Mumbai

Ahana, Sneha and Nisha returned home. Everyone gathered around them, GuruMaa asked "Where is mannu?"

They were standing silently, Ahana went straight to her room and shut the door with a bang. GuruMaa asked "Sneha??"

"She is in the orphanage" Sneha replied, leaving everyone in a state of shock.

"What?? Why?" Diya asked.

"She said she doesn't want to stay with Ahana as she had hurt her badly, even disrespected all of us" Nisha replied.

Ahana opened the door and shouted "Stop talking about her.. What does she think? Everything will happen according to her will? I can live without her.."

She was hurt, for not returning back. "I went against GuruMaa for her, I went to Kolkata and got myself injured and she is so selfish that she didn't even thank me.." she poured her heart out.

She moved to GuruMaa and smiled "You were right! That girl doesn't deserve my love.. I wish I had raised a dog instead of her.. He would have stayed loyal with me at least"

Manvi's POV

I was lying down but those nightmares were haunting me. I woke up with a jerk and shouted "mumma".

Ahana often used to place her hand on my head and calm me down but today it's different. I realised I am in the orphanage.

She wanted me to return but how could I? I have hurt her so much, even disowned her. I began to hate her, yet she risked her life and saved me. How can she be so soft-hearted? I failed as a daughter, she was always proud of me but I let her down.

I moved out of the room and saw kids playing. I then saw GuruMaa enter with Nisha Maasi, I was shocked to find them.

I turned to hide but Nisha maasi already saw me and said "Wait mannu"

I looked back, GuruMaa eyed me and slapped hard on my face. My hand went on my cheek, with a tear escaping down my eyes.

"What the hell do you think of yourself?? Do you have any brains?" she scolded me. 

"nani.. I" I paused when she interrupted. 

"Do you know the meaning of nani?" she shouted at me. 

"How can you be so selfish Manvi? Ahana risked her life to save you and you decided to stay here.. how can you be so selfish? can't you see she loves you" she confronted me. 

Tears brimmed down my eyes, I held her hand and said "I know.. she loves me but she doesn't deserve me.. I have already given her so much trouble.. Now I don't want her to face any problems because of me" 

"shut up Manvi, you are still a kid. after all this happened.. tumhe abhi bhi akal nahi aayi?" Nisha scolded me. 

"I am sorry Maasi but I can't face her, everyone in the house.. I was rude, insulted everyone" I was really in guilt for my misbehaviour towards them. 

I turned to leave, Nisha stopped me grabbing my hands and cupped my face "mannu.. you were not completely at fault, some mistakes were from my side too! I know you love Ahana, won't be able to live without her please come back with us" 

I denied "no Maasi.. it's all my fault I don't want to trouble you further" I ran inside the orphanage. 

I closed the door of the room and sat down on the floor closing my eyes. A tear escaped down my eyes.

I moved to the window and found them leaving, I wanted to go with them but the guilt was stopping me.

I insulted them and went away to get love from my world people who wanted me for their own benefit.

Two months earlier
I was elated that I will be finally free from all the tantrums, living a life like others. Inder, Kutumb and Arijit brought me to a new place. 

It was a new beginning with so many expectations and a blissful life ahead. I wanted to forget the past 18 years of my life. 

My so-called parents welcomed me into the house. 

"beta, I will cook good food for you," Kutumb said and I nodded with much excitement. She went to the kitchen while I saw Arijit moving out of the house. 

I rushed to him and questioned, "Arijit where are you going?" 

He smiled and replied "I should leave now. everything will be perfectly fine" 

"won't you come and meet me daily?" I questioned him

"I will return soon" Arijit replied. I thanked him for his help and sweet gesture. I will be really grateful to him for saving my life. I hugged him and went back inside the house. 

I turned back and saw him taking money from Inder. I was suspicious about it before I could enquire he had already left. 

Inder walked towards me and I asked "why did you give money to him?"

 "I had asked him to settle some of my debts" he replied smartly. I was convinced by his reply and moved inside the house with him. 

Everything was perfectly fine, they carved me with so much love, respect and care. I didn't want to keep any contract with anyone in the past so I changed my number. 

My semester break had ended and I was supposed to attend college.

I got ready for college, Kutumb stopped me and asked "Where?" 

"College" I replied. 

She held her head tightly and sat down on the couch "I am having a bad headache. Some guests are about to arrive.. and the food is also not ready" 

I said "please take a rest, I will help you just tell me what to be done" 

"no beta, please go to your college," she said and stood up, she ended up falling on the couch. 

I held her and said "no you are not, please take rest" 

She kept her hand on my head and moved to her room while I moved to the kitchen. But, I didn't know how to cook. 

I just ordered the food from outside, the food arrived and I asked Kutumb to make the payment. 

She shouted at me "are you mad?? you spent 1500 on food.. is money hanging on the plant?" 

I was totally shocked at her reaction. 

I remembered... 

One day, everyone was out for work and only Ahana was at home with me along with some trans kids.

"Mannu Di.. I am hungry" Mishti said. 

I moved towards the room to wake up Ahana but found her sleeping due to a high fever. I ordered the food from outside as I didn't want to burn the kitchen of the house. 

Ahana opened the door and held the food. She paid the bill and glanced at me "mannu.. why don't you learn to cook something" 

"why should I? you are here with me na" I said taking the packet from her and started to eat the food along with the kids. 

I feed her with my hands, I looked at the bill and it was 2000 rupees. I bit my tongue out as I had spent so much in one day. 

"it's okay mannu.. anytime you can order the food," she said while ruffling my hand. 

I hugged her tightly and said "that's why you are the best mother" 

I came out of the trance of my thoughts and tears brimmed down my eyes Ahana never shouted at me for such a small matter. 

"Sorry.." I apologized and headed into the room. 

I have been noticing, they were making lots of excuses. They didn't let me attend college for even a single day. Their behaviour was suspicious, one day I heard their conversation which left to me totally stunned. 

"Kutumb get her signature in this, this is the FD which Ahana made for her we need the money," Inder said giving her the paper. 

"Don't worry, she is totally manipulated and in our control" Kutumb replied. 

To be continued.. 

Was getting long so breaking down into two chapters..