4:00 am, Singhania Holiday Home, Anjuna, Goa.

I woke up with a start as I heard the alarm clock on my phone ringing. I sat up straight on the bed, rubbing my eyes as I switched off the alarm. I quickly got off the bed and finished all my morning chores before starting my hour long yoga session. I had a strict daily routine which I never broke, and my morning yoga session was essential for my health. After all, I, Mukesh Singhania had to keep fit so that I could run Singhania industries perfectly!

However, this morning I was particularly excited and energized. If all had gone well the previous night, today would definitely be a cause for celebration! Madhyam was supposed to meet Nandini last night! God, I do hope he liked her! Otherwise Maa will be very upset! After all she had given her best friend Kishori her word that Nandini and Madhyam would get married once they came of age.

Although it was great to fulfil Maa's wishes, I did have my own reasons to approve of the match. After all, without my consent I would never let Madhyam get married to anyone! Singhania Industries and its image was everything to me. If Madhyam got married to a middle class girl like Nandini, then the public would definitely relate to us more and their respect for us would increase! The public would think me noble and magnanimous for choosing such an ordinary girl to be a part of my family...maybe, just maybe, it could even help us in overtaking the Malhotras!

After Shrikant's death everything seemed so simple... my biggest hurdle was gone! The Malhotras have had a terrible image in public anyway! Shrikant and Nyonika's separation! Shrikant leaving his own family! And let's not forget Manik Malhotra, the one and only heir of the Malhotra business empire, known by everyone to have a serious attitude problem! The odds were definitely in my favour, especially when I saw that Manik was the prime suspect in Shrikant's murder case. The entire world thought that he was a fugitive! Of course, I knew something no one else did...the fact that Manik was innocent! Bugging the Malhotra Mansion had been one of my best ideas...I had gathered a substantial amount of dirt, that I could use against the Malhotras, in the last couple of weeks. Nyonika Malhotra, you better do what I ask of you now! Else, you'll rot in prison!

I had just unfurled the yoga mat when I saw my phone ringing. Maybe it was Madhyam calling early in the morning to apprise me of his decision!

However, when I looked at the phone I was sorely disappointed. It was an unknown number...who could be calling at this hour?

I picked up the phone and said,"Hello...who's speaking?"

"Wow, so polite over the phone...who would think that you're such an asshole in reality?!" A man replied with a sarcastic laugh.

I was enraged when I heard his comment. Who was this idiot? How dare he speak to me like this?

"Do you know who you are speaking with? Stop with this nonsense immediately!" I screamed, losing my cool.

"Yes I know who I'm speaking with, but from your voice it's evident that you have no idea who I am...so let me introduce myself! I'm Manik, Manik Malhotra...or should I say tere sabse bade dushman ka beta!" He said with a chuckle.

I was taken aback by his words. Manik...why was he calling me? That too so early in the morning! Weren't the police chasing him?

"Why the hell are you calling me at this hour? I don't engage in conversations with criminals like you!" I said rather confidently.

"Well, I suggest that you hear me out because I have some information that may interest you...tell me something, kya Madhyam ne Nandini se milne ke baad shaadi ke liye haan kaha?" He said in an arrogant voice.

What the hell? How did Manik know that Nandini was Madhyam's fiancée? For that matter, how did he know Nandini at all?!

"I have no idea what you're talking about!" I feigned ignorance in an attempt to confuse him.

"Wow, I wonder what Nandini will think when she hears that her future father-in-law refused to acknowledge her existence! I think I should tell her, since she's with me...what do you think?" He said.

"What do you mean she's with you?!" I blurted out before I could control myself.

"So finally you've decided to admit the truth...so I'll be blunt. I've kidnapped Nandini! And the only way you'll get her back is if you give me what I need!" He said.

There were beads of sweat on my forehead...what should I do? If Maa finds out, she'll kill me! I have to do whatever I can to get this girl back home! Maybe I should just be casual about it, so that he figures she's not worth it! Yes, it's worth a try!

"So what if you've kidnapped her...do you honestly think I care? I can find another suitable match for my son...after all he's one of the most eligible bachelors in the country!" I said in a steely voice.

"Haha, Haha! Mujhe nahi pata tha ki koi itna bhi gir sakta hain!" he laughed. "You might not care, but don't you think the media will?

Mukesh Singhania ne apni hone wali bahu ko bachane se kiya inkaar!!

Ek news channel ki achchi headline ban sakti hain, na? What do you think? Should I leak the news then? And your entire plan to gain sympathy from the public will go for a flop! Tujhe kya lagta hain? That I don't know the reason you chose Nandini? Of course, I do! You're just too predictable Mr. Mukesh Singhania!"

Shit! Was he omniscient? How did he know about my plans?

"Fine! You've kidnapped her, I'll call the cops immediately! That's the only way to deal with fugitives like you!" I said in a stern voice.

"Go ahead...use the landline, I'll hold!" He said in a sarcastic tone, I could imagine the smirk on his face as he spoke!

"What?! What do you mean?!" I shouted.

"You slow old man... what do you think is the first question the police will ask? They'll ask you what my demands are, and when you tell them what I'm asking for as ransom, they'll arrest you themselves!" he said, unable to control his giggling.

"What? What are you talking about? Why would they arrest me when I tell them the ransom amount?" I said, confused.

"Who told you I wanted money in exchange for Nandini? You honestly think you can buy Manik Malhotra off with something as common as money! You're sorely mistaken old man...I want something far more important! "He said.

"What?" I asked, my voice filled with dread.

"I know about the bug in my house, Singhania! I know Ram Singh mailed it to you! If the police came to know about it, they would definitely arrest you! Normally, I would have killed you for doing something like this, but now your unethical and illegitimate actions are working in my favour! You obviously know that I am innocent! You know the real culprit behind my father's death! Give me the recording and in exchange I will drop off Nandini safely at your home! " he finally said.

How? How did he know about the recording? It was such a closely guarded secret! Only Madhyam and I knew of it! That fool Ram Singh must have opened his mouth! Idiot! He ruined the one trump card that I had! What should I do now? I have to get Nandini back somehow...but giving him the recording is out of the question! If I give him the recording, then he'll prove his innocence and eventually take control of Malhotra industries after Nyonika's in prison! I underestimated him...if he takes control of Malhotra industries then I'll never be able to beat him. I needed to make use of the recording to blackmail Nyonika into selling part of the Malhotra business to me at an extremely minimal rate! No, at no cost will I give him the proof! I need to buy time!

"Okay! I accept your demands! I'll give you the recording if you return Nandini to us!" I said, trying to sound convincing.

"That's great...finally I see that you've agreed to be reasonable" he said. "I'll be reaching Goa in a day or two...as soon as I reach, I'll give you a call and arrange a meeting time! Don't call me before that and don't try anything stupid! If you call the police or attempt to dupe me, say goodbye to Nandini and your revamped image in society!" He said, before cutting the call abruptly.

This was not good! I have to inform Madhyam of this crisis! What the hell was he up to anyway? Instead of meeting Nandini, what was he doing the previous night? He's the one responsible for this debacle...he has to help me find a solution!

I called him immediately. He picked up after a few rings.

"Hey Dad! Whats up? I just heard the news! Finally, Shrikant Malhotra's dead! And Manik will go to prison for it! How does it feel to have won?" He said in a jovial tone, enraging me further.

"Just SHUT UP!" I screamed. "I haven't won anything! In fact if we don't act fast, we may lose everything we have!"

"Woah, Dad, slow down, what are you saying?" he asked, perplexed.

"Madhyam, you were supposed to meet Nandini yesterday! Where did you disappear to? Do you know she's been kidnapped?" I asked in frustration.

"Dad...I'm sorry I couldn't go...I, wait...what?! Did you just say she was kidnapped? By who? Who would want to kidnap a 'nobody' like her?!"

"Manik! Manik Malhotra! " I shouted.

"What the fuck?!" he exclaimed.

"Madhyam, I need to discuss this matter with you urgently! Come to Goa as soon as you can!" I said.

"Okay Dad! I'll be on the next flight there! I promise!" he said.

"Good! Bye, I'll speak with you when you reach." -saying this, I cut the call.

Knowing that Madhyam would be here soon made me feel better. I knew that together, we could chalk out a better plan to deal with that scumbag Manik Malhotra!

Now all I could do was wait...wait until Madhyam arrived!