He was frustrated, no not at the world but at himself. Yes he was.
For letting her go.
For not being able to protect her.
He wanted to shield her from the world. He did not want her to spoil her innocence by seeing the true faces of the people which he had. But well she had by now. Had he been a bit more careful she would be there with him.
He lost her. He was desperate to find her.
And when he did she was there in a disheveled state crying out to him. Telling him from her eyes and tears what all she went through. All his frustration, his pain, his anger melted down seeing her in pain. His world, His star was there tied up and trying to reach to him.
He found her with the person he had warned. He had warned him to stay away from them.
"Stay away from her."
He had told him already that he would face his wrath; a bad one. He did not want to be bad because Nandini did not like him that way. But how, how could he forgive the person who made her cry. She means the world to him and he can go to any extent for her.
He punched, kicked, and dragged him for lying to him.
For spoiling their moment.
For staining her. For scarring her. For troubling her. For giving her pain.
And most importantly for taking her away from him.
He was scared. Scared to face her. Somewhere down he felt he was responsible for what happened today. She had the belief on him. The belief that when she was with him nothing, nothing could happen to her. She was the safest with him. She trusted him with that hope. And what had he done.
Their relation was based on TRUST. Yes that was the first thing she told him.
"I trust you."
He went to her and asked if she was fine. She was vulnerable. He feared but still asked if the pundit did something bad to her. She nodded in negative. He breathed a sigh of relief.
Had the Pundit done something wrong, he would never be able to face her. NEVER
No, he has to be with her. He will now protect her form all. She is not alone. He is there with her. Like a shadow he will be with her.
He made this promise to her in his heart and hugged her tight. He closed his eyes and felt her.
Yes, she was hurt. She was scared. She was pained. He knew it all.
And now what mattered the most was she, his Nandini needed him.
She told him that she wanted to go home. She did trust him the most still. He knew it.
He took her to the place where she felt loved, where her family was, where she would definitely be safer. She sat there all lost, quietly on the bed. Just some hours back she was with him, teasing him, taunting him. And now here she was all lost, all quiet. It killed him. It killed him to see her like that.
But no Manik has to be strong. For her.
She has always pulled him away from the darkness. She has lighted the fire when there was no hope. Now it is his turn. To support her.
But how?
He kneeled in front of her. She needed to get away from this. But how?
From where does he tell her to start?
How does he make her forget it?
Yes ,shower. That's what he does. It will make her feel light too. The entire burden in her heart and her tears will flow down with the water. She will feel good. She will feel relaxed.
He kept his hands on her knees reassuring her that he is there with her. He knows it all but she flinched. She got scared by his touch; Manik's touch. Her Manik. Now he was sure that he hasn't even imagined what she has gone through in these few hours. And she faced it all. All alone.
He was more scared now. That Pundit has scarred her.
He needs her back. But how??
He sees her retreating figure going to the bathroom alone. No she can't be alone. Not this time. He needs to tell her that she is not alone.
He needed to tell her that she is brave. She fought. She did not give up. And that he is proud of her.
She was looking at the mirror. And there he was like he had promised to be there for her like her shadow.
She was following him quietly like an obedient child. He put her under the shower. She closed her eyes and looked up. She was feeling the cold water droplets dropping. It was soothing her wounded soul.
He came there with her just to deliver her the message that she faced it all once but not now. He will be with her and make her live life once again. He started wiping off the touch due to which she cringed sometime back. He was wiping it away from her. He was trying to heal her.
She looked at him with tears in her eyes. They were under the shower but he knew she was crying because her eyes were not twinkling like stars. He cupped her face. He wiped her tears. He assured her that it's her Manik.
Yet again she flinched but this time with pain. He looked at her ears and it was covered with blood. His anger boiled. No, he did a mistake .He should have killed the Pundit. He should have. He hurt her. He made her cry. He always told everyone
"One scar on her and you will face the worst"
But here she was scarred and there he was standing helpless. He closed his eyes in frustration.
No, Manik cant breakdown. He had to be strong so that she shines for him again.
He wiped away her fears. She pulled the towel but it rested on both of their heads. Yet again it took them to their world of their own. And there they stood under the shower resting their head on each others, their eyes closed in contentment of finally finding their partners. Being in solace; just in their little world in total silence in the light, fighting with the trauma the dark night had brought in their lives. All by themselves, quietly they stood there. They did not speak a word but their heart, their eyes and hands did.
Indeed silence can sometimes do wonders!!!
