This update is dedicated to everyone who's born in the month of "December" Double dedicated to December Babies.
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"What will I do at someone's Debutante." Manik sulked.

"No argument Manik. Get in the car in fifteen minutes." Manik's father ordered.

He was surprised to see Cabir wearing a suit and walking toward his room as soon as his father left.

"Why on earth are you getting ready? That too for a girl's debutante."

"Well, I can dive into the centre of the hell for Vivek." Cabir answered and Manik was confused. "Vivek is attending this party, so am I."

Realisation hit Manik.

"Ofcourse. Then Alya must be coming right?" He grinned. "I am ready for this party."

"Ofcourse, she sticks to Vivek like a lizard." Cabir muttered under his breath.

Manik dressed up in five minutes and the both sat in the Limousine. "Where are the others?" He questioned the driver.

"Sir, they are in the other car." He replied and they both sighed for not sitting with his crush.

Their ride was so boring without any raising heartbeats or shy glances.

Manik and Cabir stood infront of the Murthy Mansion entirely lit with bright lights. They were waiting for the other car instead of going inside the mansion. Surprisingly, only his father stepped out of the car without Vivek or Alya.

"They both have other work to deal." His father replied to their question and they entered the mansion with dull face.

"I am pretty sure it's Alya. She is dancing him to her tunes." Cabir said.

"Not a chance. It must be Vivek who is a workaholic and troubling Alya." Manik said.

"Don't speak ill about my Vivek." Cabir defended.

"Don't speak ill about my Alya." Manik defended.

Before they could continue a soft ball like creature hit his torso.

"Are you drunk?" Manik raised his voice but stopped seeing a young girl. He wouldn't raised his voice if he knew it was a woman so he looked awkward.

"Princess Nandini Murthy doesn't drink." Nandini boasted.

Manik understood they were here for her debutante and sighed. "Well, you could watch where you were going."

"No. I can't watch. I am oxygen breather and not wall stander." Nandini replied.

"No. I didn't say watch as in clock, I am telling you to look." Manik explained to this weird girl.

"Ah! But still I can't look. It's the biggest rule." She said covering her eyes tight without opening her eyes.

"Rule? For what?"

"My assigned friend Navya asked me to run into a wall without opening my eyes. It's a challenge to know if the wall is stronger than my head." She replied.

"Are you stupid? Why would you listen to that? The wall is stronger, ofcourse." He said it in a go.

"How did you know? Did you also hit yourself into the wall?" She questioned.

Manik rolled his eyes. "Nobody bangs their head against the wall to know who's the strongest."

"See. Nobody did it and I have to do it so that I can help the world know what's strongest." Nandini said and tried to walk away from this scene to bang herself to the wall.

Manik stopped her understanding the scene and not letting her get hurt. "You are going in the wrong direction. The wall is this way."

He pointed to the opposite direction and stood infront of her. She is anyhow not opening her eyes so it would make no difference to her in wherever she ran into.

He encouraged her to run forward and positioned himself in front of her. Nandini ran as instructed and hit her head against Manik's hard chest and rubbed her head in pain.

He held her in his arms to balance her. "Now you can open your eyes."

Her innocent doe eyes looked at him with a big smile. "Mr. Tall man black shirt wearer, if we hit our head to the wall, our head will pain."

"What the hell?" Before he could speak anything further she just ran inside the hall like a cute cheetah.

Cabir wriggled his eyebrow at him. "New ship, maybe?"

"Eww! She is an idiot who listens to her assigned friend blindly." Manik raised his hands above.

"I am alright with anyone except Alya." Cabir shrugged.

"You are dead in my hands, Cabir." Manik announced and Cabir ran inside the hall.

The hall was decorated matching the outdoors and there were lots of people deeply involved in their conversation. Every corner is filled except for the stage where the Princess must sit.

"Where is she now?" Manik thought to himself and the next he found her running into him once again.

"Where are you going Princess Nandini Murthy?" He questioned and she rounded her eyes.

"How do you know my name?"

"You told me earlier."

"Me? I never met you. This is the first time I am meeting you." She frowned.

"What? You just called me...." He scratched his neck feeling embarrassed to utter those words. "Mr. Tall man Black shirt wearer. Do you recall now?"

"Eww! Who named you that?" She made a puking face.

"YOU!" Manik said aloud.

"Haha good joke. Why would I name you Mr. Tall man black shirt wearer when everyone looks the same in the party?" She pointed towards the hall where everyone were tall and wearing black shirt.

Manik looked embarrassed.
"Forget it. Why are you running now?"

"I almost forgot. Since it's my 18th Birthday, Navya asked me to jump from the wall and check if I will fall down like a human or fly in the air like a bird." She sounded so stupid to him right now.

"Are you insane or are you pretending to be insane? Where are your parents?" He questioned her and he began searching before she could reply.

As soon as his eyes fell on Mr. Murthy speaking with his father he held Nandini's hand and brought her to them. "Mr. Murthy, here is your daughter."

"Thank you, Mr. Malhotra. I have been searching for her. Nandini, thank him." Her father encouraged her.

"Thank you Mr. Parent finder." She gave him another nickname and he rolled his eyes at her before walking away.

She is stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

He mumbled as he looked around for Cabir. The ceremony started and Nandini's palm was slit a little to mark her entry into the Mafia world. She is now part of the Malhotra Empire.

Manik looked down at his own palm which had a deep and long cut given by his father. This night reminded him of his 18th birthday.

"Are you manifesting to marry her?" Cabir jumped in out of no where startling him.

"Me and marry her? That's a good joke. I will walk upside down instead of developing a crush on her let alone marry her." Manik shook his head.

"Alright. You don't have to marry her just help me pick a good looking guy from the party."

"For you?"

"No. I have Vivek, we are looking for a groom for Alya. She has to leave my Vivek's side and let me enter." Cabir observed every guy who seemed a bachelor.

"You are are so gone now." Manik began and as usually he ran away from his hands.

Manik came towards the silent area away from the party while chasing him and saw his father along with Nandini's father signing papers.

"Princess Nandini Murthy will be married to my son Manik Malhotra. It's a deal." His father smiled and Manik barged in startling them.

"What the hell is happening? How can you agree to such thing, Papa?"

"Mr. Malhotra, sorry that it came off in a wrong way, but I wanted to tell you finding a good moment..." Mr. Murthy's words were interrupted.

"Why are you speaking with him? He is my son and he will do whatever I ask him to do." His father boasted.

"Not this time, Papa. She is barely 18. This agreement is nothing but a big crap." Manik balled his fist.

"Why are you overreacting? It's not like you will marry now. You will marry her when she turns 25 like every Mafia bride."

"You are not getting my point." Manik ran his fingers in his hair.

"Are you the Boss, Manik?" He questioned.

"No."

"Exactly. Follow the Boss." He announced with arrogance and Manik did nothing but to walk away unable to bear his respect getting crushed.

"What's happening, dude?" Cabir who was unaware of the things around him questioned.

"They have just arranged my wedding with their princess." Manik took deep breaths.

"That kid?" It was a shock for Cabir too.

Nandini collided into him only to add oil to his fire. "Sorry, who are you? Why are you standing in my room?"

"Is this the first time we are meeting, Nandini?" Manik questioned gritting his teeth.

"Ofcourse, it's the first time. Or were you like the grandmother who just met me and questioned if I remember her as she saw me when I was a baby? Are you her husband?" Her questions increased his anger and he left that place with Cabir following him.

They both sat in the Limousine as Manik began hitting the car seat. "I am being tagged with someone who didn't even develop basic senses. She can't recognise people and is easily getting manipulated by her maid. What in the hell should I do with my life?"

"Manik. Shhh." Cabir tried to calm him but he was not in the mood to listen.

"25 right? Let's see how I will get married to her. My Alya is turning 25 this week and I will speak then." Manik was determined.

A week passed like nothing and Manik smirked looking at a happy Alya. It's her birthday which also makes her the eligible bride. He walked down the stairs to speak about his feelings.

"As much as I hate her, I love you, bro. All the best." Cabir encouraged and he went further.

His steps halted as Alya held Vivek's hand and walked towards Vivek who welcomed them with a smile.

My son, and my Associate shall be marrying Alya Saxena, the heiress of Saxena Territory." His father's announcement took the ground beneath him.

He saw everything from far standing like a nobody while his family were happy to see the new couple. He felt the entire the world is happy seeing him heartbroken.

His eyes were filled with unshed tears seeing her happy and he was not the reason behind her happiness. He wasn't the one marrying her, or he wasn't the one holding her hand.

He left the place not wanting anyone to see his dull and sad face. Oh! His life has become a mess.

What will he do without Alya in his life? He has dreamed of marrying her from his childhood. But now his dream is being crushed.

The next few days were painful for him to participate in their wedding ceremonies as Vivek's name on Alya's forearm glowed. She had a permanent tattoo on her which confirmed that he has no chance to be with her.

He walked away with a bag full of alcohol and went to the terrace which is the only place not lit. It's dark which would match his vibe.

Manik gulped the alcohol as much as he can to feel more pain in his throat. That only made him better as it was more painful than watching their happy faces.

"Oh my Manik." Cabir's voice came from behind and he looked with his drowsy eyes.

"How are you holding up, man? They are getting married and importantly they are happy." Manik slurred.

"Who cares? It's a stupid crush." Cabir acted strong. "You know how I am holding up? I went to the La Profundo, found two hot dudes, got laid and now I am moved on in my life. What if he doesn't like me? I have hundreds waiting in the club." Cabir boasted and took the bottle to get high.

As he gulped everything his eyes blurred like Manik's. "But none of them will be Vivek."

A sob escaped as they both got drunk. Why won't they? They had emptied all the bottles and were rolling down like drunkards. Side effects of drinking too much while being heartbroken.

"I wish their wedding gets broken." Cabir yelled into the air and Manik giggled.

Well, that felt nice.

"I wish that Alya would marry me." Manik yelled and laughed.

"I wish that Vivek bang his head into something and bring him to sense for choosing her instead of me." Cabir yelled.

"I actually wish that happens to my papa for making all these stupid decisions." Manik said and they both agreed on it.

Shortly their wishes slowed down as they lost their consciousness and slept on the terrace.

Days passed with the family members laughing with happiness. While Manik and Cabir spent their most of the time in the club of Passion, La Profundo. The good part was they were happy getting distracted as the strippers showed their complete attention on them, only them.

But it was not enough, they are sad and was unable to show it out. Because there is no body to console them.

On their wedding day, Alya, Vivek, Manik's father, and Alya's parents were sitting in the Limousine. They were going towards the Malhotra mansion from Saxena territory.

Manik and Cabir denied joining in the same car and took a different one. Nobody pestered them and they were happy being alone. During the entire ride they were only chanting that they moved on and nothing mattered to them.

"Tomorrow I am having a threesome with the Brazilians." Manik cheered for himself to show that he has moved on and is no longer sad.

"Tomorrow? Well, I am having a threesome tonight." Cabir beat him to that.

"Tonight? I am having threesome in my mind right now." They laughed with their reasons as Cabir drove the car.

Their smiles halted seeing the scene infront of their eyes. The Limousine is crushed almost unrecognisable from its original grandness.

"No. No. No. Fucking No." Manik yelled as he jumped out of the car without even letting the car to stop.

They both rushed to see the horrific scene unfolding infront of their eyes. All the bodies were crushed and he could hardly see or differentiate anyone.

"Cabir!!!" He shook him who was stunned. "Nobody....." Manik cried.

Cabir didn't make a move as if he has given up everything in his life. Nothing mattered to him anymore. He didn't cry or shout and from that day he closed himself into a shell.

Whereas Manik was destroyed and going insane not understanding a thing happening around. How can he bring them alive? How?

He felt a tiny movement in the car and a hope rose in him. He tried to move everyone and checked who was it only to find it to be Alya.

He pulled her to his arms who was half unconscious and in pain. "I will save you with my everything, Alya."

Manik was determined and he brought her to their car. Since, it was outskirts the guard took time to reach to the place and take them to the hospital.

A few hours later the situation was out of control. "The patient has lost a lot of blood, we need to transfer soon." The doctor said and punched his chest.

He was ready to give his life for her but his blood group didn't match hers making him curse himself for being useless.

He was helpless and he stood at the door waiting for her to be healthy and fine.

He got the news that one of their soldiers donated their blood saving Alya's life. He sighed. Atleast she was alive.

Once she was good to be visited he walked inside to see her already crying hysterically.

"Calm down, Alya." He tried to say but his voice didn't come out since it was clogged with pain.

"Manik, he is not with me. Vivek left me alone in this world. What will I do? Why am I alive instead of dying with him?" She wailed and his chest pained seeing her wanting death for herself.

"I am here for you Alya." He tried to say but she didn't listen.

"You know, he loved me so much. So much that he hugged me tight protecting me from the crash and he died instead of me." She cried aloud. "My Vivek saved my life."

That's it. He turned on his feet and didn't look back as tears made its way on its own.

Vivek saved her not him.

He didn't save her.

He didn't save her.

He didn't save her.

His thoughts revibrated as he collapsed losing his consciousness.
...

How's the update?

There's still a lot to uncover but it's already 3000 words. I will try to show it the flashback scenes.

What questions do you still have in this story?

Good news! The sequel is on the way. Tomorrow, I will post the sequel.

What do you want to read in th sequel?