Nan: mene kuch nahi kiya BB...mene nahi bheja kisi ko...mene..nahi..nahi....kiya kuch...i ddnt..ddnt kill her... Anjy mar...mar gayi BB..i...i ddnt...ddnt save her BB..

Ab (not able to bear anymore, closes his ears): stop plzzzzz...stop it Barbie...plzz...chup... chup

Nan(crying): plz trust me..mene kuch nahi kiya..mene kisi ko nahi bheja...i..i ddnt do it...i ddnt do it.......

Abhi immediately hugs her n cries..

Ab: plz plz chup hoja..i..i cant hear it more.. plzzz stop

Nan (in hiccups): i..i ddnt..ddnt do it..me..mene kuch...kuch nahi kiya..

Ab: i knw bacha..i knw...me jaanta hu u ddnt do it..plzz...susshhhh..bas...

Nan (in hiccups): i...i ddnt..mene..nahi bheja kisi ko..plz...trust me...

Abhi was just rocking her to n fro with tears flowing down his eyes..trying to calm her down..but Nandini kept going on with her rants. Standing at the door were 6 people who were shocked to the core to see Nandini in this condition. No one bothered to control their sobs now. Everyone standing there was crying. Yes, crying..crying coz they were best of friends..n they couldnt even imagine what pain it must have brought to Nandini when her very own best friend ddnt trust her..scratch tht..she blamed her for getting her raped..that was not something simple.. Not able to control herself anymore..Navya rushes inside n hugs Nandini tightly in Abhi's arms..

Nav (sobbing): hum jaante hai Nandu..tum kabhi aisa nahi ker sakti. Hume tumpe poora bharosa hai.

Nandini looks at Navya n finds that faith in her eyes that she has been longing to see. She holds her hands tight n again tears roll down her eyes.

Nan (crying): mene..kuch nahi kiya Navya..me..mene nahi bheja kisi ko..me nahi jaanti...kisne ki wo harkat..me sach bol rahi hu..mene..mene kuch nahi kiya.

Navya wipes her tears while nodding her head.

Nav: ssshhh..hume kuch bolne ki zarurat nahi hai Nandu. Hum jaante hai tum aisi harkat kabhi nahi kar sakti. Jo ladki kisi dusri ladki ki izzat k liye gundo se ladjaay..khudko khatre me daale..wo kabhi aisi harkat nahi kar sakti. Hume tumpe poora bharosa hai Nandu. Plz...rona band karo.

Nandini stops crying n looks up at Abhi..who was still shedding tears.

Nan: BB..

Abhi looks down at her..he tries smiling at her

Ab: me apni baby ko jaanta hu..u dnt need to tell me u ddnt do it. I believe u bacha.

Nandini releases a sigh n closes her eyes..Abhi pats her head slowly..putting her to sleep. Exhausted with her past n with continuous sobbing..Nandini goes to sleep. Abhi carefully carries her n places her on the bed..slowly caressing her face..with tears rolling down his cheeks..he kisses on her forehead n leaves the room.

Abhi was aimlessly walking out of the room..Mukti finds him lost n follows him..followed by fab4 n Navya. Abhi reaches the living room..where he bangs the couch n falls on the floor. Mukti immediately reaches out to him..

Muk: Abhi...plzz..sambhaalo khudko.

Ab: kaise...kaise Anjy aisa bol sakti hai? Me..me apni baby ko jaanta hu..Mukti..wo..wo aisa kabhi nahi kar sakti..uske liye..izzat..se badker kuch nahi..ek ladki hoke..wo kisi aur ladki k saath..aisa kaise ker sakegi. Mukti..usne..usne kuch nahi kiya..me..me jaanta hu..i knw her..wo..wo aisa kabhi nahi kersakti.

Mukti nods..cryingly..not able to see Abhi in such a shattered state. Cabir comes n places a hand on his shoulder..

Cab (crying): Abhi..plz sambhal khudko. Me..me jaanta hu..behna..wo aisa kabhi nahi karegi. Hume uspe poora wishwas hai.

Muk: haan Abhi..aur agar tum hee aise toot jaaoge to Nandu ko koun sambhaalega. Use is waqt tumhari zarurat hai..sabse zyada zarurat hai.

Ab(crying): kaise sambhaalu usko jab me khud apne aap ko sambhaal nahi paa raha. (Wiping his tears..with fear in his eyes) ye..ye uski saari kahaani nahi hai..uske..uske dil me ab bhi kuch baaki hai..bohot kuch baaki hai. Dar lagta hai..jab me uske is dard ko bardaash nahi ker paa raha..to uske us dard ko kaise sun paaunga..
(Crying) kyu Aiyappa ne use itna dard diya.. kyu nahi tha me uske paas..wo tadpi hogi..mujhe bulaaya hoga..aur me..me waha apni life set kerne me busy tha..wo life jo mujhe Nandini ne di hai..

Muk: Abhi plzz..sambhaalo khudko..

Ab: tumhe pata hai Mukti..wo mujhe chota papa kyu bulaati hai? Mujhse kehti hai k me use har problem se bachaa sakta hu..use..use protect ker sakta hu..bilkul..ek papa ki tarah.. lekin me..mene kya kiya...i couldnt protect her..i couldnt..

Palming his face..he cries. Mukti takes him in her arms..hugging him..trying to soothe him.

Nav: isiliye wo dost nahi banaati. Usne kahaa tha..wo kisi pe bharosa nahi kerti..

Al: usne ye b kaha tha k koi uspe bharosa na kare.

Dh: isliye Anjika ko dekh k..uske past ki memories trigger hogai.

Nav: lekin Anjika aise kaise keh sakti hai? Use aisa kyu laga k Nandu ne ye sab kiya?

Cab: Anjika ne kaha tha use Nandini k mobile se msg aaya tha..but Nandini to apna mobile table per hee bhool gai thi.

Dh: Anjika table pe bethi thi..jaha Nandini apna mobile chod ke gayi thi. To kya Anjika ne use notice nahi kiya? Or phir jab Nandini washroom se 2 ghante baad wapis aayi..tab uska mobile usi table pe tha. Isnt that strange?

Cab: there is something tht is missing in this.

Nav: is waqt hume Nandu k baare me sochna chahiye. Use kaise in sab se baahar nikaale.

Cab: hmmm..Manik tu... (looking here n there) ye Manik kaha chala gaya?

Manik...another shattered soul..was completely numb on knowing Nandini's past. So much of pain..so much of hurt..so much of betrayal..y the poor innocent had to suffer so much..n without any mistake?? He couldnt take out Nandini's crying n sobbing face out of his mind. Her repeated chants of "mene kuch nahi kiya..i ddnt do it" was roaming in his mind..her repeated pleads to trust her was hurting him immensely. How could someone blame her for such an heinous act? With all these thoughts..he reached his gym room. When he raises his eyes..he sees the punching bag in front of him. Not finding any other way to calm himself down..he starts punching.
With every punch..he sees Nandini..her crying n sobbing face..the fear of her eyes during her nightmare..her pleads..he was listening to her shouts.her cries..her pleas..n everything was churning him from within. Yelling out..he punches hard into the bag.

Man: yaaaaaaaaaaaa....

With a final punch..he fell down on his knees.

Man (with tears in his eyes): kyu..? Kyu itna dard hai uske andar? Aur kyu mujhe uske dard se itni pain horahi hai? Y when i saw her condition..aisa laga jaise kisi ne mere seene ko churi se khol diya ho..

He recalls everything that happened since the last day. Nandini's fear while having nightmare, her breakdown while narrating her past, the helplessness in her voice while pleading to trust her, everything was roaming in his mind. He ddnt even get to know when his eyes got filled with tears..few of them even manage to roll down. There was this constant hurt inside his chest..which was making him suffer. He frustratingly runs his hands in his hair.. he was angry..angry on himself for not being able to help Nandini..angry for not being able to protect her..angry on knowing what all she had to suffer..alone..angry on his behaviour with her in the initial days. The helplessness in him for not being able to help Nandini was killing him. He was brought out of his thoughts when he feels a warm hand on his shoulder. He looks at the person n immediately hugs from the waist..crying his heart out.

Man: y mom? Kyu huwa itna kuch uske saath? Kaise bardaash kiya hoga usne? Itna dard..itni tadap hai usme..uska dard mujhe itna takleef kyu de raha hai mom? Y? Y her tears pierce my heart so much? Y do i want to erase her pain n see her only smiling? Mom..me..me kuch kerna chahta hu..i..i cant see her like this mom.. i cant.

Nyeo: Mannu..uska dil toota hai to use dard huwa..lekin uske dil tootne ki takleef tujhe kyu horahi hai? Kyu uske hisse k aansu tere aankho se nikal rahe hai? Kabhi socha hai Mannu..uski hasi se tere chehre pe muskuraahat aati hai..aur uski takleef tujhe dard deti hai. Why do u want to do something for her Mannu? Kyu uske aansu pochna chahta hai tu? Kyu use hasaana chahta hai? Kyu uski takleef ko mitaana chahta hai? Y Manik?

Man: because I..

Nyeo: u?

Man: i..(after a pause) love her? (Looks at his mom) I ..love her mom?

Nyeo: is sawal ka jawab.. (holding his hand n placing on his heart) yaha se poocho. Ye kabhi tumse jhoot nahi bolega.

Manik keeps his hand on his heart n closes his eyes n whispers..Nandini..

He could feel how his calm heart beats went wild only with taking Nandini's name. He opens his eyes n looks at his mother..who was looking at him with a small smile..

Man (stunned): I LOVE HER.

Nyeo: not a question anymore?

Man (smiling with tears, nods his head in no): I..LOVE HER..MOM
I really do love her.

Nyeo(smiling): jaanti hu Mannu..tu usse pata nahi kabse pyaar kerta hai..bas ehsas tujhe aaj huwa.

Man: lekin mom..wo..Nandini..aisi haalat me nahi hai k wo kuch samajh paaye. Me is waqt use apne pyaar k baare me bataa ker..use stress nahi dena chahta.

Nyeo: is waqt..use ek dost ki zarurat hai Manik..wo dost..jo use dosti pe phirse yakeen dilaay. Haan wo tum logo ki dost ban to bohot pehle gayi thi..lekin aaj..aaj tumhe uska dost banna hoga. Is waqt tumhe uske dard..uske chubhan ko nazar andaaz karke..uske us toote huwe vishwas pe concentrate kerna hoga. N m sure..mera Raja beta kerlega..hai na?

Manik smiles n kisses her cheek..

Man: yes mom.. i will.

With a new determination to first become Nandini's friend..Manik eaves the gym n goes to check on Nandini. On reaching her room, he feels satisfied that he took that decision of checking on her. Nandini was sitting on the bed with her head low n tears rolling down her eyes. She was silently crying, as if scared to let her sobs come out..scared to make any noise. This further shatters Manik. But he is determined..determined to become her friend..determined to make her feel better. He slowly moves towards her n slowly sits on the bed beside her..copying her style. Nandini, on sensing his presence, slowly wipes her tears away n looks the other side.

Man: Nandini..

Nandini just hums.

Man: tumhe pata hai Nandini..ek din me kisi k saath uske orphanage gaya tha..waha usne ek apaahij ladke ko chalna sikhaaya..uske chehre pe muskaan laai..wo muskaan jo phir waha khade har insaan k chehre pe dikh rahi thi. Tab usne mujhse kaha k jab aap kisi k muskuraahat ki waje bante ho na, tab jo sukoon aapko milta hai wo aur kahi nahi milta.

Us kisi ne to..meri zindagi me b khushiya laai...jo 3 saal pehle kahi kho gayi thi. Mujhe samjhaaya..k kabhi kabhi chuppi nahi..balke apni dil ki baat ko khol k saamne waale k saamne rakhne se problems solve hoti hai. Aaj...me usi kisi k paas aaya hu..lekin apne dil ki baat kehne nahi..uske dil ka haal jaan ne.

Nandini shuts her eyes tight but a sob escapes her.

Manik shifts a bit closer to her n holds her chin to make her face him. On seeing tears in Nandini's eyes..he very slowly n lovingly rubs her tears while cupping her face.

Nan (sobbing): mene kuch nahi kiya Manik. Anjy...Anjy mere saamne..mere saamne usne suicide kiya..aur me wahi khadi dekhti reh gayi. I..I ddnt save her. Bohot dard hota hai Manik..jab b ye khayal aata hai k Anjy jaisi maasoom ne..bina kisi galti ke apni jaan dedi..aur wo (with hatred in her voice) wo jisne Anjy k saath ye harkat ki..wo ab bhi baahar kahi ghoom raha hai. Look at the irony Manik..me jaanti b nahi k wo koun hai. (Looking at Manik n crying)
Me..me use saza dilaana chahti hu Manik..lekin..lekin i cant. Anjy ne..mujhse ek baar b nahi poocha..wo aisa kaise soch sakti hai Manik? Aur ab..ab me use kabhi sach bataa nahi paaungi na? Use kabhi sach pata nahi chalega na? Wo humesha mujhse naraaz rahe gi na? Aiyappa ko to sab pata hai na Manik..phir b unhu ne use kuch kyu nahi bataaya? Wo to ab wahi hai na..unke paas? Phir kyu nahi bola use k mene kuch nahi kiya? Kyu ye guilt ab bhi hai mujhme..kyu nahi kar paai me kuch uske liye? It hurts Manik..bohot dard hota hai.

Nandini cries incoherently. Manik wipes her tears..trying to calm her down..but Nandini had no effect of anything. She kept crying. Manik then gently placed his one hand under her legs and the other behind her back and effortlessly carried her n placed her on his lap..with both her legs lying on his left side sideways. Nandini places her head on Manik's chest n cries her heart out.

Manik cups her face with one hand whereas his other hand was on her head playing with her hair.

Man: Nandini...kisne kaha k Anjy ab bhi tumse naraaz hai? Aur tumhare Aiyappa ne use sach bataaya nahi?

Nandini stops crying but her hiccups were still heard. She kept quite..which Manik took as a cue to go ahead.

Man: Anjy..Anjika..ye naam zyada common nahi hai..phir b..tumhe isi naam ki ek victim mili..wo b usi crime ki victim jiski tumhari Anjy thi..do u think this is pure coincidence?

Nandini doesnt answer but frowns in confusion.

Man: carter road..jo k ek busy road hai..waha out of all the people Tumhe Anjika mili..tum use hospital le gai..uska sahara bani..use orphanage le gai. Sab the waha..Mukti..Aliya..Navya..choti maa.. lekin it was only YOU jise use apne paas aane diya. It was only YOU who handled her..it was only YOUR arms that she was craving for. It was only YOU whom she told about that culprit. It was only YOU whom she TRUSTED. Ye Anjika aur tumhari Anjy ka case..bilkul same hai..does this seem to b only coincidence?

Nan (with her head still on his chest): Matlab..

Man: Nandini..mera mann kehta hai..is Anjika ko tumhari Anjy ne bheja hai..taake wo tumhe iske zariye bata sake..tumhe mauka de sake..wo sab kerne ka jo tum uske saath kerna chshti thi par nahi ker paai. Use comfort dena..uska sahara banna..use support kerna..uske liye fight kerna. Us Anjy ne tumse kaha k u r not a good friend..lekin is Anjika ne..she told u that u r the best friend anyone could have. Us Anjy ne tumhare saamne apni life di n u couldnt do anything..is Anjika ne b tumhare saamne life dene ki koshish ki..but u saved her. Us Anjy ne kaha k its U because of whom she is dying..lekin is Anjika ne tumse kaha k its U who has saved her.

Nandini..wo Anjy tumhe is Anjika k zariye bataa rahi hai..tht she knows..she now knows..it wasnt ur fault. Tumhari koi galti nahi thi. Aur wo chahti hai..k tum is Anjika k liye lado..fight for her justice..to us Anjy ko b justice milegi.

Nandini silently hears each n every word of Manik..trying to grasp it as much as possible. His each n every word that he said..so lovingly n so calmly..had very deeply affected her..she recalled all those words that Anjy had told her..n surprisingly..this Anjika had just words that just contradicted them. How is it possible that this Anjika said all those words which she wanted to hear from her Anjy!

leave me alone Nandini..

plz mujhe chod k mat jaao. I need u.

Us din..jab tune mujhe apne baaho me liya..tab i felt disgusted..i just wanted to push u away...aisa lag ta tha tu phir mujhe kisi jaanwar k saamne phenk degi.

jab tumne mujhe waha..apne baaho me liya..sabse chupaa ne k liye..tab mera mann kiya k me aur kas k tumhe pakdu. Aisa laga tum mujhe is duniya se bachaana chahti ho..iski buri nazro se bachaana chahti ho.

U r the worst friend anyone could ever have Nandini.. ur friendship is a curse.. n i was cursed with it

tum duniya ki sabse achi dost ho. Tumhari dosti mere liye ek blessing hai...jise me kabhi nahi bhulungi. U r the best friend anyone could ever have..Nandini.

u r the reason m dying today..

Aaj agar me zinda hu..to sirf tumhari waje se Nandini..sirf tumhare.

Nan(whispering): Anjy knows.. i..i m not a bad friend.

Manik's hand which was cupping her..now moves down to hug her..pull her closer to him. He had just realised that he is in deep love with Nandini..and seeing ur love in so much of pain was hurting him. He just wanted to hug Nandini so tight that all her pain just get transferred to him without having Nandini to go through them again. But alas! Somethings we wish wud b possible are simply out of the reach.

Nandini too hugs him back n says in a small voice..

Nan: Mene kuch nahi kiya tha Manik..she..she knows?

Man: yes Nandini..tumne kuch nahi kiya. Tum us baar uske culprit ko saza nahi dilaa paai..but this time..U will. We both will..together.

Nan (in hoarse voice): promise?

Man (pulling her closer): Promise baby.. i promise.

Nandini closes her eyes n releases a relieving sigh..sulking more into Manik's embrace..taking his comfort and smell..which was soothing her down. This seemed good..way too good.. her heart now said..its gonna b okay..

################

Hello Angels..

M so sorry for being late..but what to do..sometimes its out of ur control.

So i wanted to say few things..
1. We r now a family of 100K views!!! Thank u Angels..thank u sho much.

2. Thank u all SO SO SO MUCH for voting for me..honestly..i never thoight it is deserving..but u guys gave so much of love that its overwhelming. But yes..special thanks to Jewel (m so sorry dear..forgot ur username).. she was the first one to vote n let me know there is this award function going on..thanx a tonn dear..n to all those who vote..or even read my work..means a lot.

3. I hate being late for my updates..n i even hate it more to keep u guys waiting. So i was thinking of making a timetable. How about updating on Mondays and Fridays? Fair enough?

4. I knw whenever we girls read about something related to molestation or rape..it gives us goosebumps..but it even boils our blood. Whenever we read or hear or even see such things..m sure some or the other kind of punishment might pop up in our minds for those culprits.. if u all feel like..i would like to know how wud u like to punish such sick heads if given a chance..
Its a free line..u wish to comment or not..both r accepted here.

Thank u again angels..

Stay happy 😊