Thanks for all the love on previous chapter. 💕💞💝💖

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Stuffed dark sky, night was hotter than expected. Manik looked around as he took a short break to catch some breath. He had been walking since minutes now and way to her house was hauntingly aloof. It felt like it didn't hold anything for him. He resumed his journey to reach the only person who had might to make him do every wrong because it felt so right to do anything for her. Sky roared indicating the obvious. 

It was going to rain...hard.

Manik quickened his steps to cut the distance, he couldn't wait to see her. His heart was already emitting some illegible frequency, it foreboded something. Strange reaction. 

A heavy drop touched Manik's cheek and he looked up. Sky had started to melt. His restlessness increased. He needed to see her at earliest. 

A pair of headlights blinded his eyes and he waited for the vehicle to pass. It was Murthys' car. He was sure. Before he could make out anything further, another luxurious vehicle passed by him. He didn't know why his heart dreaded something he couldn't put his finger on.  His steps turned into rush. He could see Murthy Mansion bathed in lights. He was just few meters away. 

It was a downpour now. Sky had started low but the way it roared, Manik knew it was going to rain all night. 

Reaching gate of Murthy Mansion, he didn't find any guard there. He walked inside and saw Nandini's jeep parked in a corner quietly. 

She was home, he sighed in relief.

He wanted to feel the blood-rush, he was about to see her, everything was going to turn perfect, he had to feel it, but still he didn't feel anything of that sort. 

Before he could ring the bell, door opened and a panicked Rishi walked out. He was too distracted to notice Manik. After him walked an equally freaked Daadu. 

"Daadu," Manik called out. 

Daadu looked at him and his eyes got moist for some reason Manik didn't know. 

"Manik," Daadu replied reaching him. Manik tried to smile but Daadu's face spoke million words of unease. 

"She is gone," He managed to speak and Manik tried to understand what that meant. 

"She left house one hour back and We don't know where she disappeared," Daadu divulged helplessly. Daadu failed to put in words what exactly was wrong.

Manik's lips parted trying to understand what had happened there that Nandini had left the house. 

"We are leaving, Daadu," Rishi yelled driving the car to the gate. 

"I need to go and find her," Daadu's devastated state didn't help him much. 

Manik followed an upheaval Daadu and found Rishi tapping the steering wheel impatiently. Sky cried for nth time amid the struggle. 

"Manik, what are you doing here?" Rishi asked him.

"Drive to academy," Daadu instructed Rishi impatiently.

"Would anyone tell me what is wrong?" Manik asked loudly as downpour started to deafen the surroundings. 

 Rishi looked utterly confused as he tried to handle so many question-marks at a time. 

"A lot happened, Manik. She left the house in a terrible mood one hour back and we aren't able to track her," Rishi told vulnerably. 

"Hurry up, Rishi. I am not feeling good about it," Daadu was being impatient. Rishi nodded and drove away. Manik saw the car disappearing in dark and downpour. It was like hundreds of thunderbolt had numbed his senses. He couldn't even tell them how Nandini hadn't gone to academy. He had come from same path all drenched in her thoughts, she wasn't there. 

Manik's feet worked on their own and he started to run. He didn't even know in which storm she was in. She didn't come to him, that already scared him to death. 

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Nandini's mother sat in dark gazing the weather going stormy. Someone turned on the lights and that's when she realized how room was pitch dark. A maid was standing on door looking at her sympathetically. Mrs Murthy didn't realize what was there at her face to earn such pity from the girl. Her hands reached for her cheeks and she realized how they were wet. 

She was crying. 

"Ma'am, Kishan didn't find Nandini madam anywhere in town," Maid informed and Mrs Murthy nodded. 

She had sent her driver to look for Nandini. Mrs Murthy had never thought that she would see such day where her husband would do such a thing. Things between them weren't good ever, but which family doesn't have difference? 

 Nandini was never an ideal child, she did everything to annoy them but at end of day, she was their daughter and Mrs Murthy couldn't rein the motherly instinct. 

"Shall I bring something for you?" Maid asked and Mrs Murthy looked at her blankly. 

"Ask Kishan to keep searching, please," Her voice broke a bit but she turned away her face trying to conceal her crowded emotions from the maid. 

Maid kept looking at her in pity. Nobody knew that Mrs Murthy even loved Nandini, they had always seen her cursing her for one thing or another. 

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Manik's prediction was wrong. It wasn't a mere downpour, it was a thunderstorm which was scary as hell. Manik reached the market and ran frantically from one shop to another. She had to be around. Uncle Bernard's shop was around the corner and Manik knew she would be there. He could see Bernard rescue center and it looked like a disappointment which was about to knock him down. It was dark, no trace of light there. Manik reached the shutter and saw it locked. 

Shaking his head, he tried to understand why Uncle Bernard's shop was closed. It never was closed before. He looked around but saw nothing. There wasn't a single life around. His throat was going drier even when he was soaked from tip to toe. He walked to the lamppost and stood there indecisive. It was the same place where he used to stand every night in wait to see her one glimpse. He looked up to see a dark window. She wasn't there. 

"Nandiniiii" 

He shouted her name not knowing where she was. 

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Rishi drove the car on risky roads to reach Uncle Bernard's house which was in outskirts. He looked at man beside, Daadu had turned even paler. His breathing was uneven. They didn't find Nandini in academy and not even in town. Rishi clutched Daadu's hand trying to assure him something so unsure. 

"We'll find her, Daadu," Rishi tried to make him speak but Daadu didn't reply. 

"It's all our fault... It's our fault, Rishi," He spoke after a long pause. 

"We shouldn't have let her go," He added and Rishi inhaled an urgent breath. Nothing and no one was helping. Guilt was overpowering everything. 

Brakes of his car screeched as his tires skid on runny road. He got out and ran towards Uncle Bernard's house. It was dark. Rishi assumed how Uncle Bernard must be sleeping. Nandini had to be there. She always came to Uncle Bernard whenever she didn't feel like returning home. Daadu didn't come out of car, his chest was tight and he knew how his blood pressure was going up. He knew already how she wasn't there. He must have sensed it from miles. He just knew it was all futile.

Rishi kept knocking the door without even realizing how door was locked from outside. 

"Uncle Bernard," He called out but no one turned the lights on. His eyes finally looked at the lock and he let out a frustrated groan. Kicking the door in anger, he looked at his car. Daadu had his eyes closed and that alerted Rishi. He ran back immediately.

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Mr Murthy was in his study from the time Nandini had left the house. His eyes gazing the hill faraway where houses still were lit. He burnt another pipe and leaned into his chair. He was telling a lie to himself that how he had done the right thing. Life of that lie was as long as of that smog which filled the room. Her name was like a pang he didn't want to feel. He didn't want to think how he had done something irredeemable. He had never felt this insulted in his life the way he did in college today. It was all because of Nandini. He broke the pipe into two pieces as he tried to keep the anger intact. It was his only weapon against guilt he dreaded.

His phone rang and he looked at caller ID. It was unknown. His heartbeats fastened owing to something unknown. He exhaled the smoke and picked up the phone trying to nullify the foreboding fatherly instinct. That girl was dead for him already. 

"Hello" He said coolly. 

His brows tightened as he heard the other side. 

"I am coming," He said and walked out of room in hurry. 

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Manik tried to remember all the places Nandini had taken him to as he ran towards the bridge where they wandered for hours talking nothing but nonsense. The same stream which was so gentle last time they had come there was roaring tonight. It must have rained cats and dogs uphills. Manik reached the middle of bridge and shouted her name. 

"Where are you?" He said holding the banister. He was never this strong, not when she was nowhere to be found. He needed to see his little hellion anyhow

"Come back, Please," He murmured and felt a lump forming in his throat. Feeling of losing her was causing him everything. 

His feet worked towards the other end as he resumed the search. Looking at his wristwatch, he found it dead. Water must have killed it hours back. He gulped the dry and ran towards somewhere once they had been. 

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Mr Murthy walked in hospital and entered the room of Dr Bansal. As door opened, he found Rishi sitting by a sleeping Daadu. Mr Murthy found Dr Bansal studying something on his desk. 

"What's wrong?" He asked and Rishi glared him. 

"His Blood pressure had inflated abnormally," Dr Bansal informed while getting up. 

Mr Murthy's face lost its color for a second or two before Doctor added, "But now it's better." 

Rishi averted his gaze from his father. He was in no mood to entertain the shrewd man. 

"Do your best, Doctor," Mr Murthy managed to say while trying to cop up with situation. 

"Nandu," Daadu mumbled in his sleep and Rishi couldn't feel more helpless. 

"Where is Nandini?" Doctor asked acutely, "She always accompanied him for check-ups."

Rishi looked at his father and Mr Murthy looked away. Nobody had answer of that question.

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Manik reached the same dead end where once she had called him to meet. 

Prohibited area

Sign read like that and Manik was sure he was at right place. There was same broken bus shelter and similar set up. He looked around frantically and couldn't see anything clearly due to storm. Winds were too strong and flurries didn't make it any easier. He walked towards the fence and prayed to all the God he had never talked to. 

"Nandini" He called and waited. Even aloof valleys couldn't echo his voice back. Storm was deafening. 

"Nandiniiiiii" He called out again and something moved far away. It was on other side of fence. He definitely had seen something white in that corner. He narrowed his eyes while his hands shielded his eyes. He walked closer while something moved on other side as well. 

"Nandini," He called out lowly. His voice was tired and scared. He didn't know what would he do if he didn't find her here. 

A drenched figure walked towards him and he closed his eyes letting the moist of his eyes mix with rainwater. Covering his face for a fraction of second, he wiped everything off before he walked rashly towards the fence. 

There she stood...drenched like a kitten...trembling with wind...so alone and drifted...

"Nandini"

His lips let out the name as a thanks to God as he finally could see her clearly. Her face whiter than ever...lips almost of a shade of blue...she looked so dithered as she didn't move but kept looking at Manik's battling figure. Manik was ripping apart the iron fence trying to come on her side. 

"I am coming," He spoke out loud widening the fence while she blinked her eyes. 

It wasn't a dream...he was there. Nandini's chin wobbled and she didn't even realize when she had started to cry. Her feet didn't move towards him but her cries reached his ears. She had given in already. Manik's mind blanked listening her cry so bitterly...he had never seen her that devastated. He cursed the bloody fence for being so stubborn. 

"I am coming. How the hell you got there?" He shouted and she kept standing there waiting to be rescued. 

Nandini Murthy did want a rescue, demand was again as mulish as her. 

Manik finally got able to step on other side and ran to collect the trembling her who had refused to move an inch. Her devastated frenzy was rock-ribbed. 

"I am here," Manik said as last thing before he collected her in arms so tight. Her vehement cries only doubled as she hid her face in his neck. 

"Damn....!!" Manik let out a curse as she wrapped her quivering arms around his neck to finally let herself swing loose. He couldn't word what it felt like having her in arms. She was this fireball even when she was so damn resistless. Holding her close was like fire meets ice.

Manik tried to see her face but her nails which clawed his nape informed him how she didn't want to let go. He sighed bidding a thousand thanks to almighty as his eyes looked at roaring sky. 

Her cry turned into subtle sobs while Manik kept kissing her hair. She was drenched so bad. Never in his life he had thought to find his hellion like that. 

"What happened?" He asked as he sensed her calming down. 

"Do you have any idea how much I missed you?" She spoke in a fierce yet low tone. Manik chuckled listening her cat-lady finally sounding so familiar. 

"You have no idea," Manik murmured stroking her wet wisps. She raised her head from his neck to finally look at him. His eyes were a bit red, was he weeping along her? She wondered. Stepping on his boots which almost squeaked because of water which had flooded them, she rubbed her naked legs against his soaked jeans. 

"You are so cold, Nandini," Manik spoke as if realization had finally dawned upon him. 

Nandini looked at him amused. Her red nose made her look so cute while her swollen eyes still held the mischief. 

"Pick me up," Her voice came out hoarse. Manik lifted her in arms while she rubbed her legs against each other to feel some warmth.

"You didn't find any other place to come?" Manik asked not believing how she had decided to sulk at farthest corner of forest in a storm so cruel. 

"I couldn't come to you naa," She stated lowly looking at his neck. Manik's heart felt the pang, he couldn't believe how Nandini could be reduced to this state. Something terrible must have happened, he deduced. 

Shredded bus stop didn't help much but still it was a valid roof in that crazy storm. He put her down on bench and sat on his knees in front of her. Her trembling hadn't reduced and she still hesitated in meeting his eyes. 

Taking out his windcheater, Manik wrapped it around her. She squeezed under it like a fur ball. Manik's hand reached for her face. Feeling the cold of it, Manik rubbed his palms together just to warm her flesh. She looked at him finally, amused and jaded. Biting her lower lip, she reined the emotions which could flow down her cheeks. She had had enough of teary business for a day. Now when her kitten was around, she could bid goodbye to tears. She had thought how he would find her somehow even when she knew he couldn't come out. She had thought to lose all her vulnerability in him, but the way she lost it was beyond her imagination. She didn't know why she cried so bitterly as soon as she saw him. She hated being that naked...Always.

"No one leaves home like that in such a bad weather," Manik spoke up and her features hardened. 

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Aparna and Rishi walked Daadu inside and Mrs Murthy rushed to open the door of his room. Daadu was breathing hoarse, difficult breaths. 

"How's he?" Mrs Murthy asked Aparna. 

"Better but Doctor said we need to keep him away from stress," Aparna replied with a dull smile. 

Mrs Murthy looked at door and found her husband standing there with an illegible face. She walked to him and he looked away. 

"Bring my daughter back," She demanded lowly. 

Mr Murthy's face hardened and he looked at his wife curtly. His gaze had ridicule, it was like he was mocking her laid back motherly warmth. Mrs Murthy already felt scrutinized by her heartless husband.

"Forget you had any daughter. She isn't coming back here...ever," He replied coldly and walked away. Mrs Murthy closed her eyes and let out a low sob. Night couldn't go worst. Looking outside the window, she noticed how rain had diminished to drizzle. She thanked God and prayed how her brat daughter was safe and fine. 

_______

Manik and Nandini, both gazed the drizzling forest as none knew what to say. Nandini had told Manik everything which happened few hours back and Manik didn't know how to console her. He was unable to understand how any father could be that cruel. He looked at Nandini who was not quivering anymore, she looked so different. It was like life had happened a bit too harshly to her. She wasn't crying now, her face had this cold calm. 

Leaning in, he kissed her cheek lightly just to convey what words couldn't. She looked at him amused. A glimpse of her original self flashed for a second or two before she turned her face away. 

Manik's arm wrapped around her and she relaxed. keeping her head on his shoulder, she gazed the downpour. 

A big question stared at their faces...

Where would she go?

Uncle Bernard was out of town, Nandini had gone to him as first thing but his house and shop were closed. Manik too had got to know. There was no way Nandini would return to her home, Manik was clear about it. The way she spoke about her father, he knew nothing was going to mend anytime soon. His wristwatch wasn't working but he knew dawn was few minutes away. He needed to go back but he could not leave her there knowing she didn't have anywhere to go. 

He regretted not having a home. Need of home was never too strong before. He didn't know anyone, she didn't have friends. 

Closing his eyes, he sighed in dither. Her lips touched his neck as she sensed his restlessness. Manik couldn't help but turning a bit hot, she had might to make him forget everything at any given instance. 

"Take me to your dorm," She said and he groaned in utter confusion.

"I'll manage with your single bed," She added playfully and he giggled.

"I am sorry...that I have nowhere to take you," He stated looking at her intently.

She kissed tip of his nose and spoke, "I don't need a home...not now. I'll do just fine with my kitty Malhotra."

He smiled while she again lost her smile gazing the drizzle.

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Doorbell rang for third time when Mrs Singh had to open her eyes lazily. She switched on the light and saw it was four in morning. She came out of her warm quilt and walked out of her room. Colonel Singh was asleep deep and she didn't want to wake him up. Switching on the light of living room, she opened the door to see the faces she had never thought to see anytime soon. 

A drenched Manik and a pale Nandini were standing on her doorstep looking utterly tired. Nandini's face was pale and she looked sick while Manik was restless. 

"Ma'am, can you please help us?" Manik asked and Mrs Singh came out of her thoughts.

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"I can't believe Madhav can do something like that," Mrs Singh was more than shocked to hear what had brought Nandini and Manik to her doorstep. She looked at Nandini who was sitting in living room sipping hot chocolate. She was way too quiet, and Mrs Singh could understand what inner battle she must be fighting.

"I had no one to go to...only person I could ask was you," Manik said lowly not knowing how to put it. 

"I am happy you brought her here, Manik," Mrs Singh immediately assured. She didn't want either of them to feel unwanted. Nandini was like a daughter to him while Manik always seemed someone very close to her. 

"I still can't believe Madhav could be that heartless," She stated looking at Nandini again.

Nandini was hating the idea of staying at Colonel's. She knew something had gone terribly wrong between their families. She was not sure if she could feel comfortable there but truth was unabashed, she had nowhere to go at the moment. 

"You must leave, Manik," Mrs Singh said looking at clock. 

"It's gonna turn five and your morning drill would start any moment," She reminded and Manik seemed to realize how he had forgotten about it. He needed to get back.

"But Nandini..." He couldn't leave her like that. She was painfully quiet and that meant how nothing was right with her. She needed to speak her heart out. 

"She needs a good sleep for now...I think she has slight fever too," Mrs Singh said and got up. 

"Nandu," She said affectionately as she reached her. 

"Let me show you your room," She said and Nandini nodded. She took her upstairs where a small cozy room awaited her. Manik followed them and found her gazing at it unsure. 

"I have turned on the heater, it's gonna warm up real quick. You rest, I will be back with other essentials," Mrs Singh said and Nandini smiled weakly. 

As soon as door got closed, Nandini rushed to wrap her arms around Manik's neck. Manik collected her as if was going to do the same. 

"I don't know..." She started to talk vague...but he knew how she was unsure about staying there. 

"You have fever, Nandini," Manik said as soon as her abnormal heat sunk inside his flesh. 

"Don't go," She said feebly and he enclosed her tightly in his arms. The way she clung to him spoke depth about her state.

"I will be back," He promised. 

She didn't say anything but hugged him tighter. 

"You'll take medicine, right?" He asked uncertain. Her mood was hard to predict. He knew she was going to behave totally impossible as soon as she felt a bit better. 

"Hmmm," She replied and he kissed her hair. Parting, she looked at him lazily. His thumb caressed her swollen lids and she came on her toes. Pecking his lips, she dived into cozy bed as next thing. Manik's heart twisted seeing her dozing off almost immediately. She was going to fall sick. He covered her with quilt while she curled into a ball. Seeing her that feeble was not easy. He wanted his hellion back anyhow. 

Walking to door, he looked at her one last time before he returns to dorm. 

"Come back soon," Her hoarse voice touched his ears. 

"I will," Manik promised and walked out of room. 

A long day awaited him while she gulps down the glare life had thrown at her, Princess had met the prince again on stormy night...nothing alright...still page had some pretty lines...half written...rest blind. 

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Unedited*