Hola family!
After a long time right?
Sorry was stuck with studies.
But this time for compensation I have a longer update.
This time I won't ask for votes or comments.
I leave it upto you guys completely to judge this chapter.
I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.
#HappyReading.

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Nandini kept staring at the card. She slowly got the card to her face and  kissed the hand-written word on it. Her lips lingered on the card while her eyes closed in pure bliss. Memories of college days came flashing back. She let herself loose and slid down on the floor crying, hugging the card close to her heart.

She was broken. One single word managed to break her entire strength. The walls that she had built around herself were melting. How much she despised this distance! She didn't hate him. She could never hate him. Her love for him was too much to hate him. She was angry with him. And why not She had all the rights to be angry at him.

Her eyes once again darted towards the card. This time she moved her fingers on the word. Each letter reminded her of the time when manik called her by that name for the first time.

"JUNOON" a siX letter word that defined the bond shared between manik and nandini. Junoon, passion, desire, a desperate passion between a couple. But Mr. Manik Malhotra had a different meaning for calling nandini as "junoon".

~Flashback~

Manik and nandini were sitting in the lawn of Trinity, School of Business Management and Literature. It was a huge campus with luscious greenery all around. The environment around it was calm and quiet, suitable for studying.

Nandini was sitted on the lawn with her back leaning against th support of the tree trunk while manik was lying on the grass with his head on nandini's lap. The entire college campus was aware of the lovey dovey couple~MaNan.

Manik had proposed nandini in front of the entire college of more than thousand students. Trinity was the most famous college of London. It's campus. It's education. It's hospitality. Everything was the best. Students dreamed to get admission here. It wasn't very easy to get admission into Trinity. The ones who made it were the luckiest.

Th entire college was aware of the love between Manik and nandini. Manik's proposal was a very unique one. He didn't propose her by getting bouquets or arranging for a very romantic date. Neither had he told her the three magical words.

What are you thinking Mr.? Nandini asked ruffling his hair. Manik smiled and shifted a little in her lap. Nothing much. He replied and closed his eyes feeling the warmness radiating from nandini's body.

Manik. Wassup? Come on, Tell me. Nandini urged him to reveal what he was thinking. Manik opened his eyes getting up from his position. He too sat resting his back with the tree trunk. About us. Manik said looking towards bright blue sky.

What about us? Nandini was now irritated with his short and confusing answers. Mr. Malhotra please elaborate. I can never and will never be able to read your confusing talks.

Manik laughed and pulled her closer. Stop laughing Mr. I m already pissed don't irritate me more. Nandini said in a threatening voice. Fine fine. I was thinking about us. How close we are to each other? Nandini smiled snuggling more in him.

You know nandini couples usually address each other with cute loving names. I never understood the concept of calling each other names like darling sweetheart honey etc. Manik's tone held lot of seriousness and perplexion. Nandini who wanted to laugh at his stupid question refrained from doing that. She knew if she laughed it out manik would never tell her and keep it to himself.

He had this bad habit of not sharing stuff. Nandini sometimes got fed up with his this habit. He always kept his feelings to himself and never shared. He always masked his feelings. That is the exact reason why Manik and nandini had never confessed. Nandini wanted manik to open up. She knew both loved each other. But she wanted manik to be the first one to confess. Not because she was the typical girl who thought that it was the boy who was first supposes to say "I Love You" but because she wanted manik to open up to her freely.

Meaning? What's wrong in calling each other with such names? Don't you like them? Nandini asked him patiently. She had learnt to deal with him. He was a kid. Nandini had to answer all his questions like a mother of a 5-year old.

No nothing is wrong? But if one loves the other from the bottom of the heart, then such names can never define the depth of their love. If you have to really have to call them with another name then the name itself should signify the bond and purity of their love. Nandini smiled listening to his explanation. Though he never expressed his feelings but she was 100% sure manik loved his nandini!

Ok! Then if you have to give me any specific name then what would it be? Nandini asked manik casually. Another habit of manik was that he always loved doing something out-of-the-box. Doing something Normal was against his Malhotra attitude!

Manik was thinking very deeply. Nandini's question had got him thinking. All nandini was doing was to smile at him. Serious manik was a sight to watch. His eyes that spoke volumes. His lips that were pressed together tightly giving the greekish look to his face. His perfect jaw line. Nandini wanted to smack her lips and give him a tight kiss on his cheeks.

Junoon. Manik's voice brought her out of her admiration session. Huh! She was hell confused. Yes junoon it is! Manik exclaimed with a different happiness and gleam in his coal black eyes.

Care to explain. Nandini stated. Manik smiled. Do you know what junoon means? Manik cross-questioned her. Nandini nodded. Passion in our indian language? Nandini replied back in an unsure tone.

Correct. Excitement was evident on manik's voice. He scooted closer to nandini. His voice becoming husky and coal black eyes intesifying with the heat of the moment. In response to his touches nandini's cheeks turned redder than kashmiri apples.

Junoon. Passion. You are the passion in my life. Manik's husky voice was creating a havoc in their system. You are the fire in my life igniting the passion of love in my heart. I know I haven't named this feeling but if I m supposed to name this feeling then I would call it "Junooniyat". I don't think the word love can define the passion amongst us. Its not the passion of physical need. But it's the passion of my incomplete soul calling out for its mate. You complete the emptiness of my soul Ms. Murthy. It's not love nandini. It's Junooniyat. My soul's Junooniyat For you. You are my passion. My junoon.

Manik's words had left her speechless. She had tears in her eyes listening to his words. She didn't knew how to reciprocate to his love that had crossed all the limits it could. He had always respected her choices and decisions but never had she thought; not even in her wildest dreams; that manik loved her so much. Mukti was right his love for her was different than the word love itself. Indeed it was the most beautiful love!

~Flashback Ends~

Nandini's cried even more remembering the past. Her walls of being strong had broken down.  It was already difficult for her to behave cold with manik and now this had definitely broken her so much that she didn't even have the strength to control her tears.

Mukti came to the writing house to meet manik. She entered the lift and instead of pressing the fourth floor she pressed third floor. Don't know why but she wanted to meet nandini. Yesterday she couldn't interact properly thus she decided that today at least she will talk to her properly. She moved towards Nandini's cabin only to be shocked to see the sight in front of her eyes. Nandini crying all shattered and broken. She was sweating and her condition looked totally distraughted. Messed up hair. Eyes fluffed. Constant tears.

Mukti immediately ran upto her and hugged her. Feeling the warmness nandini too hugged her back. Her crying increased. Mukti hugged her more tightly caressing her hair continuously. Seeing nandini's condition mukti's eyes too shed some tears.

Sshhhhhh. Sshhhhhh. I m here nandini. Please stop crying. Please. Sshhhhhh. Mukti kept consoling here. After almost about ten minutes nandini had stopped crying and was sniffing. She broke the hug and was staring at the ground. She didn't had the courage to look in Mukti's eyes.

Mukti sighed and hugged her again. Nandini hesitantly hugged her back. The hug was a short one as compared to previous one. Mukti helped nandini sit up. She made nandini sit on the couch and herself sat on her knees in front of her. Like a mother she wiped her tears and raked her fingers through nandini's distraught hair.

Why? Why mukti? Ek baari mujhse baat karta na? Nandini was still sniffing. Mukti sighed. Chal mere saath. Uth. Mukti stood up and held her hand. Nandini looked at her. Confusion written all over her face. Let's get the answers to all your questions. Chal. Mukti spoke with a determined voice.

Nandini immediately backed off and nodded her head frantically. Ni. I can't face him. I can't go in front of him. Nandini was scared. She knew she would break in front of him.

Maine pucha nahi hai. Main bol rahi hoon. Mukti was frustrated with their stupid logics and talks. She had enough from past four years. She was helpless during college days. But no more she will not let this idiots repeat their mistakes. She won't let them fall apart, once again.

Mukti pulled nandini up and dragged her all the way to fourth floor straight to manik's cabin. All along the way everyone was giving them weird looks. Especially the writers and editors on third floor. Mukti's constant pulling caused nandini to trip two-three times but not for once mukti stopped. Nandini tried a lot to stop her but nothing worked. Nandini had again started crying.

Mukti barged into manik's cabin. Navya cabir and manik were present there and were extremely shocked seeing Mukti's furious behaviour. Navya whose eyes shifted from furious mukti to shattered nandini immediately freaked out.

Nandiniiii. Navya screamed and ran towards nandini. She was stopped by mukti who showed her hand and told her to back off. Nandini still had the card that was crumbled in her hand. Manik was also shocked seeing nandini. Cabir was standing there with a blank face. The memories of the diary came back in his mind. A very serious expression settled on his face. Mukti left nandini's hand and stood there with anger at its highest peak.

Manik got up and moved towards mukti. Whats wrong mukti? He asked trying to keep his voice as calm ands possible. Mukti was so angry that she placed a tight slap across manik's face. Mukti's act was followed by three loud gasps. Nandini clamped her both the palms on her mouth causing the card to fall down.

Muktiiiiiii. Cabir yelled. Mukti turned towards cabir. You better shut up and do not interfere. Let me deal with this right now. Her voice was so firm that there was no space for any argument. Her eyes held so much anger, firmness and determination that cabir also backed off.

Mukti, please calm down. Navya tried intervening. But stopped in her tracks seeing Mukti's blazing eyes. Calm down my foot. Mukti yelled loud enough for her voice to be echoed in the cabin room. Manik was still standing there with his hand on his cheek where mukti placed a tight slap. The slap was strong enough to cause a pain in his jaw.

Mukti pulled manik from his collars. Who the f*ck do you think you are? Mukti yelled. Manik was looking down. Mukti pushed him with such a strong force that if the chair wouldn't have been there for his support then definitely his head would have collided with the glass table.

Manik balanced himself and stood there with a pale face. His eyes also had tears. Mukti moved towards him. She raised her hand to slap him again but this time the slap landed on nandini's cheek who was standing in front of manik shielding him. Manik who had closed his eyes all ready for again other slap opened his eyes hearing the voice. He too gasped and turned nandini around to face him.

Nandini had seen mukti raise her hand and don't know why but she went and stood in front of manik shielding him. Mukti was too shocked. Cabir and Navya were also shocked. Manik was staring at the red patch on nandini's cheek. Nandini's eyes were close trying to absorb the pain. Tears were flowing Carelessly from her eyes. Manik lightly touched his finger on the mark. Nandini hissed when his fingers lightly touched her face. Manik closed his eyes and and closed his fists tightly.

He was losing his temper when mukti had slapped him yet he had controlled knowing she was right. But now he lost his Control over temper. He pulled mukti from her elbow and was about to punch her when navya yelled.

Manikkkkkk!! Navya screamed. Are you out of your senses? What the hell are you doing. Navya too lost her calm. Manik and mukti. Two best-est friends. The ones who were all ready to die for each other were almost on the verge of killing each other.

Manik pushed mukti and looked the other side. Cabir moved towards Navya. Navya please you have to calm down. Right now the situation needs to be handled very calmly. Please. Cabir spoke with a helpless tone. Navya looked at him with tears. She had seen her family fighting and today seeing her friends fight she was scared. What if she looses them? What if they also break apart like her family?

Navya broke the hug and moved towards Nandini. Her fears had overpowered her thinking ability and taken the shape of anger. She held nandini with her elbow and very harshly turned her around. Mil gayi Shaanti? Navya asked. Her voice laced in anger, hurt, pain, frustration.

Cabir who guessed what was coming rushed towards Navya and held navya's arms. Navya stop. Don't do something that you will ever regret. Cabir warned her. A sarcastic and small life left navya's mouth. Regret? I am already regretting the decision of being friends with this girl. Her sarcastic voice turned into and angry yell. She turned to face nandini with anger in her eyes.

Nandini was too shocked to react. Navya's words shocked her. Mukti and manik too came out of their own world listening to navya. All the four were extremely shocked to hear this. Navya was angrily glaring at nandini.

I regret every moment I have spent with you so far. I regret making you my best friend. I regret sharing my deepest secrets with you. I regret everything I have done for you so far. Only if I knew what kind of a women you are. It's only because of you that Mukti and manik have fought to such an extent that they can't look in each others eyes. It's because of you that I see my friends like family breaking apart. I don't know what you have told mukti regarding manik that she was forced to raise her hand. I don't know what magic you have done on manik that he was ready to punch mukti. But I. I bloody hate you nandini murthy. I fucking hate you so much.

Navya yelled. Her every word pierced in Nandini's heart making her cry even more. Cabir manik and mukti were shocked. Navya's outburst was unexpected and completely a shocker for everyone. Navya was so angry that she herself ruined the most beautiful friendship.

Someone has rightly said anger ruins the most purest of relations......

Thank god mujhe do din main hi tumhare double standards ke baare main pata chal gaya. Warna tum toh hum sabko cheat karti rehti nai? Navya's talks hurt nandini to no extent while the other were too shocked to react.

Aaj na ek baat clear hogayi ki iss duniya main har koi selfish hai aur sab ko sirf apne se matlab hai. Maine socha tha tum alag hogi. Lekin nahi tum bilkul Unn logo ki tarah ho jinse dusro ki khushi dekhi nahi jaati. Aur aa jati hai unhe barbaad karne. This time Navya crossed her on boundaries. Manik mukti and cabir were angry listening to navya's cheap thoughts.

Navyaaaa. Cabir yelled. He turned her around pulled her towards himself. Cabir's hold on navya's arms was very tight. Navya was trying all possible ways to free herself. Tears stung in her eyes feeling the pain on her arm.

Kya hua Dard ho raha hai? Bus itni si chot pe Dard ho raha. Socho tumne nandini ki kitna kuch sunaya Bina kuch jaane toh usse kitna dard ho raha hoga. Socha hai tumne? Cabir raided his voice even more and his hold tightened even more.

Ab tum kal ki aayi ladki ke liye mujhse lad rahe ho cabir? Navya spoke with a dejected voice. She turned her face towards nandini. Dekha ab cabir bhi mujhse lad raha hai. Hogaya na tumhara plan kamyaab?

Cabir jerked her again and navya closed her eyes in pain. Tears brimmed in her eyes. Tum jaanti bhi ho woh koun hai? Kya lagti hai manik ki? Jaanti go tum kuch? Nahi na? Toh phir Bina kuch jaane tumne itna kuch kaise boldia? Cabir yelled.

Cabir's voice brought manik's senses back and with a jolt he freed navya from cabir's hold. Pagal hai tu? Kya bol raha hai? Manik was shocked. Nandini and mukti were also shocked. They were shocked to know that cabir knew the truth.

Kyu chup raho main? She should know the truth. Cabir spoke pushing
Manik aside. Tum jaante ho sab kuch? Navya questioned him in a daze. Haan jaanta hoon. Cabir's furious reply shook her. Manik tune mujhse chupaya yeh. Navya was in the verge of breaking. Her mind was affected badly due to all the fights and now this. 

Tumhe bata ke bhi kya fayda? Haan? Cabir yelled back. Tum thodi kisi ke emotions samjh paongi. Tumhe toh bus apne aap se matlab haina? Cabir yelled back. Manik tried pulling cabir back but each time he failed as cabir was now hell angry. Nobody can control this angry bull now. 

Jaanti ho jo nandini ne kiya haina shayad hum main se koi nahi kar sakta aur manik yeh duniya ka sabse bada idiot hai. Jo iss ladki ko chhod samaj seva karne chala tha. Pata nahi iski akal tab kaha jaati hai jab actually chalni chahiye. All the anger that had been accumulated since last night was now coming out.

Fine. Main idiot hoon. Khush? Please shaant hoja. It's not the right time to talk about all this. Please cabir calm down. Manik was trying to calm the situation because of right now if the truth would be revealed then many relations will be affected.

When is the right time manik? Cabir yelled back. Having enough Navya Shouted furiously. Enough of your games manik. Tell me. What are you hiding or just like nandini you have also decided to break everything and be selfish so that you can have the entire writing house for yourself.

That was it for cabir. He pushed manik aside and stomped towards navya. Pulling navya from her left arm he dragged her in front of nandini and made her stand facing a shocked nandini. You want to know na who is she? Then let me tell you she is Nandini Manik Malhotra. Sunna tumne NANDINI MANIK MALHOTRA.

Cabir's voice echoed in the cabin. Navya felt the land beneath her slipping while mukti sighed in defeat and stepped back with a balnk face. Manik closed his eyes for a brief moment. He turned around to look back to find nandini looking back at him. Both of them had the same emotions in their eyes~PAIN & HURT.

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#3374 Words
Cliff hanger???😨
Sorry but no sorry. 😈
Haiiii such a hot update ni!😏
The temperature has crossed all the levels.😜
Too much of a drama nai!😥
Anyways this is just the beginning of the climax.
Ab tak toh sirf trailer chal raha tha.
Ali picture toh ab shuru hui hai. 😏
Maza aaya?
As I said I have left it to you guys to judge this chapter. You all will judge it on all scale of 1 to 10. 😌
Until next time:)
See ya.
Love you guys. ❤

P.S. Credits for the new cover goes to SilentWarriorx. Thanks a lot fizzah di for the amazing cover.❤ I really loved it. Thanks a lot once again.