It was almost evening when everyone were settled down in the family room watching some international cricket and conversing on random topics.

By the way Manik, what are you going to do with the other ring? Are you planning to give it to someone else?

Cabir bickered. Manik was now tired of his comments. He made a boring face and spent a moment debating whether he should smack him or punch him in his face.

Nandini who was sitting in Manik's lap sideways playing with his fingers elbowed him in his stomach and raised her eyebrow.

Manik sighed and sweetly said,

Baby, ab Shaadi ke liye propose Kiya hai toh sagaai ke liye bhi toh ring chahiye hogi  naa.

Nandini pondered for a while and nodded in agreement and again got busy in his fingers.

Manik glared at Cabir and asked,

Oii, teri problem kya hai huh? Aaj subah se dekh raha hu teri zubaan kuch jyada hi chal rahi hai?

Cabir faked a smile,

Woh kyaa hein naa meri neend mere liye bohot important hai, aur tune ushke saath khilwaad kiya toh mujhe baadla toh lena padegana.

He said dramatically. Manik at once picked up a cushion and through it directly upon him making everyone laugh.

After a while, Mukti stood up and suggested,

Hey girls, why don't we go and celebrate some 'We' time together.

To which Alya joined and said,

Let's watch a movie with some gossips, what say?

Seeing their plans for the evening, Maddy interrupted,

Why don't we all watch some movie together?

No! We want some privacy, you all continue with your cricket.

Alya taunted and Maddy pouted.

Anyways kids, I have a call in five minutes with Mr. Clifford so excuse me.

Saying this, Neyonika moved to her room.

Nandini hopped and ordered,

  Let's have a pajama party kins.

All of them hooted and moved towards Manik- Nandini's room to get changed.

Dhruv gave a sympathetic look towards Manik and said,

Best of Luck with the clean up , Buddy!

Manik moved his head and walked towards the bar to make their drinks.

The girls were busy in their private party and the boys mingled with some drinks and sports. Soon the match got over and boys got indulged in business talks. Cabir was sharing about the latest development in their music label. And how things have changed since their times. Well, in the hospital when Manik was signing the consent paper for Nandini he mentally took a promise that he will leave the second most important thing in his life if Nandini comes out of dangerous safely - and that was Music!

The first was obviously Nandini.

And when Paul declared that she was safe four days after, the next thing he did was giving the official resignation to Fab-5. The others did rebel him saying he could still continue as the head of Fab-5 office even if he backs out as the lead singer. But Manik didn't agreed. Since that day he cut off all his relations with Music. In fact, he never stepped in the fab-5 office since then.

They were interrupted by the ring of Manik's phone.

Yes, hi Jeff what's up?

And the reply he got made him smash his wine glass on the coffee table so hard that all of the witnesses got startled.

How in the damn hell did they allow him? I am going to sue them. Jeff, you have time till tomorrow morning 7, get me a team of senior officers from SFPD( San Francisco Police Department) or at 7:01 start looking for another job. And I mean it.

He threw his phone somewhere and frustratedly moved his palms through his hairs getting pissed.

Abhimanyu dared to ask him,

Wha... What's wrong Manik?

Manik stood up and shouted,

Bloody Shaurya Malhotra boarded the flight to San Francisco from Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport this morning.

How did he got the fucking visa?

All of a sudden the ambiance got somber.

Harshad thought for a while and asked,

I thought he was in prison and you said that he will not be out his entire lifetime. How come he escaped the prison in the first place?

Manik gave him a glance and rushed upstairs.

He entered the theatre room banging the door. The sudden sound made Navya and Mukti scared, for Alya and Nandini were already asleep.

Manik dashed in and at once cupped Nandini's face and showered kisses all over randomly, calming his inner fire.

Nandini whined as her sleep was disturbed but Manik at once hugged her and patted her head making her go back to her wonderland. Navya and Mukti were confused as to what happened all of a sudden. But Abhimanyu who followed him inside came and filled the missing information. All of them were worried for Manik cause they knew one more time Manik was going to blast his wrath and under no circumstances can they afford Nandini knowing it. Till now everyone made sure that Nandini stays away from even the name Shaurya Malhotra. And Manik showing his emotions in presence of Nandini is deadly for them.

Manik lifted Nandini and took her to their room after informing others to disperse. He laid her on their bed and covered her up . He bend down and kissed her forehead,

I swear on my existence Nandini, I'll not let anything happen to you this time.

He switched off the lights and moved out of the room meanwhile messaging Harshad and Dhruv,

Come over tomorrow morning at eight.

He moved towards Neyonika's room.

On the other side, Abhimanyu was driving rashly and Mukti who was sitting beside him was scared.

Mukti with much difficulty opened her mouth,

Manyu, can.. can you please lower down?

Abhimanyu huffed and pulled the breaks harshly over the bicycle lane off the road. He stepped out banging the door which made Mukti flinch. After a while she too stepped out.

WHY , why does every time Nandini have to be in danger cause of Manik, his father or his friends? Why does every time something goes wrong, she have to face its wrath?

He shouted somewhere taunting her.

Mukti placed her hand on his shoulder lightly and replied,

Abhimanyu, can you please move on from there? I.. I'm sorry!

She said in little voice.

Abhimanyu turned around and chuckled,

Move on? Do you hear yourself?

I, cannot in seventh hell  forget or forgive what you and your friends did to her.

He stressed each word and pointed her.

How, how you got jealous of the attention Nandini was getting from Manik and intentionally filled his ears when the entire hacking fiasco happened. You wanted Manik to react in the way he did. You wanted him to plan the entire Musicana thing to destroy Nandini. So please don't try to implement that you didn't knew what he was doing then or what he did.

He shouted at her. Mukti as always lowered down her head and cried silently.

She tried to explain her point of view,

Manyu, I didn't ask him to do what he did on Musicana. Please, please listen to me, I didn't knew that he was going to make Maddy win over Nandini!

She reasoned out.

On the contrary, Manik entered in and closed her laptop when she was in an ongoing meeting.

Manik what are yo...,

She was cut by Manik,

Shaurya FILTHY Malhotra is coming to San Francisco tomorrow morning.

Neyonika gasped and inquired further. Manik informed him how his E.A. called him to inform about Shaurya and that he boarded from Mumbai.

She palmed her forehead in tension.

I am driving to San Francisco tomorrow morning and will deal with him there. I'll make sure that if he steps out of SFO airport it will either be for SFPD(San Francisco Police Department) or Morque.

He was determined.

On the other side,

Abhi yelled,

Oh ya right! You didn't knew the Manik will do that but you knew right that Nandini was the winner, why didn't you try to interfere him then or step forward and correct him when he was shamelessly thrashing her on stage in from of everyone single person there.

Mukti had no answer.

You know what this is the time when Manik should know about your doings. You trust him blindly right, lets see what he does to you when he gets to know your reality.

Mukti losed her balance.

Conversely, Neyonika asked Manik,

But what about Nandini, what excuse are you giving her?

Manik faced her and answered,

I was supposed to take her to Palo Alto Intense Care the day after for her checkup, I adjusted her appointment tomorrow morning and Harshad and Dhruv are going to accompany her.

Neyonika nodded in approval.

Mukti over there dared to question Abhimanyu,

I thought you, I thought you forgave me when you married me.

Abhimanyu turned towards her and she noticed an evil smirk on his face.

What made you think that I will spare you after what you did to her?

After I figured out that you knew it was Mr.Shaurya Malhotra long before.

That you knew it was Nandini in the car instead of Manik and you let the accident happen.

I N F Y S T A R