11:30 am, near Thivim Train Station, Goa.

I had no idea for how long I sat on the street bawling my eyes out. The pain I felt due to his insulting words refused to abate! I had this nagging ache at the centre of my chest that just declined to leave me! I felt betrayed and used-just like a piece of trash! How could he do this? I trusted him- trusted him in spite of what he did to me, and this is what I got in return? Aiyappa, why was I so naïve and gullible? I got swept up in his sweet words so easily!

How could I let this happen? I believed everything he told me...I promised to help him as best as I could but he was just pretending to care about me to have his revenge! How could he be so heartless and cruel?

And to think that I was going to confess my feelings to him today! How could I ever think that Manik Malhotra could love a 'nobody' like me? All the compliments and praises I had received from him suddenly seemed to sicken me because he must have meant none of what he had said!

I had let him kiss me! For him, it might have been an everyday occurrence, but it was a really big deal for me! I trusted him with my fragile heart and he broke it into a million pieces!

I didn't trust my own judgement any longer! I had lost faith in myself! I followed my heart and it had landed me in the worst possible situation!

Manik was right! I was a fool! Being a scientist, I only believed in proven facts. Aur aise kahan likha hain ki meri mom ki fireflies theory correct hain?

But the worst part was, I still couldn't hate him after what he did to me! No matter how hard I tried! I could pretend all I wanted, but the truth was- I still loved him! I still felt butterflies in my stomach when I thought of him! And I hated myself for feeling this way! I was disgusted with my own emotions!

I had been living in my own bubble for so long that I had forgotten where my priorities laid. If Manik had truly leaked such horrible news to the media, then not only me but Chacha-Chachi would also be disgraced in the eyes of the public!

How could I be so selfish? I was sure that they were doing everything in their power to find me. I remembered how worried Chachi sounded on the phone when I had called her! I could only imagine their shock when they'd hear today's news headlines!

Would they ever forgive me? They had showered me with so much affection ever since I was a child...they had always treated me like their own daughter, but the mistake I had made didn't seem worthy of forgiveness! Why should they have to pay for my stupidity?

Aiyappa, please don't let them hate me! What would I even do without them?

I saw a bunch of cars pass by and the passengers in the vehicles glanced at me, puzzled at my desolate condition.

No! I couldn't fall weak like this! I had to be stonger than this! I couldn't abandon my family when they needed me!

I finally decided to head back home. I had to try and explain the situation to Chacha-Chachi! Even though they'd probably be angry, maybe they would eventually understand me!

I won't break-Manik Malhotra! I won't let you have that much power over me!

I finally got up from the street and started walking towards the train station which according to the sign board in front of me, was merely a hundred meters away from where he had dropped me.

It took me a few minutes to reach the station, but it was a reasonably short walk.

I immediately entered the busy station and looked for the train schedule. I had to take the next available train to Bangalore and reach home as soon as possible. I had to explain my side of the story before it was too late!

When I finally found the schedule, I saw that I was in luck! The next train to Bangalore was to leave twenty minutes later.

I immediately went to the counter to purchase the ticket. As I stood in the line, I once again felt disgusted! I had to use the money that the monster had given me, because I had none myself. It killed me to take any favours from him, especially after the insulting way he had given me the cash. However, I had no choice! I had to use it to buy the ticket.

When I finally reached the end of the queue I was thankful to know that there were enough empty seats on the train to Bangalore. I immediately purchased a second class ticket and made my way to the appropriate platform.

I waited for a few minutes until the train arrived.

As soon as the stipulated train stopped at the platform, and most of the passengers disembarked, I made my way in and found myself a corner seat in the cramped and squalid carriage.

As the train lurched forward, and changed its course towards Bangalore, I felt absolutely hollow. I was going home, yet all I could feel was fear and guilt instead of experiencing relief! But, I had to go back...it was the only way!

A part of me was still worried for Manik...Ugh! Nandini! He doesn't deserve your concern! Everything was a lie! 

I wasn't even sure if he was lying about being framed or not!

Stop thinking about him! The chapter of Manik Malhotra closes right now!

I rested my head against the grills of the window and squeezed my eyes shut, trying to get his face out of my head.

Eventually, I drifted off into a troubled sleep, because the next thing I remembered was waking up as the train braked relatively harshly at another station.

I immediately looked around to see an active train station platform outside. How long had I actually been sleeping for?

I looked at a clock hung on the wall of a book stall, and read the time. Two pm?! I had slept for nearly two hours!

I had completely forgotten to inform Chacha-Chachi that I was alright. Even if I was ashamed to face them, I at least had to inform them that I was no longer in danger! I was sure they'd be very worried!

I got off the train, and got some change from a nearby food stall.

I made my way to the public telephone booth and immediately inserted a number of coins to make use of the phone for a few minutes. I dialed my landline number as quick as I could and waited with bated breath for Chachi to pick up the phone.

It took a few rings but eventually-she did pick up.

"Hello?" She said, clearly stressed.

"Chachi-main Nandu!" My voice was nearly cracking due to the mixed emotions of guilt and happiness I felt upon hearing her voice after a span of two days.

"Nandu! Kahan hain tu? Are you okay? Pata hain humne policewaalon ko bheja tha...tu theek hain na? I promise main uss Manik Malhotra ko chodne nahi wali!" Chachi exclaimed.

"Chachi...I'm fine! Mujhe kuch nahi hua...I just called to tell you that I'm coming home...it'll take a few hours but I will hopefully reach by tonight..." I said, trying to pacify her.

"Bhagwan ka lakh-lakh shukar hain...ki tu theek hain...please ghar aaja jaldi!" She said, relief evident in her voice, enhancing my guilt.

"Chachi...I'm so sorry...you and Chacha- had to go through so much because of me..." I said, letting out a sob.

"Nahi Nandu...I'm sorry!" She said, surprising me.

Did she really blame herself for my kidnapping? It most definitely was not her fault! It was my own stupidity that had landed me in this mess! And let's not forget the main culprit-Manik Malhotra!

"Chachi...please don't apologise! Isme aapki koi galati nahi hain!" I replied.

"Hai Nandu..hai...If we hadn't forced you to go and meet that manhoos Madhyam Singhania, ye sab hota hi nahi..."

Wait! What? Why was she referring to Madhyam as 'manhoos'? Was she aware of the unfair tactics used by the Singhanias when it came to their business? 

I couldn't even fully trust Manik's opinion of them!

"Why are you saying this, Chachi? What happened?" I asked.

"Nandu...woh log bahut bure hain...I called Mukeshji to ask him for help since you were kidnapped. I called him the night before last and requested him to either aid us financially, or to exert his influence to get you back. I had all my hopes pinned on his help because, Murthyji and I had no other option! We didn't know what to do because all our attempts to get you back had failed!" She cried.

"Aur phir?" I was baffled at the complexity of the situation!

"I was waiting for any sort of help from the Singhanias, but I got nothing! Mukesh Singhania ne kal shaam ko call karke bataya ki woh humse rishta tod rahe hain...because Madhyam ka rishta woh kisi bade ghar mein karna chahte hain! Not only this, minutes later, when we turned the T.V on, your name was all over the news! Channel wale bata rahe the ki tu apni marzi se bhaagi hain, Manik ke saath! They completely blackened our entire family! Par main jaanti hoon-tu aise kar hi nahi sakti! I'm sure-the Singhanias leaked this false story to save themselves from bad publicity! They are so greedy! They even announced Madhyam's engagement with Soha Khurana to the media as well! They prefer her over you just so because she's a businessman's daughter! All this is our fault! Humein aise parivaar se rishta, karna hi nahi chahiye tha!" Chachi explained, nearly in tears.

I remained transfixed as I listened to her story. Chachi thought that the Singhanias leaked the story? But what about Manik?

Wait! Manik said, that he had called the press last night when he disappeared on the cliff! So how was it possible that this news was out before that?

Was Manik lying? Had the Singhanias really leaked the news? Was Chachi right?!

But, why would Manik lie? No, Nandini! You promised you wouldn't think of him!

He had to have leaked the news...hadn't he? Maybe Chachi was mistaken about the time!

"Chachi, when did you see the news? When did it first come out?" I asked, with a sinking feeling in my stomach.

"Kuch 6 baje... ke aas paas..." She said. "Par tu aise kyun pooch rahi hain?"

Shit! Manik said he'd called the press after he received a call from Cabir! If the news came out at six, he couldn't have called them, because we were...singing, in front of hundreds of people!

Why did Manik lie? Did he really have an alternative proof as he claimed?

I suddenly looked at the money in my hand, and in that instant, I saw something other than an insult...

I remembered his words about the money...the first money that he'd ever earned for himself! He seemed so jubilant to have earned it! Yet, he gave it to me...why? Was it to insult me, or did he want to make sure that I reached home safely?!

But why would he do this?

Because he cares for you.

This was the immediate answer that came from my heart. I'd decided to stop listening to it, so why was it speaking yet again?!

His strange behaviour from the previous night came back to me...he was scared and sad about something, but what?

Had the Singhanias called him up and threatened him?

That kiss...it was so pure and tender. Almost like...he hated to say goodbye!

'Toh rok lo na mujhe...' His words echoed in my head. Did he want me to stop him?

Ugh! Aiyappa, this is so confusing!

My feelings of heartbreak suddenly turned into frustration and rage! Rage directed at Manik as well as the Singhanias!

Why didn't Manik just tell me the truth?!

 Did he not trust me enough to confide in me?! 

He pushed me away yet again...

No! He wasn't going to get away with this! I had to find out if my assumptions were true or not! If Manik didn't leak the news, I had to find out why! If he really did take the blame for the actions of the Singhania family, I wanted to know...why?

"Nandini, why aren't you saying anything?" Chachi asked over the phone, puzzled.

"Chachi, I'm sorry! I can't make it home today...ek kaam hai! Use poori karke hi waapas aaungi!" I said, determined.

"Ye tu kya bol rahi hain Nandu?" Chachi asked, perplexed.

"Chachi you trust me right, then please, I promise I'll be back soon! And, yes! You can call off the police investigation! Main jald hi waapis aajaungi!" I said.

"Par Nandu..." she said, slightly disappointed.

"Chachi main baad mein call karti hoon...bye!" I said.

I slammed the receiver before she could argue, and made my way back to the counter to buy a return ticket to Goa.

I felt a lava bubbling inside me as if I were a volcano!

Manik Malhotra-you better get your stories straight! Because I'm coming back to force the truth out of you! And nothing will stop me from doing so!