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...

"What's your offer?" I questioned Alya. 

She smirked. "Stop your act. You are here for a few minutes fame aren't you?"

"Really, Alya? Your offer was to belittle me? Come to the point or else I am leaving."

"Exactly!" She smiled. "I want you to leave Manik. Name your price and--"

I cut her in the middle of her sentence. "50 million."

"What?"

"My price is 50 million, unlimited food and unrestricted travel access. That's all I am asking you. I promise I will leave not just Manik but this entire batch of dramatic people." I clapped. 

"You are joking, aren't you?" she questioned.

"Why would I joke in this situation, Alya - I mean lady boss. I was waiting for this moment from the time I entered this mansion. But nobody is willing to give me the 50 million. You are the only sane person here. I actually thought you were evil but I was so wrong, you are an angel. Such a kind heart to understand me." I said air hugging her. 

"Stop it! 50 million is too much. I don't have that amount"

"Then go earn!" I rested my head on my palms and thought for a while before speaking. "Alright, how much will you give me?"

"1 million." She shrugged. 

"Fine. I will take that to leave the garden for an hour." I continued seeing her gritting her teeth. "Then what do you expect, Alya. 1 million is very little. I need a lot more than that, my offer is 50 million, unlimited food supply and unrestricted travel grant or else forget speaking to me. I will find my own way."

A minute of silence passed between us before Alya spoke up. "Alright. I will pay everything you've asked but that will happen only when I can marry The Boss. He is loaded and I am kind of low on funds. I can transfer you the money once I become Mrs. Malhotra."

My heart winced in pain hearing her referring to herself as Mrs. Malhotra. Manik's wife. Maybe I pity her for marrying that monster. 

"No. I want everything right now and I want to run away from this mess. I am not accepting anything more or less." I folded my hands above my chest. 

Alya shook her head. "Alright. I can't promise you the unlimited food and travel grant but I can promise you the 50 million. I will pay you 25 million in cash now and another 25 million through cheque. You can withdraw the money whenever you want. But you must disappear from our lives within 2 hours of the payment."

2 hours? That's very little time. I won't get a chance to bid a final goodbye to Manik. He will come back home maybe around midnight and by then I must leave this mansion. Why am I even feeling this way? Final goodbye to the murderer? It is my victory and Manik need not know what I do with my life. There is a chance he might kill me or stop me from living my life. 

It's actually better if I take the 25 million and the cheque now and run away even before Manik can come back. I must manage my food and travel on my own within this 50 million. But it's okay, I mean something is better than nothing, right?

"Okay. I accept your offer."

She grinned. "Great. I was expecting a drama from you like 'I am not here money. You can't buy everything with money' blah blah."

I frowned. "Nah! There is nobody here worth the fight. I better be smart and pick the money." 

"I would say you are still dumb! Anyways, you will get your money in an hour. Go pack your things and be ready." She stood up to speak with her guards.

I did not move from my place. Pity me! I don't even have things to pack. I am that broke right now and choosing the money is the most practical thing now. Even the clothes I am wearing are lent by someone. 

Not someone but Manik! 

The same Manik who tried wiped my tears every single time I cried. The same Manik who protected me before Navya could hurt me and the same Manik who gave me a safe place to stay. 

But he is the same person who killed my family. He made others give me wrong labels. He hurt me and he manipulated me into accepting this mess. 

He gives me pain and he heals it. 

My head throbbed with pain thinking about him. I gulped a lot of air and fanned myself. He is not worth it Nandini. I will find many people in the world where I need not worry constantly and be safe. 

But what about Manik's punishment? Who will give justice to my parents death? And Harshad? My father's promise to marry him? Navya? She still hates me. How can I make her realize what she did to me was wrong? There will be a lot of unfinished business if I leave right now. 

Screw everything! I am running away and nothing can stop me. 

I know how to punish Manik in my own way. An evil smile plastered on my face as I hopped inside the mansion. Navya and Niyonika are still in the living room lost in their chatter to even notice me. I went to our bedroom - oops, I meant his bedroom and opened the door of the walk in closet. 

I smiled and felt the fabric of his clothes with my fingers running down the shelves. Manik get ready to go broke! If I am not wrong the items in his wardrobe are more than 50 million worth. I am leaving his jewelry and taking all his clothes. The suits, shirts, trousers, pajamas everything will be mine. 

I can exchange his clothes all the way through my journey and can have my unrestricted travel grant. Satisfied with my plan I began filling a suitcase with all the clothes. Travel is also set. Now all I have to worry is about my unlimited food. 

Should I escape in the vegetable barrel? 

Nah! I better take Alya's vehicle to be safe. Sorry vegetables, you have to let me go. 

After clearing all his rows I stood in front of Manik's painting and grinned. "Are you seeing this? I am running away with your clothes. I will distribute them to every person I meet on the way. To hell with your signature look. There will be hundreds like you now though it may not fit them as perfectly as it did for you." 

Shut up! 

I walked out the room from the secret door not wanting to create a scene by walking through the main entrance. By the time I reached the garden it was still empty. This time I sat the opposite chair to Manik. It felt as if he was sitting in the chair with his devilish smile on his face. 

I closed my eyes to control my distractions. 

Minutes later Alya walked near me and tapped the table to get my attention. I opened my eyes and she was standing with a small bag. She opened the zip in front of me and it was filled with cash bundles. There was a cheque leaf above the bundles of 25 million with her signature. 

This is really happening! I jumped with joy. Finally, I will be free. I can have my life. I will buy everything I can and nobody will stop me. We Stan you girl!!

I hugged Alya appreciating her efforts and she awkwardly patted my back. "I have arranged your vehicle. They will leave you at the nearest Den and you have to go on your own from there."

"Thank you very much, Alya. This means a lot to me. Now I keep wondering why we haven't met earlier. You are not that bad actually." I gave her a genuine smile. 

She rolled her eyes. "Now get going and don't ever come back." 

I nodded my head and tried to pick both the bags but failed miserable. Alya stepped forward to help me with the bags. She easily held both the bags in her hands. She is indeed a strong woman. Of course, she is the Lady Boss and it is bare minimum for her strength. 

I sat in the car she arranged as she kept the bags next to me. My heart picked it's pace as a different feeling settled in my stomach. Am I doing right or wrong? 

"Won't you ask the driver details? Would you just sit in anyone's car?" Alya questioned.

"Ah! I totally forgot. I am Nandini Murthy, it's nice to meet you." I smiled at the driver waiting for him to introduce himself but he did not respond. 

Alya rolled her eyes. "He is Ali. My trusted person. He will escort you safely." 

I nodded. The engine came to life as we shut the doors all set to start a new journey. Alya knocked on my window a second before the car could leave the place. 

"Don't trust everyone blindly. You are on your own from now on and don't think everyone is good or bad. The world is grey. And you have to mingle in it." She suggested and ordered Ali to start driving. 

Her words gave me much needed warmth as well as shivers. Please let everything be alright. I want to be safe and sound from now on. 

Ali never spoke the entire journey and I kept my face outside letting the fresh air touch my face. This air will be the witness to my freedom. My life and my joy. There were huge boards in front of every building we drove and all had the same name. Malhotra Empire. 

Manik please leave me. 

After a painful hour finally the boards with his names ended giving me the much needed peace. Finally I have crossed the border. I am no longer in Manik's Den. 

I am in different territory?

"Ali? Why did you stop here?" I questioned. 

"I was instructed to leave you here, Madam." He replied. 

"But this is still the mafia world. You are supposed to leave me outside the border. I need to go to the real world." I looked around scared. 

"You mean the mainland? I don't have permission to cross the Malhotra Empire let alone drop you at the mainland." He frowned. "I am just following the Lady Boss order. You are on your own from here. That is the nearest Den." He pointed towards the board a few feet away from us which read 'Clark Territory'.

Sweat beads formed on my forehead looking at the deserted area. The car was only thing in between 'Clark Territory' and 'Malhotra Empire'. There were no buildings, trees or people in this area. I have to walk all the way on my own into the unknown territory? Am I safe? 

"I would have waited with you but I need to do my biometric inside Malhotra Empire. If it's missing I may be killed. So please don't make it complicated, dear." Saying that he brought the bags down the car and opened my door asking me to get down. 

As soon as he mentioned 'killing' my legs trembled in fear. Just for attendance he will be killed while I don't even know what's in store my future. 

Ali drove away wishing me good luck as I stood with two heavy bags to my side in the scorching heat. A lone woman with huge bag of cash in a new territory. I did not feel safe even for a second. Should I take a step further or back? 

A single step would decide my future, my fate and my everything. 

"Don't move." I startled as someone held a knife on my neck standing behind me. 

...

Precap

Who attacked Nandini?

How will Nandini get saved?

Will she leave the mafia world or go back?