I'm back here with the new chapter. Do have a look at my new book "Kiss Me Under the Moonlight" and share your response. It's a pure college romance with the much needed family drama. I'm sure you'll enjoy the new shade of Manik and Nandini.

👇🏻

KAPOOR   MANSION
Sanjay dragged Nandini till the house. She was struggling to free herself but he was stronger than her so she couldn't do anything. Avneet was also trying to stop Sanjay but her efforts went to vain.

"Leave di. You can't do this to her. If you don't leave her now, I'll call police."

Sanjay laughed sarcastically looking at her. "Don't try to threaten me. They aren't gonna work on me. They will do what I'll ask them to do, they won't even look at you."

"Of course, they will hear you. After all, that's what you've earned with your black money." Nandini too snapped at him.

Sanjay slapped Nandini once again. "Didn't you have enough after insulting me in front of so many people? You're still speaking so much." He held her shoulder tightly. "Because of your act of last night, Mr. Khanna is so angry. You've dared to slap his only son. Now he has denied to invest in my business. All this happened just because of you." His eyes were spitting fire. 

Nandini smirked. "I guess I've done the right thing then. Mark my words, if you ever get any other boy for me ever again, I'll do the same. So, never try to force your decisions on me. They won't work on me even if I die."

"How dare you!" Sanjay was about to slap Nandini but Avneet pushed him away. 

Other side, Manik and Sid were still in the park. They were worried thinking about Nandini and Avneet, specially Nandini. The way Sanjay took Nandini with him, it was not normal at all. They knew Sanjay very well. They knew Nandini is gonna have a hard time today. Manik was feeling the worst. He wanted to run and take her away from all this but he couldn't do anything. It's something out of his reach. He felt terrible of it. 

"What will happen now? We can't even go there." Sid looked at Manik worriedly.

Manik let out a sigh. "I think we should go there once. I've a feeling that something really bad is gonna happen today. We need to go for Nandini. She is in real trouble." 

He was about to step ahead but Sid held him from back. "What're you doing, Manik? You know we can't do this. Avneet is there, she won't let anything happen to Nandini. Also you know Nandini, she is strong enough to face her father. He won't be able to say anything much Nandini. But if we go there, then he would be angrier seeing us. He is already very angry on you. You don't want that, do you?" He tried to calm Manik who was having a storm within him. 

Manik only nodded his head. "I guess you're right. We shouldn't go there." He mumbled and sat on the nearby bench hiding his face behind his palms. 

Sid too sat beside him. They were present physically there but they could only think of Nandini and what must be happening there with her.

IN   KAPOOR   HOUSE
Nandini and Avneet were standing in front of Sanjay who was fuming in anger not being able to suppress them or the way they were snapping back at him. They were not scared of him and the look on their face was only making him angrier. 

"I have given you a lot of love but you both don't deserve it. So, I need to keep you both like your mother. You don't deserve better treatment." 

"What're you saying?" Avneet looked at him in confusion, also a fear crept in her heart that what if he was thinking of killing them too.

"I'm saying the right thing. From today you will do all the housework. I mean, you both will live here like a housemaid." 

A sarcastic laugh escaped from Nandini's lips. "Do whatever you want to but you can't deny the fact that you're a murderer. And I will do all the housework don't worry. It's my fault, so I'll do everything. Avneet won't do anything."

Sanjay left pushing Nandini a little. She was about to fall as she was not ready for it but Avneet held her at the right time. 

"Di, you won't do everything alone. When I'm here, why'll you do everything alone? I'll also work with you. He asked both of us to do the works. Then?"

Nandini cut her in between. "No, Avneet. You don't have to do anything till I'm alive." She cupped Avneet's face lovingly. 

"When your dramas are over, finish all the works. I've asked all the servants to leave." Sanjay told and left from house.

Then Nandini asked Avneet to leave for college and she herself started doing the works.

In the bosom of this city mornings fly away soon, maybe there's no one to enjoy it. Then the evening arrives like a piece of laughter clinging to a shirt. Around the city, some places were quiet, some placed were filled with the sound of boys and girls playing at the corner of the neighborhood. The park of Windy Lane was now a place for hanging out for adults, with children playing around. 

MANIK'S   PLACE
Ting! Tong!

The doorbell rang in the Malhotra house. Neelima who was relaxing got up to open the door. She found Manik standing there with a exhausted look on his face. She was a little surprised seeing him back so early.

"Manik! You're back so early?" She asked.

"I didn't have much patients today, so I came back early."

"Okay. Go to your room and freshen up. I'll get your coffee."

Manik nodded and went to his room. He placed his bag and blazer on one side and dialed Nandini's number but it went unreachable once again. He has been trying to call her since morning but couldn't connect to her. He tried to call Avneet but she texted him that she was in college and Nandini was home and she was fine. 

Still Manik couldn't take her out of his mind even for a second. He kept trying to call her again and again but failed every time. HIs worries were crossing all the limit. He wanted to see her but he had no ways. 

KAPOOR   MANSION
Nandini was tried after doing all the household chores whole day. She went to take rest in her home after finishing all the works. She decided to take a shower. Nandini stood in front of the mirror in the washroom. She was surprised looking at herself. Her face was completely swollen due to the slaps in the morning. 

She noticed light blood stains on the corner of her lips. She stood under the shower and was about to wash her hair. They hurt as well. Still she somehow managed to clean herself and came out of washroom.

Nandini looked at the time and found it was already late but Avneet was not back home yet. She started searching for her phone but she could not see it anywhere. Whole day she was so busy that she forgot to even look for her phone nor she had the time to call anyone. She found her phone in the hall but it was switched off. 

She tried to switch on her phone but the battery was dead. So, she kept it for charging, then settled in the terrace trying to enjoy the evening breeze. Her mind drifted back to the day when Nandini had met Manik first time.

FLASHBACK
Nandini was new to Windy Lane as Sanjay Kapoor shifted to here after building his empire as well as the mansion here. That time she was only six years old and she had no one to play here. She also didn't know anyone here.

She was strolling around the park of Windy Lane alone. That time she got distracted looking at some flowers. She was amazed and was walking ahead without noticing around. Suddenly she bumped into a boy who was trying to learn to learn riding bicycle. She fell down and hurt her knees.

The guy had fallen down himself and was hurt too. But without caring of himself, he ran to her and bent near her. "I'm extremely sorry."

Even though she was at fault as she came in front of him not noticing her surrounding but he was saying sorry. She was amazed.

"Are you okay?" His panicked voice managed to gain all her attention.

Her favorite teddy was lying on the ground, her knees were paining but she was more worried looking at the boy in front of her. He was looking anxious because of her. Her lips had wobbled a little at the beginning due to the pain but it was long gone. "Hey, I'm fine. It's okay."

"No, your ice-cream has fallen down and your teddy has also become dirty." His mood fell.

"No problem. My nanny is there. She'll buy me a new one and she can clean this too."

He shook his head. "Still I'm sorry. I apologize, you fell because of me."

"No, it was my fault I was not concentrating on the road. I was watching those flowers. Then I came in your way and you fell down. So, you should forgive me." Nandini smiled warmly.

"But you should forgive me too. I should have been more careful."

"Okay, I'll only if you get me those flowers." Nandini smiled and looked at his height who was quiet taller than her and he could surely reach to those flowers.

"Sure." This time a big smile came to his face and he ran to get the flowers for her. It didn't even take him a minute and he was back with a lot of those flowers for her. "Here you go."

"Thank you. What's your name?" She asked realizing that they didn't exchange their names yet.

"Manik. Manik Malhotra. You?"

"Nandini Kapoor. Will you be my friend?" She asked cutely.

"I already have a friend. He's Siddharth. We both won't mind having another friend."

They shook their hands.

That time they saw Nandini's nanny coming towards them. Nandini asked her to get two ice-creams.

"Why're you buying ice-cream for me?" Manik asked in confusion.

"Because you're my friend and friends do share things. My mumma used to say sharing is caring." She explained her.

Manik looked at her in awe.

"Do you know how to ride bicycle?"

Manik nodded.

"Will you teach me?"

"Sure."

"When?"

"Whenever you want."

A few days later, Manik was found running behind Nandini in the same road who was concentrating on paddling of the bicycle. 
END   OF   FLASHBACK

Suddenly she felt a pair of hands wrapping around her neck from back which brought her back from her thoughts.

"Why're you so late today?" Nandini placed her palms on hers.

"I had an extra class today, I told you."

Nandini nodded and turned towards her. Avneet was taken aback seeing her. "Your face has changed completely. You had to do everything alone. I said I would stay back but you didn't hear me." 

"I'm fine, Avneet. You go and freshen up. I'll get hot chocolate for you."

Nandini was about to get up but Avneet stopped her. "I don't need it now." 

Nandini was about to say something but before that only Nandini's phone started ringing. 

~~•°•~~
That's all for today. Hope you all liked the chapter. Do vote and comment.

03.03.2024