The rooftop of 'FlavoIndia Restaurant' was beautifully decorated. The red roses and small hearts under the shining starlight created a romantic atmosphere. The smoky ground gave an eternal look to it.

It was a valentine date any girl would dream of.

But was it a dream date for the one for whom it was organised?

With baby steps, entered a beautiful girl. Her lips broke into a sweet smile seeing the arrangements done by her love.

" Aiyappa. Please be with me. I know Manik will be angry on me, but I trust him. He will listen to me.
Today I'll tell him all the truth and then I'll tell him about my feelings. I have done all the arrangements.
Sirf Manik patience se meri baat sunle. There's something very important for his life. ", she was constantly blabbering to her favourite Aiyappa. But what she didn't know was that her Aiyappa had some differents plans today.

Sound of footsteps made her slowly turn around and her breath hitched seeing her Prince Charming standing there with a smile on his face. The smile that can make any girl swoon over. Her doe eyes found his chocolate orbs and the world stood still.

" Manik." His name escaped her lips like a prayer and he smiled while coming towards her. Seeing him smile she breathed in relief. But she was unaware of the facade that her Prince was putting. She was unaware of his real intentions.

" Did you like it Beautiful?", Manik asked in a hushky voice and she nodded in a trance. She was adoring his handsome face with all her love but today he was not able to read her eyes. He was blinded by his own thoughts.

She was thinking of his reaction when she tells him the truth today. She was getting happier thinking how happy her Mani would be after today. But what she didn't know, how her life will change the very same day.

" I've something for you.", he said and forwarded his hands holding it.

" Fireflies!", she squealed in joy seeing her favourite fireflies in a jar. The thing that made her more happy was that they were glowing, indicating their true love.

" These are so beautiful Manik!", she said softly while admiring it.

She looked at her love and smiled her most beautiful smile making his heart flutter. But this time, he didn't let it affect him.

" Even I have something for you. ", she said and was about to say when he cut her off.

" Before that, lets dance.", he said, forwarding his hand and she happily grabbed it after putting the jar on the table.

Soft romantic music in the background was making her intoxicated in love. She was only feeling the moment, unaware of the storm approaching her.

He was holding her delicately and moving slowly to the tune.

" You like this?", he asked her and she nodded shyly.

He placed a soft kiss on her temple and then lifted her head placing a finger on her chin. They looked in each other's eyes, lost....

She could see her world in his eyes.

But he could only see destruction. He was going to destroy her.

He thought this and approached her slowly. His breath was fanning her face and she closed her eyes in anticipation.

Soon enough, his rough lips landed on her soft ones and she felt as if her entire world lighted at once, unaware of the darkness that was knocking at her doors.

The kiss was slow and promising. She was melting in his hold. Getting weak on her knees.

But suddenly the kiss started getting harsh. She felt as if he was punishing her.

Feeling uncomfortable, she hit her hands on his chest asking him to stop. But he tightened his hold on her even more and attacked her lips with extreme harshness.

She was squirming in his hold trying to push him away but he didn't budge. Tears fell mercilessly from her eyes as she held on to him helplessly.

Finally getting enough, he broke the kiss and jerked her away making her fall. Her lips were bleeding because of his torture and she was crying helplessly. But he didn't bother. He was huffing like an angry bull, ready to destroy everything.

" You liked this?", he barked at her and she flinched. Why was he behaving like this? Never in her dreams she had thought he would attack her dignity.

" Manik...", she tried to call him but he cut her off.

" What Manik haan? What Manik? You thought I would put up a romantic date for you after all that you did?

You remember what I had told you? Trust. Trust is the most important for me. And you? You broke my trust brutally.

My trust kya? You toh even didn't trust me.", he shouted at her and she shook her head frantically.

She tried to hold him, but he angrily jerked her resulting her to fall and hit her head on the edge of the table. Blood started flowing from the wound.

But he didn't bother that too. It was as if he was blinded. Completely blinded by rage.

" Manik let me speak. I can explain.", she tried to say but he again cut her off.

" What will you explain now han? You thought so low of me? You thought I could kill Soha? How could you?", he was screaming with fury making her shiver.

" Please listen to me once Manik! Please...I..I...", she said gathering all her courage but he didn't let her complete.

" I don't fucking want to listen anything Ms. Nandini Murthy! I can't even stand your presence now! FUCKING LEAVE!", he was so angry at the moment that he didn't realise what he was doing. The consequences of his today's actions would be devastating. But he didn't realise it.

" Manik...", she tried to plead for one last time. But the man in front of her didn't budge.

Tears fell mercilessly from her eyes as she turned to leave but was stopped by his voice again.

" Nandini.", he called her softly making her smile. She turned with a hope that he would listen to her this time. A hope that he would stop her from going away. A hope that all her hopes would win.

" It was my biggest mistake...loving you. You don't deserve this.", and he broke the firefly jar.

And that was it. She had lost. Lost him forever.

She picked up the broken pieces of the jar and put them in her bag.

But what about the broken pieces of her heart? Will she ever be able to pick them up?

***************************************

Broken.

Completely broken.

Nandini was shattered , just like the pieces in her bag. She never expected her Manik to do something like this to her.

He said it was his biggest mistake? Loving her was his biggest mistake?

Her heart pained. She couldn't even take a single step.

She thought of everything she did for him. All the efforts she took to make his life better. All the arrangements she had done today. How she had imagined everything to be.

But he? He didn't even let her speak.

Was their love so weak? How can her fireflies lie? She toh believed in them blindly na?

Her phone rang breaking her trance. She took it out and looked at the caller id.

Chachi? Why was she calling her now? Didn't she inform her that she would be at Navya's place tonight?

She picked up the call with furrowed eyebrows.

But what she heard, snatched the floor beneath her feet.

"Can my life get worse than this?"