Manik's POV

After talking to the Khanna brothers, I went back to the party and noticed that Nandini wasnt there.

"Mom...Nandini kahan hai?" I asked my mom who was talking to some guests.

"Manik, usne kaha ki uski tabiyat phirse kharab lag rahi hai toh maine usko upar bhej diya. You should go and be with her." Mom replied.

"Ok Mom." I quickly ran upstairs. When I got near our room, I heard her crying. 

"Im sorry Tauji...Taiji. Mujhe paata hai...ke woh meri family, mere bhai hai, par mein kaise maaf kardun unko? Un logon ne mujhe aapke mauth ke zimmedar banaya tha. Lekin...maine kuch nahi kiya tha.....Im so confused. Main kya karun, kuch samajh nahi aa raha hai."

"Tumhara dil kya kehte hai Nandini?" I asked. Hearing me, Nandini got up startled,

"Manik..." Nandini quickly wiped her tears, "Tum yahan?"

I walked to her and gently made her sit on the bed again. "Haan...I know everything. Tumhari aur tumhare bhaiyyon ke beech saare baatien maine sun liya tha."

"Kya?" Nandini looked at me shocked then lowered her head in guilt.

"Jaan...look at me. Dekho meri taraf."

Nandini slowly raised her head and I gave her a smile. "Main naraz nahi hoon tumse."

"Sachi? Tum sachi naraz nahi ho?" Nandini asked. "Maine itni badi baat chupayi Manik....tum bilkul bhi naraz nahi ho?"

"Bilkul bhi naraz nahi hoon main." I assured her. "Haan, thoda sa hurt hoon kyunki tumne mujse apne baare mein baatien chupayi lekin-"

"Im sorry Manik.."Nandini started crying. 

"Arre arre arre...Jaanu shaant ho jao, pehli mere puri baat sun lo....phir roh lena." I tried joking but...it didnt really make Nandini laugh. "Main yeh keh raha tha ki I was a bit hurt lekin I know you better than anyone, mujhe paata hai ke agar tumne itni badi baat chupayi hai toh there must be a very good reason, tumhare dil mein koi darr hoga isi liye tumne mujhse yeh baat chupayi...varna meri Nandini kabhi kuch galat kar hi nahi sakti."

"Manik...tum itni understanding...itni ache kyun ho?"

"Main jo bhi hoon, jaisa bhi hoon, tumhari vajah se hoon. Nandini, you make me want to be a better person everyday..." I told Nandini, looking at her with all my love. "Par woh sab chodo. Tum yeh batao, kya socha hai tumne apni family ke baare mein?"

"I dont know Manik...mujhe sachi nahi paata ke mujhe kya karna chahiye....you know there was a time jab main apne ghar ki ladli thi. Mere bhai mere dost they aur mere Mumma Papa meri har wish puri karte they. But more then them, I was close to Tauji & Taiji. Unki do bete they par koi beti nahi thi na, toh woh mujhe aur choti se bohot pyar karte they." I watched as Nandini had a smile on her face remembering her past....and then she became upset again, "Jab unki mauth hui....it changed my equation with my family completely. Jis Papa ki pari hua karti thi...uss Papa ne mujhe par haath uthaya...jin bhaiyyon ne mere ankhon mein kabhi aansun nahi aane di, unn bhaiyyon ne mujhe m-murderer bulaya."

As Nandini broke down, I wiped her tears and held her close to me. "Nandini...do you hate them?"

I felt Nandini stiffen for a moment and then she took a deep breathe before sitting up and looking at me with determination. "I do...bohot nafrat karti hoon main unse."

"Bas phir kya? Decision made, koi zaroorat nahi hai tumhe unko maaf karne ki."

"Par-" I smirked as I saw how disappointed Nandini looked.

"Par kya?"

"Nahi...kuch nahi." Nandini mumbled and looked away.

"Like I said Mrs Nandini Manik Malhotra...I know you better than anyone. Tum toh dushmano se bhi nafrat nahi kar paati phir yeh toh tumhari khud ki family hai. And I saw, tum jab apne past ki baath kar rahi thi toh kitni khush thi. Agar tum nafrat karti toh itne saalon baad bhi woh log aise affect nahi karte tumhe. Haan tum hurt ho, naraz ho aur honi bhi chahiye par yeh toh pakka hai ki tum nafrat nahi karte unse." I thought to myself, "Lekin kya...tumhari family maafi ki layak hai? I mean I know I saw regret in your brothers eyes...but what about your parents, tumhare Papa? I cant take a risk with you, tum already itne hurt ho, itne toot chuke ho. Agar unn logon ne phirse tumhe hurt ki toh I swear, mujhse burra koi nahi hoga. Par agar woh log sach mein regret kar rahe hai...then at least ek aur chance toh sabko milna chahiye. Tum hi humesha ye kehte ho na? Ill have to talk to them, if they really regret everything, if they really love you then Ill be the bridge between you and your family. Main sab kuch thik kar dunga Nandini...I promise."

"Manik!" Nandini called out, "Kya soch rahe ho?"

"Kya..oh, kuch nahi. Tum yahan raho, main niche sab ko attend karta hoon." I said.

"Main bhi aati hoon Manik."

"Absolutely not. Mom mujhe dantegi...you stay here and just rest. Vaise bhi everyone will be leaving soon, tum niche aake bhi kya karoge?" 

After making sure Nandini stayed there, I went back downstairs and looked around for the Khannas. When I spotted Rishabh Khanna talking to some guest, I walked over and excused the two of us then pulled him over to the side making sure nobody noticed.

"I need to talk to your whole family right now...pool ke paas." I whispered.

"But Manik...how can we all just disappear from the party like that?"

"Tumhe apni behen wapas chahiye?" I asked, Rishabh nodded. "Then Ankita ko yahan guest ke beech mein rehne do and the rest you meet me by the pool. I really dont care how you manage."

Saying that, I went to the pool area and waited. A few minutes later, the Khanna's came out.

"I talked to Nandini." I told everyone. They all looked at me with hope. 

"Kya kahan Nanhi ne?" Mrs Khanna asked.

"That she hates you...alot." 

Everyone immediately looked devestated and Mrs. Khanna fell to the floor sobbing. Mr Khanna was also very upset and had tears in his eyes.

"Can you really blame her? Aap logon ne jo kiya...koi apni beti ke saath, apni behen ke saath karta hai kya?" I asked them, they all looked down in guilt. "Im sorry, agar baat kisi aur ki hoti toh main kuch nahi bolta par baat meri biwi hai, meri Nandini ki hai and I cant just stay quiet. There is only two reasons why I havent already kicked you all out. Ek, kyunki Laksh aur Ankita ki rishta fix hua and do, Nandini humesha kehti hai ke har insaan ko ek doosra mauka milna chahiye...aur aap log uski family hai. Duniya mein main sabse zyada Nandini se pyar karta hoon, uske liye, main kisi ke bhi khilaf jaa sakta hoon, even my own family....phir aap toh sirf mere in-laws hai...woh bhi hum aaj hi mile so if Im going to help you, I have to be 100% sure ke aap yeh chance deserve karte hai....kya kar sakte hai aap Nandini ki maafi ke liye?"

"Kuch bhi."  Mr. Khanna spoke up. He held is hands together and fell to his knees. "Pls Manik...hume humari Nanhi se mila do...pls. Woh jo kahegi hum woh karne ke liye tayyar hai. Jis din se maine usspar haath uthaya...Ive regretted it, kausta hoon main apne aap ko, apne gusse ko. Nanhi jo saaza dena chahe, hume woh manzoor hai...I just want my daughter back."

As Mr Khanna sobbed at my feet, the rest of the Khanna also got down on their knees.

"Manik, we love Nanhi. I know you have no reason to believe us....par yeh sach hai. Hum teen bhayyon ke baad Nanhi aayi so sometimes we used to favour her even more than Choti...We miss our sister...pls." Kartik Khanna said.

"Beta..." I looked towards Mrs. Khana who has composed herself and she came towards me. "Ek Ma ke liye...uski har ek bacha uski dil ke tukre hote hai. Nanhi bhi mere dil ke ek hissa hai, jiske bina main adhoora hoon. Mujhe pls meri beti se mila do....pls, main pair parti hoon tumhare."

Mrs. Khanna bent down and grabbed my legs.

"Arre Aunty yeh kya kar rahe hai aap?" I protested and helped her stand up, "Pls uthiye."

"Pls Manik...milado mujhe meri beti se..."

"Ok...thik hai aunty." I could see that each and every one of the Khannas desperately wanted Nandini's forgiveness and that they all missed her very much. Anyways, if they even try to hurt Nandini again, this time Im standing infront of her as her shield.

"Par Nanhi toh humse nafrat karti hai na?" Veer Khanna asked looking broken.

"She said she does....lekin mujhe lagta hai ke woh aaj bhi aap sab se pyar karti hai. Bas naraz hai..jo ki bikul jayaz hai so aap logon ko mehnat karne paregi.... Usko mannane ke liye."

"We will...par woh toh hume avoid karti rehti hai...how will we convince her?" Rishabh asked.

"Woh sab mujhe pe chod do. Ill think of something." I replied.

"Thank you beta." Mr. Khanna smiled at me, "Meri beti bohot lucky hai ke usko tumhare jaisa pati mila hai."

"Lucky toh main hoon uncle. Nandini ne sirf mere hi nahi balki mere pure parivaar vaalon ke dil mein jagah banna liya hai...Sab usse bohot pyaar karte hai."

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Note: Hey Readers! For those of you thinking Manik shouldnt forgive so easily. This story is called Jamai Raja. It isnt about Manik being angry or taking revenge or anything like that, its about what Manik does to become "Jamai Raja" and reunite Nandini with her family.