Next day except Manik everyone performed last rituals for Karan so that his soul will rest in peace. It was very hard for everyone to perform rites without anyone from his family when in real he still have his father and brother. But practically it doesn't matter, after the soul leaves body everything becomes meaningless. So person should try everything possible when doing something will give meaning to the deeds.

That day at night Manik got panic attack but he didn't tell anyone about it and after that he never slept, he controlled his emotions pretty well. Not for once he cried or let any emotion make him feel miserable or lonely or guilty. He can't afford to feel anything or else he will die with the exploitation of self loathing.

But he skillfully blocked Nandini by not showing her his face and getting locked up in criminal cell where no one is allowed except from few constables or officers. He was so vexed that he wanted to speak harsh words to her and break whatever relation he has with her so that she won't come to him after getting hurt but one selfish part inside him stopped him from doing that. Because he knows he don't have anyone beside her.

On the other hand she was so done with him. She decided she is not leaving him but she is not going behind him too. She knows he needs her but she can't bear her insult all the time, she has got so many things to deal with and he is making it more difficult for her to survive. This time she will wait for him to come to her and he will also get his space if he wants to be alone to deal with hurt.

She was in deep thoughts, outside the police station when her phone rang showing Abhimanyu's name.

"Nandini sorry ...... I heard what he done" he said from other side.

"Don't be ..... I will handle that jerk later ...... Just use ur force in finding Shrikant ...... See Abhi we just have 12 days ..... We don't have hopes from Manik and we have to punish Shrikant" she said the fact.

"I'm really missing Manik's evil brain ..... It works as fast as speed of light in such matters" he said with frustrating sigh.

"Don't forget u r his assistant ..... Use ur brain it's also trained under evil Manik".

"Yeah we are in need of that ...... So tell me the exact location where u and Shrikant were arguing just before the blast".

"Exactly in front of the main gate of mansion".

"Approximately how much distance ..... Is it under 50 metre ?".

"Yeah probably".

"That's great".

"How?".

"We can get CCTV footage of that area".

"Everything blasted how u r going to get footage".

"Don't worry Manik was very particular about his things ...... So for security purpose he made software engineers forget their food until they linked his house's security with Half Note and wise versa".

"So we can use that proof for his bail ...... But still we need Shrikant in India".

"We will work on that and listen should I start reconstruction of Malhotra Mansion?".

"No ..... I don't want any of us to take decisions on his behalf ..... I mean it's his property so it should remain untouched ..... He can do whatever he want after coming back ..... And also we don't know what he thinks of that place now" she was very particular about this thing of not interfering into forbidden buisness.

"Okay ....... Last thing, we should also involve Diya with us ..... So she won't feel alone nd her mind will be diverted" he still cares for her.

"Yes but just keep her away from Manik for few days" Nandini hesitated a bit.

"Haa".

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

At night,

Nandini returned to her home after a tiring day, her brother opened the door and saw his exhausted sister.

"Tired?" He asked and she nodded.

"Should I serve u dinner?" It's 11pm, they all had their dinner expect her so he asked.

"No ..... Please make one strong coffee" she requested and he accepted. She went to her room to freshen up.

"Make two" his father came from behind and Rishabh agreed.

After making coffee Rishabh went to his room as per his father's instruction and Raman waited in living room for his daughter. His wife was already asleep.

"Dad u r awake?" She said after sitting beside him on couch.

"Was waiting for you" he said and they started having coffee.

"How r u ?" His sudden question startled her.

"Fine" she sighed.

"Really?"

"I'm frustrated".

"I know ...... I was expecting this ...... At the end u r human ..... U can't handle everything with ease ..... Sometimes life is too harsh" he said.

"It's very different, difficult and unpredictable ...... No matter how much I plan to solve things but some or other thing gets fucked up nd makes me weak" she started emptying her messed up mind.

"At least don't curse in front of me ..... Show some decency" she bit her tongue.

"It just slipped out of my mouth ...... Otherwise I don't curse ...... I rarely curse ..... Trust me dad" she made innocent face and pinched skin of her thought to make it more convincing.

"I'm not ur mother ...... So stop acting" she nodded with her head hanging down.

"Nandini this is start ..... It's going to get more difficult with the path u have chosen ...... U still have chance either to choose peace or chaos" he started the serious talk after finishing his coffee.

"What u r implying to say ?"

"Be practical Nandini ...... I believe love is most beautiful feeling in the world ..... But in life while living u just can't overlook to other things ...... And the person whom u love is way different and his world is not for u ...... U can't compromise for lifetime because of his impulsive moods and miseries ...... Two people's efforts are needed for any successful relationship ..... His efforts are not enough and ur efforts will just drag u two ..... U can't live with self respect by bending ur morals all the time".

"U r asking me to leave him?"

"No ..... I have never pestered u with my opinions ....... Now also decision will be urs but I am highlighting the facts which u r not seeing or u r just ignoring".

"I'm not ignoring it dad ...... I'm facing it and trying to win over it ...... I know leaving him would be best for me and it won't be wrong if we check his records ..... I can be selfish and live peaceful life and probably that will be the right thing for me".

"But still u r not doing it ..... So what's stopping you?"

"U know why he is like this? ...... Because everyone in his life has conviniently left him ...... He has always been victim of everyone's selfishness ...... And if I leave him at this point then there won't be any difference ...... People have made him believe that he is unwanted, inhuman and his life has no value ...... And I don't want to be ignorant about his existence".

"I know it's very frustrating to deal with him ...... But I know he is worthy ..... My respect is not at stake because my respect is his pride and he won't harm it ....... And about my compromises if I can bend my morals then I also have capabilities of bending him in front of me".

"I have seen life my daughter ...... And after certain point in life, more than passion u need stability and mature person to follow equality nd live responsible life" he caressed her head and she put her head on his shoulder.

"I have experienced his love dad ..... It gives me strength to fight against world for him".

"I just hope he is worthy for ur love".

"He can bring that world down into my feet if I ask".

"Crazy and passionate ...... U always wanted this type of love story."

"He is real representation of my idea of love ....... I don't know how it will end but I don't want to leave it incomplete ...... I'm not ready to give up" she had few tears in her eyes.

"U always make me proud ...... Sometimes u make me doubt did I ever knew what love is?" she smiled through tears.

"U r best lover of ur type of love dad ..... Me and Rishu are live examples of it so don't doubt it" he wiped her tears and both laughed.

"Now go nd sleep" she nodded and went towards her room.

"Dad" she stopped and turned back.

"Thanks ...... I really needed this talk ...... Good night" she gave one good night hug before going to sleep.

"Good night".

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

14 days later,

"Nandini I am worried ...... What will happen? ...... Shrikant is not found yet" Abhimanyu was hell nervous and three of them are standing outside the court. Today is Manik's hearing date.

"Don't be ...... Lawyer has said that clip will be enough to get him bailed ..... I just hope Manik won't fuck it" she too prayed silently to her Aayiappa.

"He won't ...... Right Abhi?" Swaroop pressed her shoulders from behind and smiled looking at Abhimanyu to which he winked.

"What u guys did?" She suspected something is fishy.

"Just triggered his Nandini point" Abhi said with smirk.

"Nandini point?" She frowned.

"I just told him ...... Shrikant got to know that u r trying to find proofs against him so he is behind you ...... So who will take precautions of ur safety if he will be in jail" Abhimanyu narrated.

"And it clicked to him that anyone can take revenge by hurting you  when he is vulnerable" Swaroop said.

"And he can't let anyone take advantage of his vulnerability, right?" She completed his sentence with lipped tight smile. She is still annoyed with Manik because he didn't let her meet him in last 14days.

"He loves u Nandu" Abhimanyu said trying to make her calm.

"Whatever ..... Leave it" she dismissed him.

"Tell me where he is going to live?" She asked with concern.

"Apart from Malhotra Mansion he don't have any house in Mumbai ...... Mansion was close to him nd he never built two properties in one city ..... So currently he is homeless" this homeless word broke something inside her but she didn't showed.

"Okay ....... Book any spacious and gorgeous one bhk flat according to his choice" she said.

"Why one bhk?" He frawned.

"I can't afford more than one bhk flat which will suit his taste" she said looking here and there.

"U don't have to ...... I have access to his bank accounts and money" Abhimanyu said because he can withdraw money upto certain limits in Manik's absence.

"I'm doing it for my Manik ..... Nd not for Manik Malhotra to take his money".

"Ohh my Manik and all haan" they teased her and she just blushed. But she couldn't even complete her smile and media gathered outside the court, waiting for his arrival. In mean time Abhimanyu called the broker.

After half an hour Manik along with his lawyer walked out of the court with police behind him. Abhimanyu immediately rushed to him and Nandini stayed back with Swaroop.

"I will handle the press ..... Don't worry" he whispered in Manik's ear but he dismissed him.

"No ...... I want to talk with them" his words shocked Abhimanyu but Manik stood with his old Manik Malhotra attitude in front of media.

"So Mr Manik Malhotra do u admit that u r guilty ?"

"Was Karan Malhotra your real brother?"

"What relation u have with  Punjab's chief minister?"

"Is Shrikant Malhotra blaming you deliberately or u was involved in blast?"

"I heard ur driver was also involved ..... Is it true?"

He heard people muttering questions which were questioning his existence and he can't deny the reality behind them. Though celebraties are always very bothered about reporters as they invades their private space but he knows they are always not bluffing, many of the times they have right information which they leak in the form of rumours. They just give it tag of a rumour so that can leave space for celebrity to cover up.

"I will answer ur all questions in a hope that u will use it in right way and won't just spice it up for ur trp ...... And also not try to cover up for chief minister ..... Because he can easily buy u guys ..... So stream this live on all ur channels" his voice held authority which was missing since days. He looked at Abhimanyu giving him signal to make sure things are happening in his way or not.

"Finally ur man is in action" Swaroop whispered it in Nandini's ears.

"Definitely ...... Now I know he will give justice to Karan". He smiled wholeheartedly because she saw hope after days.

"I guess my punch worked on him" he raised his collar and she raised her eyebrows. After their conversation and before coming out of cell he punched Manik on his face.

"What? ..... He misbehaved with my mother" he shrugged his shoulders.

"U did right ..... He deserved that" she smiled.

"So it all started with my birth ......My namesake father Shrikant Malhotra always hurted me, humiliated me, dominated me just because I wasn't his real son or maybe he also had other reasons ...... He turned into a abusive father and husband after my sister's death which was an accident happened in front of me and for it, he hit me till I was bleeding ..... His evilness nd my mother's love for me ended her life too, she died because he pushed her and fire caught her but he blamed me ..... Made me murderer of my own mother nd sent me to jail at the age of 12 ...... And when I was out of remand home since then he is trying to finish my life as well ........ He tried many times nd that blast was his one of try ....... That blast was for me but it somehow snatched my brother Karan Malhotra ..... The purest soul in Malhotra family who loved everyone including his father until he found his evil ways ..... Nd just because of Shrikant's carelessness karan lost his life, only if he would have checked who was inside ...... I wouldn't have lost my brother" he choked at the end but didn't shed a single tear though his eyes were blood red.

"I don't want anyone's sympathy or judgements ...... Here I am requesting you to do not support a criminal ...... Years back too he got saved and became a chief minister by playing victim card ..... Please don't let him make profit out of my brother's death because he will surely do that just like he did after my mother's death ...... I request our court and Indian police to find him and before that take action against his post ...... I don't think public would like to have criminal as their ruler or servent, whatever ....... That is all I have to say ........ Thank you" once again he gave a solid speech like his old self but this time there was a difference. Though today also he was convincing but his words held truth and emotions were real.

"Swaroop we should leave ..... Come lets go" Nandini said this when Manik ended his speech.

"U sure ...... U don't want to meet him?" He asked being unsure.

"Yeah let's go before he finds me" he nodded and they left after msging Abhi.

Manik was trying to find her but she wasn't around and he was sure, she is deliberately not here. He can't blame her either, he himself pushed her this far. He sighed.

"Sir come ...... I will take u to ur new rented flat" Abhimanyu showed him way to car and Manik raised his eyebrow.

"Nandini rented it for u" he said further.

"Take me to the mansion" he said in low tone.

"It's not repaired yet ..... I was waiting for ur order".

"Okay ...... Take me to new flat wherever it is" he said like a hopeless man and Abhimanyu just followed his orders.

He dropped Manik at his new apartment and left from there with Manik's car only. Because he didn't have his car and Manik asked him to take his.

The new flat is in posh area, building is newly built and well maintained. Flat is small yet cosy and have royal touch just like his taste. But he didn't give attention to the details and just sat on couch.

After a hour this house and emptiness started haunting him so without any food or money or car or phone he left the flat and started roaming around. His legs couldn't forget the way back to his old house nd that's why after a hour of walking, he was standing in front of burnt Malhotra Mansion.

This very mansion he built with a hope to make it home though he knew he is hoping against his fate to have family nd make it home but suddenly his brother invaded his loneliness and his house just started vibing with homely feelings with brother around the house and girlfriend making it home only it to get blasted next day. His happiness was very short lived or may be it was a Mirage which evaporated in blink of eye.

Day turned into night but he couldn't find his home in those ashes but by looking at a setting sun he realised where his home is. And it's time to go back to his home.

Stomach was growling with a hunger and throat went dry in the need of water but today was ironically hysterical. The great Manik Malhotra was penniless.

He chuckled, how life is laughing at him. It was showing him how every creature is same and u should respect every life. He was the same arrogant, filthy rich buisness man,

Year back,
In the late evening,

"Sir ..... Sir ...... Please let me polish ur shoes ...... I will make them shiny in a minute .... please sir" Manik was crossing a local street because his shoot location was a chawl in Mumbai and at that time one young man came running towards him as soon as Manik stepped out of his car, as he was waiting for any rich person to show some mercy.

"Hey get lost ..... My shoes will get dirty by ur polish" he very royally insulted that guy. Though he knew what it is to be in need of job, but he is not here for free charity. He have earned this position by himself others can also earn it, why he should be lenient?.

"If not shoe polish then I can do any other work for u ..... But please..... I'm in need of money .... I have small kids nd wife to feed them" helplessness (Majburi) was clearly visible on his face and he was literally begging.

"Why u guys give birth to the child if u can't feed them ..... Now don't eat my brain and move" Manik was irritated and he started getting angry.

"We r poor that doesn't mean we don't have right to live or have family ..... I know poverty is curse but we r struggling with it nd not giving up" that man said.

"Nd I haven't taken oath of erasing poverty so leave" with this Manik moved ahead leaving that man with his misery.

"His day was not good ..... But u can keep this" Abhimanyu gave that person a 500rs note after Manik went from there.

"Thank you sir ..... I don't like begging but my 4 yrs old daughter is crying out of hunger since last two hours ..... Her cries made me beg" he closed his hands in front of Abhimanyu and he felt good by helping a poor man. Manik did saw the scene by turning back but he just shook his head and left muttering stupid emotional fool.

It's right that person's Karma is very important because Manik didn't find any Abhimanyu on street who can help to finish his hunger.

But after one more hour of walking he finally reached at his destination where he can beg and he knows one angel will surely take him under her wings.

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

Let me know if you found any mistake.

How was the chapter?

.............. Aish ❣️...............