A/N : So dear readers, although I have not given you guys any heads up, this is the last chapter and there will be an Epilogue to follow. 

I won't say much, but I have a request to make to all the readers who're going to read this chapter. My request is, you please leave me one comment on how you felt about the whole story together!

Happy Reading!

***

[Please note, this chapter has some matured content in terms of sexual implicitness - please be advised to read at your own discretion]

MANIK MALHOTRA

I sat in my bedroom, humming an unknown tune. I was lost in introspection. Bits of my conversation I had some time back with daadi floated in my mind.

"Manik puttar, you know, I don't like beating around the bush - I will ask you this straight up front - do you like my Nandini?" she asked me sternly.

My immediate answer was yes, and it was just about to slip out of my mouth, when I stopped. My promise to Nandini made me stop - she was here at my house only after I had promised I wouldn't bring this topic up - ever. Now, if her departure was inevitable then I didn't want to break my promise at the fag end - that to for nothing.

"Daadi, please don't get so hyper, Dhruv is handling his aunt nah? Let him come back and talk to us once - I am sure he will convince his aunt. And maybe then Nandini won't leave?" I mouthed my hope with uncertainty.

She stared at me sceptically, "So you don't like her" she responded conclusively. My entire being revolted at that statement, but I control the urge to explain things to daadi otherwise. I kept mum, and daadi took my response in affirmative.

"It's okay Manik puttar, I understand - just because Mukti and I love and adore her, we cannot push our feelings on you, after all it is your life. It's perfectly okay if you see her just as a good friend. I always wished that you both got together - ever since I saw my Nandini - I knew she was perfect for us all. But I cannot push my certainty on to you beta, that I know. I know that you don't want to settle down in life with anyone - I hate that - but I have learnt to accept that choice of yours. Under such circumstances, when Nandini came home and fulfilled all the duties of being a Malhotra bahu, somewhere I had started seeing her as one - I forgot, she has a life too. Puttar, I got selfish in happiness, I apologize for it - and it is my selfishness that stemmed out this embarrassment for my Nandini today. Will you help me rectify it?" daadi sounded deeply guilty and not to mention broken, my heart went out for my grandmother, I could never see her that way.

"Daadi, please stop blaming yourself. Nandini is such a girl - it is very difficult to not get oneself attached to her." I wanted to say more, like how I loved her for the same quality, but I refrained. I was willing to honour my promise to Nandini at any cost. Instead, I asked, "Daadi, how do you want to rectify things? Tell me, I promise to help you"

"Manik puttar, look for a groom for my Nandini - I want to get her married. Marrying her to a good man will give me as much peace as I got when I married off my little Mukti" she whispered.

"Marriage?" I repeated, scandalized. What had I got myself into? Not getting to be with Nandini was one thing, but seeing her go to someone else? Was I ready for that? I stared at daadi's questioning gaze - I failed to form words. After hopelessly gulping air for a while, I stammered, "Daadi, Nandini doesn't want to get married"

"You don't worry about that, convincing her is my job. You just need to find me a good groom for her. Can you do that?" I couldn't think of an apt response, instead I gave her a weak nod. She smiled satisfied. "Now, my Nandini will leave this house only when she is married." Then she walked away.

***

I still hadn't quite digested what daadi just told me. I had to find a groom for Nandini? The Nandini I have loved so immensely? How would daadi convince her to marry someone? If daadi did convince her, would that mean, she would start falling in love with this new man? Could she? As I was going through an uncomfortable patch of jealous pangs, I couldn't sit still any longer - I could sense my aggression take over my jealousy - I smashed a few items that were on display on my bed-side table. I was still not feeling better, I got up and shoved off the pillows and the duvet from my bed to the floor. That was when I heard a soft voice from the door.

"Manik, what's going on? Are you alright?" I was anything but alright at that moment. I felt angry, I was angry at her, I knew she wasn't at fault - but I was angry nonetheless - all I knew was, she was the root cause of this unknown misery that was plaguing me. I turned and walked towards her menacingly. She gulped a little, fear evident in her eyes - she took a few steps back and muttered, "Maybe I should come back later"

But I was too fast for her - I grabbed her by her elbow and pulled her inside the room, before she could escape. She looked at me startled, her big brown eyes reflecting her confusion - but by then, I was a goner - I pulled her inside and locked my bedroom door behind us, then I turned to her slowly.

"Manik, Manik, why did you lock the door? Is everything ---" but I never let her finish her statement. I roughly pushed her to the wall and caged her with my body. I could feel my muscles clench tightly as my body pushed hers to the wall. She had stiffened too - I could feel the stiff tension from her body that was now pressed against mine. Even though I was dripping in fury and jealousy, I felt oddly comfortable - even though stiff, her body did amazing things to me, I felt heat radiate throughout my body from every point of contact with her - I felt like I was on fire. The sensation was both fulfilling and teasing me - I felt my manhood slowly come to life. I think she felt it too - that is when she gasped and looked at me in a mix of shock and was it fear?

"Manik---" That's all that escaped her trembling lips as she slowly glided her palm over my biceps, all the way from my elbow to my shoulder, where she then gripped me.

Her gasp and touch stroked my male ego - she was mentally shocked indeed, but her body was readily responding to me - that was some consent. I felt her taking heavy breaths. Her eyes were still wide in shock from the moment earlier - but her expression had softened. Seeing that, I figured that something in me changed too. The anger was dying, and an incapacitating need to be closer to her, engulfed me.

I brought my face still closer to her, she instinctively tried to turn her face aside, it worked well for me - I primarily wanted to ask her something - a little something that stemmed out of my love, guilt and jealousy. I looked at her ear which was bright red right then, a little smile escaped my lips, I could feel my anger subside, being so close to her. She was wearing a tiny stud on her ear, it made her look even more delicate. I traced her earlobe with my lips, ever so gently - I felt her body shiver against mine at the touch, then I murmured in a husky tone, into her ears.

"Nandini, if I have sex with you tonight, will you not leave me tomorrow and go?" I could feel her body turn to stone. We both were revelling at the memory of one cold night in Delhi, many many years back. The incident of that night played in both our mind from the moment she had asked me a similar question - when her breath hitched, I realized she was remembering my answer all those years back.

Time seemed to have slowed down for me. I was patiently waiting for her response - I was waiting for her to respond in negative - then we would be even. It was only after that I could think of making her consider the us' once more. In the meantime, I traced her ears with my lip and she twitched her head in response.

"Yes" she replied simply, startling me to no end. I was taken aback. Did I mishear her? I moved my head back a little and turned her face towards me.

"Yes?" I questioned.

"No?" she questioned me back with confusion. It baffled me further. Here I was giving her a chance to be even with me, and here she was letting it pass? And what did she mean by saying she won't leave? Did it all not start because she was leaving in the first place?

"Nandini, you can deny me this time - you can get even with me for hurting you so bad, for being a sheer pig back then" I murmured with my head bent low.

"But I have already forgiven you for that ages back, Rockstar!" she smiled. My head snapped up at hearing rockstar, her old way of mocking my arrogance. My lips twitched into a smile, but I was still confused. I pulled my body back, letting some air finally pass between our bodies - both her taut body and my impatient manhood could wait for the confusion to get over - I thought to myself.

"But didn't you decide to leave the house, and even Mukti wasn't being able to stop you?" I asked her in confusion.

"I was, and then I changed my mind" she smiled mischievously. Clearly she was playing with my senses. I needed my answers fast - I knew my body wouldn't resist for too long before closing back on her - already I was needing every ounce of determination in my body to keep me from her - and here she was playing with words? It irritated me.

"What do you mean you're not leaving and you changed your mind?" I asked all jittery.

"So, now you want me to leave or what?" Clearly she was now enjoying her game - her way I guess of getting even with me - playing me up, both physically and emotionally.

I had had enough - enough of letting her get even - I pushed my body back on her and pressed her against the wall again, her face was back with a shocked expression - this time I took pleasure in seeing it - I was in control.

I moved my mouth closer to her full lush lips, it was unusually dry, I softly licked them back to moisture. She drew a sharp breath. I placed a light kiss on her slightly parted lips and waited for a moment - giving her time to resist me - none came and then I gently sucked on her lower lip with the slightest pressure - she tasted ethereal. She slowly parted her lips in submission and I gently prod my tongue into her mouth - soon it became like a frenzy for me and I let my tongue escape in the softness of her mouth as I hungrily explored her mouth. In some time, she started responding to the kiss. I found her sliding up her hands against my body and soon she folded her arms around my neck and stood up on her toes to push my face back while trying to gain control.

I gently picked her up by the waist and she instinctively curled her legs against my thighs - her light weightless fragile body evoked a domineering male instinct in me, I clutched her tighter, closer to me and walked to bed, still giving and still taking as much with my lip on hers.

I lay her on the center of the bed and stayed hunched over her like her personal brand of shield, her legs still curled around my thigh, our tongues continued their erotic journey until we both were out of breathe and broke the kiss for a breather.

I was still curious, "Nandini, are you going to tell me now, what's going on in your mind?" I coaxed.

The Nandini I was used to nowadays with, would never have answered that question straight away, she had become this shielded person off late. But to my surprise, her response left me stunned.

"I love you very much, Manik." she said simply.

"You do?" the words escaped before I could rephrase it.

"Don't I?" she looked at me, mocking a questioning look.

"No, I mean, you still do?" I asked, perplexed.

"Why else do you think I am still under you rockstar?" she raised her eyebrows in the typical Nandu from yesteryears way! I smiled in relief, then laughed in happiness and hugged her tight. She arched her body to tightly press it against me - she fit my cage perfectly - like she was always meant to be.

"I love you Nandini Murthy" I murmured, and she purred in content in response.

Then we gave in to passion.

It was my first real night with Nandini - I was christened to be hers now and forever.

***

I woke up in the morning and found myself spooned with Nandini in my arms. I smiled in content. I had the feeling of being whole again, I felt happy and warm - like I can never be sad again - there was no place of sadness in my life, every bit of it was occupied by her. I saw her peacefully sleeping on my arms for some time - it was a priceless sight to see her sleep so peacefully - I suddenly shuddered remembering her state that night when she was addicted to her pills - what a waste she had become, I pulled my thoughts back to the present and looked down at her serene face. I kissed her gently on the nape of her neck, as she snuggled close into me.

"Oyi Nandu, wake up. It's your sister's wedding week. We have loads of work to complete"

"Hmmm...gnom gnom" she muttered in sleep. I smiled and gently prodded her cheek with my nose.

"Nandu, Aliya needs you now, wake up" I said a little louder. She opened her eyes unwillingly and rubbed her eyes lazily. Then she turned to me and flashed her cutest puppy smile, hell I could do anything for that one smile.

"Rockstar, go help Aliya nah, I want to sleep a little bit more" she said most adoringly biting her lower lip. I bent over gently and kissed her lips slowly.

"Okay love, I am going. You come soon"

She nodded and went back to sleep with a content smile.

***

When you have a wedding at hand, agreed it is a tough job to execute, but when the groom himself is a rockstar's ex-business manager, the bride is a manager in the hospitality industry and the groom's best friend and the rockstar's little sister is a professional event manager - with all of them teamed together, preparations can seem like a cake walk. Thus when I walked out of my bedroom to join hands in the wedding preparations, a smug Mukti informed me, there was no work left for me to take charge of, I could just sit back and relax with Nandini - there was a special emphasis on the last word. I guess privacy is difficult to attain when your lady love and sister are besties!

I just strolled around the household humming a tune and seeing the staff busily arranging for the engagement ceremony in the evening. I occasionally glanced towards my bedroom to see if Nandini was coming out - by the looks of it, I realized I would have to go back in sometime to wake her up again, she was in no mood to step out of the room otherwise.

I decided to have my cup of cinnamon coffee and read the morning headlines before waking Nandu up. My ex-flame Soha was on news (well she was the only other official girlfriend I had), the headlines covered news on the supermodels lavish wedding in a vineyard in Italy with a leading Indian business tycoon. I laughed, finally Soha achieved her dreams of a lavish well settled life with a rich man. I read the article to find even my name mentioned in it, as the supermodels ex flame - and how us rockstar's never end up marrying because it affects our fandom (apparently that's why supermodel Soha had dumped me. LOL). Well, it was sort of true, look at rockstar Angad, he was the nations muse before me of course, but then he got married, and I don't know if that was the precise reason, but his life did change, his career did see a flip - the rockstar did fall, and from the ashes rose I - Rockstar Manik - single, available, sexy and fantastic - that's what they all want.

***

Aliya's wedding was over - thankfully Dhruv's chachi didn't pose more annoying questions and Nandini was of course staying at ours. The wedding was lavish and we had a lot of fun - roaming around a brightly decorated house with Nandu dressing up gaudily every day for some occasion or the other, life was a treat for me. My Nandu was a stunner - her mesmerising eyes, her soft delicate physique, her gentle curves and her sweet innocent smile, it stole my heart every time. I roamed around her throughout, trying hard not to make it look obvious - Mukti occasionally gave me exasperated looks, but I laughed it off. Unofficially she knew about us, I never told her anything on the face, but we both were comfortable this way - I had decided to tell daadi first. I would ask her about dropping the idea of Nandu's wedding. But that was only after Dhruv and Aliya's wedding - after all this was their special time, why spoil it?

***

I was sitting in the living area with an extra cranky Krish screaming his lung out on my lap. Mukti had gone shopping with Aliya, leaving little Krish with us. Krish had dirtied his diaper and Nandini had gone inside to get his change, leaving Krish with me. I was never good at handling babies, and nephew dearest had gone after his dad in crankiness - I was trying to hush him when daadi came there. She smiled seeing that I was unable to manage Krish.

"Puttar, leave it, you can't manage my Krishie, give him to me" I happily tried passing him to her, but Krish clung on to me.

"Puttar, I think he is missing Abhimanyu" said daadi, sadly. I sighed, Krish was just being cranky, he wasn't old enough to recognize his dad, forget about missing him - but who would explain that to daadi? I kept quiet and hoped that Nandini would return soon.

"Puttar, I always wanted to play with your babies like this - my great grandchildren, my Manik's children" daadi sighed.

"Daadi, you have Krish right? Your great grandson?" I replied bored.

"I do, but once Abhimanyu is back next month, he will go away, I will miss him so much" daadi sulked.

"Well, then you can go and stay with the for a while, Mukti would love it"

"I know, I think I will. After all Krish is my only treasure, you will never give me this joy of course." She looked low.

"Daadi-----" I began exasperated.

"It's okay beta, I will find my happiness in my Krishie. But I can't move with them, till I get my Nandini married. Did you find a groom?" she asked me hopefully.

I thought of telling daadi in a more dramatic way about our relationship, but now seemed great too.

"Daadi, we don't need to look for a groom for Nandini anymore" I replied with a coy smile.

"Why beta?" asked daadi, surprised.

"Because she had found someone daadi" I reverted with a grin.

"Arre waah, who is the lucky man? Do we know him? May God give them all the happiness" sang daadi in joy.

"Yes daadi, you know him - in fact he is your grandson" I spilled the beans on her.

"Acha" she replied first and then she seemed to register what I actually meant! Her face broke into such a smile that I have never seen before - she seemed like she was on the top of the world.

"My Nandini and my Manik?" she muttered with happy tears in her eyes, and silently prayed to God for our happiness. I went and hugged her and we had a very emotional moment there.

"Manik! Oh God, I hope I am not dreaming! If I am, please don't wake me up!" she exclaimed.

"No daadi, you are not dreaming, Nandini and I love each other for years now - we had to sort a few issues that's all." I consoled her happily.

"Years? Issues? You took years to resolve? You dumb boy! Why didn't you tell me? Anyways, now that all is well, let me talk to pandit ji and get dates for your wedding fixed at the earliest!" she laughed in content.

To this day, I don't know why I reacted that way, but I remember mouthing the words, "Marriage? Why?"

"Khote de puttar, now that you are in love, you have to marry, na beta!" said daadi reasonably.

Something from a newspaper article I read some days back, flashed in my mind - rockstar's fall after marriage - and before I could control my tongue, I said,

"I am not getting married to Nandini daadi. I am a rockstar" and I almost screamed this out, so that I could be heard over Krish's incessant screams.

But all daadi said in response was, "Nandini!"

I quickly turned back to see Nandu standing behind me with Krish's change of clothes. No, it wasn't Nandu, it was the Nandini Murthy that Nandu had recently shed off her - she was back - she was standing - I could see the impenetrable walls rebuilding around her - That is when I knew, no amount of explanations could change anything - my Nandu, my Nandz had died that day - she was gone for good; and I had killed her.

That day, in the battle for survival, Manik the rockstar had won over Manik Malhotra.

Manik and Nandu - both had died in the hands of the rockstar that day.

THE END

***

A/N : Guys, this is the longest chapter in the story, but I let it stay long without editing much of it, the feelings needed to come through.

This is where I want you guys to comment on how you feel about the whole story. I know unhappy endings aren't exactly uplifting, but this is also a face of true love and a person's journey. What do you feel?

Lastly, there will be an EPILOGUE to this story - and I won't make you guys wait until next weekend for it. 

Please join me in celebrating the end of the story with the EPILOGUE at 4PM IST on Sunday (tomorrow) - looking forward to a lot of buzz!

Much love,

A.