OUTSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM

Nandini (looking at Shivaay): Don't you think that you went a little too ahead?

Shivaay (angrily): Are you serious mom? Did you see the way he talked rubbish about you?

Nandini: He is your brother Shivaay.

Shivaay: No he isn't. No one talking ill about my mother is dear to me. If he was my brother then he would have respected you not thrashed you.

Nandini: It was just misunderstanding's son. Nothing great to worry about now.

Shivaay: Are you serious mom? You always talk great about your son but can't you see that your son doesn't think the same way as you. You always told he trusted you. Then where did that trust go when he saw the video?

Nandini (tiredly): It's in the blood son, it's in the blood.

Shivaay: I can give you a word that our princess is not even a mile near it so it isn't in the blood.

Nandini: You remember son when you were small you said you didn't understand history and it was difficult to learn for the exam. If I am not wrong it was about Indian Independence right?

Shivaay: Yes? But how is that related to this.

Nandini: When you were sure you were going to fail I gave you an idea to learn history by watching the movie Gandhi. After watching it you remembered each and every thing ad you believed in many things that you didn't read off. That's how life is we believe what we see than what we hear. When your teachers lectured about it you couldn't believe nor understand but when you saw it in a movie you understood and believed it in a jiffy.

Shivaay: But?

Nandini: Shivaay I want to go to the washroom now. You head to the car and I will be there in a while.

OUTSIDE THE WASHROOM CORRIDOR

Sidharth was leaning on one wall of the corridor while Sameer on the other.

Sameer: Yaar I am done with this Manan. Yeh aadmi hamari baat sunta hi nahi hai.

Sidharth: What am I supposed to do? I tell his let us party for a day but no for him only work is important.

Sameer: And the funniest part is that his work is not 'WORK' work, his work is to look what Maya is doing.

Sidharth: I know right. If he likes her so much then why doesn't he propose her?

Sameer: Marwana hai kya? You know for the fact that Kavya is behind Manan in getting him to think about her beyond a friend so this isn't possible. Also, Maya is 10 years younger to him and he considers her as his sister. If only she was actually his sister. Our life would have been perfectly set.

Sidharth: Yah, I miss Nandz aunty so badly and also Maya baby a lot. If they were here then everything would have been in place and we wouldn't have to worry about anything.

There words were interrupted by Nandini walking towards the washroom. Sidharth and Sameer who were leaning on the walls stood up straight and looked at her with their eyes popped out.

Nandini who was really confused stopped at her tracks and looked at them with a questioning smile.

Nandini: What happened kids? Why are you staring at me like that?

That's was it for the two of them, they hugged Nandini tightly and cried like babies. After a while the drifted apart.

Sidharth and Sameer: Nandz aunty.

Nandini (smiling): My Sid and Sameer?

Sameer: But how did you get to know?

Nandini: Only the two of you and Kavya call me like that so I should be knowing that. Sidharth's long and glossy hair reminds me of Alya. And you Sameer, your mom's attitude is completely on you.

Sidharth: Why don't you come back Aunty?

Nandini: Circumstances have brought me in this position and only destiny can decide where I ultimately belong. Anyways where is Kavya? I am sure she is dating Manan right?

Sameer: Wah aunty apne toh hamare man ki baat zubaan pe laakar khada kardiya.

Sidharth: Unfortunately there aren't dating because your dear son doesn't have something called brains.

Nandini: It's in the blood dear. Both father and son are the same. Anyways I haven't seen Kavya yet. Can you show me her pic?

Sameer: Is that even a question aunty?

They showed her pics of Kavya and the entire gang. Nandini held her tears back and smiled. But all this was interrupted by Manik.

Manik: So here you are Miss. Murthy or I must say Mrs. Oberoi. You got another rich brat right for your desires.

Nandini: You will never learn from you mistake Manik. You will never learn.

With this Nandini walked past him. But before she could leave, Manik pulled her back by her hand and their shoulders collided.

Manik (angrily): Yes you are right I made a mistake but I have learnt from it. And now that you are here, give your so called son a reminder that me and my son are coming to get our daughter back.

Nandini: You will never be able to snatch her. If she leaves me then she chooses to leave and not because you forced her to leave. I have taught my daughter to live with pride and to make her own decision. It will be her decision to choose among us.

Manik: you....... Where have you hid here you pesky woman?

Nandini: If I am sure that she will be mine then I needn't hide it from you. You will have to find her on your own.

With this Nandini left the corridor and entered the car to leave for the mansion.

IN MAYA'S ROOM

Nandini and Shivaay were sitting on Maya's bed waiting for her entry. And there she entered the room, dumped the bag and sat on the bed facing Nandini.

Maya: Will you kindly explain the entire scenario with the entire history.

Shivaay: Mom, you really don't have to.

Nandini: It's time for her to know. If not now then we will suffer. So Maya, are you ready for this?

Maya: Will you start it now mom. I am getting impatient.

Nandini: There is two truth that you need to know and each of them has a story behind it. Okay?

Maya: Okay....

Nandini: One, Manik is your father and Manan is your brother. Two, Shivaay isn't your blood brother.

Maya: What??!!! But you said father was dead right?

Nandini: That was Shivaay's dad. Your father is still alive. Now let me continue.

Maya: Okay.

Nandini: It was a very long time. The incident that I am talking about is when you were only 5 and a half months. Back then everything was normal between me and Manik. When Manik and I had got married it was just registered before our marriage we were separated for 10 long years because of some misunderstanding. But then it was sorted and we were leading a normal life. And then came that man who ruined everything.

FLASHBACK

Manik: Nandini, the invitation has come. It's that business party that you were talking about.

Nandini: It came? When is it?

Manik: It's today evening at 6pm in Crown Plaza hotel. You need to get ready soon.

Nandini: Aren't you getting ready?

Manik: No I am not. It's your party and it's not even related to my company. You should go.

Nandini: But....

Manik: I trust you baba. Now go.

IN THE EVENING

AT CROWN PLAZA HOTEL

Nandini was standing outside the hotel. She looked at the road opposite to hers and saw that all of her staff was entering another hotel. Thinking that they would have made a mistake, Nandini entered the hotel.

AT THE RECEPTION

Nandini: Hey, can you tell me where the party hall is?

Receptionist: But ma'am why?

Nandini: There is a party there so I have come there to attend it.

Receptionist: But ma'am there isn't any party.

Manager: What are you saying Radha? Didn't you see people going? Are you Nandini?

Nandini: Yes?

Manager: Ma'am the party hall is getting ready but madam has said to send you to her room until then. The room no. is 805.

Nandini: Okay.

OUTSIDE ROOM NO. 805

Nandini noticed a table beside the door and on it was a few glasses of lemon juice. There was a sheet of paper which said that whoever enters this room gets a drink as complementary. Nandini being thirsty drank two of them and entered the room. As soon as she entered a mere wanderer drank the same drink and within seconds he fell on the floor.

The Manager soon reached the place and called for one of the cleaners.

Manager: Get him to a room and remove this table from here. Its work is done.

IN THE ROOM

The room was completely dark and Nandini was struggling to search for the lights. But before she could get to it she slipped down and someone caught her. The drinks had affected her and she was half conscious.

Man: So you are finally here Nandini.

Nandini: Manik?

Man: Tum mujhe jo bhi naam se pukaro magar aaj toh mera hi din hoga. Time for some pay back.

The man pulled her and threw her on the bed. Thinking that it was Manik's prank poor Nandini allowed him to do whatever he wanted. The man set a camera in the room so as to record certain manipulation. He acted as if he was making love in the video but only he know that it wasn't true. He wanted to take revenge but without assaulting a woman.

AFTER AN HOUR

Man: You will wake up soon to see yourself shattered. And that shattered face will be your ruin. You will lose all your loved ones and that is my promise.

With this the man left the room and Nandini soon woke to get shocked while looking at her condition. She ran back to the Mansion.

FLASHBACK OVER

Nandini: When I reached home I couldn't open my mouth to any one of them. I told the two of them that nothing had happened and settled the matter till then. But I didn't know that what had happened to me was just a trailer and that the movie was still left. Within a week the video of what had happened had not just reached Manik but also my son Manan. Was that man such an inhuman? I tried to explain the two of them that it was a misunderstanding but none of them were willing to understand me. And then Manik took one big move of divorcing me. I allowed him to do the same when I saw that there was no chance for them to understand me. But luckily I got you and I decided to raise you up. And that's how I reached California and your brother Shivaay........

TO BE CONTINUED.........

PRECAP: FLASHBACK CONTINUES. PREPARATIONS FOR THE PARTY.

DO VOTE, COMMENT AND FOLLOW ME. EGGS AND TOMATOES ARE ALWAYS WELCOME. I AM REALLY SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE BUT I AM SURE THAT THIS LONG UPDATE WOULD HAVE COMPENSATED FOR IT. I HOPE YOU LIKED THE UPDATE.

WITH LOADS OF LOVE, GAYATHRI.