A/N: Hello dear readers! We are back with another much awaited chapter of the fiction, and might I say, this is the chapter most of you have been waiting for; it is a glimpse into Nandini Murthy 2.O! I hope you like what you read & do let me know your thoughts like always!

On that note, happy reading!

***

Nandini was sipping her morning earl grey sitting in the little porch the guest house had. It was a bright morning, without a trace of cloud in the sky. She let out a relaxed breath in ages as she inhaled the fresh early morning air & spent a moment in blissful respite.

"You seem to be doing so much better, Nandu.." she turned to look at Smaran peering at her over the newspaper he was scheming through from the chair next to her. It was their daily routine for the last few days; having their morning tea and breakfast together. Smaran would visit her in the morning, chat with her & share the tea & breakfast & then leave for work. This ensured he knew how she was doing and what her mood was for the rest of the day & she, well his presence took her to a time in Mangalore that was peaceful and Manik free, it was her blind spot of bliss everyday.

"Of course, I am not acting or playing a story 24X7 nowadays, I am not faking anything, so there's no worry of being caught, I am getting a chance to be me, myself for a bit, how can I not thrive?" Nandini asked, in a relaxed voice, looking at Smaran.

"True that, but err..I just felt maybe the scar your ex-hus.." Smaran mumbled looking down awkwardly, but Nandini stopped him there.

"Oh you mean the protagonist of the script? Well he was acting too, wasn't he? Why should I take anything personally? Nothing was personal really.." Nandini replied in a matter of fact voice. Smaran looked at Nandini, she was looking perfectly normal, without a strain in her voice or expression. He sighed, this was not normal. Smaran could always tell, even before all this happened, while she worked for him previously that no matter what, she loved that Manik Malhotra. This denial was not normal, he worried she was suppressing everything and when it would explode, she would be in a bad place. However, what could he do about it, other than silently supporting his friend?

"Well, at least Manik Malhotra's press address wasn't as bad as we expected. He didn't attack you & in fact requested your privacy too. That's the least he could do.." Smaran tried again, to get a reaction out of Nandini.

"Aah, that was one smart PR save! Must be Zubin's idea, Navya isn't a pro at this as yet." Nandini praised with a smirk.

"PR move? I mean wouldn't a PR move want the scandal to stay, because it is giving him positive publicity? How is dousing it going to help them?" Smaran asked, confused. Nandini smiled indulgently, seeing her naive friend's confusion. They really didn't know this game did they?

"Smaran, if Manik Malhotra didn't try dousing it, it would still die automatically in another week, how would that help him? By addressing it head on, first he gave more authentic content for the media to bite for longer & secondly, it helped in his brand image building as well! Look at him, despite all the shit his partner put him through, he is fighting for her privacy? He is still lamenting for a baby which he now knows is not his. Isn't that the ideal heroic image we know? He is playing a larger game, he doesn't just want to play the hero on the silver screen anymore, he wants to be a real life hero for his fans! Can you imagine how much his brand value will increase now with this whole ambassador for humanity move?" Nandini explained patiently to a shocked Smaran.

"Also, Navya says, his PR was not involved in this speech at all, Manik Malhotra has scripted this himself.." Smaran added.

"..I am not surprised, you cannot delegate everything. This was an important power move, of course he wanted to take charge" Nandini responded nonchalantly.

"Nandini, how do you really feel about all this?" Smaran tried again, it felt uncanny that she didn't react to any of this insanity anymore. He himself was scandalised when he had picked Nandini up from that Panvel farmhouse, and she had told him her entire journey with Manik since she last left Mangalore; not the journey the press showed, the real, dark & agonising one.

"I feel nothing, Smaran." she replied, with a straight face.

"Nandu, that's not healthy..you.." Smaran barely began, but Nandini stopped him again.

"I don't have time to feel, Smaran. I have loads to do. I have rested enough, now I need to begin working." Nandini continued, with a calm voice. Smaran nodded. Maybe it was best to let her heal the way she felt comfortable?

"Yes Nandu, about that. I have spoken to a few friends, one has a startup, the profile is that of a clothing brand's e-commerce platform manager, I have spoken to the guy, he is more than willing to take you in and train you into it. Just that, the starting salary isn't going to be through the roof. Hey but that's okay right, the moment he sees how hardworking you are, a raise isn't a big deal!" Smaran chanted enthusiastically.

Nandini smiled at Smaran, but it wasn't an enthusiastic one. Smaran frowned. "Thanks Smaran, and I will definitely need a job like that at some point, it's just that, I don't need it now. I have a bigger job to take over and look after, and that begins today. In fact I am meeting someone today to discuss a way forward, you are welcome to stay back if you'd like."

"What job?" Smaran asked, perplexed. Nandini looked like a woman on a mission.

"The job of finding Abhimanyu's killer." Nandini replied with a sigh, and Smaran almost choked on his own tea hearing that! "..and I am meeting Mukti Arora here for lunch today." she added with a small smile. A genuine one this time.

"Nandu, are you fucking crazy? You want to get involved in the dirt of showbiz again?!" Smaran sounded alarmed.

"They killed my brother, my guardian, my only family & then de-famed his character grotesquely. What do you expect me to do, Smaran? Sit here & hide?" snapped Nandini this time; for the first time a trace of emotion showed in her. As much as Smaran wanted to put some sense into this hurt, humiliated, woman, he knew he had to let her do this, maybe this was her road to healing too?

"Okay, calm down. We will do this too. Who is Mukti Arora, now?" Smaran asked, and Nandini smiled a little before telling him the love story of Abhimanyu & Mukti, the one that ended brutally, thanks to a killer who is still out on the loose.

***

"Thank you for coming down to meet me, Mukti" Nandini whispered, as she engulfed Mukti in a tight hug, as she walked in through her garden with a happy smile plastered on her face. Mukti's eyes looked tired, and she had lost weight for sure. There was an aura of melancholy around her, yet she seemed happy for once, seeing Nandini greet her so warmly. As they released each other from the hug, and looked at each other's eyes. There was a film of tears smeared in both women's eyes, but they were determined to not shed it today. Today was the beginning, they silently promised to shed these the day they brought justice to Abhimanyu Thakkar, a very important man in both their lives.

"I am so sorry, for whatever rubbish I said to you on the day of Abhi's.." Mukti's voice trailed off and Nandini waved it off with the gesture of her hand, pulling her into her home.

"I know Mukti, you were in a bad place. The shock, the hurt, I cannot even imagine.." Nandini whispered, after they were seated on her couch in the living room.

"I think you can imagine, Nandini. After the smear campaign against Abhi & you, I can imagine it couldn't have been easy" Mukti replied, supportively.

"I thought you hated me after reading those. I mean you were in a vulnerable spot, and after reading that shit.." Nandini voiced her concerns.

"..the only silver lining to that smear campaign is, with one glance at it, I knew it was rubbish, and someone was framing you using Abhi's fall. I realised, Abhi's fall could be due to someone who wanted to harm you, and that's when I knew for sure, you are not the cause for what happened, you were as much a victim, Nandini. I am so sorry for not being around to support you when all these happened. Abhi would never forgive me." Mukti's voice cracked at the end.

Nandini controlled her feelings, no she wouldn't break again, not before seeking justice for Abhimanyu anyway, "It's not about me, Mukti, it is about how the world has wronged Abhimanyu. I called you because I knew that would be a cause you'll be happy to join me in, despite our difference if you chose to harbour any, still; you'd join me because you loved Abhi much more than me, and you'd do anything to get him to justice. I know I can count on you with it." Nandini whispered, and both women nodded, as an unbreakable alliance forged between them. Wherever Abhimanyu was watching them from today, he was at peace seeing these two women unite.

"What's the plan Nandini, do you have a plan in mind?" Mukti asked, after exchanging a few more pleasantries.

"I will need to talk to the ICO (Investigative Case Officer) once to hear the progress on the case. Then only we will get a sense of direction, it seems like Soha has a hand in this.." Nandini began, but Mukti looked irked.

"Nandini, I don't know how to say this, but let's just say the whole private investigation & the cops filing a complaint act was compromised. I don't think you know this, but Manik has closed this case." Mukti bent her head down in disappointment, She had thought Manik was her friend. How could he do this to her?

"What?" shock was evident in Nandini's voice, but she recovered very fast. "Why am I even surprised..." she murmured. Then she looked at Mukti with cold defiant eyes, "Do you think the Malhotra's did this? This was the plan all along? Why else would Manik Malhotra close this case, the moment I step out of his life?"

"I don't know Nandini. It all points towards that, but what would the Malhotra's gain out of murdering Abhi? If you were the target to remove, wouldn't it be easier to just kill you? Why complicate life? Honestly, Soha seems to have as much motive, but then why do you think Manik would close the case? It's not like he is trying to save Soha!" Mukti pondered, aloud.

"I think Manik closed the case because he doesn't care enough about Abhimanyu or his death. The investigation was a part of the charade to keep me going. Now that my work is done, what's the point of continuing the case?" Nandini answered coldly. Somehow, it seemed like a more probable option than accepting the fact that Manik Malhotra could have killed Abhimanyu in cold blood. No, she wasn't defending him, but did it seem probable, though?

"Nandini, at this point it seems like, Manik knows more about the murder than both of us, so whatever we do, we cannot shun Manik out of our lives. We need to be around him, keeping an eye on him, as much as the sight of that pathetic man gives us sore eyes." Mukti concluded.

"We will then have to go back to Mumbai again, Mukti and it's about time I face it all head on." Nandini replied, after pondering over Mukti's words.

"Nandini, are you sure? The press will shred you." Mukti sounded worried.

"They will shred her, only if she goes there without a plan. However, this time, she will go there with a plan, and we will help her with it." came Smaran's voice from behind, as Mukti glanced at him. Nandini quickly introduced him to her, and they shook hands.

"What plan is that?" Mukti asked curiously.

Nandini smirked, "Have you heard of the phrase, when people throw bricks at you, you can either run from it or build your own house with it?" she asked Mukti testily.

"That's a weird one, no I haven't heard of it." Mukti mumbled as Nandini giggled. "Yeah, that's because I just made it!"

"What's the plan, Nandini?" Mukti asked, in excitement.

"It's time for Take 2. It's time I come before the cameras as Nandini Murthy, not as Manik Malhotra's partner." she replied, with determination.

"Meaning?" This time it was Smaran, sounding scandalised. Nandini had told her she planned to go back to Mumbai, but this way!?

"I will take up on Aryamann Khanna's movie offer." she replied coldly, making both Mukti and Smaran gasp.

"Nandini, that movie already has locked a new heroine." replied Mukti, after recollecting something.

"Leave that to me." Nandini replied, with confidence.

"..but Nandini, after the image vilification you had, I seriously doubt any banner would give you a lead role..and getting a role in a Manik Malhotra movie is out of question obviously.." added Smaran, as Mukti nodded her head vigorously in support.

"Leave that to me, too." Nandini added without an iota of doubt in her voice. Both Mukti and Smaran nodded.

"How do we start?" Mukti asked, after some time.

"First I need to meet Aryamann Khanna. It's time I revive that friendship." Nandini replied.

"Not bad, my showgirl!" Mukti encouraged her with a smile; Nandini smirked back in response.

Everything would change now.

***

Nyonica jumped on her couch as Manik slammed open her bedroom door and barged in like all hell had broken loose. He glared at his mother, like she was the epicentre of all major fuckups of his life and he was here demanding an answer for them.

"Manik, what on earth.." Nyonica began, with raised eyebrows, but she stopped short seeing the seething mess her son was in at that moment.

"Manik..?" she called out cautiously, raising herself from the couch. Her movement was slow, like she was trying her best to not do anything to rattle her son more. Seeing her walk on eggshells around him, broke Manik down further. Did that mean she knew everything too? Was his mother a culprit too? No. He didn't want to ever live long enough to see this day. The sense of treachery caused hurtful, disappointed tears to pool around his eyes, as a long slow sigh escaped his mouth.

Initially after knowing his family's real face, he was tied up in breaking off with Nandini, then the next day went in registering that she had really gone poof without a trace from his farm house & it would take time for him to locate her, because it really did seem, this time she didn't want to be found & had covered her tracks well. As he slowly started grasping all the changes in his life, he didn't have what it takes to go back to his penthouse. He really didn't know how it'd feel to step back in that house without Nandini and lead a regular life, now that the initial shock had worn off and things were settling down. In the last few days, his much talked about press meet addressing his & Nandini's fiasco & his shoots were the only things that kept him busy & the only instruction he gave Cabir was to book him day & night. So, after four whole days of twenty four hour shoots and sleeping off in his vanity in between shots, Manik's calendar was finally free today. Even though Cabir coaxed him to go home and start accepting the new order of things in his life, he knew he had one pitstop to mark, before letting the agony of losing everything finally gulp him down. He needed to meet his mother.

"How could you, mom?" Manik whispered, suddenly all the choler vanished from his heart and what was left behind were deep, dark trenches of deceit.

Nyonica crumpled under the disappointed gaze of her son, as she mumbled, "I am Abhimanyu's culprit beta, but I promise you, I didn't murder him.."

Manik looked at his mother, even more flustered. He only thought Nyonica knew about the sinister plans of her husband & father-in-law but out of her deep love for them, she wasn't strong enough to tell on them or stop them. He didn't even consider the possibility of his mother being Abhimanyu's culprit. His head was reeling in shock & the bizarreness of his mother's statement.

"What do you mean?" his voice cracked and Nyonica flinched hearing him.

"Son, they wanted to kill Nandini.." Nyonica gave out in sheer desperation. She had suffered all her life to protect Manik, she couldn't afford to have him hate her. Her only source of life, her son, her Manik.

"Meaning?" Manik sounded more scandalised. Hadn't his grandfather told him, they had no plans of killing Nandini because they realised he loved her? Fuck. He was an idiot to buy that. In his defence, they were revealing far scarier deeds at that point of time for Manik to focus on this key, but now thinking back it indeed made sense. Why indeed did they save her and choose a more complicated charade to throw Nandini out of his life? Agreed, it worked out well for them in the end, but what was the need for them to stretch it so far? Did his mother know something, he didn't? Manik decided he would give his mother a chance to come clean, before passing his judgement on her.

"Tell me everything, mom!" he added with a seething voice and Nyonica knew it was time. Manik had seen his father and grandfather's real face now, there was no point in hiding their truth from him anymore.

"Son, from the time you all decided to play that hideous pregnancy drama circling around Nandini, I had lost it. It was one thing to pull that naive, innocent child to help you with a PR beef up here & there & a whole new level of low to pull her into a pregnancy related mess. It could screw up all her life for good, and I was in no way going to let that happen." as Nyonica spoke, Manik saw the fire of defiance in her voice. However, when his mother paused, a certain softness came into her eyes; as if she was reminiscing something warm, heartfelt and pure..

"Manik, I had gone to your penthouse, the day the pregnancy news was aired, to chastise you. I was in full mood to ensure you called this off, with a false alarm tweet or something, but..." Nyonica sighed before continuing, "..after reaching your penthouse, my stance faltered. The mother in me won over the woman in me...Manik I had seen you and Nandini that evening; you were emotionally bonding with her; perhaps the first time in life? I saw you open a small portion of your heart to her, you both were vulnerable together & I for one wretched moment had fallen weak. I thought, maybe the pregnancy drama was not all bad? What if it was a way to help you see Nandini for the amazing woman she is and also maybe this could be a passage for you to feel emotionally connected to Nandini? For the first time in life, Manik, I had dared to hope for you and Nandini and that stopped me from confronting you both.."

Manik looked at his mother, confused, and reading his expression, Nynonica continued. "..Manik I was right, wasn't I? This non-existent baby of yours, did get his real parents together in so many ways, right?"

"Her" Manik corrected his mother in reflex, as a small smile played on his parched lips. "I always thought it was a girl.." he murmured, as Nyonica's heart broke seeing her son.

"..I knew the PR would hurt you, but I was honestly happy seeing you both come closer. My next mistake was believing Shrikant & dad would be accepting of Nandini too.." Nyonica sighed, as Manik looked at her.

"..what beef do they have with that child, I don't know, she has always helped you in executing their twisted plans, right? I thought they'd be indifferent to her presence in the worst case, but hating her?" Nyonica's voice hardened. "Manik, when I accidentally learned their plan of calling off the pregnancy PR with Nandini's death in a brutal car accident, and to blame that actress Soha Khurana, calling it vengeance, I was stupefied! I didn't think they'd.." Nyonica couldn't continue further.

Manik stared at his mother blankly. So this was his father & grandfather's original plan? To clean Nandini off the face of this planet? So much for helping him all this while? They thought of a poetic end indeed; what started with Soha Khurana was to end with her too. Who'd be suspicious? Brand Manik would be intact & gain more positive mileage of course! Manik exhaled a ragged breath. He shuddered to think how he'd feel if indeed they went through with this plan and he'd actually get a sudden call during his shoot, to tell him, his Nandini was no more! Manik broke into a cold sweat.

"How did you stop this madness mom?" his voice was hoarse in nausea.

"I confronted them, asked them to spare my Nandini's life, son..and in doing so, I didn't realise I endangered that poor boy, Abhimanyu's life.." Nyonica cried out in misery. Manik gulped. He really didn't know how close he was to losing Nandini.

"Why didn't you ever tell me this before mom, we could have saved Abhimanyu too, we could have gone to the police and taken actions! Why didn't you trust me, mom? Did you think I was one of them?" suddenly Manik screamed out in vexation. Did his mother think so lowly of him?

"Never son, I could never tell you all this and risk your life! You think I didn't know you'd try stopping Shrikant & dad by going to the cops? What good would that do? You think you could put them behind the bars? How would you prove the intent of murder without it actually happening? You don't know your own family's strength, son? It'd be a cake walk for them; they'd threaten me with your life & I'd testify against you for them to save you. We both know now, that they'd not bat an eyelid to put you out of the way, if it got to their reputation. Their reputation is bigger than everything son, which is both the stake & the saving grace.." Nyonica murmured.

Manik staggered. Manik Malhotra truly staggered that day, knowing the reality of their glorious family. What were they? Showbiz moghuls or showbiz mafias?

"Mom, how do you love that miserable excuse of a man?" Manik whispered, as the corner of his eyes teared up in deep hurt.

Manik's head shot up at his mother's cold response. "I don't. I haven't in a long, long time".

"Then why are you with him? Why haven't you left him?" he asked, after a few seconds pause.

Nyonica looked down and a small sad smile rose on her lips. "I..Manik, I have my reasons.." she whispered.

Manik stared at his mother? Were his parents acting like a couple in love too? Just like him & Nandini had been doing all this while? Was anything real in his world? Was he a result of love or a drunken quick fuck? Then a sudden thought arose!

"Mom, please tell me dad isn't forcing you to stay with him for his reputation or something?" Manik's voice was rough in horror.

Nyonica smiled. "It's not so easy to tame your mother, my love. I am staying with Shrikant because I need to and on my own terms." she replied, holding his gaze steady.

Manik was in a whirlwind. He really didn't know how to react anymore. However, a more pressing matter charged him. "If that man doesn't love you, why did he listen to you and spare Nandini's life?" he asked, perplexed.

"..that's because I have one leverage over them." she replied curtly.

Stumped as he was, Manik further pressed on, "If you had a leverage, why didn't you use it to save Abhimanyu?"

Nyonica looked upset. "..that's because I didn't know that in order to save Nandini they'd kill somebody else. I did the maths only after Abhimanyu was shot & killed & they came to the funeral with teary eyes."

"Mom, what leverage do you have over them?" Manik looked intimidated to even think about what weaponry his mother was hiding under her wings. After all the shock he received, he was not even sure if his own mother was a villain or a saint, in the story, as yet!

Nyonica's face twitched sadly. Maybe it was truly time to come clean with Manik with the whole truth. Her son was old enough & ready now. He loved Nandini to the tee. She knew he was silent on the Abhimanyu murder case to protect Nandini, so that ensured he wouldn't act rashly even if she told him the whole truth. She shuddered. Finally the biggest secret she buried in her heart for all these years will find utterance. Finally she will breathe easy again, maybe?

"Manik, my son, today I will tell you a secret that is steeped in blood and treachery, within the walls of our very own Jannat. Ironical, isn't it?" She smiled.

***

Word Count: 4,275

A/N: So, how'd it go? You know a part of me wanted to portray an angry & devastated Nandini at first, but then I realised, some wounds run so deep, that anger as a reaction feels superficial. That is how deep Manik broke her, she has reached her absolute rock bottom, and when you are left with nothing, you don't fret, you don't worry, you are eerily calm. It is the calm before the most lethal storm. 

Now coming to the chapter, as usual I will fire away my questions, and I request you all to respond with your honest thoughts..

1. What are your takes on Nandini's zen at Mangalore, and her friendship with Smaran. Do you even want her to return and fight the good fight, or just stay faraway and live for once?

2. What does Nandini's take on Manik's press address  say about her, what do you feel about her change in perspective. Do you feel she needed it or you hate Manik for making her a cynic?

3. What do you think was Manik's real intention of the press address, he had to balance a lot of things, firstly not make it too evident to the Malhotra's that he is protecting her, not to let the press harrow her more & at the same time not to let Nandini realise he was trying to protect her too. Does this come through?

4. Mukti POV and why she forgave/ understood Nandini, do you guys like it? Now if Mukti & Nandini jointly attack Manik, are you excited to see what happens next? What are your ideas?

5. Nandini wants to come back & fight the fight, are you excited? What do you think she has in mind?

5. Nandini will be a movie star now? But how? After so much bad publicity, which banner will sign her? Any thoughts? ;)

6. Manik & Nyonica's confrontation has opened a new light to the story! So what are your reactions to whatever Nyonica said so far? Let me tell you, the real truth is yet to be out, what do you think that is?

7. Do you think MaNan will find a way back together? What do you guys want? :P

8. Any other thoughts, ideas, likes & dislikes about this chapter?

Readers, I really appreciate all the love you pour for my story & I cannot ask for more. I just hope you all take a minute to give me a vote for this chapter & while reading pen down your instant reactions to the parts, if you miss that, it is lost, later you don't feel as strongly when you read it a second time. Please, please leave in-line comments on the spot, I'd love to know your spontaneous thoughts while reading this story!

Lastly, as usual, I will be back next weekend on Sunday (2nd April) with a new chapter!

Until then,

Stay well,

Stay safe,

Keep voting & commenting!

Love,

Your writer,

A.