Manik's POV

 Many hot n sexy Korean & foreigner girls surround me, touching my muscular arms, 8-pack abs, and tying to swoon me with their sexy boobs n hips... And I'm enjoying their attention, why won't I? If She is hitting on guys n showing off her popularity then she's forgetting I'm the greek god here, Hun!

I turn towards the side where she with her friends r flirting n having fun with Korean losers... But I couldn't find her.... Where did she go? With some guys???

The mere thought itself made me mad for some unknown reason n my eyes ran all around in her search... If I find that guy, I'll kill him with my raw hands!

Wait! Isn't it her? In black swimsuit. Yes! it's definitely her. I can recognize her back. ... But Where is walking to all alone?

I tried moving to her but these girls, I tell u. They r pestering me like bees on the honeypot.
With lot of difficulties n excuses, I manage to push through them and come out thankfully.

But by this time she was not there, I ran to where I saw her, but no... I walked forward running my eyes here there everywhere...

Is she alright?

Did anything happen to her? kidnapped?

No no no...

I ran faster with horrifying thoughts in mind, and it crunched me to think so. When suddenly I saw one man carrying a small boy in arms an running out of the water, completely wet and a woman running towards them while crying. Maybe the boy drowned and his parents saved him.

Out of nowhere, a pair of hands came out of the waves from the deep sea behind the parents.
And the only thought crossed my mind-

Nandini!

I was far from the drowning hands or most probably Nandini. So, I ran as fast as I can to the sea, and by this time, her hands r not anymore visible...

She is drowning deep inside!

I swim into, more faster, more deeper, and deeper... closer to reach her...

Nandini's POV

"Maa, When will Papa come?" a little girl 6yrs old in a pink frock came running into a simple yet beautiful house no, home! While her mother in saree sitting on the sofa at the hall n patting a tiny new-born, on her arms to make him sleep...

"Papa is on the way, Nandu." The lady answered the same for the tenth time in the last one hour. "Come... Sleep like ur brother. it's past 12 beta!" she added hoping that this time she'll obey. But No, how can the stubborn princess move. No way!

"No Maa... I'll wait for Papa. He's said he'll get me gun so that I can practice like him." She turns her head sideway n crossed her arms on her chest, showing that she is adamant on her decision n no one can move her.

"Toy gun, Nandu." Her mother corrected her. "And it's not like u r gonna practice it overnight. Come n sleep, when u'll wake up tomorrow u'll practice."

"No" The stubborn wall can't be moved. Her mom sighed in defeat.

*****

"Papa! Why that bad man came to meet u?"  that small girl in jumpsuit came out of the pillars after the men who came to threaten his father went away.

"They r trying to get me into their team, Doll." her father, a man with manly body and dangerous, serious face walked to his daughter with a smile in his face which is only reserved for his loved ones.

"Will u join their team, Papa?" She asked innocently looking up at his father's face.

"One should never sell his dignity n policy. And never betray his loyalty. Backstabbing ur own work, in any case, is a big NO. ...Understood?" He spoke his deep values bending to her level while she heard his words in full concentration n print them in her brain with the file name 'Dad's morals'.

"U said No" She concluded with a smile, understanding that her father denied joining the bad men.

"Correct" Her father grinned ruffling her hair "Now, let's go n learn some defense."

"Yaee" She got excited to learn lessons from her ideal, her role model, her father.

*****

"We should always help the needy whenever we can, in return, God will gift us so much happiness n love. Will u do that, Nandu?" her mom asked.

"Sure, Maa"

*****

"Whenever u meet the dead-end, close ur eyes and remember who is waiting for u to return to him/her with lots of hope. ur heart with enlighten and ur mind will find the way out." One more lesson printed on her 'Dad's Morals' file.

*****

"Nandu... go n run away with ur Maa n Bhai..."

"No Papa... I'll be with u"

"Nandini. Do as I say!" he ordered sternly while they both r hiding. "Run to ur Maa, tell her everything n u all run away taking a train ... GO..."

...

...

"Maa... Where r u going? Papa told us to run." She was crying, her mom is no less n the oblivious new-born is blinking his eyes while sucking his thumb.

"Nandu, u pack everything n get ready, if I'll not return in half n hour... take Rishu with u and run away to Amms."  Her mom grabs her purse n runs out.

...

...

Her Dad got shot, her mom got stabbed 5 times with a long sharp thing... She witnesses everything, every bit... hiding behind the boxes, silently weeping, helplessly watching her own parents getting murders brutally... yet not being able to do anything. What can an 8yrs old can do anyway?

"Maa-Papa" She screamed inwardly while breathing heavily, pulling her chest upwards, gasping for air n vomiting out water from her system.

The near-death experience brings her buried memories out... for the last time, which she thought.

General POV

Manik carried the unconscious, drowned Nandini in his arms to the shore n put her on the sand while checking her slow breath.

"Nandini... Nandini" He called out her name millions time till now but neither she's opening her eyes, nor making any moment. She's lifeless.

He pressed her chest to push the water out, checked her breath. No progress.
He was getting horrified at her state.

Taking a deep breath in through the mouth he grabbed her jaw, opening her mouth n fused his lips on her, giving her his breath. ...Again pulling back, taking air, and giving her artificial respiration...

"Nandu, wakeup... open ur eyes dammit." he yelled at her but his own power seems to have lost at the sight of her lifeless state. Some saline drops escaped his eyes mixing with the sea with running through his hair and face.

He continued his tries of gaining her respond, when suddenly her chest rose up n she gasped for air n vomit out the water, coughing badly. He pulling her up leaning her to him n rubbing her back to calm her.

"Nandini... are u okay?" he tried calling her but she only coughed n gasped not even opening her eyes. Watching her unable to breathe, he again fused his mouth on her giving her his breath.

"Nandini" He asked cupping her cheeks while she struggled to open her eyes leaning on him.

"u okay?" he asked so softly that even he didn't know he could. She blinked several times before recognizing her surrounding. that she's not dead. She's still alive, out of the water... with Manik.

She gave a faint smile to his question. Seeing her smile, he couldn't control the commotion going on inside him and this time fused his rough lips on her... for a kiss. A kiss demanding yet soft, life-dependent yet sweet.

After pulling back, he rested his forehead on her, still supporting her weak body on his. He engulfs her in his arms around her body as if she'd vanish away if he leaves her.

He felt like his breath is gonna stop a moment ago... but now looking at Nandini's faint smile he got his life back. Now, he is sure that this girl means something to him... something deep!

Cascading my one arm around her shoulders and other at the back of her knees, I carried her in bridal style, walking over the shore towards where we r before. She scoops more to my chest so as to not fall.

As I neared, I saw everyone looked worried, searching for us... and they ran to us as soon as they saw us.

"Oh my god! Nandini?" Mukti voiced.

"What happened to her?" Navya questioned as I carefully placed her on the slanting chair over there.

"Here" Navya forwarded the coconut drink to Nanz which she took silently.

"How did it happened?" Abhi asked looking at her state.

"She drowned." I keep it short.

"What? But she's a pro in swimming." Mukti looked surprised. Even I got an idea as I've seen her in our swimming pool.

"Then? Are u suicidal?" Cabir questioned causing all to pass him deadly glares.

"I got into to save the drowning boy." Nanz said feebly. I remember the man getting the small boy out.

"Then?" I asked my mind.

"But my right foot got cramped all of a sudden causing me pain n it remained for quite a time, till that I was already surrounded with water" She explained.

"Oh God! I think, ur body lack electrolytes. I'll get it for u. ...let's go back" Navya stated and we all turned to move. Nanz too stood up weak. She looks so pale that I instantly scoop her in my arms.

 "I can walk." She instantly protested. All of them looked at us as I walked ahead, but none said anything.

"Everyone's watching" She again voiced eyeing her friends and cabir who r having a stupid grin, Stupid Cabir!

"As if I care!"

----------------------------------

"I've packed everything... Urs too Nanz" Mukti shouted from upstairs as she came out of my room with a black suitcase. And I'm ordered not to move from here, so here I am. sitting on the couch and staring at my servants' work. Funny! I know. But couldn't help!

"Oh! this is damn heavy" Navya complained as she was dragging the handle of one suitcase in her one hand and other holding the shopping bags that we shopped here, in Korean.

"Lemme help" Here comes his saviour boyfriend and took away the suitcase from her while dragging his own in the hand.

"Oh! Can anyone help me too... I'm holding mine and Nanz, both" Mukti, who witness their lovey-dovey smiling and blushing made a cling face.

And before anyone could say anything or react, Manik passed by in his own attitude, his small bag on his back n gripped the handle of both Mukti's n my suitcase dragging them down the stairs.

"Oh My! That's like a gentleman... I'd definitely hold onto someone like u." Mukti showed her fangirl smile towards Manik. "But boy! U'r not my type... so I'll let u go to someone special" She changed her expression drastically to a smirk while eyeing at me when saying 'someone special'.

I rolled my eyes on her failed attempt to tell me again that Manik's having something for me.
Ya! She said that before too when we return back home after that drowning in the sea incident n she was accompanied for a while...

"How does it felt?" She asked all of a sudden. I raise my brows in confusion.

"Well, getting drowned and felling the system with water won't feel erotic though" I let out the sarcastic words thinking she's asking about my experience of drowning. she laughed out hearing me...

"Oh Ya! But I was not asking that-" She paused looking at my confused face "-Being saved my knight and being carried on his arms?" She completed with a smirk. And it didn't take me second to get what she meant.

My mind flashed with his worried n concern voice...then his lips on mine taking me for our second amazing kiss... and then the warmth of his body by being in his arms. It would be a lie if I say I don't like it.

But, I'd be a lair for the moment.

"felt what? He's just helping me like anyone'd do." I gave a casual its-fact-look and shrugged my shoulders.

"Here is ur warm oil, put out ur leg, I'll massage" navya came in time to my rescue from more of Mukti's lecture of how-he-feel-and-how-i-do.

We all settled in a large car with me and Mukti at the back seat, Navya and Cabir in middle and Abhi at passenger's Manik driving to his private air-runway. Soft English music is playing but none seems paying any attention to it. Mafias after all.

When Navya n cabir r engross in their mussy-mussy whisper of god knows what, Navya's phone rang and she picked it up with a smile.

"Hello dad!" She spoke almost already and I too smiled thinking of this person. Her Dad, My mentor and guide, Our guide. The person behind, helping us fight as Devils. Mr. Satya Naveli.

"We r going to sit on the plane from Korea now. ... Oh! Okay, I'll tell her. No, I'm telling, u don't worry, will be back soon" At the time she ended the call her smiled is not present anymore.

"What happened?" Cabir asked looking at her face. She shook her head.

"Nanz, he wanted u and us to get through 'India Newz' for the latest happening. Something serious." Her tone and face reflect how serious it could be so without wasting any time, I took out my phone n searched for it. others did the same.

"Political leader, Vishwanath Ji is shot to death in daylight in spite of police protection. .... He's a  good politician in this garbage system yar!" Mukti commented while scrolling the news.

"Not only this, the prime witness of Gang rape racket got into accident n slipped into coma.
Police have seized ambulance full of 10crores black money full from the Sahi Canal." Navya added.

"And the family of new young candidates of Vishwanath Ji r being targeted and forced to step down of election." Mukti continued while I just glued my eyes to the news n mind to search between the lines.

"In 2 weeks we r away, many things happened which shouldn't happen. There is more to it. ...We need to find it out." I finally spoke.

"Do u guys always readily get into anyone's problem?" Cabir asked who's been listening to all of us. "No... I mean, it involves politics and most probably many powerful n dirty politicians, they can be hell dangerous. Moreover, the police are trying so why poke ur nose into such sensitive national matters, u know?" He said every word attentively looking at each of our faces to see any rage in our face.

"Devils' motto is to poke its nose into every matter that disturbs public peace n safety." I keep it short n clear causing Cabir to make an o-face n remain silent. Manik is all the while listening to everything very attentively while driving. And soon we landed India in the private plane of Manik with our minds processing the matter.

So, do u like it?

What do u think about the glimpse of Nandini's past?

Who do u think Nandini's Papa to be? Professional-wise?

And What do u think is the profession of Navya's dad?

Do u like the scene of Manik saving the drowning Nanz and his emotions?

Stay tuned and don't forget to vote and comment to let me know how u feel of this update!

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