No proof reading done
The smirk on Manik's face stayed as he marched to Girish.
"Manik..." Nandini ran to stop him but Manik had held Girish shirt and hand dragged him away, he pushed him and started kicking Grish
"Baba..." Avni tried to go to Manik but Arav held her hand tightly. She looked at Arav in shock and tried to get out of his hold but Arav didn't let her go. Abhir noticed this
Nandini pulled Manik back but Manik held her hand and took her behind and kicked Grish irrespective of looking where he was hitting him.
"Manik please ruko... Please" Nandini tried to hold him or stop him but Manik was in so anger that he was very difficult to be stopped. He although made sure he held Nandini back not letting her hurt. Nandini back hugged him and held him. He was not able to move. Grish tried to slip away a but but Manik just looked at Cabir and next moment Cabir hand pulled Nandini away and taking her away from Manik
"Cabir! Leave! He will kill him Cabir!" Nandini hit Cabir's hand which held her.
Manik had bend and held Grish with collar. "Tune Nandini ko mara? Haan ya na?" Manik said gripping his collar
"Nahi" Grish said and Manik's jaw tighten. Nandini's eyes filled with years and she looked at her parents them Manik. Not like she thought Manik won't believe her it was like, even after knowing the truth her so called cousin was lying on everyone's face
She wanted to know what her parents thaught but then she looked at Manik thinking all she wants is his stand by her. Which she knew will be till her last breath.
"Sach" Manik said pulling the collar
"Sach varna jo haal karunga woh koi nahi dekh payega..." Manik warned
"Na...nahi" Grish said and Nandini looked dead in his eyes. How could he? Does he thinks her husband fool? He is going to tear him apart!
"Jake" Manik called and Jake came there with a pendrive and started to connect it with a system so that a video can be played on screen.
"Tu jiss room mein mila na Nandini ko woh humara green room hai. Iss ghar mein ek hi room hai jaha CCTVs hai. Woh room." Manik said and looked at the screen still holding Grish's collar. He felt Grish shiver in fear and he knew there was more. More that this. More than a slap.
His eyes bore on the screen as the video played-
Nandini entered the room and tears start making their way. She started to sob but tried hard not to. She continuously kept wiping her tears and suppressing her sobs. She didn't wanted to cry but uss ko rona aa raha tha (she was crying) Eventually, she was successful in stopping the tears. She saw a napkin on the table and wiped her tears. She started to make herself look presentable and touch up taking out the makeup from her clutch. Feeling satisfied with her work she turned to leave but stopped seeing the Grish at the door
"What are you doing here?" she asked
"I need to talk to you" Girish said
"I am not interested" Nandini said and was going to walk out when he stood in front of her blocking her exit
"Please listen to me" he pleaded
"What? Say it fast" Nandini said disinterested
"Convince your husband" he said and Nandini looked at him confused
"Convince your husband to invest in my new business" he said and Nandini gritted her teeth and glared at him
Manik looked at Grish and Grish was shaking his head violently. He tried to get out of Manik's hold knowing what was coming.
"Manik's business is his personal thing. I don't mendal in it. My husband will invest in your business if he feels it's worth it. So instead of using me as a ladder to reach his pockets make yourself worthy" Nandini said and was going to walk past him when she felt her arm being tugged and next she know a slapped landed on her face. Taken off guard Nandini couldn't register what just happened.
Manik's eyes held fury as he saw Grish slap Nandini. Nandini saw her Appa grasp in suprise. He looked at her and she looked at him with tears. He had guilt but it meant nothing to her now. Though her heart hurt seeing her father but no she wasn't giving in
She looked back at Girish with suprised and then anger
"How fucking dare you!" Nandini tried to hold his collar but he held her hand
"How fucking dare you!" Girish yelled at her
Their voice tooks everyone's attention. Even Manik's. He felt Grish try hard to get out of his hold and that's when he heard Grish say
"Being a woman you used that tone on me. Now that you are married to a richie rich guy, you feel you have some kind of moronic power! Don't forget that you are a woman! Your worth is to make your husband happy in bed, raise children and do the kitchen work. You know nothing of his business. I know you are his trophy wife. But don't you forget who you really are hanging around these high profile people and wearing this make up and branded clothes. You are a runt! A girl who abondanded her family and ran with her teenage boyfriend. And my father has done a lot for your father and you. You can atleast do this in return."
That's it. No one saw anything else because a long pearcing scream was heard after a crack. Manik had cracked Grish's arm
"Manik!" Nandini yelled running to him but Manik was out of control he was beating Grish with whatever he could place his hand on.
"How dare you demean my wife you bastard!" Manik said and picked up a chair and threw it on him
Nandini tried to stop him by holding his hand but Manik removed Nandini's hand and held her arms "No one... No fucking anyone talks to you like that. You.. YOU NANDINI ARE MY PRIDE! I WILL NOT LET ANYONE SHOW A FINGER AT YOU AND GE DARED TO SLAP YOU AND SAY ALL THOSE FUCKING THINGS. HE HAS BELITTLED YOU! HE BELITTLED MANIK MALHOTRA'S PRIDE! AND HE WILL PAY" Manik left her and got Grish out of the chair and was hitting him with all his might.
Nnadini ran to Raj "Dad please stop him. Woh mar dalega Dad! Please!" she said but Raj didn't gave in he wanted Manik to give that man a lesson. Nandini was not just Manik's pride or wife. She was their daughter and their pride. Nandini joined her hands and pleaded "He will kill him! He will! Please stop" Raj's eyes soften. He saw his son throwing and hitting Grish like a mad ragging bull.
Vishnu saw his daughter plead Raj and when Raj ws thinking on what to do he made up his mind
"He will stop Manik" with determination he took a step towards Manik
Manik had picked up Grish. His nose was bleeding. His face was sore. Manik didn't even had a scratch because he didn't even gave a micro second for Grish to attack.
"I will call the police!" Prakashan yelled seeing his son's condition but it felt on Manik's deaf ears.
Nandini looked panicked and Avni whimpered "Baba" Arav hugged her hiding her face in his arms and kissing her crown assuring her nothing bad will happen to her Baba
Nandini ran to stop Manik when she saw her father pulling Manik back.
In his anger Manik felt someone pull him away from Grish and in that fit of anger he pushed that person away hard
"Appa!" Manik heard Nandini yell and that was the second he froze. Grish fell on the ground bleeding and weak.
Manik saw Nandini was trying to hold her father and sit him up as he lay on group. Even Rishab and Raghav ran to his Vishnu's aid. Some of Murty's ran to Grish and talked about taking him to hospital
Manik eyes fell on Nandini and she looked at him. There was no anger in those eyes but hurt.
Nandini irrespective of everything and anything has respected his family. His parents, Cabir's parents, Mukti, Cabir, Abhi, Manik's extended family. Even the one who disliked her or disrespected her but she, she never did it.
Today he disrespected her father. However he had treated Nandini, Manik knew that Nandini would never want him disrespect her father. He felt ashamed instantly
He took a step towards her when he heard Nandini's firm voice "Take him home. And take your brother to hospital. Enough of this drama"
___________________________________________
Nandini's family had left and she was sitting in their room in her night gown. She heard her room door open. She knew it was him
"Nand..." even before he said further she lay on the bed and took her blanket over her
He knew she won't talk. She was hurt and she will need some time for herself because he knew she tend to go silent when extremely hurt or angry. Because she knew she would say something venomous. And she didn't want it. Manik knew this. But still he tried
Nandini felt his arms pulling her and spooning her
"Jaan please talk" he said pleading but she remain silent
"Jaan" he turned her but she kept her eyes close
He kissed her eyes and then her forehead
"I am sorry" he said but still she didn't open her eyes.
He hugged her and said nothing but held her close
___________________________________________
"Please ruk" Avni pleaded Arav hugging him close
Arav held his breath. He knew she needed him. He too wanted to be with her. But he didn't trust his ragging teenage harmones. They were showing him different things altogether when his sane brain knew that Avni was scared and needed him to be by her side.
It's not like he had never done that. It was not like they had never shared a bed. She has always hugged and slept him. But these gestures this actions were coming from her innocent heat as always but for him, now, at that age, his harmones always took her innocent actions to other level. And he knew that. So it felt wrong to him. It felt so wrong to him. His thoughts broke as she felt her playing with his shirt button. Such n innocent act but it was turning him on. He scolded his brain and held her hand stopped her. He removed her grip from his shirt button
"Abhi so jaa. Main kal aata hu" (Sleep now. I will come in morning) he said and tried to get up but she didn't let him and looked up at him
"Alu are you mad at me? Have I done anything worng? Why are you behaving distant" she asked him sadly
"Naa Anni" he said hugging her again and kissing her crown
"You have not done anything wrong. And I am not mad at you" he creased her hairs and breath a deep sigh out
"It's me. I am wrong" he sid and she looked at him with innocent eyes. And he closed his eyes shoving the thought of kissing her out of his mind
"I will explain you hmmm" he said
"Par abhi Alu has to go" he added
"Par I won't be able to sleep. Please" she said and snuggled to him
"Accha ok. I'll stay. But I'll sleep over there" Arav said pointing at the ground
"Kyu? Yahi so. I want to hug you and sleep" (Why? Sleep here.) she said
"Anni, meri jaan please listen to Alu na" he said and saw her face fall
"Avni" he said holding her face
"I... I..." he didn't know how to tell her. He didn't want to scare her
"Is it something I should not know?" she asked him and he looked at her
"But you want to tell me?" he nodded his head
"You will tell me?" she asked
"Yes" he said instantly
"When?" she asked him
"On your seventeenth birthday" he said
"One year, one month later?" she asked him a bit not liking it
"That's too long" she said making a pout
"Fine" she then said reluctant
"Am I not supposed to come near you till then" she asked him sadly and he pulled her close. He kissed her forehead
"Nahi. Par when I tell you sometimes not to touch me, not to come near me, not to hug me only those times" he told her
"Will you listen to me? Will you be patient with me?" he asked
"All my life I have been patient with you you diffuse" she said
"Fine but you promise to tell me on my seventh birthday" she said and he nodded saying promise
He got up made a pillow cacoon for her to snuggle to and left her room as she slept.
___________________________________________
Nandini felt Manik toss and turn and then she felt his warmth leave her. She was still in sleep but a bit awake but too much in sleep to stop him leave. She even thought it as a deam.
Next morning she got up early. She saw Manik missing. So she sat up. She looked around to gauge where he was. But not seeing any signs of him. She got up and started with her morning routine.
She got bath and ready. When she walked in the living room. She saw it was eight in the morning and Abhi in the kitchen. She smiled at him. He smiled back
"Bhai... Manik?" she asked
"I haven't seen him babydoll" he replied
Nandini left the kitchen. She saw Raj sitting and reading newspaper in garden table so she walked to the main door to go outside. That's when she saw him enter the house. He was still wearing the clothes from party. That's when it hit her. He left the house last night.
Before she approached him he left without meeting her eyes.
___________________________________________
Nandini was setting up the breakfast table with Cabir and Druv and Abhi was getting the breakfast when one by one the family arrived for breakfast. They were discussing about their departure Mumbai after the Breakfast. Though everyone tried to lighten the atmosphere it was thick and tensed.
Manik got down for the breakfast dressed in formal suit.
They were having breakfast when Navya spoke
"What's the boarding time again Muku?"
"11:15" Mukti said having her breakfast
"Nandini get your charger... You always forget..." Aliya said and Nandini nodded
"Nandini isn't coming with us" Manik's voice stopped everyone on the table
"Matlab?" (Means) Neyonika asked frowning
"She... She is going to stay with her parents for a while" he said looking at Neyonika and then he looked at Nandini. Now her eyes held anger.
"I won't..." she tried to protests
"I promised your Appa" Manik said and Avni's mouth opened in shocked. His father was doomed. She knew her mother. She is going to beat him. He is going to be half dead life a zombie
"Yoh what?!" Nandini asked in disbelief and all heads played table tennis swinging from Nandini to Manik to Nandini to Manik again and again
"I promised your Appa. You have to stay with them for few days" he said looking away
"Few days?" she asked
"Few days" she repeated
"Fine" she said and everyone knew now it was her stubbornness talking. But her reply made everyone especially the elders shocked. After the three years of seperation they never stayed apart ever. It was the first time Manik let her go alone to seminar after years when Avni had arrived. That to was two difficult for him but he had no other option. If Avni won't have arrived he was planning to board a train that night to get to Nandini. Manik couldn't leave without her they all knew and so it shocked them that he promised something like that to her father and Nandini's yes was a double shocker for everyone
"Fine" Nandini said and left the table
___________________________________________
Manik and walked in the room to see Nandini pack her stuff in a big suitcase.
Avni walked passed him with her bag and said "I am ready"
"Go tell Guru Bhaiyya to keep your bag in my car" Nandini said not sparing a glance to Manik
Avni again wheeled her bag pass Manik but before she left Manik asked "Where are you going?"
"I am going with Amma, to her house" Avni said grinning a wide grin. And Manik looked shocked. He looked at Nandini and Avni left laughing like a devil
Nandini didn't even looked at Manik and continued her packing.
Manik sighed and went to pick his bag but he felt it light. Suprised he picked it up and opend it. It was empty.
Roothi Ae Sabte Rabba
Manik opened the wardrobe and saw his clothes still hanging there. He sighed. She always packed for him before she packed for herself.
Rabba Dil Bhi Hai Rootha
He took all his clothes hanging on the hangers and dumped it in the suitcase
Sab Kuchh Hai Bikhra Bikhra
Nandini saw him doing that but didn't react
Bikhra Sa Rootha Rootha
Manik brought a few more clothes and dumped it in the suitcase.
Chup Maahi Chup Hai Ranjha
They kept packing their respective bags
Bole Kaise Ve Na Ja
Bole Kaise Ve Na Ja
Aaja Aaja
Nandini was packing her things nicely with proper folds and sections
Bole Kaise Ve Na Ja
Bole Kaise Ve Na Ja
Chup Maahi Chup Hai Ranjha
Aaja Aaja
Manik kept collecting his things from the room and kept dumping them in his suitcase.
They kept packing in silence.
Music
Everyone got out of the house with their bag as the car waited for them. Nandini got out of the house to see a driver getting her luggage out of her car. A small twinkle shone in her eyes. She looked at that driver
"Ma'am Sir aapko khud drop karenge" the driver said and Nandini's face fell. She turned and looked at Manik who was already looking at her.
Huffing she tried to drag all her luggage at once to her car.
Ve Mera Dola Ni Aaya Dola
Ve Mera Dola Ni Aaya Dola
Ve Mera Dola Ni Aaya Dola
Ve Mera Dola Ni Aaya Dola
Manik saw this and walked to her. He removed her hands from her luggage and dragged all hers nd Avni's luggage towards his car. Nandini kept looking at him hurt, angry and suprised. She looked at Neyonika who was also looking at Manik in surprise.
Oh Rabb Vi Khel Hai Khele
Roz Lagave Mele
Kehnda Kuch Na Badla
Jhooth Bole Har Velle
Manik opened his car boot and kept Nandini and Avni's luggage on by one. Mukti, Cabir, Abhi, Navya, Druv and Aliya looked at him with pained face. And the kids looked sad
Oh Rabb Vi Khel Hai Khele
Roz Lagave Mele
Kehnda Kuch Na Badla
Jhooth Bole Har Velle
From where Raj stood. He saw his son keep the last bag. Wipe his tears and close the boot door. Manik walked to the driver seat
Chup Maahi Chup Hai Ranjha
Bole Kaise Ve Na Ja
Bole Kaise Ve Na Ja
Aaja Aaja
Biding good bye to everyone. Nandini sat on the passanger seat and Avni sat on the back seat. Manik secured Nandini's seat belt. When he leaned she looked away not giving him a chance to steal a kiss.
Bole Kaise Ve Na Ja
Bole Kaise Ve Na Ja
Chup Maahi Chup Hai Ranjha
Aaja Aaja
All the other cars left and took a right turn out of the gate. Manik kept sitting and then when Avni called him. He started the car and took a left turn out of the gate.
Ni Main Rajj Rajj Hijar Manawa
Ni Main Khud Toh Russ Murjhawa
Ni Main Rajj Rajj Hijar Manawa
Ni Main Khud Toh Russ Murjhawa
Nandini stared at him the whole while but he didn't leave his eyes from the road. Avni felt the tension between her parents.
Kalli Bheed Ch Baithi
Teri Peed Le Baithi
Russeya Ranjha Ve Mera
Main Vi Kamm Na Aithi
Not seeing him spare her a glance and avoid her Nandini turned and looked out of the window. From the corner of the eyes he saw her glancing at her a few times. But this time she was avoiding him.
Kalli Bheed Ch Baithi, Baithi
Teri Peed Le Baithi, Baithi
Russeya Ranjha Ve Mera, Mera
Main Vi Kamm Na Aithi
Manik clearly saw she was angry. He was not trying to cry but he signed seeing her angry. He tried to hold her hand but she shove it out of his grip and scooted away from him in the passanger seat making his heart pained. Avni noticed all of it.
Chup Maahi Chup Hai Ranjha
Bole Kaise Ve Na Ja
Bole Kaise Ve Na Ja
Aaja Aaja
Manik stopped the car in front of a small one stored house.
"It's not their house. We didn't come here last time. It was another house" Avni said frowning
"Your Nanu, Nani and Rishab with Raghav uncle, Sharmishtha aunty and their kids stay here now" Manik mumbled removing his seat belt. He was going to remove Nandini's seat belt when he looked up and saw her eyes. They asked him "You really are going to leave us here and go?"
Bole Kaise Ve Na Ja
Bole Kaise Ve Na Ja
Chup Maahi Chup Hai Ranjha
Aaja Aaja
Manik looked away and blinked his eyes rapidly.
"Amma challo" Avni said
Manik turned back to remove her seat belt but Nandini herself unfastened it and unlocked the door saying "You leave. You'll miss your flight. We will go from here" she got out and slammed the door head making Manik flinch and angry. He hated when she ill treated his car. He saw some butlers come out to unload Nandini and Avni's luggage. As soon as it was done. Manik drove off in anger. Avni made a bad face seeing the car leave and Nandini gritted her teeth and turned to the house.
___________________________________________
Manik parked his car and entered the airport hurriedly checking in
"Kaha tha yaar. It almost time" Cabir said
"Sorry... Sorry" Manik said hugging him. He broke his hug and hugged his parents and then Mukti followed by others.
"Call me once you people reach" he said to his mother.
"Khamaka bacchi ko rula raha hai. Yahi rukna hai toh uss ke saath unn ke ghar ruk jata" Neyonika said
"Nahi Mom yaar. Her parents are traditional. However I try they won't be comfortable and act all formal around me. I want Nandini to spend time with them as their daughter" he said
"Kam se kam usse bata de that you are staying back here in Banglore" Neyonika said but he just shoke his head. Neyonika slapped him lightly
"Jor se maro Mom" (Hit him hard Mom) Mukti said and hit Manik "You better make my bestfriend smile mister"
"Do you forget I am your brother. Like we are related by blood. Same parents" Manik said rubbing where she hit
And before they start to fight Cabir pulls Mukti with him telling everyone they are getting late.
He bids by to Manik and everyone leaves to board the flight.
Manik sees them leave and sighs. These are going to be some really long, lonely days alone.