When Manik returned to the lab, he wasn't the same, Adhiraj noticed that mild smile on his face and he guessed the reason too but he couldn't believe it cause that mild smile looked so unreal to be true at any given cost. He never saw Manik smiling, not even in childhood too. He was either irritated or angry or silent but he never saw him smiling from inside.

Manik was so lost that he didn't sense that Adhiraj is watching him. But his trance was broken by the phone's ringing. He instantly came out of that daze but still he used his right hand to hold the phone but deliberately didn't use left hand. His action seemed so obvious for Adhiraj to notice the difference but he remained silent.

As the call ended he was again looking at his left palm with so much adoration and that was definitely suspicious act.

"What it is bro ?.....  Why this injustice to your face?" Then Manik realised that he is not alone in the room but he has company since he entered back. He composed himself and frowned at Adhiraj's words.

"What injustice?" He asked.

"U never spent that much time in adoring ur handsome face but u r doing that with ur hand?  ..... Is it alright?" Adhiraj was teasing him but Manik took his words seriously nd again started looking at his hand, warmly.

"It never felt alive in ages" he couldn't forget that soft skin of her feet but he didn't like how there were fresh scratches on her foot.

"Why ? ....... Did it touched the moon or what?" At this point it wasn't normal teasing actually Adhiraj was indirectly trying to find if his suspicion is right or wrong. Because he did saw Nandini going away from Manik just few moments before Manik walked into the lab.

"Don't know if it would be justifying with the moon's comparison" cause moon is flawed but she isn't. He did complete his sentence but in his mind and didn't say it aloud to Adhiraj who was going anxious with every moment while sensing the upcoming danger.

"I hope u didn't touch something forbidden" indirectly he dropped the hint but he is not sure if Manik will take it or not.

"What did u mean?" If it was any other time Manik would have ignored it but that little glimpse of toe ring created that insecurity in him nd Adhiraj's words acted as a fuel.

The twitchiness he felt in Manik's voice was rare which he hadn't witnessed yet, which really made him worried. But still he just couldn't tell him the truth, call him coward but he don't have guts to say the truth in front of Manik. Who knows he may kill him in the reflex. That subtle smile on his face was enough to show the intensity of Manik's craze for her. Though he isn't sure about level of Manik's involvement in Nandini but he has known Manik more to know it before hand only. He just prayed that Manik isn't deeply interested in Nandini. But that seems unrealistic, now.

"I meant drug ...... The most forbidden thing" he lied and that hesitation in his voice also raised suspicion into Manik's mind but his heart backed off from the confrontation, it believed the lie conveniently. People may call him heartless Mafia but he do have a heart which is very fragile about particular feelings otherwise he is literal demon in every sense. But any which way he is extremist. 

"They are arriving tomorrow at 8pm ..... School has holiday ...... No one is going to be here so shut ur CCTV cameras for whole day and night" he said bluntly.

"What if someone will steal ur stuff ..... So I guess we should keep cameras on" Adhiraj suggested.

"I'm there to protect the stuff ...... I can't afford to get caught in cameras" he said it and instantly left the lab. He didn't wait for Adhiraj, he is not willing to think beyond his knowledge of things and Adhiraj's presence is making it difficult. Sometimes it's not beneficial to see through people.

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

Sumit was waiting for Nandini, outside her school. Today morning they had another banter over nuptial chain nd she said she won't perform Aarati or come near the set up of Ganpati temple if she is not having Mangalsutra. It's not like that she is too religious but it's the pressure of people in chawl who won't think good of her even after knowing how pathetic her husband is. He isn't the only toxic man in area, most of men are toxic nd their wives are still dealing with them without having thoughts of seperation or freedom, they have adjusted with their lives nd they will expect same from her. If Sumit has sold the original mangalsutra then they will expect her to wear the fake one instead of staying like a unmarried girl.

So Sumit already had money which was given by Manik, and he only gave one lakh rupees to his group nd kept one lakh rupees secretly for himself. He was planning to not use them until festival is over but after today's conflict he went to jwellery shop and wasted all the money on nuptial chain, he didn't use a single rupee on him.

And now he was waiting outside the school to surprise her, he also felt little bad that last week everyday she has to walk till school. So to make it up he came here. 10 mins were left for school to get over but then he saw Manik Malhotra coming out of the gate, looking very serious and angry. But that didn't stop him from following Manik.

"Hello boss" inspite of being furious Manik stopped, turned and raised his eyebrows, asking Sumit to utter his shit soon.

"Actually thank you for fund ...... And if possible please come into our area tomorrow evening for Ganpati Puja to see the decoration nd all" he tried to butter him.

"I'm not useless peace of shit like u to waste my time on such things ..... So fuck off" he said and turned ahead, walked towards his car.

"It's not just random thing ...... It's the festival of God nd if you feel like coming then be there at 8pm to get some blessings" though his pure intentions were to be in good books of Manik but he truly believes in God that's why he never allows his friends to drink from the money they collect for Ganpati festival.

Manik didn't turn or acknowledge his words instead he sat in his car nd drove it at faster speed.

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

Here Nandini wasn't normal either, it may sound exaggerating but no man in her life ever deed such thing for her. Not even her father, she don't remember if it happened in childhood or not but he never touched her feet even if it was bruised, not that he didn't care but he was simply orthodox to show care so openly, even she isn't blaming him cause she too never expected that. And about Sumit he feels it's demeaning to touch women's feet, he don't even take blessings from his own mother.

But when Manik did it simply out of care she couldn't hold back from feeling overwhelmed, but she dismissed those warm feelings thinking he just did it at that moment. He might have forgotten it the second he was out of her sight. He wasn't bothered about that in the first place but he was displeased with her dismantled  chappal nd she really felt low of herself that she can't buy a chappal without thinking nd managing money from her emergency savings.

After struggling a lot with her thoughts and chappal, she finally calmed her mind nd walked out of the school only to get stopped by her husband who had smile on his face today. He looked genuinely happy that even she thought of not starting another banter and just hear him out calmly.

"I have a gift for u ?" He said over excitedly and she looked at her sides to see her friends swooning over him except Isha who was just standing there with neutral expressions.

"What it is Sumit?" Even she played along and she really called him nicely.

"Close ur eyes" he said and she did. He pushed her half opened hair to one side of her shoulder. Then he put the delicate piece of gold nuptial chain on her neck. When the cold pendant touched her neck she realised what it must be and for the first time she didn't feel good.

She always fought for it but when she is actually having it that too better than her privious one she didn't feel good. Instead she felt suffocated and she never felt this way before, it's true she wasn't much into the beliefs of marrital rituals after getting married nd she started loathing Sumit but then also she didn't feel this much wrong in wearing the Mangalsutra. She always wanted to get rid of her marriage but still she was giving some respects to her ornaments.

"Wooo" her friends hooted in low pitch. They went aww on Sumit's gesture but missed unpleasant expressions on her face as it was opposite to them. Then when his cold fingers touched her neck when he was tying it she couldn't bear that touch. So she turned back nd held those hooks in her hand.

The socially rightful touch felt so wrong as she was already trapped in another territory which she never experienced yet felt deeply rooted.

"It's so beautiful...... I will wear it after cleaning it with milk ...... My mom used to say before wearing new gold we should wash it with milk ...... Thank you" she tried being genuinely happy but only she knew how she is dealing with her inner feelings. First it was hard to bear his nasty self but nowadays it feels it's easy to hate the nasty person rather than this 'trying to put efforts' wala person.

They all believed her, Sumit again started chatting with them, feeding then with lies of how he is so brave man or how loving husband he is for Nandini. Not that he lied about everything but he said those things in total different perspective which made Nandini rolled her eyes at this stupid man who is manipulative, highly male violent and very much toxic.

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

Next day in the evening,

"Deliver the consignment at 9pm nd not at 8pm" Manik talked on what's app voice call with a dealer.

"Are you serious Manik? ...... Do u even know how difficult it is to arrange everything all over again ...... Already police are everywhere cause of festival nd u want to change all the settings and may I know why?" The dealer was so much irritated still he spoke normally by controlling himself from blasting on Manik. Though he is experienced Mafia of 50yrs nd friend of a senior Mohite still he knows it's not very safe to talk rudely with Manik.

"I have some work at 8" he replied firmly and Adhiraj was looking at him all the time with his inner intuition going stronger about what must be Manik's important work.

"Is it more important than this drug delivery ? ...... I hope u know it's matter of 500cr and u have wasted two months behind this ..... Are u sure about taking risk ?" He again tried putting sense into Manik's head but this nagging irritated him.

"For the fuck's sake do as I said ...... Nd I don't care be it 500cr or 1000cr ...... So is this enough to ensure my answer or do I need to use the gun?" He didn't raised his voice much but his teeth biting nd tone was intimidating even Adhiraj got scared for a moment.

After cutting the call Manik looked at lost Adhiraj who was deeply in shock.

"What?" Manik broke his stance.

"Do I need to be present for your important work or will u handle?" Almost having the clear idea of his work Adhiraj asked this cause he surely wants to be there to handle the Manik nd to save the people from his wrath if any by chance he get to know the truth.

He so wanted to stop Manik from going or at least tell him the truth but he couldn't brace the courage. And definitely not after witnessing recent call, he may be mafia's son but he is very coward and loves his life more, unlike Manik.

"We are going to check if the preparations are done right or not ..... You know we can't trust that boot licker and let people starve for night" he stammered while lying.

"Yeah nd that's the most important work  ...... Sure I will come" he taunted at first then seeing Manik's glare covered it up by agreeing.

"Yes u will ...... At the end u r the sponsor" he smirked and left for his room leaving Adhiraj with frowns then his facial expressions were troubled nd frustrated at the same time.

"Ask butler to send my dress" he shouted from upstairs, he was interested in dressing up. At the back of his mind a thought crossed, how would she look ?.

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

She caressed her Navari saree, which wasn't just a saree but her wedding outfit which she never wore again after her marriage. Because that was the most happiest day of her life, she was happy but later in reality that day turned out to be the single reason behind her miseries nd by wearing that again she didn't want to mix up her feelings. But then she only had three good sarees including her this saree which her parents had bought and she had wore two of them many times.

So she thought of wearing that only saree which she hasn't wear again. Also she needs to look presentable and pretty for festival as she is going to perform Aarati and it's honourable thing in their chawl.

She somehow gathered hopes in pieces from her already scattered relationship to start it all over again on good note with Sumit. He is really being nice nd she assumed it because of money that he is feeling worthy of himself. She does understand he feels low because he don't earn anything but this time he looked happy so she skipped asking, where did he got money from? However the thought was very thoughtful yet it was stinging somewhere inside as if it feels ridiculous decision to choose him again over her self respect and pride.

First she washed her face with paste of gram floor and raw milk then applied rose water which she has made at home then applied home made kohl nd homemade pink lip balm which she made from ghee nd beetroot. She can afford cheap make up cosmetics but she cares for her skin too much to do that and she chose to have no make up instead of having it done by using cheap products. In her house too she never used make up on daily basis as her father didn't like but she was allowed for minimal make up on some special occasions and at that time she had best cosmetic which they could afford.

Anyways she got ready in best possible way. Though she stopped worshiping God from her mind but she did all the arrangements as she knows everything in details cause of her mom. But anyways she went out in the mandap and started helping people with some or other thing and need not to mention after the statue of God she was the centre of attraction.

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

"Ohhh fuck ...... U look different " Adhiraj was stunned by looking at Manik nd he literally opened his mouth in shock for a second.

"What?" Getting uncomfortable under Adhiraj's gaze Manik asked.

"What are u wearing man ?" Adhiraj asked, eyeing him from top to bottom.

"Clothes nd stop exaggerating nd come we r leaving now ...... It's 7.30 already" Manik didn't wait for Adhiraj's reply and went out of the room, in an attempt to save himself from embarrassment because he knows it was really surprising for anyone to see him wearing traditional clothes willingly.

Adhiraj stood there being confused, he don't need any more evidences to see Manik's attraction towards one particular teacher ...... He always wanted Manik to have love life so it may change him nd make him better person but never in dream he thought of situation getting this much fucked up in real, she is already married nd on top of that Manik is changing internally and that's the most scariest part. He don't want to think what will Manik do if he won't get her. He just prayed that this is just momentary attraction from Manik's side but even his heart was sure, situation is already out of control. 

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

"We are gonna late just cause of you" Manik cursed Adhiraj after parking his car and walking towards chawl where the set up is ready.

"Come on it's not school assembly to get started in time and since when u started having interest in Puja and all?" Manik just gave him one blank look and kept walking ahead.

He reached near the decoration and it was really beautiful but not top notch like he has seen before still he felt at peace while going near to the Shrine. Aarati has already started and everyone was singing it in chores.

He stopped when he saw her back shining under the spot light. He don't need to see her face to guess it's her and he is sure she must be looking like goddess while worshipping the God, such a holy scene it is. He stood nearby her and also heard her melodious voice as she was singing the Ganpati Stotram. He was adjusting himself to get perfect view as it was little crowded. Earlier even Sumit was doing Aarati with her but he got msg from his friend that he saw Adhiraj's car coming so he went away leaving Nandini alone for couple Pooja.

"Sir thank you for coming" when Adhiraj was trying to find Manik in crowd he heard Sumit's voice and looked at him.

"Yeah even Manik is here ..... We just came to check on arrangements so don't give us special treatment or make big fuss over it" he warned him and he nodded.

"But at least take a blessings nd also meet my wife ...... Come" that wife thing bothered him but nonetheless he followed him and also by coming near he found Manik, totally standing behind her blocking everyone's view.

They waited for Aarati to get over then Sumit called her "Nandiniii" from behind the crowd.

She turned back but only to see Manik just a inch away from her she saw his eyes literally twinkling as they met hers even she couldn't take her eyes off him as she saw him wearing traditional and looking absolutely hot mafia which she never saw in her life. His eyes roamed at her appearance and she found satisfying look on his face. She wanted to look back at Sumit who called her but she just couldn't nd also crowd was hiding them. Panditji was giving Aarati to everyone after taking plate from her hand.

"Divine" she heard him whispered in daze. That untamed gaze was making her weak in knees and her face was damn warm too, she thought it's cause of light but the rising blush couldn't justify with her reasoning. Bravely, she again looked at his face to see the colour of his face changing.

His eyes stopped at her red vermilion and all the shine in his eyes was lost that  brought her back to the reality where they didn't burn yet turned into ashes.

Her eyes were equally blank as his then she saw him losing his spirit when he looked at her neck and whatever doubt he had was gone. He went  insensate, all the trepidation and everything he was feeling earlier was gone making him cold in an instance. He was hardly pushed by some forces into darkness.

She just wanted to deny the reason, why his expressions changed from glowing to dull but she couldn't. Her heart was stinging seeing how lifeless he went in seconds as if someone sucked life out of him.

She didn't do anything yet she was the reason behind those painful eyes which were oozing hurt and strong disbelief towards unacceptable truth which landed on him, unexpectedly.

She resisted the urge to gather broken man cause she knows this is the reality he can't change and he has to face it and also accept it. She don't know why he is so disappointed when there was nothing between them still she knows what he is going through cause somewhere down even she is hurt seeing him hurt not that she feels something for him but she's not stupid to not know he must be having some interest in her. But she is sure it will be gone till tomorrow, his sadness is just momentary, at least she believed that for her heart's peace.

"Why?" He mumbled in almost inaudible voice which pinched her heart. Adhiraj's eyes were following Manik and he could guess that disatrous moment has come so without wasting any time he ran towards Manik.

"Manik come" and he almost drag Manik out of that crowd by holding his shoulder and all the way Manik was deeply immobilized. Taking advantage of Manik's numbness Adhiraj took him out of the chawl.

He saw Sumit following them but Adhiraj stopped him by showing his hand from far. Sensing the matter to be sensitive he went away towards his wife.

"Manik" Adhiraj made him stand near his car and softly called him with sympathetic voice.

"Nooooooooooo" finally monster in him roared as numbness evaporated into the coldness of night.

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

Let me know if you find any mistake.

How was the chapter?

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