The bodyguards reached the restaurant before MaNan and checked the private room where MaNan was about to come. Manik reached there with Nandini in his arms and asked them with eyes about the security to which they nodded. Manik went inside and sat with Nandini in his lap who has her eyes closed.

"Baby! We've reached!", he told her though he knows she's not sleeping.

She opened her eyes which was heavy due to sleep.

Cupping her small face he whispered, "So jao na Jaan! Main hoon na yaha! Your eyes are saying you need sleep!". He tried to make her sleep which he clearly knows is impossible. She looked him before hiding her face in his neck.

"Bacha! Kyun kar rah ho aap apney saath aisa? Do saal ho gye hai! You know I'll be there fir bhi unn sab chizo ko kyu yaad karte ho aap? Jo hua ussey bhul jao na jaana! Please! Main apni jaan ko aisa nhi dekh sakta!", he said hugging her tightly as if hiding her from her past, from their cruel past.

Their moment was disturbed by waiter who came to take down the order.

Manik ordered everything which she used to love which he's doing for past two years to get his baby back. The food came in a while till that time Nandini just snuggled to Manik who kept her closer to him knowing there's no way that she's going to say something.

As the food came she looked at it but pushed it away when she found roti in one of the plate.

Manik saw this and his eyes widen in horror as he saw roti. He called the waiter and shouted. "Kya hai yeh? Kisney order kiya? Apni marzi se kisney bola dene ko? Don't you know that I never order this!"

"Sorry sir! I'm new here! I thought as everyone you'll also ask for roti!", the waiter apologized.

"Take this away! Right now!", he said and looked at his baby who was now looking him scarily.

He looked her and wiped her tear which was about to fall. "Kuch kah lo jaan!", he said as he forwarded the morsel to her.

Somehow slowly he fed her. As Nandini was not ready to leave him so called his driver and they moved to Malhotra Industries.

***

It was not new for the employees to find Manik coming with Nandini in his arms. It's his habit from past two years and now they are used to of it. As he went inside his pa followed him.

Manik made Nandini sit at the chair was placed beside his chair and said cupping her cheeks, "Kuch chaiye hoga toh bolna mujhey! Okay?"

She nodded and took her books out to study while Manik concentrated in his work with his pa. Suddenly his pa said, "Sir! Wo Malhotra Mansion k jo buyers hai, they backed off!"

Manik glared him and then looked Nandini who was engrossed in her studies and muttered slowly, "How many times I have warned you that never take the name of that house in front of my baby? Don't you get it? I'll talk to them! Now go!"

Both Manik and Nandini concentrated on their own work though Manik had an eye on her also. Nandini's mobile rang to which she picked after showing Manik that it's from Harshad.

"Bhai!", she said as she received the call.

"Baby girl kaha ho aap?", Harshad asked her worriedly.

"Monstu k saath. Office me!", she answered and Manik gave her one more chocolate as it's more than three hours that she had her lunch.

"Okay! Bhai k pass kab aaoge jaan? Nia was asking for you!"

"Bhai! Monstu se baat kar lijye! Mujhey padhna hai!", she said and passed the mobile to Manik.

Manik kissed her forehead and went to the window to talk to him.

"Haa Harshad bol!", Manik said looking at Nandini who kept the chocolate aside and again concentrated on her book which did nothing but hurt him.

"Kaisi hai wo? Any change? Kuch boli? Thik se kha rhi hai?", Harshad bombarded questions on him to which he sighed.

"Pichley do saal se tu wahi pooch rha hai aur main wohi bol rha hun! You know what had happened has changed her!", he answered and looked at his baby with teary eyes who was not ready to sleep even though her eyes were drooping with sleep.

"Manik! Do saal ho gye! Nandini muskil se teen yaa char baar yaha ayi hai in these two years. In all that what was my fault? Mujhsey meri behan kyu door hogi? Bolo! Mainey socha tha that she'll be there in my marriage but she attended it as a guest! Manik I want my baby girl! Only you can bring her back! Kuch karo Manik! Hum kho nhi sakte apni bachi ko wapas! We're losing her!", he cried.

"Tumhey kya lagta main kosis nhi kar rah hoon? I'm trying my best! I left everything behind which will hurt her! And you know why she maintained distance with you! I thought taking her out of country will bring a change for her but there also she cried to come back. I never thought that I'll lose her like this!", he said looking at his baby who's now scribbling something in her notebook.

"Tu kal ussey yaha le aa! Nia ka baby shower hai. May be baby will bring some change!", Harshad said and both disconnected the call.

Manik went to her and stops her for scribbling.

"Bhai se baat kyu nhi ki Jaan?", he asked and opened the chocolate.

She said nothing and filled her things in her bag.

"Okay! We won't talk about that! Ghar chaley?", he asked as he feed her chocolate.

They went to their home.

As they reached Cabir stops Manik, "Manik! Tujsey kuch baat karni hai! About our next concert!"

He nodded and turned to Nandini, "Go to your room and change. I'm coming in a while."

As she left Cabir said, "Manik! This album is big break for all of us! It's very important as people over there is demanding our performance again and again. Moreover, Sameer (their manager) has also told the production company that we'll do it. Fab 4 wants to do it!"

"Chill Cabir! If it's that important then we're on for this! Why are you getting so hyper?", Manik said and about to go when Cabir stops him, "We've to go to Australia for a week or two.!"

"Cancel it!"

"Manik! Kab tak? Kab tak you'll ignore leaving her alone.! It's two years now! Vo sab khatam ho chukka hai. Aur aisa bhi nhi hai ki if you'll go anywhere then she'll be all alone. Aunty and Uncle are there for her. In fact Navya and Abhi will also be there! Aur agar tujhey fir bhi koi daar hai toh Harshad will come and Nia also. Kab tak tu ussey iss tarah rakhega! It's only because of that today she only talks to you. Ek ghar me rah kar bhi koi yeh tak nhi janta ki whether she's at home or not except you! Itna kya chupana Manik! Aur kab tak chupayega?", Cabir said as it's more than two years that things are going on like this which not only bothered him but other also.

"Ho gya? Ab tu sun le chiye kuch bhi ho jaye I won't leave my child alone! Don't you remember what happened last time when I left her alone for four hours! And you very well know that kuch bhi khatm nhi hua hai! Aaj v wo log jinda hai! Bhul gya who she tried to kill my baby! Bhul gaya? Aur tu achey se janta hai ki mom ki jo halat hai aaj uski responsible meri baby khud ko manti hai! Everytime she sees mom she feel like killing herself and that's why wo room se nhi nikalti and she avoids mom! Aur Harshad! Harshad k barey me ni janta? Uss incident se ussey kya hua tha? You really think ki agar mery shiway agar meri bachi kisi k pass rah payegi? Sab pyar kartey hai ussey par main apni jaan k aankhon mein aashu nhi dekh sakta! Chahey uskey liye mujhy kitney bhi albums aur project kyu na chodne pade! And dare you utter a single word to her!", shouting Manik left to his room and Cabir sighed in dismay.

As he reached his room he saw Nandini taking her pills.

"Nanhi! Yeh kya kar rhi ho? Doctor ne tumhey yeh sirf raat me lene ko bola hai!", he sai softly as he snatched the pills and threw it away.

"Mujhey sona hai!", she begged to which his eyes filled.

"Bacha! Main hoon na! Main sula deta hun! Please don't take these pills! It's not good for you! Doctor ney bhi bas isliye diya hai taki tum at least raat mey so sako but bacha main aapko aisey nhi dekh sakta! Please! I'll protect you baby!" he begged.

She nodded in no but he took her to washroom and changed her in comfortable clothes. Changing himself, he laid her down on bed taking her in his arms. She snuggles and slowly slept as he kept kneading her hairs.

"I'll protect you!", he whispered and kept kissing her face and hairs to make her sleep peacefully.

***

Update it is!

Harshad is married? To whom?

What happened in the past that has changed Nandini so much?

What's the problem with roti?

What has happened to Nyonika and Harshad?

Will Manik go to aAustralia?

Waiting for family reunion?

Harshad's baby is coming soon! Hmmm! So it that baby is the new member?

Who's behind Nandini? Who is this woman?

Keep guessing!

Target is 500+ votes!!!

Love you all!!