Nandini's POV

I stood rooted on my place seeing Cabir bhai in that condition. My mind refused to register anything else and just revovled around one question.

Where is Manik!?

"Cabir!" Navya screamed and tried to get up but bhai asked her to stop.

"Navya no!" He said but she didn't listen and tried to run towards him not noticing the table in between.

Her leg hit the table and she was about to fall on her stomach when Bhai screamed.

"Navyaaa!"

I ran and held her before she could hit the ground and she looked at me terrified. She kept her shivering hand on her baby bump and her lips quivered.

"My baby!" She said in a shaky breath.

"Navya nothing has happened to your baby! See you are fine!" I tried to assure her but she was not listening.

"Nandini I was about to kill my baby!" She murmured and I looked at her in disbelief.

Bhai reached towards us till then and took Navya in a hug. She clunged to him with her hand still on her bump.

"I was going to kill our baby Cabir!" She cried and he clutched her tightly.

"You were not Navya! You were not! It was just an accident!" He murmured in her ears to calm her down and she clinged to him more.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" She kept whispering and he just kept a hand on hers which was on her bump.

"She is okay! And so are you! I love you both so much!" He kissed her head and I stood there staring at them.

Suddenly I remembered about Manik. Why was Bhai in this condition? And where is Manik? Is he okay?

"Bh-Bhai! Where is Ma-Manik!?" I asked shaking a little and he turned his head to look at me with those vulnerable eyes.

"H-He is fine right?" I asked but he stayed silent which scared me to death.

"Bhai please say something!" I cried out loudly.

"Cabir why are you in this condition? And where is Manik?" This time Navya asked him.

I kept staring at him waiting for him to speak whereas all he did was shut his eyes tightly as if preparing himself for something!

"When today morning we had left Manik had got a call after which he was very pissed and blazing. I immediately guessed whose call it must have been as there is only one person who can manage to make him seethe like this!" He clenched his jaw as if remembering something.

Navya held his hand and squeezed it and I realised that instance that she knows too about whom he was talking!

"We were going to a place where drugs were being supplied into India for a specific reason! After reaching there we had planned to finish it off but it all backfired and we were doomed! They attacked us and since our men were less then theirs they killed all of them!" He took a deep breath and my anxiety increased.

"Manik and me managed to escape from there anyhow but after the incident Manik was all the way more raged! He knew who did this! It was all planned! Right from the call till the attack!" He looked at me while I still stayed mum.

"Manik wanted to be alone so he pushed me in the mansion and left! I tried to stop him but he was uncontrollable!" He said apologetically.

"Who was he?" I asked the first thing that had been in my head till now.

"Manik's father!" Cabir bhai gritted with so much venom that it made me gasp.

"Where is he now?" I asked referring Manik and Bhai pursed his lips.

"I can't tell you!" He sighed dejectedly.

"Bhai you need to tell me where is Manik!" I said sternly.

"I will take you there!"

"No! I'll go on my own! Just tell me where is he!" I was too stubborn to listen to anything.

"Nandini! I said I will take you there! End of discussion!" He ordered in his dominating tone and it shut me up.

"But Navya!" I looked at her hesistantly and Bhai too stared at her.

"I'll be fine Nandini! You go with Cabir! Manik needs you now!" She said and I nodded.

Soon Bhai and me were in the car as we drove to the place where Manik was. Many questions roamed in my mind to which only Manik had the answers. I know he will try to push me away like always but this time I won't let anything break us!

The car came to a halt and I looked outside to see a isolated place. Confused I got out and looked around when I spotted something making my eyes go wide and fear crawl on my neck!

"Bh-Bhai?" I gulped.

"He will be inside!" He said and held my hand taking me inside but I stopped him.

"No Bhai! I'll go alone! You said you'll bring me here and I agreed but now from here it is my battle! I will deal with it on my own!" I said confidently and he looked at me with proud eyes.

"I know you will! I trust you! Take care of him and yourself!" He pecked my forehead before leaving.

I turned around and took a deep breath before walking inside. It was all dark and I could only see the white stones! The only noise was the crushing of the leaves as I walked ahead!

My feet came to a halt when I noticed a figure lying on the dusty ground on the leaves staring at the sky. I moved my gaze beside him to read the words which brought unshed tears but I gulped them and walked towards him.

"Manik!" I called but he didn't move, neither did he stop gazing at the sky.

When I was near him I noticed his all bruised and bloodied face but it didn't matter him at all. Finally I sighed and layed beside him staring at him and then at the sky.

"You shouldn't have come here Nandini!" He said and although he called me by my name I couldn't ignore the pain and agony in his voice.

I turned my head towards him but he was still looking above.

"You come here often! Don't you?" I ignored his remark and stared at the stars.

I felt his intense gaze on me but pretending that I don't know I continued what I was doing.

"Yes!" He whispered quietly.

"This place gives me peace!" He continued and I listened patiently.

"This place connects you to your Mom right?" I said softly and he chuckled.

"You read it Nandini!" He said as a matter-of-fact and I bit my lip.

"I know but I want to hear it from you!" I confessed and looked at him and this time he too looked at me.

We gazed in each others eyes and I could see the pain, agony, helplessness in his vulnerable eyes. His eyes were screaming to take him away from all this! He wants to hide, hide far away from this harsh world but then suddenly he cut me off by breaking our eyelock.

"You know Nandini whenever I come to her I always want to scratch that Late written on it! I hate to see it on her beautiful gravestone! But I always have to see it!" He paused.

"Late Mrs. Nyonika Malhotra!" He uttered while clenching his jaws.

I held his hand in mine trying to assure him that I will always be there for him. He did nothing but tightened his grip on my hand.

"Do you believe the saying that the ones that leave us become a star?" I tried to divert his attention.

"I don't know! But I always try to find her in them!" He sighed staring at the stars.

"Manik tell me about your Mom? How was she like? She must have been very beautiful!" I whispered softly.

"Most beautiful!" He corrected as a smile spread on his face.

"She was and will always remain the most beautiful person in my life! You know she loved to pamper me! I was her only child so she never let anyone scold me! Not even the teachers! And you know I was the most notorious kid still she loved me the most! Life was so beautiful with her until she left!" He gulped and I hesistantly looked at him.

"And your Dad?" I knew this was not the right time to ask but I couldn't stop myself.

As soon as I uttered those words he left my hand and I could feel his body going stiff. He clenched his jaws and fists trying to control himself.

"Don't ever talk to me about that man! He is not my father!" He spat venomously shaking with anger.

"Manik!" I called but he remained the same.

"Nandini fucking don't!" He hissed.

I immediately moved close to him and hugged him tightly keeping my head on his chest. He went stiff but then slowly wrapped his hands around me squishing me against him.

"I hate that man Nandini! I hate him!" He murmured whereas I pressed a kiss on his heart trying to calm him down.

And I know it was working as I could feel his muscles relaxing under my touch. We layed there in the same position for few more minutes.

"Manik!" I called and he just hummed.

"We should go back!" I said and he sighed, his grip loosening.

"I don't want to!" He said painfully.

I looked up and stared in his eyes as I caressed his face and he leaned in my touch.

"I promise we'll visit her again! And next time you won't be alone! We will accompany her together!" I spoke softly still stroking his cheek when he opened his eyes and stared at me intently.

"Promise?" He asked searching my eyes.

"Promise!" My reply was almost immediate and he smiled.

We got up and Manik stared at her gravestone with longing in his eyes.

"I love you Mom! I'll see you soon!" He whispered before holding my hand and taking me out of there.

Once we reached home he straight away pulled me upstairs in his room not bothering about Bhai who was waiting for us in the living room. He closed the door and pulled me towards him hugging me tightly and hiding his face in my neck. I caressed his hair soothing his all worries as he sighed under my touch.

"I'm tired!" He murmured on my neck.

"I know!" I replied ruffling his hair.

"I want to sleep Rose!" My heart fluttered and although I know he was tired still he needed to freshen up.

"Manik please take a bath first! You are all bruised!" I stated backing away and he nodded leaving quietly.

This was the first time I was seeing him so lost and vulnerable. And I hated it! I hated seeing him like this!

After a few minutes he was out of the bathroom and I made him sit on the bed taking the first aid kit. I dabbed the cotton on his wounds slowly careful enough not to hurt him. Neither did he hiss nor did he make any sound! All he did was stare at me while I continued to clean his wounds. As I finished I threw the cotton and turned around to leave but he caught my hand halting me in my steps.

"You need to sleep Manik!" I said without turning around.

"Not without you!" He replied and I sighed.

"You are hurt Manik and I don't want to hurt you anymore!" I tried to make him understand but instead he pulled me and caged me in his arms.

"These physical wounds are nothing compared to the wounds I have here! And they never healed!" He whispered pointing at his heart.

I kissed his heart and he shivered for what I know for the second time.

"They won't hurt anymore Manik!" I whispered more to myself as he pecked my head and tightened his grip.

~~~

Okay i don't know why but i'm actually kinda proud of myself for this chapter!