56. ANGRIER MANIK

Manik:- Nandini, How did all that happen? 

The color of Asha’s face vanished after hearing his question. She gulps the urge of telling him the truth as she didn’t want to increase the tension between him and the family. At the same time, she wants to punish Innaya for doing this to Nandini and that only Manik can do. 

Nandini:- It was an accident, Manik. 

Manik:- I know Nandini that it was an accident but, how did that accident happen? 

Nandini:- I was bringing juice for Bhabhi then suddenly………….

Asha interrupted her and replied on her behalf. 

Asha:- INNAYA CAUSED THE ACCIDENT DELIBERATELY. SHE DID HURT NANDINI. 

The floor slipped beneath Nandini’s feet, making her hell confused. She can’t believe that someone would actually do anything to hurt her. Whereas Manik and Arjun both are ready to choke Innaya till death. 

Manik:- ( angrily ) What she did, bhabhi? Elaborate, please…

Asha narrates everything she witnessed, making both the boys furious at Innaya’s audacity to play with Nandini’s life. 

Nandini:- ( confusingly ) but why will she do that with me? Why will she want to hurt me when I never did any wrong with her? 

Except for her everyone in the room is well aware of the reason but still, no one told her about it. Asha handles the situation smartly as she understands that Manik is not ready to tell her about her past. 

Asha:- the reason is crystal clear, Nandini. She wanted to be the wife of Manik but you became his wife, crashing her dreams. So, she is quite jealous of you, that’s why she took such a drastic step. 

Nandini:- So, should I go and talk with her? Should I prove my point? She did everything because of jealousy. Maybe she will understand her deed and take the right path. 

Manik:- ( furiously ) NO… YOU WON’T GO NEAR HER NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION IS, DID YOU UNDERSTAND? 

He knows that Nandini’s heart is pure and transparent. She can’t hate anyone even if that person did wrong to her. This is the quality that he loves the most in her but at the same time, he hates it when she tries to forgive her enemy because this world doesn’t deserve such pure souls. 

Nandini:- Manik…?

Manik:- I asked something, Nandini? Did you understand? 

Nandini nods slightly, not wanting to anger him more. His face is already red in anger; if someone comes in front of him then he would kill that person in a second. 

Manik:- ( to Asha ) Bhabhi, you stay here with her and don’t let her go out of the bed. I will just come……. 

Nandini held his hand, stopping him from going anywhere, worriedly. 

Nandini:- No… No… you won’t go anywhere. Stay here with me. 

Somewhere she has an idea about Manik’s thoughts that’s why she tries hard to stop him. 

Nandini:- You are not going to do anything with her, do you? 

Manik didn’t say anything and left the room angrily. Anyone can say that he is going to kill someone seeing the way he walks out of their room. Arjun follows him whereas Asha handles Nandini who is shouting to stop him. 

Asha:- Nandini… Nandini… calm down. Manik is fine, he won’t do anything.

Nandini:- ( worriedly ) You don’t know him, Bhabhi. He can do anything for me. He can even kill anyone who tries to hurt me. I am sure he is going to question Innaya. 

Asha:- Calm down, Nandini. Arjun is with him. He will handle Manik, you just relax. 

Although Nandini nods, her heart would not be at peace until Manik comes back in her arms.  

On the other hand, Innaya is pampering herself after her small victory. She is busy applying nail paint on her nails while her mother and father are sitting beside her to entertain her.

Innaya:- ( showing her hands to her parents ) Mom-dad look at my nails, is it pretty? 

Ajay:- It’s the prettiest! Every color suits my princess. 

Innaya:- you are right, Dad. 

Suddenly the door bursts open and a raging Manik walks inside disturbing the peaceful environment. Not paying any heed to anyone he grabbed Innaya’s neck making her choke and pushed her against the wall. 

Innaya’s eyes come out of their sockets while she chokes because of Manik’s tight hold on her neck. Ajay and Divya gasped seeing their lovely daughter in the clutches of Manik who has a fever of killing her. 

Hearing all the chaos everyone comes inside except Nandini and Asha. They all get shocked seeing Manik this much angry who is adamant about killing her. Arjun too comes forward worriedly and tries to pull him back but he is stronger than him. 

Arjun:- ( struggles to separate Manik ) Manik… leave her. This is not the right way to deal with any situation. You can’t do the same with others that they did to you. 

Manik:- ( in a rage, to Innaya ) Why did you hurt MY NANDINI? 

Innaya is not in a condition to say anything so she just nods her head negatively making him angrier. 

Manik:- Why the fuck did you touch her? 

Ajay:- ( angrily ) Manik……. Leave my daughter, right now. 

Manik:- ( ignoring everyone ) I asked something from you, Innaya. 

Varsha:- ( angrily ) Manik…… Are you gone mad? 

Manik shouts, jerking Innaya away, making her take a deep breath. 

Manik:- Yes…. Yes….. I AM MAD!….. MAD FOR MY NANDINI. ( dangerously looking in Innaya’s direction ) And she dares to hurt what’s mine! 

Yashoda:- What are you saying, Manik? 

Manik:- ask you lovely Innaya, Dadi. She will tell you what she did with my Nandini. 

All eyes turned towards Innaya who started sweating seeing the angrier Manik. She is in a dilemma about whether to say the truth or not. If she says the truth then everyone will go against her which she never wanted and if she won’t say the truth then Manik is all ready to kill her. So, she opts to take sympathy from everyone. 

Innaya:- ( crying hard ) I don’t know what he is saying, Maa? 

Manik:- ( with red eyes ) Really? 

He takes a step forward to go near her but Arjun stops him at the right time and tries to handle the situation.  

Arjun:- Manik is saying the truth, Dad. Asha witnessed the scene when she deliberately made Nandini fall on the glass pieces. 

Varsha:- What are you saying, Arjun? Why will she do that? 

All-time supporter of Miss Innaya Dixit comes forward to support her. Seeing her supporting Innaya, Manik rolls his eyes angrily. 

Arjun:- I am telling the truth, Aunty. 

He narrates the whole scene which Asha witnessed making everyone gasp but Varsha is still not able to believe all that. 

Kiran:- He is telling the truth. Asha also told me the same. 

Yashoda:- Then, Why didn’t you tell me this before, Kiran? 

Kiran:- I was just coming to tell you but before that, all this happened. 

Innaya:- ( with crocodile tears ) It’s a lie. I don’t know why Asha is spreading such hateful rumors about me? 

Manik:- ( sarcastically ) everyone is lier except Miss Innaya Dixit, right? 

Varsha:- ( with hatred towards Nandini ) She is doing all this at Nandini’s command. Nandini doesn’t like the attention Innaya gets, that’s why she is jealous. 

Manik:- ( chuckles ) Oh come on Mom, get a grip on your mind and tongue. Nandini is jealous and that too from Innaya, seriously? For your kind information, Nandini doesn’t need any unnecessary attention from anyone when she has her husband beside her. 

Innaya:- Then, Why will I hurt Nandini when I have everyone? 

Manik:- ( smirking ) Ya… you had everyone because of Nandini’s absence but now she is back as Dixit’s daughter so your position in the family is at risk, isn’t it? Maybe that’s why you tried to hurt her? 

Innaya’s throat went dry as Manik is somewhere right. 

Divya:- No… My baby is not insecure. She knows that her parents love her the most even more than Nandini. 

Manik:- I wish that you were right but the truth is what I said! 

Yashoda:- ( sternly ) Innaya, If Manik is right then you will not go near Nandini. Is that understood? 

Manik:- ( in a rage ) I won’t let her near Nandini. Not even if she wants to be. 

He walked and squeezed Innaya’s cheeks with his right hand making her scared again. 

Manik:- STAY AWAY FROM MY NANDINI. IF I EVER SEE YOU NEAR HER THEN MARK MY WORDS I WON’T LET YOU BREATHE THE NEXT SECOND.

Saying this he walks out leaving everyone in deep thoughts. Vishember is also thinking about his decision to not tell anyone about the night when he saw Innaya making out in a club. He and Yashoda both shared an eye lock regarding this.

Yashoda:- ( murmurs ) Should we tell everyone about Innaya’s club night? 

Vishember:- Maybe we should if we want to save Manik and Nandini’s relationship from her. 

To be continued…