At that moment, Manik entered...hoping to surprise his Bhai and Nandini on their anniversary.

"Happy Anniversar- NANDINI!" Manik's eyes widened as he saw what Nandini was doing and he ran forward, smacking the remaining pills out of her hand. He looked at Nandini who already feeling drowsy. "How many did you have?? Huh? Nandini tell me!"

"Ma...nik..." Nandini mumbled.

"Shit shit shit! Chalo mere saath." Manik gently & quickly pulled Nandini into the washroom an made her kneel infront of the open toilet. He then stuck his fingers into her mouth in order to make her vomit the pills out. "Come on....spit it out.."

Nandini tried to get out of his grasp but Manik held on and soon she gagged, vomiting out the pills. Manik looked relieved but still concerned. "Doctor...I have to call the ambulance."

He stood up to get his phone which Nandini snatched out of his hands.

"NO! JUST LET ME DIE!" Nandini screamed.

"TUMHARA DIMAAG KHARAB HO GAYA KYA??? EK AUR BAAR AISI BAAT KI NA TOH ILL-" Manik raised his hand and Nandini immediately blocked herself with her arms. Manik looked confused at her reaction and worried. He calmed down and talked to her softly. "Nandini...kya ho gaya tumhe? Arre baba.....tumne aisi ulti seedhi baat ki iss liye gussa aa gaya tha par main sach main thodi na tum pe haath uthaunga. You know me...I could never even think about doing that!"

It was then that Manik finally noticed the blue and purple bruises all over her arms and face.

"What the- yeh...yeh kya ho gaya tumhe? Kisne kiya?" Manik slowly realized what had happened. He remembered all the small incidents when his brother looked mad and Nandini looked terrified. He looked at Nandini and his eyes filled up with tears. "No....No it cant be....Bhai can't he....Bhai ne...yeh- kabse?"

"S..Sh...Shaadi waali...r..raat." Nandini managed to mumble.

"What?" Manik asked in complete shock.  

"Shaadi mein mere kuch college ke doston ne mujhe bola ki main bohot khubsoorat lag rahi hoon. Bas isi vajah se unko gussa aa gaya aur unhone mujhe pehli baar maara. Lekin main chup rahi...mujhe laga bas ek baar hua aur uske baad mujhe laga ke main unko badal sakti hoon lekin aisa nahi hua.....main aaj tak bardasht karti rahi lekin ab aur nahi kar sakti main....ab mujhse aur bardasht nahi hota. Tumne mujhe kyun bachaya? Kyun? Maar jaane diya hota!"

"Main aisa nahi kar sakta Nandini." Manik replied.

"KYUN??"

"Kyunki main tumse pyar karta hoon! I love you Nandini....I love you alot!" Manik said. Nandini froze in her spot and just looked at him surprised. Manik sighed, "Jab....tumhara rishta Bhai ke liye aaya....and I saw your picture. Main toh tabse tumpe fida ho gaya tha. You looked so beautiful & innocent.....tumhare haath mein phool they lekin tum unn phoolon se bhi zyada nazuk lag rahi thi. Par....I controlled my feelings kyunki tum mere bade bhai ki hone wali biwi thi. Uske baad the more I spent time with you...mujhe paata chala ke tum jitni bahar se khubsurat ho utni andaar se bhi ho. Tum ho hi achi ki tumse koi bhi pyar karega.....bas shayad mere Bhai ko tumhari importance kabhi samajh nahi aaya."

Manik saw that Nandini was silent and thought that he made things awkward between them because she didnt feel the same. "Im so so sorry Nandini...mujhe paata hai yeh galat hai par main kya karun? I cant help how I feel. Pls dont hate me pls pls pls dont hate me...I-"

Nandini grabbed his face and placed a hand over his mouth to make him stop rambling. "BAS! Mujhe bolne toh do! I dont hate you Manik....ulta mujhe laga ki....sirf main-"

"Sirf tum...kya?" Manik asked as Nandini took her hand away. He looked at her as she lowered her eyes, playing with her fingers.

"Sach kahun toh...jab tum apne bhai ke saath mujhe pehli baar dekhne aaye they toh.....I was attracted to you...not Harshad." Nandini confessed. "Lekin...mujhe paata tha ki mera rishta Harshad ke liye bheja gaya tha toh woh galat hota. Maine apne dil ko samjha diya tha aur Harshad ko apna pati mann liya. Pure dil se maine iss rishte ko nibhane ki koshish ki thi lekin meri koshish humesha ek tarfa raha. Main harshad ke saath kabhi puri tarah se Nandini bann hi nahi paayi...Lekin tumhare saath alag tha. I could be my self. Main khul ke has sakti thi...khul ke jee sakti thi. Shaadi ke baad jo dosti maine Harshad se expect ki thi...woh mujhe tumse mila. Jo understanding maine Harshad se expect ki, woh tumse mila. Dekhte hi dekhte mujhse tumse pyaar ho gaya lekin maine kabhi yeh nahi bola kyunki main tumhari bhabhi hoon! Harshad pe cheat nahi karna tha mujhe....par bas ho gaya pyar."

Happy to hear her confession, Manik pulled her into a kiss. Nandini was surprised at first but soon melted into it and kissed him back, her hands pulling him even closer by his collar. 

"Yeh....galat hai right?" Manik whispered, resting his forehead against hers....his hands on the nape of her neck.

"Bohot." Nandini whispered back. "Lekin....Im done caring. Jab Harshad khud iss rishte ko kuch nahi manta toh main kyun manun?"

To Be Continued...