8:00pm, Ginger Tree Hotel, Anjuna Beach, Goa.

I looked at the stars in the night sky as I took another swig from the vodka bottle, that Mukti had so conveniently left behind in my car.

I was sitting on the floor of the balcony in a shady old hotel room and drowning my sorrows in alcohol.

No matter how much I drank, I couldn't get Nandini's broken and teary-eyed face out of my head! It had come back to haunt me every minute since I'd left her!

Manik! You have to forget about her! She's gone!

After dropping her off, I'd waited a while at a nearby lane to see whether she had reached the station safely or not. When I finally saw her going in, I drove away from there. I had to sell off my watch, because I was broke. After all, I had given her all the money I had earned the previous day in order to make sure she had enough for the journey. I hoped that she wouldn't reject it...

I couldn't even blame her if she did...especially after all the hurtful things I had said to her...

She was so innocent and pure, and in a short span of time she had made a place for herself in my heart and also left an indelible mark in my life. Being with her...made me happy! I hadn't experienced such bliss in a long time!

I wiped the tears that made their way down my cheeks as I remembered all the insults that I had dished out to her. It killed me on the inside to do that to her...but it had to be done!

She wasn't safe with me anymore! She was my shining star...and in order to for her to keep shining, I sent her away from me...to protect her...

The call I had received last night had ruined everything...

One night ago...

9:00pm, Clifftop, Anjuna.

Bringing Nandini to the cliff, was such a good idea! I couldn't decide which view was more breathtaking-Goa's coastline or her gorgeous smile. I was savouring both of them intently, when suddenly my phone started ringing.

What? Who could it be?

I had just switched my burner handset in the morning! And I hadn't even given Cabir the number! This number was untraceable...or was it?

I looked at the caller ID and saw an unknown number flashing.

"Nandini, wait here, I'll just be back..." I said, before moving away from there.

If it was Nyonika, I definitely didn't want her to hear our arguments! Nandini should have as little to do with that witch as possible!

I walked about a hundred metres or so away and reached a small alley which had a few houses.

I finally picked up the phone a few seconds later.

"Hello, who's this?" I asked, in a confused voice.

"Hello Manik!" Came the immediate reply, in a deep voice, seemingly that of middle-aged man.

It seemed familiar! Shit! It was Mukesh Singhania!

"How the hell did you get this number, Singhania? I said I would call you!" I asked, gritting my teeth.

"Oh it really wasn't that difficult! I employ the best I.T experts, so it was really a piece of cake. It took just a day to track your SIM! Anyway, I called to give you some important news..."

This wasn't good! I felt my stomach dropping! I thought I had succeeded in frightening the old man, so why did he sound so confident?

"What is it? Speak up, old man!" I growled.

"The deal we made...it's off!" He said, nonchalantly.

What the fuck?!

"Kyun? Bhool gaya kya, ki main kya kar sakta hoon? I can publicly humiliate your family at the drop of a hat! Your future daughter-in-law is with me! And if you want her safe-you should do as I say!" I said, menacingly.

If there was a God watching, he'd know that I'd much rather die before touching a hair on Nandini's head...but I had to convince Singhania that I was a danger to her!

"Manik...you're missing the point! Who said that she's my future daughter-in-law?" He said smugly.

What was he saying?!

"Saaf-saaf bol buddhe, kya bol raha hain?" I asked, in a voice mixed with anger and confusion.

"The thing is-Madhyam isn't getting married to Nandini! He's marrying Soha Khurana-a girl of the same social status as him! I was a fool to ever think of including that 'commoner'-Nandini-in our prestigious family! After marrying Soha, my son will take control of their airline business and we will be the richest family in the country! I will have finally beaten your father, Manik! So naturally, you see that I no longer need Nandini, so I'll be keeping the recording! You'll rot in jail, and you won't be able to save your father's company from its disastrous fate!" Mukesh Singhania chuckled as he spoke.

I felt sick in my stomach hearing his words. I had underestimated this man's greed for wealth! He had stooped unbelievably low to achieve his goal!

But I wasn't giving up so easy!

"You better hold up your end of the deal, or else I'll inform the press..." I started off in a threatening tone but was cut off by him in the middle.

"Tell the press what, Manik? They'll never believe you! We have already released an official statement regarding Madhyam's impending engagement to Soha! We've also leaked some other news that you may find quite amusing! Want to know what it is?" He asked in a condescending tone.

"What??" I asked, dreading his reply.

"The press got an anonymous tip off that Nandini Murthy eloped with you of her own volition! That's right! The police will also be abandoning the search for her soon...when her irritating family stops pestering them of course! Her reputation's completely ruined in the eyes of the public! And my family has escaped without a scratch! Well-if you're smart enough, you'd have figured out who the 'anonymous' person was? So-have you?" He asked.

"How dare you? How dare you leak such news about her to the media?! I swear I'll kill you for this!" I shouted into the phone, losing my temper.

"Well, it wasn't me exactly! It was all Madhyam's master plan, you see? And a damn good one at that! But I didn't think it would be so easy to sell the story! However, thanks to you...our job was simplified!" He retorted.

"What the hell do you mean?" I yelled.

"Your musical performance with her on Anjuna beach has gone viral on social media! Be it instagram or twitter, all people are talking about is the #loveduet on the beaches of Goa! So you see, the public already thinks you're a couple! Waise...let me ask you something! What's cooking, Manik? Developed a soft spot for her have you?" He laughed menacingly as he spoke.

"Shut up! Just shut up!" I replied, practically spewing venom at him through the phone.

How? How could I be so stupid? She had warned me! She had warned me about the consequences of singing in public but I had paid no heed to her warnings!

At that moment, all I could think of was the joy that I would feel by singing with her. I didn't think of anything else!

You should have been more careful, Manik! You screwed up and now Nandini has to suffer because of it!

I had underestimated the Singhanias cunning plans! I knew Madhyam didn't have the cleanest of consciences but how could he disgrace his own fiancée like this?!

"So Manik...I'm sure you've realized...you have no leverage left! There's no way you'll get your hands on that recording! Get ready to rot in prison! As for Nandini! Do with her-what you wish! Kill her for all I care, maybe that'll solve our problem permanently!" He said.

I wanted to hit something! My rage had crossed all limits!

"I won't give up so easily, Singhania! I will have that recording! Even if I have to use force to get it!" I screamed, in anger.

"Break in and take it! I challenge you, Manik Malhotra! Let's see who wins!" He made this last statement before disconnecting the call.

As soon as the line went dead, I screamed in frustration!

All the intricate plans I had made were ruined! How would I prove my innocence now?!

I had to get the recording at any cost! Breaking into the Singhania Mansion might be harakiri but I had to try! I couldn't go down without a fight!

But Nandini...what about her?

Breaking into the Singhania Mansion was mightily dangerous! There's no way I could take her along! Especially when the Singhanias cared so little for her!

I couldn't be selfish any more!

I'd already damaged her reputation substantially by kidnapping her! How could anyone even think of slut-shaming someone as loving and caring as her on national television?!

In the next few moments I came to the frightening realization that...I would have to let her go!

She deserved to go back to her family again. I was the reason she was in this mess in the first place! Maybe if she went back, all these awful rumours about her would stop being circulated eventually...

However, the kind of person that Nandini was...she'd refuse to leave my side, if she knew the truth! I had no idea why...but she seemed to care for me! Why did she care? If I was being honest with myself, I knew that I didn't deserve her affection!

I was overcome by a strange sort of fear as it dawned on me that the only way to make her go home was...to make her...to make her hate me...

I wiped the lone tear drop that made its way down my cheek and then steeled myself against everything else. I just wanted her back home...and I wanted her to be happy!

I knew what I would have to do...

With a heavy heart, I started dragging my feet back towards where I'd left her.

As soon as I reached the spot, I looked at her in a disoriented manner.

She ran up to me as soon as she sensed my presence and asked in a voice dripping with concern. "Manik, what happened? Is everything alright?"

I could only stare at her in silence and disbelief, as she placed a hand on my chin and asked. "Manik? Kya hua? Bolo mujhe..."

I had planned a way to drive her away from me but it could wait till morning...it wasn't safe to leave her alone at this time of the night!

Besides, I would give anything to spend one last night with her! Just one more night where she would blush when I gazed at her...just one more night where she would smile...for me...

I tried to conceal my sorrow from her and told her that Cabir had called me...I couldn't have her find out that Mukesh Singhania had called me!

"Manik, I know that something's bothering you...but it's okay, you can share it with me when you want to. I won't force you..." She replied after a minor contemplation.

How? How could she understand my emotions so easily?

It seemed like we had an unspoken connection between us...she could feel my sadness even when I didn't express it explicitly!

I wanted to make our last night together as beautiful as possible...

Before I changed my mind, I asked her. "Nandini, you like stars, right?"

As soon as she answered in the affirmative I stretched out my hand to her, and she accepted it within seconds.

I lifted her up by the waist and placed her gently on top of the car's roof.

She seemed a little surprised at my actions but gleeful all the same.

I climbed up myself and settled next to her comfortably.

"I love them too...they seem to be a source of light amidst the darkness in my life..." I said in a mildly grave voice.

"Manik, it's beautiful..." she said, smiling, and gazing up at the stars before her.

"Yes...it is..." I said, gazing solely at her.

The stars were indeed beautiful but none of them could hold a candle to Nandini's beauty.

She was perfect...perfect for me...but she could never be mine...

"Nandini?" I finally spoke, putting an end to the silence.

"Haan Manik..." she replied.

I went closer to her and cupped her cheeks gently before saying. "Nandini, I know that you said we should be friends...but can I, can I please...kiss you? Just once? Please?" I asked in desperation.

I knew I shouldn't have asked her...but I just wanted to kiss her one last time...one last kiss for a lifetime.

I saw a mixture of diffidence and surprise on her face at my direct plea, but she seemed hesitant.

I immediately regretted my foolish question and told her that she could refuse since she seemed uncomfortable.

However, to my surprise, she moved closer and placed a soft kiss at the corner of my lips. I went stock-still at the sudden contact and savoured the feel of her lips on me.

I turned towards her and placed a kiss on her forehead. I then kissed her on both her cheeks and felt elated when I saw her reddened face. She was so responsive to my touch...

Without further delay, I fused my lips with hers, and kissed her as tenderly as possible. There was no rush from either side, and it was so blissful.

Being with her...felt so right...but we weren't meant to be...

I withdrew and placed my forehead on hers as a new deluge of despair began to engulf me.

When I opened my eyes, I saw her smiling brightly as a firefly sat on our hands which were still entwined together.

She seemed to be utterly fascinated by it and I smiled seeing her so enthralled by something so commonplace.

As it flew away from us, I lay down on the roof engulfing her in my arms and holding her close, almost as if she would disappear the next second.

"Manik, why do you seem so troubled?" She asked, once again.

I knew it wouldn't be that easy to lie to her...especially when she could see right through me so easily.

"Nandini, it's nothing. I'm just scared for tomorrow..." I said, settling for honesty rather than some lame excuse.

"Manik, don't worry...everything will be okay." She said optimistically.

I looked at her and gave her a slight smile which seemed to convince her that I was alright.

"Sleep, now..." She said, closing my eyelids.

I drifted off to sleep a few seconds later, but continued to wake up intermittently to observe her serene and beautiful face as she slept soundly in my arms.

I hardly slept for an hour or so throughout the night knowing that even if I stared at her for the rest of my life...it wouldn't be enough...not even close to it...

****************************************************

Present

8:30 pm, Ginger Tree Hotel, Anjuna, Goa.

I downed the meagre amount of alcohol which was left in the bottle and stood up as the events of the previous night and today morning swirled in my head.

I knew that my plan to make her hate me would work...but I still had some bleak hope that she wouldn't believe me...

"She just believed me...maan bhi liya usne...how could she believe me?!" I asked myself in frustration.

No! Manik! She did the right thing! She's better off without you!

I had to box all my pain and throw it out of me if I wanted to be of any use to my deceased father!

I made a last ditch attempt to get her out of my system. I went close to the railing and took a deep breath before shouting. "Nandini!!"

I shut my eyes and tried to get her out of my head when I heard an angelic voice call out to me.

"Manik?" It said.

I immediately turned around to see Nandini standing a few feet away from me.

In the wan moonlight, her skin seemed to have an ethereal glow to it. It was one of the most wondrous sights I ever set my eyes on...

The question was...was I imagining her? Or was she really here?!