• Dawn hasn't broken yet, am still living in that filthy trap, I wish I could run somewhere away from all this crap.. •

****

Nandini is lying on the bed, with her eyes closed, but she is looking worried, tensed, even in the 18 degree temperature of the room she's sweeting badly, something is definitely wrong with her this time.

"No! Please! I request you let me go, please! Help! Help! ....No! ...Nooooooooooooooooo! "

She woke up suddenly with the raging heartbeat,she is panting badly and her heart is beating faster than ever, she looked all around in the room but found nothing but darkness, she looked in her side on the bed and Manik isn't there, she again scanned the whole room looking for him this time but he wasn't there, then she closed her eyes and tears started falling from her eyes badly as if she has caged them there since ages and today they got their much needed freedom.

Nandini : "Am sorry.. Am sorry.."..She murmured while holding both her hands tightly to her chest, her head is down , she is looking broken today. In the darkness of room, today for the first time her real self came out and one can see that this strongest women who has all the daring to stand against the devil is actually broken, shattered from inside.

But then she calmed herself, she realized she's wearing Manik's shirt but she wondered when she wore it?, ignoring the unnecessary question she stepped out of the bed to get some fresh air because now this darkness has started suffocating her.

She walked straight to the window and looked outside, soft cold breeze touched her face and she closed her eyes to feel that breeze as if it's soothing her aching heart. She opened her eyes and looked downwards, she noticed Manik's car parked there.

Nandini : "Last night Manik's car was in basement then how it's outside now?"..She wondered with deep confusion then she looked at the side wall, and noticed the time it's only 4.05 a.m. Now she became more curious as Manik isn't in bed and his car is outside the mansion, where this guy is?

Soon all her questions are answered as she saw Manik going out of mansion, he sat down in the car and drove away in the darkness.

Nandini : "Where he's going this early?"..She wondered with concern for a brief moment. She walked to the side table and picked up her phone to dial his number but then she stopped herself as something crossed her mind. She shut down her eyes tightly and threw the phone on the bed.

Nandini : "I don't care what he do and where he go. I really don't care. Yes! I don't care.. "..She started talking with anger in her tone but her words comes out like she's trying to make herself believe that she don't care.

• Whom am lying to?, whom am hiding from?, you still lives in me, how can I ignore you? •

******

It's 7 in the morning and Nandini has slept after thinking a lot about Manik, no matter how hard she tries but her heart always goes behind him only, it's like she is trying to restrict herself from not going to him but every time she only fails,that's the only thing which annoys her to the core.

She's sleeping in his bed, with a smile on her face, as if she's watching a very beautiful dream for a change. That smile really touches her eyes, even though her eyes are closed it's clearly visible that she is happy from her heart, this much peace on her face is something very rare to find.

"Come on catch me, come on... hahhahaha.. You can't catch me, You idiot stop glaring at me, and catch me...." ...her beautiful dream broke by a warm touch on her body, even in deep sleep she felt a hand wrapped around her belly from her backside, and warm soft breathe fell on her neck, she tried to turn still her eyes closed.

Nandini: "Manik!"..she said with a small smile on her lips and next she felt her back touched his front more closely.

Manik : "Sleep!"..he muttered near her ear, while his eyes are also closed and he's inhaling her sweet scent. She turned around to his side and opened her eyes lazily, she found him looking at her with a smile playing on his lips and she hugged him tightly totally forgetting about every thing, her mind tries to say something to her, tries to alarm her but her heart told her to be there in his warmth only and stopped her from dwelling in some unhappy memories. He placed his head on her head and she snuggled more into him..

She slowly broke the hug, placed her hand on his cheek and looked at him with so much passion and desires in his eyes that for a moment he really felt like she is his everything ..

He cupped her face and looked more passionately to her, he smiled when he found her closing her eyes in order to submit herself to him.

He lean closer to her lips and took her soft petal like lips in his deep and passionate kiss. He is kissing her like never before and she's giving in his passion, it seems like he found something today in his soul which made him realize that his heart still beats but accepting such wonderful emotions is still a distant vision for him, whereas she's trying her best to ignore some deep emotions buried inside her cold heart.

He broke the kiss slowly, which made her stunned for a minute, he's looking at her like his whole world resides in her only, and his that gaze on her is making her nervous, it seems like she's trying her best to ignore such honesty in his eyes but there is a strong magnetic pull , no matter how hard she tries to go away from him, she gets closer and closer only.

Unknowingly some lone tears eloped from her eyes, which he noticed, he instantly wiped off all her tears and then kissed her wet eyes, she held him more tightly by his shoulder as if she'll melt under his this much tenderness. He moved back a bit and she opened her eyes, she can see he's in stress, something is definitely not right with him, she can feel it but she ignored it deliberately.

Nandini : "Where were you?"..She asked suddenly making him break the soothing eye contact.

Manik : "Just meeting.."..He moved back and stepped out off bed, she looked at him with bewilderment, but he keeps his eyes low, she can sense his restlessness.

Nandini : "Has anything happened?".. She's not able to take his this much coldness, he looked at her suddenly and she can see that he is in need of warm hug. But before she can analyze more , he covered up every damn emotion and once again he's back to ruthless Malhotra..

Manik : "A lot happened yesterday night Mrs. M , you want me to repeat that?"..he smirked evilly and this statement of his made her roll her eyes on him.

Nandini : "You are hopeless Mr. M.."..She stated and stood up and walked towards the mirror, he looked at her hungrily, she's looking exceptionally stunning in his white shirt, which reaches till her mid thigh, she didn't noticed him checking her out, she folded the sleeves of the shirt and started combing her hairs while he's standing right behind her totally enjoying how comfortably she's doing all that stuff.

A small smile curved on his lips and now she felt an intense, burning gaze on her when she looked in the mirror, she found him staring at her, she placed the comb on the chest of drawers and turned around. She wrapped her hand around her body and raised her eyebrows to him, which made him chuckle.

Manik : "Not my fault! You look delicious in this shirt, you should often wear my shirts.."..He suggested and again she rolled her eyes on him which really made him laugh this time, he walked towards her seductively and she's standing there with full confidence.

He cupped her face and kissed her forehead, which really shocked her as she was expecting a lip kiss which he always do. But forehead kiss is something more precious and special.

Manik : "I forgot​ to say good morning Mrs. M.."..He whispered in her ears and before she could even understand anything, he walked out of the room after giving her a bright smile.

• My heart don't listen to me when you are around, Am no longer sound whenever you are around.. •

****

Nandini came out of the bathroom after taking a good cold shower, she's wearing a bathrobe and she noticed Manik is sitting on the couch, working on his MacBook while talking rudely with Arjun on phone. She walked towards his closet in hope of finding something to wear.

Manik : "for god sake stop giving me all these lame excuses Arjun, I want all the details by tomorrow morning or else whole research team is in deep problem and I mean it........"..She is listening him also and doing her work as well that is finding some clothes to wear .. When suddenly Manik's words alarmed her and she froze on her spot.

Manik : "I want all the details,hire a private investigator for this, but I want results, from past 4 months you all are giving me this bull shit only but now if I didn't get reports on my desk till this evening you all are fired and I'll bring a new team, and you know me very well I can do it without any second thought.. "..He disconnected the call and threw it away in anger, Nandini looked at him he seems to be angry as hell but stressed too.

Nandini : "What's wrong with him?, It can't be only business. "..She thought​ with confusion. She walked towards him and stood a bit far, while he's holding his head in both his hands, his head is lowered and she looked more confused now but concerned as well.

Nandini : "Manik.. are you fine?"...She asked in her concerned tone and the way she called his name made him look at her.

Manik : "What will happen to me? Am perfect as always.."..He hid all his frustration and irritation behind his evil smirk and she just looked at him like she's trying hard to look through him, to his soul.

Manik : "don't look at me like that.."..He commented after almost 5 minutes of staring but he seems to be very affected by her continuous stare, he's looking nervous... Really? Manik Malhotra, sorry correction! The multi-billionaire ruthless Manik Malhotra, the perfectionist is nervous? Wow! That's really a breaking news.

Manik : "Go and get ready, I'll drop you to the building, then I need to go office as well.."..He told her while she glared at him this time.

Nandini : "And here you again started bossing around me, don't you get tired of all this?, For heaven sake Mr. M you aren't always in the role of CEO, come out of your businessman attitude and look around , am neither your employee nor your puppet. So please stop!"...She really looks furious this time and her tone really made him angry this time.

Manik : "Will you stop talking to me in that tone Nandini? Why you are always so moody?, Why you can't talk normally with me?, What good I did to you that you are always angry on me?"..Now here comes the angry young man in his glory, he literally shouted at her after standing and all she's doing was just passing deadly glare to him.

Nandini : "You are the reason of me standing here today, you have pestered my life, and I won't forgive you ever.."... She answered in her slow and soft tone but it comprises of anger, pain, hurt , hatred and what not, she walked straight to his closet while he's standing there burning in wrath..

• He thought she is a beautiful soft rain, but little does he know she is the hurricane.. •

****

Nandini : "Mr. M.."..She called him before stepping out of the car, Manik has parked the car outside the Murthy's Mansion as Dadi told him to drop Nandini there as a part of ritual.

He looked at her with questioning eyes, throughout the journey she didn't uttered a single word then now what she has to say.

Nandini : "I don't want to be rude to you, but don't try to control me, it's something I hate the most. See you in evening.."..She told him honestly and this made him awestruck for a brief moment. He held her hand when she tried to step out.

Manik : "I'll pick you up.. take care "..He again kissed her forehead and she closed her eyes to feel his alluring, bewitching touch on her. She opened her eyes when he moved back..

Manik : "Miss me Mrs. M.." ..He winked at her and she rolled her eyes on him, with a inward smile..

Nandini : "In your dreams, bye!"..She stated blankly but still a smile on her lips, she leaned closer and kissed his cheeks lovingly but before​ he can held her back, she moved out of the car. He laughed at her cute antics, both bid bye to each other and she walked inside the mansion with a smile playing on her lips.

****

Inside mansion:

Nandini is coming inside with a beautiful smile on her face, his alluring touch still lingering on her forehead and she's smiling to full but all her happiness went straight into the bin when she heard some noises.

She looked confused but then started walking towards the source of sound, when she came to the scene, she saw her parents talking rather to say arguing on something.

Mr. Murthy : "Don't forget Naina, we have only one daughter and she's Nandini."..He shouted at his wife while she's standing there with tears rolling down her beautiful eyes, but she seems to hurt and angry at the same time. They didn't noticed Nandini's presence over there till yet.

Naina Murthy : "Shabd please! Forgive her, we don't know where she is , how is she?, Call her once Shabd I know she'll definitely come back to us.."..She pleaded which made Nandini's heart pierced. But Shabd Murthy is still standing there with only anger in his eyes.

Shabd : "She's dead for me! Accept the fact, I will never forgive her, I have only one daughter. "..He glared at her and his words hurt both the women standing in the living area, but as soon as Nandini heard his once sentence she felt like someone slapped her hard.

So she came in the scene with tears flowing out of her eyes continuously, Naina found her there and Shabd too looked at her as she walked towards them with pain, hurt and anger in her eyes.

Naina : "Nandini, my darling! When did you came?"..She wiped off her tears and walked towards her to hug her but Nandini's eyes are fixed on her father only, she stopped Naina from hugging her which shocked Naina to the core.

Nandini walked towards Shabd, and stood in front of him, he gave her a weak smile but she didn't revert back.

Nandini : "She's dead for you?"..It came out as a question in her low tone, Naina looked more hurt now, she knew Nandini never talked about this topic in last 1 year but this time something is really going to happen, she knows her daughter who is made of fire.

Shabd : "Yes!"..His one word pierced her heart, she shut down her eyes tightly in only pain, her expression​ clearly defines her agonizing pain. She opened them and look at her father with a sarcastic smile.

Nandini : "Thank you for lighten the burden dad.."..She stated and he looked confused, Naina walked towards them and looked at Nandini with bewilderment.

Nandini : "Congratulations Shabd Murthy, now you really have only one daughter, who is me! Nandini Manik Malhotra."..She announced with pure disgust in her heart , she has opened her arms and there is a sarcastic but painful smile on her face, tears still falling out, and Naina can feel that Nandini is in deep pain right now.

Naina : "Darling, please come with me, we'll discuss all this some other day.."..She tried to take her from there but Nandini stopped her.

Nandini : "No mom, we'll discuss this today only, actually there is nothing to discuss but I have something to tell you both today. A truth which was in my heart since I came back India, a truth which I was hiding because I thought you won't be able to handle but now when I know this truth will make no difference to dad then I should tell you both today...."..She stopped abruptly and looked at Shabd who is staring at her with confusion while Naina held Nandini's hand as if she got the hint of the ugly truth.

Nandini : "Mr. Shabd Murthy, the one who is dead for you is really DEAD!.. ".. she announced and this fell like a thunderstorm on both of them, Naina took her hand off Nandini, while Shabd was frozen.

Shabd: "Nandini!"...He said with utmost shock as if floor beneath him slipped off.

Nandini : "You heard me right dad, Aahana Murthy, your daughter, my sister is no more. She is really dead.. ".. she shouted on top of her voice and they both looked beyond shock, Naina started moving backward with heavy step untill she collided with the wall behind her, Shabd too fell down on the sofa behind him.

Nandini : "What was her fault dad?, Why you disowned her?, You know what dad, the day she died what she said to me?"...She stopped when he looked at her with tears brimming down his eyes, no matter how hard he used to deny her as his daughter, she was still in his heart.

Nandini : "Yes! Dad I was in her touch and unfortunately when she died I was there.."..She closed her eyes as some heart wrenching memory came in front of her eyes, but she held herself back, and continued looking at him while he's looking at her hysterically.

Nandini : "She told me dad that she really loves you, she only want your forgiveness, she just want you to hug her once and forgive her. That's it!.. "..She told him with her shattering tone, Naina collapsed on the ground, Nandini looked at her painfully, she didn't wanted to do this but when she heard him saying that she is dead for me! ..She wasn't able to take it any longer, her sister was everything to her. Shabd looked lost, as if someone's snatched his heart from him, and left him dying over there.

Nandini took a last glance of them, and ran out of the mansion with only tears,pain and hurt. Don't know from how much time she has caged this pain in her heart and today it came out like this, she has nothing left inside her now, she's hollow from inside. Her sister Aahana means world to her, she was like first rain, soothing and peaceful. But now Nandini has lost her beautiful angel. She ran out of the scene because she is broken, and she don't know how to collect herself.

• Time took away you from me, and darling you were my heartbeat.. •

*****

Just a reminder my beautiful readers! My college has re-opened finally, which clearly means I'll be busy again and updates will be slow again. Which also means that I'll start missing you all very much, holidays were well spent with you all! Thanks for everything my beautiful angels!

Love you loads
Your storyteller ❤😘