Malhotra Mansion

"Mom, What did you just say?"

Raj and Nyonika went rigid hearing Manik's broken voice.

Nyonika: Manu I...

Before she could explain Manik showed her his hands.

Manik: So you guys are planning to leave me again. Woww... Mein bhi soch raha tha ki mere zindgi mein itna khushi kaise aa gayi. Because I am Manik, I don't deserve happiness. Right?

Raj: No Manik aisa nahi hai.

Manik: (screaming) Aisa hi hai dad. Aisa hi hai.

Nyonika: Manu bacha, mera baat toh suno.

Manik: I heard enough mom. Enough to know how unlucky I am. How my own parents hate me.

Nyonika: What are you even saying Manu? We don't hate you. You are all we got.

Manik: Lie... Everything Is A Lie. You both hate me.

He screamed making everyone flinch.

Manik: Actually, I can't blame both if you. I hate my self. Then how Can someone else love me?

Raj: Stop it Manik, you are taking everything wrong.

Manik: Dad, ek baat bata, itne saalon mein aap kyun nahi aaya mujhe milne? Why you never spent your time with me? You were having problems with mom right? What was my fault in it? Why was I punished for something I never did? Why did you stop being my superman? Why did you stop being my hero? Why dad? Why?

These questions were something The Raj Malhotra dreaded. He knew one day he has to answer these questions. He is guilty of ruining Manik. He can't even express how he hare himself for doing this to his innocent son when he needed him the most. How cruel he was? Will Manik ever forgive him?

Raj: It's all my fault Manik. I am your culprit. My blind love for my brother was the root cause of everything. If you want to punish me, then do it. Only you have the right. But don't punish your mom for that. She has already gone through a lot. Her only hope for life is you. Only you.

Manik: Maan na padega, app baat bahot ache se karlete ho. After all, you are the best businessman. But it's not gonna give me my childhood back. It's not gonna help me heal those scars you both have made in my soul. 

He blasted making Raj close his eyes trying to contain the tears that are threatening to roll down of off his eyes. While Nyonika freely let the tears roll down. Sobbing, thinking about how they ruined their son.

Manik: You both are my culprit. You both are the reason why I am like this. A monster!!

Manik's screams stopped hearing someone clapping.

Mannat Mansion

Aryaman has left the premises by the time Nandini reached the entrance.

Abhimanyu: What happened Nandu?

He asked concerned as he heard her calling out to Aryaman.

Nandini: Bhai, get the car we have to find Harshad before Aryaman can teach him.

Abhimanyu: But hua kya hai?

Nandini: I will tell you. But come with me now.

She dragged him with her after looking at Soha and blinking her eyes at her said saying everything will be okay.

By the time Madhyam and Kaira come down, they spot a crying Soha making them scared. Soha is not someone who will cry on petty things. Nandini was always the sensitive one, who one will cry even while watching a movie, but Soha will laugh at the sad scenes making fun of Nandini. If he is upset then something must have happened.

Kaira was by her side their next second hugging her. Soha cried in Kaira's arms explaining them everything while Madhyam caressed her hair consoling her.

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Here Nandini and Abhimanyu first-time to Saxena Mansion and get to know that both Harshad and Alia is at Malhotra Mansion as she informed about them staying over there for the day.

So their next stop was Malhotra mansion. But going there they witnessed the scene they never dreamt.

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Hearing the sound of clap Manik look at the side of the door.

Manik: what are you guys doing here?

He asked looking at Nandini and Abhimanyu who has anger written on their faces.

Nandini: what are we doing here is none of your concern. But, what is happening here? Like are you even listening to yourself, Manik?

Manik: what the hell ate you trying to say?

He was frustrated. He just doesn't want to hear anyone. The burden he carried from years has made him tired. He can't do this anymore. Pretend like his life is okay. Trying to be happy even after his life crumbled down in front of his eyes.

Nandini: That's what I am doing. I am telling you na. What were you saying a while back? Ohh haa Nyo Maa never thinks of you or your father. Wahh even after knowing everything how could you say that Manik? Chalo, yeh sab chodo and answer my questions.

Manik: Nandini, don't test my patience. I am not interested to play KBC now. So will you please enlighten me what are you doing here?

Nandini: Hey hey hey don't stress yourself too much. Trust me it's really important for you, otherwise you will regret it later.

She took a pause.

Nandini: Manik just tell me something, ever in your life did you try to understand the possibilities of how and why your life becomes like the way it was? Ever in your life did you try to find out what happened to your best friend? Why he all of a sudden he started hating you?

She stared right into his eyes her eyes filled with tears while his eyes filled with unending sadness.

Nandini: Nahi, you didn't do anything. You just stay there and accepted whatever life throws into you. You never thought of changing anything. Manik, tumhe pata hai tum kitna lucky hai. Tumhare paas Nyo maa hai, Harshad jaise dost hai. Tumhe pata hai ki tumhare liye woh kitna had tak jaa sakte hai? wooh toh apni jaan bhi kurban dega tumhare liye.

She wiped her tears harshly.

Nandini: Arey, main toh Nyo maa ko beg karte hue dakha hai, tumhare liye, tumhari jaan kelie. Aur Harshad, woh toh apni life hi barbad karke rakha tha is guilt mein ki woh kabhi tumhe help nahi kar paaya. Itna ki woh...

Abhimanyu: Nandini...

It took everyone attention. But before she could more about Harshad, Abhimanyu holds her hands stopping her before saying anything more. Nandini took a deep breath and nodded at Abhimanyu before looking at Manik again.

Nandini: (calmly)Manik, tum ek baat bata, kya tumhe itne saalon mein, ek pal kelie bhi aisa nahi laga ki, tumhare maa, jo tumse sabse zyada pyaar karte the, jo tumhare dunia the, woh aise achanak kyun badal gaye?

Manik: Laga hai mujhe, par kya karta mein, Nandini, kya karta mein? When all this happened I was just 12. I couldn't understand how my perfect world crumbled in front of my eyes. Toh meine woh kiya jo sab mujhe karne ko majboor kiya. (Grabbing Nandini's shoulders) Tum ab pooch raha tha na ki mein kuch kiya? That did I ever tried to know the reasons? Then the answer is YES. (Leaving her shoulders) Yes, I have tried. Jab bhi mein dad se poochta ki actually, hua kya hai toh woh bolte the ki sab mom ki galti hai aur mom, (looking at Nyonika) mom se toh mein kabhi pooch hi nahi payi, woh toh mujhe apne paas aane hi nahi deti. Toh aur kya kar sakthi hai main?

Nandini: Sahi bola tumne. Tab tum kuch nahi kar pa raha tha, par ab kya? Ab toh aisa nahi hai na. Ab toh tumhe saari sachai bhi pata hai. Hai na. Phir tum kyun Nyo maa ko doshi bol rahe ho? Phir se uski aankhon mein aansoo kyun hai?

Manik looked at Nyonika who was sobbing looking at him with pleading eyes. Manik closed his eyes in hurt. He never wants to make her cry. But in his anger, he hurt her. His soul is pained.

Manik: Nandini, I never want to make her cry. (Looking at Nyonika's eyes) Mera maa hai woh, mujhe bhi acha nahi lagta jab unki ankhon mein aansoo aaye. Mein toh in donon pe naraz hi nahi hu. Main toh apni kismat pe naraz hu. Why this destiny always snatch my parents from me?

He would have fallen stumbling if it wasn't for Dhruv, who held
him on time. Manik snatched his hands from Dhruv before walking a bit back.

Manik: They were talking about divorce Nandini. They are again planning to leave me.

He looked at both his parents with eyes filled with tears.

Manik: They Will Leave Me.

He mumbled in a defeated tone.

Manik turned his back to everyone and falls on his knees crying. For the first time, he cried for him, his life, his broken heart.

Before Mukthi, Dhruv, Alia, Nandini or Abhimanyu come to him, they saw Raj and Nyonika kneeling beside him. Nyonika caressing his back calming him down.

Nyonika: Nahi Manu, ham aapko chodke kahi nahi jaa raha. Ham ek baar aapko kho chuka hai ab aur nahi. Aur na hi ham apni difference ko aap par asar padne denge.

Raj: Please Manik. Don't cry. Ham bol raha hai na. Give us one last chance. Please.

Manik hugged Nyonika placing his head on her shoulder trying to stop his crying. Raj hugged both of his lifelines to himself praying to God to keep both of them safe and secure.

Abhimanyu comes and side hugged Nandini comforting her.

Nandini: Meine kuch zyada bol diya kya?

Abhimanyu: Bol toh diya, but I think they needed that dose.

Mukthi: (Whisper yelling) Matlab, yeh sab tum ne jaan bhoochke bola tha.

Nandini: Partly yes. They really need a reality check. For that, they have to understand each others point of view. Otherwise this fight will continue.  But we came here for something else. (Turning to Alia) Alia, do you know where Harshad is?

Alia: Hmm. No idea, he said he has to be somewhere and it is very important.

She mumbled.

AbhiNi looked at each other not knowing where to find him before Aryaman roast him alive.

Abhimanyu: Ais kahan gaya hai yeh ladka?

He asked Nandini who is bouncing on her feet with nervousness thinking hard about the places Harshad could go.

Mukthi: What actually happened?

Abhimanyu: Ab tak toh kuch nahi hua but kuch zaroor hoga. Uske baad Harshad zinda ho toh bad baat hai?

Alia: What? Kya bol rahe ho tum?

Before Abhimanyu could explain he was dragged away by Nandini who screamed I know where he could be leaving a terrified Alia, Mukthi and Dhruv.

Alia: Mukthi what was he saying? Bhai...

Mukthi: Hey they must have been joking. You don't worry Alia.

Mukthi tried to ensure Alia but she, herself was confused.

Alia: But..... I want to see bhai.

She said leaving abruptly, but not before looking at the family who is comforting each other.

Dhruv: I will go with her. You, be with them.

Dhruv said before following Alia as Mukthi nodded her head.

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Abhimanyu was driving to the We Care Hospital. As Nandini remembered that Harshad had his counselling sessions going on today.

Abhimanyu halted the car in the parking where now formed a large crowd.

They give each other a look before rushing to there praying it is not what they thinking.

But God has another plan. It was the same scenario they imagined.

Aryaman who is punching Harshad blue and back while the latter didn't even move a finger to stop him. The guards who are trying to pry Aryaman off of Harshad is also getting strong punches here and there.

Abhimanyu and Nandini came to them and tried to stop Aryaman. Abhimanyu was successful in pulling Aryaman back but he was trying to push Abhimanyu as he is not ready to stop his assault on Harshad. It was making it difficult for Abhimanyu to hold him back. Nandini was trying to help Harshad who was almost passed out.

Dhruv and Alia who was following AbhiNi too reached there and Dhruv helped Abhimanyu to hold the raging bull a.k.a Aryaman while Alia was helping Nandini to stand Harshad. Hearing her sobs Harshad opened his half-closed eyes and whisper her not to cry.

____________________________________

2058 words.

So how was it?

Manik?

Malhotra couples?

Aryaman and Harshad?

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20/11/2020