• Bird wanted to fly high in that wide sky, but those filthy hands caged her and ignored her cry.. •

***

Pain of separation is really difficult to survive especially when you know that the wait is perpetual. Nandini is suffering in that era only where she knows she'll never be able to get the love of her sister back, she won't be able to feel her warmth ever but it's very hard for her to accept the truth, and why won't be it difficult? When Aahana was not only her sister but her whole damn world. One fine night she realized her world has crashed down and now she has to live in the search of shelter, how can she be able to accept the fact?.

She's still on the isolated street, sitting on the floor with only tears in her eyes but now she has stopped weeping.

Nandini : "Am sorry Di!"..She murmured slowly with only pain and guilt in her voice, Nandini used to call Aahana by her name only but whenever she used to be in any trouble or upset beyond limits then only she used to call her di.

She is looking at the angelic smile of Aahana which always soothe her wounded heart, there is still a small but weak smile on her lips.

Nandini : "You'll forgive your kiddo?, You'll forgive me na di?."..Her low voice holds immense pain which can torment anyone's heart, her eyes are filled with tears but anyone can see today that this beautiful girl who pretends to be the most strongest woman alive is actually broken, shattered and hurt beyond repair. She is anything but strong, she has caged all the wounds, all her agonies in a coffin and thrown it in deep chasm of her heart.

She hugged her phone tightly and closed her eyes in deep pain, but started reminiscing some heart wrenching memories which increased her pain even more.

• Your love was like shadow of a tree in the extreme weather of summer, your love was like blanket in the chilling weather of winter.. •

****

On the other hand, Manik has become all insane. He is hell desperate to find her but alas! He isn't able to. He's waiting for the IT department people to give the exact location so that he can rush to her. Here sitting idle in his cabin is doing nothing but igniting the fire brewing inside him and also rising the concern level which is already at its peak point.

Arjun : "Mr. Malhotra please sit down, we'll find her."..He asked in his informal tone but Manik is still walking to and fro in his cabin with worry all over his face.

Manik : "Where she can go?, I myself dropped her at her place then why she left from there? And even if she left then why she didn't informed me? God! Where is she??"..He shrieked at the end, his pain didn't went unnoticed by Arjun, which really brought a small smile on his straight professionalism face.

Arjun : "That's the second time I have seen this much concerned and worry on your face, the first time I saw this look on your face when you......"..He stopped abruptly as Manik stopped in his path and looked at him momentarily.

And there came a complete silence in the room, a pin drop silence. Arjun noticed Manik being in a deep thoughts as if he's trying his best to analyze the situations and make himself as calm as he can but Everytime he think about something a deep frown appears on his forehead but that tension soon replaced by the immense anger in his eyes. Before the lava could burst his trance broke down with the sudden ring of his phone which he answered instantly.

Manik : "One negative news and I'll dig your grave right in this building!"..He threatened even before listening the other person.

"Sir!".. the person seems nervous and scared to death..

Manik : "I don't have a whole day for your stammering, open your mouth and give me what I want ..."..He again came to his devilish tone which can take away anyone's life in a blink.

"Sir we traced the location...."..He told him nervously but the news brought much needed relief to Manik, he instantly took a note of it and ran out of the building in order to have his queen back in his world.

• Every kingdom needs his king the most but the need of king is always the queen foremost.. •

****

Cabir : "I know Navya I shouldn't have shouted on her but you know her she is one infuriating woman and when it comes to anger she really tops the list.."..His tone is weak but irritating as well. He is talking to her on skype, he has told everything to Navya about last night party and Navya being the most understanding wife as well as friend is trying her best to make him understand both the sides of coin.

Navya : "Cabir,I know you are angry but more than anger you are hell worried for her, I understand! But Cabir she's our Nandini and we know her right? Let's not think about anything and remember only one thing Nandini is our responsibility after Aahana......"..She stopped as Cabir looked at her with all the hurt and pain in his eyes, tears unknowingly welled up in his eyes by the mere mention of Aahana and even before he could cover up Navya saw that pain, those tears in his eyes. He tried to wipe them but she stopped him.

Navya : "let them come out Cabir till when you both will seize them?.."..She asked with painful tone even she has a teary eyes but Cabir gave her a Sarcasm filled smile.

Cabir : "My pain is nothing in front of Nandini, I wish she could let me share that pain. I never knew our Nandini is so strong untill I saw her that day when she was collecting last belongings of Aahana with no tears in her eyes, that day I had seen an all new Nandini, she wasn't Aahana's kiddo but she was a different person and today the girl who is in front of us is really a stranger to me. I don't know who she is? And where she buried our innocent, emotional and ever so expressive Nandini. That day we didn't only lost Aahana but we lost our Nandini as well....".. his voice trailed off and tears unintentionally cascaded down his eyes, even Navya too cried with him after recalling those hurtful days, after the demise of Aahana they all were shattered.

Just when Cabir's phone started ringing and he wiped off all his tears, he looked at the caller ID which surprised him.

Navya : "What happen?"..She asked after sensing the worry on his face.

Cabir : "It's Shabd uncle! But why he's calling me?"..He told Navya after showing the screen of his phone to her and she asked him to pick the call.

"Cabir! Cabir!"..He heard a panting worried voice as soon as he answered the call which really shocked him but made him worried even more.

Cabir : "Uncle! Are you okay? Is everything is fine?"..He asked with his concerned filled tone and even Navya became all attentive with the tension on Cabir's face.

"Nothing is fine Cabir, Does Nandini came to you?.."..He sounds really worried but Cabir became all worried now.

Cabir : "No! She didn't came to me but what happened? Where is she?"..He panicked and now Navya too became restless.

"Oh god! Where is my daughter? If anything happens to her then I'll never be able to forgive myself. I've already lost Aahana now I don't wanna...."..His voice trailed off and next Cabir heard only weeping sounds but his last some words shocked cabir the most.

Cabir : "Aahana? Who...Who told..I mean who told you about her?"..His voice became all low filled with shock and pain even though he got the hint of the answer but he crossed his finger tightly.

"Nandini!"..And that's it! He closed his eyes tightly after listening the answer.

Cabir : "Uncle! I'll find her please don't worry..."..He assured him but from inside he knew that wherever Nandini is she's definitely in agonizing pain, and he can't sit at home idle.

He disconnected the call after ensuring him that he'll definitely find Nandini. He told Navya everything which worried her but he cajoled her as well and left out from his house in the search of Nandini.

• Love is when after the most ugliest fight, "Stupid! I still love you.." friend says after hugging you tight.. •

****

Manik : "Arjun! Just go to Malhotra mansion and look after Dadi, she must be very worried and also inform Mr and Mrs Murthy that am going to get her back.."..He informed while sitting inside his Lamborghini SUV..

Arjun : "Sure! Mr. Malhotra.."..He took his commands and Manik drove away with the fastest speed..

Arjun : "You are changing and you are changing for good!.."..He thought with a smile on his face then he also left from there in one of the car.

On the other hand,

Nandini is sitting on the bench in total isolation, she has no idea where she's right now and to be very honest she doesn't even bother. She's staring at Aahana pic continuously as if a child watches her favorite chocolate in the poster and thinks that if she'll keep watching it meticulously then it'll come out in real.

Nandini : "You know what di, Dad still loves you when I told him about your ....."..She stopped as tears escaped her eyes but she consoled herself ... "He was shattered di, he really loves you. Can't you come back for him?, Can't you come back for me?. "....She questioned​ with all the pain in her eyes but she is looking at the pic as if it will answer her surely.

Just then her phone blinked the red single which indicates the low battery and the phone shut down even before she could do anything. She closed her eyes in immense frustration, but soon that frustration switched to satisfaction and a smile curved on her lips as she recalled a very beautiful memory.

"Where the hell were you Nandini? And where is your god damn phone?".. Aahana shouted on her as soon as Nandini entered in mansion whereas Shabd and Naina both sat down in the corner quietly because they exactly know when it comes to Nandini's security Aahana can go to any extent.

Nandini : "I was in college only, and the battery is dead.. sorry!".. she muttered innocently in her defense which made Aahana more angry, Aahana being angry on Nandini is really once in a blue moon.

Aahana : "Stop being a kid Nandini, you are grown up atleast behave like one..".. she turned her face away from her and now Nandini gestured Shabd to do something but he raised both hands in surrendering form which clearly means he'll not invade in their matter.

Nandini hugged her tightly from back but Aahana remained silent.

Nandini : "Am sorry Di!".. she said in her low tone with honesty filled in it which instantly melted Aahana's heart ..She turned around and held Nandini's hand.

Aahana : "Kiddo! Please for heaven sake keep your phone charge all the time or else keep power bank with you. You really takes your security for granted.."..She stopped as Nandini rolled her eyes on her, this time Aahana glared at her..

Aahana : "See again you are not concerned, why can't you take things seriously. Forget it! I don't wanna talk to you.."... she started walking away but Nandini held her hand, their parents are fully enjoying this floor show.

Nandini : "Abhi Na jao chor kar ki dil abhi bhara nhi..".. she sang in her dramatic tone which really made Aahana laughed, she hugged her but Nandini started tinkling her which made Aahana ran in the house in order to save herself from Nandini, the whole house is filled with their laughter.

She opened her eyes as that heartfelt memory brought immense peace to her wounded heart.

• You were always there to look after me now when you aren't here I wonder how can I find the real me? •

Nandini: "We were so happy di untill...."..She stopped as she heard a sound of car stopped a bit far from her , she stood up and next she found Manik stepped out of the car.

She stood up as soon as her eyes met his dark eyes, even from distance she can feel the uneasiness in his body, how his dark eyes filled with peace after finding her there, how his tensed body relaxed in that moment.

He ran towards her with some unknown emotions in his heart, these some hours without her took away all the sanity from him and she can't deny the fact that she's able to see those frowns on his head, but while he's running to her even she feels the same to go and hug this handsome man of her world, but her legs freezes on her spot as if she isn't able to move even a bit.

Next she found herself engulfed in his arms, he picked her up and twirled her around a bit even she didn't protested but she willingly submitted herself to him.

He placed her down on the floor, instead of breaking the hug he took her more tightly in his embrace and after so many hours even she felt relaxed and calm.

His grip on her tighten as the thought of loosing her crossed his mind, she too didn't wriggled this time, a small smile touched her lips after coming in his warmth. And his heart filled with contentment after taking her in his warm embrace.

He slowly broke the hug, and cupped her face,he looked straight in her eyes and she was shocked to see his not so expressive eyes are communicating with her like never before and this is something touched her heart deeply. His vulnerability, his pain, his concern clearly visible on his face today, she can't believe on her own eyes that he is same devil whom she married a day back..

Manik : "Where were you? Why you left me? And Nandini why you are crying? What happened? Talk to me.. Nandini! Please talk to me...".. he showered so many questions on her with pleading eyes but she is very numb to react on any of his question.

Manik : "Nan....".. he stopped abruptly as she hugged him tightly and slightly sobbed in his arms, he looked relaxed as she came back in his arms and hugged her back.

Manik : "I felt like everything fall apart in me, Don't ever leave me. I don't know I'll be able to survive or not and trust me I don't have the courage to even try...".. his confession left her speechless, it really thrown her off guard. She felt honesty dripping from each word he spoke, she has really seen something very different in his eyes and her heart screamed he can't be a devil! ..But her mind isn't able to accept it...

• They said always listen your heart but do they have any idea heart has the power to rip a soul apart?.. •

***

Love..Your storyteller ❤😘