Shit! What has she done?!

She almost kissed Manik Malhotra.

The Father of her Boyfriend.

What if Dhruv gets to know about it?

Nandini was almost about to have a full blown panic attack. After running away from Mr. Malhotra she got ready for bed and was trying to sleep in the guest bedroom of the enormous Malhotra Mansion. She didn't want to sleep in Dhruv's room, it would make her feel guiltier. Whenever she tried to close her eyes, Mr. Malhotra's intense stare with his chocolate brown orbs made it more difficult for her heart to calm down. She was completely whipped by that man, the same man who was her boyfriend's father.

No matter how bad she tried convincing herself that this was nothing more than a silly teenage crush. She knew this was more. She grew up to like this freaking man so much that it hurts not being with him, instead of being under the same roof with him.

They were together yet apart.

Close yet distant.

In love yet in denial.

Even those traitor tears which flew past her cheeks reminded her of him. It was like her own parts won't let her ever forget him. They seem to call out for him.

The eve of Nandini's 17th birthday was nothing but a nightmare for her. After getting to know about her grandfather's demise she felt as if her heart was ripped out of her. She wanted to scream and cry to god for taking away her only source of happiness she ever received as family but she couldn't. She felt numb and shattered.

For making the day even worse, Dhruv tried to initiate a kiss which resulted in her pushing him away brutally. Dhruv didn't take the bruise to his ego well and left her all alone in an abandoned street. She didn't even plead she wanted to be alone.

But as soon as the dawn sat in, she started being aware of her surroundings around the petty bus stop she sat. It was raining heavily now, the water droplets falling on her swollen face was a reminder to her current condition. She hissed as she got up, her legs felt numb and shaky. As she turned to leave few wolf whistles made its way to her ears. Nandini was scared now. She knew absolutely nothing about the place she was in right now. Neither did she have anyone to call, her parents were out of town as usual and Mukti was sick.

She glanced behind her to see two drunk boys following her, they were in a rugged motorbike. She turned around and started to walk as fast as she can, trying to act as if she didn't even notice them. She quickly dialed Dhruv's number, she can think about their fight later. Now the matter was of her safety. The cell kept ringing but there was no answer, she tried again but still there was no answer. She grew terrified when she heard those boys blowing their bike's horn continuously just behind her. She tried once again, as soon as she thought all her hopes had died. The call was suddenly received and a manly deep voice boomed towards the receivers end, "Yes?"

Nandini gasped in relief. "Mr. Malhotra, please help-"she cried, when the phone was ripped out from her petite hands. She screamed when she saw her phone was thrown mercilessly far away from her line of vision. The two creeps laughed hysterically at her terrified face.

The dripping rain drops made her wrap around white dress almost see-through. Those dirty lingering gaze on her body made her feel nauseating.

She was quick enough to cover herself with her bag and walk away from them faster along the footpath. Those drunkards still followed her. Catcalling her which she couldn't hear due to the rain. She couldn't have been more thankful for that.

They reached near her again and one of the boys held her hand tightly dragging her towards them as they were seated on the bike. The evil smirk on their faces made them to look more terrifying for the poor girl.

A flash of light was thrown towards her face, when she looked to see a car approaching their direction. And just in a flash of second the boys who were just sitting on the motorbike beside her, were laying on the ground in a pool of their own blood.

Nandini screamed loudly when she saw the car running over the boys on the ground. She was sure they were no more alive. She shrieked trying to find her voice.

Someone just murdered them in front of her. She just witnessed a murder.

What she saw next snatched the ground from her feet. She saw the same man whom she was in absolute admiration with walk towards her with his jaws clenched.

Nandini shook her head, tears running down her face when she tried to move away from his reach.

"NANDINI! STOP RIGHT THERE" Mr. Malhotra's threatening voice made her more horrified.

"No" She screamed.

"Take a fucking step! I dare you." He hissed grabbing her arms in his strong hold.

"Leave ME! You- you fucking killed them!" she cried, the tears getting mixed up with the rain. She shook under his embrace. Beating his shoulders with her fists.

"Hey! Hey, it's alright. Look at me" his gentle hold on her tear clad face, made her feel so vulnerable. She felt safe in his arms, the same arms who just murdered people.

She felt safe in the hands of a murderer.

Nandini kept her head on his buff chest, feeling herself sink into blackness she murmured only for him to hear, "Please don't leave me."

"Never" he promised.

Nandini sobbed loudly thinking of the incident. She never brought it up ever again, she was absolutely terrified of it. She never even thought about confronting Mr. Malhotra about it.

But no matter what he did, she can never hate him. Did that make her a bad person? To love someone this flawed? Maybe but was that enough to stop her? No.

He killed for her. He was nothing but an angel to her.

Her angel with devil wings.

A knock in her room door made her get up slowly from her bed. She was nervous, what did Mr. Malhotra want from her, this late. There was no one else at the mansion now.

She peeked after unlocking the door slightly, to witness those intense pool of chocolate brown eyes burning into her. She widened her eyes, which seemed to amuse Manik, his lips spread into a little smirk, the smirk that made women drop their panties at the speed of light.

He pointed her to look at the phone in his gorgeously attractive hands. She looked back at him confused and then proceeded to take the phone out of his hands, causing her stomach to burst in butterflies when the periphery of their fingers brushed.

She looked up to see him leaning against the door frame, carrying that sinful smirk his eyes never leaving her frame. Nandini gasped and blushed simultaneously when she saw that he was shirtless, his muscular torso made her mind filled with unholy thoughts, and those grey sweatpants literally took her breath away. His smirk widened even more when he saw her look at him like that.

Nandini saw the phone to see that Dhruv was in line, which caused her flushed face to pale away, Manik's clenched fist made sure that he also noted the change.

"Hello, Dhruv?" she answered fidgeting with her pajama bottoms. Manik's gaze only darkened when he saw her from top to bottom. She couldn't help but squirm under his intimidating presence.

"Alright!" she agreed to what Dhruv had mentioned, and suddenly grew nervous her gaze flickering to Manik's.

"I Love you too" she murmured, looking deep into his eyes.

Manik Malhotra had never felt weak in his knees ever.

But the moment the petite girl before him muttered those words looking into his eyes, he felt weak.

Because he knew it wasn't for his son.

It was for him.

him