Manik's car was parked in front of the door. Manik was about to enter inside his car but Police jeep entered inside the area. Manik was confused seeing police in his office. Police officers got down from their jeep. They came towards Manik.
Manik:- Any problem Officer?
Officer:- Sorry to disturb you Mr. Malhotra you have to come with us.
Manik was more confused.
Manik:- But why? What have I done?
Officer:- Mr. Malhotra Mr. Murty filled a case against you.
Manik:- But why?
Officer:- Mr. Malhotra Miss Murty is missing from yesterday. Murty family have a doubt you are behind this. You have to come with us.
Manik was shocked.
Manik:- Nandini is missing!
Officer:- Mr. Malhotra you have to come with us. We don't have whole day.
Vikram came there literally running.
Vikram:- What happened officer? Why are you taking my son away?
Manik took a deep breath. He need to handle both situation wisely. One side he couldn't lose the project on the other side Nandini was missing. He needed to clam himself first otherwise he would lost his mind and run from there to find Nandini.
Manik:- Dad Nandini is missing. They want me too come with them.
Vikram:- If she is missing then why they are taking you?
Officer:- Mr. Malhotra please just cooperate with us. It will be good for your image.
Manik:- Officer give me just 5 minutes.
Manik:- Dad, Murty's filed a case against me.
Vikram was fuming in anger.
Vikram:- How dare they?
Manik:- Dad keep clam now. Suraj?
Manik's assistant came forward.
Suraj:- Yes sir.
Manik:- I am giving you all the responsibility of this project now. You will submit it. Dad go with him. If situation go out of hand you have it handle it now. Chill nothing will happen to me. They will just ask me some questions. Call Cabir he will handle everything. Please anyhow you have to get the project for me. Please dad.
Vikram nodded his head.
Vikram:- OK son. Don't worry I handle everything.
Manik:- OK..
Manik turned towards the officer.
Manik:- I am ready to go. Can I follow you in my car?
Officer:- No Mr Malhotra you have to come with us in our jeep.
Manik felt little bit humiliated. Vikram was hell angry.
Vikram:- How.....
Manik:- Dad it's OK.. Let's go officer.
Manik went with them. Vikram was gritting his teeth in anger.
Vikram:- Murty you are crossing your limit now.
Manik was sitting in front of the police officer.
Officer:- Mr Malhotra where were you yesterday from morning to night.
Manik was trying his best to keep his mind clean. Because he knew the conversation would not go smoothly.
Manik:- I was in my office officer.
Officer:- Till the late night?
To distract himself the started playing with paperweight in front of him.
Manik:- Yes my team was working in a project. I didn't left my office yesterday. Infact I slept in office only.
Officer:- Is someone there with you to prove it?
Manik looked at him and gave him a tight smile.
Manik:- My teammates and there is a lot of CCTV camera in my office you can cheak out the footage also.
Police officer looked at constable who was standing beside him and nodded his head. Constable left from there. Cabir and Dhruv entered inside the police station. They stood behind Manik. Officer was little bit confused.
Officer:- You are?
Cabir:- We are his best friend.
Manik looked at them. Cabir kept his hand on Manik's should and bendown towards Manik.
Cabir(Whisper) :- Don't worry Uncle is talking to lawyer. Project meeting is still going on. Everything is under control.
Manik just nodded his head.
Manik:- You were asking questions officer.
Officer:- Yeah So Mr Malhotra what is the relationship you have with Miss Murty?
Manik:- She is my girlfriend.
Manik said it very casually.
Officer:- But isn't she already engaged with Mr. Samrat Rajput?
Manik looked at the officer and put down the paperweight.
Manik:- Yes she is.
Officer:- But it's it valid to have relationship with an engaged woman?
Manik's eyes lift fire.
Manik(cold tone):- Don't interfere in my personal life. Whom should I be it's my problem I believe and I don't like an outsider commenting on it.
Officer a small smile.
Officer:- I apologise Mr Malhotra but you need to answer my question it's a part of investigation.
Manik:- Cut the crap OK She is my girl. So what she is engaged to someone.
Officer:- Mr Malhotra please cooperate with us. It will be good for you.
Cabir patted Manik's shoulder. Manik calmed down.
Officer:- So Mr Malhotra do really Miss Murty loves you?
Manik raised his one eyebrow.
Manik:- What do you mean?
Officer cleared his throat.
Officer:- I mean she is not present here. So we can't tell you are telling me truth or not.
Manik kept his calm.
Manik:- She loves me more then you can imagine and why the hell you are wasting your time on me Nandini is missing out there but you are talking on action for it.
Officer:- We are processing on it. So when the last time you meet Miss Murty?
Manik:- It's more than 7 days. If you want you can cheak my phone.
Manik took out his phone from his pocket and toss it to Police officer. The officer took it.
Officer:- OK Mr Malhotra thank you for cooperating with us.
The officer left from there. Cabir pulled a chair and sat on it.
Cabir:- How this happened? Where is Nandini?
Manik pressed his head with his hand.
Manik:- I don't know. I didn't talk to her like a week. Where she can be?
Cabir:- Don't worry Navya, Mukti was Alia trying their best to use their contracts and find her.
Manik:- I just hope she is alright and Samrat is not behind all this.
Cabir:- I already send someone to keep an eye on him. If he behind Nandini's missing he will get caught.
Manik pushed his head back.
Manik:- Ahh!! I need to get out here and find her.
Dhruv:- Uncle will be here after the project meeting.
Manik just closed his eyes. Police was investigating everything thing about Manik. They investigation all the prove. All of those showing Manik was innocent. Indeed he was telling the truth. Manik's dad came with lawyer.
Vikram:- Manik!
Manik got up from the sit and came to him.
Manik:- Dad, how was the project?
Vikram:- It was good. They didn't announce the result yet. They need some times. Mr. Shah was quite happy with your project but looking at the situation he want to think about it.
Manik was restless.
Manik:- I didn't do anything dad. I love her. How can I Kidnapped her! I was in the office whole time.
Vikram kept his hand on Manik's shoulder.
Vikram:- I know my son. That Murty is too much. I must teach him a lesson. Your mom was so tensed.
Manik:- Dad any idea where is Nandini?
Vikram:- Still thinking about her? You know Veebha was so worried for you.
Manik rolled his eyes.
Manik:- I don't give a f**k about it.
Vikram eyed him angrily.
Vikram:- Language Manik!
Police officer entered inside the room.
Vikram:- Officer here is our lawyer and we have a bell permission from court.
Officer:- That's not indeed Mr. Malhotra. Every evidence we received all are on Mr. Malhotra's side. So we can't arrest him. He can take his leave.
Vikram was very much happy with the information.
Vikram:- Thank you so much officer.
All shook their hand with each other. All came out of the room and was about to left Murty's entered inside police station. Murty's was taken aback seeing Manik free.
Yeash:- Why he is not behind the bar yet officer?
Vikram rolled his eyes.
Vikram:- Because my son is innocent. All the prove is in front of them. He was not involved in your daughter missing case.
But Yeash didn't want to believe it.
Yeash:- Then why my daughter is not home yet.
Vikram:- How would I know?
Police officer came running there.
Officer:- Mr Murty Mr Malhotra is totally innocent here. We have all evidence. He is not involved. We tracked Miss Murty's phone. Her phone's last location was in her hospital parking area. Her car was also there. The CCTV of parking area was not working so we are investigating more in it.
Yeash:- I don't know anything I know he took My daughter. I want him behind the bars.
Vikram had enough.
Vikram:- Aren't you becoming childish day by day?
Yeash gave him a deadly stare. Manik stepped between to stop them.
Manik:- OK clam down. If my father in law is happy to see me behind the bars then I will gladly fulfil his wish.
Everyone was shocked including the police officer.
Vikram:- What are you saying Manik?
Yeash:- I am not anyone's father in law.
Manik gave a cheeky smile.
Manik:- Not now but who saw the future.
Arya:- Trying to act innocent. Are you?
Manik smiled.
Manik:- What can I say brother in law I am innocent here.
Arya come forward and held Manik's coller tightly.
Arya:- Listen Malhotra don't try to act smart in front of me. I know this is all your cheap tricks to marry Nandini.
Manik just gave a smile.
Manik:- I can marry your sister any time I want to. But I want all of you to attend our wedding whole haertly and brother in law I am not acting smart. I am already smart.
Manik had a smirk on his face. Police officer came forward to separate Manik from Arya's hold.
Office:- This is police station not a fighting ring. Behave yourself.
Manik eyed all Murty's.
Manik:- Officer I want to stay here until Nandini is found.
Second shock for everyone.
Vikram:- Manik!
Manik:- No dad I will not leave the police station until I prove my innocent to my in laws.
Yeash:- You can never proof it. Let's go.
Yeash left from there. Arya went behind him. Abhi came forward.
Abhi:- Don't worry we are here to find Nandini. She will be home soon.
Manik just nodded his head. Abhi left from there. Manik turned towards Vikram.
Manik:- Dad!
Vikram:- I will talk to you home only.
Vikram left from there with the lawyer.
Manik(Officer):- Where is the cells by the way? And make my one little bit clear. I have allergies to dust.
Officer didn't know what to say he just nodded his head and left from there. Cabir was cheaking Manik's forehead. Manik was irritated.
Manik:- What are you doing?
Cabir:- Are serious Manik? Did you have a bucketlist to stay in prison?
Manik:- No but if I go out and Nandini came back or found they will still have their doubt on me. So I want to stay here and you both should find Nandini. Understand?
Cabir and Dhruv both saluted him.
Cabir & Dhruv :- Yes boss.
Manik:- Go now and I want a positive news.
Cabir and Dhruv left from there. Manik yawned.
Manik:- Need some sleep.
A constable came to take Manik to cell. Manik left from there. It's late night like 11 pm. Murty's were still worried about Nandini. It's two days but there was no news about Nandini. Nandita was shedding tears nonstop. Her one and only daughter was missing.
Arya:- Why don't police beat Manik and make him talk out the truth.
Abhi:- Arya don't forget Malhotra is a big name in the society. They can't beat him like other criminals.
Arya was fuming in anger.
Arya:- If they can't I will.
Abhi:- Shut up Arya for our sake Manik is behind the bars now. He was totally innocent but still he is in lockup.
Arya:- He deserve it.
Yeash was pressing his aching forehead.
Yeash:- Will you guys stop it?
Nandini entered inside her house. She was confused seeing everyone was in the leaving room and Abhi & Arya was arguing.
Nandini:- What going on?
All eyes turned towards her.
Nandita:- Nandini!
Nandita run towards Nandini and hugged her tightly. She started crying. Nandini was totally confused. Yeash, Arya and Abhi also came to Nandini.
That's for today. So Nandini is back. But where was she? Was she really Kidnapped? Do share your viewers by comments please.
Only 2 chapters and Epilogue left. Are you guys ready for it?
Love
Asha