"Relationships are like glass. Sometimes it's better to leave them broken than try to hurt yourself putting it back together."

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Chapter 24 - Reminiscing about the past

"Stop the damn car!" Manik murmured in frustration as he was following Atul behind.

Finding no other choice, he speed up, halting his car just in-front of Atul's.

Atul put on the brakes instantly. He gulped, seeing Manik getting out of the car. He was sweating badly. Without thinking he got down from the car and was about to escape but his attempt failed as Manik grabbed his collar.

He glanced at Nandini who's eyes were still closed.

He then proceeded to drag him mercilessly.

"How dare you? Where were you taking her? Atul, you're just so dead today." Manik scowled at Atul - punching his face while he shriek in pain.

Due to the fight, Nandini woke up. She looked up straight, her vision was a little blurry.

Her eyes widened as soon she saw Manik punching Atul.

"Manik." She whispered, getting out of the car

"Manik, dude I-I was just bringing Nandini to you." Atul pleaded but Manik kept on punching at him

"Stop lying!" He was about to punch him once again when Nandini interfered

"Stop it!" She screamed. She was horried, seeing the scene while Atul used this opportunity and he managed to run away quickly.

"Dammit! Bloody jerk!" Manik cursed under his breath before looking at Nandini who was standing clueless.

"Are you freaking out of your mind? How could you just get into a stranger's car?" He snapped at her

"But Manik, you'd asked him to bring me to you right? This is what he told me." She replied innocently

"No! I didn't! I never asked him, neither anyone to bring you to me. You should have atleast think carefully before coming up with him right? How could you just..." He ran his hand through his hair, before grabbing her arms, yanking her against his body.

"I was scare---. Damn! You're so, so stupid!" He bit his lips in vexation as he left her while she stumbled back

Nandini was numb. She controlled the tears which threatened to spill from her eyes.

So.. Manik is mad because someone was going to bring me to him, without his permission? He doesn't even want me close him... She thought

"Do you hate me that much?" She suddenly asked

"I didn't think that you'd hate me, about me, that much." She whispered looking straight in his eyes while he was looking in hers

She chuckled before speaking, "If I had known, I wouldn't have looked for you."

Manik ignored her words. He held her arm and tried to drag her to his car,

"Leave me!" She wrenched herself out of his grasp with tears in her eyes,

"It's my fault! All my fault. You're right, I'm stupid. I was happy, assuming that you want to see me but, it was all wrong. I don't think that guy did anything wrong. Don't scream at him, don't blame him but me." She cried,

"I was wrong Mr Malhotra. I apologise for ever asking you to remember me, help me, or wait for me." She pushed him back, distancing herself from him

The look on Manik's face was something close to disbelief, but he sighed anyway, "Let's leave." He grabbed her wrist yet again but this time, it was no joke. Still, Nandini wrenched and freed herself again.

"Don't touch me! I can be on my own. I don't need your sympathy anyway." She wiped off her tears. Turning around, she marched away while Manik was just staring and sighed.

As Nandini cried on her cab ride back home, Manik sat inside his car pensively.

He was thinking about how Nandini just told him that she won't cling to him anymore. He banged his fist on the steering wheel, before taking out his phone and made a call.

________

Here Vishni was staring at the same picture which Atul had send her.

It was a picture of Nandini which Atul had secretely captured. Vishni was just as nervous as she stared at the picture of Nandini.

"If you're back in real, it's going to tough Nandini. I'm sorry baby, but you have to stay away from this world. Don't worry. I'd asked Atul to get rid of you. I won't let you be back ever again." A smirk was playing on her lips. "And if Atul is playing games with me then he will have to pay for it."

Earlier, she had a conversation with her brother, who'd known enough to use her fear of Nandini's returning against her.

So basically, it wasn't anyone but Vishni herself who paid Atul to get rid of Nandini. Atul had took the picture to Vishni, threatening to reveal Nandini's existence to everyone if she didn't give him something in return.

So she had ordered Atul to kidnap Nandini and had promised Atul, the property and money as compensation.

Just then, her phone beep. It was a text from Atul, saying that Nandini's out of her way and the evil smirk never left Vishni's face.

She was about to switch off her mobile when Atul called.

She sighed and answered the call. "Hello?"

"Vishni! I send you a text. It's done. I've got rid of her. I'm waiting for you at the same place where I'd asked you to come with cash. Now I should get something in return." He demanded. He was at a gambling club. He'd also ignored 10 missed calls from Manik in the process.

"The situation has been resolved. Where is the cash which you had promised to give me?" He asked, but by the way, could Vishni give him cash any sooner? She was a real master in these games anyway.

At the same time, sirens flashed as officers arrived to raid the place where Atul was. He instantly suspected Vishni of calling them.

"I know exactly what kind of person you are, Atul. You'd blackmail me, torture me, my entire life. What you did think? I've forgetten everything so easily? No!" Vishni spoke in aggression.

Curiously, she then said, "Oh, Our Nandini! What happened to her? I've told you not to touch a single hair on her body! I told you specifically that if you touch my child, I won't leave you. I won't stay still even if you are my brother or anyone else. I had warned you." Atul was bewildered by her words. Vishni was totally acting innocent.

"I ordered you to kidnap her? When did I? Where? Do you have evidence?"

She did order it, but she double-crossed her brother in the proces.

"You deserve this. Now you got to know how easy it is for me to lock you in prison for a decade."

"I will kill you Vishni. I will--" Vishni cut off the call and switched off her mobile.

_____

Next day, Manik was home, after spending a night in his car. he'd slept in his car last night. He didn't want to come back to the house which didnt feel home without his baby bear.

He opened the gate effortlessly, only to find Atul in a grungy state. He was waiting for him.

The last incident immediately flashed in Manik's head and he grabbed his collar

"You jerk!!" He shove him against the door, punched him hard, and was about to hit him again when his words made a stop to his move.

"Vishni told me to do it! To prevent Nandini from coming back to Kashyap mansion. She told me to do whatever I want to, with her. She.. she told me she would pay me well then."

For a moment, Manik ignored as he thought Atul might be lying but then, he recalled Jiya's words. Jiya was aware that Vishni would try to do something bad with Nandini.

"It's true Manik. It was Vishni who told me to do that. Trust me." Atul spoke in fear

"Trust you? To hell with that. Honestly, it's pretty hard to tell if you're being sincere." Manik jerked him away, and made his way to his car

He asked Jiya to send him her address through a message. He then headed straight to Nandini's house after getting her address from Jiya.

_______

"Yes. I got her address sir. I found her hiding place." The detective, Aadit was informing Jai through a phone call.

"Fine. I'll be sending some men. Just get her." Jai's expression was dark as he told Aadit that he would be sending people there - which just couldn't be good in anyway

"So... having a good time - trying to kick Nandini out of the company?" Neel asked in an irritated tone

"I wonder, why is Nandini being hidden away if she's alive." Neel seemed to be stunned by his sudden question

"Nandini's being hidden? Seriously? You're dreaming." Neel tired to act smart but who was he fooling to.

"Neel. Why can't you take Nandini abroad and live quietly if you loves her that much." Jai finally said it.

Neel was surprised, though he loved Nandini. But he wanted to keep this secret from her. And perhaps, this will stay hidden forever.

Neel shook his head and without saying anything further, he got out from his cabin.

____

Here, Manik was almost near Nandini's house when he spotted Jiya marching ahead.

"Come. I'm driving to that way only." Manik said as he make a halt to his car - next to Jiya.

Jiya smiled a bit and got inside his car. They almost got there but Manik stopped at a distance, as he saw Aadit, standing at the gate, with some men.

"Heck!" Manik cursed. He knew Nandini's is in danger.

"Oh no. We need to bring ma'am out of the house. Else, they'll find her." Jiya whispered, worry was clearly shown in her face

Manik but his lower lip, "Jiya, is there any door back other than the front one?" He asked

"Yeah. At the backside."

"Great. You'll go to the men, try to distract them. Till the time, I'll go inside by the backside door. And bring her out. Okay?" Jiya nodded immediately

_____

"You? What the heck are you doing here?" Nandini exclaimed, horrifically as she saw Manik stepping inside the house from backside. He gestured her to remain quiet but Nandini was too mad at him.

"How dare you. Stay away from m--" She was immediately shut as Manik palmed her mouth - pushing her against the wall.

"Can't you just keep quiet?" Manik yelled - whispered.

Nandini seemed to be taken aback by their closeness. She blinked at Manik, telling him through her eyes, to leave her.

He sighed and removed his hand away from her mouth.

Their eyes were not ready to leave each other. But then, Nandini recalled how Manik had treated her everytime she came to him.

Once again, tears started springing her eyes. Manik noticed her sadness and felt bad though.

"Hey. I know you got scared to see me all of a sudden, sneaking into your house like this but, it's fine. It's .. it's just me, Manik." He tried to comfort her but she pushed him away in retaliation and got in her bedroom - locking herself inside.

Here Jiya was talking to the men, distracting them not to get inside.

"Nandini.. open the door." Manik said for the ninth time. He was futilely trying to get her to open the door.

"No. I can't open. Someone yelled at me for listening to strangers & going out with them." She threw his words back at him.

"So, since I now consider you a stranger, I can't comply." She said in a keen tone.

Both were standing back to back against the door. She didn't open the door, but still he didn't give up.

He sighed deeply before speaking, "You know, how we met?" He took a breathe

"We met on a plane, when I was checking you, as in - giving you first aid. Then, our ways parted but we met once again, when you had a motorbike accident. I fell off the cliff while trying to retrieve your doll." Manik chuckled lightly, thinking about the past whilst Nandini quietly listened to his words.

"She was sassy yet, arrogant girl. 'Why did you do it? What do you want? If you fell off and died, who were you going to blame? You found an easy target, so how much were you going to rip me off for?' This was all she kept on telling me and that was the first time I'd ever saw someone with such an attitude."

He bit his lower lip, the smile never leaving his face, - he continued, "She was as twisted as she could be. She thought that there was no one she could trust in the world. She was arrogant, overly-confident, cold, and picky. A girl with no manners, not knowing how to say thanks when she needs to, and how to apologize when she needs to."

These words hit Nandini, not necessarily because she believed him, but because she couldn't imagine herself being like that.

Either way, she opened the door quickly, only to find Manik standing infront of her.

"We need to leave, Nandini." He didn't let her speak and he grabbed her wrist, "We can complete reminiscing the rest in the car."

To be continued...

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Wassup Readers!

Please ignore the typos.

Sorry for such a long delay.

I was giving my international exams so it was difficult for me to take out time.

But, now that am back... so, I'll try to keep my stories up-to date.

Thank you for having patience though.

Love y'all.♡

Take care.

#Okthanksbye