They all went to the restaurant and occupied the seat facing the valley outside the restaurant.

Mukti sat next to Abhimanyu which made Nandini sit next to Manik.

Manik smiled at her and tried to talk par she just ignored

Nan: Climate super hai na
She said covering her self with shovel.

Mu: Haa Awesome hai
She smiled back

Maria pulled Abhimanyu hand and gestured him to make her sit in his lap.

Abhi just kept on staring at her face in deep thoughts.
Manik noticed him and shook his hand.

Man: Kya hua
He hold his hand tighty inorder to ask everything is alright.

Abhi: Kuch nai
He said looking at their hands.

Maria: friendz
She frowned as he was not picking her up.

Abhimanyu hand were shivering with shaky hand he pick her up.

Maria moved her hand on his forehead and pressed them inorder to erase the stress line which were form.

Maria: worri worri
She asked cupped his cheeks.

Tears were form corner of his eyes and he nodded in a NO and kissed her head hugging her tightly.

Manik, Nandini were was surprised to see Abhimanyu reacting in this way.
While Mukti very well knew the reason, she hold his one hand from under the table tightly. The storm which was going inside him was unbearable for him. He was scared that he would breakdown infront of Manik.

Nan: Bhai what's wrong
She asked him to get his attention

Just then the waiter came with the menu cards to take the order.

Waiter: Sir your order

Abhi: tumlog order karo I will just be back.
He said leaving Mukti hand, and handing Maria to Manik

Man: Abhi sunn toh
He tried to get up and follow him but Mukti stopped him.

Mu: Manik he will be back soon let's order first I am damn hungry.
She said opening the menu card.

Man: What's wrong with him. Why does he look so stress and tensed ???
He asked seriously.

Mu : You are overthinking he is absolutely fine. Wo headache haa headache hua hai medicine lene ko he, he went nothing else.
She lied

Nan: So he could tell me na. Kya hai yeh. Gharmi Doctor hokar bhi u people don't tell me. I will go and see.
She grumbled and tried to get up.

Mu: He will be back Nandini let's order food we will order for him too. He will have food na so he will be fine. Don't worry
She said holding her hand.

Nandini nodded but Manik was not convinced he very well knew something is definitely wrong but right now he kept quite.

They soon placed their order.

Mukti got busy with her phone checking instagram and facebook. Actually she was pretending to be busy orelse Manik would start with his interrogation about Abhimanyu.

Maria sat next to Mukti as the place was empty right now and she was playing angry birds on Manik's phone.

Manik looked at Nandini who was looking around.

Man: Nandini
He whispered softly but she turned her face and ignored him.

Man: Nandini just listen to me.
He said annoyingly

Nan: kya hai
She shouted so loudly that Mukti and other people around looked at them.

Man: Why are you shouting ?
He asked angrily

Nan: Then stop irritating me
She too snapped back with angry face.

Mu: Kya hua guy tum dono ko ?
She asked being confused.

Man: Nothing I will check on Abhimanyu.
He said getting up angrily.

Mu: Par listen
She tried to stop him

Man: It's being quite awhile now and his this kind of behaviour is making me tensed.Maria stay here papa will be back soon. No crying okay
He said strictly.

Maria nodded obediently.
While Nandini muttered few cruses under her breathe.

Mukti self talk: I hope Abhimanyu is fine. He has a grip over his self. Ohh God please help him.
She prayed silently.

Abhimanyu on other hand was near the railing staring at something unknowingly.

Abhi self talk : No it's a lie. Maria is Manik daughter haa. That makeup kit is lying for sure. How can I trust her words. It can be a plan to create problems and misunderstanding. Abhimanyu get a grip over yourself this all is a lie it's a game which that jerk Harshad and that bitch might be playing. Par who the hell is Amar Kapoor........Why the hell is this all so complicated. There will be a way to find out the truth DNA test. You can't be serious Abhi tu Maria, Manik ki beti hai yeh proof ki liye DNA test karva ayiga. Noways stop being a jerk. Ofcourse she is Manik's daughter haa.
Her anger, her attitude, taste, way of sitting,talking, carrying herself everything depicts Manik.

This new information had shattered Abhimanyu, his brain and heart were in a conflict. Brain was giving realistic answer while heart was not ready to belief.

Abhi: Amar Kapoor.
He dialed his PA number

Abhi: Arjun I need information about some Amar Kapoor. Get me his entire life history every single detail. And especially his relation with Soha Khurana. How long they know each other where how and why they met everything. Do it fast
He said arrogantly and cut the phone.

Just then he heard someone calling his name which was a nightmare.

Man: Abhi
He held his shoulder

Abhimanyu turned around and faced him.

Abhi: Tu yaha kyu aaya I was coming only chal. I am damn hungry let have food.
He said walking ahead and prayed he didn't hear anything but he was wrong.

Man: Who is Amar Kapoor aur Soha se kya relation hai.... What were you talking about
He asked him facing his face.

Abhi: kuch nai tu yeh sab.... just forget it
He said nervously

Man: Listen you better tell me what's going on..... Abhimanyu Murty you very well know you and me don't keep secrets......and also things hidden from each other.

Abhi: Manik stop over reacting aisa kuch nai hai
He said moving his face to other side.

Man: Acha toh yeh tension, frown on your forehead, your this weird attitude. What is all this Murty
He asked cupping his face between his hand.

Abhi: Kuch nai I am stress because office me kuch problem hai few tenders are not ready on time that's it
He lied

Man: Acha really then look into my eyes and talk Murty.
He said holding his arms making Abhi face him.

Man: You think I am a fool huh I heard your conversation kya kiya Soha ni wapis aur Who the hell is Amar Kapoor that you need his details.
He shouted this time angrily

While Abhimanyu didn't answer and stood rigid at his place

Man: Kya open your mouth I am not talking to mountains and valley's
He shouted annoyingly

Abhi: Are you done let's go Maria will get worried chal
He said casually and hold his hand while Manik just jerk his hand turned his face to other direction

Abhi: Malhotra stop acting like a kid chal
He said again holding his hand while he just jerked his hand and pushed him away

Abhimanyu looked at him angrily he hold his hand tightly and shouted
Abhi : Enough you are coming with me chal

Man: I won't come unless and until you don't tell me the truth.
He said seriously

Abhi: What do you want to hear ?
He asked annoyingly

Man: Everything what is making you so tense, worried and depressed. Soha, Amar what's going on...

Abhi: You don't trust me ?
He asked looking straight into his eyes with seriousness

Man: ofcourse I trust you. Yeh kaisa sawal hai you know I trust you more than myself par that does not mean we start hidding things from each other. Abhi you know if something is wrong either with you or me we both get to know so just cut the crap and tell me.
He said holding his hand with his.

Abhimanyu stared at him blankly

Abhi self talk : I am sorry I have to lie to you. But I can't see you broken and won't ever let Maria be snatch from you. It's Abhimanyu Murty promise
He said determined.

Abhi: Dinner ki baad I will let you know all. Give me some time I too have to get to know things trust me
He made a pleading face

Man: Sure take your time but you will have to say all.... every single thing no hide and seek
He said seriously

Abhimanyu nodded

Man: Chal let's go

They went back to the table.
Nandini was sitting next to Mukti this time which made Manik more angry.

Nan: Where were you bhai ? App ka headache kisa hai
She asked Abhimanyu while he looked confused

Abhi: headache ???
He asked confusingly

Mu: Abhi you had a headache
She said grinding her teeths and kicking his leg from below as he sat opposite to her.

Manik understood and answered instead of him but didn't look at Nandini's face

Man: headache na it's better infact after dinner it will be much better hai na Abhi
He asked indirectly looking at him.

Abhi: Hopefully
He said turning his face to other direction.

Mu: Chalo food is here
She tried to divert their attention from the tension going on between two of them.

While Nandini right now remained a silent spectator.

The started eating with minimum conversation.
Nandini every now and then tried to indirectly taunt Manik while he completely ignored her.

Abhimanyu and Manik feed Maria occasionally but she kept on complaining of food being spicy, and asking water again and again.

So they order for her sweet corn soup which Abhimanyu feed her.
Pecking her cheeks again and again and promising himself that he won't ever let her smile fade away. Whether whatever is the truth he does not care. She is Manik's daughter and his little angel.

Soon the dinner got over and they ordered sweet dish.
Just then Abhimanyu phone rang and he excused him self.

Manik looked at him while he just left the area quickly.

Maria: papa ice crem
She asked cutely

Man: It's cold out here you can't have ice cream. Let's have chocolate cake okay

Maria just nodded hunging her head down.

While our Nandini smiled evily and ordered

Nan: Chocolate ice cream triple scoop with chocolate sauce.
She ordered licking her lips.

Manik looked at her angrily and made a disbelieve face.

Man: As expected
He muttered softly

Mu: You can't be serious Nandini it's so damn cold out here and ice cream pagal hai. You will fall sick No cancel karo uska order
She said being worried

Nan: Nai bhaiya app ice cream lekar aao. And Mukti to have ice cream in cold is awesome belief me. You will enjoy cancel ur fruit salad and have strawberry na is ur favourite flavour haa have strawberry ice cream.
She said like a kid.

Mu: No thank u I don't want to fall sick you eat
She said folding her hand at her craziness.

Man: Listen parcel the cake.
He called out the waiter and said

Man: Mukti I will take Maria to cottage see you later bye Good night.
He stood up carrying Maria with him.
Looking angrily at Nandini.

While leaving Maria waved her hand at Nandini which made her so happy that she waved her hand back at her and gave her a flying kiss which made Maria smile.

But unfortunately her these action were observed by a man who was all the while staring at her with dirty eyes.

Abhimanyu phone conversation

He was in the balcony of the living room in cottage.

Abhi: Yup tell me kya pata chala

Arjun: Sir Amar Kapoor was a producer he own's pepermint production house which was quite famous but from past three years he had a down fall which destroyed his market share and he is in debt right now.

Abhi: What about Soha
He asked being impatient

Arjun: She had sign a movie in his production house three years ago which had gone flop and he had a huge loss. And there were rumours of Soha having a extra martial affair with him in the industry but the matter was settle and not brought out in Media by giving money. Also there is a intimacy video of Amar and Soha which was leaked by some person of production house. Well Sir these all information and video I got from Varma he has being Amar very close friend.  The one who you asked to banned Soha. Other details I have mailed you and the video link too. And one more thing Varma told Soha was in love with Amar but ditched him due to his bankruptcy.
He informed while Abhimanyu just cut the phone after listening to this all.

Abhi: I wonder how much low this woman can go.
He said angrily.

Manik saw him talking on the phone but gave him space and went in his room with grumpy Maria.

Man: kya hua baby why this angry look ?
She nodded in a NO and open her mouth as Manik's feed her cake

Man: so why grumpy ?
He asked wiping her mouth with his finger as chocolate cream was spread across corner of her lips.

Maria: Noy ice crem
She said with frown

Manik sigh
Man: You want to fall sick with fear and cough huh.
He asked strictly

Maria: noy but nandi eatin na
She was arguing in her baby tone

Man: Nandini is big girl but you are my small baby girl so it's different okay. Now no more argument lets get u freshen up and brush then off to bed.
He said carrying her to washroom.

Abhimanyu was sitting in the veranda with his laptop.

He shut the laptop in frustration and face palm himself.

Soon Manik accompanied him with beer bottle and sat next to him.

Man: So tell me
He nudge him handing the bottle.

Abhi: You seriously want to know
He asked in frustration.

Man: Yes
He answer determined

Abhi: Kya kariga after knowing what all dirty things she was doing behind your back. That she is such a witch.
He asked angrily.

Man: kuch nai but I want to know.

Abhi: okay par promise me you won't spoil your mood it won't affect you at all. Promise kar
He forwarded his hand for hand shake.

Manik was lost in deep thoughts but eventually agreed and shook hands with him.

Man: promise

Abhi: See it by yourself.
He pass the laptop to him.

Manik looked at him being confused and took the laptop and read the mail. Saw the video but shut it in midway only. All what Arjun had told to Abhimanyu was in writing and with prove.

Manik after seeing all kept the laptop on the side table.

Abhi: She will pay for all Manik. Just wait and watch.

Manik didn't reply anything back he just sat there taking sip from his bottle staring at the stars.

He was not shock or surprise but hurt.

___________________________________

Precap: Manik share's his past with Nandini. Start of new friendship between them.

Happy reading 😊😊😊