It was around 2.30 am in the night when Manik's peaceful sleep was disturbed by the continuous banging of the door.

He was so deeply engrossed in sleep that he ignored it even after listening it. The banging was going on continuously and that to very strongly.

After few minutes , Manik came into senses and heard the banging. He checked the time. "Itni raat mein kaun..?" Manik murmured rubbing his eyes and with frown.

The banging was scaring him. He got out of the bedroom and slowly reached the door. The loud bang was making his heartbeats race with every passing second. He slowly tried to open the latch of the door. As he opened the latch , the bang stopped.

He very slowly opened the door a little bit only to peep out but to his surprise there was no one. Manik was getting scared now. His forehead was getting covered with sweat drops. Gathering some courage , he opened the door fully to see properly.

He moved out few steps and looked asides to check but there was complete silence. No one could be seen. He took a deep breath and carefully walked back inside the house , wiping his sweat.

As soon as he locked the door and turned around , the bang again started. This time he was bit in anger along with being sacred.

He didn't took time and opened the door with a sudden jerk but again he found no one. "Who the hell is this.?? Kaun hai yahan pe..?? Is this the time to play pranks.?" He shouted after coming out but there was no response.

He turned back to move inside and as soon as he entered , a man who had his face all covered attacked him from behind by catching his neck.

Manik was beneath him trying to free himself and finally he succeed to get him under him and punched him hard to his face without removing the cover.

He was about to punch him again when suddenly that person started begging , "don't hit , stop , buddy buddy buddy please , it's me , please stop ..!"

Manik was shocked and surprised to hear what the person was saying. He pulled off the cover from his face and his jaws dropped the next second.

"Dhrrruuuvvv...???" He said frowning his head and in a confused look. He got up and helped Dhurv too to get up.

"Aaahhh.!!! That was hard bro..!!" Dhruv said pressing his cheeks where he witnessed his punch. "What the hell buddy ..?? Kya tha ye..? You sacred the life out of me..!!" Manik punched his shoulder. "Main to tujhe surprise dena chahta tha but tune to muhje hi surprise de diya." Dhruv said .

"Tu kabse aise surprises dene lag Gaya.?? Australia mein 5 Saal yahi kar raha tha Kya..? I mean seriously dude ; you almost gave me a heart attack..!! " Manik replied still in shock but just next moment hugged him tightly and Dhruv to reciprocated it with same intensity.

They were meeting after 2 years as Dhurv did not visited those years but now was finally back after spending 5 years in Australia.

Suddenly Manik broke the hug and said "1 second , as far as I know Cabir janta tha ki you are back and knowing you so well , this idea cannot be the result of your imagination.

Am sure Cabir ka idea tha ye ; right..? " and he raised his brows widening his eyes to look at Dhurv who just smiled. Seeing him smiling he straightened his face and shouted standing there only

,"will you oblige us by coming in or we should call the devil to arrange the welcome rituals.?"

After few seconds , Cabir walked in with broad chest and a victorious smile. "Saale..!! Tujhe aise ideas aate kahan se hain..?? Why are you here in MNC , try out for script writing ; I am sure people will love your ideas ..!"Manik said frowning his head in a sarcastic way.

Cabir wrinkled is head and raised his finger curving his lips , saying "not bad.. Actually very good.." . Hearing this Manik fumed and said bit loudly " cabirrr .. You are soo dead..!!"

Saying this Manik started to chase Cabir and he ran in the whole house to save himself, praying to Dhruv to save him.

The duo finally stopped when Dhruv came in between. Finally the trio hugged each other and missed their old days. They had a gala time and talked for long time when at 4.30 am they dozed off.

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Manik woke up abruptly from the sound of his phone's ringtone. It was still 10 minutes to go for 8 am when Manik answered the call which was from Vaibhav.

Manik :- "hello"
Vaibhav :- "Manik , reach office ASAP"
Manik :- "what's wrong Vaibhav ..??"
Vaibhav :- "just to be there Manik. It's urgent and serious"
Manik :- "ok."

Manik sensed the seriousness in Vaibhav's voice. His sleep vanished and he immediately got off the bed to get ready.

After he was all ready , he woke Cabir up and told him everything. Cabir wanted to come along but he refused saying he has to reach ASAP.

He told him to tell Dhurv to stay there only and asked him to come office according to his shift. Manik in no time was in office , even before 8.30.
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Manik reached the office in no time. It was not usual that Vaibhav called him personally to tell that he has to reach on time.

Manik sensed the seriousness of the issue but he was clueless about the issue. Instead of going to his bay , he moved towards managers bay and found Vaibhav and Mayank (senior manager) there. He could easily read out that there was something really serious looking at their faces.

"Vaibhav hi.." Manik greeted Vaibhav who quickly responded back and then turned towards his senior manager , "Mayank hii.." Manik shook hands with him. He again shifted his attention to Vaibhav who was flipping pages and finally took out on page in his hand. "Vaibhav , what's wrong..?? You called me like this ..?? All ok..??" Manik asked him and in return of giving an answer to him , Vaibhav handed him a paper and with eyes gestured it to read.

Manik was all confused. He took the paper and started reading it and with every passing line which he was reading , his facial expressions were changing and his eyes were growing wider and wider.

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"Vaibhav this is impossible .. I have not done it..!!" Manik said in a loud voice with wrinkled forehead and tension spread all over his face , after scanning the whole paper. "That's even we are thinking , how can you do this..?" Vaibhav replied. "But Vaibhav I said I haven't done it." Manik instantly shoot out his words. "But this clearly shows that it's been send by our official mail ID. How to ignore this..?"

This time Mayak replied pointing towards the paper which was the print out of an official mail that was sent to the head office from the official ID of Manik that contained such matter which he was not authorised to send and was strictly against the rules of company.

Manik very well knew what was coming next. If they didn't believed him , his IGP would be barred for next one year leading to effect his ratings in a big way and making his whole career go tossing around.

After a way long discussion between Manik , Vaibhav and Mayank , it was time for Manik to face the higher authorities. Meanwhile Cabir also came and he was shocked to know what happened with his friend.

Cabir's concern was genuine but then there was another person who was equally worried , Nandini . She had some work with Vaibhav , which made her come towards the mangers bay and that is when she over heard Manik telling everything to Cabir. She did not made her way back instead walked towards them. Manik saw her coming.

Nandini looked into his eyes. He was in great tension. She picked up the paper and read the content and again looked at Manik. He was already looking at her. She kept her face calm and just blinked her eyes assuring him all will be fine.

He closing his eyes took a deep breath and slightly nodded his head , giving her his reply. Finally the higher authorities also arrived. It was now the 2 seniors along with Vaibhav , Mayank , Manik , Cabir and Nandini.

The debate was going on in its full speed. Manik was fully engrossed in convincing the seniors that he is not at fault with Vaibhav too taking his side as a senior and his manager. Cabir at times wanted to interrupt but both Vaibhav and Manik stopped him from doing so. Nandini stood there listening to all this. There discussions were going on with no pause when they heard a voice that stopped their discussions and caught their attention.
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"Come again miss Nandini ." Said one of the seniors not sure if he actually heard her not.

"I said .. Manik will never do it.."

And it came as a shock and surprise for everyone present there.

"And how are you so sure..?? Do you know him that well ..?" Asked the senior.

Manik looked at her , trying to stop her from further arguments and discussions but she just ignored.

She felt little uneasy on the question that her senior asked. Cabir and Vaibhav stood there in a shock seeing her taking Manik's side as she never did this before for anyone in the office , even when she knew thar the person was not at fault.

Manik somehow digested the fact of her taking his side but still was little surprised.

"We are a team sir. I know my colleague very well. He will not do it. I am not saying this proof is wrong but it can be a mistake. Manik has a record of excellent work. He is truly and fully devoted towards his work. Ask Vaibhav , Manik has never comprised his work for anything. He can never ever be careless for his work. This can surely be a mistake. We can at least check it , give him a chance before taking any action."

Nandini said in one go with immense confidence leaving Manik , Cabir and Vaibhav shocked. "So miss Nandini , you want us to give a chance to him to proof himself..?" Asked the senior. "Yes.." Replied Nandini loud and clear. Manik was getting all frustrated listening all this as he knew this will lead to no where. He in frustration and anger held his head with one hand and turned around to face the wall.
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The seniors after a pause turned again towards Nandini and asked her "Miss Nandini.. Do you trust him..?"

"YES..!!" Was the immediate quick response Nandini gave without realising what was the question.

Hearing the yes from her to the question they just asked , Manik with a jerk turned around and looked at her in surprise knowing the fact that the word "trust" has been erased in her life's dictionary.

He was confused what she just said. He just stood there staring at her blankly. Nandini although bluntly replied to her senior but soon she came into her senses and realised what she said.

"I trust Manik..?" She questioned herself in her mind.

"Fine then .. You have 15 days to proof that this is not done by him and save your team-mate."

"WHAT ..?" That was all she could reply.

"Why not..?? You are so confident about him and put your trust in him so proof that. 15 days that's it."

Saying this the seniors left from there asking Vaibhav an Mayank to follow them leaving all shocked and confused Cabir , Manik and Nandini behind.

Manik and Nandini exchanged looks. Manik was trying to read her mind as he was sure she must be going through a turmoil right now. But all he could see was a blank expression on her face.

She just couldn't understand what happened just now. Before Manik could say anything , she just walked off from there.

Manik and Cabir stood there speechless. Cabir patted his back and assured him everything will be fine. Manik was now more worried.

The little he claimed that he understands her now , he was sure that at this point she must be under pressure and going through a tough time. Soon Manik and Cabir left from there and got to their bay.

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Nandini was on her desk playing with pen while her phone was continuously vibrating but she didn't bothered to check.

"How can I trust him..? What did I say..? I hardly know him and I said I trust him. People I knew so well cheated on me , he is just like a stranger. Why did I say that I trust him..? Do I actually trust him..? No no .. I can't trust anyone. I can't let anyone play with me again. No I can't."

She kept on speaking these words in her mind. She could not believe herself what she actually said.

These confused thoughts were just adding fuel in her already ignited anger and as a result of her disturbing thoughts and her frustration , the poor pen sacrificed its life.

As her anger and frustration were out , she realised her phone is vibrating from long time. She could not see the caller ID as it was kept upside down.

She irritatingly picked it up but her irritation vanished when she saw the name of the caller. Before receiving the call she composed herself not to talk rudely to the person and finally received the call.

After talking on the call for few minutes she decided to call the day off. It was getting difficult for her to stay there and she also needed to be somewhere to meet someone .

She went to Vaibhav to seek permission of leaving the office early. She expected Vaibhav to say something to her about the Manik's matter but he didn't say anything except wishing her good luck and allowed her to leave. Without wasting anytime , she left the office.

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"Nandu ...!! Nandu..!!" A girl was shouting admist the crowd at the airport , jumping waving her hand to catch Nandini's attention.

Soon she came running towards her and hugged her tightly . "Nandu ... Nandu ... Nandu...!!! I missed you soo much..!! " said the girl still hugging her and shaking her.

For a while Nandini forgot everything and she too smiled from ear to ear seeing her and replied with same intensity "I missed you to Navya.. Missed you so much...!!!"

(Navya - Nandini's childhood friend and perhaps one of the most important bone in the backbone of her life. Interior designer by profession ; she knows Nandini in and out , may be more than Nandini knows herself.)