In Dixit's Palace

Swayam's Bedroom

( Everybody have a single bedroom in Dixit's Palace as most of the time, they prefer to live with Viren since the elders were alone in their life, the difference was Viren had his children with him to make him feel happy while his friends had none with them..)

Swayam was sitting on his bed with eyes closed and hands in fist. His eyes weren't open and so nobody could guess that bloodshot red eyes. Nandini was sitting on a chair which was kept beside the bed. She was sitting there for the past 15 minutes but didn't speak anything, she knew he need to let it out and she would be there to listen to him.

Manik, Cabir and Dhruv just left the girls near the pool area since they were worried for Swayam as they haven't seen him this angry never before. They always believed him to be a tough person as they have seen him only like an angry man.But today, they could read many emotions in his eyes and in his voice. So, they decided to check on him and reached Swayam's bedroom only to see Nandini sitting beside Swayam in silence.

Swayam ( still eyes closed ): Won't you ask me anything..?

Nandini looked up at him and sighed..

Nandini: I know how my Papa is and so I don't need to ask you why you said all those things to Mukti.

Swayam opened his eyes and looked at her with watery eyes which pricked her heart. But it was a shocking scene for ManBirUv. They have never seen him in tears.

Nandini ( wiped his tears ): Please papa..I have asked you to forget it right..Then, why do you think about something that gives only pain to you..?

Swayam ( sighed ): How am I supposed to forget all those things when it wasn't a nightmare but the truth.

Nandini ( took his hand in her's ): Papa, she is trying to move on..

Swayam ( chuckled sadly ): Move on..? Really..? If making out with some random guys every night, just to remove your stress is called moving on..then I would call it a new theory of it..

Nandini could only stare at him with sadness in her eyes while ManBirUv were standing puzzled..

Swayam ( sighed ): My wife, love of my life, couldn't be with me for more time but then she gave a daughter to remember her and she was actually right..My daughter, when she was born, I could only admire her. She was an exact copy of her mother. I named her Mukti, Mukti Vardhan..as I felt she is the reason to get rid of every stress of my life. She too loved me a lot, but then one day, our happiness, my love, her mother has to leave us and go away form our lives which not just removed our happiness but it added darkness in my life. Mukti distanced herself from me, what did she think, that I married some random lady for pleasure. Arey, I married her for Mukti. I didn't even touch that lady for the entire time of my life. Mukti's age was very tender, she was a teenager and girls of that age would be in need of a mother, as a support..as a mentor..as a friend..as someone to share their problems..Even though Viren decided not to have a new lady in his life but he never wished any other girl to sacrifice her happiness like our princess, you did. And so, even he supported the new marriage of mine. But then, the lady just parted me from my daughter. Maybe, every step mother couldn't be that good. But, I never thought that my daughter would turn into a brat. She used to be a sweet girl and now, look at her..She has turned out to be a spoiled girl, who find happiness in bullying and making out with some rich guys.

Nandini could only shed silent tears after seeing this vulnerable side of Swayam which comes out rarely. While on the other side, the boys too had tears in their eyes. They could feel the depth of Love that Swayam had for Mukti.

Nandini ( softly ): Papa..do you trust me..?

Swayam looked at her in surprise..

Swayam: What kind of question is that, baby..?

Nandini: Please answer me..?

Swayam ( sighed ): Iss duniya mein agar mein kisi pe aankh bandh karke yakeen kar saktha hoon, tho sabse pehle tumhare naam likh sakthe..

Nandini ( smiled ): Tho phir aap kaise soch sakthe hai ki mein Mukti ko aise jeene doongi..

Swayam ( confused ): Mathlab..?

Nandini ( held his hands ): Papa, honestly, I never like Mukti's behavior but I was never a friend of her's and so I couldn't change her but now, I am going to vow something to you..( he got curious ) the daughter whom you have seen, whom you have loved, whom you have treated like a princess until she was 15, would return back to you, with the same sweet smile that she had when she loved you more than anyone in this world.

Swayam could only stare at her in shock. Even the boys' case was no different. Changing Mukti Vardhan would be a difficult task especially, when she herself decided to live such a life..

Swayam: Do you even have any idea about what you are saying..?

Nandini ( smiled ): I do..In fact, all I know is..If Mukti Vardhan is going to be the same forever then neither she will find happiness nor you will. And I can never see my father sad, so I have decided it..Your daughter Mukti Vardhan will turn into a soft and sweet girl and you know once Nandini Dixit decided something, then it will happen no matter what..So, are you ready to get your daughter back Mr. Swayam Vardhan..?

Swayam was staring at her in awe. He had only happiness in his eyes to see her love for him even after him being her Dad's best friend. but they both knew that what they mean to each other..For them, they are neither Dad's best friend nor best friend's daughter.

While the boys were just gaping at Nandini. Mukti was the girl who tortured her like she was some 'thing' but not a human and here the same girl is ready to get the old Mukti back, for her father.

Swayam just kissed her forehead as his answer making her smile. She made him lie on the bed and closed his eyes with her palm..

Nandini ( softly ): You need to sleep, Papa..Good night..Love you..

Swayam ( with closed eyes+smiled ): Love you too baby..

Soon, Swayam slipped into a deep slumber and she covered him with the quilt and kissed his forehead and got out of the room and closed it.

She turned back after closing the door only to get surprised..

Nandini: Tum log yaha kya kar rahe ho, Cabir..?

Cabir, Manik and Dhruv were still staring at her as they couldn't get out of that shock zone. She got irritated and just slapped Cabir's arm making him wince in pain..

Cabir ( huffed ): Nandini, agar tum gussa ho tho please iss monster pe nikhalo, mujhe baksh dho..

Manik glared at him while Dhruv was giggling.

Nandini ( sarcastically ): If I had done it then only he would come out of his trance but if I slap you then you will get everyone out of their trance with your not-so-heavy voice.

Cabir made a bad face..

Nandini: Ab bathao..why are you here..?

Dhruv ( stuttered ): We just wanted..to meet..Swayam uncle..

Nandini ( puzzled ): Ab kaha se aaya tum logonko ithna concern..?

Cabir ( sighed ): Nandini, we are genuinely concerned for him..

Nandini stared at them for a while..

Nandini ( nodded ): He is fine..He just..

Manik ( stared at her ): We heard you talking with him..

She looked at him in shock..

Nandini ( angry ): Did you just eavesdrop mine and My Papa's conversation..?

The boys smiled at the way she considers their fathers as her own father..

Dhruv ( genuinely ): Sorry, we actually came to check on him but then we overheard your conversation and we couldn't stop ourselves from listening to it..

Nandini ( sighed ): I still don't like it..Its something personal..I don't let anyone come in between me and my family..

Manik ( confused ): You actually said that Fab 5 is your family too, since our fathers are your Papas..

She looked at him in utter annoyance..He can get anything from her head..

Nandini: So, this is something between my father and me..So none is allowed..Even my Dad doesn't peep in our conversation then how will I let you people..

" Sorry "

Nandini ( huffed ): Fine..Anyways..you guys can go back to your Mansion..If you want to have any kind of conversation with Swayam Papa then you can come in the morning, and I would suggest that you better don't talk about whatever happened today..

Cabir ( nodded ): Fine, we wouldn't talk anything related to today's issue. But, can we get the rooms cleaned up..?

Nandini ( frowned ): Rooms..? Which rooms..?

Manik: We are actually planning to stay here, so if the rooms that we have used during the previous weekend isn't cleaned then can we get some workers to clean it up..?

She stared at him in surprise. She never expected him to stay here, actually..she didn't expect any of the Fab 5 members to bother about the fiasco just happened but they proved her wrong..

Nandini ( nodded ): Its already cleaned..We don't keep any rooms messy, so you can use it..

The boys thanked her with a smile..

Manik: Cabir, tu chal..mujhe kuch kaam hai..

He said it looking at Nandini who was staring at him with a curious face. Cabir, who took it as a cue just went away with Dhruv, they were genuinely happy with Manik's initiative in his messed up relationship with Nandini..

Nandini tried to escape but before it could happen, he pulled her to the nearby room as it was Nandini's bedroom which he noted when he came for the previous weekend..

He entered the bedroom and pinned her on the wall..

Nandini ( annoyed ): What the hell are you doing Manik..?

He kept a finger on her lips making her shut..

Manik: Shh..don't make noise if you don't want your Dad to see us in this position..

She removed his finger form her lips and got out of his hold..

Nandini ( irritated ): He wouldn't. Ye room sound proof hai..

He looked at her with a ' I am impressed ' look..

Nandini: Now, care to explain..?

Manik ( sighed ): How did he get to know about Mukti..?

Nandini knew about what he is talking, so she just went and sat on her bed, he too followed her and sat beside her..

Nandini ( calmly ): He had kept bodyguards for Mukti without her knowledge..( It was a shock for Manik ) He wanted to make it sure that she would be safe without his presence, as she never liked his presence. After all, he was a father and that too a daughter's. Mumbai isn't a safe place for girls so he kept a bodyguard for 24 hours. One day, he got an information that the bodyguard saw a guy entering the Mansion with Mukti. She was drunk but then she was in that guy's arms without any protests so it didn't look like someone is forcing on her. Papa thought it was her boyfriend. He knew about Harshad's and Mukti's break up, so he thought maybe the new guy could change her life. But then the next day, he got an information that, on that day, she came with a new guy and was behaving with him the same way she behaved last night..The information was going worse..Everyday, Papa got news about some new random guys coming to his Mansion, with his daughter and she wasn't bothered about it, in fact she was enjoying it..Papa couldn't take it anymore, so he decided to go and check on her. He went to Mumbai and reached the Mansion but didn't let Mukti know about it. He waited for her till night and saw her getting inside the Mansion with a guy. It wasn't a pleasant sight for a father to see her daughter kissing some random guy in front of his eyes. He slapped that guy and confronted Mukti and that was when she revealed that she brings guys to have pleasure..She was drunk and she shouted at her own Dad saying that he was no one to her and its her life so she can do whatever she wants..

Manik was sitting in shock. He didn't know about all these things. In fact, Mukti never said about such an incident..

Manik: But, she never told us..

Nandini ( chuckled sadly ): She wouldn't, cause she had forgotten about it. The next day when she woke up, she asked Papa how come he was there which showed whatever she had spoken was in a drunken state and she couldn't even remember it. Papa just shrugged it and came back. ( She looked hurt ) You know Manik, that was the first day I saw Swayam Vardhan's breakdown. Nobody could believe that sight..He threw each and everything in his Mansion. He walked through the glass pieces but still, it didn't pain him. Because, his pain was his daughter, he blamed himself for his daughter's character, her displease for life, her way of treating others and moreover he blamed himself telling that he killed his sweet daughter and whoever talked with him the previous day was someone else..

Manik was looking at her with hurt in his eyes. No matter what, he always considered his friends as his family and Mukti was like a sister for him. He never liked the way she lives her life but then whenever he tries to stop her, she asks him to leave or else it would break her which she doesn't want to happen. And today when Nandini told about Swayam's condition, he could just think about his Dad..Did he also feel the same pain..

Nandini ( sighed ): Anyway, let it be..I will make it right..And I know what to do..( she looked at him ) You need to sleep..

She got up but then he held her hand..She looked at him..

Manik ( stuttered ): Did..did..Dad..ever..break..breakdown..because of m..me..?

She stared at him for a while in surprise and knelt down in front of him, who was still sitting on the bed with his eyes down..

Nandini ( raised his chin ): And why do you want to know it..?

Manik ( pleaded ): Nandini...

Nandini ( sighed ): No..He did get sad because of the way you guys live in India. He never blamed himself but he blamed Nyonika for everything.He is a strong person Manik. If I have ever admired Pops for anything then its his will power to survive his pain,if he is sad then he just calls me and plays some games with me to distract himself but, he has always asked himself that whether you don't love him that you aren't ready to live with him..

Manik looked at her in pain after hearing the last line form her mouth..

Manik ( choked ): I..I thought..he..never cared for me..But, he actually..loved me which I couldn't see..I am such a bad son..right..

He was asking her like a kid for which she could just nod in No..

Manik ( sighed ): Maybe, I don't deserve happiness..Pehle, Dad aur mere beech ke dooriyan phir Nyonika, jo unfortunately is my mother, uske saath mere tiffs..aur phir tum..

She just stared at him..

Manik ( softly ): Tum bhi tho mujhe chodke gayi thi na..

Nandini got up and was about to move when he too got up and pulled her by waist..

Manik ( painfully ): Jawab nahi hai kya tumhare paas..? Kya mein ithna bhi bura hoon..?

Nandini ( sighed ): Kuch logonko khushiyan ithni jaldhi nahi milthe, par har insaan khushi ke hakkdhaar hai, shayad tumhara waqt abi thak nahi aaya hoga..

Manik ( smiled ): Tho iska mathlab mere khushiyon ka waqt finally aa chuki hai..

She looked at him confused..

Manik ( caressed her cheeks ): Nahi samjhi..? Apne aapko ayne mein dekho..wahi meri khushi..

She looked at him in disbelief..

Nandini: Manik, I told you..its over..we were never meant to be..

He pulled her more to him..

Manik ( glared ): We were and we will always be..I wouldn't let you go, not this time..!!

Before she could protest, he kissed her forehead which immediately shut her mouth..The forehead kiss which he plants always managed to wipe her worries..

He parted away and looked at her to see her staring at him with warm eyes..

Nandini ( sighed ): Won't you try to understand my point of view..?

Manik ( smirked ): Your point of view will part us away, I have been away from you for 6 years and 6 months Nandini, it was my mistake, but now..I won't allow anyone or anything to snatch you from me..

Nandini ( huffed ): Fine, jo karna hai kar lo..but mind you Mr. Malhotra..If you do anything that will hurt my Dad and Papas then I wouldn't mind to punch you again..

Mnaik faked a scared face but then leaned to her face..

Manik ( innocently ): I wouldn't mind. After all, we are unique, just like you punched me, you kissed me too..And If I need to get one more kiss only after receiving a punch them I am ever ready..

She looked at him with widened eyes. She made an irritated face and pushed him and walked towards the door when he called her again..

Nandini ( irritated ): Kya hai..

He smirked and moved towards her and opened the door himself..

Manik: Jaana tho mujhe hai..Its your bedroom..ya I know..you need to check on everybody before sleeping but still I can't sleep with you..can I ? ( she glared at him, he smirked ) Waise, i forgot to give this..

She widened her eyes..Because He....

Kissed her AGAIN...

Nandini ( scowled ): You Moron Malhotra..

He was already out of her room but he turned back after hearing his new name..

Manik ( smirked ): Pleasure is mine, My lady..

He smirked and went away while she stood there with an irritated face " Aiyappa..please save me from this monster " she thought with a cute angry pout on her face..

To be continued..