Part 21(Last part)

Manik : "From what I know of her, Nandini always puts others happiness before her own. If I tell her, she might agree to stay with me because she doesn't want to see me heartbroken. I don't know how I am going to manage without her, but I can't be selfish."

Manik : "Finally she is trying to do something for herself. I don't want her to be forced to stay with me if she doesn't want to. In the past she was forced by someone or the other to take decisions against her wishes, I don't want to do the same again with her. I just want her to be happy."

Mukti : "OMG!"

Manik : "What happened to you now?"

Mukti : "I knew that you have changed, but I didn't know that it would be to this extent. You were ready to get what you want by hook or crook in the past, but now, you are considering her happiness over yours. You are ready to let her go though you love her so that she will be happy."

Mukti : "So what are you planning to do now?"

Manik : "I want to find out what Nandini thinks of me. If she feels the same for me, then I will consider myself the luckiest person on earth. But how am I going to know what she really thinks, without pressurizing her, in such a short time is what I am worried about."

Mukti : "Maybe Nandini feels the same for you, but didn't tell you because you were with Alya. She might tell, if she knows that you broke up with Alya."

Manik : "Maybe, but she might think that she is the reason for it and take drastic steps so that I and Alya will get back together which I don't want her to do."

Mukti left from there after discussing with Manik for sometime.

In the recent past, sometimes when Alya complained, Mukti talked to Manik and convinced him to pacify Alya even though he didn't want to. Mukti felt that if she wouldn't have done that, maybe Manik would have broken up with Alya earlier. He might have realized he loved Nandini early enough to figure out if Nandini feels the same for him.

So Mukti thought over Manik's problem and came up with an idea, but didn't tell Manik about it . She knew Manik wouldn't let her implement it, but that is the only option which came to her mind in the current scenario.

One evening, when Manik and Nandini were in the living room, Mukti served them juice. Nandini drank the juice and it tasted different, but she didn't tell anything. After some time she felt something different, so she decided to retire to her room.

Mukti whispered in Manik's ears.

Mukti : "I have spiked Nandini's drink. This is your chance to figure out what she feels for you."

Manik : "But why did you spike her drink?"

Mukti : "You were still thinking what to do. This is the only option I could think of. You will get to know what she really thinks, but the chances that she will remember about it tomorrow is very less. So don't waste time and go now."

Mukti : "All the best!"

Nandini was trying to walk up the stairs very slowly. Manik came to her.

Manik : "What happened Nandini?"

Nandini : "I am seeing multiple images of the same thing, I am finding it difficult to figure out where to step next."

Manik figured out that the spiked drink had started taking effect, so he took her to their room and made her sit on the couch. Manik was talking to her something in general for sometime before he came to the point.

Manik : "Nandini, what do you think of me? What am I to you?"

Nandini : "Don't you know already? You are my very good friend."

Manik : "Only a good friend....that's all."

Manik's face turned sad listening to this.

Nandini : "You are a lot more than that, but I can't tell you."

Manik : "Why not?"

Nandini : "If I tell you, you will get mad at me."

Manik : "I won't. Now tell me."

Nandini : "Sure.. you won't?"

Manik : "Sure."

Nandini : "How do I tell you? Do you remember that time when you went out on a trip with your friends? I missed you so much (she showed using her hands).. no....(she stretched her hands the maximum she could)....so much...a lot. Nothing seemed good without you. That is when I realized that...that....you are sure you won't get angry at me?"

Manik : "I won't, now continue."

Nandini : "I realized that...that I... I fell in love with you."

Manik was very happy hearing that she felt the same for him as he felt for her.

Manik : "Still you are ready to give me a divorce and go away from me?"

Nandini : "Hmm.. what else can I do? I don't want to, I don't know how I am going to stay away from you, but that is my problem. I fell for you knowing that you love someone else."

Nandini : "You don't have to worry, I will give you a divorce as you want and go far away from you. I came into your life without knowing that you already have someone in your life, but now I know, I won't come in between your happiness. I will never interfere in your life."

Manik : "Nandini, I don't want a divorce. I love you too and I want you to stay with me forever as my life partner. How can I be happy without you?"

Nandini : "You are joking, right? Destiny has made my life a big joke. Now you are also making fun of me."

Manik realized that this isn't a good time to convey his feelings for her. She may not even remember if he did, so he changed the topic. After sometime,

Nandini : "I am not feeling good. I will go to sleep."

Nandini got up from the couch to go to sleep, but she was wobbling. Manik held her.

Manik : "You aren't even able to stand properly."

His bed was close by so he took her towards it.

Manik : "Lay down and sleep."

She looked at the bed.

Nandini : "This is your bed. How can I sleep here?"

Manik (murmured) : "When I am all yours, everything that is mine is yours too."

Nandini : "Did you tell something?"

Manik felt it was better to talk to her the next day.

Manik : "No."

Nandini : "Something is wrong with me today. I am seeing multiple things. You didn't tell anything but I felt I heard something."

Nandini's couldn't keep her eyes open any longer and closed her eyes. Manik put her to bed and covered her. He was about to leave from there, but stopped.

Manik : "What if she wakes up before me and remembers what happened today?"

Manik : "She doesn't know that I love her too. So she might try to go away from me thinking that I am angry with her."

Mukti was eagerly waiting to know what happened, so Manik informed her. Manik didn't want to take any chances, so he sat in a chair next to Nandini holding her hand and drifted off to sleep.

Next morning, Nandini woke up before Manik, but she didn't remember about the previous day. She tried to take her hand off slowly from Manik's hands, but it woke Manik up.

Manik : "How are you doing now?"

Nandini : "I am fine. My head is aching. What happened to me? Why were you sleeping, sitting in the chair? I am not able to remember anything."

Manik : "I will explain once you feel better."

Later during the day,

Manik : "Mukti spiked your drink because I wanted to know what you really think of me."

Nandini : "You are my very good friend. I would have told that even if my drink wasn't spiked."

Manik : "That's not what I wanted to hear."

Nandini : "What did you want to hear?"

Manik : "What you told me yesterday."

Nandini : "What did I tell?"

Manik : "You told me that .. that you didn't want to go away from me and that you love me."

Nandini didn't know what to tell. She was finding words to explain. She was twiddling her fingers.

Nandini: "I know I shouldn't have.... but I don't know how....it wasn't in my hands....please don't be mad."

Manik held her hands.

Manik : "Nandini, please calm down."

Manik : "I am not mad at you. I am glad that you feel the same for me as I feel for you."

Manik : "I love you too. I don't want a divorce. I want you to stay with me forever as my life partner."

Nandini wasn't expecting this.

Nandini : "Really?"

Manik : "Don't you believe me?"

Nandu : "I believe in you, but I feel it is all a dream and when I open my eyes it won't remain the same."

Manik cupped her face with one of his hands.

Manik : "It isn't a dream. I really love you. I wish I would have realized it earlier. I thought you were only my friend. You have been an integral part of life. But it was only when you weren't around I realized what you really mean to me. You are my love, my life, you are everything to me."

Manik : "I wanted you to be happy, but I didn't know I was the reason you were hurt. I wish I could go back in time and set everything right. I will makeup for everything in the future."

Nandini : "You don't have to. I never even dreamt that you will accept me. I thought I will go away from you, but I didn't know how I was going to live without you. I love you a lot. I just need you with me."

Manik : "I am all yours and will always be. I promise you no matter what happens I will always be there with you."

Manik embraced Nandini. Nandini snuggled to Manik. Both weren't willing to let go of each other and were locked in a tight embrace for a very long time.

Epilogue

Nandini and Manik informed their decision of staying together to their parents. Nandini's Dad never came to know about the divorce. Her mom was happy that her prayers were finally answered and Nandini got a loving and caring husband. Nyonika was happy that Manik realized his mistake and accepted Nandini as his wife.

Manik tried to make Nandini understand that it was fine to think about others happiness , but she should think about her happiness too. He was always there beside her to take care of her happiness as a loving and caring husband.

Fate brought them together, but they tried to separate. They chose to be friends, but ended up falling in love with each other. It was beyond their control. It took time, but in spite of the odds they found their way to each other. They were meant to be together, it was in written in the stars.

Thank you!

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