Human beings are designed in a way that they always live with one half of their self in the past and the other half in the present. It will be wrong to blame them because somewhere we all want to re-live are past no matter how awful it is, we all have that urge in our heart somewhere buried inside that 'If only I can go back in my past life, undo all the wrong & return back with only right in hands' but nothing that sort of can happen. Thus instead of sulking over the spilled milk one should always be an optimistic and start again even if it takes ages to set things right still don't give up just keep moving.

Kajal parked her car outside Maa-Ni Mansion- a place which has all the answers of Nandini's questions and also a place which can give birth to several new questions for her. As Nandini stepped out of the car, she looked surprised to find herself out of Manik's place, throughout the journey Kajal was silent and her mysterious self has ignited the fire of several questions in Nandini's heart but reluctantly she also zipped her mouth.

Nandini : "Hum yaha Kyu aaye Hai Kajal?"..she asked as kajal gesture her to accompany her inside the mansion.

Kajal : "Is kahani ki pehli kitaab se tumhe milwane."..her weird double meaning answer left Nandini in bewilderment. Kajal asked her to come inside without hesitation thus Nandini complied although her heart has started giving red signal to her as a sign of danger still she kept all her doubts in the side and walked straight inside.

As kajal walking upstairs, Nandini is having jittering feels, she can feel the sudden change in the atmosphere as if her whole life is going to stand in front of her and will hand over all the answers which perhaps she was looking all this while.

Amidst of all these thoughts, Kajal stepped on the last stair and stood right in front of a room, Nandini noticed it was the same room from which Manik has refrained her to enter earlier. The adjacent wall of the room's door has a chocolate brown board on which Maa-Ni is engraved beautifully, she felt symbolic for a brief moment and placed her hand on the alphabets. Kajal is noticing her each and every action very keenly, on the other hand Nandini reminisced how Manik has referred those two words as his life once she asked about the speciality of those two irrelated words.

Kajal's voice broke her reverie and she divert all her attention to Kajal's words.

(Strongly recommend you to play the music in the background you'll feel every inch of this part)

Background music (Khamoshiyan Unplugged)

Kya us gali Mei kabhi tera jaana hua,
Jahan se guzre jamane ka jamana hua,

Kajal : "A world which is created by Manik is waiting for you. There is something inside which is the only reason of his survival today."..her words have that intensity which gave goosebumps to Nandini, her heart is beating at the fastest speed.

Mera samay toh wahi pe hai thehra hua,
Batau tumhe Kya mere sath Kya Kya hua..

As kajal unlocked the room's door, Nandini instantly held back her breath, she herself has no idea why it's all so unnerving but all she knows right now is that an another side of the story is going to be in limelight today which perhaps is going to change all the equations henceforth.

Khamoshiyan ek raaz Hai, seene Mei dafan Hai kahi
Khamoshiyan Jo pass Hai main tumse kahunga kabhi,

Kajal opened the door, Nandini looked at her for a brief moment with uncertainty, Kajal blinked her eyes slowly to her as an assurance to enter inside.

Baat lunga main sath mei Tere, Milne to aao Zara..

Nandini looked at the door which is slightly ajar, unknowingly she gulped a lump formed in her throat..

Khamoshiyan, Teri Meri khamoshiyan
Khamoshiyan, lipti hui khamoshiyan...

Nandini placed her one leg inside the room with all the jittery feels, with only uncertainty in her eyes, negative and positive thoughts clouded her mind. She opened the door to the fullest and entered inside the room, Kajal followed her but as soon as Nandini entered inside the room, the scenery inside the room shocked her to the core.

The whole room is covered with only her pictures, there is not even a place in the room which has no mark of her as if some devotee has painted the whole room with the pictures of his Almighty.

Nandini walked towards one of the wall which has one huge picture of her in the center and surrounded with several small ones. She placed her hand on her picture and looked at it intently, all she is busy in trying to recall when she had clicked this picture of hers and certainly she has no answer in her hand.

Kajal: "Sach Janna Tha na tumhe Nandini. To yeh Hai Manik ka Sach, agar Manik ne kabhi bhi Kisi se bhi pyaar Kiya Hai toh woh sirf or sirf tum ho."...her answer led to several questions in Nandini's mind and top of all she has one thing What's going on?

Nandini: "I don't remember when did I...."..she stopped in mid as her eyes fallen on the side table and a photo frame grabbed all get attention.

She picked the frame and found her picture with Manik, they both are looking extremely happy in the picture and the pic clearly explains the closeness of their relationship..

Kajal walked towards Nandini and now Nandini looked at her with several questions in her mind.

Kajal : "Is Sach ko batane ka hak Mera nhi Hai Nandini. Bas itna keh sakti hu tum Dono ka ateet tum Dono ke aaj ko Barbaad Kar sakta Hai. Kuch cheese aesi Hai jinhe janne ke baad shayad tum aaj Manik se jitna pyaar karti ho use kayi jyada nafrat karne Lago.."..her last sentence scared her to the death, Nandini is standing all clueless with the turn of events. But her eyes are moist with the realization that Manik loves her and only her, all she wonders why he is hiding himself behind the mask? Why he isn't letting her see his perpetual love for her? What's the reason that even after connecting all the dots still the puzzle hasn't solved yet?

Nandini : "I want to see him Kajal.."..she murmured holding their picture close to her heart and now Kajal recalled how badly she scolded Manik and asked him to never show his face ever again.

Kajal : "I asked him to leave.."..a mere whisper escaped from her lips and realization hit on her, she indeed did the biggest blunder of her life. Nandini looked at her shockingly, after knowing the whole story she can't let Manik walk out just like that, she wants to see him, she wants to know a lot and only he can answer her this time.

***

On the other hand, totally oblivious of the turn of events, Manik is walking on a lonely isolated street in the mid night, he has no idea where he is heading to but this time he wants to run far away from the shadow of his sinful past.

He reached Marine Drive, sat down on the cemented block, his eyes are wet with tears. All he is wondering today is to whom he should put all the blame? Arnav?- for projecting an awful plan of putting a bet on an innocent soul? Or himself?- for actually putting the plan in action? Who is to be blamed for today's doomed Manik? Aliya?- who walked out of his life after spending good seven months with him. Or Manik himself? - for taking the rejection on his male ego and destroy everything around.

He actually has the answer for his question and that is- no body is to be blamed for the destruction, for the darkness he is living in currently but he is to be blamed for all that. Arnav had only asked for a bet but if Manik wanted he could have put down the bet and would have never done something as sinful as he did just to complete a mere bet. Aliya and Manik were in a relationship with mutual consent, but after spending good seven months with him when she realized that the relationship she shares with him has no future and she aren't serious about him, she clearly explains to him and walked out but here comes the male ego at the first place and Manik felt she crushed it underneath her high heels apparently to hurt Aliya he stepped in Nandini's world and in the process he lost Nandini as well.

Mostly, we ourself destroy everything around and put blame on others. We should choose our god wisely otherwise our own demons will doom everything and we'll be standing in a corner looking at the destroyed world of ours.

Manik : "And here I am again, sitting in the darkness all alone."..a painful sardonic smile appears on his face but still it isn't able to hide that vulnerability in his eyes which has taken away all his peace.

He looked at the sea waves, and the dazzling stars, the cool breeze touched his face, the soothing scenario isn't helping him either. His eyes are fixed on the waves which every now and then collides with the wall and goes back to it's initial point. He realized, his life is also moving in the same direction. Everytime he tries to break himself free, something or other happens and the shadows of his past knock him down along with taking him back to the initial point.

Manik: "Itni shikayatein Hai khudse ki ab apne he aks se nazre nahi Mila pate Hai, itna dard bhar gaya Hai Dil Mei ki ab toh muskurane se bhi katrane lage Hai.".. he murmured to himself, and make a fun out of his own condition only to make himself feel good but nothing is in his favor today.

As Manik is busy in his own thoughts, people around him started recognizing him. Though he is sitting in darkness but his face is quite visible to everyone. Some of his ardent fans started walking towards him, whereas he is totally unaware of the footsteps approaching towards him.

"Manik Malhotra? You are Manik right?".. a girl shouted in utmost excitement which instantly drawn his attention. The girl looks somewhere in mid of 18-20, a charming smile on her lips clearly depicts her naive soul, he looks at the guy who is holding her hand and for a brief moment he missed the love of his life- Nandini.

Manik : "Am not in a good mood. Can I have a lone time please?"..a helpless tone escaped from his mouth, he looked at them painfully. Girl realized he isn't fine mentally, thus she asked the guy who was holding her hand to take a leave from there.

"Hope you get what you want.."..she said to Manik before leaving but her this sentence made him stand and look at the duo. Till now people surrounded him fully and his idea of having some lone time is totally forgotten.

Manik: "Have you ever fallen in love?"..he suddenly asked the girl which made her boggled.

"Yes! I love this handsome man who is standing right beside me."..she answered Manik while looking at the guy who is giving a warm smile to her. Manik too smiled back looking at the brewing love between the two.

Manik : "Have you ever fallen in love with someone you should never fall in love?"..his weird question made her confused but she instantly denied.

He laughed miserably at his own question and some people around him thinking that he has lost his mind. When the reality is actually he isn't in the good state of mind today, because he didn't only lost the love of his life today but he has shredded out that last piece of hope as well which might brought her back in his life.

"What you think about love?"..this time the guy with the girl asked Manik, and Manik looked at him painfully. He placed his hand on boy's shoulder and looked at him with a painful smile.

Manik : "Love is like stardom, anyone can have it but not everyone has it. Love makes you one strongest person and at the same time it makes you the weakest as well, Love is like that unexpected rain in the unexpected month which steps in, drenches the ground and leaves only after giving a illusion that it'll come back. And when you start expecting it to come back, it actually never does."..there is pain in his tone,and anyone can feel the torment of his soul.

"I don't agree."..the girl became defensive and somewhere Manik knows, the people who fall in love and live with their partner without going through any heart break they always have one defensive speech ready but the real definition of love is only well known to those who have lost something very special once.

Manik: "Take it from me, Love is the most beautiful illusion."..this time he explained to her with a warm smile and girl listened.

Somewhere Manik is right and it's because of his own experience about love and being human we judge the unknown on the basis of the little known to us.

You always make mistakes in recognizing true feelings, in recognizing love. Sometimes it feels like a shadow, which creeps into your life making it perfect. But shadows are temporary, they don't remain in your life forever. So does love. But it comes back. Shadows do come back. They never leave you for good. And that's the only hope.

"You seems to be heartbroken."..one of the person from the crowd said to Manik and all Manik could do is laugh at his statement.

Manik : "Definition of heartbroken is quite funny. Isn't it?"..he answered with a smile but that smile is only depicting how badly his heart is bleeding.

Surprisingly people are listening to him and not jumping on him as he very rarely makes any public appearance without any security around him. Decency of people is that they are giving much needed space to a celebrity which every other celebrity wishes for.

Manik: "People believe that one is heartbroken only after receiving betrayal from the very close one but little the people know that one can be heartbroken by his own choice. Your biggest enemy is not outside the world but it resides in your own system, if you can fight your demons you'll win and if not you'll be left heartbroken. Certainly I lost in the battle ground which I were fighting against my own demons hence am heartbroken but with my own choice.."..his words left everyone speechless.

"If you don't mind can please sing.."..the same girl asked him with a beautiful charming smile on her lips. He recalled how Nandini always ask him to sing and he used to sing only for her. Today also if he is going to sing then it will be only for her.

Manik : "That's the last song of my life..".. he promised himself while eying the crowd. His eyes shut as he wants to recall only one face and sing only for that one particular person who has gifted this stardom to him.

Pal bhar tumhe jo na sochun toh
Dhadkane tarasne lagti hai
Tumko jo dekh lun namm aankhen bhi
Haule se hansne lagti hai..

His soft soothing voice left everyone spellbound, his way of singing is one thing which they all admire but today that depth of pain which is visible in his eyes today is something they all are able to feel. His eyes are shut but those tears aren't ready to stop today, he indeed lost his soul today..

Dil se dil ka ye mel sanam
Jo kal yeh ho jaaye kam
Haalat bigad bhi jaaye agar
Hum dono bichad bhi jaaye agar
Yaadon ke chaand shikare par
Main tumse milne aaunga o..

He opened his eyes and everyone is staring at him, the soothing cold breeze not giving shivers to anyone but his voice surely is. He recalled how he left her there in the town hall today, her eyes filled with tears when he lied to her, her painful tone while singing. All he could do is cry in his heart and plaster a smile on his face..

Main phir bhi tumko chahunga
Main phir bhi tumko chahunga
Iss chaahat mein marr jaunga
Main phir bhi tumko chahunga..

He promised himself, he'll love only her till his last breath. No matter how far she will be from him but his heart will be there with her forever and ever. His lyrics, his tone, essence of his singing made every single eye teary. The girl who asked Manik to sing she held her boyfriend's hand tightly while looking at broken Manik who sat down on the cemented block. The guy held her hand more tightly and hugged her sideways, assuring her that he is there right there. Manik noticed that silent talks in their action and once again his heart filled with pain as this is the way MaNan used to communicate all the time..

Kuch aur tha main kuch aur hi tha
Tumne hi mujhko nikhara hain
Ab jo bhi mujhmein pyara hain
Woh har rang tumhara hain..

A smile touched his lips as he recalled what a filthy person he was once, but then she stepped in his world and changed the whole dimension for him. She not only made him a better human being but she actually made him realize how beautiful this world is. She made him learn how to love but she forgot to make him learn how to survive without love.

Jo kal tha, tera saath mile
Haathon se na yeh haath mile
Alvida mujhe tu keh jaaye
Yeh pyaar adhura reh jaaye..

Realization hit on him as he recalled that his love has once again left incomplete, he walked out her life and perhaps this time forever. Tears eloped from his eyes as he recalled her beautiful charming smiley face.

Kuch aadhe adhure lamhe liye
Dil ka yeh shehar sajaaunga o..

Those beautiful days and nights with her will be the only way for him to survive now, but he decided something and that is he is going to leave this stardom, this B-town as he can't be able to face her ever again.

Main phir bhi tumko chahunga
Main phir bhi tumko chahunga
Iss chahat mein marr jaunga
Main phir bhi tumko chahunga

He completed the song with only one promise in his heart that till his last breath he is going to love her unconditionally, selflessly. He loved her, he still do and he always will.

"That was so painful."..the girl murmured but Manik heard her, he gave her a painful smile.

Manik : "If it doesn't hurt, it isn't love.."..he answered her with a smile. And all everyone is thinking how can someone love so selflessly, so deeply that too in today's era where every other relation is only materialistic.

Manik : "Can you all please leave me alone?"..he asked everyone and they all nodded. They realized he needs some space, before a public figure he is also a human being who deserves some lone time.

"And what if we deny?.."..he heard a soft painful tone rather than very much familiar. When people look around who spoke such a thing, manik too stood up and there comes one person from the crowd in front of Manik which left Manik speechless.

Manik : "Cabir.."..he murmured to himself almost unbelievably looking at him. Cabir is standing in front of him with only tears in his eyes.

Cabir walked to Manik and looked at him with not anger today but that same feeling which Manik was craving to see all these years.

Cabir : "I didn't knew you've changed so much, ja Raha tha? Sab kuch chor ke? Bina kisi ko Kuch bhi kahe, bahut badha ho Gaya Hai?.."..he complained whereas Manik is looking at him dumbfounded..

(Background music)

Apne roothein, paraaye roothein
Yaar roothe naa
Khwaab tootein, waade tootein
Dil ye toote naa (x2)

Manik : "Cabir tu yahan...".. before he could interrogate him, Cabir slapped him hard on his cheeks leaving Manik shocked and people as well..

Cabir : "Ab bhi mujhse sawaal karega? Teri himaat kese hui jaane ki? Kya socha tha tune ki Kisi ko koi fark nhi parega?"..there is a I-have-right-to- be-angry-on-you tone today in his tone which makes Manik all teary.

Roothe to khuda bhi roothe
Saath chhoote naa (x2)

Manik : "Main toh bas...'..he tried to justify himself and this time Cabir pushed him hard.

Cabir : "Main toh bas Kya? Sab sun liya Tha Maine Jo bhi Aliya ne tujhse kaha or uske baad Jo tune kiya. Aaj lag Raha Hai main is Manik ko janta he nhi hu, Kya mujhe is Manik ko janne ka ek chance milega?"..his voice trailed off and Manik is all shocked.

O Allah Waariyan
O main toh haariyan
O tooti yaariyan mila de oye! (x2)

Without giving much thought, Manik hugged Cabir tightly. This was that moment which Manik was waiting since ages, cabir was not only his best friend but his family. They both sobbed uncontrollably in each other's arms, it's like their friendship gained re-birth today and they both are beyond happy. This is what they both deserves, after a dark stormy night in their relationship they both get their morning sunshine.

****

Dhruv : "His phone is switched off. It's been two hours don't know where he is.." ..he murmured with only tension as kajal is standing in the corner and mukti,navya helplessly looking at silent Nandini who is holding Manan picture in their hand.

They all are at Manik's place, sitting in the living area, none complained to Kajal as why she showed that place to Nandini but somewhere they all knew it was necessary atleast after what Manik did today. Kajal told everything to everyone about Manik's lie which shocked everyone.

Nandini : "Mujhe milna hai tumse Manik, Bina mujhe jawab diye tum kahi nhi ja sakte.."..she murmured to herself looking at their hugging picture.

Just then Kajal's phone started ringing, she picked the call as it was unknown number and all she could think is what if Manik is contacting to her.

"Arnav this side.."..she heard a soft heavy manly tone. Her heart stopped beating for a moment, RJ noticed her pale face and walked straight to her.

"You might not want to listen my voice even, but I called you for a reason. Am leaving this country forever Kajal."...he stopped as he heard her weeping sound, his heart ache badly but he somehow manages to calm himself.

Whereas Kajal is listening calmly as somewhere she still loves him and she wants to listen, and on top of all she can feel the change in his voice, RJ held her free hand and she looked at him painfully.

"I love you Kajal. You should know this that I always did and I always will. You were the only girl in my life and you shall remain my last."..he genuinely confessed, she exhaled a deep breath which followed a deep sound of hiccup. But still she didn't said anything.

"I ruined everything and I realized it. But it's too late, and before leaving I want to make one thing right. May be you people don't know but Manik is leaving the country, I have seen him on airport. Before he leaves, stop him. He deserves all the happiness unlike me."..he finished and his this statement left her in shock. He was about to disconnect the call when she called him.

Kajal : "Arnav! I forgive you.."..don't know why but those words escaped her mouth and somewhere she knew she can't hold back harsh feelings for him for a longer time. A smile touched his lips and tears made its way out.

Arnav : "Now I can die peacefully. Good bye sunshine ..."..he murmured with a heavy heart and she sobbed little, she knew this is their closure and she needed it so badly.

Kajal : "Good bye .."..she whispered. And line got disconnected.

RJ : "What happen?"..he asked being super concerned for her, she looked at him with tears but then her eyes fell on Nandini, who is sitting a bit far from them totally lost.

Kajal : "I know where Manik is. We shall leave before he do something utterly stupid.."..she said after grabbing all her strength, she knows she can't get weak at this point. Nandini looked at her and there is only determination in her eyes.

Nandini : "You can't leave me. Not this time..".. she said in her heart and they all rushed outside.

****

Phew! I thought I won't be able to complete the chapter but finally I did it.

One thing- there will be no update next week as am going home in the next weekend on the account of Rakhi, so it will be only family time. 😅..

Take care all of you..
Loads of love and care
Your storyteller ❤😘