After a long time.....
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"Be careful not to mistake insecurity and inadequacy for humility! Humility has nothing to do with the insecure and inadequate! Just like arrogance has nothing to do with greatness!" ― C. JoyBell C.

Nandini was huffing as she had run all the way from gate to stairs.

Shreekant asked one of the butlers to get water for her and made her sit.

Nandini was a little calm after gulping down the whole glass of water. She mouthed a 'Thank you' to Manik's father and settled properly.

"Now tell me what's the matter?"

Nandini took a long breath before narrating the whole thing which happened in the college. Manik and Nyonika's little face-off.

"Trust me, uncle, I wanted to tell him but I was scared thinking about him only. I knew he would do something like this and hurt himself at the end. I would've told him after his album's launch. I didn't have the idea that Manik will come to know about Nyonika mam like this." She muttered in a low tone.

Shreekant exhaled a breath. "It's not your fault, beta. You know how impulsive he is. I have been thinking off her only lately. I was also feeling funky thinking about Manik as he is too angry on Nyonika that he couldn't see her getting out of jail like this. But now we can't do anything. Because pandit has given his statement which clearly says she was not helping him. So, we don't have any strong evidence against her which can prove her guilty even though we all know the truth."

Nandini heard him carefully. "I can understand. But Manik won't be able to take it. Every time he will come face to face with Nyonika mam, he would be out of control. I am really worried for him. His album is coming up in few days and I don't think it's a good sign. He is not ready to give me a chance to explain."

"Don't worry, beta. He came to know about her all of a sudden. Unexpectedly. That's why it's taking him time to cope up. He would be fine." Shreekant looked upstairs. "I don't think, Manik will open his room door now. It's also late, I will ask driver to drop you home. I will ask him to call, if he comes out."

Nandini nodded her head knowing he was right even tough she didn't want to leave but she couldn't tell that to him. So, she bid him bye and left from home sparing a final glance towards Manik's room.

N I G H T
C A B I R' S P L A C E
Navya was lost in her thoughts. She was thinking something really deep. Cabir came to room and called her few times but she didn't get response from her. He looked at her with frown. "Navya." He had to shake her to get her attention. She was taken aback with the sudden touch. It took her few moments before she settled down properly.

"Are you okay?" Cabir asked in concern.

Navya nodded her head. "Cabir, I've something important to tell you about Aryaman. It's really urgent."

Cabir scowled and sat beside her. "The new guy?"

Navya nodded her head.

"What about him? He looks quite cool and till now he is behaving well." Cabir shrugged his shoulders. Navya was about to say something but he started speaking before her. "Wait! Don't tell me you are going to say what I'm thinking?" He asked with a glimpse of naughtiness in his eyes which Navya didn't notice.

"How'll I know what you're thinking, Cabir? Sometimes you really don't make any sense." She made a bad face.

Cabir ignored her taunt. "Should I say what I was thinking?" He asked flashing all his teeth in front of her.

"What're you waiting for then?" She frowned.

"You fell in love with him, right? Does he know? What did he say? What about the baby? Is he ready to accept him too? Are you going to mo...." Cabir couldn't complete the sentence as a pillow landed on his face directly which was thrown by Navya.

She was glaring at him. "Shut up!!! What rubbish you are talking?"

This time Cabir made a bad face. "Then what's so important?"

Navya turned towards him, now they are facing each other. "The day when Nandini didn't come to college, I was walking to the corridor alone that time I...." She couldn't finish her line when Cabir's phone buzzed.

"One minute." He excused to take out his phone. "I've to take the call, it's from the album's manager." Cabir said eyeing his phone screen and left to talk to him.

Navya sighed as she couldn't talk to him.

N A N D I N I' S P L A C E
Nandini was in her room after spending some time with Rishav. A lot happened in last few days so she couldn't give him time at all. She was standing beside the window hoping Manik will come but there was no sign of him. Her phone was also there in her hand in case he calls her but that also didn't seem to be happening.

She tried calling him a lot of times but he didn't pick up her calls neither he saw her massages. Later she found his phone switched off. She was getting more and more worried for him.

"Nandu... Come down. Dinner is ready." She heard chachi's voice from down.

Nandini sighed and was about to leave but that time she heard a sound of a car. She hurriedly ran back to the window with a hope that it's Manik but it was some random car passing from there. Her mood fell once again and she walked away.

"Nandu, are you fine? Why is your face looking so pale?" Chachi asked while serving her. She noticed her gloomy face.

Nandini tried to looking at her. "Nothing, chachi. I am fine."

"Nandu, don't lie to me. I know I'm not your mother but I'm your chachi."

This time she smiled for real. "I know and you are a lot more than my mother to me. It's just I'm very tired that's why may be I'm looking pale. Don't worry. I will go and sleep now. Then you will find me all fresh in the morning." She assured her.

Chachi nodded her head.

M A N I K' S R O O M
When Manik saw Nyonika out in the college, he was stunned. He never expected to see her like this there in the college roaming free after whatever she has done. But the thing which hurt him more is Nandini knew about this and she simply hide it from him.

He directly came back to his room not wanting have any sort of conversation with Nandini in that state. He knew he would tell Nandini something in his anger which he would regret later but he wasn't able to take Nyonika and her words out of his mind. He still couldn't believe that pandit didn't accept that she was with him all the while.

"Why did he do it? Was he thinking, she will help him to come out of jail, if she is free? Then you are thinking wrong pandit. I am not gonna let Nyonika do it. She has escaped but I will make sure you rot in jail all your life. You have to suffer for your doings. I won't let you go so easily." Manik thought in mind and clenched his fist and started playing his guitar more roughly. He was too numb to feel that his finger has cut and it's bleeding.

His whole room was shattered, nothing was in it's correct place. But he had no heed to that.

"Nandini can never hear me at once. Every time she has to do something opposite, I ask her to. Why? Is it so difficult to understand that these lies, secrets break relationship? I have told her thousands of times that don't do this. No matter what's it, tell me, we will go through this together still she has to this only."

The thought of Nandini hiding things from him once again clinched his heart and pushed his guitar aside falling on the bed. As soon as he closed his eyes, sleep took over him and he drifted into deep slumber.

N E X T M O R N I N G
Nandini got up at her usual time and looked at her phone as soon as she woke up but she was disappointed seeing there was no call or message from Manik. Her mood fell.

"Ayaiappa... I know I made a mistake. I should have told him about Nyonika mam, she is his mother after all and he has all the right to know about her. But you know right I hid the matter from him for his own good only. I knew he would be furious and do something impulsive which might cost them their album too and I can't let him do that.

Now the monster in him is awake again and he is so angry on me that he didn't even call me once. What should I do now? Should I go to his place and check on him, if he is doing fine or not? Uncle is there, I'm sure he is taking care of him. Still I think I should pay a visit before going to college. He must be coming to college and we can go together. I will also get sometime to make him understand my point."

Nandini thought of it and she hurriedly got down from bed. She took a nice shower calming down her nerves went to find a perfect wear for her.

"You look more beautiful in my favorite color."

Manik's words rang in her ears. She took out a red dress and wore that. She was already wearing Manik's chain i.e her mangalsutra, she wore a pair of matched earrings and was about to fill her hairline when she stopped. "Let Manik Malhotra do this on behalf of his wife." She smiled and put the vermilion box inside her bag before walking down.

(Nandini's attire)

"Good morning, chachi. Good morning, Rishav." Nandini wished them seeing they were sitting in the hall.

"Good morning, Nandu." Chachi wished her back and Rishav passed a smile to her along with showing a thumbs up saying she is looking beautiful.

"Thank you, Rishav." Then She turned towards chachi. "Where is chacha?"

"I sent him for jogging. He is not back yet." Chachi said smiling sheepishly. "By the way are you going college now only? It's so early." She frowned.

Nandini nodded her head. "Yes, chachi. I forgot to tell you, I have an important class. So, I need to leave early."

"But I didn't make the breakfast yet. You sit and wait 5 minute, I will make something for you."

"Chachi, it's okay. I'm getting late. I will have something in the canteen. Don't worry."

"Okay. Eat something. Don't forget. I will call Manik to ask about you. Nowadays, you are escaping your meals more often."

Nandini nodded her head and left from there.

It took her another 20 minutes to reach Manik's place. She went inside and found a butler in the hall. Now they all knew Nandini as she comes more often to meet Manik. So, they didn't stop her and greeted her morning. She also wished him back.

"Where is Manik?" Nandini asked the butler.

"Manik baba didn't come out of his room since last night. Sir tried to call him but he didn't say anything."

Nandini got worried hearing this. "Where is Mr Malhotra? Isn't he in home?"

"Sir got an urgent call and went out just a few minutes back saying to inform him when Manik comes out and he would be back as soon as possible."

Nandini nodded her head. "Make something for Manik. He didn't have anything from last night. I will see him."

The butler nodded his head and went away. Nandini was about to walk upstairs when her phone buzzed with a call displaying the name of Navya. She picked up the call.

"Hello, Navya."

"Nandini, where are you? Are you in your home"

"No, I am here in Manik's place. Why? Do you need anything?"

"You remember, I wanted to say something to you yesterday?"

"Of course, I remember, Navya. We will talk about it in the college."

"It's really important. Come to college now, I'm also coming."

"Navya, I can't come right now. Manik has come to know about Nyonika mam and he is not okay. I will talk to you later."

"But, Nandini..."

"Please, Navya. Bye."

She ran upstairs and tried to open Manik's room door but it's still locked. "This boy can really be monstrous at times. I can't believe this, he would take out his anger like this by hurting himself." Nandini let out a sigh and knocked on the door. But there was no response from him.

"Manik, open the door please. It's me." She called him again but instead of his reply, she heard the sound of something breaking from inside.

Nandini panicked hearing the noise. "Manik? Are you okay? What happened? Are you hurt? Please open the door. Manik!!!" She banged the door as loud as she could.

S O M E U N K N O W N P L A C E
The shadow of two persons can be seen but their faces were not visible due to lack of light.

"I want the work to be done without any mistake. You will get only one chance and it should be done." The girl instructed the man in front of her.

The man laughed seeing the money. "Don't worry, madam. It's our daily work. You can rely on me, your work will be done and you will get the good news soon."

The girl chuckled. "Don't be over confident. He is not some ordinary guy to deal with. You can't even imagine what he can do, if you fail and come in his hand. So, keep that in mind and be careful with whatever you do. I don't care how will you do it but I just want the result. Remember that."

"He can't do anything to me." Then the man left from there.

"Lets see for how long you stay happy with your life, it's time to create some storm in your life, baby. What did you think, now your life would be sorted? Nope!!! I won't let you be in peace till I am here. Just wait and see, you did a mistake by taking me lightly but I won't make any mistake. You have to pay for your deed. Actually not you....." The girl laughed out loud like a maniac.

That's all for today. I hope it was long and good enough. Don't forget to share your thoughts and do vote.

26.11.2023