MaNan: Strings That Bind Us

"Unseen Shadows"

His heart skipped a beat. Was he imagining things? He looked around, but the family was too busy laughing and talking to notice.

He couldn't focus anymore. He needed to be sure.

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** In Midnight**

When everyone finally went to sleep, Manik quietly came downstairs. His hands were slightly trembling as he took the pendrive and played it again.

His eyes scanned the screen.

And there she was. *Alia.*

She was there on the wedding day. Hiding. Watching.

His mind was in chaos.

"If she was there... then why didn't she marry me?"

"Why did she run away?"

"What was she hiding?"

A storm of questions raged inside him. He leaned back on the couch, staring at the frozen screen where Alia's figure was visible.

Something wasn't right.

And now... he needed answers.

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Manik couldn't sleep that night. His mind kept replaying the image of Alia hiding in the wedding video. He needed answers.

The next morning, he decided to start his investigation. He called a private investigator and asked him to find out everything about Alia's whereabouts after she left the wedding.

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Manik spent the next few days looking for clues. He spoke to their wedding planners, staff members, and even some guests, but no one had seen Alia that day. It felt like she had disappeared into thin air.

But then, luck was on his side.

While going through the wedding footage again, he noticed something-Alia wasn't alone. She was talking to someone. The angle wasn't clear, but the person looked like an older man in a suit.

He paused the video and zoomed in.

"Who is this?" he thought.

His gut told him this man was important.

The private investigator called him that evening.

Investigator: "Sir, I found something. Alia left the wedding, but she didn't do it on her own."

Manik gripped the phone tightly.

Manik: "What do you mean?"

Investigator: "Someone made her leave. I spoke to a hotel staff member who worked near the wedding venue. He overheard a conversation between Alia and an older couple before she left."

Manik's heartbeat quickened.

Manik: "Who were they?"

Investigator: "Your parents, Sir. Neyonika Ma'am and Raj Sir."

Manik felt like the ground had slipped beneath his feet.

Manik: "Are you sure?"

Investigator: "Yes. They offered her a deal-50 crore rupees and a modeling career with the help of a famous fashion designer. In exchange, she had to leave the marriage and let you marry Nandini."

Manik's head spun.

"No... this can't be true."

His parents... bribed Alia to leave?