik smiled at her answer and took her in a tight hug and closed his eyes to feel her love which was ever ready to shower on him.
They sat on the swing looking into the sea with their hands entwined and Nandini's head on Manik's shoulder for hours. They didn't speak anything, not that they were oout of words but their relationship didn't words to convey their feelings. Their silences spoke and conveyed more. The mere presence of one was enough to heal the other and fill the entire existence with happiness. Finally after after a while Nandini said "Manik." who replied in a "hmm." "Mujhe bhook lagi hai." She told him innocently. He looked at the watch and it was 10 pm way beyong Nandini's dinner time. "wait I will order something." He said while picking up his mobile and ordered pizza and pastas for them.
Finally after the 20 minute wait their supper was delivered and they both sat down to relish on the pizza and the pasta. To divert Manik's mind Nandini tried to engage him in her chats and talks but Manik being Manik realized it and he took her hands in his hands and kissed her knuckles and said "Nandini I love you for the efforts but you are not as funny as me so please rehne do." Nandini widened her eyes as soon as she heard this she took out the pizza box and hit him saying "Manik" she truned her back on him angrily as he laughed and she smiled hearing him lugh as she was successful in cheering him up.
On seeing her angry and pouty Manik held her waist and pushed her into him and said "gussa ho?" while he nuzzled in her hair. She shivered but putting a brave face yes "yes!" he smiled and continued "toh phir manana padega." And slid her hair on one side and unzipped the kutrti a little bit and slid it down her shoulder and started dropping wet kisses all over her back. Nandini pushed herself more into him as he slid his hands on her arms and clutched her waist. "you are my healer Nandini. I am sorry" He bit her earlobe and said.
Unable to hold herself back she truned towards him and climbed on his toes, snaked her arms around his neck and brushing her lips against his said "apology accepted" and fused her lips with his. He kissed her ardently as if it was the first time he was kissing her as if it was the last time he was kissing her. He bit her lower lip and entered in her mouth and kissed every corner of her mouth as she bent a little and pulled him more into herself. His hands unzipped her kurti and slid it down as his tongue was busy romance hers in her mouth.
Finally after running out of oxygen they broke the kiss and Manik swiftly picked her up in his arms and made way for the bedroom. He undreesed them and covered them with a duvet. What followed were her moans as Manik kissed and bit every part of her soft body leaving a trail of wet kisses and his deep love bits and all she could do was call his name and moan. After what seemed like eternity of kisses and bititng and scratching each other Manik finally got into her taking her into the throes of passion. They were sweating profusely even when the AC was at its lowest scuh was the heat of their passion. Finally after hitting the climax Manik kissed her forehead and saw some tears and worriedly asked "are you ok? Was I too wild?" she pecked is lips and replied smilingly "Yes you are wild and I love my wild untamed draculs." Manik chuckled at her response and slept with his head on her heart soaking in her heart beat his lullaby as she kept on caressing his hair.
It was 10 am when Manik woke up on not finding Nandini next to him. "Nandini" he called her out with his eyes still closed but got no response. "Nandini." He called again and no response. Finally a pissed Manik got dowm of the bed and looked around and was shocked with the transformation; his messy bedroom was all done and decorated with his clothes in the cupboard, all his photographs on the wall in front of him, his awards on the shelf next to the pictures along with the guitar. The room had fresh curtains and a wind chime on seeing which he smiled "Nandini."
He went down and found the entire house transformed into a home with everything at its right place with new curtains and fresh flowers. Manik felt he is in heaven he looked all around and saw some noises coming out of kitchen. He walked upto the kitched and found her making him tea and breakfast. He hugged her from back and said "wow you are already in the wife mode haan." She smiled and slaped him saying "shut up single track mind. Have you tea and go freshen up." Finding no way around manik complied.
While having breakfast Nandini said "Manik can I say something?" Manik held her hand and said "Nandini you don't have to ask?" she smiled and put her other hand on his and continued "are we going to hospital today to meet DJ?" he sighed and said "yes we are as I said yesterday I will be there to protect her and take care for its just that she's not there for me anymore." His heart sank when he spoke. Nandini knew what DJ meant to Manik and she vowed to bring them close no matter what.
"Manik there is something more I need to tell you." She said in a low voice. "What?" he asked. "Woh kidney.." she was fumbling as she knew she was breaking a promise but she also knew that she needed to tell Manik. cabir needed Manik and Manik needed to know. "kidney what Nandini you are scaring me." Manik's voice had panic. She took a deep breathe and said "Cabir donated the kidney to DJ and he is in the same hospital." Leaving manik shocked.
Love is the most powerful thing in this world. Its bigger than any tragedy; a kiss sealed with love can heal the oldest of scars; few words that come straight from heart can brighten up any dark heart making it possible for life to breath again.
End of part 105
Ciao
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