12:15 am, Anjuna Beach, Goa.

"I swear...Manik ko saamne aane de...aise band bajaunga, aise band bajaunga, ki sab dekhte reh jayenge!" I said as I bumped my fists together in frustration.

"Cabir, let's not get impatient already..." Dhruv said calmly, as he patted my back.

But I couldn't remain calm! We'd reached Goa an hour ago and scoured at least ten different hotels at the beach side, but Manik and that girl...Nandini weren't staying in any of them! It had taken us a few extra hours to reach because we had avoided any police check posts, by taking multiple diversions.

So, naturally, we had no time to waste! We needed to find Manik as quickly as possible, before he decided to go on his suicide mission to retrieve the recording on his own! After all, now that Madhyam was getting engaged to Soha, Manik had no leverage left to blackmail the Singhanias with any way...and if I was right about Manik's feelings for...Nandini, there was no way in hell he'd let her in Mukesh Singhanias clutches...

Ugh! Why wasn't he just calling us for help?! Honestly, sometimes his sacrificial and overprotective attitude towards Fab Five got on my nerves! I had tried calling his old number a million times, but it was quite evident that he'd changed his SIM!

A feeling of dread washed over me as I pondered over this...Were we too late? Had Manik already been captured by the Singhanias?

"What do we do now, Cabir?" Mukti asked in a slightly panicked voice.

"Maybe, we should ask some of the street artistes if they were spotted here again..." Alya huffed as she sat down on a plastic chair nearby.

Just as I was about to reply to her suggestion, my phone started ringing loudly, bringing me out of my thoughts.

Everyone, immediately came forward in excitement as they heard the phone...

I took it out of my pocket frantically, and looked at the caller ID.

It was an unknown number. Could it be Manik?

"Kya kar raha hai, Cabir? Utha phone! Jaldi! I'm sure it's Manik!" Mukti screamed.

I was about to pick it up when Dhruv said. "Be careful, Cabir. It could also be someone from the police force who's trying to trace our location!"

I nodded and immediately swiped the receive button, on my phone screen.

"Hello?" I asked in a voice filled with hope.

"Cabir! They have her! They have her! Nyonika and Mukesh Singhania! They have her and it's all my fault! It's all my fault!" A highly distraught voice screamed at me over the phone.

A voice that was unmistakably Manik's!

My first instinct was to jump with joy at finally having received a call from him, but his austere and paranoid voice gave me jitters.

I immediately nodded to the others and confirmed that it indeed was Manik on the phone...

I could see smiles of relief on everyone's face almost instantly!

"Manik...slow down...slow down...tu hai kahaan? Hua kya hai?" I asked, treading carefully.

After all, from Manik's garbled speech, I could tell that something was seriously wrong! If the names Mukesh Singhania and Nyonika were being used in the same sentence, it was definitely bad news...

"Nandini! They have Nandini! Nyonika, she's here! She's made some sort of deal with the Singhanias, and now they've captured Nandini...It's my fault! I should never have let her go into the Singhania mansion alone!" He said in a choked voice, filled with pain, regret and anger.

My eyes widened when I heard Manik's words. Nyonika Malhotra had turned out to be even craftier than anticipated...

"Manik...just calm down...aaram se baat kar...gussa kaabu mein rakh...tell me why she went into the mansion alone." I asked.

"To get the recording! She said it was a bad idea for me to break in because the security was too tight! She convinced me that it would be easier for her to enter because her family's already acquainted with the Singhanias..." Manik said in a frustrated voice.

"Manik...she was right! It was too risky! After all, she's supposed to be Madhyam's ex-fiancee right? So... " I answered determinedly.

"Tujhe kaise pata?" Manik asked in a slightly surprised voice.

"That's not important right now! Tell me more...Nyonika ne tujhse kya kaha?" I asked.

I watched as Dhruv, Mukti and Alya's faces were overcome with confusion at this statement.

"She asked me to come to the mansion if I wanted Nandini to be kept alive! Cabir, I just know she's going to ask for my signatures on the property papers...I just know it! I'll die before I let her have Dad's property! But, I can't let anything happen to Nandini either! She's...she's..." Manik, trailed off as he searched for the right words.

"...important to you...we know Manik...we know that you care for her...I've seen the video, Manik..." I said, trying to assure him that I understood his state of mind.

"She's a miracle, Cabir...she's the best thing that's ever happened to me...I can't lose her...I can't..."Manik said in a voice filled with despair.

"Manik, kuch nahi hoga..." I said, trying to console him.

"I need help Cabir...I'm going inside the mansion right now...do something...anything...I know you're far away and in Mumbai...but I didn't know who else to turn to apart from Fab Five..."He said, in a broken voice.

"Ek chamaat lagaunga tujhe kheenchke! We are your bloody friends! If you don't ask us for help, then who will you ask it from?! Aur Baba Manik...tujhe honestly lagta hai ki hum chup chaap acche bachchon ki tarah Mumbai mein baithe rahenge? Do you really think that's Fab Five's style? " I asked, incredulously.

"Matlab?" Manik asked in a shocked voice.

"Matlab...ki hum pichle ek ghante se Anjuna ke har hotel mein tujhe dhoondne ki koshish kar rahe hai! We are in Goa, you fool!" I screamed into the phone.

"What?! How?" Manik asked in a stunned voice.

"Kya...kaise, lekin, kintu, parantu sab baad main dekha jaayega...tu ruk! Hum pandrah minute main wahaan pahunchte hai...Then we'll tackle Nyonika and Mukesh Singhania together!" I said, determinedly.

Even though, they weren't completely wary of the situation, the trio before me nodded their heads in unison.

"Cabir! That will be too late! I'm going in now...I'll try to save her and hold off the guards for as long as I can...you guys come as soon as possible! And call the cops if required! Honestly, at this point, I'd rather be arrested by honest officers rather than the ones in Nyonika's pocket..." He said angrily.

"But Manik, it's better if you wait..." I tried to convince him.

"No Cabir...I'll think of something to free her...just please...you get help in the meantime..." Manik said, in a steely voice.

He seemed calmer and surer of himself after our talk.

I sighed and said. "Alright Manik...we'll be there soon..."

With one last goodbye, he cut the call, and I shoved my phone back into my pocket.

"Cabir, what did he say? Nyonika aur Mukesh Singhania? Please explain!" Alya exclaimed, immediately after I cut the call.

In the next few minutes, I explained as much as I could to the others to bring them up to speed on the current situation.

"Par Cabir, woh recording? How will we give it to the media now?" Mukti asked, in a morose voice.

Suddenly, an interesting idea popped into my head. If this worked, then all our problems would be solved and the public would see the heinous side of the Singhanias as well as Nyonika fairly easily...

"I have a plan..." I said, all of a sudden.

"Care to tell us about it?" Alya asked, with her arms folded.

"Let's call the press directly to the Singhania mansion..." I said with a victorious grin on my face.

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

12:25 am, News Express Office, Panjim, Goa.

I woke up from my catnap when I heard my phone buzzing loudly.

I rubbed my eyes and picked up the phone in my groggy state. I had been researching more about the Malhotra family ever since I'd talked to Cabir the previous night, and consequently, I had turned into a borderline paranoid insomniac...

"Hello, Jeff? Are you there?" A familiar voice said over the phone.

I immediately sprang up from my chair when I recognized it-Cabir!

"Yeah Cabir...tell me...any updates on Manik's whereabouts? Do you have the audio recording that we talked about, yet?" I asked eagerly.

"Not yet...but we will soon. We're going to the Singhania mansion right now in order to help Manik. He's being blackmailed by Nyonika as well as the Singhanias! They are threatening Nandini Murthy's life! You have to help us! That's the only way we'll be able to telecast the recording on T.V..." Cabir said despondently.

I was a little alarmed at his request. "Cabir, what kind of help do you want? I have no idea about how to break into a high security home! You were supposed to hand the recording over to me..."

"I know that that's what we discussed. But, the situation has changed! I need you to get a team of reporters and camera men directly to the mansion. If you're well acquainted with any police officers, then, request them to join in as well. If you all barge into the Singhania mansion, and telecast the live footage then, we can catch them red-handed! After that, we can try to get our hands on the recording..." Cabir explained.

Sweat beads cropped up on my forehead as I soaked in his words.

"Cabir, this sounds extremely dicey..." I said, in a cautious voice.

"Please Jeff! Help us save our friend! As a journalist, you have the power to change the fate of so many lives! Please wield that power, and get a team at the mansion. The Singhanias and Nyonika Malhotra are playing with the lives of two innocents as we speak..." Cabir, said in a highly emotionally charged voice.

I took a deep breath before answering him, in order to gather the requisite courage I needed to accede to his request.

"Alright, Cabir. I'll get a team there, but you better not be wrong about this all important recording...remember, my credibility is hinging on it!" I said rather firmly.

"Thank you so much, Jeff! And I promise you, you won't regret it!" Cabir said in a relieved voice.

"I'll need at least forty minutes to reach. It'll take some time to gather everyone, but the traffic this time of the night should be pretty smooth, so..." I said, cautiously.

"That's fine...alright, I guess it's time for me to go..." Cabir said.

"All the best, Cabir. I hope your friend is unharmed..." I replied.

"I hope so too...see you soon." With this last statement, he cut the call.

As soon as he did so, I immediately went towards Zubin's cubicle, and tapped him on the back.

"Zu...we have to go! It's time..." I said impatiently.

"Go where? Has Cabir called you and asked you to come to collect the recording?" Zubin asked with a curious expression.

"There's been a slight switch of plans! I just got the information that Mukesh Singhania and Nyonika Malhotra are holding Nandini Murhthy hostage as we speak. We have to take a small team there immediately along with a few cops. We'll telecast the confession tape soon after..."I said, trying to explain the entire slew of events to him accurately.

"Jeffy, ek baar phir se soch le...are you sure you want to do this?" Zubin asked, in a worried tone.

"I'm sure, Zu. I've been researching the story since last night and things just don't add up! I have to get to the bottom of it! Now, tell me, once we get there, can you interrupt the live feed on the channel or not?" I asked.

"Of course, Jeff, I've already spoken to Arjun and Hiten about it and they'll do it whenever, I tell them to..." Zubin replied with a slight smirk.

He propped up from his chair and took a step forward.

I held his hand back and asked. "Where are you going?"

"Relax...I'm just going to get the camera equipment." He said.

His next statement brought a smile to my face.

"Let's go and break your first story, Jeffy..."

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

1:10 am, Singhania Holiday Home, Anjuna, Goa.

My back felt absolutely numb as the bulked up guards continued to land blows on it!

However, my determination to protect Nandini knew no bounds...I wouldn't let these bastards hurt her anymore! I just wouldn't!

Every time I winced in pain, her body tensed up. I could feel the wetness on her cheeks as well...

Suddenly, I heard a pair of footsteps enter the room...

One of the guards beating me, stopped momentarily and I looked up to see Cabir and Dhruv tackling him to the ground in unison!

Finally! They were here! Fab Five!

I felt ecstatic as I saw them before me.

The other guard was about to charge at me again, when a powerful kick from the back made him stagger sideways.

When the guard blocking my view finally moved away, I saw the person responsible for the kick-Mukti! Alya was standing right beside her, with a lethal expression on her face.

The smile that had cropped on my face grew into a wide grin at the sight.

Nandini asked in a slightly panicked voice. "Manik, who are these people?"

I immediately stood up from the ground and pulled her up along with me, with her still encased in my arms.

"These are my friends Nandini. This is Fab Five." I said with the largest smile I could muster, despite the pain in my back.

I could see her sigh with relief at my answer. At last, we didn't have to fight this battle alone anymore!

Dhruv and Cabir were quite effectively tackling one of the guards. Alya had picked up a metallic showpiece from the table, and was beating the other guard with it thoroughly, as Mukti landed another kick on the his crotch making him squeal in pain.

"How dare you hit my friend?"Alya shouted.

"Tujhe kya laga hum aise hi chhod denge? Suar Kahin ka!" Mukti screamed.

The guard was so taken aback at being beaten up by two girls that he seemed absolutely uncertain of his next move.

"What the hell are they doing here?" I could hear Nyonika shout. "Harshad, do something!"

However, Harshad was barely walking straight due to the injury on his eye. And when he tried to charge at Mukti from behind, like a coward, it was Alya who held him back by the shoulders, and slapped him hard across his face.

"Don't you dare touch her, Bhai! Actually, I shouldn't even be calling you that!" Alya screamed.

Meanwhile, Cabir and Dhruv had finally managed to knock their attacker out, and were aiding Mukti in dealing with the other thug.

"But Alya..." Harshad was going to justify himself, when he was cut off by her.

"No! You listen to me! You will go to prison if you've helped Nyonika in any shape or form!" Alya said, firmly.

My chest swelled up with pride at Alya's words. Frankly, I didn't have the heart to tell her that it was Harshad who shot my father...but seeing her take my side over her brother's was proof of how much she trusted me. I was really lucky to have her as my friend!

"Mrs. Malhotra! Who the hell are these people?" Mukesh Singhania screamed.

Before she could answer, I spoke up. "Maine kaha tha Nyonika, I told you that my friends are my strength..."

Mukesh Singhania chuckled and said. "You really think that your posse can take down my guards? I'll have ten more within minutes!"

Just as he was about to speak into his walkie-talkie, I heard the shuffling of more footsteps near the entrance.

In the next second, I saw a horde of people rushing into the hall with the utmost urgency!

A few of them were in police uniform,whereas the others were in formals, with press tags on their clothes. There was a cameraman in tow, along with a young female news reporter.

What the fuck? Who the hell had called the press?

As soon as the only guard standing, noticed the police officers, he grew stock-still with fear.

When I saw Cabir grinning at the news reporter, my eyes widened in surprise.

"Cabir, you called them here?" I asked, as I let go of Nandini and took a step towards him.

"Yes! I did! This was the best way to expose Nyonika and Mukesh Singhania!" Cabir exclaimed.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Jeff Irani, of The News Express reporting live from the Singhania holiday home in Goa. This is a News Express exclusive! Our sources say that Nandini Murthy, the girl linked closely with Mr. Shrikant Malhotra's murder case is being held hostage in this very mansion! Let's see how much truth there is to it!" She said in an animated voice, as the cameraman focused on her.

The cameraman then switched his camera angle to take a panoramic shot of the entire living room, covering all the wreckage and all the unconscious men as well.

However, the camera came to a stand-still when it focused on me and Nandini.

"Here we have them! The duo that's been on the run for the last couple of days...Manik Malhotra and his alleged partner Nandini Murthy..." The girl I now knew to be named Jeff, continued as she walked a few steps closer and gestured the cameraman to follow her.

"This is all a bunch of bullshit! Officers, this is all a bunch of lies! These two criminals Manik and Nandini broke into my home by force and tried to steal from us! When they got captured, more of their accomplices showed up and started beating up my security personnel mercilessly. I'm the victim here...look at my son! He's so gravely injured! Arrest them, Inspector!" Mukesh Singhania screamed to the officer standing closest to him.

Rage bubbled through me once more once I heard Mukesh Singhania twisting the truth yet again!

"Singhania sahab, aap shaant rahiye...agar aap sach mein bekasoor saabit huye, toh hum aapse maafi mang lenge, lekin iss ladki ko bhi bolne ka mauka toh dijiye..." The senior inspector said, calmly.

"Nandini Murthy, aap bataiye...kya hua tha? Kya yeh log aapko jaan se maarne ki koshish kar rahe the? Ya phir Manik Malhotra aap pe koi zor zabardasti kar raha hai yeh sab kehne ke liye?" The inspector asked, as the cameraman focused on her.

Her eyes widened in shock at the last question.

"Nahi, Nahi inspector sahab, Manik toh mujhe bachaane ki koshish kar raha tha..." She said, firmly.

She then proceeded to narrate the entire sequence of events from the time she entered the mansion to the present, with great detail...specifically focusing on the significance of the recording and the important evidence it held in my father's murder investigation.

Once she had finished, Nyonika screamed almost instantaneously. "Inspector, she's lying! It's all a lie! They are trying to defame me!"

However the desperation in her voice was evident.

"Achcha ma'am, toh aap hi bataiye ki aap yahaan kya kar rahe hai? Aur yeh police officers...aapne zaroor inko ghoos diya hoga! Mumbai ke officers ko idhar operate karne ka permission hi nahi hai!" Another officer said from the side.

"That doesn't prove anything, okay! Main minister se baat karke tum sabko job se nikalwa doongi!" Nyonika screeched.

"Sir, mujhe sirf ek mauka dijiye...ek baar woh recording sun lijiye...phir sab sach khud hi saamne aa jayega..." Nandini requested, determinedly.

"Yes, Inspector...I know that I'll be charged with breaking and entering as well as kidnapping! But maine apne Dad ko nahi maara, sir! Ek baar woh recording sun lijiye, uske baad main khud aapke saath station aaunga...statement dene..." I said, as politely as I could.

"Please Sir, ek chance..." Cabir requested as well as he came and stood right next to me, understanding that we'd been successful in gaining possession of the device.

"Theek hain...woh recording hai kahaan?" The senior officer asked.

"Sir, I have it with me..." Nandini said, as she took it out of her pocket.

She walked towards Jeff and handed it over to her in a jiffy.

"Alright everyone, this is the moment of truth...the instant has arrived for the entire mystery of Shrikant Malhotra's murder to unravel before the public...so, who's the culprit? Is it really the accused Manik Malhotra? Or is it his estranged wife Nyonika Malhotra who's responsible for his death? Let's find out, shall we?" Jeff said in a theatrical manner as she pressed the play button on the device and brought her microphone close to it.

As soon as the button was switched on, I heard Nyonika's snake-like recorded voice echo throughout the living room...

"Why Manik? I've just come to take credit for my master plan!"

Immediately after the first few seconds of the recording were played, Nyonika screamed from her place.

"This is a fake recording! It's all fake!" She yelled.

"Madam, aap chup rahiye..." One of the officers warned, firmly.

As the recording, proceeded, there were further gasps of shock all around the room as they heard Nyonika's confession...

I shut my eyes as I honestly didn't feel like reliving that awful night all over again...

"Ha Ha...did you really think I wanted a child? The only reason I married Shri was because I wanted to get my hands on his wealth!"

I felt Nandini's soft hands entwine with mine and I opened my eyes to see her giving me a somber look.

Cabir also placed an arm on my shoulder in order to comfort me and I immediately felt stronger and more confident...

Tears streamed down Alya's cheek as she heard Harshad boast of his sins. Dhruv tried to comfort her and put his arm around her shoulder, in order to calm her down.

Finally after the recording had finished playing, Jeff said. "And there it is everyone! This is the key piece of evidence that proves that Nyonika Malhotra and Harshad Saxena have conspired to kill Shrikant Malhotra so as to acquire his wealth...It also proves that Mukesh Singhania has used illegal means to advance the interest of his business and has violated several privacy laws in the process..."

As she continued to speak into the mike while the cameraman focused on her, the other two members of the press, who were silent until now, immediately sprang into action.

"Ma'am, aise ghinouna harkat karke aapko kaisa lag raha hai? Ma'am, aapne yeh sab planning kaise kiya?" The reporters hounded Nyonika with questions.

"Just get out of my face, okay?!" Nyonika screamed as she tried to fight them off.

I chuckled at her reaction and looked to my side to see Nandini giving me a relieved smile.

We'd done it! We'd finally exposed Nyonika, and I couldn't have done it without her...

I owed everything to Fab Five as well, for if it weren't for their timely intervention, Nandini and I would have been killed...

The senior inspector moved forward and said. "Nyonika Malhotra, you are under arrest for the murder of Shrikant Malhotra. Until the authenticity of the recording is proven, you will remain in police custody. And yes, I'm issuing a non-bailable warrant for your arrest! Your lawyers won't be able to save you now...you will stand trial..."

"This is a bunch of horseshit! I won't spare you!" She screamed as two officers handcuffed her along with Harshad, since they were resisting arrest.

All of a sudden, I heard Mukti scream. "We did it, guys! We did it! She's finally going to jail!"

Everyone smiled at her joy and I laughed slightly at her childlike behaviour.

"Guys! Thank you so much! If you hadn't come, I don't know what I would have done..." I said, in an apologetic tone.

Cabir scoffed and said. "Phir se thappad khayega! Itna senti kyun ho raha hai? Tujhe suit nahi karta! Ya phir ye sab Nandini ka kamaal hai?"

I looked at Nandini and saw her face turn a deep shade of red at Cabir's casual teasing.

"Cabir, shut up!" I yelled.

"That's more like it...waise ek formal intro toh banta hai? Humein Nandini se nahin milayega, Manik?" Cabir said, chuckling.

I ran my hands through my hair in frustration and said pointing at the crazy quartet before me. "Nandini, that's Cabir...Mukti, Alya and Dhruv..."

"And guys, this is Nandini..." I said, looking towards her, with a smile.

"Hi everyone..." She said in a meek voice.

"Waise mohotarma, aap mein kaafi dum hai! Hats off to you! Aapne toh Manik ko ek bewakoofi karne se bacha liya! It's not easy, haan? To convince him to do something he doesn't want to! So hat's off!" Cabir said, giving her a mock salute.

I groaned and heard Mukti's chuckles in the background. "Bas kar, Cabir! Abhi toh mila hain usse, saare jokes aaj hi khatam kar dega kya?"

"Guys, I think it's time for a group hug..." Alya said, cheerfully.

"I second that..." Dhruv said with a smile.

And in the next second I engulfed all of them in a group hug, and felt absolutely elated at being reunited with them...My family seemed complete once again...

We remained in that position for a few seconds, but our bliss was interrupted when I heard Mukesh Singhania scream in the background.

"Do you know who I am? You can't arrest me! I am Mukesh Singhania..." He screamed.

"Sir, bugging someone's house illegally is a federal offence and so is holding someone hostage in your home! You'll have to come with us!" One of the officers said, as politely as possible.

I withdrew and watched as two officers tried to drag Mukesh Singhania away...while the press recorded his arrest.

However, all of a sudden, he broke free from their grip and grabbed the pistol from the holster of one of the officers.

Shit! This wasn't supposed to happen!

"Nobody move, or else I'll shoot! I swear, I'll shoot!" He screamed, in a frenzied voice.

I could see the madness in his eyes, as he held the gun up. The police men pointed their guns at him too, and screamed at him to put it down...

But Mukesh Singhania was too far gone...

"It wasn't supposed to be this way! I was supposed to be the richest man in the country! Me! And now that'll never be...and it's all your fault! Yours!" He said pointing the gun at me, taking me slightly by surprise.

I heard my friends gasp behind me as they looked at the gun. The bright atmosphere had been replaced by a frightful one...

"Sir, put the gun down...or else we'll have to shoot!" The senior officer screamed.

"It's all your fault! Manik Malhotra! You'll have to pay for this! You'll have to! If I go down, I'll take Shrikant's legacy down with me! I won't let him win!" He screamed.

"Sir...calm down...put the gun down..." Another officer said, as the press team moved away in fear.

However, there seemed to be no rationality left in him. A man who had nothing to lose was the most dangerous sort...

A feeling of fear crept up on me as I watched him disable the safety of his gun like a maniac...

In the next second there was a loud crashing sound as he fired the bullet in my direction.

I tried to move sideways in order to dodge it, desperately hoping that it would just graze me instead of doing any substantial damage. I shut my eyes in order to brace for the impact...

However, I felt nothing hit me in the next few seconds...

When I opened my eyes, I was shocked to find Nandini right in front of me, encircling her arms around my waist.

When I looked in the direction of Mukesh Singhania in order to make sense of what had happened, I saw that one of the officers had shot him in the leg and they had been successful in apprehending him.

Did that mean that he had missed his mark?

I tried to make out whether I'd been hit anywhere, but I felt no additional pain that could have ben brought about by a bullet wound.

"Manik, are you okay?" Nandini, asked in a strained voice, as she buried her head in my chest.

I immediately tightened my grip around her and said. "Yes, I'm alright..."

However, in the next second I felt her grip slackening on my waist...

When I withdrew my hand from her body and observed it, all I could see on it was blood...

Nandini's blood...

She had taken the bullet for me...she saved me...

When she collapsed in my arms, all I could do was scream in anguish as I watched the blood spewing out from the side of her rib cage with surprising ferocity...making me believe that I'd lost her forever...