THREE  YEARS  LATER

It was a cold winter morning. The area was covered with a blanket of fog still it's not easy to conquer this busy area. 

This morning started as usual for the people of Windy Lane. At the center of this lane there's a park. The usual crowd was still there. Kids were playing among themselves and elders were jogging. 

A girl was doing yoga under a flower tree. She was looking beautiful in that crop top and pant. It's none other than Nandini. She had all her concentration in her yoga only. Before she could finish her session, she heard her sister's voice from her back.

"Di, you are here!" Avneet was huffing as she had run all the way to look for her sister. "Everyone is looking for you."

Nandini made a face looking at her. "Uff! Avneet, can't you see I'm not done with my session yet?"

"Forget it. You can complete it later. Now come with me." Then she didn't give Nandini a chance to say anything and dragged her.

At the backside of the park Manik and Siddharth was waiting for them. Manik has completed his graduation and he is a well known psychiatrist now. He had become really famous in just a few years. 

Siddharth has also finished his graduation and joined his father's business along with helping his mother in studio. 

Nandini was in last year of her graduation and Avneet had joined college recently. 

"We're here." Avneet shouted as they reached there. 

Manik and Sid were discussing something among themselves. Hearing their voice, they turned back. 

"Where were you both? We've been waiting for so long." Sid frowned.

"What will I do? Di was not ready to come."

Ignoring everyone else, Manik stood in front of Nandini. "Last night you didn't return home?"

Nandini turned her face to the other side. "No."

"Why?"

"I didn't feel like that's why. I don't like going to that house." Nandini's voice was stern.

"But do you know how much Manik was insulted last night by that person because you didn't return home?" Sid came forward and stood on Manik's side.

"What!" Nandini looked at him with wide eyes. "He insulted Manik! But why? Is it only because I didn't return home or he is scared that I'm getting close to Manik?"

Avneet noticed that the situation was getting serious. If this goes on, then Nandini will lose her calm and that would be a disaster. So, she jumped in between. "We don't know all that. Now leave all this and let's go for jogging. We have college too."

Siddharth and Avneet started jogging and they crossed Manik and Nandini. Manik was about to leave too but Nandini stopped him holding his hand. "Mani, I'm sorry. You had to hear so many things last night because of me. I know..."

Manik looked at Nandini and stopped her. He softly placed his one palm on her cheek. "Shh. You don't have to say sorry to me for him. I'm willing to hear everyone for you. Because I love you and we can do everything for the person we love. That's what you say, right?"

Nandini smiled for the first time since morning and nodded her head. Manik took her in his embrace wrapping his arms around her shoulder. Nandini too threw her arms around his torso. He kissed on her head and caressed her hair lovingly.

It's been around a year when Manik confessed his love to Nandini on his birthday. It's not that he had realized it that time. He got to know of his feelings before only but he wanted to make the moment special for Nandini that's why he waited for this day. Since then there was no looking back. They are more than happy with each other.

Then they too joined Siddharth and Avneet for jogging. 

When they were done jogging, they stopped and Manik spoke. "You all are coming to my place in the evening."

Everyone agreed and went back to their respective places.

KAPOOR  HOUSE
Nandini and Avneet returned home and pressed the doorbell. Nandini and Avneet's father, Sanjay opened the door. He looked angry as he opened the door. He was actually fuming in anger. Nandini walked inside without caring of him. Avneet too followed her.

"Nandini, stop." Sanjay shouted from back. 

"Avneet, tell him that I don't stop for some unwanted people." Her voice was cold enough to send chill to anyone.

"I'm unwanted! When you were out whole night yesterday, didn't you think of it then?"

This time Nandini turned back and stood in front of him.

"That's none of your concern. Nothing about us should bother us anymore. Have you ever thought of us?"

"Listen I have always tried to keep you happy, I've got you things even before you ask for it. But you never accepted them. I've asked you so many times that tell me what do you need. Anything. But you never."

"Can you love us like some other normal fathers?" Nandini waited for a second to hear his reply but he didn't say anything. "You can't give me what I want. There's nothing so precious in this. You can't buy it with all your money. So, keep it to yourself only."

"Love? My foot! There's no use of this. Now tell me why were you out the whole night?" 

Nandini folded her hands over her chest. "First, you tell me why did you go to Manik's place and why did you insult him?"

"Why won't I? Lower class people like them can only manipulate others just the way he has manipulated you. I've asked you so many times not to mix with them but you never hear me."

"Shut up!" Nandini shouted not able to hear anything against Manik. "I love him and he is a famous psychiatrist and I can do anything for the people I love." 

"You've no idea what I can do." Sanjay muttered dangerously.

Till now Avneet was quietly hearing them. She was scared of their father. She was well aware how low he can stoop only to satisfy his ego. If he does that, then it won't be good for any of them, specially Manik and Nandini. 

"Di, it's enough. Come with me." She tried to pull Nandini but failed.

"Wait. Today I'll also see what he can do." Nandini's eyes were spitting fire. 

"We'll see that later. Now come please."

"Yes, take her with you. She has gone mad."

Avneet somehow managed to drag Nandini upstairs with her. She took Nandini to her room and made her sit who was still shivering in anger. She handed over water bottle to Nandini and asked her to drink it. Nandini gulped a good amount of water to calm herself down. 

"Di, please relax. Calm down. Why are you reacting like this? Don't you know that person? He can do anything to satisfy his ego. He can do everything for his own interest. He didn't leave mumma too for his own good."

Avneet couldn't say anything more. She got tear in the corner of her eyes. Yes, their father had killed their mother because she used to stop him from doing his ill activities. That time Nandini and Avneet were very young so they couldn't do anything even though they were aware of everything. Now also they can't do anything as their father is very powerful. This is the reason they never go along with their father. 

Nandini got up. "How much more? Tell me how much more? He will continue torturing us and we have to bear it! Why?" Her patience was level was going down. She could never accept the fact that she knew who killed their mother and she could do clearly nothing to punish him.

"You know we can't do anything. Things are not in our hands. So, you have to stay calm." Avneet held Nandini's hands. "But di, you need to think before you  say anything to him. You can't lose your cool like this."

Nandini knew Avneet was right. Sanjay was so cruel that he could harm Manik anytime to avenge on her and she couldn't let that happen. Thinking of that only, her anger raised again. Nandini angrily held the glass in her hand more tightly and pressed in unknowingly and it broke. Her palm cut as the glass broke. Nandini's whole hand filled with blood.

"Di..." Avneet yelled in shock. She ran to Nandini and took her wounded palm in between hers. "Have you gone mad? What are you doing? You're hurting yourself for the person who never cared for us! The person who never thinks twice before killing someone! If you will harm yourself like this, then he till think that you're giving importance to him which he doesn't deserve."

Avneet took Nandini to washroom and washed her hand. Then she made her sit and applied medicine on her hand before bandaging it.

Till now Nandini had relaxed as well. She was staring at her sister with utter affection. "I never realized when my baby Avneet grew up so much, when she became so mature." She was having a warm smile on her face as she caressed Avneet's face with her free hand. 

"Situation forced us to grow up and became mature."

Nandini took Avneet in a hug. 

Really, in this world, the relationship between sisters is very sweet and affectionate. There is a touch of love and care in every inch of it. Sometimes it has the feeling of trust like parents, again the satiety of something non-procurement.

A chapter after long. I hope you all enjoyed the part. Don't forget to vote and share your thoughts.

26.04.2023