I am so overwhelmed with the response on the last chapter.
Thank you so much guys.

So here as promised is the update.

Target for next chapter 380 votes and 80 comments.

Inline comments are loved.

Enjoy......

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Malhotra Mansion

" So, Dr. Nandini Murthy, will you please Care To Explain?", Viren asked sternly yet sarcastically. All of them had now gathered in the living room of Malhotra Mansion celebrating their first win. Manik had had the urge to ask about it to Nandu, but had kept quiet considering everyone else's presence there.

" Explain what Pa?", here comes our ever innocent Nandu.

" Oh God! Tell us how you got all proofs within so less time and what the hell is your plan actually? I'll go mad thinking about it Nandu.", Raj Malhotra whined like a child making everyone present there chuckle.

Nandu looked at Kunal who assured her through expressions that it is safe now to let the truth out.

" Can we first move to Raj Sir's study please? I mean, thats a completely secured place in my opinion.", asked Kunal, to which everyone nodded and Raj led them to his study which was actually fully secured as that was where the three Malhotra men used to have important bussiness discussions. Neyonika instructed the servants to put some extra chairs in there and everyone finally settled.

" Okay so Dr. Nandini Murthy, get started." Nandini nodded and took a deep breath. Navya who was sitting beside her held her hand and squeezed it in assurance and she smiled gratefully at her.

" Actually, I had somewhat thought that the first plan will fail.". Everyone looked surprised. Before anyone could say anything, Nandu cleared the confusion.

" Okay listen, Vivek Murthy is a very clever player. And he has made his da..daughter Soha Murthy just like him. Evil minds like them, cannot fall into the trap so easily. I was somewhat sure that they would find some loophole. But the way they failed our plan.....seriously I had not expected that to happen. " She spoke in a trance. Navya nudged her to continue.

" I had my backup plan ready. But this plan is very dangerous.", she said. "Offcourse for him", she added seeing the horrified look on their faces which now relaxed.

" So what is your backup plan?", Vishal asked. " And when are we going to implement it?", he added, making Nandini and Kunal look at each other and smile.

" The implementation has already started.", Kunal's this statement made everyone astonished.

"When!" And both of them had to palm their ears.

" Ughhh! Spare my ears people. I have to listen to Manik's next album with these ears only. ", she said in an annoyed manner making the youngsters laugh and Manik to rub his nape smiling sheepishly. Well, blushing actually.

" Oh My God!", Mukti squealed making everyone look at her.

" Kya hua Mukti beta?", Neyonika asked all worried, and Mukti smiled apologetically. " Woh, I saw Manik blushing na...so....", she trailed off making everyone turn their gazes at Manik who was now hell embarassed and wanting to hide somewhere . Nandini smiled widely at his cuteness while everyone had a hearty laugh.

" Okay okay focus. We are getting distracted from the main topic.", said Manik to change the topic making Fab 4 look at him with ' We know what you're trying to do' looks and he just glared at them.

" Haan beta continue."

Nandini nodded and started explaining how she asked Priya who was a friend of Soha and one of her patient's wife, to instigate Soha to take a step. " Actually I had thought that according to her mindset, she will try to harm me." Everyone glared at her and she smiled sheepishly at them.

" But why instigate Soha? And how did you get proofs so early?", Raj wasn't able to contain his curiosity making her smile.

" Vivek Murthy snatched my mother from me. He snatched my music from me. So I have to snatch everything from him na?" Seeing everyone's confused faces she continued, " Vivek Murthy loves only three things in world and those are his only strengths. His daughter Soha, his Money, and his Fame in the society. I need to snatch all three away from him to win over him. To destroy him, these three are the targets.", everyone nodded.

" Par iska Soha ko instigate karne se kya lena dena?", Navya asked.

Nandini sighed and explained them everything that happened. How she knew Soha would do something and she set detective the J behind her. How the detective gave them all imformation and she asked Yug and Cabir to get the Cctv footage and call details respectively. Then finally she opened her phone and played the video of Vivek Murthy's statement in front of media and later Soha's words of hatred. Everyone were beyond shocked seeing this.

" That bastard! He couldn't love even one single person truly!", Viren spat with disgust.

" For the first time I feel pity for Soha.", Jeevika said and all nodded. The girl really got the harshest punishment ever.

" But Nannu, how were you so sure that Vivek will do this only? I mean, if he would have supported Soha all along then?", Navya asked the question which was bugging her till now.

" Then I would have shown him some leniency in my next step.", seeing everyone's shocked faces she sighed and continued, " Guys if he seriously would have loved her with all his heart, he would have gone to any extent to save her. But he loved his fame and money more than he loved Soha. No father should be like him. So now, its time for his complete destruction.".

There was a complete silence for some time. All were contemplating on the revealed things. Some were cursing Vivek in their minds and some were feeling pity for Soha. Their trance was finally broken by Cabir,
" So, whats the next step now?", he asked making everyone look at Nandini for an answer. She opened her mouth to say something when a knock on the door disturbed them.

They looked at each other and finally Manik went to open the door to see a butler standing there.

" Sahab, ek aurat ayi hai. Nandini Bitiya se milna chahti hai.", he said making everyone look at each other in confusion. " Aurat? Kaunsi Aurat? Naam kya bataya?", Cabir asked but the butler shook his head saying that the lady didn't reveal her name and that she is crying and waiting in the living room for Nandini.

They exchanged worried glances. Nandini looked at Viren and Raj and they nodded. " Unhe yahin pe bula lao.", Raj ordered and the butler went away nodding. Manik closed the door slightly and came to sit beside Cabir and Dhruv.

A few minutes later, the door opened to reveal Niharika Murthy in a very dishevelled state. Tears were continuously flowing from her eyes and she was wiping them very harshly. Looked as if she was punishing herself for something. She looked at Nandini and folded her hands at her. Nandini quickly rushed to her and held her hands nodding in no. But others were gritting their teeth.

" What the hell are you doing here?", Avantika Bose screamed in anger. She was the lady who snatched away her sister's happiness. She was the one who always kept quiet when her husband destroyed her sister. Well thats what she thought. She marched off to her and was about to drag her out when Nandini stopped her. She blinked her eyes in assurance and gestured her to keep calm. She led Niharika to the couch and made her sit.

Seeing her condition, even Kumudh came and sat beside her a squeezed her palm.

" I am sorry Nandini. I am so sorry. I never wanted all this to happen. Main....", she tried to apologise but Anjali shouted, " Why have come here today Niharika? Why now?". Well she was right. She was crying now. Didn't she know earlier what her husband was? Didn't she know what her husband did to the innocent Mother- Daughter? Then why didn't she raise her voice then? Why didn't she say sorry then?

Niharika held her head and cried badly. Kumudh and Nandini were continuously rubbing her back to calm her down. Finally composing herself she said, " I was scared."
Everyone looked at her confused. Why was she scared? Didn't Vivek really love her? Then?

" What is it Niharika? Say clearly. " , Viren's stern voice made her flinch and she hung her head low.

" When I married Vivek, I asked about his family. Then he said that his family didn't accept our relation. So he married me without their permission. I was happy. I thought I got a perfect life partner. But I was wrong. He stayed with me for one year during which he told you that he was living in London for bussiness purpose. But then after a year, he sarted staying away from home for months and months. He would say that he was busy in setting up his bussiness which needed him to travel and I being blind in love would get convinced. I had no idea what he was doing outside. After some months, he would come for some 10 days and those days he would completely spend with me making me satisfied that he loves me. But one day I heard from a friend that Parosh Chatterjee's younger daughter Sunaina Chatterjee ran away with her lover. After some days I came to know that they both got married with mutual family consent and that the man was none other that my husband Vivek. I was shattered. I waited for him to come back so that I can confront him. He came and I confronted him and he fooled me saying that Sunaina had trapped him and he had to marry her because of family pressure. Time went by and we had Soha. We were a happy family now. But little did I know that it was all a facade. When my father died, his all property came to me and I being a fool, transfered it all to Vivek. He had got what he wanted. And that day I came to know his truth. I revolted. I threatened him that I would go to the police. But he stopped me. He used Soha as his shield. He said that as Soha loved him more than anything and trusted him a lot, she will never support me. I didn't agree and tried to convince Soha but she shocked me when she refused to believe in me and supported her father. Vivek then threatened me that he would take Soha away from me if I took any step against him. I was helpless. I knew if he takes Soha away from me, then I wouldn't be able protect her from that bastard. So I obeyed him. I did all this just to protect my daughter all these years. All these years I tried to prevent her from becoming like him. But I failed. He turned my daughter exactly like him and I....I couldn't do anything. And today....today she....", she broke down completely and Nandini took her in a hug.

Everyone's gazes softened. They felt pity for this lady. What was her fault? Only that she loved someone who turned out to be a devil? She seriously didn't deserve all this.

But they were still not convinced. They had seen Vivek playing games earlier. So they can't believe his wife like this. What if it was a plan to know about their next step?

Avantika couldn't keep it within her and asked, " You knew na? From the very start you knew all the truth. You very well knew it was Vivek who planned Nandini's kidnap. You knew it was Vivek only who killed my sister. But still you kept quiet? Why?"

" She didn't keep quiet AvuMaa.", Nandini who was silent till now surprised everyone with what she said, " She was the one who informed Mumma about Vivek Murthy planning my kidnap. " This not only shocked her whole family but also Niharika. How did Nandini come to know?

" Ho....how...you..how?", Niharika stuttered. Nandini understood what she was trying to ask and spoke, "Why? You thought this secret of yours will never be out?" Niharika hung her head low while everyone else was clueless. " I found it when I was checking Mumma's old mails. She had recieved a mail from an unknown id 2 days before her death. In that, it was written there to call on a certain number to know the whole truth as it can be dangerous to tell it on mail. On further checking I found that the number was registered many years back on the name of your late father and it was the landline of Aggarwal Mansion. I guessed it to be you and your expressions today confirmed it. " , Nandini said shocking everyone who looked at Niharika with softened gazes while she was sitting there with her head hung low and tears continuously flowing from her eyes.

Nandini knelt down in front of her and took her hands in hers. " Thank you. Thank you for trying to help my Mumma.", she said very softly while Niharika looked at her and nodded her head in no. " Don't....don't thank me Nandini. I was the reason of your mother's death. The day before I had gone to Aggarwal Mansion to recieve the landline and tell her all the truth. I was very careful. But I don't know how, but Vivek came to know I had gone there. He asked me why I had gone there and with whom was I talking. But I didn't answer. Then he....he th...thrashed me.", gasps echoed from around. The lady has really suffered a lot. " He beat me to pulp that day. I was never strong like your mother Nandini. She was a very strong- headed woman. But I...I was weak. Not able to bear the torcher, I gave in. I...I....I told the truth. I told him that Sunaina knows everything.", All the ladies were in tears by now. They couldn't even imagine what she would have gone through. But Nandini wasn't crying. She knew her father was a devil and this was somewhere expected from him. " He became very angry and locked me in the dark room for whole two days without food and water. After two days when he took me out, he showed me the news of Sunaina's death. I was shocked. He said he..he has killed her and if I try to go against him ever again, he would kill Nandini. He wouldn't even spare me or Soha if we come in his way. I...I was s..so sca..scared. Then I...I became fully silent. I always knew what he was doing but never had the courage to go against him. I...I am sorry Nandini. I...please....please forgive me. Please.....", She folded her hands in front of Nandini who held her hands shaking her head in no. She just took her in a hug consoling her. Everyone felt very bad for Niharika. Just because she fell in love with a wrong person, she had to suffer her whole life. All the ladies came to her supporting her.

Neyonika composed herself and asked, " How did you get the courage to come here today Niharika? Aren't you afraid of him now?"

Niharika let out a humourless chuckle. She smiled sadly with tears glistening in her eyes. " I always feared that he would harm my daughter. It was to protect her only, that I kept quiet all these years. But today...today I realised, my all efforts went in the vain. He completely destroyed my daughter. I heard him. How he wiped his own hands clean on my daughters character making it stained. It was all his doings. But my daughter. Well what should I say. She turned exactly like him. Heartless and evil. For whom should I put up this facade now? All that I had is now all destroyed by him. The little life I had within me, is now dead. So I decided to come here and ask for forgiveness, so that I can get rid of this guilt and be at some peace. But....it..its hurting. Here. ", she said with so much pain pointing at her heart that made every heart present there squeeze in agony. Nandini silently took out her phone and kept it in front of her.

" I think may be this can reduce your pain a bit.", she said and played the video of Soha's outburst on Vivek and Niharika's tears fell mercilessly. But soon a smile adorned her lips as she was now satisfied that her daughter has realised her mistakes and seen the true colours of her father. Everyone's hearts lightened seeing her smile.

Finally after consoling Niharika they again sat down to discuss the further plans. "Niharika Aunty,", Nandini asked, " Can you give us any information about Vivek Murthy's illegal bussinesses? I mean I had got all the information earlier but those were stolen by him and I can't use the same way for him again. He may have got alert by now. "

Niharika heard her carefully and thought for some time. " I don't know how to get it. But ya, there's a man named Vikram Khanna. He is like his right hand in this illegal field. He has all the information. But getting to Vikram is very difficult.", she said and Nandini went into deep thoughts.

" Nandu, now that Niharika Aunty is with us and Vivek Murthy knows this, he will become extra cautious about everything. How will get to Vikram now? ", Manik said and everyone nodded.

They all were thinking of some way when Navya suddenly shouted, " He can help us Nannu." Nandini raised her eyebrows at her and Navya explained. " DaBhai! You know na Arnav Dada is a pro in this. Also Boudi's father owns an agency of detectives. He can help us in this." Everyone gave an impressed look to her but Nandini sighed.

" Even I have got contacts with detectives Navu. How do you think I got information about Soha?", she said and Navya shook her head.

"Are but they are the more experienced ones. Vivek Murthy very well knows about the tiff between Murthys and Chatterjees. He will never expect us taking help from them. And Khushi Boudi's father, he wouldn't even think of him in his dreams even. It will be easier for them than us. ", Navya explained knocking some sense in Nandini who nodded enthusiastically now. Cabir smiled proudly at his wife. " Are wah Navya! Mere saath rehkar to tum kaafi intelligent ho gayi ho.", he flaunted making Navya glare at him while others giggled at his drama.

Suddenly Nandu's face fell. " But will Nanu let him help us?", she asked sadly making everyone realise about this point but Avantika smiled and side-hugged her. " Baba always wanted his daughter to get justice. He loved her the most in this world and after her, he loves you. I'm sure although he is not with us in this, but he must be feeling proud of what you are doing and thinking of ways to help you. He will surely agree to this. ", she made her explain and everyone smiled. To lighten the atmosphere, Abhi stood up and took Nandu in a side hug from the other side and joked, " Are Nandu, tune Parosh Chatterjee ko samjha kya hai? Dekhna, he will be the first one to punch Vivek Murthy and beat him with his laathi once the truth is out." Thia made everyone laugh.

So Nandu called Arnav from her secret number and made him understand everything and he promised to help her get to Vivek's illegal bussiness asap.

" So second step is decided now. Exposing Vivek Murthy's illegal bussiness.", Raj said making everyone nod and relax. But Nandini and Kunal smirked looking at each other, which was noticed by all.

" What happened? Is there something else to it?", Viren asked and they both nodded. Kunal decided to clear their confusion. " Whatever we discussed now is the third step. " Everyone were now hell confused.

" To phir second step kya hai? Abhi hame kya karna hai?", Abhi asked with confusion.

" Abhi hame kuch nahin karna. Preparations for the second step have already been taken. Just wait for tomorrow. You will see a very pleasurable show on tv. ", Nandini said with a smirk while others sighed.

To understand Dr. Nandini Murthy is difficult. But to understand Devil Nandini murthy is 'IMPOSSIBLE'.

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It was 12 at night and Nandini was sleeping peacefully in her room, when suddenly there were some noises from her balcony which broke her sleep. She woke up to find someone knocking at the balcony door. She got up from the bed and took a vase from the side table and then walked towards the balcony without making any noise. She suddenly opened the door and raised the vase to beat the shit out of the person when a familiar voice stopped her. " Manik?", she wishpered in surprise.

Manik switched on his phone's flash light immediately and looked at Nandini with horror. " Kya yaar Shona? Apne hone wale pati ki jaan lena chahti ho kya?", he asked making Nandini glare at him.

" Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho? Aur ye balcony se kyun aaye? Maine socha koi chor hai. ", Nandini spat back at him. " Han han, aaj kal toh chor darwaja knock karke aate hain na.", he said sarcastically and Nandini smiled sheepishly.

" But what are you doing at this hour of night? Its midnight Manik. You should have rested na. You..." her sentence was left incomplete when Manik fused his lips with hers. He swiftly lifted her while kissing and walked towards the bed. He put her gently on the bed and hovered her, deepening the kiss.

The kiss suddenly turned too passionate. He was kissing her as if assuring himself of her presence while she was trying desperately to match his pace. Both completely lost each other's senses after feeling each other after two extremely draining days. None was ready to break the kiss, but finally, oxygen decided to take charge. Both parted away panting hard for breath.Manik joined their foreheads and they were at peace.

" You were looking ravishing today in the court room with that sexy smirk on your face!", Manik said in a hushky voice making shivers run down her spine. " You know how much I wanted to hug you and kiss your breaths out there?", he continued making a red hue creep up her cheeks and she hid her face in his chest making him chuckle.

" Shona", he softly called her making her look at him. " Thank you" She looked confused. She raised her eyebrows at him asking 'why'. " It was only because of you that I am safely out today. Only the thought of you and trust on you, helped me in being sane inside that lockup. Thank you for everything. ", he said making Nandini smile. She didn't say anything but just took his lips for a soft kiss. There was no rush this time. It was as delicate as a flower. Breaking the kiss Nandini spoke with a smirk, " Do you really think it was for you whatever I did?" Manik raised his brow making her giggle. "Arre Budhhu Malhotra, agar tum jail chalejate to main shaadi kisse karti? I did all this for myself only. ", she said with a laugh making him shake his head in disbelief.

" Aisi baat hai?", she nodded. "Theek hai phir. Ek kaam karte hain. Main tumhare liye kisi aur ko dhundhke lata hun. Phir ye ring tum use pehna dena. Phir main jail jaunga. Kyun?", he said faking anger making Nandini gulp.

" Man....Manik mera ais..aisa matlab nahin tha. I...", she gumbled and Manik could no longer contain his laughter. Seeing him guffawing Nandu's eyes widened in realisation and she slapped his arm whinning like a child but soon enough joined him in laughing.

Finally after few more chitchats in which Nandini brutally broke his all hopes of knowing about the second plan from her, they finally embraced each other and fell into a peaceful slumber, drifting into their Manan Dreamland.

So, finally another update.

So,

Niharika's truth out. What do you think of her now?

Did Niharika really deserve what she got?

Was she right all this while?

What about Nandu's plan? Will it be successful?

What do you think is going to be Nandu's second step?

And finally, how was Manan moment?
Well it was not planned here, but I decided to write this as your reward for last chapter's response. Waise bhi, the story was going to serious, so this was a bit of a relaxation.

Keep thinking and do comment me your thoughts.

Although I have thought of it all, but I still wanna ask you,
Do you want any specific punishment for Vivek. I mean any of your ideas? Do comment it here and I will try my best to add it in the story.

Next update soon.

Till then,

Stay safe
Stay healthy

Yours Writer.