Bashing=blocked. I will not take any words against Manik after this chapter, one statement up and down and I'd directly block you. If you don't like how this story will take a turn after this chapter, simply leave. I will not entertain any negative comments.

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He fell in love with the stars too fondly to ever fear the darkness.

N A N D I N I

"How am I looking?," I whispered with the big smile on my face as I bit my lower lip, twirling around in the black basic frock, just to be answered by the dead panning yet comforting silence of course.

"I know! I know! Humesha ke jaise 'bomb' lag rhi hu na?" I winked trying to praise myself, not to let my morale down. "I miss you yaar!" I whispered slowly as the smile disappeared and I stared at the beautiful smile of my late best friend in the frame.

"Do you remember how I used to keep doing the 'The Manik Malhotra' chant all the time and how you used to always grump about my silly crush on him but I never listened to you?", I bit my lower lip as the redness crept over to my cheeks. "And also, do you remember how you used to always tell me that Manik can never love me because he's a monster and I used to always get irritated asking you, how do you know that?" I smiled.

"You were right! So, so right! But what you didn't know is, that monster has such a beautiful heart behind the mask of darkness that needs to be found just like we find treasure in the ground by digging in deep and then has to be valued and taken care of, because he's not a monster, he is the kind of prince that had been turned into a beast, the kind of heart that's been worn too much to emit any kind of love, but still the kind of heart that's beautiful and comfortable and you can just be in love with all the time and call it home!", I smiled at my reflection upon hers on the glass frame since it's kinda weird how I can talk and keep talking about him all the time and yet never get tired of all of it.

"And today, I'm going for a date-... oops, a dinner with the monster!" I sighed with a pretty smile on my face, "And I just wish you could be here so that I could see your grumpy face and tease you once more before starting my imaginary happily ever after!".

"No matter what the day is, how the story flips, with every chapter of my book, every sentence of my mouth and every though on my mind,I'd always miss you, okay?" I slightly kissed the frame. "And also, meine tumhaare boyfriend ko nahi bataya about this dinner, orelse I would have been dead! Sambhal liyo upar se please!" I winked pleading her as I rushed.

I'm sorry Zubin. I love you so much! I never wanted to lie to you, but maybe I was left with no other option. If I would have told you, you would have never allowed me and then there was no chance to escape as well. And now that I fly away like a free bird after telling you that I'm going to sleep early, it's on me. Maybe his ways were wrong, but Manik has taught me some of the most important lessons of my life and the one thing I know now is- if I cannot raise heavens, I'd bend hells for him.

For him.

Clicking my lock screen for the nth time in the past hour, I glanced at the time again. 8:30 PM. Had he like forgotten about our da-.. dinner or something? Should I call him up? Or would that look too desperate? Or maybe I should leave a small message asking him where he was?

Chucking the million unanswered questions floating in my mind and troubling my thoughts from running in the straight direction, I decided to get down from the balcony of Zubin's mansion and walk towards Manik's, maybe I spot him somewhere lost in the roads in his sparkling BMW. Wrapping a multicoloured Indian scarf around my neck, I walked on the isolated and dark roads.

At such a peak time, Mumbai roads are usually very packed with a lot of traffic and people, but it was weird now that it was so isolated today, without even any people, leave cars alone. But I took this to my advantage, since it would be easy to spot Manik or his cars or even his bodyguards in this emptiness around me.

The road was so silent, that i could hear the clicking of my own heels on the ground as I walked and cool breeze flowed across my face, not letting the soft smile disappear from my face as sweet memories played and replayed in my mind.

"An angel to some, a devil to others,"

He isn't wrong, he does have those devils in his eyes, but those devils ain't bad. They're just waiting until eventually, they find some person who's tired of the games too just like he is and her loyalty matches his. Maybe I'm not the one, maybe I don't even want to be the one because he deserves way too much love then I can ever give him, his heart is of gold and he deserves a girl who can value him just as much as he deserves, but what I know is he deserves happiness and a lot of it.

Lost in the imagination world of Manik Malhotra fanclub, I didn't realise as my heel got stuck in a pile of stones and I lost my balance, almost slipping onto the ground. Manik Malhotra's thoughts itself are destructive to me, and I don't need any other proof to tell me that as I closed my eyes tight, embracing myself to fall onto the ground when I felt a pair of two strong hands encircling my waist.

Almost sighing in relief at the person holding my small frame, I slowly opened my eyes with an unexpectant view, my eyes fell upon a upward tilted lips into a smirk and a black leather jacket as I withdrew myself immediately, straightening my dress.

The man looked like a rowdy goon, worse than the ones you see in movies with a bad smirk playing on his lips as his eyes scanned me from head to toe and I pulled my black dress lower, but it barely touched my knees as I placed the scarf on my arms, trying to cover the bare knees and I scrunched my body together, feeling conscious and nervous.

My heart beat faster than it should and I squeezed my eyes very tightly, not knowing what to do and what not when a huge whistle blow made me shiver in my place and I opened my eyes, witnessing my nightmare with open eyes.

"Kya kehte hai angrezi mein, beaayutiful. Haa vahi hai aap toh!" He laughed roaming slow circles around me and gulping my saliva tightly, I tried running away before he held my hand and pushed me back to where I was standing.

"Kahan jaa rahi hai aap, bhagvan ne seedha aapko humare upar giraakar bheja tha! Itna jaldhi toh aapko nahi jaane de sakte, ab toh raat sirf shuru hui hai, ab toh aapka aur humara samay hai!," He smiled showing his warm teeth as he took a step towards me and I gulped my saliva, as his words made me angry.

His hand reached the strap of my black dress, trying to pull it down. He didn't just try to remove my dress, he tried to remove my dignity, my self respect, my everything. And there is no girl fiercer than a girl who's nerve points are provoked, dignity is questioned and character is played with.

Raising my foot as high as I could, I aimed at his weak point, at the place where sun couldn't shine but it hit his thigh instead and I cribbed at my bad luck today as his expressions turned more furious ones. And suddenly, just in that moment, I realised I needed Dad. I was his baby girl, always hidden in his warmth and embrace and I needed him to protect me again. I didn't want to be brave enough for the world, I wanted to be weak in my fathers arms. I needed him, not the world.

His fierce eyes moved his hand ferociously on my right cheek as I fell back to the ground with the force of his slap, still refusing to give up as I held my cheek.

"You fucking bastard!," I shouted as I bit his hand that tried roaming over my bare arms skin, and he shouted withdrawing his hand. His eyes burned into mine and they were stronger than I could look into and this could be my destruction as well as my my end as I covered my face by my hand from another brutal mark on the side of the road and heard another slap sound but it wasn't me.

Tell me this is a nightmare. Tell me I'm getting up. Tell me I'm still in my bed. Tell me it's all going to be okay. Tell me this goon isn't there. Tell me I'm going to be at my house. Tell me this isn't true. Tell me he wouldn't touch me. Tell me he didn't touch me. Tell me this wouldn't break me. Tell me I'm going to be okay. Tell me things that make me fine. Tell me I'm strong because I ain't, not anymore.

Opening my eyes to see ahead, I saw two figures instead of one into some kinda brutal fight and I hugged my knees tighter. This is not true, this is not supposed to be. As the darkness in front of my eyes disappeared, the first face that made its my way to my eyes was very much similar, as it turned to mine and the most beautiful pair of eyes made its way to me, speaking some words that I couldn't understand and I didn't want to because they were too deep for me to, too dark, the kind of dark that might consume me completely.

"Sir!," I suddenly shouted and I didn't know how the words escaped my mouth in shock as the goon hit the bamboo stick in his hand on his arm, making him shriek in shock and he turned behind, kicking the already injured goon for one last time as he fell to the ground. Where the fuck were his bodyguards?

Once again turning towards me, his eyes poured into mine and I slowly gulped my saliva, hugging my knees tighter, trying to look everywhere but my eyes ultimately got stuck at him as he brushed the dirt on his fitted white tee shirt.

"You can never keep yourself out of trouble, isn't it princess?" He raised one eyebrow and I got up wiping the dirt and flowing mascara on my face. I didn't know what I was doing or what was right or wrong, but the next thing I knew was I ran towards him, crashing into his chest.

"Princess?" He called and I bit my lower lip, trying to drink away the arousing tears as I nodded negatively closing my eyes tighter, and clutched his tee shirt even tighter. I could hear him sigh above my head as his hand slowly patted my head and the other hesitatingly touched my back, trying to hug me. He needn't have to hug me because without even trying to, he was providing the warmth and peace my heart needed at this moment, my home.

"It's okay, you're safe!" He whispered, trying to rub my shoulders and provide me the warmth. Trying to wipe away my non-existing tears, I broke away from him, continuously chanting sorry. There was some kind of hollow space in my heart suddenly, filling with the warm blood of having him and the cold blood of being harassed, both together. This was supposed to be the best night of my life, what was it turning into?

"I'm very hungry, aur tum?", he asked stretching his hands in the air and I stared at him with wide eyes, trying to rub my hands to protect it from the cold. Was he even human? Why couldn't he see the pain of a girl who almost got harassed?

"I am," I slowly whispered looking down with swollen eyes as I felt my stomach rumble by the hunger. I was so excited by the 'not a date' with him that I didn't eat anything at home. Looking everywhere and trying to make my disheveled state presentable, I felt something hard but soft hit my body and I looked up to see his leather jacket on my body and his eyes looking everywhere but at me.

He slowly pointed towards my dress strap that now had holes from the goon's nails. Embarrassed by my own mess, I slowly wore the jacket over mine and I was surprised how it was matching to my dress. For the first time in a while, I had put efforts in dressing up, and it all went in drain which made me so much more sadder.

Silently, I followed him wherever he walked for the next two minutes, with the cold breeze touching our bodies and the lights of millions of stars overhead. It was just as romantic as a movie set up for the leads to kiss but this wasn't any movie set up, and he was no hero despite of being a hero.

"We reached!," He said slowly pursing his lips together and I squeezed my eyebrows at the sight in front of me. Where was the five star hotel? Where was the date set up? Where were the arrangements?

"A dhaaba?" I asked biting my lower lip as I looked at him and he crunched his eyebrows together. "Please don't tell me you're one of the girls who doesn't like roadside food because you think it's unhygienic and want to go to some five star hotel or something for a casual dinner!" He mocked and my mouth almost fell open.

"I always wanted to eat in a dhaaba, but Dad and then Zubin never allowed me!" I almost shouted as excitement glittered in my eyes and I licked my lower lip while he giggled looking at me, I have no idea if that was sarcastic or real but whatever it was, it was beautiful.

Without even waiting for him, I sat on one of the netted couches, in not sure about what is it called, and he covered his face as if telling me he is embarrassed before sitting opposite to me. "It's so difficult to believe that the superstar Manik Malhotra, likes this chotu sa dhaaba!," I teased making my fingers small and he rubbed his hand to his chin.

"I really come here often, and I really like it. It's kinda peaceful here, like no one even cares about anyone else except their own life, no pokey business, nothing. I don't have to hide here behind my bodyguards, because no one really cares if I'm a superstar or a beggar. I'm just a human, a human like them for them, and sometimes... it feels nice to be ordinary too!" He crunched his nose and eyes together looking like the cutest human being on earth like a kid and right at that moment, I wanted to gobble him up.

Someone came to take the order and he got busy talking the waiter but I couldn't help but admire the simplicity hidden inside him behind the veil of elegance. Today, once again, I saw a new shade of him which isn't visible to anyone else and I'm glad I could see it, and I selfishly wanted myself to be the first and last one. I wanted this beautiful human sitting in front of me for myself and no one else, and even the thought of sharing him with someone pained me so much though I knew i had to, some day. He will also fall in love with someone someday, and though I wanted to, I knew that someone could never be me.

"Kahan kho gyi?," He snapped his fingers in front of my eyes and breaking away from my world, I nodded negatively with a smile. "Sir, will you answer a few of my questions if I ask you?," I bit my lower lip nervously and he gave me a thoughtful glance.

"Well princess, my mood seems to be nice enough today! Ask whatever you want to until you don't cross your lines, you have two minutes. Shoot whatever you want to, in your limits I repeat," his words were slow yet cold but comforting at the same time and I'm probably the only human that can feel three opposite feelings in a few words, all thanks to my obsession for Manik Malhotra.

I had so much to speak but it seemed that all the questions in my head just seemed to be drained up at the time when I needed them. "Sir, why do you love the stars so much?," I asked slowly. That same, old question, isn't it?

"You really want to get into philosophy right now?," He seemed bored and I nodded. "I don't want to know what the world knows, I want to know your story. Why do you love the stars, not philosophy!" I smiled leaning on the table and the conversation just got interesting.

"My father! When I was a kid, my father taught me to gaze the stars whenever I miss someone and the stars are the closest thing I have to him, I believe," his reply was short and curt and I didn't want to drive him back to the secrets of his past that might as well haunt him today but I couldn't help. The more I was getting involved into the conversation, the more deeper and interesting it became, and there was no going back though I knew this was provoking the monster inside him.

"Sir-, why did you......," my words were cut off by the waiter who already brought our food which included big parathas and proper punjabi food laced but ghee and butter and being the foodie I was, just like him, we both pounced upon the food, almost forgetting my question.

"How's it?", he looked up and I licked my fingers, "the yummiest I've ever eaten!" I smiled cheekily and he seemed satisfied as his smile got bigger and one of the best feelings in the world is to see someone's smile get bigger because of you.

"Sir, I'm a media student. I've heard rumours that you were very close to your mother, is-....," he didn't stop me but rather I did when he suddenly looked up, his eyes piercing into mine.

"My mother is dead.," He gritted and I knew it was my turn to shut up or else I'm not returning back home.

"My chance, princess. Why do you trust me?" He asked leaving his fork and the rice in my mouth stuck up as I coughed hard just by hearing the question, and he immediately offered me water, but I pretended to cough until I formed a suitable answer in my head to give him.

"I don't trust you, sir. I believe you. And I believe that every person in this world should have one chance to be believed until they prove it wrong, they prove it that they don't deserve to be believed. That might sound similar, but there's a lot of difference between believe and trust," I lied drinking a sip of water and he seemed quite impressed.

"So, this is my chance, hmm?" He raised his eyebrows and I nodded positively. "I think there's no other thing more destructive and dangerous than belief and hope, but I do not believe there is a more necessary or perfectly beautiful one either," He raised the corner of his lips and I half smiled. His statement confused me for a minute and I had to replay it in my mind twice before registering it.

I half smiled leaning behind and slowly look everywhere, "You play with words sir, as if it's your job from a millions years. But I'm aware, the people who have the power to play with words have the deepest souls. They've been through storms and yet know how to love the light by living in the darkness and how to accept their insecurities. People who play with words have a long experience in playing and killing their own emotions. Blessed are the ones who play with words, because they know what it is to be dark, and what it is to crave the light.," I smiled and he seemed impressed.

"You speak such deep things, and then tell me that I play with words? You play with words too, so does that mean your soul is dark and broken too?" He asked raising his eyebrows, I naughty smirk on his lips as he turned away and ordered for the bill.

"You said 'too'! Doesn't this mean that you accept that you're dark and broken?" I pursed my lips and raised my eyebrows and his smirk broke out into a genuine smile. The waiter brought the bill and I tried peeping in to see my share.

"What are you doing princess?" He knitted his face together and I bit my lower lip. "I'd pay!" He insisted while I looked at him disappointedly.

"This is a dinner sir, not a date, and I am capable of paying my own share. If it would have been a date, i would have allowed you to pay...," I let my voice fade in a dramatic tone and he looked up at me with square eyes. "Such a drama queen you are!" He nodded shaking his head and I removed the money of my bag, giving it to him while he payed it back to the waiter.

"So, shall we?" He asked getting up as he put his hands into the pocket and I frowned. Why did I have such less time with him?

Disinterested, I got up and followed him down the street again, his jacket still hugging my body. I wondered what would be the case if someone saw me here with him, let it be his employees or Zubin or even Aryamman for the fact, which reminds me I haven't spoken to him since long.

"How did your bodyguards allow you out with me?," He asked without looking at me and I looked at him confused. "...Zubin and Aryamman," he specified but I wondered how he knew I was confused when he never looked at my face.

"Voh toh meine bataya hi nhi!" I said in a breath and then bit my tongue at the mistake I had created. I wasn't supposed to tell it to anyone, not to him also! I looked at the smirk playing on his lips with amused eyes that stared at my face as my eyes roamed everywhere before getting stuck at him.

"Why do you and Zubin, Aryamman hate each so much?," I asked out of curiosity and his eyes turned stone cold and black, as if some sudden fire enlighten in them. Had I asked anything wrong?

Being answered by silence just made me more curious to it. "Is it-... is it somewhere related to Mu-Mukti?," I asked wearing my heart at my sleeve. Tell me a no Manik, tell me that everything they've tried stuffing my mind with is wrong. Tell me you're innocent, Manik!

Making my heart just skip a beat, he nodded positively and I could already feel my fast beating heart shatter. My vulnerable eyes stared into his cold ones, his face shined by the moonlight falling, but his expressions told a different story.

His expressions told that he has never cared and he never will because he has no reason to. He was as relaxed as the calm and beautiful morning after a terrible storm but his eyes had a war raging within them, some kind of fire that could only burn you, no matter how much love you have to offer. Autumn is beautiful, because everything around us is drying and so is he beautiful, because there's nothing left within him alive. He has a wild and wandering soul and when he becomes destructive, he can rip the world with bare hands and that doesn't fear him anymore.

"Ha-ve... you.. k-killed M-Muk-ti...?" I felt my voice breaking and tears arousing. My veil of his deceptive and broke heart couldn't break again, but maybe it was supposed to.

He stood there transparent, behind the veil of misconceptions of a broken heart that I had in my mind as his eyes revealed the truth in him and the stars put light on it, and I realised who stood in front of me was no broken man of an angel in the form of a devil. He was a monster, a living monster.

Looking everywhere for once, he nodded positively and I felt the ground disappearing as I fell into some kinda abyss, as I let out the tears loud and clear. Without even thinking another time, my hands reached his cheek, and his face tilted to the side as he was taken off guard of course and I came him what he deserved- a slap right on his ego.

Holding my mouth to not let me cry out, I ran from there. Maybe he did have a good heart. Maybe he was changed for good now. But his secrets were as deep and dark as the ocean and I was just used to swimming on the shallow end. Maybe he did wait for someone who can love and accept his past and dark secrets. But that someone was not me, not anymore. His love was the abyss I fell into to just invite my own destruction, since I knew my life was going to change now, completely. I'd live a life without Manik Malhotra.

• Tell me the story of how
the sun loved the moon so much
that it died every night
just to allow the moon to breathe. •

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