Nandini and Prem were returning home after a very long day
It was almost nearing midnight as they had to stop for few hours at a place where Prem had some business...
Nandini could not sit at peace...
She had just found out some really heartbreaking truth about her parents' death...
Everything around her was pricking her...
The air she breathed seemed to choke her
She had to get out of the car...it was suffocating her...
She needed some fresh air...

N: Uncle pls stop the car

P:Kya hua Nandini? Are u ok?

N:Plss uncle..gaadi rokiye

Prem stops the car

Nandini gets out of the car...
They had stopped near some beach...
The waves were silent this night..
No noise at all...
She walked on the sand and went near the salty water...
The breeze definitely did some magic..
Her mind was at peace...
She had to think calmly about the situation...
She cast her eyes into the blue
Only one person could help her...
"Manik"

Yes he will be the only person who could give answers to her questions...
With a relief on her face she walked towards the car where Prem was waiting for her..
She did see a group of people at end of the beach busy working on something...
But yeah she didn't stop to look at it as she had more important stuff to do

N:Uncle lets go

P:Ok

..

They were home within half an hour
Nandini couldn't even dream about wasting any seconds more... thus rushed to her car and drove it to the Malhotra Mansion...

She stopped the car outside and walked to the gate...
It was almost midnight and it would be inappropriate to go to someone's house at this time,but she didn't hv any option...did she?

MALHOTRA MANSION

The guards recognizing her, let her in with a smile playing on their lips...
Nandini walked in...
She could see that most of the lights were off and before she rung the bell,she hesitated for a second....

Suddenly she heard some muffled whispers...

Nandini's POV

Could they be thieves?
What am I even thinking...
The guards are  right out there...
That was not even a slight possibility with all the 'high tech' security...

..

Nandini slowly walked towards the direction from where the sound was coming
By a huge tree there was a dark figure standing there...
The person was talking...
She couldn't hear it properly as she still was at distance
She moved closer to hear...
Yes she recognized the voice!

It was "Manik" !!!!!!

She tried to hear it...she stiffened her ears more...
But what was he doing outside the house at this time?
That's when she could hear him properly...
Manik was speaking on the phone with someone

M:What the hell?
Tum log kahaan mar gaye the?
Hw did she even know the place...?
I hd told u to watch her movements!!!!
Yaar main papa Ko kya jawab dunga?
Uske saath kaun tha?
Achaa..teek hai...
Khatham kardiya na?....
Are u sure?if not I am killing u all!!!

Nandini closes her mouth to shut her gasp listening to him...😱😮
She couldn't take it anymore...
She quickly ran outside the gate and got in her car and drove it off without any aim.!!!
She stopped near some park....
She got out and sat in some empty bench...

N:Yeh sab kya ho Raha hai?
Manik Ko sab patha tha...?
He did not want me to go to the place...
Matlab woh nahi chahta ki main Raju ji se milu!!!
Toh yeh pyaar vyaar sab naatak tha?
Mujhse sach chupane ke liye?
Or am I doubting him for nothing...
But he seemed really upset that I went to that place...
Main kya karu bhagwaan ji?

Nandini was so immersed in her thoughts that  she did not notice a car stopping by her..
Somebody walked towards her and touched her shoulder!

Nandini gasped and sprung up on her feet

Manik: Geez..Nandini..main hoon...
Tum Yahaan Akeli kya kar rahi ho?
Guards ne bataya ki tum ghar aayi thi?
Kya hua...??
Tum aise Kyun dekh rahi ho?
Are u ok Nandini?

Nandini couldn't even speak a word..
She was just gaping at him sweating profusely...

M:Nandini!!now u r just scaring me...
R u alright?

N:I.....ahh..I am fine

Nandini managed

M:Oh ok
U knw Nandini I was coming to ur house only...
Then the guards told me that u hd come..
Anyways... aao mere saath!!

N:K...k..kahann?

M:Just come na

Before Nandini could protest Manik dragged her to his car and drove off

They reached the Malhotra Mansion in no time
Manik dragged Nandini to the door..

He opened the door..
It was completely dark..
Nandini just stood there confused...
She felt Manik's grip on her hand loosening...
She really felt scared at the moment...

Then Suddenly.....people screamed out of nowhere!!!

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANDINI"✨🎉🎈

Yes it was her birthday...
The clock had stroke 12...
There were huge banners decorated with her name and colourful letters forming Happy Birthday!!!!
Karan,Vandana,Daadu and Daadi were wearing birthday caps and holding balloons waiting for her with smiling faces...

All of a sudden Nandini did not know how to react!
All she could do was a weak smile!!!

Manik came in front and took her hand

M: Happy Birthday Nandini!
I knw ki tum apne mummy papa Ko miss kar rahe ho and u knw celebrating with Ur family...
So I just wanted to surprise u with this little party....
I called Navya too but she was not picking up the call..
So come....cut the cake

Manik took her to the centre where the table was set with a beautiful chocolate cake!!!her favourite flavour!!!
Manik passed her the knife and told her to cut the cake...
Nandini was overwhelmed with feelings..
She was too numb to react...

Nandini cut the cake and Manik immediately fed her a piece..
Everybody looked really happy.. except one person..
"The birthday girl"

Manik looked so excited!!!
Nandini was unable to concentrate  on anything

Suddenly her phone started to ring
It was Prem uncle

She excused herself...and moved to a more silent place
She could hear Manik screaming "Arehh Nandini gifts toh open karo"
Ignoring it Nandini answered the call...

N:Hello

P: Nandini beta..there is a bad news....

N:Kkyaa...hua uncle...(she stuttered not being able to suffer any more shocks)

P:Raju ji.....

N:Raju ji?

P:He is dead!!!!!!

N:What????

Nandini felt the ground move away!!!

N:Kaise?

P:Jaise hum wahaan se nikle..kuch der Baad hi.....
Inspector ne mujhe phone phone karke bathaya abhi..
He found my number the last dialled in Raju Ji's phone..
They suspect that it is a murder....

N:Ab hum kya karenge uncle?
He was the sole witness.....

P:Patha nahi beta...
Humare wajah se woh aaj is duniya mein nahi hai!!

N:Kya aapko lagta hai ki Malhotras ne.......

P:Ho sakta hai beta..shayad unhe patha chala ki hum unse Milne ke liye Gaye the..
Isliye woh log Raju ji ko..

Prem stopped right there

Nandini remembered Manik's conversation!
So was it all true?

Nandini returned to the party...
This time she was not numb but angry....
Her eyes were red and tear drops were shining on her cheeks!

Manik not noticing the change in Nandini's behaviour, continued giving her gifts...
He goes on placing one after the other in her hands forming a tower..
Karan and Vandana were also saying sweet things to her..

The pot had whistled...she couldn't take it anymore...

N: STOP IT!!!!!!!

Nandini shouts....
She throws away all the gifts handed over to her
Manik is shocked!
He just looks at her due to the sudden outburst....

N:Bas......
Yeh naatak sab band karo ab...

Vandana: Nandini..kya hua..tum yeh kya keh Rahi ho?

M:Nandini!!!tumse koi kuch pooch rahe hai...
Jawaab do!

N:Chup!!!
Manik...tumhe kya Laga..mujhe kuch patha nahi chalega..
Aur aap Mr. Karan Malhotra .....
Maine kabhi nahi socha  tha ki aap itne ghatiya Insaan ho sakte hain!

M:What the hell Nandini!????

N:Tum log sab naatak kar rahe ho!
Ab aur kya chahte ho...
Barbaad toh kar chuke ho na tum log meri zindagi ko

The employees of Malhotra Industries and Murthy Enterprises who had gathered at the Malhotra Mansion looked rather shocked at the whole scene...

M:The party is over....
Leave!!!!!

Manik shouted
All hurriedly moved out

M:Ok dats it Nandini..
Are u out of ur mind?

N:Haan paagal ho gayi hoon main..
Aur tum Manik...
Tum toh pyaar karte ho na mujhse...
Aur tumne bhi apne papa ke saath milkar mujhe dhoka de rahe ho....
Woh bechara Raju ji..unhe bhi maar diya tum logo ne..
Main kabhi soch bhi nahi sakti thi ki aise shareef log itna bada paap bhi kar sakte hai...
Its a crime..
A crime which was very carefully managed....
Aur ab yeh insaafi main hone nahi dungi..
Aap logon ke andar insaaniyat hi nahi hai...
I will bring u all to the court and I will make sure that all Ur hidden real faces come out infront of the public...
I want my parents to get justice..

Nandini goes and holds Karan's collars

N:Aur Mr.Karan Malhotra...
Aapko toh main idol maanti thi....
Sharam aarahi hai mujhe...apne aap par..
Aap jaise logon par barosa kar bhaiti na isliye...
Y did u kill my parents Mr.Malhotra?
Y?????

Manik quickly loosens Nandini's grip and pushes her away

M:What the hell is wrong with u Nandini?
Tumhari himmat kaise huyi mere dad ke khilaf kuch bhi bolne ki?
U knw wat tum paagal ho..
Now just get out!!!
Out....

N:Haan...jaa Rahi hoon....
But I won't leave u that easily...
Mark my words!!
U will pay for everything Mr.Karan Malhotra!

M: Guards....guards!!!

Soon Nandini moves out of the house

Even Manik went out without even glancing at his parents

Karan and Vandana were rooted at their spot..
They couldn't even move
The hall was soon empty
Vandana tried calling her husband once or twice...
But he just kept mute looking at her tear eyed!!!

..

2.00 am

Karan Malhotra was standing in the balcony looking at the full moon which was proudly shining in the night sky...
He just stared into the oblivious!

Vandana was sleeping in their room...
She found the other side of the bed empty...
Getting relentless she moved to find her husband standing in the balcony alone gazing at the sky...

V:Aap soye nahi?

K:Nahi...

V:Karan..aap pls so jaayiye..kal baat karenge

K:Kal?.... Kya baat karenge Vandu?
Humare saath hi Kyun ho Raha hai yeh sab..
What we thought to be over is again coming face to face out of the blue...

V:Aap tension mat lijiye!!
Hum kuch na kuch karenge...

K:Nahi Vandu...
Nandini se aankhein nahi mil paa Raha hoon main...
Kya jawaab doonga main..?

Karan sobs silently
Vandu holds him to let the pain ease out

WINTERFELL VILLA

Nandini had already reached home...
She had cleverly skipped Sumanji's questioning session and retired to her room after the long day

She changed to her nightwear and sat on the couch...
A headache was pending to make her day more worse..
The shooting pain through her nerves was surely better than the ache in her heart..
The helplessness in her was killing her..
She had switched off all the lights..
The light seemed to pierce her skin making her convulse..

Nandini was sitting with her head in her hands...
Suddenly the door creaked

Nandini with her eyes closed and head down ,screamed

N:Mujhe khaaana nahi chahiye Sumanji....

Navya : Di.....

Nandini looked up at Navya standing at the door

N:Navya....tum soyi nahi?

Nav:Woh main aapki wait kar rahi thi!!

N:Kyun?

Nav: Happy Birthday di

Nandini smiled

N: Thank you Navu

Nav:Mujhe aapse kuch baat karni thi!

Nandini got up to get some water from the jug kept on her nightstand

N: Kal kar sakte hai kya..?
Mera ab mood nahi hai ....sar dukh Raha beta!

Nav: Bohat zaroori baat hai di..

N: Acha..phir teek hai..bolo

Nandini starts pouring water into the glass

Nav: Woh di...
Aap plss aaram se suniye...
Woh..woh....

MAIN PREGNANT HOON!

The glass slips from Nandini's hands and shatters into pieces!!!

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Varsha ❣️