Before we start, can you guys share your thoughts on Nandini's character?
(I feel you guys have some misconceptions regarding her character, so I have described her character in between the chapter but before that I want to know your perceived vision of her)

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"Why did you do this?" First he was flabbergasted because of her presence and then he literally frowned at her question as if she didn't know the reason behind his action.

He never thought she would come for him but deep down he hoped to see her caring for him at least 1% of how she cares for her husband.

And the only thing she could do after hearing news of him being imprisoned was running towards the police station just after pushing her husband away and leaving him without any reason or justification.

"You were right ..... I Couldn't stop myself and now see I'm scattered" he stated with a straight face and that made her swallow the lump in her throat. She was already very weighed down by all the feelings which were making her feel low about her and her life. 

"I'm sorry" she folded her hands in front of him and closed her eyes, pleading for forgiveness.
He resisted his hesitant hands from holding her hands through the iron bars of jail.

"Aren't you happy to see a criminal in jail?" He asked with bitterness which made her open her eyes.

"I don't know ..... Ideally I should be happy to see a criminal being arrested but I don't know if I wanted to see you surrendering just because of your feelings for an unworthy person" out of tiredness she slided down and sat on the floor with her back sticking to the railings of the iron bar. She wasn't just physically tired but also her mind was utterly messed up. She couldn't think of anything which would make her life better.

"Worth of a person cannot be decided by himself/ herself when it's all about someone else's perceptions regarding you" he too sat down on the floor inside the cell.

"I don't think you should have any better perception of the person behind your arrest  ...... I feel so selfish right now, I'm hurting you ..... And I don't know what to do .... But please release me out of this self guilt" she cried silently without facing him but he doesn't need to see her face to know she is crying and even she knows he knows that she is crying.

"Tum woh zakhm ho jiska dard mujhe pasand hai ..... It's making me feel alive ….. Otherwise I had been an empty vessel without feelings". Slowly his hand crawled towards her and he placed his big palm on the back of her small palm which was resting on the floor.

That was the moment where she felt peace amidst all the chaos happening in her life. She didn't know whether it was right or wrong to find the contentment in the jail with a criminal. She doesn't know if this is due to the serenity of night or due to his mighty presence which is enough to crumble all her fears just by existing.

"I don't even know whether you scare me or hurt me more with your actions and words" he doesn't understand what to make out of her words of tonight, is she giving into him or it's just a slip of moment for her.

"Can't say anything about how you should feel for me and what decision you should take but get rid of the people who are hurting you daily ..... Get control of your life in your own hands so no one will be able to scare you" this time she turned her head a little to find him staring at her with utmost care and concern. She doesn't remember seeing him like this.

"You should go home now.... Staying here will stain your virtue" he said after a minute by breaking an eye lock. It was becoming uncomfortable for him to stay sane when she was behaving like this and he didn't want to take advantage of her vulnerability. He knows she is here out of guilt and burden of all the emotional responsibility and not willingly out of love for him.

This was it for her, she came out of the spell and instantly took her hand back and he just kept looking at the emptiness where his palm met with a cold surface area of floor. She also noticed how his face fell at that moment but he recovered within seconds.

He saw a constable near his cell going towards another constable who might be his friend and they both stopped in the middle and were staring at Nandini, trying to find out some suspicion related to her and just before he could say something, they heard one of the constable speaking:

"Isn't she the same girl who was here for that drug stealer?" Constable asked this to his colleague.

"Yeah ..... She was here for her husband in the morning" the one who saw her in the morning replied.

"Husband ? ...... Then who is he and what is she doing with this Mafia man? …. In fact she looks more devastated than what she was in the morning" Unaware of the fact Manik was hearing them, they were talking.

"Nowadays cheating is very common ..... He might be her boyfriend ..... Earlier I thought she was a good wife, fighting for her husband ..... But again she was too beautiful to stay loyal to her husband .... Such women easily cheat on their spouses" at this point she broke into tears and Manik turned red in anger. He was moments away from uprooting the iron bar which was caging him inside.

"Stop ..... They aren't wrong to think low about a person like me" she held his hand before he could do anything. Her words stung him and more than him they burnt her own tongue.

"Shut up ..... Are you even in your senses?" He roared which made her flinch and also the constables got alert,  instantly they sealed their mouths.

"Exactly this is going to be my image if you keep getting involved in my life" and with that she ran out of the police station with tears of humiliation in her eyes. That devastated look on her face was enough to unleash the monster in him.

[ This is what Nandini was scared of, it's very easy for us to say that society doesn't matter but it does, especially when you are poor and you don't hold any power or social status.

Yes she is intelligent but that doesn't make her courageous. In fact she has been a coward since her childhood. It's not her fault that she never experienced a free environment, she had always lived in a space where she might have progressive thoughts in her mind but she could never follow them because people around her had made her guilty for having such practical thoughts over being emotional. She always lived around either orthodox or toxic people who claimed to love her yet always treated her wrongly and in fact made her feel that this is what she deserves and this is her reality.

She started thinking that whatever the world talks about equality is a kind of luxury which she can't afford, kindness is not for her and it's a privilege to be born in a good modern family where woman is treated as human and not as a sin or mistake or goddess.

And she is not blinded by Sumit's love, she had fallen out of love just after their marriage but she thought she can't escape this reality that's why she kept hoping for him to be a better husband so that they can live together.
That never happened and she obviously had thoughts of separation but she was scared of society. She didn't have any support, she couldn't jump into another danger to escape one. In her home at least she knows Sumit is her danger but outside she doesn't know who is her enemy or friend ( and we all know what all things happen in the world). Also not to forget though she is intelligent but she isn't much educated, not even graduated and nowadays it's hard to find a job even after your masters.

I know that isn't an excuse to endure toxicity but she just earns around 20 k salary and that job isn't permanent either.
With that salary you can't even afford a good place to stay in Mumbai. She can afford the places where she will find boys like Sumit's friend who are waiting for one moment of loneliness to take advantage of her vulnerability. (Life is not Wattpad story where heroine gets saved even after staying on streets, I'm not denying this possibility but that happens rarely without anyone's help)

She was always bound by her own inhibitions but she sought some strength when she found Isha and later on after meeting Abhilasha she saw the light. There she got wings and then only she started thinking about divorce in reality.

But that was just the beginning, she hadn't come out of that mindset where she can think only about herself and not society or others. She couldn't leave him when he was in jail because even though he deserves to be in jail but not for lifetime, he didn't steal drugs and she is not inhuman to think of destroying his life. She knew if he goes under that case he will never come back and that would have haunted her for a lifetime. She thinks he got arrested because of her (it's her thought that Manik wouldn't have noticed him if he wasn't her husband).

She felt it was her responsibility to set him free from jail, that's why she was desperate and not because she loves him.

Now coming to Manik, we may think Manik is there to hold her if she stumbles but she doesn't know that. We know that he can go to any length for her but she doesn't. She thinks she is just a phase in his life where he is attracted to her, she doesn't know his overall personality or thought process. One most important thing is that she doesn't love him nor has such feelings for him because she is married and it's like a sin for her to think that way. She doesn't see him as her permanent solution to be safer. That's why she never thought of seeking him to end her misery especially after knowing he had feelings for, she doesn't want to give him wrong signals nor she wants to use him. He had just come into her life, a few months ago. But she has been fighting this battle for 2 yrs.

I agree she is a coward and that's what I have tried to show. I tried to give the touch of reality to her character. Though Manik angle is completely fictional and that's why I wanted her to come out of her marriage on her own. I have tried showing the struggle and dilemma a woman can go through.

I'm very much sure there are many such women who are suffering from the same thing and they are not able to move out mostly because they don't believe in themselves to live a life of freedom and I can totally understand that because they don't get support from their families. Also their abusive husbands won't leave them even after divorce and first thing first they won't even consent for divorce.

(I'm sure it's not just the case with married women it must be similar for some unmarried girls too who are living in toxic family)

Despite everything, living in such an atmosphere is not the solution so I want people to get inspired from Nandini and her story (if it's inspirational at all). Because I believe if you want something for you there are people to help you, you just need to seek them but be careful you won't know who is your friend and who is your enemy. Don't wait for Manik, he is purely fictional and if you are lucky enough you will have him but before that please help yourself.

Though being strong is subjective and I know many of you think she isn't strong but from my perspective she is strong. She didn't do suicide even after having such thoughts and seeing no future at times in her life. I have seen girls ending their lives because they didn't see any ray of sunshine.

So this is what her character is like and I'm sorry if I failed to portray it this way. I mean I always tried to show it this way but if it has been turned into an annoying female lead then sorry it wasn't my intention.

That's it from my end. I hope now you have knowledge about Nandini's character and if you still find her annoying then it's your opinion and I respect that. ]

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Just before entering the police station Adhiraj bumped into the lady who was running mindlessly. He held her shoulders to prevent her from falling and then he looked at her defeated face.

“Miss. Nandini, what are you doing here?” After maintaining an appropriate distance he asked her who was silently crying.

“I'm sorry sir I didn't see you coming ….. Now I will take your leave” she politely answered him without breaking into tears.

“Wait Nan….” Before he could complete his sentence she was already far away from him.

Thinking it has to do with Manik he entered inside to get thrilled at the doorstep only. He sucked in deep breath when he saw Manik strangling two constables with his two hands and surprisingly he still was inside the prison yet that didn't stop his hands from strangling the people who uttered nonsense about her.

“She is not someone to gossip about, get that straight into your mind” other on duty constables could only watch the horrible scene unfolding in front of them. The officer in charge rushed towards Manik to free his constables, without wasting another moment  Adhiraj too ran towards the ultimate troublemaker in his life.

“I order you mister Malhotra to leave them or else I will file a case against you for this act” Officer ordered him strictly and Manik just showed him his angry eyes, he didn't look anything less than a red eyed monster in that moment.

“Aarav stop it now” hearing Adhiraj's voice Manik let go of them and they fell flat on their faces.

“I'm sorry officer but please let me have a word with him ….. He is dealing with something which I can't reveal without his lawyer” Adhiraj pleaded in front of the officer.

“That doesn't give him a free pass to misbehave, I hope you understand it Mr Mohite” officer replied.

“It won't happen again, it's my word …. Please let it go this time, at least for the sake of our friendship” and the officer nodded respectfully, he can't afford to be in the bad books of such a rich and reputed public figure. Adhiraj holds an elite position in society.

“I won't waste my time asking why you did that because I am sure it has something to do with Nandini ….. I just bumped into her and she was crying, so may I ask why ?” Adhiraj directly came to his cell and started speaking.

“If u saw her then u should have dropped her home ….. What are you doing here? ….. Go and drop her to her place” Manik instantly ordered him.

“It's not an answer to my question,” he responded harshly.

“It's very late at night and we don't want to take a risk ….. You know the severity of the situation, right?” At this point he knew he wouldn't get any answer.

“Okay I will drop her home …… But on one condition that you won't behave impulsively already whatever you did is chaotic enough …. Father is very angry at you and I don't understand what you were thinking before surrendering?” He was very pissed at Manik.

“It might be past midnight please go behind her ….. We don't know if she has resources to reach home or not” After hearing this from Manik, Adhiraj stomped his feet and nodded.

“I have brought this phone for you ….. Keep it and tell me everything which I need to know …. I know you won't take this huge risk without any escape plan”. Now Manik was left with nothing rather than agreeing to Adhiraj's demand and he positively accepted the phone.

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As he came out of the police station he searched for her but he couldn't find her and when he was about to give up after 10 minutes just then he saw a lady helplessly sitting on the bench in the back premises of the police station.

“Come …. I will drop you at your place” she got startled after hearing Adhiraj's voice and looked at him.

“I'm not sure whether I want to go back to that place or not” she replied nonchalantly.

“You know that it's not safer for you to sit here, right?” He sat beside her.

“You shouldn't sit here beside me if you care for your reputation” the words of the constables had stabbed her heart and it was visible from her tone. He didn't know what exactly happened but he can sense this bitterness is a result of some harsh words thrown at her.

“And you should know that you don't need anyone's validation to define your character ….. You know yourself better than anyone else ….. I won't say people's judgement doesn't hurt, it does ….. But again they're humans and can be wrong in judging someone, even you might have judged someone wrongly ….. Think about it” his words literally made her think and gradually she realized he was right.

“Does it make sense?” He asked after a minute when he saw her engrossed in her thinking.

“Surprisingly it does” she agreed.

“You are going to be surprised if you ever get to know the real Manik” he said looking into the darkness in front.

“What do you mean?”

“That you must be having wrong judgements regarding him now in your mind but again it's his duty to make it right, if you ever show willingness to know” he said making her uncomfortable with her own thoughts.

“I don't think so I would want to know him more than I already do” she said looking at the other side and this time her voice was a little thicker.

“Well good for you ….. So can we leave now?” He got up from his place and asked her.

“I know I will be crossing my line by asking this but is your mother at home? ….. And if yes can you please take me to her ?” She was determined to reinstate her life.

“I can but what about your husband? He might be worried that you are not home yet” Adhiraj asked.

“He was constantly calling me so I told him I'm at Isha's place” she told him.

“If you want we can take her along with us ….. In fact she already met my mother on your behalf” he told her about her friend's adventures which made her smile, at least there is someone who genuinely wants to help her.

“Isn't it too late for her to come out of her house?” Nandini asked her query.

“It's never too late in Mumbai and we can ask if it's possible for her or not ….. Rest is her choice” He replied patiently and she nodded.

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“Now will you tell me why you did this?” Adhiraj called Manik and asked him.

“I didn't know you had super powers to cover 30 km within 10 mins that too in Mumbai” Manik replied sarcastically.

“She is on call with Isha ….. She is not inside the car right now ….. Please be fast and tell me everything” he asked in a hurry.

“There is nothing to tell you …… You guys wanted to safeguard him and he could be safe only when I'm caged ….. So enjoy” he replied with arrogance in his tone.

“That means you don't plan to come out so soon coz you want me to get tortured by my father? …. Just because I went against you to save him which again worked in your favor but still you want to be sadist” Adhiraj hissed in frustration.

“I never thought of you to be this smart” he mocked from the other end. He himself didn't think of everything but Adhiraj made it easy for him.

“She is here ….. Will call you later” he disconnected the call when Nandini opened the car door.

“What did she say?” Adhiraj asked out of curiosity.

“She is eager to come ….. I hope we won't be a bother to your mother ….. I mean it's past midnight” she looked down in embarrassment.

“She is a social worker for a reason …. It's not a big deal for her to meet people at this time….. So relax” he said to make her feel comfortable. He knew she must be dealing with something very bad to demand to meet his mother at this time.

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“Tell me what brings you here at this time?” Abhilasha asked once they all settled in her living room at 2 am.

“I'm here to seek help from you ….. I want to divorce my husband but I don't know how to do it without feeling guilty” this statement made Adhiraj choked on his saliva. He didn't think she was here for divorce, so he immediately lowered the volume of his phone and dialed Manik's temporary number so that he could hear the news himself.

"Why guilty, have you done something wrong?” Abhilasha asked.

“No ….. But it was a love marriage and I went against my family so I don't know how to cope up with everything if I decide to divorce him” she expressed her genuine concern.

“If you don't mind, can you reveal your past …. If not everything then at least a few main aspects of it which made it a miserable marriage life for you” Abhilasha asked so that she can help Nandini to overcome her dilemma.

“Okay” and she inhaled a deep breath.

…………….End ………….||

…………. Aish ❤️…………