10:00 am, near Thivim Train Station, Goa.

I woke up when I felt my body lurching forward due to inertia. As I opened my eyes, I saw that I had been sleeping on the backseat of a car. It took me a few seconds to realize that it was Manik's SUV that I was in. I sat up straight on the seat and rubbed my eyes.

Wait a second! How did I get here? As far as I remembered, both Manik and I had dozed off on the roof of the car, so why was I inside it? Did Manik put me here?

Aiyappa, what's wrong with this boy? Why doesn't he ever wake me up?

Inspite of complaining about his behaviour, deep down I thought that it was sweet that he didn't want to disturb me.

I looked at the driver's seat to find it empty. Where was Manik?

I scanned the surroundings and realized that we were no longer on the cliff that we had visited last night. We seemed to be on a road of some sort.

I got out of the car only to see Manik pacing outside.

I smiled as I saw him, and remembered the resolution I had made to confess my feelings to him.

Aiyappa, I'm so nervous and excited!

I walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Good Morning, Manik!" I said in a cheerful voice.

"Good morning..." He replied, his body language awkward.

His eyes were red. Hadn't he had a peaceful sleep last night? Was he really that disturbed?

I knew something was wrong with him last night, yet I didn't do anything! Nandini, what's wrong with you? You should have been more firm with him about sharing his worries with you! He shouldn't start bottling his emotions up all over again!

"Had a good sleep? Feeling fresh?" He asked.

"Yes! All thanks to you...I had the perfect pillow last night..." I replied, smiling like a fool.

"Good! If you're feeling fresh then, hum aaram se baat kar sakte hain..." He said.

I felt relieved to hear this! Maybe he was finally going to tell me about what had been worrying him since the previous night.

I moved closer to him and clutched his hand with both my palms.

"Manik, I'm glad...you should share your troubles with me. Besides, even I have something to tell you..." I said, giving him a soft smile.

We were silent for a few seconds as he gazed at me but suddenly, he jerked his hand out of mine.

"Right...you know it's a big day today!" He exclaimed.

"Yes...it is!" I said smiling, because it indeed was going to be a big day for both of us! He didn't know just how big!

"You know Nandini, it's been a long journey for us...from the time I held a knife to your throat to yesterday...when you allowed me to kiss you..." He said, smirking.

The memory of our kiss last night made me blush.

"Yes...very long..." I finally managed to reply.

"We've come a long way...You know Nandini, when I found out that the Singhanias had bugged my house, I just lost it! When I fled from Mumbai, all I wanted was to teach Nyonika as well as the Singhanias a lesson! Nyonika ko toh main eventually handle kar leta, but I was confused about what to do to get back at the Singhanias...that is, until I met you...So, Nandini Murthy, you should be proud of yourself, because without you my plan to disgrace the Singhanias would be incomplete..." He said, as he started circling me as if I were his prey.

His tortuous words confused me a great deal. What exactly was he trying to say? I had never felt this uncomfortable around him except for when he had held a knife to my throat...but that seemed so long ago. Why was there a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach yet again?

"Manik, tum kya bol rahe ho...mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha..." I hoped that my voice conveyed my confusion.

"Nandu...tum toh scientist ho, right? But you never think...huh? I'll spell it out for you..." He said in a taunting voice, as he flicked my hair in an unfriendly manner.

The sick feeling in my stomach began to intensify. The flashes of his violent and rude behaviour came back to me. Images of him dragging me against my will, and him saying that I meant nothing to him just popped up in my head all of a sudden. Aiyappa, please let whatever I'm thinking be untrue! Please!

"Manik, don't say it..." I managed to squeak out a few words.

He turned his back to me as he said. "My mission to humiliate the Singhanias-it's accomplished! And all thanks to you! You see, Nandini, when I met you, I realized that I could use you to get the recording! But phir mujhe laga...that why don't I kill two birds with one stone? After all, press mein agar yeh baat leak ho gayi that the Singhania's future daughter in law ran away with their rival's son willingly, then tum soch sakti ho ki Singhania's ki kitni badnaami hogi? So thank you, miss Murthy...it's all because of you that I've achieved my goal... " He said extending his hand to shake mine in a mocking manner.

Tears had already started streaming down my cheeks. His words cut through me like daggers! If what he was saying was true, I was just a part of his twisted plan to get back at the Singhanias!

But what about the recording? He still needed me to retrieve it!

"Par Manik, woh recording?" I asked, desperate to hear that the scene before me as well as his hurtful words weren't real.

"Yes! Yaad hain kal raat, Cabir ka call aaya tha...it was to tell me that he found an alternative proof against Nyonika! Brilliant news! It means- neither do I need the recording anymore, nor do I need you! So I wasted no time, in calling up the media and informing them about your scandalous actions! It's such a relief! I'm so sick and tired of being nice to you and dealing with your stupid girly problems! Finally, I get to be free of you..." He said, with an evil laugh.

No! This couldn't be happening! It couldn't all be a lie!

"Manik, agar yeh tumhari stupid, silly joke hain na, toh it's not funny...please..." I said, as I let out a sob.

He turned his back towards me, as he continued to speak. His voice softened for a moment as he said. "Why don't you...believe me? Are you sure...Nandini?"

He almost sounded sincere, when he uttered these words.

"Toh...rok lo na mujhe..." He said, in a voice that gave me a sliver of hope.

Suddenly, a realization dawned on me that made me feel even more nauseous.

"That's why you asked me if you could kiss me...to see whether I've fallen into your trap? To make me refuse to marry Madhyam and disgrace the Singhanias in the process? Is that why you made me sing with you...so that the public would think we were a couple?" I spoke through a choked voice, barely able to stand up straight any longer.

The beautiful memories I had with him now seemed to be nightmares!

He turned around as he said. "Look who's finally using her brain! Obviously...koi shak? Any doubt?" He said, lowering his face and bringing it closer to mine in an intimidating manner.

"Manik all this is very new for me...please mere shak ko galat prove kar do...please..." I was practically begging at this point and I felt disgusted with myself for doing so.

My incessant tears were clouding up my vision. I felt extremely weak and giddy!

"Please mere shak ko galat prove kardo...please!" He said, imitating my voice and insulting me in the process. "Kyun? Kyun karoon mein door?"

"Manik, tum kya bolna chaah rahe ho?" I asked yet again.

"Silly Nandu...you don't believe me, right? Then go and check all the news channels right now! They're all talking about us! Tum toh famous ho chuki ho...oh I'm sorry, I mean infamous..." He said, chuckling sadistically.

"You know what...before I planned all this, I did think that you were an innocent in all this! So, I thought why should you suffer for what the Singhanias have done? But, the stubborn girl that you are...you called the police to arrest me! Tumhe aise nahin karna chahiye tha, Nandini! No one dares to defy Manik Malhotra, aur tumhe laga ki main tumhe aise hi jaane doonga?" He said, his expression filled with anger.

My tongue was completely paralysed! All my senses had abandoned me!

"So finally, jeet gaya main...finally I have you Nandini! Look at you! Look at your face!" He said, guffawing continuously.

"Go away, Manik!" I shouted in anger, and sorrow. I couldn't listen to his hurtful words and taunts any longer.

"Kaash...Kaash, tum yeh pehle kar paati! It would have been so much better for you! But look at you now...it's sad...Anyway, like I said, thanks to you I got my revenge!" He said.

He took out some money from his pocket and gave it to me as he said. "It has been a pleasure Nandini Murthy, so take this as a token of my appreciation, and get lost from my face! Go to the train station that's nearby, and go back to whichever poor neighbourhood you came from!"

A fresh set of tears made their way down my cheeks as I saw the money he gave me. How could he stoop so low? He had insulted me in every way humanly possible! But how could I forget? He was a monster! Not a human!

"So! Bye, Nandini- hope I don't see you in my next life! Like I said...no hard feelings..."

With this last statement, he turned around and started walking towards the car.

I sank to my knees and let out a loud cry to let out my frustration and sadness as he walked away from me.

I hoped and prayed that he would look back just once, that he would come to comfort me, but he did no such thing.

Why would he? It was all a farce! He never cared for me! It was only I who had fallen for him so hopelessly.

I watched, him get into his car and drive off, without sparing me a second glance.

There was only silence all around apart from my sobs, but I knew that my heart had already been shattered into a million pieces.