After a month,

It was great month for Manik, work wise, but too draining for the soul which resides in breathing human body coz it was the month when he felt more alive than he expected but not for once there was anything apart from anger, hatred nd wild pull of attraction towards forbidden soul living in another country, which devastated his state of mind.

No doubt, Russia was a great country and he had entered into the real business world where he had shook hands with superior mafias of the country, anyone can say that almost all underground businesses in Russia is under his control not directly, but indirectly.

When he came here in Russia, he didn't behave as someone new or inferior in front of them instead he behaved as if he is the king of world and he is here to rule, his aura nd attitude made his certain image in front of everyone that they assumed he must not be ruling only one country but many. Nd that was their plan to set up his image so high. Next he wanted to capture some parts of USA but they thought it would be too soon to do that, as it's a superpower nation. So they decided to capture nearby area and for the smaller nations they sent other trained people on Manik's behalf. Everything was going well according to the plan and it really kept him busy whole day and night.

As the country was big so the desires of people, specially the women, kind of women who aren't just stubborn but too egoistic to take no as an answer. ( No offense to any country this is just his pov that too for particular set of people who literally assaulted him) Never in life he felt so pressurized with the kind of force where everyone literally everyone was interested in his sex life, his most personal space.

There were many times when his plain, simple NO wasn't respected or accepted by the other person. Many of them tried provoking him in loathsome ways, hoping that he would show the MAN in him just to shut them but it worked in reverse nd Manik had this intense desire of killing each one of them. He was intimidated by their cheap words and was surely pissed that at one point he had thought of leaving country but there was his back up, Sangram. Who handled every thing at his level best and due to all this chaos everyone got a doubt about Manik being gay, even Mafia leaders weren't ready to accept that this kind of man exists. So men too tried their luck nd need not to say they had to visit hospital in next few minutes. They ended up with the conclusion of him being asexual, no person said this aloud yet it reached to Manik nd he was fine with the rumour, at least it saved him from freaks who literally tried raping him in many possible ways.

Not that he wasn't affected by any of the action but then there was strong self restraint to stay true to his mother's and Sangram's expectations and somewhere her words were becoming his reality. Untill now he just followed her words as it was a unbreakable promise. But since that night when he had dagger in his back and enchantress in front of his eyes, the mere words started changing into something. And that something turned into the meaningful sentiment. So he wasn't just keeping his promise but he was unknowingly following his responsibility of unspoken loyalty.

......................||

After the morning assembly, Nandini was sitting in the staff room, completing the pending register work. Usually some over enthusiastic students helps her in maintaining registers but since exams are near so she was doing it herself otherwise she used to study in her free time, at school.

Unlike everyday, today she was all alone in staff room cause two teachers were on holiday nd remaining teachers were taking lectures. Unfortunately this news reached to cunning principal unknowingly via peon and that was it for that opportunist to enter the staff room.

Hearing the creaking sound of wooden door Nandini looked up to see her nightmare walking into the room with dirtiest smile nd disgusting gaze which made her shiver in her place. Suppressing the vibe of possible upcoming danger she rose from her place, gathered her things in few secs.

"Good morning Sir" with a forceful smile nd fearful heart she started moving out of the door with her things in hands. She was about to step away from him but abruptly her steps were stopped as bastard grabbed her waist, forcefully.

"Absolutely it's a good morning for me ..... Finally got my hands on you" he whispered in his lusty voice which frightened her and involuntarily her registers dropped down from her hands and directly landed on his toes which made him growled in pain.

"You bitch" he growled nd grabbed her hips. He pressed his dirty hands, tears of humiliation came out of her eyes and in a reflex of her unguarded anger nd discomfort she slapped him so hard that his lower lip started bleeding.

"You fucking S**t*" he screamed at the insult and tried grabbing her again who was shaking in anger, her heart was gripped with a fear which crumbled her confidence. With an uncalled force she pushed him, he stumbled back but still he was very much in control nd was more powerful than her, it wasn't like she is too fragile but she was too numb nd scared at the moment that she lost her working senses.

"Nandiniiii" Isha screamed at the suspected ongoing event. She didn't see who was inside the staffroom but whatever she saw from the corridor was enough for her to ran towards struggling Nandini as Nandini's figure was visible to outsider.

Hearing the familiar voice, Manohar backed off immediately and left her with a jerk whereas unconsciously Nandini felt relieved hearing the voice of her friend.

She didn't realise when Isha ran towards her nd took her in brief hug. Isha patted her shoulders before turning to the bastard.

"How could you be so vile ? ...... You shameful piece of shit" she screamed at him before slapping him hard which angered him more and hurted his male ego.

"How dare you raised ur hand on me ..... Do u have any idea of the possible consequences?" Two slaps in a day that too from mere women, the thought itself was revolting for him.

"Actually I really don't have any idea that how could principal of school be so awful, cheap and insensitive ..... It's terrible " though she always suspected him to be pervert but still confirmation was surprising coz somewhere there was respectful image of him in her mind, she always found Nandini uncomfortable around him but apart from that he never looked  wrong or perverted so she always thought her suspicions are just poor assumptions.

"I can throw you out of the school ..... Be in your limits ....... And you ...... Stay quiet about all this if u try to pull any stunt against me then you have no idea what I can do ..... I will destroy you" he threatened already scared Nandini who didn't show any emotions. She was blank, just blank , she couldn't get that dirty touch out of her mind. That sickening touch was crawling in her mind.

"Actually you don't have any idea what will happen to you ..... So be careful" Isha retorted back, she said it with animated power though in reality she knew her words are empty without power but intensity behind them was as real as her anger. Also their impact mattered, as he looked restless all of sudden and then left from there, immediately.

............................||

"Nandini ..... Take this" Isha took Nandini inside the staffroom, made her sit on chair and held a water bottle in front of her which Nandini took silently and emptied it in a minute.

"Nandini" after a minute of silence Isha called her softly and Nandini looked up with fearfulness in innocent black eyes. Though she wasn't crying but that troubled look in her eyes pinched Isha's heart, never in life she saw Nandini being  defenceless and terrified like a traumatized child. She has always seen that strong Nandini who always faced every bad thing with courage, she never looked powerless and low spirited.

"Say something ...... Ur silence is scaring me" at the end her voice turned heavy as she was trying not to cry. Isha never cries so easily, after her break up she was burden with so many responsibilities that she never let herself feel emotionally low.

"Please talk to me  ..... I know it's difficult ..... I can't even imagine what you must be feeling ..... He didn't just touch ur body but ..."

"But he attacked on my respect ...... He brutally tried to destroy my soul ..... He left scratches on my mind ..... He crumbled my attitude ...... I feel my soul is numb nd body is burning with his dirty touches ..... I feel scared even to look at my own self " she poured her feelings without ounce of any hard resentment in her voice yet Isha felt her heart churning at unheard voice of Nandini's broken self esteem.

"Don't be scared ...... U r very much fine and safe ...... But you need to spill out ..... Don't hold your tears please let them flow ..... I'm with you to handle you" though taking action against principal was all in her mind but taking care of Nandini looked way more important thus she stayed there to share Nandini's feelings which she had suppressed.

"Can you ..... Please call Sumit here" finally there was some sentiments in her voice, her tone was needy nd desperate. After years of having no expectations of emotional support from her unconcerned husband, she craved for him today. She was in need of his warmth, she just wanted to feel safe from the outer world. And she was counting on her husband for her emotional dependency, she wanted assurance from him that she is beautiful and there are no scratches on her self esteem.

Isha looked at her uncertainly for few seconds and then nodded yes. She didn't know if that's the right thing to do or not but understanding Nandini's state of mind she called Sumit. She prayed silently that he will handle this matter with care and sensitivity but somewhere she was anxious to relay on him.

.................||

Sumit was returning from the dairy with a half litre milk bag in his hand. Regularly his mother or wife brings that but today for a change his mother asked him nd he couldn't deny her hopeful wish. While returning he stopped at their usual stall to buy a cigar.

"Hey Sumit come join us" Sumit looked in the adjacent direction of stall where he found his group sitting on their regular bench and need not to say all were filling their lungs with smoke in the morning.

"Hey guys" he sat on the Kiran's parked bike in front of bench.

"How come alcohol turned its colour into white?" Dutta said sarcastically eyeing the milk bag in his hand.

"Nandini forgot to bring it yesterday so  mother asked me nd I didn't feel like denying" he explained nonchalantly and missed the flicker of smirk on Sameer's face. He don't know but all his friends secretly lusts his wife but Sameer is bigger snake.

He superficially looks better than the rest of group and more than half of young nd old girls from the locality are behind him which gives him superiority complex. He has been involved with many committed nd single women but he gets special kick by seeing Nandini. And more than that she is being loyal to someone like Sumit makes him loose his shit, he can't bear person like Sumit with no class or looks or money can have epitome of beauty. So since last two years he is finding ways to score on Nandini.

"Ohh ..... By the way how are things between you two ? ...... Better ? ...... Or still worse?" He asked with a fake concern and was hoping for a negative answer so he can spoil Sumit's mind more.

"Don't know ...... Since last month she look so distant ..... I have never seen her behaving that way ..... Earlier too we have had fights but she becomes normal in a week ..... But now it's different she is not angry or upset she is just indifferent to my existence" he said being irritated. He was irked with her indifference though subconsciously he knew he is the reason but still his ego didn't let him believe that.

"Ever wondered why it's happening?" Sameer asked.

"Of course because of his bad behaviour" Dutta uttered unconsciously nd before Sumit could agree or oppose it Kiran interrupted.

"Come on .....  He loves her he won't do anything bad ..... She must be overacting as usual" Kiran covered it instantly as they don't want Sumit to have any soft corner for her. Afterall everyone wants to have Nandini under them nd it's their plan to manipulate events in a way which will take them to her.

"May be she is losing interest in him" Sameer said it with a fake concern, trying his best to look genuine.

"What do you mean?" Sumit asked suspiciously. His friends cares for him more than anyone so they won't lie to him and even if they do, he is smarter enough to not get fooled by them, isn't he?

"See don't take me wrong ..... But I have seen these beautiful girls always have people running behind them ..... So if they get into fight with their partner then always they get another shoulder to cry ...... And gradually they lose interest in their partner nd gives attention to other person ..... So may be she too found another shoulder for her" he uttered last line with a cautious warning and smirked seeing the clouded expression on Sumit's face. Finally his manipulation was working.

"What are you saying Sameer ? ...... She isn't like that" Dutta raised his voice little bit to make it more realistic as if they respect her so much.

"Yeah u r right ..... Anyways I was just assuming ..... After all, everyone is not same" Sameer shrugged his shoulders casually and dismissed the topic as if he never initiated it. But Sumit's thoughts were running faster than bullet train he became oblivious to current gossip, he didn't pay attention to their change of expressions where they were grinning with a victory.

......................... ||

Sumit felt vibration in his pants pocket, he took out phone from his pocket to see Nandini's call, he became little bit happy by seeing her call, she cares for him nd is missing him. Thought itself was soothing his mind, unconsciously.

"Hello ..... Sumit it's me Isha, please immediately come to the school Nandini needs you" he heard familiar voice nd news made him worried.

"What happened? ..... Is she fine?" She heard concern nd shock in his tone.

"She is fine but principal misbehaved with her ....... She is crying so much, she needs you ...... Come soon" and without waiting for his response she cut the call so she missed his horrifying response. The one sentence was enough to change his entire perspective and concern into loathing for her.

"What happened? ....... Is everything fine?" Sameer asked.

"I will be back ..... Bye" he turned to the parked bike, took its key from Kiran nd handed him milk bag then he raced from there to school.

......................||

After 15minutes Nandini stopped crying but she was silent, Isha was sitting there, beside her giving her much needed space by staying calm. Suddenly they heard the sound of footsteps and looked up to see Sumit walking inside the room. Seeing him Nandini directly rushed into his arms and without interrupting the couple Isha left the room silently.

....................||

"So r u missing me so much?" Adhiraj asked with a twinkling hope nd mischievousness when he picked Manik's call. It was third time in month where Manik himself called otherwise whenever they talked it was Adhiraj who used to call out of concern.

"Actually ...... Human punching bag always excites me ..... You know it right".

"It's hard blow on my importance in your life".

"Stop ur drama or else I will blow ur existence".

"Okay so tell me why did you call?"

"I don't think I'm coming any sooner in India ...... However another consignment is supposed to deliver tomorrow so look into it" he ordered, though Adhiraj was highly against it but him coming to India will be worst so to keep him away he decided to agree.

"But this will be last time ..... Ask ur men to look for some other place nd shift ur business there" Manik just hummed and was ready to cut the call but Adhiraj didn't let him.

....................||

"What happened? ...... What did you do ?" Sumit asked with anger laced tone though she felt disconnected with him still she stayed there, trying to seek comfort. At that moment she needed his assurance nd care more than anything nd anyone.

"Pri ..... Principal misbehaved with me ..... He was forcing on m.." her lips wobbled due to the sudden gush of tears. But his insecurities were deeply rooted to see it was her who was victim nd not culprit.

"So u tried seducing him ? ...... Why ? ..... Cause he is better looking or he is rich enough to satisfy your needs?"  Disgust in his voice broke whatever was left in her already broken self and she backed away from him. He jerked her away from his embrace and she stumbled back because of two consecutive shocks.

"What did u say ? ...... Do u seriously think this low of me ?" She questioned him with her shattered heart and belief.

"Actually I expect nothing less from the cheap person like you ..... I know u r tired of my poverty ..... Girls like you can never see anything beyond money ...... But please don't ruin someone else's family for ur unethical needs" he didn't do anything better but pushed her into the darkest place where she literally doubted herself, is she really that cheap to deserve no respect from anyone? This is the second time in a day where her self esteem is attacked.

"Leave" after a silence of minute she asked him in cold tone which stirred something inside him too but he ignored. Her blank eyes rang the subconscious warning bell in his mind but he ignored that too nd left from there. On the other hand his sadist self was feeling better after making her feel low. Though he behaved as if Nandini is literally behind principal but somewhere he knows it's anything but truth still he was blinded by manipulation nd self insecurity at the moment so he blindly believed his own theory/ suspicion.

After he left, Nandini dropped down to her knees on floor, this time she was crying, her soul was ripped, she was splintered into pieces. All these yrs she became stronger enough to handle her emotional nd mental state but today all she craved was comfort and love. She wanted to feel loved nd understood but all she got was distrust nd more disturbing part was his obscene accusation. She knows their relationship is not good or perfect instead it's drowning but she never thought he would think this low of her. It took her minute to absorb his words and that killed whatever sentiments she had for her husband. Getting hurt from him wasn't new neither it was unexpected but this literally crushed her.

........................||

"Knock...... Knock" Adhiraj heard someone tapping on his cabin's door where he was busy in talking with Manik. He was forcing Manik to share the details of their safety so he won't stay awake in nights, worrying about his father nd friend.

"Come in" he shouted from inside and Isha from the other side entered with calm composure but from inside she was burning with anger. After leaving Nandini there she came here to talk with trustee, she didn't ask Nandini before coming here coz this time she was adamant to complain, she didn't want to hear any ridiculous theories from Nandini if she was thinking of letting it go. She was determined to make Manohar pay for it and she don't care even if her job is at stake.

"Manik  ...... Give me moment" he whispered on call but didn't cut it instead he lowered his mobile so that he can resume his talk again.

"What it is Miss?" He politely asked her.

"Sir it's about principal ...... That cunning man tried assaulting Nandini" Manik was about to cut the call as he wasn't interested in talking with Adhiraj but just then he heard anger filled voice uttering HER name and that was enough to keep him rooted.

"What??? ....... Is it true? ...... Are you sure?" Adhiraj didn't need proofs to believe her coz he knew Manik suspected it way before nd her complaint just gave confirmation still maintaining his post of trustee he asked her.

"Yes I saw him touching her inappropriately ...... He ..... He was umm forcing himself on her  ..... U can check CCTV footage too" she stuttered a bit coz indecent incident replayed in her mind.

Adhiraj's hand suddenly shivered coz the vibration he felt in his body by hearing that ear damaging voice from other side of the call which was audible to only him as Isha was standing away from his desk but he still had mobile in his hand nd at that moment he realised what damage he caused by not cutting the phone earlier neither he can cut it now or else Manik will kill him first.

"Okay u go and stay with her ..... I will look into it" his calm response angered her, she expected immediate action from him but here he was trying to keep Manik out of situation.

"Please just because u guys are rich don't let innocent girl suffer ..... Don't use ur power for evil instead try to show some humanity" though she was angry but she knows she can't fight them so she requested, pain nd helplessness in her voice shook him little.

"Don't worry ..... Justice will be prevailed ..... Not every rich person is moral less ..... My mother has raised me better than what u think" this time he genuinely comforted her she muttered thanks nd moved out with hope, his words felt true to keep faith in them.

"Manik" Adhiraj said in an uncertain voice unsure about the response from other side.

"Are you there?" Though he knew it's silence before storm yet he asked to confirm if Manik is still there on call.

"KILL THAT BASTARD" it was sheer order with surety that it didn't leave chance for argument either.

"I will look into matter ..... Will call the police nd will file complain against him ...... I'm not mafia to kill people" he tried his luck, no matter what he can't kill person.

"Okay don't kill but don't send him into jail either ..... Nd no argument over this".

"As if I have choice ..... But Manik please don't do something in impulse please" he requested knowing that it's going to be denied.

"Keep an eye on him ...... Bye".

"What are you doing Manik?"

"Calling our jet"

"Please don't come here ..... Do whatever you want from there ....... U have men to do your work ..... Don't come h...." And the line went dead as he cut the phone.

Adhiraj's hand was still shaking, he kept mobile on desk nd wiped his sweaty palms and neck. He was sweating inspite of having AC on due to stress caused by Manik, no matter wherever he is, his impression is more than needed to scare the hell out of person.

................... End ...................||

Let me know if you find any mistake.

How was the chapter?

.................. Aish ❣️.................