Manik gazed at the evening sun as he sat alone at the Park bench withholding so many different memories from his past, which, in his opinion, were the only best memories he had. Laughter resonated along the park and he looked at the bunch of kids playing, not too far ago with a smile. It was nice to be devoid of any worry and just spend time and lead life as we wish.

Out of nowhere, he felt her presence, long before she came to his side. She was like spring, making the atmosphere around her more lively by each passing second.

Two tiny, soft hands slid onto his eyes from behind, successfully covering them. He broke into a huge smile and held her hands resting on his eyes and spoke with joy evident in his voice, "I knew you would come".

Of course she would come, after all, the road to this day hadn't been that easy and they had evolved out into the present together.

*****

A year ago

"My pleasure Sir. I am really glad that I could be of some help to you. Don't hesitate to call again", Nandini spoke into the receiver with the same enthusiasm as ever, even though it was the crack of dawn and half the world was still engulfed by the sleep monster. It was her usual morning shift at the part time job that she had taken up in the FM, as a advisor' and she still had a long, weary day staring ahead of her. She didn't mind the early morning and the late night shifts for which she used to work here. In fact, it was the only good thing in her life. What she did mind was the job of personal assistant that she had taken up in one of the India's leading Malhotra Industries.

- the dynamic Father and Son duo as everyone called them, were known for their bonding'. Only, she knew it otherwise. Being the secretary to Raj, or otherwise known as the CEO has its own advantage and disadvantage. To start with, only she knew that the so called bond' between the father and the son wasn't as great as everyone thought it was. There was shouting and screaming almost every day happening between the two within the confines of the cabin. If the Father never regarded her presence, the son barely noticed her. In an odd way, it meant they had some blind trust on her to not open her mouth and she did the same.

In her opinion, Manik had the most strong and commanding personality but he was in the clutches of his father who didn't seem to care about his aspirations and dreams. He had been stuck in this MD job for over 3 years and one day it had finally taken an effect on the man's temper until he had arrived at the breaking point. Since that day, there was barely any decent conversation of the two that she had witnessed.

As she parked the scooty that she had finally managed to buy at a second hand shop, she saw Manik stomp his feet angrily, walking in her direction. Nervousness crept up in her causing no words to come out of her mouth and she stood rooted in her spot, waiting for the wrath to ascend.

"The man has completely lost his senses. How the hell do you keep up with him? Let me give you an advice-Leave the job while you still can or else you will be the one to regret it", and just like that, he was off with his car leaving her completely astounded. The very first time that he had spoken to her and he had to speak this?It was yet again a case of the father-son spat but this time it was different. This time, he had spoken to her and before she could even comprehend that thought, he had flown past her.

The day had been quite confusing for her by the time she wrapped up her work in the evening. She still tried to think over Manik's words but failed to trust them. Keeping everything aside, she got on her scooty and readied herself. It was time for her other job.

She parked her scooty and went over to the farthest bench visible at the extreme corner of the park. Her phone rang and as she saw the number, her lips automatically curved up and she received the call, "Hello, Your advisor'..."

An audible gasp was heard just behind her and she broke mid sentence and turned to see Manik standing with shock evident in his handsome features while holding a phone in his hand. If that confused her, then the next sentence definitely helped her understand.

"It is you. You are the girl I speak to everyday." It wasn't a question. Just a mere fact stated simply, yet it was heavy with all kinds of emotions.Nandini was shocked to the core. Never had she expected in her wildest dreams that the caller that she had been spending hours talking to everyday would turn out to be him. The Manik she had experienced was nothing like the caller . She had been excited when he had asked her to meet him. They had connected over the few calls together. But now, there was only shock at its place.

She vaguely realized Manik coming over and sitting beside her and only after a good few minutes of silence did she find the courage to turn to him.

"Did you know?", he asked her simply, his voice concealing any emotion that might have been present. He was gifted with a slight nod and a fidgeting sight of Nandini. He merely sighed while all he wanted to do was laugh at the act of fate.

"Why this job when you already have one, though not a good one?", asked Manik, looking at her in the eye, for the first time.

Nandini noticed that there was no flaring of the nostrils or that rough, high pitched voice that she had always heard. He was gentle in his talk and there was no hint of anger in them anymore.

"Because hearing about all kinds of problems from different people makes me feel better about myself", she said, not afraid of any other kinds of revelations anymore. Manik raised an eyebrow as he looked at her confused.

"My life isn't perfect you know, just like yours. I am helpless about it but the fact that I am able to help solve or guide through others problems'gives me a little satisfaction. It is also a reason to stay away from my house as long as possible. Due to my job, I only go there to sleep. I have a brother, just like your father. If you are tolerating all the hell just for the sake of your Dadi then I am doing it for my brother's wife. Since the death of my parents, all the responsibility is on me and all my brother does is get drunk and beat his wife and me. You speak to me but whom do I speak to about my problems?" Her voice had turned to whisper by the time she finished speaking and he saw tears pool in her eyes.

"I am Sorry you have to hear me whine about my own problems when you had asked me to meet and speak about yours. It's just that, I haven't done this before- speaking about myself this way and I couldn't stop myself from doing it', she said, making a futile attempt to stop those tears.

In return, she felt a strong hand entangle with her own and she looked at the hand and him back and forth with surprise.

"I asked you to meet me here because I wanted to discuss about us and not just me. I wanted to know you since I feel that we have a special relationship that we are unaware of. It was true that I was shocked to find out it was you but that doesn't make me look at you through different eyes. I would listen to your problems all day Nandini if that meant I could be at least be a bit of help to you compared to all the times that you have helped me through your words", his words felt soothing to Nandini and she wondered if he was the same Manik.

"But you don't even know me. I am just a secretary of your Dad's whom you hate so much. From what I know, you hate me too since you hardly notice my existence", she said and turned down her head.

"I know you enough. Just because I hate my Dad, it doesn't mean that I hate you. If that is the case, then I should be hating myself too since I work under him just like you do. I do notice you every time I barge into his cabin but for all I know you might be thinking I am some rogue who just shouts all the time. I don't want to scare you any further by speaking to you. I have noticed how you fidget with your dupatta when you're nervous or the way you look at me with widened eyes whenever I walk past you or am standing in front of you. I know for a fact that you keep a diary at your desk through which you convey your problems to your Aai Appa and that he is your best friend in this world. I have heard you speak to yourself thousands of times and smiled every time I think about it. But I didn't know you were this strong. Why don't you complain to the police about your brother? You don't have to go through all that you know", he said, trying to help her out.

"It is easier said than done Manik. He is my brother and I can't disregard the relationship just because he does. If it is that easy, why don't you leave your house and start afresh? You hate him after all", she questioned his suggestion.Manik realized that no matter how much he pretended to ignore the binds, it still existed and pulled him from leaving.

"I get your point", he simply said and both watched as the sun set giving into the darkness with their hands entangled providing assurance to each other. That was the last time they had ever met, until today, exactly a year after.

*****

A lot had changed in this one year. After they had met, Nandini had never showed up again at work. When he had enquired, he was told that she had taken a leave for few days but then she never showed up. Instead her resignation letter came into his hands. Manik had failed to understand exactly what had gone wrong. He had tried to contact her but she remained unavailable causing him to think that he was responsible for her resigning. When he had all but given up hope, she had contacted him and said that things were not going pretty well with her. It was her who kept calling whenever she could from different numbers saying that it was not safe for him to call. Each time he spoke to her, he found himself in a different universe where there were no worries and just the two of them. It was safe to say that he wasn't just a customer who called That FM anymore. Their relationship had blossomed into a whole new level and a sense of comfort was always attached to it. Despite his numerous attempts to enquire, she had not told him anything about herself. Whenever the topic came, she tried to change the subject. He didn't go to pester her as he didn't want to screw up anything between them.She hadn't agreed to meet him whenever he had asked her the same. All of a sudden, four months back, she stopped calling. He tried his best to track her but he never got her. He had lost all the hope to meet her until he remembered that soon it was going to be one year since he met her. The place held a special meaning in his life and he hoped that it was the same for her as well.

*****

So he had come today, hoping that she would come as well and he was not disappointed. He removed her hands out of his and pulled her to the front and made her sit beside him. They stared at each other for a long time before he spoke out.

"You haven't changed a bit."

"Neither have you..", she said giving him her warm smile.

"Dadi passed away Nandini..", he hugged her tight as he said her that. She was surprised at his gesture but knew that he needed it right now. He had always turned her for help at times like these although this time, she doubted that she had any strength to console him. Her own life had led her down and she didn't have any hope to live. She hugged him back taking comfort than giving him her own. She needed this too.Manik sensed her silent sobs and withdrew from the hug and gazed intently at her.

"Are you alright Nandini? You never met me or called me in months..", he slightly accused.

"I have been busy..", she mumbled, not meeting his eyes.

"Something has happened, isn't it? Tell me..", he urged. She refused his speculation saying that everything was alright. She wouldn't open up, for unknown reasons but he didn't want to waste his time with her trying to get her speak to him.

"Nandini, do you remember you had asked me why I wouldn't leave my house if I hated my father so much and I had said that it was because of Dadi. I realized I was wrong. All this time the only reason I had stayed in that house was because I had not found a reason compelling me enough to get out. But after that talk we had, I realized you are my inspiration and that now, I have found a reason to leave my house. I want to start afresh Nandini. I want to relive my life with you. I love you, Nandini". He was anticipating her reaction and she didn't disappoint him.

Her eyes widened and she gasped loudly in surprise. She looked at him questioningly while he just smiled at her lovingly.

"Don't tell me you weren't expecting something like this Nandini. There had always been a special bond between us that had held us all along and had woven us into a beautiful relationship. It is time that we acknowledge this relationship and give a name to it."

"This can't happen Manik. I am not right for you", she cried out. He stared at her, clearly demanding explanation.

In return, she turned her back to him and pulled her hair to the front showing him her exposed back. To say that he was shocked was an understatement. She spoke before he could ask, "It was four months ago Manik. I returned home to find my brother drunk, as usual and trying to beat his wife. But that day, the situation had gone out of hand and he tried to kill her with the bottle of acid when I came in the middle. He never regretted it but it left a huge impact on her and she hanged herself the same night while my brother was in escape. The only person that I had close to family had left me that day Manik and had left me hollow. I am not the same Nandini who used to encourage others out of their problems. I don't know who I am anymore. I am a living mess with no hope in life. I am anything but right for you", she said, tears streaking down her pale face.

Manik pulled her onto to him and held her tightly while she cried her heart out until tears seemed to betray her. He wanted to comfort her in any way possible and words weren't what she wanted right now. She hugged him tighter, finding, for the first time in months, a soul with which she could share her pain with.

"Nandini,I know that life isn't a bed of roses but it ain't just filled with just thorns either. When I told that I loved you , I meant that I am willing to accept you as mine with all your flaws as well as the perfections in you. My love for you isn't that fragile that any physical factor might change it. Neither will it change after hearing you out because emotionally, I am as broke as you. We have had our share of pain in the past and we have helped each other come out of it morally. The present is in our hands and what we decide now, will shape our future. How about we dwell into the future together and stick with each other just like we had in the past? So, answer me Nandini, do you love me?", he asked her, determined to set things straight.

~Life is thickly sown with thorns, and I know no other remedy than to pass quickly through them. The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us~

She looked at him, hurt filled in those eyes, "How can you even ask that? Do you doubt my feelings for you? Of course I do love you"

"Do you trust me enough to break all the ties, leave everything behind and come with me Nandini? I may not able to provide you with a luxurious life but I do promise to keep you happy and love you forever. Tell me, are you ready to spend the rest of your life with me?" Manik waited with baited breath, waiting to hear her one answer that could change their lives forever.

Manik sat at the same park bench, staring at the sun. No matter how many times the sun set, it always rose again ,removing the darkness, indicating that bad things didn't last forever. It had been like that for him since the day Nandini had said Yes. He had found his happiness together with her and their love had made the difficulties seem just like a passing cloud. They were the mending souls, completing and healing each other. He turned to his right and gazed lovingly at his wife who seemed to be enjoying the weather, closing her eyes.

"Thanks for coming into my life Nandini", he said, staring at her.

She gazed back at him with equal love for him in her eyes and pulled his hand out of hers and kept it on her growing belly and whispered, "Thanks for loving me Manik and creating this beautiful soul within me." He dropped a kiss on her lips and hugged her onto him by his shoulders as they stared ahead at the setting sun, dreaming about their future together with their unborn symbol of love.

Life couldn't be more perfect.

********

A/N

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