Manik was staring at the void as if asking God " why me?"

he looked so sad and broken that it wrenched Nandini's heart. looking at manik's sad face made her sad too. she didn't expect this day would ever come where she would be affected by the monster's emotions. but now her priorities have changed. she couldn't figure out how though. S he used to think about this, but now at this particular moment she felt so close to manik. Not only physically but emotionally. She wanted to be there for manik. but that wasn't making much of a difference cause manik has just faced a worst truth of his life and this wound would take its time to heal. Nandini may only fasten the process but she couldn't take it away completely .

preeti understood what she had done and tried to cover up. She kneeled down before manik.

"bhai app jante hai naa main aise nahi hun...I was manipulated by this Nandini...she tricked me into this"

manik still wasn't looking at her. He was still staring something beyond her. Tears were rolling down his cheeks. His eyes were already red.

Nandini ignored preeti because at the moment she needed to concentrate on manik.

"Manik!!! " Nandini shaked him and Manik was back to his senses

he stared at Nandini's hand resting on his shoulder. then he looked at Nandini whose face had a shade of fear and affection both.

Nandini wiped out the tears from manik's face.

"i'll already called police ! they will be reaching here any moment" said dhruv dialing some numbers in his phone

preeti sobbed infront of manik.

"bhai please ...you have trust me....this is not me....I am your sister. would you do this with me ?"

manik was still not looking at her. Nandini and manik were looking at each other as if pouring their heart out. Manik has taken Nandini's hands into his.

police arrived at the doorsteps.

"inspector please arrest preeti for the crimes she commited.I have already informed you about all she did" said dhruv

"I know sir...we have already got the arrest warrant for miss preety Malhotra....arrest her.."

inspector ordered his female crew to handcuff preeti.

preeti knew her fake apologies wouldn't help her this time. She has to try something else. she noticed a knife lying on the nearby fruit basket. she got up and ran to the knife. everyone was shocked seeing preeti in action. Nandini stood up and so did manik.

preeti grabbed the knife and turned towards Nandini. they were still holding hands. preeti was burning inside. she wanted to destroy Nandini.

"sab tumhari bajah se ho raha hai...I won't spare you Nandini" and she marched towards Nandini with the knife .

and in a blink of moment Nandini thought she got stabbed and is gonna die. But to her utter surprise she didn't feel any pain. but how so?

she looked down to see .

then she was left completely shocked. the knife never touched her. it stopped before . or it would be better to say that some stopped the knife from hurting her.

manik was holding the knife's blade. blood dripping from the cut .

his eyes were stormy and angry.

"I won't let you hurt her now...she is the only one I have now.." manik said in a soft yet angry voice. there was no obsessiveness in his voice. that made Nandini happy. he is not the same manik she once hated. she didn't hate manik now...but does that mean she loves manik?

preeti and manik stared eachother for a few seconds before police took the knife from her as evidence .

then immediately handcuffed her not letting her to do something again.

while leaving preeti murmured to Nandini

"I won't forget this. i'll be back"

preeti smiled at Nandini and Nandini sensed danger . but for now she was relived .

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

After police too preety away, Nandini was now tending the fresh cut on manik's palm. the cut was deep and it pained Nandini's heart whenever she caught a glimpse of the wound.

Taara taara gin ke raat bitai

Naina nu jad koyi deed tarsai

Manik was staring at Nandini but Nandini was too busy too notice that.

Ho haye taara taara gin ke raat bitai

Naina nu jad koyi deed tarsai

Bheed mein rehke bhi koyi tanha reh jaaye

Yaadan di mehfil dil kalleyan sajaye

Nandini took out an antiseptic and cleaned out the wound. she blowed some air on to it . as if she could feel his pain .

Bas chain yaar te karar yaar

Is zindagi di darkaar yaar

Bas chain yaar te karar yaar

Is zindagi di darkaar yaar

Kamli bana ke ishq nachave bin sur taal

Ishq kamaal ishq kamaal

Jis tann lageya ishq kamaal

Ishq kamaal ishq kamaal

Jis tann lageya ishq kamaal

she took out a bandage from the box. unmounted it and placed it in the cut. manik could feel the sudden drops of tears falling in his palms. he knew she was scared and she was trying hard to put a brave front . manik realised that his love for her is growing strong. Nandini was ignoring to look at him till now but manik wanted her to look at him and share her feelings ,share her fears,her anxiety ...everything.

Naina chon peeve mare na oh jeeve

Chadh jaaye jis nu khumar iss da

Khud se bekhabar ko mast nazar ko

Akhan sahvein sheeshe chon yaar dissda

Sheeshe chon yaar

Yaar dissda yaar dissda yaar dissda

manik placed his hands on Nandini's. that was enough to get her attention. Nandini looked at manik, her eyes were red and puffed up . same as manik. her face wasn't as bright it was used to be. her cheeks were red from constant crying and sobbing . so was her nose. both looked at each other and Nandini knew she couldn't control her feelings now. and tears made their way from her eyes.

Na yeh samjhe kisi ke samjhaye

Vas aklan de kade na eh aaye

Kaisi pyas yeh koyi to bataye

Koyi dariya bhi jise na bujhaye

manik wiped out the tears from her cheeks. he could feel the dried up moisture on her cheeks. he made a head movement telling her not to cry more but that made her cry even more.

Bas aas yaar ek pyas yaar

Jind yaar paas jind paas yaar

Bas aas yaar ek pyas yaar

Jind yaar paas jind paas yaar

Ishq katari rok na paye koyi bhi dhaal

manik cupped her face with both his hands. he could feel the pain in his palm but that was't bothering manik. it was Nandini who was bothering him. he kissed her in the forehead . first he thought this action of his would probably make Nandini angry but Nandini was perfectly fine with his affection. that made manik happy. Maybe Nandini felt something for him. but manik subsided that thought.

Ishq kamaal ishq kamaal

Jis tann lageya ishq kamaal

Ishq kamaal ishq kamaal

Jis tann lageya ishq kamaal

he held Nandini in his arms consoling her . Nandini was still sobbing and manik too was hurt. it felt like a long day. a day they could never forget.

with that they fell asleep.