Chapter- 28

Manik was damn angry and threw his phone on the table. Rose smirked. Nandani tried to call by telephone but realised the cables were cut as well. She looked up and saw the sprinkler on the ceiling. Rose got someone to move her chair closer to Manik and told Manik that she couldn't forget him, that's why she tried to find traces of him in her husbands ['s' because she had four marriages four divorces, the fourth one currently handed by Manik.]

Manik said bitterly, "You care for me much more than my wife."

Rose said that "Manik you shouldn't waste any more time on someone who didn't love him."

Nandani was very smart and she burnt a towel so that the smoke would activate the smoke alarm which caused someone to quickly open the door to check what happen. Turns out there's paparazzi photographing Manik and Rose while they were talking.

Rose kept leaning on his shoulder but Manik wasn't seduced or anything. He purposely leaned forward and asked, "You said that you wanted to divorce your husband because he had an affair?"

"He didn't just have an affair... he lied to me as well. If he owns up, I could give him another chance, but he didn't. It's okay, because I believe this is Heaven's arrangement." Said Rose... Then, she leaned back on Manik's shoulder....

Manik muttered "Give another chance", while Nandani dashed up the stairs, only to see Rose lying intimately on Manik's shoulder.

Instead of running away, she stood up for herself. It might also got to do with how the stupid paparazzi's camera's shutter was too loud and Manik heard.

Manik immediately dashed up to grab his camera but the guy was like, "I heard that Supermodel Rose wanted to file a divorce lawsuit. With these photos, I can say that she had an affair with the famous Lawyer Manik Malhotra." Manik was so angry and said that he knew what he had done, and he said "Believe me I can sue you for slander."

"Sure bring it on! Then I can say that you are just guilty." Said the paprazzi...

Suddenly Nandani appeared and said, "You can write all you want, but please don't drag my husband into this." Manik was so surprised that she's still there and walked to her side.

"This girl, Rose trapped me just so there's an opportunity for her to be alone with my husband. Miss Rose, six years ago, you wanted to get revenge on Manik, so you kidnapped me. Six years later, you wanted to seduce Manik, so you locked me up. Why do you always use this old trick, isn't there any new ideas? Why can't you see that six years ago and now, you choose to use the same method to hurt the both of us, but that will only bring us closer than ever." Said Nandani looking towards Soha..

Manik looked at her with a mix of touched and surprised. Continuing she said "You should reflect on why your four marriages failed and not try to break others' marriage. Maybe you are the biggest problem for the failure of your marriages, because you don't know how to cherish those that are beside you. - looking at the photographer- If you want to write, you can write this. Now, my husband and I will like to rest." Then she took Manik's hand and walked off, but not before Manik asked for Nandani's phone from Soha.

"I can still fight for you, for free, because you allow me to see today, how brave a woman can be when she wants to protect her man. " Manik said proudly.. Nandani smiled and they turned to walk away, hand in hand, leaving Rose with a face of .... thoughtfulness and resignation..

Nandani stormed back into the room and asked if she appeared too early and interrupted him and Rose. Manik asked, "Those words that you said just now... are they from the bottom of your heart?"

"I'm real, but do you care if I'm real? You don't care, you only treat it like a joke." Said Nandani...

"Do you really think it's like that? Why did you not tell me all this before?" " asked Manik

"Do you care? Do you know how scared, how careful everyday I have to be with you? Everytime I take a step towards you, I'm afraid that I will step over you your boundary changes every single day. This kind of life puts me on tenterhooks... do you know that kind of feeling?" By then, she was tearing a bit and she sniffed and brushed what she said away.

Manik was actually tearing as well, and he walked behind her and said, "What if I say that I feel the same too? Because I fear, that's why I push you away. Because I've no courage to find the true answers, so I escape... because our past has been chock full of lies. Facing you, I have to keep guessing which is real, and which is fake. Actually, I'm quite happy that you threw this tantrum to tell me your true feelings... but you have to trust me that there's nothing between me and Rose."

" You don't need to explain to me -" was saying Nandani but Manik cut her off..

"I need to, because you are Mrs Nandini Manik Malhotra. Just like how you misunderstand me and Rose, maybe I did the same stupid thing. Maybe I should trust that what you do in front of me is real, maybe we can really make it up... maybe I should trust you more. Isn't it supposed to be like that between husband and wife? We need to be honest if we want to be together forever. Maybe there's something in your heart that you don't dare to tell me, but if you dare to say, I will believe."

Nandani touched her ring and replied that she had never wanted to hide anything from him. She continued "I'm sorry, you might never understand why I left you six years ago, but you must believe that I did it for a reason."

"What makes you think that I won't believe what you said? You were so brave just now, you should brave for yourself too. I want to know why you made that decision six years ago." Said Manik.... He had booked a bar that night, he said "I want to find us six years ago, to live for... each other today night."

Nandani smiled and accepted the invitation.

Nyonika took Manan out to the natural environment and they had so much fun. Manan accidentally picked up a necklace from owner's bag and asked Nyonika if he could bring it home to give it to his mummy, when the owner of the necklace turned up and accused Manan of stealing the necklace from her bag. Nyonika told her what had happened but the owner remained firm that Manan was a thief, until the owner's boyfriend came and told her that there's no way Manan would want to steal her necklace because his grandmother was the director of Space University. So the owner just left while the boyfriend remarked that "Wow, our school's director is so cool! She used to play with her grandson"..

Nyonika heard and she smiled.

Manik went outside the room to drink coffee and he received an sms on Nandani's phone which was from Manan who said that he had a fun time out with Daadi and he hoped Manik and Nandani had fun too!!!!

Manik smiled in contentment and bliss because well, his relationship seemed to be going on well, and everything's just so smooth. Then, Nandani's handphone received another sms and when Manik read it, his face suddenly turned bitter once more.

Nandani came out after chasing but realised that Manik's no longer in the room. She went to find him at the restaurant...

She found Manik waiting for her there. She asked him why he left first and he said that there's no reason. Nandani told him that she thought about it and she decided to tell him why she left six years ago, but Manik interrupted her and brought her to the pool side to dance.

He told her that he realised that both of them had never danced together before even though they'd went through so much together.

Dhruv went to find Fang alone unknown to them, Naman actually came along with Dhruv. Even though Dhruv handed the money over, Fang didn't let Khushi go because he wanted an eye for an eye, literally. Dhruv had a plan with Naman -- he placed his phone in his pocket, and if he called Naman, Naman must do what they had agreed on. Dhruv did just that and turned out that Naman placed a fake siren by the path. When he got Dhruv's call, he pressed the siren which sounded like a police siren and that got the whole gang really scared. They were going to run but it ended up in a fight between Fang and Dhruv -- a fight that could kill. All the sidekicks went out to check and Dhruv was in mortal danger because Fang Ge's dagger was almost touching him already, and it got Khushi really worked up when she saw Dhruv's amulet dropped and slid to her side.

Suddenly a pedestal was stabbed into Fang Ge's neck. Khushi screamed and screamed and screamed and Dhruv made use of this chance to quickly grab the amulet and the pedestal and ran with Khushi when one of the sidekick came back. Naman was waiting outside and he asked what happened but Dhruv told them to run first.

Nandani and Manik was still by the pool side and Nandani wanted to tell him the reason, but Manik cut her off and told her that if she, like him, really wanted to get back together like before, she only had to tell him anything that she should, and he would believe, he would accept, "As long as you say it. I just need an answer and it's not too late yet." As an answer, Nandani kissed him.

After the kiss, Manik asked, "The words you say now... your kiss, can I treat them as real?"

"They're real..." Nandani placed her hand in his, but he smiled sadly and said, "Including this ring?" Nandani hesitated but said yes.

Manik laughed mockingly with a heavy touch of sadness, "Why do you still lie to me?"

Dhruv cleaned the pedestal and threw it into the river. He quickly brought Khushi back to Nandani's house because he knew no one would be there. Naman suspected something was up but Dhruv wouldn't tell him anything.

Dhruv cleaned Khushi's wounds and Khushi told him that she wanted to own up for him, because she wouldn't have as heavy a sentence as compared to Dhruv. Dhruv looked at her in disbelief and said, "Are you saying, that I kill someone, and you want to take the blame?" Khushi nodded and there was tears in Dhruv's eyes.

Dhruv didn't say anything and helped Khushi wear the amulet. Naman went to take Khushi's clothes and came back, but Khushi was distraught because she didn't want Dhruv to go anywhere. Naman quickly took Dhruv's phone.

Manik placed Nandani's phone on the table and Nandani realised that it was an sms from the pawn broker shop. Nandani knew that he knew about the ring and was speechless. Manik was disillusioned as he said, "I thought that you could do anything for me. I thought that the stab you took for me was real, I thought that the words you said today was real, and I really want to believe that the kiss just now was real, but it's you who make me unable to believe. Why do you have the ability to make me feel like a fool, both six years ago and now?"

Nandani tried to explain but Manik shouted, "From last time till now, have you ever loved me?!"

"Yes!" said Nandani... Tears welled up in her eyes...

"You lie to me! If you really love me, you wouldn't pawn your ring for Dhruv!!!!

Manik continued "I begged you to tell me the truth, but you have destroyed.... the last chance."

At this moment, Nandani's phone rang and it was from Dhruv. Manik asked if it's from him and Nandani said, "I hid this from you because I knew you would be angry. This is a special case, you cannot misunderstand me Manik!"

Manik took her phone and asked her to answer it. Nandani answered the call and it was Naman.... Just when Naman cut the call Mr. Singh called her who worriedly told her that, "Dhruv killed someone and he's going to the police station to own up now!" Nandani immediately stood up and told Manik that she would explain the matter to him again and that Dhruv's in trouble so she needed to rush back.

"Please don't tell me that this is a special case again. Just how many special cases do you have, or it's always a special case whenever it's Dhruv?!" asked Manik sarcastically...

Nandani turned around and said that she really needed to see what happened but Manik told her that "If you go find that Dhruv, it's over between the two of us. Remember, you came here today to tell me your decision."

Nandani took a step behind and said, "Sorry, sorry Manik... I really cannot leave him in the lurch." and she left.

Manik was so hurt and angry that he took out his ring, shouted, "What does this matter?!" and threw in the pool. Then, he cried out, WHY DO NOT I MATTER TO YOU NANDANI! IT TURNS OUT THAT ONLY I CARE FOR YOU!!"...

Dhruv was going to leave the house when he saw Nandani standing there. Nandani asked him to say the truth but he was insistent that he was the one who killed Fang. The police suddenly came and arrested him on accounts of murder and wanting to escape. They even arrested Naman, Khushi, and Nandani for suspicion for harbouring the murderer. Manik got a call to go to the police station to settle matters for his wife.

In the police station, Sarla was super distraught and that she believed that Dhruv wouldn't kill anyone, but Dhruv said that he's guilty and that since things had already happened, he just wanted her to know that "Whatever I do, it's to protect those who are important to me."

Manik came to the station and Sarla begged him to save Dhruv but Dhruv didn't want his help at all. Manik coldly asked the officer what happened with his wife, and the officer told him that after their investigation, Nandani had no suspicions of hiding the murderer so she could leave with him. Manik turned around and left but Sarla begged Nandani to ask Manik to help Dhruv.

Nandani left as well and on the way she asked Manik what she could do to stop him from being so cold to her.

He wanted to explain her actions and she did -- that she pawned the ring because Sarla needed money and she didn't dare to open her mouth to ask Manik for the money as well, that she rushed off earlier because she didn't know how to tell him that Dhruv killed someone.

Manik said that all her reasons got to do with Dhruv, "so how do you want me to believe that there's nothing between you and him?" He asked if Dhruv's really that important and Nandani said, "Yes, he's someone very important to me. Have you ever thought that without him, both Manan and I wouldn't be able to survive for these six years? He's your son's greatest benefactor!"

Manik said that he would fight for Dhruv, but that's the last thing that he would do for her. He had enough of the repeated suspicions they had with each other and that "I thought for a long time why I wanted to marry you. The answer is that I wanted to have revenge, I thought that you still love me so I married you. Maybe in my heart I thought that we could really be together again, but six years later, I've changed and so have you, and we both don't love each other anymore."

Nandani tried to explain what made her leave him six years ago but he's no longer interested. "This period of time I need to focus on the lawsuit so Manan and you should return to village for the time being, and between you and I.... I will put a stop after the case." Then he left, leaving Nandani in tears and disbelief.

When Manan and Nandini were going to leave, Dai Ma suddenly remembered that Manik wanted Dai Ma to give Nandani the lotion that he bought for her so that she could put on her wound and that it wouldn't hurt as much when she bathed. Nandani was very touched and Manan asked why she's crying.

She told him that it's because she always hurt and misunderstood Manik but she never realised that Manik was like that because he really cared about her.

Manan asked if she told Manik how she felt. Nandani said she did but because Manik's too sad, he didn't listen to her. Manan told her that Mummy you used to say when one falls, one should pick oneself up again, and he wanted Nandani not to give up. Nandani hugged Manan tightly....

Nyonika went to Manik's office to give him his clothes and asked what's wrong that they wanted a divorce. Manik asked him what she wanted to know, that "Because I didn't listen to you, that's why it ended up like that? Fine, I admit, that I'm really a failure, because the one she cares about is someone else."

Nyonika asked him if he ever thought that he still loved her, but he replied that "But she doesn't love me."

Nyonika asked "Did she tell you that personally?"

"She doesn't need to say and I know!" Manik told her that she went to save Dhruv was something that Nandani really wanted, and not to stay by his side.

Nyonika asked him if he ever thought that sometimes "People lie because they love the other person too much, and they don't want them to be hurt? Maybe she's like that as well..."

Manik replied that what really hurt him was because none of them trusted him enough.

Nyonika told him that she just didn't want him to regret forever like her, but Manik said,"I'm different from you, don't compare your situation with mine. I let Nandani go for her own good, not to push her to death." [ Note: Manik always believed that Nyonika sort of looked down on his father and in the end was the reason behind his suicide. ]

Nyonika teared, looked at him and asked what if she told him that she regretted it a lot, and that she felt like she should have tried harder so that the ending would not be the same.

She finally realised that everything could be given up, "as long as your loved ones are next to you. This simple thing, I only learn it from Manan. To be honest, I really like that kid and I hope that I can continue to be his daadi." Then she left, leaving Manik surprised because of her reaction and called his assistant, to check up on his father's suicide twenty years ago.

Manik had to go to village to collect information and also to inform that the case was very against Dhruv, but he would still try his best.

Later, Nandani asked him to stay on so that he could see Manan, but Manik rejected her offer because he still needed to go and see Dhruv later. Manan came home at that time, and rushed forward.

Manik hugged him and asked him to be obedient. Nandani told the both of them that she would cook rice [ with no carrots ] for the both of them after Manik won the case. Manan jumped in joy and asked Manik to join him.

Manik laughed and said sure. When he stood up, Manan hugged his leg and said, "daddy remember, mumma and I love you a lot a lot!!!!"

Manik smiled and left. Nandani stood in the driveway and watched him leave, while Manik cried in the car. Later, he went to find Dhruv at the detention centre but Dhruv didn't want him to fight for him, and that this matter had nothing to do with others.

Manik calmly said, "You wouldn't explain for yourself, you kept saying that you are guilty and that this has nothing to do with others, this attitude..... makes things seem.... not innocent." Dhruv jerked his head up to look at Manik in shock.

Manik is helping Dhruv fight the case because it's like a divorce present from him to Nandani. He did that solely because he feels that that's what Nandani really wanted, and since he had the means, he shall try and fulfil what Nandani wished for -- to be with Dhruv. This is really evidence of love because isn't there such a saying that goes, " When you love someone, set them free?"

" When you really love someone, set them free, for they will come back to you if it's meant to be"

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