Trapped In Shadows

As the night settled over the Malhotra mansion, the dim glow of the living room lights reflected the warm intimacy of the space. Manik stepped inside after a long day at work, his mind still heavy with the weight of his responsibilities. 

His footsteps slowed as he entered the living room, where he noticed Nandini and Ammaji sitting together. The soft sound of laughter and the rustle of pages filled the air, the kind of peaceful domestic scene he had almost forgotten could exist in his chaotic world.

Nandini, seated on the couch, was flipping through a photo album, and Ammaji sat beside her, pointing at pictures with a knowing smile. 

As Manik watched them, a rare smile tugged at the corner of his lips. The sight of Nandini laughing, her face lit up by the soft glow of the table lamp, softened the hard edges of his day.

Without warning, Nandini raised her head, feeling his presence. A familiar warmth spread through her as she felt his palm gently rest on her head. Her eyes met his, and she smiled softly, though it was laced with a tinge of the lingering tension between them.

Manik's gaze shifted to the album, and his expression changed as he recognized the photos.

"Yeh aapko kaha se mila?" he asked in embarrassment, his voice tinged with surprise.

Nandini's lips curved into a mischievous smile as she noticed his reaction. Ammaji, amused, chuckled softly. "Itna sona dikh raha hai," she remarked with a small grin, teasing him.

Manik's face flushed slightly, and he made a face, his eyes narrowing in mock protest. "I was a child then, Ammaji," he muttered.

"It's cute," Nandini commented, her voice warm as she turned the pages, eyes still on the album. The quiet affection she had for him, even with all the distance between them, shone through in that simple statement.

"So I'm cute?" Manik asked, leaning closer to her, his voice low and almost a whisper, as if the words held a secret only the two of them could share. His breath brushed against her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.

Nandini stiffened at his proximity, a mixture of surprise and irritation flaring up. "Zyada close nahi ho rahe hai aap?" she replied, her voice tinged with mock anger, though the tension between them was unmistakable.

"I'm still angry with you," Nandini added, her tone holding a hint of playfulness that couldn't completely mask the underlying hurt.

Manik sighed, straightening up and taking a small step back, as if to give her the space she demanded. "Okay, sorry madam," he said, his voice softer, but with an underlying sincerity that wasn't lost on her.

Ammaji, observing the exchange, couldn't help but smile. The little banter between them, though subtle, spoke volumes. The affection was there, tangled up with all the unresolved emotions, but it was there.

The moment of lightness passed when Manik shifted the conversation to something more serious. "Aaj dad aaye the office mein. This weekend, I'll be going to Pune for a meeting," he said casually, but the weight of the words didn't escape Nandini.

Her smile faltered, and her eyes lowered, her fingers absently fidgeting with the album as she tried to suppress the sudden wave of loneliness that washed over her. He would be leaving again off to a place that would steal him away from her for days.

It wasn't that she didn't understand his responsibilities, but there was a pang in her chest each time he slipped away into his work, leaving her to navigate the silence of their home alone. 

It was now when she felt that maybe he was letting his guards down, maybe something brewed between them but then the thought of him leaving clenched her heart.