When I was wandering in the illusionary world of yours, I didn't realized my real heaven was on the verge of breaking in zillion pieces..

Flashback 1 year back

Nandini: "Is that still hurts?"..she asked innocently caressing the scar on Aahana's forehead. Both are back to India, Aahana came back to tell everything about her modelling career whereas Nandini came back to support her sister. It's only been a week of that incident when Aahana told Nandini that she met with an accident though her heart denied to believe on the excuse but she was left with no option other than having faith on her sister.

Aahana: "Kiddo! Relax! Am fine."..,she reassured her after taking Nandini's hand in her grip.

Nandini: "You could have informed me earlier but you are always in i-can-handle-myself mood."..she complained sweetly and innocently on which Aahana smiled and hugged her tightly.

Aahana : "Your beauty is in your innocence darling, never loose that. Your smile gives me strength to fight against anything and everything but I can't stand your pain, your tears."..her emotional words made duo emotional. Nandini's eyes unknowingly shedded some tears whereas Aahana felt a bit lighter in her solace's warmth.

Later in night..

Aahana: "Mom where is Dad? He never come this late?"..she inquired while eyeing the wall clock which shows 11. Nandini too looked worried as Shabd Murthy never keep his work as the first priority moreover he is the one who always come home early to spend some quality time with his family.

Naina: "Even I don't know ..he isn't answering any calls and....."..she stopped in mid as they all heard footsteps approaching towards them..

Shabd Murthy is walking inside the mansion and unlike the other times his head hung low, he look exhausted and moreover he looks utterly broken.

Aahana ran straight to him, she is the one who knows how to make him smile, she is his favorite, it's not like he don't love Nandini much but for some reasons Aahana is more closer to him. Perhaps! Being the elder one, he sees a mirror image of himself in her and as Nandini is younger he always look at her with a kiddo look.

Aahana: "Dad what's wrong?"..she asked being concerned about him. He raised her face to look at her but what she saw in his eyes today made her scared to death.

His eyes holds pain, hurt, anger and on top of all accusations. She wonders for what reasons he looks so vulnerable.

Shabd: "You!"..he answered bluntly and she looked at him with shock written all over her face, his incredulous tone made her stunned. He has never talked so harshly with her like never ever.

Aahana: "Dad..."..she tried to touch him but he stepped backward leaving her dejected and everyone confused.

Shabd: "Don't you ever touch me Aahana.."..he took her name and it actually pierced her heart. Something is very very wrong here..her heart screamed..

Nandini: "Dad what has happened? Why you are being so mean to her?"..she voiced out because she witnessed those unshed tears in Aahana's eyes which act as acid to her heart.

Shabd: "I am being mean to her?"..his voice is lower than usual but next what happened shrieked everyone... "Am I?"..he shouted his lungs out leaving everyone in bewilderment.

Aahana: "Dad...."..she again tried to calm him but her own voice ditched her, it came out as a mere whisper.

Shabd: "Don't ever call me that. You've lost all the rights.."...his anger filled words didn't only pricked in her heart but it torn her soul from inside. All she wonders what crime she committed to receive such humiliation and hatred from her own father who actually loves her more than his life.

Naina: "Have you lost it Shabd? What's the matter? Atleast tell us what has went wrong?"..she asked after walking towards him while Nandini ran straight  in the support of Aahana. She has already noticed Aahana's shattered state which perhaps being ignored by shabd.

Shabd: "This girl was my proud but today she made me a laughing stock. She was in Nashville not because of any project but because of her modelling assignment."..he spit the last two words with such disgusting face that for a brief moment Aahana and Nandini felt that he is hinting as if she was whoring all this while. What can be worse than your own parents not able to understand your feelings?

Naina: "Shabd it can't be true, our Aahana can never keep such a thing from us. It could be a misunderstanding Shabd.."..she came in defense of Aahana but Shabd's eyes are filled with venom of accusations only.

Shabd: "Look at your so called daughter and tell me can't you see whatever am saying is true.."..he commented while eying Aahana whose eyes staring the ground and head hung low. Naina is shocked to see such a gesture but still she felt like Aahana hasn't committed any crime.

Naina: "Shabd she is our daughter.."..a pleaded tone escaped her mouth while tears welled up. He looked at her with extreme anger and next what he stated broke the ever so loving happy family.

Shabd: "She is dead for me. Ask her to leave my house instantly, I can't bear a stranger's presence in my mansion..."..that was the last sentence Aahana had heard from her king, and that was the last day when Shabd Murthy had seen his daughter.

Aahana: "I will leave dad. "..she answered softly which shocked everyone. Naina collapsed on the floor as Shabd left from there without saying anything, he ignored Aahana as if she never existed.

Nandini: "You are not going anywhere di. If you are going to leave I will accompany you. "..she stubbornly said to her but Aahana held her hand and kept it on her head.

Aahana: "You will never ever do such stupidity. Otherwise you'll have to witness my dead body.."..she took a promise while Nandini broke down in her arms and Naina on floor. Both of them went towards her and pulled her to feet.

Aahana: "I will always be your daughter mom irrespective of what dad says. I will always be your Aahana, elder daughter of Shabd and Naina Murthy."..she promised her mother and trio hugged, cried in each other embrace.

This was the last day when they all were standing under one roof. That was the day which broke all the relationships and Aahana left the house same night because she didn't wanted her dad to see her face in the morning and get hurt. She knew he loves her too but he is angry and soon he will accept her; after all he is her king and she is his princess. But little the soul knows that after stepping outside the warmth and protection of her family, she is going to meet her destruction......

• When everything went wrong the two souls remain strong as they knew till the time they are together nothing can harm them...•

...

Rihaan: "Well! You got a tough competition bro.."..he teased when Manik told him how rudely Nandini behaved with him at the nightclub.

Though Manik is well aware that he earned that rudeness but he simply in a denial mode, after all Manik Malhotra accepting his mistake is like sun rising from the West and sets in East, but who knows when this theory change as that's what love does to people; it change the perception, vision and even the person.

Manik: "Dare you laugh on me. "..he warned over phone and Rihaan instantly adopted silence but the smile still playing on his lips.

Rihaan: "Okay! Listen to me now."..he get all serious while Manik took the glass full of bourbon and sat down on the boundary of his terrace, gazing at the sparkling stars ...... "she is angry and has all rights to be, the way you behaved with her how I wished she could have slap hard on your face.." .he spit fire and Manik exactly felt the anger brewing in his voice..

Manik: "Let's not start with your so called right & wrong theory. Am so not in the mood.."..he cut him in mid which made Rihaan roll his eyes in frustration..

Rihaan: "That's how you sabotage everything around yourself and you are pro in doing so. But by now you should learn your lesson, everytime not everything can go just the way you want it to be. Nandini was with you with her own consent, she is a human being Manik not your any business deal. You should learn how to differentiate between a human being and a thing, if you keep on with your ungrateful attitude then that day is not far away when you'll be left with nothing in your hands. Think over.."..he disconnected as Manik mostly piss him off by his unnecessary arrogant persona.

Manik: "Seems like whole universe is conspiring against me.."..he muttered while eying the phone. His phone again started ringing- Rihaan calling..

Rihaan: "I forgot to mention that you aren't allowed to come back without her. And moreover she should come with her own consent not forcefully. Now don't screw this up..by the way am still angry.. Have a horrible night"..he again disconnected but this time Manik laughed. Rihaan is such a kid when it comes to complaining and that's what Manik loves more about Rihaan as he is always clear of his words, his actions, his perceptions.

Manik: "I will win her back. "..he closed his eyes and inhale a deep fresh air.

Somewhere down the line Manik is well aware from the fact that Nandini has managed to sneak in his dark world and enlighten certain areas which might be hidden from the outside world, she managed to evoke the good side of his and this is what terrifies him the most.

He knows she is the one who might won't break him like others, but she can give him that one feeling which is missing in his life- happiness. She can make him happy and this is what scares him because he knows that happiness is something which can be taken away.

Manik : "Nandini.. Nandini.. Nandini.. what have you done to me?"..he muttered to himself while lying down the boundary, gazing at the stars and a small smile playing on his lips constantly. He is holding a bracelet in his hand which belongs to her, it's the same bracelet he has always seen it with her though he has no idea that why she has left it isolated in his room that night before leaving him.

He looks at the initial hanging on the bracelet gracefully- "N"..he caressed and dropped a small kiss over it..

Manik: "You belongs to her. And she belongs to me. We both will have her soon, I'll set things right. And I won't blow up this time. "..,at the end it wasn't a promise he made to a non-living thing but it was a promise he made to his soul, to himself that no matter what it takes but he'll get her back.

***

Hyde Park, Sydney:

In the late night, after meeting her nightmare which once was her most beautiful dream, she needed some lone time. She ran away from him because she wanted time for herself, and now when she knows he has came all the way for her there is one part of hers which is celebrating in happiness while the other is mourning over it.

Hyde Park is one of the oldest Australia's park and is quite very famous for it's soothing vibe and peaceful aura. It's the same place she has always chosen for her escapism.

While sitting on one of the bench, she is recalling all those times when she were head over heels in love with Manik and was ready to do anything for him. But one event and everything obliterated in front of her.

Nandini: "Why you are here now Manik? What's the use of showing concern? When you and me both knows that am nothing but a toy to you.."..she said to herself while eying their wedding ring which she is still wearing in her finger.

"Because I has to be here love.."..she heard his manly voice and when she raised her face she found him standing in front of her in all his glory.

And there is that smile on his face which she surely don't appreciate at all, because it only hint on his evil side.

Nandini: "Why you has to be here Mr. Malhotra?"..she irked by his unannounced visits thus she stood up and glared back. But still there is that smirk plastered on his face which annoys her the most.

Manik: "To take you back with me. I realized that I was wrong..."..the last three words as soon as escaped his mouth left her dumbfounded.

The Manik Malhotra has accepted his fault? ...this is surely the breaking news.

Nandini : "Are you drunk?"..she asked still not able to believe ...

Manik: "No! Am sober."..he strictly answered and this made her realize that he is still in his arrogant avatar. But soon he composed himself and is back to his sugar coated talks.

Manik: "That night was a mistake. I went too far in rage , I shouldn't have raised hand on you. I'm sorry about that.."..she is looking at him like she has seen some ghost or an alien. This Manik Malhotra can't be the one she left 24 hours back in Mumbai.

Nandini : "What have you done to Mr. I can't be wrong Malhotra??"..she asked in nonchalant tone which surprised him. She always manage to throw him off guard by her mercurial personality.

Manik: "Listen! We can sort this, let's just sit and talk. "..he gestured towards the bench behind them but she gave him am-not-interested look ...

Nandini: "There is nothing which can be sort. Am free from you.."..by saying those four words she hit straight on his heart and he felt like she grabbed it out from his system.

Manik: "Nan...."..he tried to reason with her but she instantly placed the full stop on his never ending explanations.

Nandini: "Good night Mr. Malhotra.."..she walked out even without hearing his defensive answer, while he look at her leaving from there silently.

He felt like she slapped hard on his face and smashed his male ego brutally. He looked at her going away from him which made him feel like all his oxygen soaked out of his lungs, his heart stopped beating and slowly he is drifting towards the death.

Thus, keeping all his rational thoughts in side he started following her like her own shadow. She felt his presence behind her but didn't halted her steps and turn to look at him. She knows he is adamant to get her back but she is also well aware from the fact that he still haunts her, he still affects her, he still matters to her and she still loves him..

Nandini: "Stop it Manik. Just stop!"..after reaching the main road, Nandini instantly stopped and turned around to look at him. He was silently following her but stopped when she asked him to do so.

Nandini: "What do you want Mr. M?" ..she asked in anger and tired tone. He walked a little closer to her, and the lesser distance made her weak.

Manik: "I only want you to trust me, Will you do?"..his one simple sentence made her recall all those times she trusted him blindly and in return she received only betrayal.

Nandini: "Trust is earned and I can't magically hand it over to you. Hope am crystal clear to you Mr. M"...she strictly answered him after taking one step back, maintaining apt distance between them.

Manik: "But...."..he again tried to explain but she showed her hand to him.

Nandini: "Just leave Manik. Am done with you."..she answered furiously looking straight in his eyes.

He took three steps back from her, but looked straight in his eyes. And next what he said made her speechless..

Manik: "This distance between you and me will only be filled when you yourself come running to me. I will always be here waiting for your return and I will never stop trying.."..his sugar coated words made her stomach twitch, her heart sink in the darkness and her mind clouded with so many memories.

She too took some steps away from him and a lone tear escaped from her eyes.

Nandini: "No body can bridge this gap Manik. Neither me nor you."..she answered in piercing tone which pricked in his heart and he for the first time in the long time felt like she has finally build the road to his heart.

She controlled her emotions and turned to leave when suddenly her eyes fell on the high speed truck coming towards them and the target is Manik. She looked horrified, before she could even react she found herself running towards Manik in high speed while Manik looked extremely stunned by her behavior, as soon as she reached him she pushed him on the other side and the truck hit on her with such immense pressure that she flipped in the air and met the floor.

The whole event took place in an instant that neither Manik realized anything nor he got enough time to react on anything.

Next he found Nandini lying on the road in pool of blood, his heart stopped beating instantly.

Manik: "Nandiiiinnniiiii"..he shouted his lungs out while she was lying lifelessly on the road...

Screen freeze on his horrifying face....

******

I know story is progressing slowly and am not increasing the pace only in the fear of loosing the essence of the story.

But still I would welcome your suggestions if you have any.

Loads of love..
Your storyteller...