NANDINI'S POV
CHAPTER SONG: IN TOO DEEP BY WHY DON'T WE
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You know when you feel like you want to sleep for the whole day and not face the world. Today was that kind of a day for me. I knew I had to apologize to Manik but I couldn't get myself out of my room. I knew that Manik was mad at me and he could do anything when he was angry. That's what scared me. By what he was speaking, he wouldn't hurt me that bad but he could hurt me. And most of all I don't even know him to say how much he will hurt me when he is angry.
I was staring at the ceiling for god knows how many hours. I was thinking of different ways to apologize to him. Maybe I could make him his favorite dish for dinner. Do you know how to cook, idiot? And do you even know what he likes? My subconscious mocked me. But she was absolutely right. Now I do regret not learning how to cook. Ugh! I hate my life!
Or maybe I could gift him something. Will you use your money for him? Ha, I don't think so! Again my subconscious mocked me. But she is right, once again. No shit, Sherlock. I am always right, that's why I am your subconscious. Oh shut up! I scolded.
Then what should I do for him? Because I don't like it when people are mad at me. I got up and stood in front of my mirror and started practicing my apology session.
"I am very sorry Manik. I know I overreacted when I shouldn't have." Um. NO. It's not nice.
"I am sorry manik, I shouted on you. But you were being an a-hole-" Wait are you apologizing or pointing out his a-holeness? My mind asked me.
Yeah right, I shouldn't be calling him that. But then what should I do!!? I ran my hand through my hair, frustratingly and tugged on it. I winced a little.
I have never in my whole life, been so confused about anything. My goals and objectives have been pretty clear, always. But this has been playing with my mind, emotions and heart since I started living with him. Maybe I should just change the apartment. But then I have already paid the rent and that money would go to waste and Amms would kill me if she knew that I wasted the money. She will also ask me hundreds of questions as to why I changed my apartment because she thinks that I have a very "caring" and "supportive" roommate.
So moving out of the apartment is out of option. And if I move out of the apartment, it will also mean that I let Manik win over me and that he has accomplished what he wanted by making me hate him. Though I don't hate him but I don't like him either.
"Ugh, don't think so much, Nandu. Just go apologize and see what happens. If he is still rude, then let him be. Just try once." I said to myself.
I finally motivated myself and somehow gathered the courage to go to Manik's room. The living room was silent. The only noise was of the AC air blowing. I went to Manik's room that was down the hallway. His door had a danger sign and a "Do not enter my room" sign on it. I knew he would have something like that. Without thinking twice, I knocked on his door. He did not open his door so I knocked more times. I didn't speak anything because I knew if I spoke something he would recognize my voice and not open the door. Smartass! My mind spoke.
After, I don't know how much time, Manik opens the door. I am completely shocked by his presence. He was half Naked. He was shirtless and only has boxers on. I had seen him shirtless this morning but he never fails to amaze me with that body of his. I didn't realize that I was staring at his body for minutes but when I looked in his eyes and was about to say some thing, he slammed the door shut in my face.
"Manik! Come out of your damn room! I had come to apologize and look at you being so stubborn. Hasn't anyone taught you that you should not be the a-hole, that you are." I shouted. But he didn't answer. So I tried to be soft.
"Manik, please come out. I am sorry, I overreacted but no one had ever shouted at me like that. And you even know that you were being very rude. Manik-" Before I could say something else, he opened the door, which brought a smile on my face.
I looked at him with a smile.
"Manik-" I was cut by him.
"Shut up! I don't want your stupid apology. As I said earlier, I don't care about you and your apology. Go fuck yourself! Don't come near me or my room from now. 'We are just two strangers sharing a place.' That was what you said, right? I am sticking to it now. So bye, stranger." With that he slammed his door shut again.
But this time the door hit my face, hard. I held my head in my hand, and winced. Blood was flowing out from there. I couldn't focus on that because I was preoccupied with what Manik told me. He even cursed on me. He hates me now and its all because of me. If I wouldn't have overreacted, he wouldn't have been like this. Seriously, Nandini? Now you are taking the blame on yourself? He would have still been a jerk to you even if you wouldn't have done anything! My mind advised me. But I ignored it. My head was bursting and couldn't see blood. Since the accident, I cannot see the sight of blood. I started crying. Manik must have heard it because he came out of his room. His eyes softened when he saw me and the blood on my face. He came to sit down next to me and inspected my wound.
"I am sorry. I also overreacted. I shouldn't have slammed the door shut. See what my stupidity has done to you." He said, sincerely.
He was about to say something else when we heard the main door open. There stood four people, two girls and two boys. I did not really look at their appearances because my mind was preoccupied by the sight of blood.
They looked at me and started laughing at me. Not all though, one of them was just staring at me with pity eyes. He even looked really nice. Clean face, beautiful eyes and silky hair.
"Oh so you are Manik's so called roommate. Nice choice, Manik." One of the tall girl spoke.
"Aww baby is crying. Why momma didn't give you a lollipop? Daddy didn't call you princess?" The other guy spoke.
That made even more tears flow through my eyes. Manik just kept staring at them. He didn't speak anything. And he says that he is guilty. I stared at him and he stared at them. I didn't speak anything. I just dashed into my bedroom and started crying against the door.
How can someone be so damn cruel? How can someone joke on the parents? They don't know that I really didn't have parents. They don't know what it is like to not have parents and lose them when you don't even know about the world, to lose them when they should have been with me, helped me face this world. When they should have been home when I got home from school. When they should have been there to all my school events.
It was really hard for me when my teachers asked where are my parents and all those questions. I always used to say that my parents are out of station or on business trips because I never wanted to tell them that my parents died. My classmates always used to make fun of me. But I ignored them. They used to bully me but I never raised my voice because it would only make things worse.
I was lost in my thoughts when I heard a knock on the door. I knew it would be Manik because that was his habit now, that first be rude and speak anything you want and then apologize for it.
"Manik, please leave. I don't want to talk to you and don't want to listen your stupid apologies." I said.
"Um.. I am not Manik. It's Cabir, his friend. Please open the door. I mean no harm." He said, sweetly.
I don't know why but I open the door for him. I hope I don't regret it later.
"Hi. I am Cabir Dhawan, Manik's friend. And you are?" he asked.
"Why do you want to know?" I asked because firstly, I didn't know him and second of all, he was Manik's friend. I didn't want another Manik type of guy near me.
"Oh, Miss Why DO You Want To Know. Nice name, you've got there! But don't you think it's a tad bit unusual? But it's beautiful, anyways." He said with a smile. I just chucked.
"An unusual name for a beautiful lady!" He complimented.
"I am Nandini. Nandini Murty. Nice to meet you, Cabir." I said and brought my hand in front for him to shake it with him.
"The pleasure is all mine, Nandini." He said with a smirk.
"Now tell me why are you here? You are Manik's friend right? You should be with him. And if you don't mind me asking, why are you even friends with that a-hole?" I asked, curiously.
He chuckled. "Well, I couldn't let a beautiful lady cry her eyes out. That wouldn't be nice of me. And I am not so heartless, like my dear friend. And why am I friends with Manik? Hmm nice question. I am friends with him because I want to and he is not what he looks like. Once you get to know him, he will be the Manik no one ever wants to leave. He just has problems in letting people in. Don't worry he will come around." He explained.
I scoffed. "Huh. Manik and come around don't fit in one sentence. He has clearly stated that I should stay away from him and don't come in his way. He is like a monster. So scary. He can scare me just by looking at me. Monster Manik." I huffed at the end.
"Okay okay let's see what happens. At least he has allowed you to stay here. You are the first one whom he has allowed to stay with him. Before you whenever Rahul asked him for roommates, he has always said no." He said.
What, really? I can't believe it. Why did he tell Rahul yes about me then. He didn't even know me. Ugh! He is again playing with my head.
"Urm.. Bye, Nandini. I have to go before Manik kills me. It was nice to meet you and speak to you. Have a nice day!" He said with a smile.
"Bye, Cabir. It was nice meeting you too. You have a nice day too." I bid him adieu.
I went to the balcony to get some fresh air. I heard the front door close and my door open. I knew it was Manik so I just went to my door to go out of my room. But he as faster than me and stood in front of the door.
"Nandini at least hear me out. Everytime you cant just run away from me." He said.
"Oh and give me a good reason as to why I should listen to you. Just to get insulted again? I don't want to listen to anything. Just let me go." I looked up at him.
"I will let you go but only after you listen to me. And you know that I will never insult you, dollface."
"No I don't know Manik. I don't know you and I don't know when you will insult me! And it was you only who told me to stay out of your way. So now that I am doing what you want, you are making things difficult."
"Goddamit Nandini! Why do you always have to make things worse than they already are! I am trying to talk to you and instead of listening, you are back-firing on me!" He shouted, to which I flinched.
I started crying. I can't help it, his words are so harsh. He knows what to do to make me cry, I sniffled and he looked at me. His eyes softened.
"Nandini-"
"What Nandini? I know what you want to say. That you didn't mean to shout at me and didn't want to hurt me, rigyht? O-okay Manik. Its okay. I hate you! If that was you goal, then you have accomplished it, Manik. Congratulations. Now p-please get out of my room." I said, stuttering.
"Nandini, listen to me-"
"No I don't want to l-listen t-to you. Please just go. Please!" I said.
He shook his head and mumbled a small 'I am sorry, dollface' and left the room.
I closed the door behind him and talked to Amms for a while. College started after 8 days so I went online shopping to order something because I was too lazy to go anywhere today and most of all didn't want to see Manik's face for a while. After that I sat on the mattress and soon drifted off to sleep.
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Maitri.