Sorry for delay,
One request ..... Please read this chapter with emotions and try to be in that character before judging any character..... And please don't ask me to change storyline. 🙏

Ashes turned cold but Nandini's tornado didn't calm even for a second. Pain was growing more and more as Karan's last image keep replaying in her mind, hurt wasn't yet subsided and fear gripped her heart, she don't know whether Manik was inside or not.

She also unheard the cries of monster beside her who was crying and regretting his actions. He never thought his son would be in that place which he trapped for someone else, today officially he lost all his family.

Once in a life as a normal human he also had wish for family, his family, where everyone will love him and he will love them too. By his fortune he did had that family and also family loved him but because of his own inner demon he couldn't love them the way they loved him and just to get rid of one innocent life he lost all his family and created  another evil replica of him.

Taking her phone out of her jeans pocket Nandini opened it, she saw more than 52 missed calls from her friends and lastly there were 10 msgs on what's app.

Diya -

Where are you?        ~4pm

Please come ASAP.       ~4.50pm

If u r at Manik's house then please look for Karan, his phone is out of reach.           .~7pm

Nandini please come home ...... Manik is here at Swaroop's place ..... He is looking drunk.        .~7.15pm

Ur psycho boyfriend pushed Swaroop off the stairs and threatened his mother.          .~7.40pm

We also took ur boyfriend in hospital because we found him unconscious with bleeding feet in our parking ..... Doctor said he was drugged and drunk ...... Come to LifeLine hospital.          ~8.15pm

She looked at the time, it is showing 9.26pm. She sighed at least he wasn't inside the house. But how would she face Diya, she toh can't even think of her reaction. Looking at her phone screen she dared to open Karan's chat with shivering mind.

Karan,

Nandini my father again sent him some old letters which my mother has wrote for Manik's dad. By reading one of them he was very much disturbed.      ~6.30pm

He has locked me inside the mansion but you please find him.              ~6.31pm

Take care of him.             ~6.31pm

Even his last msg was about taking care of Manik. She don't know how to stop crying for this innocent soul. What was his fault in everything?. Why he was the one to get punished for nothing?. She never hated Manik's impulsiveness before than she is loathing it now. For once he could have reacted rationally.

How many times she has to bend for him?. But what would she do? Who's side she should choose?.

She was drained out of the energy, she couldn't even walk still she somehow drove to the hospital but she almost fainted at the corner due to dizziness but to her luck one word boy held her and made her sat on bench.

Nurse was about to admit her and do her check up but she refused and requested for one glass of glucose. No one could denied her because helplessness and deep pain was written all over her face.

She unseen the Swaroop's bruises and even avoided looking at him, she has no guts to walk in front of him as his culprit's girlfriend.

"Finally u r here ....... Where was you Nandini? ...... U have no idea how Manik behaved and now he is not waking up because of drugs ..... The mighty Malhotra" instantly tears came back into her eyes seeing Diya. She also unheard her rantings.

"Why u r crying? ....... Hey what happened?" She panicked seeing Nandini crying non stop.

"Hey he is fine ...... Don't worry ...... He is just under effect of drugs for few hrs" she wiped her tears. Her anger was gone seeing Nandini crying so much.

"Nandini"

"He .... H-e" words were fighting to come out of her mouth.

"He is alright ..... Nandu stop crying".

"Karan is no more" Nandini's words rang in Diya's ears but her mind didn't function with them.

"Nandini what shit r u talking?...... Don't scare me like this" she said little harshly but from inside fear creeped in her heart.

"Malhotra Mansion blasted" and Diya was traumatized with the news.

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

Diya went crazy, she started finding him in between the ashes. Swaroop and Nandini were powerless, Diya went out of control for them to handle her.

"U can't die Karan ..... U have promised me u will meet me ...... Please come to me see it's night already ..... U can't break ur promise" her words evaporated in the thin air and she kept on searching for him admist remaining parts of construction.

"U Said U Won't Leave Me" she screamed from the core.

"Diya" Nandini harshly turned Diya to herself and hugged her tightly.

"Cry Diya ...... Vent it out" she caressed her hair from back.

"He can't die" she wailed in high pitched tone before breaking into her arms.

"He can't leave me" she cried and cried. Continuously for hours.

"Why my fate is so bad? ...... Don't I deserve love?"

"Yesterday only we confessed, we were happy together in each others arms".

"Then how come I lost him ....... in just 24hrs?".

"Was my fairytale this short? ...... Not meant for more than a day?"

"Why God didn't show mercy on that poor, innocent  soul?".

Her friends had no answer for any of her question. They let her cry and also cried with her but no one had words to console her. She cried continuously more than 3hrs so they injected her sedative. Without any food and water they spent their night at that haunted place once called as Malhotra Mansion.

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

Manik was unconscious for whole night and after waking up he found himself in hospital with Abhimanyu sleeping on couch in his hospital room.

Stopping the flow of iv water he removed intracath from his hand slowly then drank some water to relax his mind, he had no idea how he reached here.

"Sir r u fine?" Abhimanyu woke up instantly as he heard some faint noises. He barely slept for 2hrs in the early morning.

"What happened? ....... How come you here and where is Nandini?" Manik stood up from his place and felt his feet covered with bandage.

"Is she mad at me ? ...... Ohh freak she must be angry ...... Come take me to her" he walked upto Abhimanyu but found him undoubtedly silent.

"What is with ur this drained out face ? ..... Something is wrong ?" Manik suspected that dreaded look on Abhimanyu's colourless face.

"We lost Karan ...... There was bomb inside ur mansion" this news stroke  Manik's nerves and in next second he was lost, totally lost to even hear or see Abhimanyu's cry.

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

"Nandini" she turned to look at the source of sound and found petrified Abhimanyu holding lifeless Manik by his side. He called Nandini not having enough courage to call his ex girlfriend. No matter what he can't see her or any girl in that devastating state.

"Finally the murderer is here" It was Diya who hurriedly walked upto Manik. Swaroop followed her behind. Nandini stopped in her track and Diya passed from her side.

"I always thought you are not a good man but I never thought u would be a monster who snatches lives" she spat venom but he stayed mum and others too.

"I'm sure Karan died because of you"

"Your father was always right u r such a curse ...... First u lost ur sister, u killed ur mom and now ur brother is dead because of you" pure hatred was dripping from her each and every word.

"Why didn't u die instead of him?" She screeched with abomination.

"Diya enough" Nandini stood in front of her and said in low voice. Indeed her friend was in undeniable pain and unaware of the affect those words have on him but Nandini is in her senses to stop her at right time.

"Wow Nandini ...... I thought his some manipulative words will be needed for u to melt but this time only his one look is enough for you to behave like spineless girlfriend" Nandini swallowed down the insult with her saliva.

"I don't expect u to behave rationally but please understand he also has lost his brother Diya" she cupped her cheeks and said softly.

"Whom he treated like a shit ...... I'm sure behind this tormented face his soul is dancing with joy" at this point other two men also felt pity for Manik. 'Her accusations might be piercing Manik's already wounded heart' thought Swaroop and took Diya in his embrace to take her away from Manik.

"Shh ..... Calm down ..... Come" Swaroop said caressing Diya's warm temple.

"Manik" Nandini looked at him only to find him unbothered by everyone's presence, only Diya's words were ranging in his mind. It was like replay of events from his past and she was just being  any normal person who was blaming him just like everyone else  blamed him for his mother's death.

He was revisiting his most dreadful memory in current time and then only police siren echoed in atmosphere to give final kick to his fractured heart.

"Mr. Shrikant Malhotra has registered a FIR for his son Karan Malhotra's death and Manik Malhotra is a suspected offender ...... Also his driver Nandini Murthy is suspected behind the bomb blast"  ACP said this and for the first time Manik raised his neck up to see the police van behind and officer in front of him.

Last night after the accident Shrikant immediately dialled few numbers and with the help of his contacts he filed case against Manik and fled to another country without anyone's notice, just in case if case turns against him then he can have more days and space in foreign. He told his disciples in Punjab to maintain his image of great father and tell people that he is mourning his son's death by going underground.

"What? ...... This is bullshit inspector ..... These allegations are false" Nandini said in their defence.

"Please go to the court and for now let us do our work" he said calmly because Manik Malhotra is a big name.

"Listen inspector ....... I was present when blast happened but Manik was hospitalized ..... He is nowhere related to it" Nandini told them. And officer signalled lady constable to arrest Nandini.

"Take ur hands off her" lady constables hands stopped in middle by hearing Manik's cold voice.

"I had locked him in house when blast happened ....... It was all my plan ..... So I am the only culprit ..... Take me in and leave everyone else" Manik admitted and police had to agree in front of him, they handcuffed him.

"Manik" Nandini stood in front of him.

"This is my normal, real life Nandini ..... Now move" and he lightly pushed her before going inside the police van. 

He didn't just save Nandini today but he saved someone from getting punished for having no fault and also an innocent life from getting ruined with the stamp of criminal. Years back none dared to save that little boy from trauma and allegations but he saved her from being him, the future monster.

Once again he was blamed for killing family member, it seriously has become his normal isn't it?.

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

Her father have always told her to give priorities to the people according to situations but today she is in place where she don't know which situation demands her most. This is the time her best friend needs her most and also she don't want to leave him alone where world has already left his side since yrs.

She chose to go behind her friend hoping Manik will understand her or maybe he won't be in right state to think about anything. But before going behind Diya she asked Abhimanyu to follow Manik.

After two hours she made Diya sleep on her lap after feeding her some food, Rishabh and swaroop were there too. Nandini's phone rang after some time.

"How is he and what police said?" She asked after receiving Abhimanyu's call.

"The case is strong ...... They don't have solid evidence but Manik's acceptance has made it ugly and he is not even saying a word in his defence ..... He is accepting all the accusations blindly" he said in helpless tone.

"When this man for once stop being reckless?".

"I have hired lawyer ....... He said Manik should deny the allegations or we have to prove that Shrikant is main criminal ..... And court has declined Manik's bail so for next 14 days he is not getting any bail".

"Manik is hopeless ...... We have to do something please be patient with him".

"I am here only but he is not talking to anyone".

"I will come to meet him ...... Till then please be with him".

"Yeah ...... How is Diya? ...... Is she okay?".

"She is sleeping for now".

"Okay .... Take care of her".

"I will and whenever it's possible please spend time with her".

"Sure".

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

At night,

Nandini parked her car and ran towards empty road to emptied her stomach. She was feeling nauseated since she came out of the jail, everything happening around was taking toll on her health from last night she only had one meal and no peace at all.

After washing her mouth she sat on their regular bench in the society's garden and stretched her neck on the back of bench. She looked at dark, empty sky above her head which looked equally pale and alone just like her,

'Manik please look at me" she tried to cupped his face by sliding in her hands through empty space between bars of cell.

'Don't push me away ...... I know u r not okay ..... U need me ..... Please break ur walls' in return all she got was silence. He was sitting by touching his back to the wall of cell and his eyes were closed.

"At least say something for ur defence".

"Ur silence will let him live freely".

"Ur brother needs justice Manik".

"More than Shrikant Malhotra I'm the culprit ...... That bomb was for me ...... I locked him inside and he couldn't open it otherwise he would have been alive" for the first time Manik replied to her that too without opening his eyes.

At this moment she knew he won't come out of this self loathing.

"Manik he did open the door ...... The last I saw him when he came out of the mansion and called my name just 5 seconds before the blast ...... He was outside the mansion, Manik ..... It's not ur fault nor his ..... No one knew there was a bomb ...... His father is real culprit he could have checked at least for once who is inside".

"U and I ...... We both know I am not less of a criminal in this case ..... Now go".

"Just come outside soon ...... We need you ...... We can't fight against Shrikant without you" for the last time she caressed his cheek and left. He opened his eyes when she left and they were blood red, he didn't shed a single tear yet.

"Missing me?" She looked at the familiar figure and most needed voice at that moment.

"Swaroop" she jumped on him, she was so overwhelmed seeing him there. Inspite of him being near her she really missed him because she didn't have guts to face him that too after going behind Manik.

What would she do? She never got time to show displeasure or anger or any other thing to Manik. How will she punish him for harrassing her friend when he is already being punished for his brother's death.

"I'm sorry ...... I'm such a bad friend ...... But please don't leave me ..... I'm tired of fighting for him or against him ..... And what should I do when his miseries are bigger than his sins" she cried on his chest.

"Nandini u don't need to feel ashamed for his deeds ...... U r my friend and no one is going to change that okay" he said caressing her hair.

"Why r u so good?" She didn't look up but cried.

"I'm not good or noble Nandini ..... I'm just being ur friend ...... Our friendship is beyond our personal relationships ...... We have promised each other we will not let our bf/gf ruin our friendship ..... U remember na?" He reminded her of their promise from their adolescence age and she nodded while rubbing her running nose on his shirt.

"I'm leaving you today for this but I won't, next time" he scolded her and she looked down like a baby, she always does this after wiping her nose.

"Thank you ...... I needed you so much ..... I'm so disturbed and lost Swaroop ...... I don't know what to do nd how to control things everything is slipping out of my hands" they both sat on the bench.

"U r not in right state to make right decision so for now relax ..... Take a deep breath and have a good sleep ...... We will look after one problem at one time" he said thoughtfully and she agreed.

"I can't see both of them in so much of pain ...... It's making me helpless and weak". She sighed.

"This is life Nandini ...... Life and death are part of our journey ...... Manik and Diya can't overcome it so easily they have lost one part of them ...... It will take time to heal them ...... We should be patient with them ....... We should make our mind strong so that we can hold them".

"I don't know how to handle them simultaneously".

"Let it be ...... U can't take so much stress at once ...... Time will heal everything and Diya too ...... She will understand it wasn't in anyone's hand".

"I think u r right" she kept her head on his shoulder.

"I'm" he smiled faintly. He did the right thing by keeping his hurt and ego outside the friendship, he chose his friend over Manik's misbehaviour. But that was the need of hour, his friend is already going through alot and he should be with her and not against her.

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

Let me know if you found any mistake.

How was the chapter?

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