Holding Manik's hands and with Manik humming a sweet melody in her ears, Nandini had fallen into deep slumber. Manik too was lost in Nandini..too many faces of Nandini were in front of him right now..n he was way too confused to understand which is a true one..the confident one, who was always ready to stand for herself against anyone n everyone, or the fierce one, who could fight any no. of goons who wud dare to attack her dear ones.. the caring one, who took care of an orphan just like her mother, or the giving one, who sacrificed her dream just to assure safety of the little kids.. the jolly one, who gave nicknames which no one could ever think of, or the strong one, who gave a hopeless person hope to fight back for herself..the childish one, who gets easily bribed with a teddy bear, or this one..the lost, scared and panicked one, who had no idea at all of her surroundings, who was so lost in her thoughts that she knew nothing about whats going on around her. Manik was brought out of his thoughts with the sound of a sob.. he raised his head only to find Cabir n Dhruv crying silently..and the girls were palming their mouths to stop a sob from coming out. Seeing them crying, Manik too couldnt control his tears..he closed his eyes..letting his tears roll down his cheeks. Everyone standing there was crying on seeing Nandini's condition. Never ever in their wildest dreams they would have thought to face such a broken Nandini. Not able to take it anymore..the girls rushed out of the room n started wailing incoherently. Cabir n Dhruv follow them out..n Manik stays back with Nandini.

Ab: Bar..Barbie...

Manik raises his head n finds Abhi standing there at the door..with a defeated look in his eyes, tears already welled up in them..he was just looking at Nandini. He slowly approaches her..sits beside her on the bed n carefully holds her one hand in his..n silently cries.

Ab: m sorry baby..m so sorry..

Manik..who till now was in pain coz of Nandini's condition, was now raging with anger. He slowly pulled out his hand from Nandini's hold n silently went to Abhi's side..he slowly separated Abhi from Nandini. Abhi..who was crying silently with his head bend down on their clasped hands..got confused on seeing anger in Manik's eyes. Manik holds his hand n drags him out of the room. Once out of the room and away from his room where Nandini was sleeping..he throws Abhi in front of him..

Cab: Manik..kya kar raha hai?

Man (ignoring Cabir n talking to Abhi in anger): u knew it.. u knew it right?

Abhi just shuts his eyes n tears roll down his eyes.

Nav(crying): Abhi..ye....ye Nandu...aise kyu... aisa kya..huwa jo wo aise....

Al (crying): i cant..believe..she had a...nightmare...God..she..she was hallucinating

Muk (crying): Abhi...does...Nandini...usually...have them?

Ab: i dont want to talk about it.

Cab (angrily ): oh no Mr. Abhimanyu. U have to talk..u dont have a choice. Maana k wo tumhari jaan..tumhari child hai..but wo meri behen..hum sab ki dost hai. Aur aaj uski aisi haalat dekh k if u expect us to just turn around n close our eyes n pretend everything is ok..then m sorry..its not gonna happen.

Dhr: Abhi plz..tell us..kya huwa hai uske saath?

Man (angrily): i told u..i bloody told u we should take her to the hospital..jab use orphanage me panic attack aaya tha i told u ddnt I? Lekin u just want to do whatever u want..chaahe wo galat ho ya sahi. (Holding his collars)
Do u have any idea what just happened inside? She... (getting lost in his thoughts..with Nandini's panic stricken face crossing his mind) she..was having a...a nightmare..she was hallucinating...blood..she was seeing blood..everywhere.. she was again n again asking to stop..baar baar bol rahi thi mene kuch nahi kiya.. (turning back to Abhi, in anger) do u have any freaking idea how difficult n heart wrenching it was to see her in that condition?

Ab (yelling): yes i knw how difficult it is..i know how heart breaking it is.. who knows it better than me..who has been seeing her like this since the day i have come here..every night..every freaking night i see her breaking..i see her hallucinating..i see her crying..i see her struggling with her nightmares..EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT.

This comes as a thunder shock to everyone. Manik's hold on Abhi's collars get loosened up..Abhi looks at him n finds tears in his eyes..he looks around n finds everyone with shock n pain written on their faces.

Ab (defeated n crying): har raat..har raat Manik..every night i see her..in the same condition..her struggle for breathing..her tears..her cries..everything pricks my heart Manik. Aisa lagta hai jaise kisi ne khanjar khopa ho dil me..itna dard hota hai. Din me jo ladki sabse mazboot banti hai..wahi jab raat ko..meri godh me aake mujhse kehti hai k BB..i want to sleep...without them..tab ehsaas hota hai k i m such a big loser. Aisa loser jo apni jaan ko protect tak nai kerpaata. Ek cheez maangti hai wo..to sleep..n i cant give her that. Kya kerta hu me..what do i do..nothing..just watch her struggling..thats it.

Nav (shocked with tears rolling down): iska matlab...Nandu ko ye sirf aaj nahi..

Abhi nods his head in a no.

Manik was shaken..shaken to the core. Every night..every single night Nandini was suffering..every night she had these nightmares..how did she handle them? Seeing her once like this gave him a heart wrenching pain..what about Nandini..who has been living all this since dont knw when.

Cab: was this the reason..u avoided night stays here?

Ab: yes.. i knew that she would again have them..she would need me.. n i ddnt want u guys to knw about it.

Man: why? Why does she get them?

Ab: i dont knw. I ddnt ask her..i couldnt.

Man(getting angry): u couldnt? What do u mean by u couldnt? Tum har raat use aise tadapte huwe dekh sakte ho..but use pooch nahi sakte k aisa kya huwa hai?

Ab: haan nahi puch paaya me. Dar lagta hai..kahi me uske sach ko bardaash na karpaau. Use meri zarurat hai..lekin me use sambhaal paaunga ya nahi..i dnt knw.

Man(angry): u r a coward Abhi. Darpok aur khudgarz ho tum. Nandini k past k baare me jaan ne k bajaay..tum yaha bahaane banaa rahe ho..i dont believe this.

Ab (yells): haan hu me coward. Hu me kaayar. Jaan ja chahte ho kyu? U want to know? Come with me.

He holds Manik's hand n drags him down to the living area..everyone else follow him. Once in the living area..Abhi leaves Manik's hand. He takes out his mobile n searches something in the drawers of the cabinet in the living area. Everyone looks at him with confused expressions when they find him connecting his mobile to the TV with a cable..

Ab: u want to knw right..y ddnt i muster up courage to ask Nandini? Y i m a coward? Watch this.

Abhi plays a video..which makes every single person standing there go numb. To say they were shocked wud b an understatement. The video had Nandini...a glance of Old Nandini..

Video (Nandini's pov):

Hellllooooooooooo my lovely people..welcome to ur favourite show..I M THE BEST...with ur host cum dost...Nandiniiiii Moorthy. Yea yea ok..i know i know..this show is made for only a single person. But..a very special one..a darling..a very dear person to me.. so plzzz welcome...none other than...MR. BIGGGG BUMBBBB...

Oops... (biting her tongue n holding her ears) M sholly BB. I knw u dont like me addressing u with this name..but kya karu..aapko is naam se bulaati hu to aap chidte ho..aap chidte ho to me aapko aur sataati hu..aapko aur sataati hu to aap mujhse naraaz hojaate ho..aap naraaz hojaate ho to me aapko manaati hu..aap maante nahi ho to phir ulta me aapse naraaz hojaati hu..me naraaz hojaati hu to aap mujhe manane aate ho..aur jab..aap..mujhe manaane aate ho..tab..it means CELEBRATIONNNN...
Chocolates...ice creams..teddy bears..shopping..spa treatments...trips...sabbbb kuch milta hai. Aur me paagal thodi hu jo itnaa acha mauka haath se jaane du. Isiliye aapko BB bulaana padta hai.

Ok ok..now no more masti..getting serious...
Ehemm...
So mr. Abhimanyu..this is ur second trip to US..hell yaar..how can u again leave me n go..2 saal reh liya na waha...ab bas.. khud to mere ye videos dekh k time pass kerlete ho..what about me?

Acha ok..i wont complain...n U..stop making those faces from behind the camera. Aap recording ker rahe ho na..to bas..focus on that. Ek to aapne mere Hero ko b nai aane diya.. (pouting sadly).

But chalo..its ok.. ye ek din..aapke naam. So shuru se shuru kare?

Ok..so let me tell u the motto of this video..BB ko lagta hai k m a very positive person..jo ke me Hu no doubts (winking).. but he says that mere positivity se use hasi aati hai..as if m a joker huh.. aur mere videos US me meri kami ko poori kerte hai. So isliye..he decided to make this video..aur uske liye..hum aaye hai...yahaaaa...my fav spot..BEACH.....yayyyyy

Agar aap ko ye aas...aas....cha.... ufff..BB..whats the word in hindi for surprise??

Say na...

Ufff..aap camera k peeche ho na..so koi nai dekhne waala aapko..aur waise b..ye video to sirf aapke liye hai..only u r gonna watch this..tabhi to me aise hee aagayi..without getting ready too..now stop being a shy baby n be a man..

(With a goofy smile) see...i knw how to get u out from behind the camera..ab bataao na..kya bolte hai???

Kya? Zaraa zor se bolo na...

Ufff..wait..me hee waha aati hu.

Achaaaaa...aascharya..

Ok...so lets continue..

Hmmm..to agar aap logo ko aascharya horaha hai k ye beach hai lekin yaha pe hum dono k alawa koi nahi to let me tell u..
Ye jo mere over protective..over possessive..over caring BB hai na..he has booked this entireeeeee beach for me. How sweeeet of him na????

Dnt take it seriously..i was being sarcastic. Kya yaar BB..kabhi to normal logo ki tarah normal cheeze kerne do..y everything has to b king size???

Ok so...see see...BB..sunsets.... u always say k sunsets upset u..but u knw BB..jab tak aaj ka suraj doobega nahi..tab tak..kal ka suraj niklega nai. N if the sun doesnt rise tomorrow..we wont get to knw whats in store for us..so...open ur hands wide n bid the sun a tata good byeeee....

Aeee.....paaani...lets go into the beach.....

Everyone standing there had a smile playing on their lips..seeing how childish Nandini acts..her actions when playing with water..n splashing it on camera..for a moment..everyone standing there thought the water for real is gonna touch them..n as a reflex..everyone covered their faces.. but were brought to reality by melodious laughs of Nandini... the way she showed tongue to Abhimanyu..who was making the video...the way she was running n jumping around..everything about her was screaming innocence..joy..happiness. It was impossible for anyone not to smile or laugh seeing her this video. When the video ended..Abhi was lightly caressing her pic in the video with teary smile. He looks back n finds a smile on everyone's face.

Ab: nahi rok paayena apni smiles ko? Rokte b kaise..Nandini jo thi. Aisi thi wo..bak bak kerna uska favorite kaam tha..hasna..hasaana..khul k jeena..this was Nandini..My Nandini. Bachpan se..uska right arm kamzor tha..beech beech me use bohot dard hojaata tha..us dard me b..wo mujhe sambhaalti thi..khud haste rehti thi..kehti thi..haste haste dard ko bardaash kerne ka alag hee mazaa hai (chuckling on remembering past memories)
Lekin aaj..aaj jab is Nandini ko dekhta hu..to dar lagta hai..kyunki i know..i know k kuch to bohot bada aur bura huwa hoga..jisse meri hasti hasaati waali Nandini aisi ban gayi hai.

(Going to Manik)

Bata mujhe Manik..kaise puchu usse? Kaha se laau himmat wo sab sunke ki..jisne use aisa banaa diya? Haan hu me kaayar..m scared..coz i knw she has lost everything..n m scared me use wo sab yaad dilaa ker use phir se na kho du.

Cab(placing a hand on Abhi): tune sahi kaha abhi..yakeen nahi hota k behna aisi thi. Lekin hum use aise b to nahi chod sakte. We need to help her..use in nightmares se azaadi dilaane k liye..we need to knw what triggers her.

Man: Abhi...i... i dont...

He shuts his eyes n hugs him tight. Abhi cries out his heart.

Ab: Nahi dekh sakta use aise Manik..meri barbie..meri doll..aise...nahi dekh pata use.

Cabir Dhruv join in the hug too...which soon becomes a group hug when girls join them. It was their way to tell Abhi that he isnt alone..that they r with him in this..together.

Finally..another long painful night comes to an end. As Nandini said..unless the sun doesnt set today..u wont know what the next day brings for u..

A bright day..a new day had already set in..Abhi, Fab5 and Navya had slept there in the living room itself.. a servant comes n wakes them up.

Ser: chote baba..wo inspector saab aaye hai aap logo se milne.

Manik n all others get alerted n go out to meet the inspector.

Ins: good morning.. i think mene aap logo ko disturb kerdiya.

Man: ab jab disturb ker diya hai to boliye.

Insp: i m ACP Rathod..me aap logo se Miss. Anjika k case k baare me kuch sawal poochna chahta hu.

Ab: lekin hum kuch nai bataana chahte. Aur waise b..according to ur department..uska to koi case hee nahi filed hai.

Acp: hmmmm...but phirb..i have some questions..specially for Ms. Nandini. Waise..aap me se Nandini koun hai?

Nan: me hu Nandini

Everyone turn around to find Nandini standing there with her hands crossed at her chest. Seeing her..everyone recalled the last night..her breakdown..her nightmare..her hallucination..her video..the old Nandini..

Nandini comes down n stands in front of ACP.

ACP: toh aap hai Nandini. Waise aapko dekh k lagta nahi hai k aap jaisi ladki itni fierce aur wild ho sakti hai.

Nan: looks can b deceptive ACP sir.. jaise mujhe dekh k aapko nahi lagta k me ek fierce aur wild ladki hu..jo ke me hu..waise hee aapko dekh k nahi lagta k aap b power k neeche dabke rehne waalo me se hai.

ACP(smiles): witty.. ehemm.. suna hai aapne kal inspector pe haath uthaaya. Kya me pooch sakta hu k aisa kyu kiya aapne?

Nan: mene kab kaha k mene aise kiya hai.

Acp: toh u mean to say k wo inspector jhooth bol raha hai.

Nan: just because usne khaaki wardi pehni hai n mene casuals..doesnt prove tht wo sirf sach bolta hai n me jhooth.

Acp (shaking his head in a no): Anjika kaha hai?

Nan (coolly): usne suicide kiya.

Acp: suicide attempt kiya hoga..but wo zinda hai.

Nan: n aap ye kaise bol sakte hai?

Acp: simple..coz me Tawde nahi..ACP Rathod hu. Mene suna hai aap Shivam Gaitonde ko saza dilaana chahti hai? Uske liye mera Anjika se milna zaruri hai.

Nan: galat suna hai. Me use saza dilaana chahti thi..ab nahi. Ab me use khud saza dungi.

ACP: just coz aap use punishment dena chahti hai..doesnt mean aap aise excuses banaay.

Nan (getting angry): excuses? Me excuses banaa rahi hu? Me? Uska kya jab ek rape victim apne poore hosh me apne saath huwe us genohne crime k baare me complain file kerti hai lekin aapke department ka ek officer uski usi complaint ko uske culprit ko jaake bech deta hai?
Uska kya jab ek maa apni beti ko galat haatho me jaane se bachaane k liye restraining orders nikaalna chahti hai..lekin aapka poora department unke haatho pehle hee bikaa huwa hota hai?
Aur uska kya jab 2 saal pehle ek 17 saal ki ladki aapke department k paas molestation ka case likhaane jaati hai lekin use ye kehke nikaala jaata hai k wo ek minor hai..jab tak koi guardian uske saath nahi..wo complain nahi likhaa sakti . 2 raato tak wo wahi aapke police station k baahar baarish me bethi rahi..har aate jaate officer se haath jodh k minnat kerti rahi k koi uski complain sunle..lekin kisi ne nahi suni.

Us time b complain file nahi huwi..aur aaj..complain file kerke b kya huwa wo dekh liya mene..so dont tell me k me excuses banaa rahi hu...aur jaa ke pehle khudke department ko dekho..jisme aapko sirf excuses milengi.

Saying so..she leaves from there..leaving behind stunned people. Hearing Nandini mentioning an incident from 2 yrs ago..everyone were rooted at their places.

ACP: mujhe Commisioner sir ne khaas Mr. Malhotra k kehne pe is case pe lagaya hai. Ms Nandini ko sunke pata chala k unka experience police k saath bitter raha hai. But plz..trust me..i want to help u people in getting justice. Me yaha apna no. chode jaa raha hu..jab lage aap mujhse baat kersakte hai..tab mujhe bulaa lijiyega.

Abhi n all go up to Nandini. She was standing facing the window..lost in her thoughts..when Abhi comes n places a hand on her shoulder.

Ab: Barbie...tune...neeche jo...wo...kal jo..Barbie..(closing his eyes)i cant see u like this...ab aur bardaash nahi hota mujhse..

Nan: Anjika..Anjika Mathur..

Ab(snaps open his eyes): Anjika? Wo jo parso mili thi?

Nandini nods her head in a no.

Nan: Anjika Mathur...Anjy..My best friend...

Ab: Anjy? Ur classmate Anjy?

Nan: haan..wahi Anjy.. u remember i had told u about her.

Ab: yea..u told me..11th me tumhe ek dost mili..u always told me u nicknamed her Anjy..coz her original name was a bit different..

Nan (chuckling sadly): haan..wahi Anjy. My first friend..best friend.. U remember..how i told u about us..kaise hum 11th k pehle din mile..n it just got clicked..we became best of friends in short time. We started spending time together..school me to hote hee the..par phir ghar jaa ke b hum phone pe lage rehte the. Use b baate kerne ka bohot shok tha. Everything was smooth..sab kuch acha tha. US se jab aap 2 saal pehle aaye..tab wo apne nanihaal gai thi..isliye u couldnt meet her. We spent all our time together..school..movies..gym..dance..malls..everywhere hum saath the. Me..Anjy..aur Hero. It was so beautiful. Perfect in all sense. 12th standard aagaya. Board exams k prelims k baad..humara farewell tha.. 1 week pehle se hee..hum dono ne tayyariya shuru kerdi thi.. we were so happy..humne poora future b decide kerliya tha. But mujhe kya pata tha..wo din meri zindagi ki barbadi ka pehla din hoga. That one day..n everything just changed..forever.

Ab: kya huwa tha?

Nan: farewell k din..i had strange negative vibes..pata nai kyu aisa lag raha tha k kuch galat hone waala hai.. i couldnt understand what.. i just wanted to stay in my room n never go out. Mene Anjy se b kaha tha...

Flashback (2 years ago):

Nan: Anjy..lets leave this farewell na..i m not in good mood..

Anj: n that is why we need to attend this party.. come on Nanz..u wud feel better..tera mood b cheer up hojaayga.

Nan: i dnt knw Anjy. I have these weird vibes today.. pata nai kyu m not liking to go out today. Lets just stay back na..we will party here..only u n me.

Anj: so u wont come? U dont want me to go too? U very well know i wont go without u..n u knew how eagerly i was waiting for this farewell..but its ok..nai jaana tumhe to cancel kerdete hai. Kya hoga zyada se zyada..yehi na k mera mood kharaab hoga..me aage exam me focus nai kerpaaungi. Thts it ryt. But its ok..

Nan: oh God anjy...not again with ur drama..plzzz...theek hai meri maa..chal chalte hai.

Anj: yayyyyyyy..i love u Nanz...u r the best..

Us raat mene sabse badi galti ki..mene apne dil ki nahi...Anjy ki suni..n we left..for the farewell. Shuru shuru me..party was goin on good. We met our classmates..we danced..we chit chatted..all this while..those vibes were still in me..but i had suppressed them somewhere deep..Anjy bohot khush thi.. mujhe laga me hee kuch zyada soch rahi hu. Lekin..jaise jaise waqt beet ta gaya..my feelings got stronger. Mene Anjy se kaha i dnt want to dance more n i want to go home.

Flashback (contd)

Anj: theek hai nanz..we will leave..bas thodi der beth jaay..just for half an hour..thoda sa snacks khaa k nikalte hai..ok?

Nan: half an hour only.

Anj: pakka babba..ab chal..dekh..waha table khaali hai..lets sit there.

Nan: thank God we got a place to sit..my feet r literally paining from these heels... eeeeewwwwww

Anj: kya waiter bhaiyya..dekhiye aapne kya kerdiya..saara juice ispe gira diya.

Waiter: so..sorry madam..galti hogai.

Nan: koi baat nai..aap jaaiye. Anjy..me washroom jaake ye saaf kerke aati hu. U wait for me.

Anj: ofcourse nanz..where wud i go. Tu jaa..m ryt here.

In washroom:
Nan (self talk): thank God ..ye stain to nikla.. ab jaldi se yaha se nikal k..Anjy k saath ghar chali jaati hu. Kaha tha mene..i dnt want to come.. par ye Anjy na..

Arre... (trying to open the knob of the door) ye..ye darwaaza kyu nai khul raha. (Knocking on the door) hellooo..koi hai kya baahar...anybody there? Me yaha washroom me band hogai hu..plzz...someone open the door.

(Banging the door n crying)
Plzzz darwaaza kholo...koi hai...Anjyyy....Anjyyyy..darwaaza kholo plzzz.

Phone...mera phone..me Anjy ko call kerti hu..

Shit..me to phone wahi table pe bhool aayi. Ab kya karu? Mujhe itna tym hogaya yaha..Anjy mujhe dhoondne kyu nahi aayi..

Hello....koi hai...plzzzz...darwaaza kholo..plzzz...darwaza baahar se locked hai..plzz kholo..

Aiyappa..ye light...light ko kya hogaya...light kaise chali gayi..

Plzz..plzz koi darwaza kholo..mujhe darr lag raha hai...plzzz..Anjyy...Herooo..

Nan (crying): Andhera BB..sab jaga andhera tha..mene..bohot thoka..par kisi ne b darwaaza nahi khola..me waha akeli thi...me bohot chikhi..chillaai..par koi nai aaya..koi b nai..me dar gai BB..bohot dar gai..isiliye me sink k neeche jaake chup gayi.

Abhi n all others were silently shedding tears with Nandini.

Ab (hoarsely): An..Anjy nahi aai?

Nan (nodding in a no): koi nai aaya BB. Me 2 ghante tak wahi thi..us andhere me..mene apne aap ko sink k neeche chupa liya tha..phir..phir mene..ek click suni..jaise kisi ne darwaaza khol diya...aur phir light b aagayi..me..jaldi se wahaa se nikal k bhaag gayi..wapis.hall me..Anjy k paas..usi table k paas..

Flashback:

Nan (running n panting): Anjy... Anjy... kaha chali gai..bola to tha wo yahi table pe mera wait karegi. Mera phone?yahi table per..Anjy ise apne saath kyu nai le gai..aise hee ise yaha chod diya.
Call kerke dekhti hu.
...

Ye call uthaa kyu nai rahi.
Aiyappa..kyu meri feelings aur b zyada strong horahe hai..kyu lag raha hai kuch bohot galat huwa hai. Mujhe aur nahi rukna yaha..ghutan si horahi hai. Anjy...plz call utha..kaha hai tu..
...
Suniye..yaha jo mere saath ladki bethi thi..aapne use kahi jaate huwe dekha?

Waiter: jee..shayad wo waha se gai thi.

Nan: thank u.

Yaha se? Ye to backyard ka rasta hai. Yaha to koi nai aata jaata.. Anjy yaha kyu gai hogi?
Dobara call kerti hu.
.....
Anjy..y the hell arent u picking my phone..
Phir se karti hu.
.....
Ye...ye to Anjy ka ringtone hai..ye..yaha se....matlab Anjy backyard me hai.

(Going towards the backyard)

Anjy...

Anjy..where r u?

Anj........

Nan (staring out n crying..while gesturing with her hands): Anjy..mere...mere saamne thi..but..us..uski condition ne..mu..mujhe shock de diya. Us...uske...uske...(crying profusely) uske kapde...sab jaga phenke huwe the....she...she was..she was there...crying..n ..bleeding. I got numb..mujhe samajh nahi aaya...kya..kya karu..i..i was shocked...wo..wo pain me thi...she..she was crying..i..i ddnt knw what to do...me..me kya karti..
Tabhi...mene..kisi k..kadmo ki awaaz suni... i..i ddnt want...anyone to..to see her like that... mene..mene uske kapde..uthaay..n use...pehnaaya..

Flashback:

Nan(crying): Anjyy...no plz no....koi mat aana yaha....plzzz stop...stop....

Nan: Anjy..ye...ye sab...

Anjy (wailing): lea..leave me..plz...cho..chodo...

Nan (crying): Anjy..its..its me...Ur Nanz..Aiyappa...Anjy...u..u r bleeding. Hos..hospital...hospital jaana hai. Me..me kya..kya karu.. uncle..uncle ko call..hospital. .

Nan: hello...uncle (crying )

Anjy...hospital...aap aao yaha..jaldi...plzz.

Nan: Anjy...dont wry..me hu na...Anjy plz...dont sleep...plzz....

Nan: Anjy ko hospital le gaye.. waha...waha doctor ne bola... (shutting her eyes n crying) bola k..Anjy has been raped. Uncle aunty...ro rahe the. Anjy..wo..wo kuch nahi bol rahi thi. Doctor..doctor ne bola..police complaint kerni chahiye..lekin (stops crying but stares outside) lekin Anjy ne mana kerdiya. Usne..usne case kerne se manaa ker diya.

Flashback:(1 week later)

Nan: Anjy..dekh aise chup rehne se kuch nahi hoga. Hum sab hai tere saath. Uncle hai..aunty hai.. Me hu. Plz Anjy..police me complain file kerde. Hum use aise jaane nahi de sakte. Plzz Anjy..

Anj: leave me alone Nandini

Nan: Nan..Nandini? Me Nanz se Nandini kab ban gayi Anjy? Anjy..kya baat hai..kyu tu mujhse door jaa rahi hai? Kyu mujhe khud se door ker rahi hai? Plz Anjy..aisa mat kar..hum dono saath hai to we can deal anything.. plz Anjyy..

Anj (angry): i said just leave me alone Nandini..just get out. I dont want to see ur face again.

Anjy's mom: Nandini..beta plz..tum kamre se baahar niklo.

Nan: lekin aunty...

Mom: beta plzz..

Nan: theek hai Anjy..me nikalti hu. But ye mat samajhna i m leaving u alone to fight this..no..i will always b there for u. Always..

Mom: Nandu..beta..abhi tum logo k exams aane waale hai..meri maano to plzz..exams tak Anjika se na milo to behtar hoga.

Nan: lekin aunty..Anjy aisa mere saath hee kyu ker rahi hai? Aisa lagta hai jaise wo mujhse naraaz hai.

Mom: beta.use thoda waqt do..tum jaanti ho na kitna bada haadsa huwa hai. Tum jaao..exams pe focus karo.

Nan: us din k baad se..Anjy mujhse door hone lagi. Mere phone calls aur msgs ka koi jawab nahi..me agar uske ghar jaati to wo mujhse milne se saaf manaa kerdeti thi. Pehle mujhe laga k wo apne aap ko ek shell me band ker rahi hai..lekin..ye shell sirf mere liye tha. Apne parents se..apne cousins se wo thodi bohot baat kerti thi. Lekin jab kabhi me uske saamne jaati..uski aankhe...they..they used to blame me..they used to look at me in disgust.. mujhe..mujhe samajh hee nahi aaraha tha k kya horaha hai. Aunty ne b manaa ker diya tha milne se..kaha jab tak exams nai hote..tab tak nai milna. Exams hogaye. Ek din..mujhe aunty ka call aaya..she told me k uncle aur unhe bohot zaruri kaam se baahar jaana hoga..lekin wo Anjy ko akela nahi chodna chahte..isliye wo chahti thi k me unke ghar jaau. Mene socha ye sahi mauka hai..Anjy se baat kerne ka..aaj to me sab jaan lungi..y she has started hating me so much? Mene uske favorite donuts banaay..aur me uske ghar k liye nikli. N that...was the second step towards my disaster.

Flashback (2 months later):

Nan(smilingly): Anjy..Anjy...oh God..i missed u like hell.. dekh...me tere liye donuts laai hu..apne haatho se banaa k.. chakh k bata..kaise bane hai?

Anj (angry): what the hell r u doing here Nandini?

Nan: Anjy..whats wrong?

Anj: just leave..i dnt want to talk to u.

Nan: enough Anjy. Nearly 2 and a half months se tune mujhse baat nahi ki. U always r so hurtful towards me. Mene kiya kya hai?

Anj: hurtful? I m being hurtful? N what about u? Jo tumne kiya wo? Uska kya ha?

Nan: kya kiya hai mene Anjy?

Anj: i dont want to talk to u..just leave.

Nan: nai..aaj me nahi jaaungi.. jab tak u dont tell me..u have to tell me Anjy..whats wrong.

Anj: i said just leave me alone.

Nan: i m not going to leave u alone Anjy. Tell me for God's sake Anjy..kya huwa..y r u so mad at me?

Anj (angrily ): coz its because of u that i got raped!

Nan (shocked): what?

Anj(crying): kyu Nandini? Kyu kiya tune aisa? Best friend bola tha tujhe..apni soul sister maana tha..y did u do this to me Nandini..Y???

Nan: wh...what r u saying Anjy? Kya..kya kiya mene?

Anj: u r really asking me this?

Nan: Anjy plz...mujhe..mujhe kuch samajh nahi aaraha..what r u saying? Plz bata Anjy..y r u saying like this? Mene..mene kya kiya anjy bata na..plz bata na??

Anj (yelling): tune use bheja tha..to rape me. U got me raped Nandini..

Nan (shocked): Anjy..

Anj: kya huwa? Bolti band hogai? Tujhe kya laga..i would never come to knw k it was all ur plan? Tune hee mujhe message kerke backyard me bulaaya..u very well knew k backyard me koi nai aata jaata..thats y u......
Y Nandini..kyu kiya tune aisa?

Nan: no no no..Anjy...ye..ye tu kya bol rahi hai? How can u even think like that? Me..me tere saath aisa karungi? Do u really think so low of me? Arre mera to mobile b mere paas nahi tha Anjy..plz believe me..

Anj: believe u? When i knw that u r the soul person responsible for my devastation..u want me to believe u? Tera phone tere paas nahi tha ryt? To phir tune mere papa ko kaise call kiya? Papa chod..tu baar baar mujhe kaise call ker rahi thi?

Nan: Anjy..plz trust me..mene aisa kuch nahi kiya..plz just listen to me once..

Anj: kya kehke police me complain likhaati..k mera rape meri hee best friend ne kerwaaya..mene tujhe apna hee ek hissa maana tha Nandini..n i couldnt get the courage to cut that part off me..

Nan(crying): Anjy plz...plz meri baat sun..ye sab..ye sach nahi hai..me..me...

Anj: bohot dard hota hai Nandini.. ab aur bardaash nahi hota. Meri in saari suffering..is saare pain ki zimmedaar sirt tu hai Nandini..sirf tu.

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.

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

Me ab is suffering me aur nahi jee sakti. Today..i will end my suffering..but from today..ur suffering will start.. dekhna Nandini..tu zindagi me itni akeli rehjaaygi k tu kisi ko dekhne k liye tarsegi..but u will have no one next to u..
Tu hamesha tadpegi Nandini
U will suffer all ur life..
I will never forgive u Nandini..never.

(Anjika rushed inside the bathroom n locked it..her bathroom door was a glass one..which could give a view of inside)

Nan: itni nafrat? Itna hatred..mere liye? Y Anjy..? Anjy... noooo...Anjy..open the door plzzz...

(Banging the door of the washroom..where Anjika was standing with a razor in her hand)

Nan: Anjy plz...plz meri baat sunle..plz talk to me once..mene kuch nahi kiya anjy..trust me plz...mene kuch b nahi kiya..talk to me once..plzz...

Anj: tu jab b aankhe band karegi..u will always see me Nandini.. u r the reason m dying today..

(She cuts her wrist)

Nan: Anjyyyyy... no plz no....stop....Anjy plz...open the door..helpp...uncle..aunty...plz koi aao...Anjy plz open the door..plz Anjy...mene kuch nahi kiya..plz baat karo mujhse..

Blood...blood...stop plzzz...Anjy stop...

Nandini was by now breathing heavily n crying..

Nan: blood BB..sab jaga blood...usne kaha..me...mene uska rape kerwaaya..how..how could she say that. Me to khud washroom me locked thi na...i ddnt do it BB.. i swear..mene nahi kiya kuch b..me...me nahi jaanti..ye sab kaise huwa..i...i don't knw who he was...mene..mene kuch nahi kiya...plz...believe me...HERO KI KASAM...mene..mene kuch b nahi kiya (wailing uncontrollably )

Ab: stop stop stop...stop barbie..plzzzz....plzzzzz stop..

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.......

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

Hello Angels..

Sorry for being late..

So..finally a part of Nandini's past.

I wud like to clear myself that i DONT Intend to disrespect any person, emotion or any profession in my story. I may have portrayed some negative sketch of a profession..coz i have been reading about them..but that doesnt mean that everyone r the same..in the upcoming updates..u would get to see that.

Tc 😊