In the morning, the city woke up with its as usual busy look. The moving vehicles were blowing dust. The park of Windy Lane was busy too as usual like other mornings. Everyone around was busy with their morning walk or jogging. 

Meanwhile, there was a girl sleeping in sitting position on a bench at the edge of the park. There was a flower tree above the bench. The flowers were falling all around the place and as the sun rays were falling on the face, this serene face was looking more divine. Suddenly the girl opened her eyes and sat straightly with a jerk. The girl is none other than our Nandini.

"Uff..." She looked around. "God! Last night I told Avneet to go home and came here, then fall asleep here only. What would I say her if she didn't see me in the morning?" Nandini got up with these thoughts in her mind. "I'll tell her that I came early in the morning for yoga as I missed it yesterday and she was sleeping that's why I didn't wake her up." Nandini stretched her arms while thinking this and inhaled a long breath. 

"I think I should do some jogging. It's been a while I did it." Thinking this, Nandini started running. She found Avneet, Manik and Sid on her way. 

"Here's di." Avneet ran near her. "I didn't see you since morning. Where were you?" 

Nandini gulped. "I came early in the morning for yoga."

Avneet look at her from head to toe and narrowed her gaze as Nandini was still in her clothes from last night. But she was wearing her jacket so it couldn't be understood that she was in her normal clothes. 

"When did you return home last night?" Avneet raised her eyebrows.

Till then Sid and Manik had reached them as well. 

Manik frowned hearing Avneet. "Why, Avneet? We dropped you both till your home. Didn't she go home with you?"

"No." Nandini replied hurriedly. "I was sitting in the garden for sometime that's what she is saying."

Avneet understood Nandini was trying to avoid the matter. So, she too accepted it and noted to talk to her about this later. 

"Come. It's getting late, we should finish our jogging first." 

They all started walking together. But they heard a sound of clapping from their back few minutes later. They all turned back only to find Sanjay there. 

Nandini looked at others and then at her father's face. She was having a feeling that he was going to create scene here. She walked ahead and stood in front of him. Because she knew, if he would come to them, then he would insult Manik again and she didn't want him to witness something which he didn't deserve. 

"What're you doing here?" Nandini asked looking straight into his eyes.

"Why?" He looked around. "I needed some entertainment in my life. So, thought of coming here. What can be a better entertainment than your dramas early in the morning?"

"See, speak clearly what's the matter? I don't have time for your puzzle at this hour nor I'm interested."

"That's what I'm saying. Where were you last night?" Sanjay looked at her seriously. 

Nandini's eyes went wide but she hid the expression soon. "What do you mean? I was at my room only. But why are you asking this? Also all this shouldn't bother you. It's none of your concern."

"Of course! it's my concern. You didn't return home whole night. I know this. I also know that you were with that useless boy whole night."

"Don't cross your limit." Nandini snapped looking at him. "Don't you dare saying anything about me and Manik. I don't want to hear you saying anything wrong against him."

"Why won't I?" Sanjay almost shouted. "When you were out whole night with a random guy, didn't you think of this that time? And I can't even say this?"

"See what would I do and what I won't, I won't take any permission from you for that. You're no one related to me nor you've any right on my life. Just stay out of my life." Nandini replied in the same tone.

"You have to take my permission for everything. I'm your father so I've full right on you." Nandini was about snapped at him but Sanjay continued. "Why did you behave like that with Vicky last night? Do you have any idea how much I have to be humiliated in front of them because of you."

Nandini's mind diverted from everything else as soon as he mentioned about Vicky. "I'm glad that you've actually accepted that you've sent Vicky else I thought you won't accept this just like you didn't accept your other crimes." She gritted her teeth while saying the last line and all the hatred she had for him seemed to be raising once again.

"You're crossing limits once again, Nandini." He snapped back immediately but stopped looking around. He couldn't afford any mark on his reputation and there were people around who might see him like this. "But how can you behave like that to him? Not only you behaved bad with him but you have slapped him!"

"Yes, I did and I don't regret it at all. I will do it a hundred times, I will do it a thousand times. I will break the hand in a moment whoever will try to touch Manik and let me remind you one thing once again I love Manik and I'll always love him only. So, please don't ruin your own self esteem by sending other boys."

'What is di doing? Oh, God! And what should I say about this person? Di should stop right away before things go nastier. Everyone is watching us. It's not a good sign at all.' Avneet was standing behind Nandini finding ways to take Nandini away. She didn't want anyone to point finger on Nandini. Knowing Sanjay's reputation, it would take him a second to hurt Nandini. 

"Have you ever thought of my reputation or my status? If you had, then you wouldn't have spent nights with your so called lover. You would have stayed away from him."

"Whom are you referring as some random guy? He has a name. Manik. Manik Malhotra. He is a famous physiatrist not a murderer like you. So, talk about him with respect." Nandini's eyes were spitting fire. 

Sanjay did not speak to Nandini anymore. He went and stood just in front of Manik. "This is your so called oh my mistake respectable physiatrist. Manik Malhotra. How did you get the courage to even look at my daughter? How can a lower class boy like you reach out to my daughter? Where many upper class boys are standing in line for her?"

Manik laughed a little with contempt. "My love is not a commodity that you will buy with your money and I'll sell it. Mr. Kapoor, I respect you that's why I'm behaving with you till now no matter how you are. At least, that's what my parents have taught me. So, don't force me to do something which I don't want."

"Listen to me carefully, for me, I believe everything can be judged by money no matter what it is and I know what do you want. So, you don't need to pretend in front of me. You can tell me the amount later too. Personally. I won't mind."

"It's enough, Mr. Kapoor. You can't judge everyone with your standard." Manik replied sternly. 

"Leave him, Manik. He's not worth your respect. Actually he isn't worth of anyone's respect." Then she turned towards Sanjay. "You don't understand the value of everything. Everything can't be bought with your money. That's why you could kill my mother, the woman who loved you so much. You didn't even think twice." 

Sanjay could no longer bear her and snapped at her. "What did you say? Now you're crossing your limit. I hope you didn't forget the slap from that day." He held her jaw tightly making Nandini hiss in pain. 

Everyone else were worried about Nandini. They looked around and saw everyone was looking at them only. Manik could see Nandini was in pain. He somehow managed to free Nandini from Sanjay's grip. 

"Mr. Kapoor, what're you doing? It's a public place and everyone is watching." Manik took Nandini a little away from him. 

"Hey, you, just shut up. You don't need to teach me how will I treat my daughter. A lower class boy like you won't understand the value of my reputation, you are behind my daughter for money. You can fool her but not me."

"It's enough." Avneet yelled. "You've insulted him and everyone enough already. Don't say anything more."

"Let me remind you one thing you can't raise your hand on anyone in a public place." Sid looked at him with a strong gaze. "When you slapped Nandini in front of all this people, didn't that spoil your reputation?"

Sanjay was about to say something to Manik once again but Nandini stood between them. "Listen you can say anything to me but don't you dare saying anything to Manik again. I won't bear that quietly." 

"Let's go home, I'll see you today, you're flying too high. I will punish you for sure for insulting me in front of so many people." He uttered in a dangerous tone. The look on his face scared everyone. But they couldn't do anything. 

He didn't wait anymore and dragged Nandini with him. Avneet too ran behind them.

Do let me know how was the chapter and share your views. Thank you.

06.02.2024