Manik called at her number but it was off which made him more worried. He was leaving in hurry when Cabir stopped and asked for reason looking him worriedly leaving the office. He told him about Nandini being missing and Cabir joined him. Both left for her college where her bodyguards were finding her everywhere. Manik went to the principal's office and asked for the cctv footage.

"Manik! Nandini agar gate se nikalti toh budyguards ko pata rhta!", Principal told him which he royally ignored. He looked at the footage and found a Muslim girl coming out of the washroom wearing burkah.

"Yeh Nandini hai!", Manik said angrily as he looked at her in footage.

"Tu itna sure kaisey hai? Koi aur bhi ho skti hai! Moreover Nandini k pass burkah kaha se aayega?", Cabir asked as he also looked at her in cctv footage.

"Ussey pechaney k liye mujhey surety ki jaru'rat nhi. It's her! And I know wo kaha gayi hai! I just hope mery waha janey se pehley ussey kuch na ho!", Manik muttered as they both left the college.

"Aisi kon si jagah hai!", Cabir asked as Manik drove to the place.

He didn't answer him and drove in hurry.

They reached and looked at park. They went inside and found her sitting at a corner. Manik went to her and pulled her up with her shoulders.

"Mana kiya tha mainey? Didn't I?", he shouted shaking her from her shoulders.

She looked him and immediately looked down.

"Manik! Look at the place! Sab dekh rhey hai! Uss par chillar kyu rha hai! Shaant ho jaa!", Cabir said as Manik was shouting very loudly and Nandini was crying silently.

"Shaant ho jau Cabir? Issey kyu nhi bolta hai? Mann toh kar rha hai ek tapad laga du!", Manik muttered angrily as he jerked her away.

"Pagal ho gya hai? Why are you manhandling her? Bahar hi aayi hai na! Koi gun'nah toh nhi kiya hai! Tuney ussey har waqt bodyguards se gher diya hai toh bahar aa hi gyi khuli hawa toh kya hua? Bachi ko iss tarah kyu kar rha hai!", Cabir too shouted as he hugged crying Nandini,

"Mainey gher diya hai? Tu janta bhi yeh bodyguards kyun hai! Agar khuli hawa k liye aati na toh main sab'sey ja'yda khush hota! Par yeh yaha khuli hawa nhi drugs k liye aayi hai! Yeh bodyguards iski security k liye nhi hai! They're to stop her for taking drugs damn it!", Manik muttered angrily and separated her from Cabir's arms.

"Drugs?", he whispered in shock.

"Yes! Drugs! Now you tell me kyu kiya tumney! Mana kiya than na mainey! Tum'hey koi farq nhi padta na! Daar nhi lagta mujhsey?", he asked her angrily who didn't looked at him.

"Manik jo bhi baat hai hum ghar jaa kar karengey! Yaha log dekh rhey hai!", Cabir told him to which he went and sat on the car without waiting for her. She looked at him and then Cabir.

" Tujhey aisa nhi karna chiye tha bacha! Chal ab!", Cabir said as he kissed her forehead and dragged her to the car.

Manik was sitting on the passenger's seat. Nandini opened the door of his side to sit on his lap but Manik looked at her angrily.

"Mery pass bhi mat aana! I dare you!", he muttered again and she cried more.

Cabir nodded in disbelief and went to her.

"Kya hua? Manik k lap mey baithna hai?", he asked lovingly wiping her tears to which she nodded crying more.

Cabir smiled and opened the door and before Manik could say anything he made Nandini sit on his lap.

"Chup chap baith aur chup kara ussey! Tabiyat karab ho jayegi!", he said and closed the door as he went to sit on the driver's seat.

Manik looked at her and found her crying badly.

"Mo.. Mon..", she tried to speak between her sobs and hiccups but couldn't as she was crying very badly.

"Chup! Ek aanshu nhi! Ek bhi aanshu mainey dekha toh ek tapad laga dunga!", he scolded her and she tried to cling to him.

"Samaj nhi aaya tumhey? Nandini main bata rha hun mujhey aur gussa na dilao!", he again scolded her as she cried.

"Pyar se baat kar ley ek baar! Chup ho jayegi! Bachi hai Manik ho gyi galti!", Cabir said to he can't see Nandini like that.

"Char tapad lagauga toh chup ho jayegi! Harketin aisi hai ki pyar se toh baat krunga nhi!", he scolded her again and she like a scared rabbit hides herself in his chest.

"Ankhein band aur shanti se so jao! Varna mujhsey bura koi nhi hoga!", he muttered angrily as he palmed her eyes. She sighed in his arms and closed her eyes and finally slept with a frown as he was not holding her though she was in his arms.

"So gyi hai! Kar le ussey hug!", Cabir said with a chuckle as he knows Manik was dying to hug her in is arms.

He hugged her tightly and showered her with kisses.

"Mera jaan!", he whispered as he cried pecking her lips.

"Jab itna tapad rha that toh pehley hi kar leta pyar!", Cabir commented looking at Manik who was not ready to leave her.

"I've to be strict Cabir! Because this is not the first time she did this! Last time I coaxed her with love but she again chose this way. Every time I think that I've collected her but then I realize that I failed again. This time may be she'll realize her mistake!", he said as he shrugged his blazer and covered her with it hiding her in his chest.

"Last time? Nandini ney pehley bhi drugs liye hai! Tum dono k life mey kya ho rha hai yeh bat'ana jarurai nhi samjhta tu yaa ab humey apna nhi manta?", Cabir said looking straight as his eyes went teary.

"Aisa nhi hai Cabir! Jo v uss raat hua! Mom ka paralyzed hona! Harshad k left shoulder ka paralyzed hona was something which my little baby couldn't handle. She blames herself for all that. Though she was not at all responsible! It was destiny! After that I don't know how she went to this park and someone introduced her to drugs. I'm still finding that man but he has some strong connection as every time small kidnapped kids delivers it for him. Last time I coaxed her with love and that's why I took her away for two months. I thought she'll never take it again and even she also promised but don't know why she did this! Cabir! My baby! I'm losing her day by day!", he broke into cries.

"I know you won't let her go! And don't worry now that you have shared we all will make sure that we'll get our Nandini back!", Cabir said with determination and get down of car as they reached Manan Mansion.

Manik hugged her closely to his chest and went inside. Cabir had already informed everyone about Nandini being missing so they were all in the hall.

"Manik! How's she? Kaha mili?", Nyonika asked as she caressed her hairs when Manik sat beside with them.

"Mom! She's not good! Mujhey samaj nhi aa rha ki main kaisey issey shambhalu!", Manik cried as he looked her frowning in her sleep.

"Tu room mey le jaa aur sula dey ussey! Dinner k time aana! And Manik! This time I'm ordering you to not hide anything from us! She needs her family too Manik!", Cabir said strictly to which Manik nodded and left for his room.

After he left Cabir told everything to others. They were shocked but all was determined to get their Nandini back.

"Cabir! Mujhey nhi pata hai tum yeh kaisey karogey but I want you bring Nandini to me! Without Manik's knowledge!", Nyonika said as they were leaving for their room. Cabir nodded and promised her to bring Nandini to her.

Post dinner, Manik was about to take Nandini back in the room when Abhi came and stopped him talking about office stuff. Meanwhile, Cabir offered to take Nandini back to room to which Manik nodded but instead of taking in room Cabir took her to kitchen saying that Navya has made something special for her to eat.

Nandini went with him where Nyonika was waiting in the kitchen. As she saw Nyonika she was about to go when Cabir stopped her from shoulders and said, "Maa mana than a tuney bachey! Fir kyu bhaag rhi hai apni maa sey! She wants to talk to you!"

Nandini gulped and looked Nyonika with guilty eyes, Cabir patted her head and went out leaving both of them alone.

Both Nyonika and Nandini looked at each other, one with the teary desperate eyes other with guilty. Breaking the silence Nyonika said with chocking voice, "Itni buri hun kya main? Jo tuney apna kar chor diya? Bol na bachey..!"

Nandini nodded in no slightly as words were not coming out. All her eyes can see is her sitting on the wheelchair. Nyonika followed her gaze and said, "Bachey..! Look at me..!"

She wheeled herself and went near her, "You're not responsible bachey..!! Stop feeling guilty.! It was just that person who's responsible for all that.! Khud ko blame nhi kro maa ki jaan.!"

"Mer.. meri.. waja.. wajah..!", Nandini cried and kneeled down on her legs. Nyonika holds her from shoulders and carefully pulled her head on her lap which Nandini herself wanted to do from past years.

Caressing her head she lovingly said, "Pata hai Nandini.! Jab tu pehli baar iss ghar mey aayi thi na that time tu ek dum gudiya lag rhi thi. Mainey dekha tha tujhey par meri badkismati thi jo mainey uss gudiya ko tukdo mein todh diya. Maa sirf bachey ko janam deney se nhi balki ek bachey ko palney sey bhi hoti. Mainey bacha toh janam de diya par kavi thik sey maa nhi ban payi. Tujhey todha tha par pata hai tuney hi mujhey sahi maai'ney mey maa banaya.! That day when my own son disowned me then at that time you were there and that day I realized that I was so wrong. You even if everyone had forgiven I was never able to forgive myself.! I always felt guilty but that day when I saved you that later I got to know I can never walk I had no regret.! Because that's punishment which God gave me.! Isliye agar guilty feel kisi ko karna chiye tohmujhey because that night whatever happened somewhere down the line, I was responsible too. Agar mainey teri sahi sey care ki hoti toh wo insan tery saath kuch nhi kar skta.!"

"Par aap chal nhi sakti.!", Nandini said with wet cheeks to which Nyonika wiped her tears and said, "Aap wapas sey pehley wali Nandini ban jao fir main bhi pehley jaisey chalney lagugi.! Aap jab tak aisey rahogey main apna treatment karwaney k liye haa nhi bolungi.!"

"Promise?", she asked forwarding her hands.

"Promise mera jaan.!", Nyonika kept her hand on Nandini's hand kissed her forhead leaning down to her.

"Aap pehley wali Nandini banogey?", Nyonika asked with hopeful eyes to which Nandini muttered slowly, "I will try.!"

Nyonika smiled and said kissed her cheeks and forehead, "Ab aap jao varna apka Monster kha jayega humey.!"

Nandini smiled sadly as she remembered Manik was not talking to her at all even he didn't cuddle her in the evening.

Nyonika smiled as she saw her sad retreating figure going and said, "Vaisy bachey..! Manik ko chocolate cupcakes bahot pasand hai aur aadmi k dil ka rasta uskey pet sey ho kr jata hai.!"

Nandini turned and smiled brightly as she got the hint which Nyonika gave to which Nyonika winked to her.

Manik pov

I came to room only to find it empty.

Nanhi? Kha gyi.? Yeh ladki sach mey mujhsey maar khaegi.!

I was about to go to find her when I found her entering the room with her pets in both her hands.

My lips turned into smile looking her playing with them after two years. She smiled and I noticed a shine in her eyes. For a second I thought that my little baby is back again but I know she's just trying. She looked at me but choose to ignore her though all I wanted is to hug and shower her with kisses but whatever she did today I have to strict. For the first time I'm seriously mad at her.

Last time I nearly lost her totally because of drugs and this time I won't tolerate any excuse.

I went in the closet to take out our night dress but my eyes were following all her moments. The way she was pouting looking at me sitting on bed with her legs dangling down, she was looking so adorable that I felt kissing her madly.

I went in the bathroom to change keeping her clothes beside her.

After I came out I looked her who was looking at me with a pout with her clothes in her hands which clearly meant that she wants me to change which I surely will not do as it's her punishment.

I ignored her and lay on the bed looking at her who was just sitting with clothes in her hand. I sighed and went to her because I know if I won't change her cloth then she'll be like that whole night.

Without saying anything I stood in front of her and immediately felt her hands wrapping around my waist. Without hugging her back I took her top off and made her wear the soft night top which reached till her knees. After changing her clothes I laid again without saying anything.

"Monstu..! Sorry..!", she said in her baby voice but I choose to ignore.

"Monstu..! Mainey khud sey dawa bhi khaya aur dudh bhi pi liya..!", she said as she showed me the empty glass.

I lay down with my back on her side. After sometime I felt her hugging me keeping her legs around my waist.

I smiled and turned to her. She had her eyes closed and was trying to sleep. I cuddled her close to my heart and slept taking her in my arms.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How's it?

2380 words.!

Long enough..!

Okthanksbye..!