22

Third Person’s POV

Manik sighs as he hangs up the call.

He feels slightly guilty about manipulating his friend’s situation this way, but he has no other choice too.

After all, he cannot let his wife be another man’s date, especially after his mother showed him the picture of the gown, which is going to be designed for Nandini to wear at the ball.

‘She will look exquisite in it,’ he smirks, closing his eyes as he imagines his wife wearing that gown.

But the very next moment, he stands up from his chair, and paces in his office, frowning with the feelings that has been rising within him for the last few days.

After being successful in destorying Myra and Raghav the way he wanted, he had thought guilt behind what happened with Nandini as his revenge’s by-product was the reason behind him wanting to give his marriage with her one chance, and see where it takes them.

But lately, he has been feeling that is not it—the reason is something else.

He thinks about it every morning when he pretends to sleep till late just so that Nandini would go to shower before him and he could see her walking out with her freshly showered hair and no makeup face.

Some wet strands clinging to her nape as she continues drying them with a towel with a slight smile on her face.

Just that one smile is what she needs to look more beautiful than she already is. The innocence and purity on her face contributing to her beauty are something that no makeup can ever compare with.

He sneakily watches her every morning as she goes about her routine, hastily closing her eyes whenever she stills.

He knows she does that because she feels his eyes on him, but he is quick to close her eyes every time her casual movements cease before she can even turn and confirm her doubt.

Then there is her simplicity, her enjoying small moments in life, speaking out everytime for what she believes is right, never holding grudge or even thinking bad about anyone else.

He has never met anyone as simple and transparent as her in his life.

With such horrible parents causing her to have awful childhood, then getting molested, having her brother taken away from her, and being blamed by her parents for that—she had ample chances to let all those things turn her into a bad person.

He huffs, shaking his head and feeling petty as he realizes how much less it took for him to turn into a horrible person—horrible enough to ruin someone else’s life for his revenge.

‘But Nandini is not like that.’

He remembers what she had told him when he had asked about her not ever thinking about taking revenge against the people who did wrong to her.

“I simply focus on myself and think about how to be better every day, hoping to leave my past behind and truly be happy one day.”

Her words echo in his mind and he smiles at how mature her thinking is.

'Isn’t that what everyone wants? To be truly happy in life?'

But not all are courageous enough to not let anything affect them and pursue their true happiness. They all get tangled in their anger and wants and eventually lose focus on getitng joy in their life. That might be the reason why most people remain unhappy and unfulfilled their entire lives.

“Wow! Getting philosophical, Manik.” He takes a deep breath, wondering about these insights he has been getting recently.

‘All because of my wife.’ He realizes, blowing out a breath, and sitting on the couch at the center of his office.

He is not surprised as his lips curve into a smile when Nandini’s face flashes in front of him every time he says ‘my wife.’

First, he was doubtful about being able to trust Nandini as he trusted Myra only to get the betrayal in return from her.

But now he has no doubt left because he has realized Nandini is nothing like Myra.

He knows he can fully trust Nandini, and she would never betray his trust. She is not a kind of person who would even think about betraying someone, let alone do it.

So, now, the question in his mind is will Nandini ever be able to trust him?

After what he did and how he behaved with her after their marriage, she is right to be wary of him.

She is right to ask him why he wants to give this marriage a chance when he was the one who told her this marriage and her meant nothing to him.

“That question again. Why do I want to give this a chance? Why do I go out of my way and pretend to sleep just to watch her in the morning? Why do my lips curve into a smile whenever I see her? Why have I started eating lunch at the cafeteria just to hear her talk and laugh with her colleagues at lunchtime? Why?” I ask myself, pressing my forehead as if willing my mind to give me an answer.

But it is not his mind that has the answers. Because this time, his heart quips.

‘You have fallen for your wife, Manik.’

He feels a jolt within him due to that realization.

***********

“But you had said you would go with me to the ball, Samrat. How can you suddenly change your mind?” Nandini asks Samrat, eyeing him accusingly.

“I am really sorry, Nandini. I too wanted to go with you, but my parents want me to go with this girl that they want me married to,” Samrat apologizes to Nandini.

“Can’t you tell that girl that you are going to the ball with me?” Nandini presses. “Maybe you can take her out and then explain to her about your prior commitment?”

Samrat sighs, shaking his head. “I was thinking about taking her for dinner and then tell her about me going to the ball with you.

“But when I told my mother, she instantly refused, saying no girl would like her to-be husband asking her to take another girl to a party. I tried to explain it to her, but you know how parents are.”

Nandini gives him a sad smile, feeling a prick in her heart. The only side that her parents have shown to her are indifference, rudeness, and hatred.

“Hmm, that’s ok, Samrat. Your parents are thinking about getting you settled with a good girl so you can have a happy life with her. You are lucky to have such loving parents,” she tells him, subtly blinking away the tears that gathered in her eyes as she remembered her parents’ behavior toward her.

“Her name is Aastha,’’ Samrat says to her, showing her the photo on his phone.

“She is pretty. You two would look good together.”

“Let’s see how it goes. I have met her only once and found her to be pleasant. But I would like her to know more before saying yes to the marriage. She feels the same way too. After all, we don’t want to be hasty in making such important decision only to regret it later.”

Samrat’s words cause another pang in Nandini’s heart as she gets reminded of her own hasty marriage which will soon be over.

In fact, she was not given any choice in that matter.

Her parents decided to get her married to get rid of her. Manik decided to marry her for his revenge.

It is almost laughable how she was not given any choice on such important decision of her life.

She takes a deep breath, trying to lessen the painful clench of her heart.

“What happened, Nandini?” Samrat asks, frowning as he looks at her sad face.

“Oh, umm, nothing,” Nandini replies. “I was thinking I won’t be able to go to the ball now because I don’t have a date.”

As soon as Nandini says that, Manik walks out of his office, gritting his teeth as he sees Samrat leaning over his wife’s desk.

“Seriously, Samrat! Do you have no other work? You are here all the time, chatting and laughing with my w—” He stops himself in time.

Samrat ignores what Manik said, beaming instead, as he finds perfect solution for his problem. “Manik, do you have a date for the ball yet?”

“What are you doing, Samrat?” Nandini asks, subtly shaking her head at him, but Manik catches on to that.

‘Did aunty already talk with Samrat as I intended her to?’ Manik thinks, smirking inwardly.

“No. Not yet. Why do you ask?” Manik pretends to appear clueless.

“Umm, as I had told you few days back, my parents are thinking about my marriage. And they want me to take the girl they have chosen for me to the ball. So, Nandini do not have date now as I can’t go with her,” Samrat tells Manik.

“Stop it, Samrat. I told you I won’t be going to the ball,” Nandini says, glaring at Samrat.

But Samrat presses on, ignoring the ‘I will kill you’ look that Nandini was giving him.

“I was wondering if you would be Nandini’s date for the ball,” Samrat says.

Nandini suppresses a groan as she looks at Manik’s smirking face.

“Hmm, that would be convenient for me because I don’t have a date yet. But I am not sure if Nandini would like to come with me,” he says, already knowing just Samrat asking him to be her date won’t be enough. Samrat would also need to convince Nandini.

‘Well, it has to be Samrat. I for sure cannot convince her.’ Manik thinks, looking at Nandini’s angry face.

“Please, Nandini. Please go to the ball with Manik. After all, it is mandatory for all employees to attend the party, and I will feel bad if you don’t attend only because I canceled on you. Please?” Samrat asks Nandini.

“But, Samrat. I can’t—” Nandini begins when Samrat interrupts her.

“I won’t be able to enjoy the party if you don’t attend the ball. And if I won’t enjoy, it might lead to Aastha thinking that I am a boring person, which might lead her to say no to our proposal.

“So, see, you attending the ball is really important if you want me get settled with the nice girl that my parents have selected for me,” Samrat looks pleadingly at Nandini and she lets out a deep sigh, feeling frustrated by the turn of events.

“Alright. I will attend the ball,” she says, looking at Samrat’s beaming face as he thanks her for heeding to his request.

She then looks at Manik. ‘Is he the reason behind this happening?’ She thinks, narrowing her eyes at him.