"Manik?"

Manik's eyes snapped opened and he looked at the source of voice.

"Arey Navya bhabi app, Please come!"
He said while getting up from his bed and keeping the guitar on it's place he signed Navya to sit on the couch while he took the other side of it.

"What happened bhabi is everything good? Did Cabir do something?" Manik asked in haste.

"Deverji! Relax, everything is good and nope, Cabir did nothing. I justed wanted to ask a favour from you." Navya said

"Favour?" Manik asked and Navya nodded her head in yes.

"First, bhabi you can command me anything and consider it done, no need for such formalities and second What is the matter? You look a little worried."

"Thank you Dever ji! Wo actually you know Mishti's Masi right? The one who met in her in the orphanage." Manik nodded his head in affirmation but also confusion was written in his mind 'Why will navya Bhabi, come to him at the uneven hour of the day that too, to talk about someone who isn't a family member?'

"Wo, you know that I and all the ladies of the house frequently visit an orphanage right?"

"So the owner of the orphanage Mrs Shikha Murthy and her daughter they both are really very sweet and as you know Mishti is very attached with her daughter, but from past six months they are nowhere to be seen, every time we visit, the manager who is now handling the orphanage, gives us silly reasons, like, Ma'am, has just gone out, she is out of city etc, but the point is Mrs Murthy never left the orphanage just in manager's guidance, either she or her daughter one of them is always present, plus Mishti is really missing her Masi, so I just wanted to request you, can you please get to know through your sources where Mrs Murthy and her daughter lives? Or their contact number or anything?"

Manik smiled at his Bhabhi's request and said: "Of course bhabhi, consider the work done, by tomorrow I'll get her contact number and her address."

Navya smiled at him thankfully "Thank you so much Manik!"

"Come on Bhabhi, ab aap mujhe thanks bolengi kya? Haa agar fir bhi thanks bolna hi hai toh mere liye kal mere favourite cupcakes bake kariye bohot din hogya nahi khaye! And please make it more because your foodie husband won't let me have it!" Manik chuckled and Navya laughed out loud.

"Okay done! You'll get your Snickers Cupcake tomorrow."

"You are the best!" Manik smiled gleefully

"Chalo now good night! Sleep tight!" Navya wished

Manik wished her back, Navya moved towards the door but halted er movements as manic asked: "Bhabhi, what is the name again?"

"Shikha Murthy and Nandini Murthy!" Navya said smiling but smile from Manik's face vanished as he heard the name 'Nandini Murthy'

"Shikha Murthy and Nandini..... Murthy?"

'Can it be my Nandini?' Manik asked himself but failed to notice that his heart said 'my' Nandini.

'No Manik, there are so many people with the same name wandering around, it's not necessary, she is the one and who in the hell will run an orphanage being in the escort and prostitution business?' his brain answered which was somewhat convincing to him but he wanted to confirm his thoughts.

"Manik are you okay?" Navya asked as she saw the frown lines of confusion occurred on his face.

Manik came out of his thoughts when he heard Navya

"yeah... yeah... bhabhi I'm alright!" Manik smiled at her and she reciprocated, Navya turned to leave but again Manik stopped her

"Bhabi, do you have their pictures?" Manik asked hopefully, maybe through pictures, he can clear his doubt.

"Umm... I don't have Shikha aunty's picture but I have Nandini's picture with Mishti in my phone, I'll send it to you right now." Manik nodded his head feebly

Navya finally went to her room and Manik's phone pinged with Navya's message.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇　

"Holy fuck, she is the same. Nandini Murthy is Mishti's masi!" Manik whispered as soon as he saw the pic appeared on his cell phone.

Flashes of yesterday night occurred in front of his eyes, her innocent face devoid of any makeup or emotions, eyes filled with pain, her lifeless body! Everything came in his mind.

"Is she forced to do all this?" Manik whispered to himself

Rage filled into his system, thinking someone forced her to come into prostitution!

But....

"Why m I so concerned about her?"

I threw the pillow on the floor due to irritation, irritated with the confusion, irritated with my feelings!

The more I get to know about her the more confusing she gets, and upon that my god damn heart, which pumps so fast after hearing her name, or just a mere thought.

I took the phone from my nightstand and dialled my personal 'sherlock'
he picked up the call in three rings

"Greetings Azrail!"

"Keep your greetings aside Curse, I want some important information regarding a lady and her mom!"

"Consider it done Azrail"

"I will once the work is actually done and mind you I don't want any single mistake or it will be your head and my revolver."

He gulped audibly "Ye..ss... Yes, I understand! Information will be there by afternoon..."

"Morning Curse, I want each and every and mind you every single detail about Nandini Murthy on my office table, till tomorrow morning. And I will not be entertaining any excuses"
I cut the call, without even listening to him.

"Ab jabtak 'Nandini Murthy' naam ki paheli (puzzle) suljhe gi nahi tab tak neend bhi nahi aayegi! Chain to mera already leliya tha tumne Nandini ab meri neend bhi leli! I said caressing her pic on my phone.

I took my laptop and started checking my emails and other works.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇　

"Chocolate Boy/Big bear"

I woke up with jerk hearing two shrilling voices ravaging my ears!
I looked beside me to see, Satan her now partner in crime laying on my bed with toothy girn and sheepish face!

I scowled at them glaring holes through my eyes, for one I didn't get an ounce of sleep, and now I was laying on my bed to get some peace but then this maniacs had to come. 'I know I'm your least favourite god, but that doesn't mean you keep on troubling me and testing my patience!' I cursed in my mind.

"What now?" I asked giving sarcastic smile to them.

"Nothing much! We just want your credit card!" Meher said shrugging her shoulders and Mishti nodded her head.

"Why? You both have your closet stocked with new clothes. So there is no need to go on shopping again."

"Who said we want your CC for shopping?"

"Yes! Chocolate boy, we want your CC for food!" Mishti said with dreamy eyes.

"There is home for food, you don't need to get out and hog!" I stated as a matter of fact.

"Okay let me rephrase it; we want your CC for junk food, which YOU have banned in this house till Christmas!" Meher glared at me.

"Nope you aren't getting anything, neither the CC nor the junk food," I said giving them sarcastic smile while getting up from the bed and moving towards the washroom.

"Is this your last de..sici..on (decision) Mr.Malhotra?" Mishti narrowed her eyes at me and got up from bed giving me an akimbo position.

I mimicked her actions and replied "Yes! Miss Dhawan this is my last decision!" and turned around

"You might want to change your decision after seeing this big bear!" Meher said in sugar-coated voice!

"And why is tha...." I choked my own words when I saw Meher showing me my mobile smirking, which had Nandini's picture on it. Oh, fuck, I forgot to lock my phone!

Wait, Do they know something?

I composed myself and asked "so what it's Nandini, Mishti's masi, and Navya bhabhi wanted me to track her as Mishti was missing her and wanted to meet her! You can't do anything huh!!" I exclaimed shrugging my shoulders.

"Oh! That I know big brother, but how will you justify this video?" She slides the screen and it showed the video in which I was hugging my phone and sleeping with small yet peaceful smile on my face but frowned when Meher took my mobile which had Nandini's picture and showed it towards the screen in which the video was getting recorded and at the ending of the video, Meher said 'Caught you bro!' wiggling her eyebrows.

I was hawking at the screen with a horrified face while both the devils were smirking looking at me.

"But this can do manyyy things Big Bear! Imagine I and Mishti showing this video to everyone on the dining table. What will you answer?" Meher mocked at me with fake pouting and Mishti stifled her laughter!

"You won't!" I threatened

"Oh! I would Big Bear!" Meher said smirking.

"Agghhhh!" I stomped my feet and went towards his walk-in closet, took my CC and threw it towards Meher who caught it efficiently!

"Yaaayyyy!!! Bui, you are shuperb (superb)!!!" Mishti climbed on the bed and gave Meher a hard kiss on her cheeks, while I had a small curve formed on my lips, but again I made a poker face and exclaimed,

"Oh hello, Miss Dhawan that is my CC, so you should be thanking me rather than your bui"

Mishti looked at me and waved her hands saying "Thank you to you too chocolate boy! But you have to agrlee (agree) that Meher bui is shmarter (smarter) than you!" and I was standing there stunned with my mouth hunged open!

"Run!" I said making an action of folding my selves ready to pounce on them, but as soon as I mumbled run they were out of my room.

I sighed in relief and turned towards my washroom "God, now I can get ready in peace." as soon as I said this I heard to voices near my door causing me to turn around.

"Wese! Nice choice Big Bear/Chocolate boy, it's a yes from us!" Meher and Mishti shouted and ran from there before I caught the hold of them again!

"Idiots." I muttered and locked my bedroom door.

But a small chuckle escaped from my mouth thinking about what they said.

"Really?" I asked looking at my visage in the mirror

Biting my lips a ruffled my hairs and finally, the realisation struck me, the curse might have collected every information I want about her.

Finally, I'll get to know about you, Miss. Nandini Murthy!

But use pehle I have to keep my CC safe. Nowadays, there is thereat to credit cards too.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

"Azrail" Curse greeted as soon as I gave him permission to enter

I nodded my head and asked him "What information you got about Nandini?"

"Azrail I have got all the information about her."

"What are you waiting for then, read it out."

"Ye..ss!"

"Name: Nandini Shikha Murthy

Age: 25

Complexion: Fair

Eye colour: Black

Hair colour: Black

Nandini, born on 29th February 1994 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. She hails from an upper-class family with roots in Mumbai. She did her schooling from Loreto Convent School, Delhi and Bachelors from Delhi University, she enrolled in IIM Mumbai to pursue her Masters.

Favourite movie: Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge.

"CURSE" I stopped him in his famous deep voice causing Curse to jump on his place.

"I don't want to know, about her favourites now, I can read it later, but right now come to the fucking point because you know I'm not patient person, now start before I end you," I said, leaning on my chair closing my eyes and keeping the thumb under my chin and index finger on the Philtrum (space between his nose and upper lips.)

"Umm..ahem... Okay, sir!"

"Sir, she and her mom have many orphanages and an event management company under her (Nandini) name, but six months ago something really bad happened with her. Something that changed her whole life for worse and she is still bearing the aftermath of that one mistake."

"Curse? Done beating around the bush?" I asked in my sweet but sarcastic voice.

"Yes, sir... I mean no sir.... I mean sor..sorry sir."

"I'll disclose further sir."

"Please do." I said sarcastically.

With this Curse said everything that happened with Nandini in these 6 months, from Nishant's trap to fake marriage to compelling her into prostitution and escort business.

* End of Manik's POV*

When Curse finished saying everything he looked up to see his boss, Azrail's jaw clenched, hands turned into fist and eyes were red depicting his anger.

"Leave," Manik commanded

Keeping the file on the table Curse left his cabin.

Manik got up from his chair and moved towards his cabin's window which showed the vast Arabian sea. this sea has always managed to calm down his anger to an extent but today this was also not working.

"Damn!" Manik kicked his chair in frustration.

He took a sharp breath and clutched his hairs in anger.

"Relax Manik, calm down." He muttered to himself

He sat on hid chair and leaned back with closed eyes to calm himself but nothing was working.

"I need my drink!" Manik stood abruptly from his seat and marched towards his door knocking out few things from his tabke from which one was Nandini's file.

He moved towards his door but stopped when he was about step on something, he took his step back and saw Nandini's photo lying on the floor.

He took the photo in his hands and saw Nandini posing to the camera with a cute smile which can make anyone melt, which can flatter anyone's heart.

Manik caressed her face over the photo with a small smile adorning her face. he came back towards his chair and sat down still caressing her face, her cheeks, her plumpy lips.

"I don't know, why I'm feeling this Nandini, I don't know why I'm angry with whatever happened with you, I don't know why I want to protect you from all the evils, heck I don't even know what name should I give to this feelings, this pull, this attraction towards you," Manik exclaimed in whispering voice looking at Nandini's photo.

He continued "But one thing I know is that I don't want to lose this feeling or...you, you won't be suffering anymore Nandini, you'll have me now. I'll take you out of your hell hole. Soon. Very soon." Manik smiled looking at her picture.

He took out his phone and dialled the broker's number

"Radhe, call the same girl which you did the day before yesterday to my suite, sharp at 7 in the evening today."

"She'll be there Azrail."

Precap: "I know everything about you Nandini." Mr Malhotra said and I sat there dumbfounded looking at his face for answers.

So how was the chapter?
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Sorry, the updating schedule was earlier but, unfortunately, I got really very sick and hence the delay!
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How many of you missed Mishti and Meher
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Few words on trio's (Manik, Meher, Mishti) bond
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Last but not least, Thankyou everyone for the votes and comments on the story ❤❤