Hello my loves! How are you! I know the last update wasn't up-to-date ! Extremely sorry...
And for those who liked and commented and read the chapter, thank you very much. I am nothing without you guys. I owe it to each and every one of you. sunshine8000 thank you again for the help.
Here's an update. Hope you like this one!
*****

'There's a thing about pain, it demands to be felt..'

The hardest part of losing someone isn't just losing them.It's just takes a snap of second for someone to leave. Everything can change in an instance. Everything. But does it really end there?

No.

It doesn't. 'Cause then comes the hardest part. Learning to live without them. Trying to fill the void. Even if you don't want to. You have to.

I pull the shawl closer to me standing in the balcony, watching the weather of Ooty. It's getting colder and cloudier. I look down towards the house opposite. Where Manik lives. I never thought he would come this close once again. He there right there. So close, yet so far. I stare at the entrance of that house. And like, it heard me, the door was pulled open. Manik, Manik was opened the door. He walked out, and turned around, waved to someone inside, his lips were moving. May be he was telling something. He turned around and walked out and door was closed again.

Walking out he glanced up for once and his eyes hauled of mine and as soon as they did , so did his steps. And there we were staring  at each other. My eyes filled with tears. I wanted to run. Run to him. What else could happen? Who now was left to die? We are already dead. We aren't living this way. We are just trying to get through the next day. I am just waiting, waiting for the time to pass by.

Manik and me were still there, in the moment. Looking into each other's eyes, trying to find us. See us, in the tomorrow.

He pointed my tears and shook his head in no. But that didn't help me, it made me cry even more. He waved his hand in air, telling me to wait. He pulled out his wallet form his back pocket. The very same wallet, he used to use, the one I gifted him. It flipped it open and I could clearly see the picture of us in it. The picture from the mehendi function.

My beautiful days.

But the trail of my memory was very short, as soon as Manik picked something out he flipped the wallet close and tucked it back in it's place. It was a folded piece of paper. He opened the paper in his hand. And started looking here and there on the ground. And then he picked up a stone from the ground. Wrapped the paper around it and glided his hands waving me to move aside.

Ironic, he was worried that the stone would hurt me, but was hit by something new every day. I moved and he threw it up. I quickly picked it up and opened it up. Crumbled, piece of paper was not just a paper. It was a letter. In Manik's handwriting. In my Manik's handwriting. It was enough for me. I moved my fingers over his handwriting. Trying to fell him in them.

Nandani,

The look in your eyes, I don't like the look in your eyes. Your eyes were something I could stare all day long and find myself in them. But now when I see them, I find nothing.

From the day you were gone, I spent my every day thinking how could it happen. How I let it happen? How could I not see it? And the worst part is, I have to live with it every day. No body knows how much I cry every night thinking about you. I hate the fact that you aren't beside me when I comes to bed to sleep, you won't pull me in your arms when I'll weep. Begging every day to have you home. And wishing everyday, that one day you and me won't be alone. I miss you and I hate admitting that it's all my fault.

I have nothing to say. But Nandani, we have seen enough and now our share of sorrows are over. Just close your eyes and you will see, all the memories we had of you and me.

Nandani you are the strongest woman I have ever known. Don't let anyone break you. You have the courage in yourself. You just need to pull it out.

I love you, I always have and always will. Just close your eyes and live, 'cause I am coming for you.

Your, Manik.

I quickly place it over my heart gasping, holding the railing trying not to fall apart. I am tired. I am tired of everything. It takes a fraction of time to destroy life and for me that time was two years long.

As I look back at him. He's still there standing. Looking at me. His eyes screaming that he is and will be there, I just need to come. Just then Madhyam's car enters through the main gate. What if he sees him? What is he hits him with the car?

I wave my hand towards Manik signing him to leave. Panic strickens my eyes and I plead Manik with my eyes. His eyes turn red, and he firmly nods his head in a no, clenching his jaw. God why doesn't anyone understand? Why do they feel everything around is some kind of joke! Arrgghh! I crumble the paper in my fist along with the stone and turn around and walk towards the room.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, with my head in my hand , I just hope Manik would have went inside. I close my eyes and try to calm myself down. But it doesn't help either. The only thing I see is Manik's face. But I couldn't see him in my imagination peacefully, as the door was banged open and shut, and I didn't even needed to open my eyes to know who was it.

"You don't need to be so dramatic sitting over here." Madhyam spattered standing in front of me. I looked up at him. He was standing in front on me. His hands in his pocket, his thumbs poked out. Firm and erect, his body posture never failed to make him look weak from any way possible.

He leaned forward, near my face dangerously close and whisper shouted with his clenched teeth, "Was he up here? And were you two banging in my absence?" I looked at him, directly into his eyes, with my wide eyes. Trying to find something in his eyes.

"Don't give me that look..." he said nodding his head in a no like a psychopath and gripping my face between his index finger and thumb, and making me stand.

"Answers. The. Damn. Question. Nandani. "

"Noo.." I didn't just say. I shouted on top of my voice.

"It better be a No." he said pushing me back until my back hit the wall hard. "It better be a no. Nobody gets to come even an inch near you. If anyone looks into your eyes, it has to be me they'll find. If anyone sees smells you, it has to me who fragrances you." He leans down to my neck and inhales making a sound. "It has to be me, who has all the right on you. Just me. It has been and will always be.." he murmurs against my skin, placing kisses.

Every time his lips brush my skin, it burns. It burns my whole body. My eyes shut in disgust. It's Manik's face that flashes. The face I saw moments ago.

'You are the strongest woman I have ever seen.' This is how I prove to be strong to Manik ?

'I am not here to take you back. Nandani I am here to watch you run back to us.' This is how i prove to run to Mukti?

'Nandani, god gives everyone his own battle. A battle one is capable of fighting for. You are capable of fighting your own battles. Nothing's over until it's over.' This much far did Navya expect me to be?

What was I doing? And why was I letting him ruin me, letting him walk over me, everyday. He is not a human. He is a monster. A monster who killed Navya, right in front of me. Who killed my baby.

As his hands moved over my body disgust grew in me more than ever. I didn't just close my eyes I scrunched them. And my whole life was in front of me. The happiest me and the worst me. And all was just because of this person. And because I let him ruin me and I still do. He ruined everything. But now no more.

I fisted my hand forcefully till the knuckles go white, and with all force I banged the stone in my head to Madhyam's head.

"Aaaagghh.."He screamed in pain. "You filthy bitch!"

I hastily stepped back in two, my hands flapped here and there, and in the adrenaline I picked up the radio alarm and smashed it on his head as he neared me, once more with such an intensity that blood splattered my hands.

The letter, the stone, the clock, the broken glass pieces,the shattered watch in my hand, the blood smeared fingers, vigorously breathing me, the screaming Madhyam. I saw him loosing his balance, and fall on the floor, holding his head.

The alarm clock fell from my hands as I starred at the my blood smeared shaking fingers. "Look, what you made me do.." I gasped.

I gasped again, "look what you made me do.." looking down at him. He was not shouting any more. He was lying. Just lying. Is he dead? I looked here and there in the room. But nothing came to my mind.

But the only thing that came was. The door. I walked over him and pulled the door open and rushed out, closing the door, closing it from outside.

Manik was there. He was standing there. He was standing upstairs in the corridor. He was there. I ran to him. I just showed him my hands. The blood smeared, shaking hands. My breathing was shallow, my tears knew no bounds. "Look, loo..k"

"Shhh...." Manik hushed me keeping his fingers over my lips. His eyes polite. Shaking his head in no. "Shh..." he took handkerchief and wiped my hands clean. "Look it's clean. Nothing happened."

He creased my hair, cupping my face, he said," go get Shruti, we'll leave. Now."

This is my go. This is it. I ran past him. And pick Shruti from the cradle, turning to the door. I walked back again and got her bag too. I ran out with Manik.
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Manik's pov

I gave my hand to her and she took it. Today she stepped out of the boundaries with me. I went upstairs because I knew if today Nandani wouldn't have done anything, I would have killed that bastard. But she did. And here she was. With me. She did it.

We both came to the door of our cottage and and I banged it loud. I fetch my phone from my pocket and called Cabir. While My one hand still held Nandani. I couldn't afford to loose her again. No. Never.

"Han Manik." Cabir insinuated.

And the door flipped open by Mukti. Her eyes widen as she saw Nandani and her daughter with me.

"Listen come to me. Very carefully." I pulled Nandani in talking on the phone and signaled Mukti to close the door.

In a while Abhi too cam downstairs. I kept the phone back in my pocket, and fetched out the car keys. "Abhi these are the car keys for the aryaman's black tinted car. We four will go in this car, cabir will be waiting for us near the St. Stephen church. Me and Nandani will shift in that car and you Mukti and Cabir, tum teen Shruti ko leke usme Mumbai nikal jaoge aaj. Okay?"

"Cool." Abhi said.

I turned towards Nandani, but she was clutching Shruti hard, she shook her head in a no. "Nandani please... she'll be safe. Trust me. Please." I said pleading to her and took the baby from her. She unwilling, but gave the baby to me. And I handed her carefully to Mukti.

We switched cars from the decided place.
-------

We were driving our way to Mysore. I glanced at Nandani time to time. And she was sitting on the passenger seat, wrapping her legs to her chest on the seat and quietly looking out of the window. Her empty eyes, her sad face, the marks. It all made me fell useless. All this years , she had to suffer all because of me. The getting out was just the first step, we have a whole forest to cross. The dark forest in which she has caught up. How will I do that? Where will I find my old Nandani?

My series of thoughts were broken by the buzzing phone. I saw the screen and it flashed 'Aryaman.'

I swiped the screen to pick up.

"I am on my way to Mysore." I said.

"Alone?"

"Yeah! Alone."

"Good." He said and disconnected.
Aryaman Khurrana. I would never come to know what he was upto until, that night. The night when I was in Shruti's room. (Chapter:We shall overcome)

I was making her sleep in my arms, when I heard footsteps in the room. I turned back and it was Aryaman.

"Making your ex girlfriend's daughter sleep, isn't it difficult?" He mocked.

"Shut the Fuck up, or the after Madhyam you'll be the next dead body on the floor!" I grunted trying myself to keep low.

"Ouch! Aggressive, are we?" He left out a humourless chuckle. "But do you really think this aggression will work? What are you planning to do? Going in that room and beating the shit of Madhyam? Do you really think it's gonna work? Well no! Whatever you see once you step in that room, will only hurt you more. And trust me you'll fail! Once again! "

I held a curious frown, pressing my lips into a thin line for a while, I asked him, "How the fuck do you know everything? Ooh! Let me guess the brothers share each others filthy secrets!"

Aryaman looked around and laughed, which didn't look like a humorous one to me, "Hah! Have you seen Nandani? I mean anyone could tell she's forced into the relationship. Madhyam didn't tell me. I found out!"

Perfect. This house is full of bastards. "When." I snapped.

"Easy. Don't try that tone on me. I found out where my man called me to tell me that Madhyam got married and the Ooty project is fucked up. My money, my property, both were at jeopardy. So, I investigated and guessed what both the problems had one name in common ~ Manik Malhotra ~ a chief engineer and a to-be-groom! I tried to fast track your case, it was easy to pull Madhyam down for the oil scandal and a forced marriage, but I was caught up in some personal issues back in America. But now, I am here. So, here I give you a deal, take your Nandani back, i'll help you and the project is under association with ONGC, this time so, no one suffers a loss and the project would also be on!"

"Woah! That is too much of my profit so you rather show some transparency ! Why me? Why would you help me in getting down your own brother?" I asked him.

"Stepbrother ! And it's not about Nandani, it's about the will. The will that my grandfather made. Whoever inherits the property, has to sign it so the will can pass on with the legacy. It's simple, the elder son of the family gets all the property, maximum share holder and the others , if there are, become the board members. I was the elder and only son, but then my father got married to Madhyam's mom and boom-boom! And this Madhyam got married and already has a baby. I can't risk more." He said and frustration was evident on his face. Man made money and Money makes the man mad, true indeed.

"Do you think I believe you? You could easily get married and have your own child. And why now, all of a sudden this moh maya money?" I said making an obvious point.

"Two things. First; i am a gay. Even if I want I can't have babies. And second; Madhyam told me he's planning another baby."

"What? Fuck off do you really think I'm gonna believe this shit of yours? Even if it was true, you knew everything all these years, and you choose to keep quiet? Let her go through all this. Knowing your brother, you let her go through hell. You are a hell of a man Aryaman Khurrana. You are equally responsible for what happened to her, like all of us. Hah! I mean isn't it great, like there's not a single man in her lifetime, who didn't let her down." I couldn't help but control my voice and shruti stirred in her sleep, and began whimpering in my arms.

I took a long sigh and began shooshing her in my arms, but it didn't help. She was looking at me like I was some alien. I felt Aryaman walk towards me and tried to pick her up from my arms. I just glared at him eyeing him to back off. But Shruti, drew her arms towards him and I had to give her to him. And she was quite in his arms like he felt familiar. And I hated to admit it, but he was familiar to her.

"You know I saw Nandani, when she was pregnant. She was the cutest pregnant lady I had ever seen trust me." He said looking at Shruti and smiling. A genuine smile.

"Hain na... hain naa.. mela bachaa..." he said in a childish tone nuzzling his nose in her tummy and she giggled, throwing her legs in air. I hated this moment, I hated not being a major part of Nandani life.

"My boyfriend was seriously ill, when Madhyam got married. I couldn't leave him there alone. Madhyam is a sadist but I am not. Nandani and Shruti are my family. No matter how Madhyam treats them. You doing this alone, will only take more time. And the more it takes, the only person who suffers is Nandani. Don't give her more reasons to hold herself back. Think about it. Hum dono ka fayda hai. Soch lo." He said and took the sleeping Shruti with him to his room.

The way towards Mysore was wet from the recent rain. I looked at Nandani again. She was still in the same position. Madhyam ka jo hona hoga tab hoga. My first priority is Nandani.

I quickly fetched out my phone from my pocket and called Mukti. She picked up on the third ring. "Hello!" Her cheerful voice came from the other side.

"Hello mukti ... sab thik ho?" I asked unsure about the laughing sounds from the background in phone.

"Everything's good." I looked from the corner of my eyes towards Nandani and she was, looking at me, finally. Her eyes wanted to know about Shruti. I smiled and passed her the phone keeping it on speaker.

"Nandani, bat krogi?" I asked being as polite as possible.

She nodded her head in yes. I smiled back and asked, "Mukti, how's Shruti?"

"Shruti... she is choo chweett!!! Shruti, beta mashi bolo.... "

Silence...

"Bolo naa betaa..." mukti chipped again. "Bolo maaaa-siii...." Nandani smiled listening to Mukti.

"Siiieeeee....." Shruti's gay voice was herd in phone and Nandani smiled more.

"Siieeee.... sieeee ... sieeee..." Shruti's voice was glittering all over the car. And I too couldn't help but smile like an idiot.

I'll have you back Nandani. I will. 'Cause, I LOVE YOU.
*******
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