"Hello sir" Varun said picking up Harshad's call.
"Varun. Mein aadhe ghante mein pohonch raha hoon, we are going to move her to somewhere else. Tab tak be careful. And don't let her know that we are going to change the place" he said.
"Where are you going to take her sir?" Varun asked.
"That is none of your business, the moment we move her from there your job is done. Your flight ticket is booked for this afternoon, so pack your bags and leave without making a fuss. You get that?" Harshad asked.
"Yes sir" he said and disconnected the call.
He goes to check on her and sees her staring out through the window with sad eyes.
"Nandini" he calls out for her.
"Get out if it's for food because I am not hungry" she said without even looking at him.
"Are you mad at me?" he asked.
"Of ocurse I am, but that doesn't make any difference to you right, you are just trying to do your job as you said last night" she said.
"Listen Nandini" he was trying to speak when she interrupts him.
"You know what Varun, do whatever you want, My Manik is going to come to take me away. I have been through this once already, my own Maama plotted against me. He tried to do the same, kidnapped me, gave me poison, tried to move me away from the country...but in the end, he couldn't" she was speaking while he was lost in thought listening to her.
"And then again, he planned something similar. My own grandfather, he went against me, my choice, my friends and tried to harm Manik. he hired someone to shoot Manik, but then, one of my other friends Deepika, she came in between and took the bullet. Just as for you, even for him, money is everything. All greedy dogs! It was my mumma pappa's saving, he didn't have the right on even a single penny, but still just to make his life easier, he stoop down so low. And then there is Manik's chacha ji. Same type. Manik put him in jail and god knows how he got out and is planning the same thing again. And then you, who doesn't know anything about our lives, our love, the way we value our friends, again in greed accepted to this offer. Didn't you find this wrong atleast for a moment before doing this? Not even once? Imagine the same thing happening to someone from your family. If you had a sister, if she trusted someone who helped her, and he turns to be the new villain in his life. What would you go through? Would you even be able to breathe for a while?" she asked him directly and then he started to contemplate.
"I can't even imagine what my family must be going through right now. Manik must have been searching me all night and it's been two nights already. Kuch khaaya piya nai hoga aur upar se use chot bhi lagi hain he must not have gone to the hospital. Wohh theek toh hoga na Varun?" she starts crying again.
He couldn't utter a single word. He always saw the pretty innocent and ever so charming girl in her, but today he saw what the real Nandini was, how much she loved Manik, how much she loved the people around her. He was feeling guilty for what he did.
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Varun
What is she? I never expected her to react that way. She was questioning my morals, my integrity. When she asked me what I would go through if the same thing happened to someone from my family, I got jitters.
I couldn't stay there even for a second, seeing her cry.
If my parents come to know about this stupid deal I agreed to for coming here to the States, they will never forgive me. my mom is going to ask me the same question Nandini did.
I must save her.
But Harshad sir is going to be here soon. he will never spare for me doing this.
Come on Varun think! Are you sure you want to save her? do you think Manik will spare you?
Well for sure he won't. But atleast he will try to listen to me. and on top of that, Nandini can get back to her safe place. I can do this much for someone I liked. It's okay even if Manik breaks my legs or hands or whatever.
I looked at the time. I still have 10 minutes to get her out of here. still I wanted to make sure Harshad was still not close. So I called him up.
"Kya hain?" he asked picking up.
"Kaha tak pohonche hain sir?" I asked.
"10 minute aur, kyun?" he asked.
Kyun? Kyun? Kyun? Kya boloon? Soch Varun soch!
"Kuch nai sir, Nandini ko restroom use karna tha, toh mujhe laga aap se pooch loon if I could untie her or wait until you come" I asked. Lame!
"Go ahead, I don't want to wait even for a minute after I come. Aur tub hi apne saare bags uthaake rakh. We are going to part ways from here" he said.
"Sure sir" I said and hung up.
10 minutes? Just 10 minutes? Hurry up Varun.
I went back to her room, and she was laying down her eyes closed.
Her hands and legs were bruised from the ropes and there was also a small cut on her left ankle that bled last night. It must be hurting her badly.
"Nandini" I called out.
"What?" she asked.
"I am sorry" I said.
"For what?" she asked.
"For doing this to you. I cant believe I could be so pathetic. You are so right about everything you said. I was just being a greedy dog. But not anymore" I said. and she opened her eyes the next moment.
"Are you letting me go?" she asked. the spark in her eyes, the vintage Nandini spark was back.
I nodded my head in yes with a smile.
"Thankyou! I knew you were a sweetheart" she said, "Untie these" she said showing her hands.
I gently untied them, and it hurt me seeing those bruises on her wrists and ankles.
"I am really sorry. do they hurt?" I asked.
"Not anymore" she said.
I gave her a band aid, and asked to put it over the small cut on her ankle.
She did.
"But what about Harshad?" she asked.
"He will be here in 5 more minutes, we need to rush. Let's move out and then contact Manik." I said.
"What about you? Harshad will not spare you" she said.
"I will deal with it. Let me say you kicked my butt and ran off" I said. She smiled. That beautiful smile. Lucky You Manik! to get to see her for your entire life.
"Manik will help you. don't worry" she said.
The place we were was just a small house in a deserted area.
We got out of the house, and ran across the road, only to see Harshad's car coming.
Hiding behind the tree we saw him going in and the next moment, ran off from there, literally for our lives.
We were about 200 miles away from Madison and it will take them at least 3 hours to reach.
"Talk to him" I said told giving her phone which was with me, turned off until now.
"To Harshad?" she asked. Dumb!
"Manik" I said. she looked for the number, found it and dialed it.
Fingers crossed. I hope he picks up.
--------------
"Hello Manik" she said.
And on the other side Manik's heart started racing.
"Princess? Is that you?" he asked.
"Manik, I love you" she said and the huge smile was back on her face.
"Where are you? Is Varun with you? You are okay right? Tum theek ho na beta? Tell me everything" he said.
"Manik mein theek hoon, just got into a cab, See me at the city hospital" she said.
"Hospital? Par kyun? Baby hua kya hain? You are scaring me" he said.
"Manik kuch nai hua hain, just be there at the hospital, mein bhi aa rahi hoon" she said and disconnected the call.
"Guys Nandini kaa phone tha, wohh theek hain, memorial hospital mein milne ke liye kahau usne, Cabir wohh theek hain, wohh theek hain" he said hugging Cabir tight.
They both start crying, just like little kids.
"Why are they crying? What's it?" William was curios, so was Matt.
"Why are they crying? Is that about butterfly? Is she alright?" William asked Navya who was standing next to him.
"It was Nandu's call. She is fine, and asked us to meet her at the memorial hospital. Will, she is alright" Navya said wiping her tears.
"Manik, what are you waiting for? Let's go. It's going to take us an hour to go there. we need to rush" Matt said after hearing what Navya says.
The two buddies get back to senses. Manik takes his keys and proceeds to the hospital with Cabir, William and Matt. The rest stay at home.
----------------------
"Thank God we found a cab" Varun says as they start toward the hospital.
"Where is your phone?" Nandini asks him.
"I left it in that house, I don't need it anymore, moreover I don't want him to track me down. yeh baat acchhi hain ki he doesn't know your number, so he cannot locate us, atleast I hope he won't. Ab tak toh poora ka poora paagal ho gaya hogaa dhoond dhoond ke" Varun said.
"Thankyou Varun. Thankyou very much" Nandini said after listening to him.
"Please don't thank me, just say that you are kind enough to forgive me even after all this shit" he said.
"Of course, I will. You saved me for the second time, if you realize" she said.
"I do! Proud of you Varun" he said patting his own back.
On their way Manik again calls her.
"How could you disconnect the call just like that? Mein kuch pooch raha tha na" he said once she picked up his call.
"Manik, there's no battery in my phone. I will see you exactly in one hour sab kuch bathaaoongi, now please calm down sweetheart. I am totally alright" she said.
"Talk to me until your phone dies" he said.
"Okay sir did you start for the hospital?" she asked.
"Yes I am on the way. Cabir, Matt and Will are driving along" he said.
"Great" she said.
"Wohh Varun bhi hain tumhaare saath? I am going to kill him, for what he has done" he said.
"Manik meri baat suno" she was speaking when her phone already drained out of battery.
"How long is it going to take us to reach the hospital?" she asked th edriver.
"30 more minutes" he replied.
"Could you drive any faster?" she asked.
"I am afraid I would overspeed" he said.
Those 30 minutes for her, and the one hour for him seemed like forever.
Manik and the boys already reached the hospital and were waiting for her to come.
And finally, there she was, limping, with Varun holding her hand helping her walk.
Manik's heart was broken to see her in such a condition.
She was in the same outfit for two days, her face was pale, eyes swollen. All these, he noticed from far off.
Once she came closer, Varun left her hand, and she immediately fell in Manik's arms.
Back to peace.
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