I stood up slowly trying to control sobbing infront of Harshad. He warned me to cry infront of Manik and not him. I kept my head down so that he wouldn't see the tears in my eyes and walked out of his room.

Nobody was in the living room bringing a sense of relief as well as loneliness. I don't want anyone to see me crying at the same time I want someone to comfort me.

My vision got blurry as the tears blocked it and I hit myself to something hard. I lifted my face up and blinked rapidly to clear my vision and saw Manik standing infront of me.

There was no expression on his face. Manik gently wiped the tear on my face with his index finger and looked at my forehead which I believe is bruised due to the fall. His fists were balled tightly to his sides as if he is controlling his anger on something or someone. I couldn't stop my emotions and I sobbed badly falling into his arms. I wanted this comfort and assurance which I am getting only from Manik.

Manik tried to comfort me by touching my arms and I winced. He lifted the cape to have a look at my arms and gritted his teeth.

"Asshole!" Manik yelled and took long strides into Harshad's room.

I wiped my tears and immediately followed him. Manik held Harshad's neck in his fist and shoved it to the wall.

"How dare you touch her dammit!"

Harshad's blood stained the white room which I feared the first thing I came to his room and it became a reality. Manik did not leave any chance to punch Harshad and strangle him.

My voice was so soft compared to these men growling in pain. Nobody heard me and they continued to fight with each other.

"Manik, please stop. You are killing him." I tried pulling him but Manik moved to the other direction and continued hitting Harshad.

"I will kill anyone who tries to touch you let alone hurt you." His eyes filled with rage.

"Who is she to you, Manik?" Harshad asked with bloody mouth. "Don't tell me she warmed your bed so good that you are unable to ..."

Punches rained on Harshad's jaw and he fell down but Manik did not stop hitting and kneeled next to Harshad to continue his assault.

"Am I saying something wrong brother? She wants to ask you something, first listen to her." Harshad laughed and looked at me. "Tell him darling, let's negotiate."

Manik bounced Harshad's head to the floor to prevent him from speaking. But it has to stop, I have to end all this mess which I have created.

"Manik you have no right to interfere in this matter. It's a couple fight and we can sort it ourselves." I said looking at the floor.

Manik left Harshad and stood infront of me with his flared nose. "What did you just say?"

I still looked at the floor unable to look up at him. I can't let Manik make me feel like this and confuse me. Harshad is my parents choice and Manik is my personal choice. I can not be selfish and forget about my parent's promise. Everytime I see Manik I want to be with him instead of Harshad which is quite opposite of what my family wanted. Infact, I started feeling unsafe with Harshad, literal angel, which explains how much I am messed up. I can become normal only after leaving Manik and going far away from him. I will be back to myself.

"You heard me, I don't want any stranger to help with my problems." I said and helped Harshad to stand up. "This is for yelling at me," I slapped Harshad on his right cheek. "This is for hurting me." I threw the chair at him and he fell down.

I turned towards Manik with a challenging look. "See, I can deal my problems and you must go to your soon to be wife, Alya."

We stared at each other without saying anything. Manik please go, I don't want you near me.

Harshad lifted himself up and wiped his blood on his mouth. "She has something to ask you."

Manik raised his eyebrow at me encouraging me to speak.

Should I tell him? But I don't have a heart to say it to him looking straight into his eyes. The more I see him the more I am thinking of second options, I just want to run inside our bedroom away from all these people and chase each other, pull each other's legs and laugh our hearts out.

Tears flowed on my face remembering nothing will happen in my life with Manik. I have to make a decision myself before I die of heartbreak again and again. I looked at the floor to gather strength and finally said it, "Harshad and I want to get married within a week and go away to mainland."

Please don't argue, Manik. Let me go from you and your presence.

"What the hell are you speaking bit.. I mean Nandini? We never agreed to it, remember what we just discussed, go and ask him." Harshad reacted first in the room but I ignored him.

"You are not getting married, atleast not to him, and atleast not in a week." Manik said in a calm voice but his fists were balled so tight that I can see them turning red.

"Who am I to you, Manik?" I said still looking down.

"Nandini, ask him what we discussed earlier." Harshad once again spoke and Manik ignored him.

"You are 22 right now, and your father promised you to get married when you turn 25, so there's no marriage happening, at least not these three years." Manik said with confidence.

No, please don't look for any reasons. It's so painful living here.

"Time doesn't matter, Manik. As long as bride and groom are ready what's your deal here? Harshad and I are happy to get married in a week and go to mainland and live our life away from the Mafia. You can continue your happy life marrying another Boss." I said as my voice quivered.

"Why not? The world is waiting for you both to get married. Both of you doesn't even have a dime on your head and are planning to get married. Bravo!" He clapped his hands.

Harshad budged again, "Exactly, Manik came to the correct point. Nandini, this your last chance ask him."

This time I gave my full attention to Harshad as he kept disturbing the conversation. He is finding reasons to stay back in this Empire while I am looking at the opposite. "Harshad, we don't need money to live. Do you think I had money all these? No, my father had money but still I lived like a princess in the same way we will look after each other. I don't want anything luxury, I just want to move away from this place."

"Bitc... Nandini, you are not making any sense. I don't want to marry you in this week and run away from here. Let's wait till you turn 25 and we can get married. By that time we can earn for ourselves and stand on our feet." Harshad explained to me.

"There's no need to wait, my darling." I heard Niyonika's voice and for the first time I lifted my head to see Niyonika, Cabir and Alya already standing in the room.

When did they come?

Niyonika patted Harshad's hair and wiped the blood with her handkerchief. "Nandini is right, you have to get married in a week and leave to the mainland. I can't see you getting mishandled by Manik every single day. I want to see you happy with your wife and kids in the mainland away from this torturous place."

Harshad shook his head. "No, Mama. I can't get married this early, I have no money and I am afraid I can't look after her."

Niyonika's eyes teared. "Harshad, my angel child, what has this Manik done to you! Don't forget you are the son of Malhotra, the powerful Mafia Empire. Isn't all my wealth for you? Nothing is important for me than your happiness my son."

Harshad's eyes beamed with happiness. "If you say so, Mama. I am ready to marry Nandini just to make you happy despite my happiness. I will adjust my life just to see you smile."

Niyonika smiled wide. "That's my son who is ready to sacrifice everything just to respect his mother's words. I wish Manik was dead instead of Vivek, we would have been a happy family together."

Manik leaned on to the wall and did not speak anything. Alya stood beside him and spoke out. "Really? There would be no difference my queen, your broke ass son would leech off anyone who is alive. Actually, the world would be a better place instead of your darling child."

"Alya! How dare you speak about me?" Harshad questioned.

"It's Boss, for you, angel! I run my own Mafia territory and also marrying the Boss of the Malhotra Empire, either way I am so much higher than your broke ass. So, look at my feet while you are speaking." Alya said without any hesitation.

Harshad immediately stood behind Niyonika. "Mama, look at her dragging you down. I just want to go away from this place tomorrow itself. Let me marry Nandini now and you help me with everything, Mama."

Manik raised his eyebrow. "Look at his audacity! Let's say the Queen gave you all her wealth right now, what next? How are you going to live further? I am going to block you from  Malhotra resources the moment you step out of this territory. You get to enjoy all this until you stay inside these four walls."

"We don't need your money, Manik." Niyonika and I said together overcoming Harshad's voice. Nobody heard what he was saying as we proceeded to fight against Manik.

"We will stay homeless instead of depending on you." I said loudly and Manik's eyes softened.

"Why? Is it so unbearable to stay in my presence that a princess is ready to be homeless?" His words made me weak. And this is exactly why I am trying to go away from this him and his place.

"I have to keep my son safe from a monster like you. And stop thinking so low of my Angel, he will run a successful business as he was well educated from mainland." Niyonika hissed at Manik. "Harshad and Nandini, get ready. You will be husband and wife by this week."

"Okay, how come Harshad is getting married first? As per your logic your Manik is your 'elder' son by ten minutes right? When he is getting pushed for everything why delay in the wedding? Manik must get married before Harshad and that's how it works!"

"Then get married who is stopping you!" Niyonika scoffed as if she didn't care about Manik's marriage.

"I want to marry Manik after three years, and your darling child can wait till that time," Alya said with a smile and everyone in the room frowned.

"You are troubling my son with an intention. I can't believe I myself chose you as a family member." Niyonika muttered.

"My queen, I still did not finish. Manik and I are ready to marry in this week if..." She trailed off.

Manik tried to stop Alya from speaking further but she did not listen to anyone.

"If?" Harshad and Niyonika questioned together.

"If you give me two portions of your wealth you promised to give Harshad and Nandini. I mean, I am your daughter in law right? One portion in the name of Manik and one portion in the name of Vivek." She said crossing her arms over her chest.

...

How's the update?

Ah! One week is so short notice to get married!

What will happen now?

What scenes you wish to see in their double wedding?

Do you have any ideas for Manan scenes you wish to read?