Hello my smart ladies! Missed you soo much. I know i was a major MIA since a month on this story. But! The last chapter didn't work so well. And I was suffering from a serious writer's block. Still I have no idea what to write. But it's a try.
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Memories, you fall in love with memories. And things, you get attached to them. And this place, has both. My home. My people. I still can't believe I am here. I still can't believe, i am with these people. I almost lost hope that I would ever see them again. But i did. And it all seems like a dream, that someone will pinch me and the dream would burst like a fragile bubble. 

It's been two weeks since I'm here, but not even one day these people have not tried made me feel good. Some days, Mukti, Cabir, Aams , Abhi. Everyone. And Rishu, he is always loitering around Shruti. The house is full with toys. She has kept everyone wrapped around her little finger. And Manik, he is just there. There for everyone. Silently being there. I know me being quiet eats him up, but I don't feel like talking. If i will talk they will ask me and I don't want to answer. I don't want to talk. I just want to be silent. Like I have been, all these years.

Mukti always tells me, how Manik was their only strength when i wasn't there. She is the only one who dares to talk to me about those two years, who forces me. She always tells me, "don't talk to anyone. At least talk to Manik, all these years we have seen him suffer, we have seen him not sleep. Please talk to him, talk to someone."

I don't talk much in fact it's just yes or no or nodding my head. I don't even need to look after Shruti now, there are people here to take care of her, to love her, the way she deserves. That makes me happy. But what scares me is what if they come to know she's not my daughter? What if they send her to her father? What if Madhyam comes back and takes me back? What if she is left behind? What if i am left without her? I glance at the clock and it shows 6:15 pm. I get up and fold the sheets and move to the window. Looking down there's Rishabh, with Shruti on the walker running. All the kids from flat are playing around. She's atlest happy here. It's the least I can do for her, I thought.

I was looking down when I heard the door open and close. I went out to see. I peeped out and it was Manik. He kept his bag and sat on the sofa, looking all tired. Thinking for a while, I went out and fetched out a glass of water from the kitchen and went to him, he was resting his head on the headboard closing his eyes, unaware of my presence. I didn't call him or hand him the glass, I just kept it on the table making an obvious sound to mark my presence. He was startled and looked up and was equally shock to see me.

I went in the kitchen and prepared coffee. I saw Manik moving in the house may be looking if anyone's at home. Not finding anyone he went to the balcony and was standing there, folding his sleeves up till his elbows. I too joined him with the coffee mug in hand. "Coffee.." I spoke barely audible. He turned around and looked at me for a while and took the cup and said "thank you."

I too stood beside him. We were watching the kids play. All the kids of the society were playing around. Rishu was with Shruti along with some other kids.

"Nandani," Manik called, and I looked at him. "Nandani, ammm, look we need to see a lawyer."

And in no time panic struck me bad, "Why, why lawyer?"

"We need to send a divorce notice." Manik said and my eyes were wide in fear.

"No, no, no he will come here, please noo.. please." I had Goosebumps, my heart rate accelerated. Please no.

"Shhh...Nandani, nothing will happen. Kuch nai hoga shhh..." he kept the cup aside and started consoling me cupping my face politely.

"We will go to the police, file a complaint and then we will send the notice. Don't worry Kuch nai hoga. You are safe. We will get orders from court and he will have to stay away from you and Shruti. Okay? Is that okay?"

Police? Court? Noo. What if Madhyam tells them Shruti is not my daughter. What if he gives Shruti to Navya's husband. What if they kill her. No. No one can know she's not my daughter. What if Aams give her to her family. What if they all know. Noo..

"Noo, please Manik no, please. No police. Please. I beg of you please. No. He's a very strong man he'll manipulate everyone. Please. No. Please." I begged folding my hands in front of him.

"Nandani, he is gonna come here one way or the other. If we wanted to run away from him, I would have never brought you here. But I brought you back here because we are not running away from him. We are facing him. And he has to pay for his sins Nandani. And you will make him pay."

"Nooo. Please. No police please. They will take my Shruti back. Please."

"Nandani no one is going to take Shruti away. Nandani you are an educated girl, we need the police now understand."

"Nooooo." I screamed.

"Okay, okay fine... shhh shhh no police. Just a notice. Please. Okay? Is that okay?"

"Hmmm.." I mumbled in a low voice. And Manik patted my hair like a baby's, and I kept my head on his chest sniffing. And he just calmed me down. 

Manik's pov
She let me hug her. Crying, sniffing, scared, whatever it was she let me hug her. The feeling i was longing for. Yes I said I won't file a police complaint but i am finding the best criminal lawyer for her. Because at some point it has to turn criminal. Because it's not civil anymore.

I looked at the appointment card, Nyonika Mathews, one of the best criminal lawyer of the country. Her PA mentioned a call meeting at 9:00 pm sharp. And so, I called her,

"Hello, Rubina Sharma." Her PA spoke.

"Hello, this is Manik Malhotra. I had a phone call appointment."

"Yes, sure here you go."

"Hello," a voice came in few seconds. Firm and confident voice.

"Hello, this is Manik Malhotra."

"Advocate Nyonika Mathews."

"I want you to represent a case."

"Obviously I don't offer marriage services,What kind of case?" Sarcastic

"A divorce case."

"What? Are you kidding me? You are not wasting your and my time,are you?"

"No I am not. It's Not just a civil divorce.Please look into the case once. And it's against Madhyam Khurrana."

"The Khurrana oils junior son?"

"Yes."

"It's still a civil case. But I'll into it once. You know my charges right? Because I don't like to be affordable Mr Malhotra."

"Yes, I know. When do we meet then."

"Rubina will get you the schedule. And this better be the time I give in." She said and disconnected the call.

Just cross our hearts, and hope Madhyam dies.

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Worst chapter i have ever wrote.
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