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Evening, Malhotra Industries

Nandu's cabin

Manik comes in her cabin as it's almost time for them to leave but finds her working.

Manik: Nandu

Nandu(casually): I have lots of work, Manik. Main abhi ghar nahi ja rahi. Tum nikal jao.

Manik(hesitantly): Nandu, can I go out for a night out?

Nandu(disbelievingly): What? Are you seriously asking me this, Manik? Idiot, just inform me. You don't need to take permission to go out.

Manik(rants): Nahi. I am just not comfortable going there leaving you alone at home. Dad bhi nahi hai and Mukti will be with us. Navya is out of station so is Abhimanyu. Cabir is stubborn to change the plan and...

Nandu(assured): Manik. Manik, relax. I am fine. Anyway, I won't be able to spend time with any one of them. I have work to do.

Manik(softly): Tum ghar ja kar karlo na. I will drop you home. Last time bhi door jam ho gaya tha and you had to spend your night here.

Nandu: Nahi. I might need to use the storeroom for some references. I can't shift it to home, right? Acha, I promise you, I will message you after reaching home and if any problem, I will call you.

Manik(raising an eyebrow): Also an hourly update about your whereabouts and safety.

Nandu(chuckled): Haan baba. Now go and enjoy.

Manik: just a minute.

He goes out and gets her a hot brewing coffee.

Manik: This will help you with the workload.

Nandu(grinned): Thanks a lot. You are my savior.

He pecks her forehead and mutters an "I love you" before leaving.

11 pm, Malhotra Industries

Nandu doesn't realize the time and also misses Manik's messages. When she checks her mobile, she finds a few messages, all from Manik and decides to call him.

Nandu: Hey.

Manik(sighed): Are you fine? You weren't responding to my messages. I was about to come back.

Nandu: No need, Manik. Sorry, I didn't realize the time. I am fine and leaving for home. Ghar ja kar, I will message you. Fine?

Manik: Okay. Drive safely.

Call Ends

Manik was usually the carefree guy. His this behavior surprises her. She packs her stuff and leaves after locking her cabin. Just minutes away to her home, she finds someone on the road with his bike aside. It looked like an accident. As no one was around, she goes out to help the person but gets frightened seeing Harshad there. To her dismay, he smirks and wipes off the color on his face.

Harshad: Good to see you again, baby.

She turns to leave when he grabs her and pins her to her car.

Harshad(mocks): What will you do now, Nandini? Aww..poor baby, where is your lover boy to save you now?

Nandu(gritting her teeth): Harshad, leave me.

Harshad: Ohh...I am scared. Do you think I don't have any idea about your pretty love story behind those cabin doors, baby? How dare you to give him what's mine?

Nandu(glared): What do you want?

Harshad: We are talking now, are we? Okay. I want you along with Malhotra Industries. I want to see Raj Malhotra and his good for nothing son on roads.

Nandu(frowns): What did they do to you?

Harshad(whisper yelled): They took away what's mine. Itne saalo se tumhe apne paas rakha hai. And now his son is using you. You are in my arms again, baby. Jab tak unhe pata chal jayega, you will already be mine. This time legally and also their property. Your so-called uncle has kept a secret from you.

Nandu: What secret?

She asked whatever question that came in her mind hoping to buy some time for herself as she ransacked her brains to escape the person in front of her.

Harshad: He isn't the sole owner of the Malhotra Industries. It was MM industry before. Malhotra Murthy Industries. Raj Malhotra shares 50 percent with your dad. And that's exactly the reason why he had kept you with him so as not to lose his company. I will make you mine. And then own the company. It would be easy to kick them out. You don't worry, baby. I will keep you happy if you obey my orders. And we will stay together forever.

He runs his finger across her face making her cringe.

Nandu(warned): Manik ko pata chalega, he will kill you.

Harshad(laughed): That kid. Come on, itne ghatiya jokes marne lagi ho aaj kal? Where are your standards? Doesn't your boyfriend teach you anything?

There was a call on his mobile. Unknowingly, he loosens his hold on her. Taking it as an opportunity, she pushes him with all her force making him fall down, sneaks inside the car and races towards her home. She breathes in once reaching her gate. Getting down, she instructs the security.

Nandu: Close the gates. Make sure, no one enters in.

They nod, looking at her strangely due to her condition. They realized she was panicked but didn't question her fearing their job. She moves in and asks the butlers to close the door. She herself closes the door of her room and rushes into the washroom. The cold water calms her nerves. Getting changed, she checks her mobile and finds a message from Manik and an unknown number.

Unknown Number - Aaj bach gayi ho but I promise you, baby. Within a week, you will be at my place and forever. Countdown your days.

Manik - Have you reached home? Couldn't call you. The music is so loud here. If anything, just message me. I will come out and call.

Nandu - Reached home. Tired. Sleeping. Have fun. :)

After messaging Manik, she covers herself in a duvet and tries to sleep but her nightmares keep her company throughout the night. She drifts to sleep in the wee hours. Manik stays back at Cabir's place and goes to the office directly in the morning from there. He goes to meet Nandu but frowns when he doesn't find her and goes back to his cabin. Nandu misses her alarm and gets late. Getting ready, she leaves without having her breakfast.

Malhotra Industries

Nandu's cabin

She just reaches her cabin when Manik barges in startling her. Sighing in relief on finding her, he goes to hug her. He feels her flinching back initially but smiles when she hugs him back.

Manik(frowned): Where were you?

She hides her emotions with a wide smile and pulls him on the chair as she settles herself beside him.

Nandu: I missed my alarm. Tum batao. Did you enjoy your time? Why did you come to the office today? Rest karte na.

Manik(pouts): I was missing you.

Nandu smiles awkwardly. They get back to their work. She denies having her lunch giving an excuse of a late breakfast.

Evening, Nandu's cabin

Manik(casually): Are you ready to leave?

Nandu(muttered): Nahi. I still have some work left.

Manik(raising an eyebrow): Shall I leave or do you want me to stay?

Nandu(hesitantly): Will you stay, please, if you aren't tired?

Manik(smiles): Hey, you don't need to say please. I am here. Apna kaam khatam karlo, we can leave then.

He settles on the couch and gets busy playing some games on his mobile. Nandu sighs in relief having him beside her.

Half an hour later

Nandu finishes off her work and packs her stuff.

Nandu(softly): Manik, chale.

Manik: Yeah.

He locks his mobile and follows her. Their journey back to home was silent. Nandu falls asleep on Manik's shoulder, holding his hand. He kisses the top of her head and caresses her hair. Asking the driver to get their files, he picks her up and makes her sleep on the bed in her room. Raj calls him and he leaves for his room so as not to disturb her. Nandu wakes up due to a nightmare late in the night and finds herself in her room with her office attire still on. She changes into a nightwear and goes towards Manik's room. A butler, who was waiting for her outside her room, stops her.

Nandu(questioned): What are you doing here?

Butler: Madam, baba ne bola aap ke jagne ka wait karne. Aap ka khana lagwa dun?

Nandu(in a dismissive tone): Nahi. I am not hungry.

He obliges and leaves. She goes to Manik's room and finds him texting, leaning on the bed.

Nandu(softly): hey

Manik: Nandu? Aao na andar.

Manik straightens up and makes room for her. She settles beside him on the bed, resting her head on his chest. He caresses her hair lovingly.

Manik(teased): Did you eat anything? Ya uththe hi apne boyfriend ke paas bhaag chali aayi.

Nandu chuckles.

Manik(worried): You didn't eat, right? Juice le aaun tumhare liye?

Nandu(whispered): No. Just stay with me.

After minutes of silence, Nandu lifts her head and looks at Manik, who was smiling at her. Without any warning, she places her lips on his, startling him. Manik breaks the kiss when he feels drops of tears on his face.

Manik(cooed): Hey, pagal ladki. Why are you crying?

Nandu(pleaded): Make me yours, Manik.

Manik(puzzled): What?

Nandu: Please?

Manik(sternly): You are mine, in every way. Is something wrong, Nandini?

Nandu: I missed you.

She didn't quite meet his eyes while saying it and Manik understood she was hiding something but he didn't press further. He knew she would come around, whenever she wanted to.

Manik: Itna miss kiya mujhe? I won't leave you alone again. Okay.

He promised sincerely. She nods and again rests her head on his chest. He whispers sweet nothings in her ear, cracking lame jokes time to time to make her smile. Soon, she drifts to sleep clutching his shirt tightly. Her state worries Manik and he decides to talk to her in the morning. Taking her in his embrace, he sleeps too.

Morning, Malhotra Mansion

Manik frowns on not finding Nandu beside him. He gets ready and checks her room but doesn't find her. He asks one of the butlers and gets to know about her early meeting and that she left to the office for the same. Without wasting any time, he leaves to the office. On the way, he calls her continuously for some time, before she lifts it up.

Manik(yelled): Where the hell are you?

Nandu(hissed): Manik, I am in a meeting. What's wrong with you?

Manik(scowled): Why don't I have any idea about this meeting?

Nandu(gritting her teeth): Because it was scheduled during your night out and I forgot to inform you. Now, if you excuse me, let me go resume the meeting.

She cuts the call leaving him frustrated but he sighs in relief having her safe.

Malhotra Industries

To his dismay, Manik gets stuck in a traffic jam and reaches an hour late to the office. After parking his car, he runs in and finds Nandu talking to Aman about some project. Manik takes his time to catch his breath but suddenly finds Nandu holding her head. He screams her name gaining the attention of all people present there and runs to hold her on time before she could fall on the ground. Patting her cheek, he calls her name but finds her unconscious. Picking her up, he rushes to the hospital.

Hospital

Manik was pacing to and fro when Cabir and Mukti reach the place who were informed through a text by Manik.

Mukti: Is she fine?

Manik(hiccuping): I don't know. The doctor is checking her. She just fell down, Mukti. Mere haathon mein. Unconscious. She wasn't well since yesterday. I thought she's tired. I am scared.

Mukti hugs him as Cabir caresses his hair.

Mukti(wiping his tears): Calm down, kiddo. We won't let anything happen to her, haina?

Manik nods in a yes. The doctor arrives and they all rush towards him.

Manik: Nandini?

Doc: Mr. Malhotra, when did she last have a proper meal?

Manik(frowns): I don't know. Maybe, yesterday in the morning.

Doc: I don't think so. Her glucose levels have come down drastically and she is stressed about something. We are injecting glucose now. Make her eat something light after two hours. There is nothing to worry as of now. You can see her now but make sure she doesn't take any more stress. It might worsen her condition.

They go to meet Nandu and finds her leaning on the bed with her eyes closed. Manik goes and caresses her cheek with his thumb making her open her eyes.

Nandu(whispered): Manik...

Manik(smiled): How are you feeling now?

Nandu: Fine.

He takes a seat on the bed, in front of her.

Manik(joining their foreheads): You scared me.

They stay in the same position feeling each other until a nurse disturbs them. She leaves after giving her medicine. Meanwhile, Cabir and Mukti talk to her. Manik messages Cabir to stay with her and not to leave her side while he is gone along with Mukti. Seeing him leave, Nandu stops him.

Nandu(pleads): Manik, please stay.

Manik(cupping her cheek): I will be back soon. I need to go somewhere uske baad tumhe chod kar nahi jaunga. Till then, this joker will entertain you. Okay?

He pecks her head and leaves the room unable to see her this vulnerable.

Outside the room

Manik slumps down onto the chair, frustrated with himself.

Manik: I failed in taking care of her, Mukti.

Mukti keeps a hand on his shoulder, giving a light squeeze.

Mukti: Manik, stop blaming yourself. There is something wrong, yaar. Just call someone at home and ask them when did she last eat at home?

Manik frowns but calls to their landline phone.

Call

Manik: Suno, it's Manik here. Ramu kaka ko phone dena zara.

Butler: Ji, baba.

Kaka: Manik beta

Manik: kaka, Nandu ne kal breakfast kiya tha kya?

Kaka: Nahi beta. Unhone mana kardiya tha, office ke liye late ho gayi thi.

Manik: Aur parso raat? Jab main ghar par nahi tha.

Kaka: Uss din bhi nahi khaya. Arey, haan. Uss din woh jab raat ko aayi thi ghar, security wale bol rahe the ki woh bahut dari hui thi. Unhe gates bandh rakhne bola. Kisi ko andar aane se mana kiya. Ghar ke andar bhi aate hi darwaze bandh karne ke liye bola tha hume. Bahut jaldbazi mein thi. Apna room door lock kardiya. Phir subah bas office jate time khola tha unhone.

Manik: Theek hai. Main rakhta hun.

Call Ends

He informs their conversation to Mukti.

Mukti: That's it, Manik. Uss din raat ko kuch hua hoga after she left from office because the last we talked to her was when she was leaving for home and she was fine then.

Manik(panicked): Is it Harshad again? There is no person other than him who could scare her this much. Maybe she met him on her way to home. Oh my God, how did she escape from him? She was alone and...Mukti...

Mukti: Manik, calm down. Think peacefully. You said Harshad is in jail, right? Do you have the number of that inspector?

Manik: Yeah.

He dials the number of the inspector who came to arrest him and gets to know that he was bailed.

Manik: I need Nandu's mobile. Ask Cabir to bring it without her notice.

Minutes later, Cabir comes with her mobile.

Manik: How is she?

Cabir: So rahi hai. Maybe, due to the effects of the medicines.

He nods and checks her inbox and finds a message from an unknown number. He calls one of his persons to track the details and location of it. Having found the address, he turns to leave.

Cabir: Let me accompany you.

Manik: Cabir, stay here. I need her safe. Until I come back, she is your responsibility.

Mukti: At least, mujhe toh aane de.

Manik(determinedly): She might need you, Mukti. More importantly, I want to do this myself. I need a favor from you. Can you call your commissioner uncle and ask him permission to kill him.

Mukti(cupping his face): Listen, Manik, you are not killing anyone. (wiping his tears) Nandini needs you more than us on any day and she wouldn't be happy seeing you behind the bars after killing someone. Stay safe, kiddo. Tere mein hum sabki jaan basti hai. Just share the location with me. I need you to stay safe.

Manik nods and leaves.