"My heart knows it's him."

~•~•~•~•~•~

As Manik managed to really leave this time. There was a moment where he stopped on his way back, perhaps thinking of turning back, but in the end he marched on.

Nandini sat down on the floor with a thud, hitting her own head with her hands. She was only blaming herself

"Please don't do that. It's not your fault ma'am. He wasn't the one." Jiya tried to calm her down by lying that they found the wrong person.

"No. It's HIM! My heart knows, it's him." Nandini said in a painful tone. She remembers him.

"How could I become so stupid? How could I lost all my skills? Why can't I remember anything? Why? Now, he's turning away from me. Oh god, it hurts! It hurts so much!! I need him!" She cried as she was breaking down. Jiya was feeling helpless to see her in such state.

Here Manik seemed to doubt his actions as he was about to drive away. But shaking his head, he decided not to think about her.

He put his sunglasses on as a mask to keep him from turning back and finally, he drove off.

Here Atul was waiting for Nandini and Jiya to get out. He was such a clever bastard as he knew something was definitely being hidden

As they came out from Manik's place, unfortunately, he got a glimpse of Nandini.

"Damn! It's her!" Soon he realized belatedly that she was the same woman, the missing heir of Kashyap company.

He didn’t have any plans on keeping that information to himself. Without wasting time he called the first person, Mr Jai. But due to a meeting, Jai ignored his call.

***

Nandini was staying at Jiya's place. She was in her room which was decked out like an elementary school, with multiplication tables and alphabet posters covering the walls.

"Come in." She said as she heard a knock at the door.

As the door opened, Neel marched inside with a smile and a bouquet of roses. Well yes, he was aware about Nandini.

"So how is study going?" He asked softly as he saw her practicing her letters in a school book. He gaved her the bouquet and she took it woth a smile.

He noticed that hers and Manik's name was written together on the wall, facing her.

"Study's going well. Jiya said that I was smart before the accident. But now, am not as much genius to remember all in one day." She sighed helplessly

"Yes, you were a genius. But don't worry. Have faith, everything will be alright soon." Neel replied cheerily while Nandini smiled faintly

It’s sad to go from ‘genius’ to ‘relearning the alphabet’.

Neel attempted to cheer her up and admitted that he has a lot of things to say to her, but only when she would get recovered.

"Why can't you tell me now?" Nandini asked confusingly

"When you get the power to resist everything I say, I will tell you then. With nothing left over, nothing hiding." He whispered. Perhaps he was talking about his dad’s secret.

***

Manik had met Mr John Harry who was supposed to give him the secret informations of his company.

The man handed over the USB file to Manik which had his company’s stolen information. He was feeling guilty of his act though.

"You did this for your wife and children. There's no need to cry." Despite his cries, Manik tried to comfort him in a way by reminding him that he did it for his dying wife and children. And in the end, he left the place

At the same time, Manik got a call from the doctor. He sighed and answered the call.

"Hey doctor." He said in a disinterested tone "I was about to come but--"

"Are you coming or should I call your sister?" The doctor said rather threatening him

"Yeah ok. Fine, am coming." He said and cut the call. He didn't want his baby bear to get worried

***

"How could be so careless Manik Malhotra?" The doctor was scolding Manik, who seemed to be disinterested and bored.

"See this." He showed Manik the x-rays of his brain.

There was an epidural hematoma that’s been growing in Manik's brain since the accident, but he wasn't even a bit worried for himself

"You know when you survived the accident, there was a bit of bleeding! You still had symptoms right? You should have come here immediately when you vomitted or had very bad headaches! Do you want to go far and make it worse? Why are you being so careless?" The doctor snapped at him but he cared less

The doctor was his colleague they were in the same class, studying medical.

"Get ready. We have to keep you in the hospital. You surely need to do the surgery, Manik." Manik sighed deeply as the doctor said. He looked at the x-Ray on the computer screen

"I promise I'll come back. But before that, I've to clear up a few things.." he whispered, having a faint smile

It was hard to tell whether his promise to come back for surgery once he would clear up a few things was sincere or whether he was just saying it to placate his colleague.

***

It was night already, when Manik came back to his place only to find that Suhasi wasn't at home.

"Hey buddy" He heard Aditya who was sitting on the bench, in his front yard

"Where's baby bear?" Manik asked as he approached him.

"Baby bear has packed her bags and left, after donating all the money which you made from scheming people to the orphanage."

"What? Why didn't you--"

"No, no! I didn't stop her. Well, what she did, was right. The money was not earned by honesty, anyway.."

"I don't care about the money dammit! Why didn't you stop her from going?" Manik was trying to control his anger. as Aditya didn’t stop her from going

"I know what you had to go through to get that money! How you think babybear would use that money after knowing that you're scheming & trapping innocent people. If you were her, would you use that money?" He scowled at him as he got up

Manik finally lost his temper and punched Aditya. But then soon, he felt an immediate regret and surprise at his own action.

Aditya didn't even seem surprised, and continued talking as if nothing happened as he informed Manik that he’s also leaving.

"Your family and friend are leaving you Manik and you know why? Because, they find your actions, morally reprehensible! You've changed, Manik Malhotra." He said and left Manik alone.

Next morning

Nandini was marching alone in the yard as Jiya was out for some work.

Nandini was lost in Manik's thoughts when at the same moment, Atul found the opportunity to get Nandini.

"Hey." He signalled Nandini through the gate but she got a little bit nervous.

She was told not to meet strangers. How was she suppose to go and talk to Atul when he was a complete stranger to her. So she decided not to open the gate.

"Manik is here!" As she heard the word Manik, an instant smile appeared on her face. Without thinking twice, she rushed to the gate and opened it

"Where's he?" Her eyes were searching for Manik but to her dismay she didn't find him

"Ah.. I meant to say, he send me to take you at his place. He is planning a surprise for you. So am here to take you to him." Atul said with a grin 

Nandini's face lightened up like a kid, who just got the best Christmas gift

"Wait a minute." She rushed inside to change her clothes, grinning like a little baby the whole time.

"Wow.. this is going a lot easier than I thought." Atul mumbled under his breath.

***

"What the heck! No way! I didn't send anyone to her!" Manik said as he read the note which Jiya showed him.

It was a note which Nandini had left at home telling that someone was here to take her to Manik's place.

"Oh no! Where must she be right now? She's such an innocent soul. I tried calling her but it was out of reach. Oh God! I hope she's safe." Jiya was constantly praying to God and she was indeed worried for Nandini.

Manik seemed totally flustered and equally worried for Nandini.

"Give me her number." He asked her, and in next second, he got inside his car and drove off to find her

"Nandini..." He pressed his lips together, tension was clearly visible on his face.

He tried his every possible way to search her. He tried calling Nandini but again, it went out of reach.

"Atul!" His eyes were now blood red as he realized that only Atul would be behind it.

Here Atul was talking on the phone while he was driving

"Don't worry. She's beautiful and have a sexy body. You'll be satisfied." He spoke on the phone. Atul sounded like he was going to give Nandini to someone, who would pay him a great sum of cash.

After disconnecting the call, he glanced aside, to find Nandini asleep.

Earlier, Atul had offered her something to drink, which she took readily, and unfortunately she was now in a deep slumber

Atul's phone rang, showing Manik's number but he just smirked and cut the call. He then switched off his mobile to avoid Manik's call

"Dammit!! Nandini...." Manik bang his hands on the steering wheel, and take a U-turn while here, Nandini remained pass out.

"Nandini, be safe!" He whispered. He was concerned for her and now he only wanted to see her safe, infront of his eyes

Something struck his mind and he instantly took his phone, started searching for Nandini's location. Though luckily, Jiya had set up Nandini's phone as a GPS.

***

Atul parked his car near a restaurant. At least he was not super smart, since he left Nandini in his car and went inside. By chance, Manik got enough time to catch up and he finally arrived at the restaurant.

Reaching the parking lot, Manik got out from the car. He went from car to car as he desperately searched for her.

By the time he tried calling Nandini, Atul was already back in the car. He took Nandini's phone from her bag before she even had the chance to hear it and turned it off.

"There's no way am letting this Manik to get to you!" He smirked evily and started the engine.

Manik had a helpless look yet he didn't give up and looked inside the car through the glass window.

Here when Atul pulled out his car, Manik turned around, just in time to see his car passing by.

"Nandini!"

______________________

Ignore the typos if there's any.

How was the chapter anyway? Boring? I'm sorry for keeping y'all waiting. I'm feeling so de-motivated.

I've lost interest in writing. But don't worry, I'll surely complete my stories before leaving.

Take care.♡

#Okthanksbye