I was standing in the middle of the road, surrounded by long trees. Empty branches without any leaf. Drops of rain cutting its way through the winds falling at me. I was feeling really cold. Everything getting darker as light fading away slowly.

I couldn't listen any thing around me except the fast beating of my heart, gruesome but silent uproar of wind. I walked everywhere but seems like I lost my way, I forgot every way which will take me to him. Lightening thunder setting me off in fear and trepidation.

"I love you, I'll always love you baby girl...!" A distant voice echoed all around me. My breath caught in my throat when I felt it was him. I spun around making me imbalanced. I looked every where but I couldn't see anyone. Suddenly I felt his breaths fell at my ear. I turned around and he was there with brightest smile. I felt my face drained with any warmth or colour when I once looked up, directly into melting pool of chocolaty gaze.

I clamped my arms around him with heartbeat too wild and loud in my ears. He didn't move he didn't hold me back. I moved back slowly still clinging to him. He raised his hand up and touched my face softly. I leaned into his palm like being touched by him was heaven. Rain started pouring down so hard that it was making really hard to see anything around us.

"Why are you so sad. You aren't alone. I'll always be there with you. Just feel me....!" As he said I placed my hands at his heart but I felt nothing. I couldn't feel his heart beat. I just stared into his eyes. His deep penetrating gaze stopped shortly at my eyes before it wandered at my whole pitiful figure from head to toe.

"Manik why I can't feel any thing. Why I can't feel your heart....!" I asked him all drowned into his deep unfathomable eyes. My shivering hands getting cold and damp with sweat.

"I'll always be here. Feel it.....!" He smiled leaning down slowly he pressed his cold lips against mine. I stood there closing my eyes in dawned cloudy and cold night. Whiff of cold air and rain slashing at me. The time his lips left mine I felt sudden emptiness. As I opened my eyes he wasn't there. He was gone, I raised my hand up to touch my lips. Still I can feel warmth of his lips there.

"I'll always be there for you. I'll love you forever...!" Once again I heard the voice but it was getting more distant. Voice faded away totally, I ran every where screaming his name but he was no where. Fear enveloping me with a surge of anxiety.

"nandniiiii....!" I listened his voice. He was calling me. Then I saw his body hanging down at the edge of cliff.

"Manik....!" screaming my head off I raced down the hill to reach him. I fell at my knees to grip his hand. But he was slipping down. I was crying mercilessly to pull him up but it feels like I lost my whole strength already.

"Manik....! No I won't let you go. I will hold you. Please manik....!" I was just crying, I was thrilled to death, then I felt I cant hold him any more. In choked devastation I watched him slipping off from my hands, falling into deepest valley of mountains. I could hear my horrified screams. I let out piercing shouts making my throat dry and lungs strained. My world exploded in one blink. I felt my head heavy when every thing around me started spinning around.

Suddenly I woke up and my uneasy howling in anguish brought me back in my senses. My breathing was still shallow and fast. My whole figure was shivering. I looked up and suddenly Palmed my eyes shielding against the brightness of morning. Slowly I uncovered my eyes and saw around in my room. It was my dream. No one was there, he wasn't there. He was gone. Once again leaving me alone with complete emptiness and sorrowful destruction.

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"There is just pain, misery, helplessness with every passing day without him. Every night my eyes give up whenever I close them to sleep because I had witnessed a dreadful day. The day I lost everything and I know it will haunt me forever...!" She closed her eyes, expecting that may be when she will open them, the darkness from her life will be less suffocating. She looked everywhere and realization washed over her in alternating waves of pain and numbness.

"Whenever I feel to cry on your shoulder, curling up in your embrace you come to meet me. Whenever I lose my strength, my hopes you come in my dreams to make me strong. You never left me alone, you always was there around me. I can feel you everywhere...!" She took deep breath while clutching her hairs in both palms tightly as if she'd rip them off. She wished every second of her life, only if she could reverse back every thing that happened.

She wished he'd never listened her, he'd never taken her at beach house. She never thought after him she will lose every thing. His company, his home and there will be just shattered pieces of this broken family. She never thought one day she will be alone gathering all of them, giving them strength to live.

She forced herself up, dragging herself towards wall sized picture. Her fingers touched the glass of frame delicately. Her eyes were motionless and droplets of sweat were still hanging on her forehead. Her lips quivering as she wanted to say something but she couldn't.

"Manik I thought our baby will be luckiest, we will give every thing we didn't have in our lives, I wanted to spend each moment with you while having him in my womb....!" She smiled painfully thinking about their baby Aaron Malhotra, Only reason of her sanity.

"You know when I went for my first scan, doctor asked me to look at our baby, but I didn't even open my eyes, you know why...? Because I didn't have enough courage to see him. I wanted to see our baby first time just with you beside me holding my hand. How could I do this to him. How could I do this with my baby, with my Manik's baby.

Our baby didn't deserve this. Manik I wanted you to watch our baby first, I wanted you to ask the doctor either it's a boy or girl. Manik I wanted you to there with me, I told you I couldn't do it alone, I told you we both need you, I told you I don't have any one except you but still you left me alone.....!" She took a deep hiccup looking at his picture with tearless eyes.

Suddenly struck by wistful longing she took a soulful sigh. She clutched her chest so tightly like her heart was being brutally wrenched from her body. She felt her world started closing in, feeling lighter and contented she fell at floor on her knees.

The pain was so intense that now even tears were not enough to wash it away. She cried over and over in last two years that now her colourless eyes forgot how to cry any more. She held the wall so tightly when she felt herself falling into dark emptiness with squeezing heart. She threw her head down placing both hands at floor.

"How could you, how could you do this to me, to our baby, how. How you never thought about us....! You knew it I have no one except you. How could you leave me all alone. How could you....!" breathing raggedly, with all wounded and devastated self she dragged herself near the wall. Throwing her head back at wall she pulled her knees up against her stomach.

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"Miss Victoria may I have my coffee please...!" Daniel asked in his all bossy tone.

"You've had 6 cups already sirrrr...!" Victoria replied giving pressure at last word.

"Miss Victoria don't forget who's boss here. I don't think so after tiring day you want to do over time and don't forget my coffee is part of your routine duty....!" Daniel replied looking straight at his laptop. She looked up towards him to see any sign of joke, but damn serious expressions at his face made her little conscious. No doubt he was getting troubled with lots of work. Without saying any word she went to take his coffee.

Just within one hour Daniel and Alexander were going to have a final meeting about their new branch in India.

Daniel had a huge business. After doing day and night hard work in one software company Alexander earned enough money to have fifty percent partnership in Daniel's company. From the start Victoria was doing job in this company when Daniel's father was in charge.

"There you go sir...!" She handed him the cup. She silently wished, if she can bang coffee machine at his head. But she knew it in office Daniel was totally different person. Arrogant, disciplined with lots of attitude and authority.

Victoria never tried to messed things up between them during office hours. Bcs he will never think twice to give her lots of work as a punishment and she will do over time to complete it.

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Nandni was still sitting at floor resting her back against cold wall. She was moving back and forth burying her face in her knees. Suddenly her room door opened with full bang. She looked up and her stoned desolation eyes saw a person she needed most at the moment. There she was Ishani, her everything, mother, friend, guider, strength.

"Nandni...! What happened beta....!" Ishani was instantly at her side. Examining nandni's condition Ishani felt a painful prick at her heart.

"Nandni look at me, tell me what happened, are you ok....!" cupping her face in her hands Ishani turned nandni towards herself. Nandni nodded lazily but Still Ishani's face was totally unsatisfied.

"Mama. I'm ok. Don't worry...!" Nandni held her hands in her own shivering ones. Ishani who was looking pale and wrinkles around her eyes became more deep when she returned an unsatisfied gaze towards nandni.

"Why are you sitting at this cold floor....!" ishani asked sensing her still sweating pale face.

"Mama I'm fine. When my mother is with me nothing can make me worry....!" Nandni tried to give her genuine smile. Removing her hands nandni stood up from the floor.

"Nandni....!" Ishani pleaded as nandni's eyes were roaming around everywhere in the room except ishani. Ishani brushed fingers through her hairs and finally nandni looked back towards her.

"Mama I'm fine. I'm just little tired....!" Nandni forced a smile and went away to sit across the bed. Ishani kept staring in her blank eyes, may be not believing her words.

"Nandni are you going to office today....!" Ishani asked coming close to her bed.

"Yes mama today I have an important meeting to attend...!" Nandni tried to divert ishani's discussion.

"But today.....!" Ishani tried to make her remember, what was the day.

"Mama where is Aaron. You know mama he wasn't sleeping last night. He was in full mood to play. Then we both played till the mid night. He is getting moody and naughty day by day. He loves his sleep same like his papa. He feels grumpy when he doesn't get proper rest and he was....!" Nandni was rumbling continuously when ishani palmed her mouth to stop her. Ishani's wet eyes wandered in nandni's. Gathering her pitiful figure in her soothing embrace Ishani tried to comfort her pain.

"Nandni mera Bacha. It's ok. It's ok to show your pain. It's ok to tell what you are feeling. It's ok to cry. It's fine to share with me. I'm here dear, always here for my childre...!" Ishan let her tears flow freely, while rubbing her back gently.

"Today It's been two years, two years he left us. The same day fate snatched a father from his son and only reason of your happiness died the same day...!" Nandni inhaling sharp breath closed her eyes. How She can forget this day when her life got changed. When each colour from her life faded away. She never forgot but she was scared to remember that day. She was scared to say it loud. She was horrified to think about their lives, how it became a living hell after him.

Nandni withdrew herself from her embrace and wiped ishani's tears. Her dry lips trembled, her pale face made ishani worried but there wasn't a single drop in her eyes.

"Mama I'm fine. I'm going to see Aaron he would be hungry then I need to be ready for office....!" Nandni forced a smile before leaving ishani at the same spot.

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"Good morning dad....!" nandni entered in raj's room. A broad smile appeared at her face as Aaron's giggles touched her ears.

"Good morning. Nandni see he is being more naughty day by day. He loves to trouble his dada jan....!" raj said turning his wheelchair towards nandni. A peaceful smile appeared at nandni's face. Taking slow steps she sat near his feet on the floor. Taking deep breath she placed her head at raj's knee.

"Nandni....!" raj asked gently placing his hand at her head.

"Hmmm...!" nandni just hmmmd while closing her eyes.

"Are you ok....!" raj asked slowly. She opened her eyes but didn't lift her head up from his knee.

"Dad...! My Aaron is very lucky. Though he didn't get his father's love but he have you and mamma. Sometimes I feel proud to be part of this family.

"He'll come back some day. Mera dil kehta hey woh zrur aiy ga wapis...!" raj said kissing the head of Aaron. Nandni took a deep sign listening hope in his words.

"Dad when...? When he will come back, he doesn't know I need him, mama, you, aaron needs him, he doesn't know we all need him....!" her painful whispers was tightening raj's heart. Her unsteady words were showing her pain but her eyes were still lifeless. Raj patted her head closing his eyes.

He never imagined he will see her some day like this, with frozen heart, stoned eyes, but each word full of grief. Raj tried blink his eyes to control his tears. He didn't want to show his condition when he already knew it, today was the day when they lost him. Today was the day when they received the news of his lose. When police said he must have died. When every hope died from her life, when she forgot to cry any more bcs he wasn't there to console her.

"Mama, mama.....!" Aaron's chirping voice brought both of them from a drowning grief. He was tapping his hand at her head. Holding his hand nandni picked her head up. She kissed Aaron's chubby soft palm, earning more giggles.

"Dad today my company going to join an international company also. Both will work together. I'm feeling that now company's expectations will be higher from workers. Owner of new company will handle our branch under his supervision. According to my knowledge he is very strict. After joining our company he will choose which will continue to work with him or whom he is going to kick out. I'm so scared dad. I need this job. Dad Just pray for me, I need this job....!" nandni picking Aaron in her arms stood up. Taking slow steps she went near wall sized window.

"To take our Malhotra mansion back we need to pay our next bank instalments regularly. I can't lose this job....!" nandni was looking at sky which was covering fastly with thick black clouds. Today weather was same like their lives, covered with thick darkness, still hopes to get rain of his mercy was keeping them strong.

"I'm sorry beta, I'm really sorry. I'm so useless. Instead of taking care of my children I'm burden at them. When you needed my help I'm not able to do any thing. I'm so sorry beta....!" listening raj's heart wrenching words, nandni turned around. She never discussed her problems with him bcs she knew it he will feel hopeless. Holding Aaron properly she came towards raj.

"Dad why you always say like that. You know that you are not burden at us. You did so much for us. Whole family gave me more than I deserved. You and manik made malhotra industries and our mansion with so much hard work. I couldn't save our company but I will do hard work day and night to get back our mansion. That's your home, manik's home, and my Aaron's home. I will get that back at any cost. I just need your support and your prayers....!" nandni said sitting beside raj. Raj patted her head having a proud smile at his face.

Suddenly Aaron earned their attention when he was trying to say something in his toddler voice. He was playing with nandni's hairs. His chubby hands were continuously moving in her hairs. Aaron's passion towards her hairs proves, no doubt he was Manik Malhotra's son.

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"Sir Alexander sir already in boardroom waiting for you and miss Victoria...!" manager came in Daniel's cabin to inform them.

"We need to go for meeting and I need all files regarding this new branch in meeting room asap. And yeah at the moment I don't have time to take this coffee so I think I will have after meeting. I hope you won't mind to make a fresh cup...!" Holding his laptop Daniel stood up and left the room leaving a burning Victoria behind.

As Daniel was exiting the door she held paper weight up in her hands and wished to hit him. But for her bad luck when she was planning and plotting, he turned around and got shocked seeing paper weight she was aiming towards him.

Raising his one brow up he gave her a deadly cold glare. She kept paper weight back at table and left the room pushing him away from the door. As she left the room an arrogant smirk appeared at his lips. No doubt troubling her was his best and favourite hobby.

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As Victoria entered packed boardroom everybody was almost ready for the meeting. She finally had first smile of the day when her eyes caught glimpse of Alexander. She'd love to stand there and indulge his beauty. But what change would it do. In the last 2 years he'd never once looked at her the way she always admired him.

She came towards denial who was already looking at her. Files fell from her hands when she went to place at front of him. His hazel green eyes enveloping her in warm embrace that left her feeling giddy. He gave her way to sit at chair beside him but she turned around and went towards Alexander who was busy on his phone. She took seat next to Alexander and opened her pad, readying herself to take notes.

She stole a look at Daniel, already expecting his glare towards herself. Their eyes met and his lips twitched into a meaningful smile as his eyes flashed an open warning. His dark eyes were having a silent storm but that smirk at his lips caught her breaths. He have audacity to make her weak in her knees with just one deep dark stare. A cold chill crept up her spine, raising hairs on the back of her neck. Victoria swallowed convulsively and quickly looked away while hiding behind a tall figure of Alexander.

Suddenly light of projector took their attention, Victoria took deep breath thankful for his distraction.

Three hours long meeting was all about planning how to handle Indian branch of their company. At the end it was decided that Alexander will supervise their branch in India. Three staff members will join Alexander, including Victoria and Daniel. At one hand if Victoria was happy that she is going with Alexander, at the other hand she knew it, with Daniel it's not gonna be easy. Surely he won't leave any chance to play with her innocent crazy heart.

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"May I come in sir....!" after knocking at door Victoria entered in Alexander's cabin.

"Sir you need anything to eat or coffee. You didn't have even your lunch....!" Victoria asked Alexander who was looking continuously outside from the window.

"No thank you.....!" Alexander just ended the conversation in three words. Their silence was making atmosphere more thick and tens. But she gave him time to speak something.

"Victoria, I don't know my decision of this new branch is ok or not but one thing I'm sure about is, it's my destiny. I feel to go there. To go back in India. I feel incomplete. I just want to follow my heart once...!" Alexander continued without looking back towards her.

"Victoria I don't want your life like mine, lost, aimless and empty. Once again I want to give you a chance, you can move on in your life. Because you deserve happiness, and I won't give you any thing except sorrows, tear, disappointment and incomplete relationship. I have nothing to give you. Whenever I try to give a chance to our relationship I feel I'm betraying someone. Whenever I allow you to come close to me I have nightmares, my all dreams are about her, I feel her tears, I feel a deep pain. I don't know it's just my illusions or really there is some one waiting for me. I don't know what I'm saying. I don't know....!" manik turned towards Victoria and her pale face and moist eyes were showing her unconditional love for him.

"You deserve a person who can give you love. You deserve a better person.....!" He came close to her knowing her condition very well. Her eyes welled up with tears.

"But I don't need any thing from you. I just need you besides me. I won't force you to love me the way I love you. But at least you can give me a chance. Please don't leave me. Please.....!" Her pleading words made Alexander feel worse. Bcs whenever they tried to talk, at the end he left her all messed up with tears. Alexander extended his hand under her jaw line to catch one desperate drop of tear.

"See, I don't have any thing to give you except this....!" manik said showing his palm to her with a twinkling drop of tear. Manik kept looking towards her and she was just crying looking at floor. He raised his hands to hold her close, to wipe her tears but like usual he couldn't allow himself to touch her. He turned his back towards her and taking few seconds he broke the painful silence again.

"Ok don't cry. We will talk about it later. Go and do your work...!" his few words showed it was end of the discussion and time to say good by. Victoria wiped her tears and left his cabin without looking back towards him.

Victoria entered her cabin and after closing door behind her she leaned her back against it. She slid down on the floor when her knees refused to keep her balanced any more. As Alexander's openly rejected words started sinking in, an unbearable pain in her chest started increasing. It was like some one stabbing her heart constantly. She squeezed her eyes shut and threw her head back sobbing silently.

"It's so much for asking him in my life forever. Right...? So much for wishing a little bit happiness. And this is how fate do it's magic...!" She let her tears to flow freely, contemplating about their talk. A familiar cold feeling washed over her once again with a wave that was staggering.

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"Miss katherine Where is Victoria and why she didn't bring my coffee....!" Daniel asked a staff girl who brought his coffee.

"Sir she said she's busy so she can't make coffee. She asked me to make a fresh cup....!" katherine replied hesitantly. Daniel made his laptop shut feeling hell irritated.

"hmmmm so you are busy miss Victoria. It's ok. I love loyal and hard working people....!" an arrogant smirk appeared at his face while making a plan.

"Miss katherine today you wanted an early leave to visit your grandmother in hospital. Right...? Go and bring your all remaining work. Miss Victoria said she will help you to finish it. So that you can go and visit your grandmother....!" Daniel said again getting busy in his work.

"Really sir...? Victoria is so kind. I'm very thankful to you and Victoria for this favour....!" katherine ran out to bring her remaining work to leave for hospital asap.

"Have a nice night with me here Miss vicks...!" Daniel laughed shaking his head. He was continuously smiling like already imagining her dead cold glares after receiving this much work.

"I was going to stay in office till late night to handle few things. Now you will make coffee with your own hands and also you will give me a good company in this boring lonely office....!" Daniel thought and cute dimples teasing his smiling cheeks. No doubt this night going to be one of an amazing nights.

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