Manik's pov:

I had always wished to see this smile on her face..this was what i wanted to give her..but always failed. Was this the reason? Was it because she had HERO with her? But where is her Hero now? A gasp from the girls made me look at them. Horror was what i saw on their faces. Dhruv n Cabir were no different. It looked as if they had seen a ghost in front of them. I was looking at them but their gaze was fixed on a particular picture. I approached them n took the picture in my hand only to get the biggest shock of my life.

Nan: Manik...

Hearing Nandini's voice, we all turned around to see her standing at the door. But today, I couldnt see that Nandini whom i had fallen for, i couldnt see that Nandini who had world's innocence in her eyes, i couldnt see that Nandini whose eyes were like a window to her inner beautiful soul, i couldnt find that Angel who brought happiness in all of our lives in some way or the other, i couldnt find that Nandini..i couldnt find MY NANDINI. The Nandini standing here in front of us is a glimpse of that Nandini whom we had met for the first time in the fresher's party. The same cold look, the same emotionless eyes. I..I dont understand what's going on.

Nan: u guys needed to speak?

Yes..yes i want to speak to u..yes i have loads of questions in my mind n i want to ask them..but why aint I able to open my mouth? I dont want to trust all this..i dont want to believe in this letter..on these pics..but.....

Nandini..i want u to clearify this. Is it wrong on my part to expect u to clear it out for me? I m not doubting on U Nandini..but i m not able to clear this mess too. U always understand my inner turmoil better than anyone else, please, please help me with this.

I turned around to look at my friends..and i was shocked to see rage and disgust in their eyes. Why? And how could they have this in their eyes for my Nandini?

Dhr (sternly): yes..we do want to speak to u..rather..ask u few questions.

Nan (nonchalantly): what questions?

Muk: but u need to answer honestly.

Nandini just shrugged her shoulders in reply. What the hell is going on? Why are they talking to her in this tone? N y is Nandini being so indifferent? Whats wrong with them?

Al: can we really believe u Nandini that ur answers would be correct?

Cab: guys please, stop.

I knew it..i knew come what may, Cabir wud always trust his sister. I wud rather want Cabir talk to her than Mukti Dhruv or Aliya.

Cabir approached Nandini n took her hands in his.

Cab: behna, r...r u... r u Venkatesh Murthy's daughter?

Come on Nandini..say no. Say no so that i could claim it in front of them that my faith in u isnt wrong. Say no Nandini.

Nan: yes..

Yes? Did..did Nandini..really..say yes? No..no this..this cant be true. Nan..Nandini...she..she cant hide this from us.

Muk: this means whatever the letter says is the truth.

I cant understand this. Y did Nandini have to hide her truth from us? The truth about her parents? I can see hatred in everyone's eyes for her. I can even see how Cabir's hands dropped Nandini's hands. No no no..i..i cant take this. I..I need to clear this out. All this can also be a clear misunderstanding right? I mean there isnt only 1 Venkatesh Murthy is this whole wide world. She could be the daughter of any other Venkatesh Murthy. But why is my gut feeling saying there is more to come? Why is this dull ache in my heart increasing?

Aliya was about to approach Nandini when i stopped her.
"Aliya wait..."

I started moving towards Nandini with those pictures still in my hand. For the first time since i have known Nandini..i m seeing her face blank. No emotions..no feelings..nothing. Yes she used to be cold earlier..but that attitude of hers was something i could feel it radiating from her. But now, it feels as if she has shut her down in her own shell..where she isnt even letting me in. But her eyes..her eyes have some strange emotions in them today. Why cant i understand what is she trying to say?

Al: Manik r u gonna ask her or shud we?

Aliya's voice brought me out of my trance. I need to ask her..I need to clear these misunderstandings. But why m i not able to muster up courage? Come on Manik..u need to do this. I cant let this misunderstanding dwell in our relation. I will ask her all those questions that i have in my mind. Holding her hand, I asked her..

"Nandini..r u.. The Venkatesh Murthy's daughter? The same Venkatesh Murthy.. who is.. the father of.. technology?"

My voice is barely above whisper and i really dont knw why i am stammering. Mayb i am scared??

No..i am scared..i am scared to hear her answer. I am scared to know the truth. All this time my gaze is fixed on Nandini. Her face is showing no emotions..no feelings at all. But why cant i say the same about her eyes.

Nan: yes..

....

....

....

"Did..did ur..parents...le..leave u..alone?

....

Nan: yes..

....

...

" Did..did U..Love..Hero?"

...

...

...

Nan: yes..

Can i continue with the questions? Nandini's each answer is just stabbing my heart n giving me such wounds that wud hurt me forever. Her emotionless face and her steady voice r doing nothing but rubbing salt on my wounds. I dont knw how i m holding my tears back. Maybe by squeezing her hands tight in my hold?But i cant turn back now. I need to know the entire truth. But i dnt have the strength..i..i just..I just want this all to be over as soon as possible. Hence..i showed her first 4 pictures which i had seen before after loosening my one hand hold on her hands. My voice was now more of a whisper.
"Is...is this..Hero?"

For the first time since she has stepped in this room, I saw some emotions in her eyes..no..not some emotions..i can see floods of emotions in her eyes right now.  A drop of tear rolled down from her right eye as she continued to stare the picture. N this drop of tear created a tsunami in me. Coz i knw..i knw what does this drop of tear mean. I knw..I can see it in her eyes..but..i..i dnt want to accept. I m getting impatient seeing Nandini lost in this picture..where Hero is kissing her cheek. Not able to see her lost in someone else's la la land, i asked her impatiently
"Is he Hero?"

My voice clicked her out of his memories. Though her face went back to same emotionless mode, but her eyes..God what is it in her eyes that i cant point out? Whatever it is, it is clearly not matching her expressionless face. Now, her voice was a whisper.

Nan: yes..

....

....

...

" Do u still Love him?"

No no..i ddnt want to ask this question. How did it just rumble out of my mouth? I want to take back the question. I wanna...

Nan: yes..

.....

....

....

Why is my heart hammering inside me? Why m i feeling as if the world is coming to a stop? Why m i not able to breathe? Why is my vision getting blurred? Why m i feeling wetness on my cheeks? Why m i not able to process anything that Nandini is saying? Why r my hands shivering now, when i m trying to show her the last picture? The picture which shook us to the core. The picture which shocked us.. the picture which has Nandini stabbing Hero in his stomach?

"One last question Nandini.."

I m scared Nandini..scared to ask and scared to hear ur answer. My voice is hoarse due to the tears rolling down my cheek. I need strength Nandini..n U r my strength. I squeezed her hands tight in my hold and asked her while showing her the picture..

"Is this..picture..fake?"

....

...

...

Say something Nandini..say Yes this time too. This is the first time i want u to answer a yes to my question. What is it Nandini..look into my eyes..dont just stare into the photograph. I can feel it Nandini. The way u r squeezing my hands is telling me..u too r trying to gain ur strength from me. I know Nandini..this is fake..this is all fake. Its just wrong. All wrong. Just say it Nandini. Just for once say it. Say Yes for the last time Nandini.

Nan: No..

...

...

...

...

My grip on her hand loosened.. dropping her hands by her side. Unknowingly i took a step back and started walking back. I cant face it. I cant see that love in Nandini's eyes for someone else. I turned around to avoid looking into her eyes.

No! This isnt fake. The picture showing Nandini stabbing Hero isnt fake. The love that i saw in Nandini's eyes for Hero isnt fake. The smile i saw in these pictures isnt fake. The love that they had isnt fake. The pain m feeling in my heart right now isnt fake. The tears rolling down from my eyes isnt fake. The hollowness tht m feeling right now isnt fake. The feeling of being lifeless isnt fake. Nothing is fake.

...

But then..what i have been feeling for her..isnt fake either. What i have seen and felt in her eyes for me..isnt fake either. What she has done for me and my friends..isnt fake either. Her love for Ruhi..isnt fake either. The pain i had seen in her eyes..isnt fake either. Her nightmares..her struggle and fight for Anjika..they arent fake either. Her love for Abhi..her breakdowns in front of him..those aren't fake either. The feel of being complete when I m with her..isnt fake either. The sense of being contended when having her in my arms..the care she showed..her trust on me..her belief in me of not crossing my limits..her strippers show for me..her fulfilling all my birthday demands..her plans..her gifts..those weren't fake either. Nothing was fake. NANDINI WAS NEVER FAKE...NEVER.

...

..
u knw Manik..aadhi adhuri baat sunke apne conclusions draw kerna is a very bad thing..n unfortunately...u have that thing in u.
...

Nandini is right..lekin this time..aadhi adhuri baato pe wishwas nahi karunga. I know..i know there is something else to this story. There is definitely another side to this story..which Nandini is hiding. Mayb..mayb that is what she was trying to convey to me through her eyes..that i wasnt able to read?! Her face ddnt show her turmoil but her eyes..her eyes were speaking volumes.

No..NO I WONT DOUBT ON MY NANDINI. I TRUST HER.

I will listen to her entire story first. I wont jump to any conclusion. I know there is lot more to this. But till then..I WILL TRUST MY NANDINI.

Wiping my tears i turned back to talk to my Nandini..i will set everything right.. but..
"Guys..where is Nandini?"

Al(hatingly): she left already.

"What? When?"

Dhr: about 20 mins ago

20 minutes!! Was i so lost in my thoughts tht i ddnt realise she left?

"Why did u guys let her leave?"

Cab: what do u mean Manik? What should we have done then?

"U shud have stopped her..we need to talk to her."

"Stop whom?"

A very familiar voice interrupted us. Turning around i saw Abhi standing on the door..looking the most disheveled person i have seen. His eyes have bags under them, his hair are all messy, his subtle too is unshaven. It looks he has been in a very distraught condition.

Ab: where is Barbie? I need to talk to her. She isnt answering  my calls since yesterday. Is she ok?

What? Nandini ddnt answer his calls? But y? Abhi had warned her that he would leave everything and come back if she doesn't answer his calls. N he really came....

One minute. Nandini knew if she ddnt answer his calls, he would definitely come back. Was that what she wanted? Did she want Abhi to come back here? But why? Is she in some problem? Oh God please no. Why r my negative feelings making a havoc in me? Why m i having this constant fear of losing something?

Muk: she left Abhi. N its better u come with me to home..look at urself Abhi. U need rest. It looks u havent slept all day and night.

Ab: i said i need to talk to Barbie. Where is she? Manik..i had given her responsibility to u. Where is she?

Dhr: she left Abhi. N before anything else..we need to know from u..did u know about Nandini's truth?

Ab: truth? What truth?

Cab (angrily): That Nandini is the only daughter of Mr. Venkatesh Murthy?

Ab: u guys know?

Abhi was shocked to hear that from Cabir. Of course he knew. He has been living with her since childhood. But why ddnt even he mention about this?

Muk: yes we know about it. She confessed it. She confessed everything written in this letter. She confessed she is THE VENKATESH MURTHY'S daughter. She confessed her parents threw her out of her house. She confessed she loved some Hero. She confessed she got her friend Anjika raped! That too because her best friend developed feelings for her Hero. And not only this..she even confessed of killing her own boyfriend, her Hero just because he learnt about her cheapness.

THWAKK!!

What the hell just happened? Did Mukti really tell all these things against Nandini? Did Abhi really slap Mukti?! Abhi is looking too furious today.

Muk (shocked): Abhi...

Ab(pointing a finger at her): not a word..not a word Ms. Wardhan. Who the hell do u think u r to blame MY BARBIE?

Al: enough Abhi..u cant just blindly trust ur Barbie. N we r not just pointing her in air. We got proofs and those compelled us to see Nandini's true face. Here..have a look at these photographs and this letter and then say..did u really do right by slapping Mukti?

Abhi furiously took those pictures and letter n first started with the letter. With every passing second his furious look was changing into disgust and loathe...for what or whom exactly..i couldnt get it. He then looked at the pictures and..same looks as Nandini! The emotions i saw in Nandini's eyes when looking at these pictures..the same emotions i m seeing in Abhi's eyes. Tears welled up in Abhi's eyes too. But y is he shocked..rather hurt on seeing the last picture? Does he believe that Nandini really kil.. No no..thts not true. I dnt believe it.

Dhr: Now say abhi.. how r we supposed to trust Nandini when we saw these pics..when we read this letter..when Nandini herself confessed all this. Abhi..we know u love her the most, but u got to believe that...

Ab (yelling and interrupting him): I dont believe in this. Did u hear me.. I dont believe this. Forget the pictures..agar khud Aiyappa aake mujhse kahe k Meri Barbie ne uske Hero ka khoon kiya hai to me nahi maanunga.

Its hurting!! Its hurting like hell to hear Abhi say Nandini's Hero.

Cab: Abhi..i knw its difficult. Mujhe b believe nahi huwa tha. Lekin jab Nandini ne khud kaha...

Ab (yelling): I dont care Barbie ne kya kaha kya nahi. I know meri Barbie aisa kabhi nahi karegi. Hero ko maarna to dooor..wo use ek kharoch tak dene ka soch b nahi sakti. Apni jaan se zyada chaaha hai usne apne Hero ko.

Stop it Abhi! Its pricking me..I feel as if u r continously hammering long thick nails into my heart. God...its paining a lot. Just stop it. I only want Nandini..I have to talk to her. I need to talk to her.

Muk(crying): y r u still favoring her Abhi? U even slapped me for her. Even after knowing the entire truth..even after knowing she killed her boyfriend..

Ab (furiously yelling n interrupting): Boyfriend nahi hai wo uska. Suna tumne..boyfriend nahi hai wo uska. BHAI HAI USKA.. USKA JUDWA BHAI..USKA HERO..RISHAB MURTHY..

...

....

....

How do u feel when u get locked up in an immensely huge vacant room, where even ur soft whispers echo in ur ears? I m feeling lost and at the same time suffocated.. numb..y do i feel no land beneath my legs?

Rishab Murthy! Nandini's twin brother! Abhi ki awaaz ab tak kaano me goonj rahi hai. Matlab Hero..Hero ka asli naam..Rishab Murthy hai.. Nandini ka judwa bhai!!

Ab: Tum log humesha kehte the na k mere aur Barbie ka pyaar bohot zyada aur bohot pure hai?

No Abhi please..please dont have that look on ur face. Its..its churning something inside me.

Ab (chuckling sadly): Tum logo ne Rishab aur Nandini ka pyaar dekha hee nai. Jitna pyar wo mujhse kerti hai na..uske 1000 guna xyada pyaar wo apne Hero..apne bhai se kerti hai. Aur jitna pyar me apni Barbie se kerta hu..usse 1000 guna zyada pyaar Rishab Nandini se kerta hai...kerta tha.

Abhi changed his words after looking at the picture. God!! How did my Nandini live then?

Ab: Nandini ne apne bhai ko apni dunya banaa li thi. Dono humesha saath hee hote. Aur jab saath hote..tab unhe kisi ki zarurat nahi padhti. Rishab ki jaan basti thi Nandini me. Aur Nandini...wo apni maa k bina reh sakti thi..lekin Rishab k bina..kabhi nahi. Rishab ne hee pehle Nandini ko naam diya..Heroine. Phir Nandini ne use Hero bolna shuru kiya.

Oh God! Why is it hurting so much? Agar sirf sunke mujhe itni pain horahi hai..to phir Nandini ko kitni pain huwi hogi? Wo to Rishab k bina reh nahi paati thi..then how did she live without him? Was this the reason..she tried to attempt suicide?
God....kyu itna pain diya hai use.

Ab (furious): tum logo ko lagta hai k Barbie ne apne Hero ko maara? Just because kisi stupid stranger ne koi bakwaas letter likh k bheja..kuch photographs bheje..tum logo ne meri Barbie pe trust nahi kiya? U knw what actually..u guys dont deserve it. U guys dont deserve my Barbie's friendship. Aur tum Mukti..mene kaha tha tumse..jab kabhi mujhe meri Barbie aur tum me se kisi ko chunna padhega to bina kuch soche me humesha Barbie ko hee chununga. N i choose her..i choose her over U. Its over Mukti.
U..Me..its over.

No no..this cant happen. Mukti wiĺl breakdrown. She already looks so devastated.

"Abhi..listen please"

Ab: not a word Manik..especially from u. Pata nahi kya sochke mene tujhe apni Barbie ki zimmedari di thi. Even u ddnt trust her? Even u doubted on her?

"Listen Abhi..thats not..."

Ab: i dont want to hear any bullshit from u. Now u listen to me..n listen carefully. I dont want to see any of ur faces around my Nandini. She doesnt deserve loser friends like u. Aaj k baad..meri barbie k aas paas b nazar aaye na..to i swear Manik..aaj tak sirf ek shareef Abhimanyu se saamna huwa hai..lekin aaj k baad..tum mera wo roop dekhoge jo sirf tum logo ko barbaad kerne k liye hai. Isliye khud ki bhalaai k liye..NEVER CROSS UR ROADS WITH NANDINI

What the hell? How can Abhi just snatch my angel from me? Why cant he just listen to me once?

"Abhi plz..we can talk about it later. Right now..we should look for Nandini. I dont knw why but..mera dil keh raha hai k Nandini theek nahi hai. There is..there is something wrong going on."

Ab: I..I will look for her..NOT US. Coz after this moment..I dont want to see any of ur faces. N dare u guys to even come in front of my Barbie. I swear..tum logo ko barbad kerne se pehle me ek baar bhi nahi sochunga.

How can Abhi say this n just leave? How can he stop me from looking for Nandini? I dont care what he says or thinks..all i care right now is about Nandini. I have this terrible feeling in me that something is wrong..terribly wrong. God plz..meri Angel ko protect kerna.

...

2 hours..its been 2 hours since we r looking for her. Yes we..me and fab4. Kahi na kahi fab4 have realized that they did wrong by judging Nandini. N so, they accompanied me. But where r u Nandini? Har jagah dekh liya.. her house..her orphanage..even her old taxi centre..but no one knows anything about her whereabouts. Did Abhi find her? Is Nandini with him? God..kyu waqt k saath saath meri ye feeling aur deep hote jaa rahi hai? Why m i feeling so restless? God plz..plz apne kisi Angel ko bhejo..MERI ANGEL ko protect kerne k liye.

Whose number is this? And why r they calling me?

"Hello"

"Hello..is this Manik?"

"Yes"

"Mr. Manik this is a call from City hospital. Do u know Nandini Murthy?

"Nan..Nandini? Ye..yes i knw her.. what happened? Is she..is she ok?"

"Mr. Manik could u please come to the hospital as soon as possible? And yes..please do inform her family too."

"But why is she in the hospital? Is she fine?"

"Mr. Manik we wud really appreciate if u could come at the earliest."

"Ok..ok i m on my way. Can u please call BB from her contact list? He is her family"

"BB? Sure i would do that. Thank u"

Hospital! Meri..meri Nandini hospital me..why? Kya huwa? Is she ok? Is she fine? Yes...yes of course she is fine..nothing can go wrong with her. Yes..nothing.

The 30 minute drive to the hospital were the toughest 30 minutes of my life..or that is what i thought till doctor told Abhi about her condition...

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

Hello angels!!
Hru

So..here ends Manik's pov.! Shocked to know about HERO? Well..Hero was always her brother!!her twin!! Did anyone think about it ;)

Anyways..hope i killed some of ur curiosity

Tc

Stay happy 😊