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I blankly stared at Harshad's face. "Did you know I am Nandini?"

He sighed. "No. I had a guess seeing your loyalty towards the Murthy mafia. I could not find the same from the woman I am promised to by my parents."

"You do not believe Navya?"

"Navya? Is it her name? I have nothing to do with the hierarchy. All I do is for my mother. As of now she believes Navya to be the real Nandini Murthy." 

"But I am Nandini Murthy, why don't you tell that to your mother?" I questioned.

"Do you think gut feelings are enough to prove an identity?" He questioned back. "Even I am not hundred per cent sure of your identity but I am willing to help you seeing your innocence. I don't think you can survive in this world with your sheltered upbringing." 

My shoulders slumped. "What can I even do to prove my identity? Manik killed my family and burned the entire mansion. I don't even have a badge on me."

"Are you sure Manik killed your family? Did you witness it by yourself or through rumors'?" He frowned. 

"You don't believe me now that your brother is in question, do you?" 

He shook his head. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I just want to know how much of your evidence can prove the truth. Could you please narrate what exactly happened?"

My heart pained trying to even remember the painful day. "I saw with my own eyes, Manik shot Navya's mother and his men killed my parents. Manik kidnapped me and I escaped from him and came to meet you Mr. Malhotra. But there are already bunch of women claiming to be Nandini." 

He rubbed my head to console me. 

"Poor soul! You need justice. But I can't go against my brother without evidence. I am not from mafia to act baselessly. Who knows you could be a better actor than Navya?" 

His words hurt me. "Mr. Malhotra, hear yourself, please. If that's so difficult to take my side then why did you save me? Let me die or live on my own. I don't need your help." 

I tried to unlock the door to get outside this place. I was expecting Harshad to be on my side. I even had a slight hope in my heart as soon as he addressed me by my name. He held my arm preventing me to get out of the car and pushed it aside. 

"Sorry. Try to understand, Nandini. It's impractical to believe without evidence. I am a person with string morals, if you want your voice to be heard then bring something worthy." He raised his voice.

He was right. I have no evidence for my identity let alone Manik's evil doings. I rested my head on the car seat headrest. 

"What if I want to give up? What if I want to be selfish, forget everything and move to mainland?" I whispered. 

"No!" He shook me. "What about your family? You are from the mafia for heavens sake. You can not give up so easily. First, try to think a reason why Manik would kill your family when they belong under his empire. Could it be financial conflicts?"

I was always kept away from all these deals. All I know is we happy till the nightmare. "Mr. Malhotra, the last thing my parents spoke to me was my marriage with Malhotra family. They were happy with the alliance. And I can't put my finger on his act against us." 

Harshad thought for a while and there was a thick silence in the car. 

"Even I can't find a reason. And it's not something we must reason it in a second. We must think properly before we can come to a conclusion. For now, let's go back to Malhotra Mansion."  

The mansion name made me uncomfortable. "Can you send me to mainland instead of going back to the mansion?"

"I will surely take you with me to the mainland. But for that I first need to convert the black money to white money. We also need to prove your innocence in the mean time." He said zipping the bags. 

I felt the burden on my shoulder relieve with someone finally on my side. I don't need him to believe me everything I say at least he is making an effort and it is more than a world for me at this situation. 

Seeing me silent for more minutes Harshad questioned my well being. Though I wanted to speak my mind I was afraid how this would go but I still dared to speak. 

"Mr. Malhotra, do you love Navya?" 

He paused zipping the bag for a moment and his voice changed. "I don't love anyone. I am an obedient son and would marry anyone my mother chooses."

"Then what about love? How would you guarantee that you will fall in love with the woman you would marry?" I questioned.

"I don't care about myself as long as parents are happy. My parents deserves everything in the world. Hence, your main task would be to impress my mother instead of fighting with Navya." He suggested.

A life without love? If I can make Niyonika trust me I would be married to Harshad and we will be stuck in a loveless marriage. But is love enough for marriage? I can go to mainland if I marry Harshad and it's most practical to choose him for my well being. After all he is willing to fight for justice and not blindly following what he believes like the people from mafia. 

"Thank you for helping me Mr. Malhotra. I will follow your advice. What would be my immediate step." 

"Firstly, remove the thought of running away from the underworld. It's not a child play to deal with such complicated tasks without supervision. Secondly, try to prolong your stay at Malhotra mansion to find evidence. Don't provoke anyone so that they would kick you out. If you are out of the territory you have to roam like these druggies without a shelter or get killed by some stronger mafia gang. Remember these points. Got it?" He pointed a finger at his forehead. 

I nodded in acceptance. I took a deep breath in the new found confidence. "Let's go."

Harshad pulled down the window and signaled Dhruv to get back to the car. The guards got back into the car and the line of cars began towards the Malhotra Empire. The familiar buildings which I saw while going out passed from my view. These cars were going in a good speed compared to Ali's car. 

Within a short while we reached the Malhotra Mansion. Uneasiness settled in my stomach as the gates opened and our cars parked in the driveway. Harshad blinked his eyes in assurance and encouraged me to go inside the mansion. I picked up the bag filled with Manik's clothes and left the cash bag to Harshad. He will follow me later into the mansion and will deal with the black money. 

I took baby steps inside the mansion. The hallway was empty except for Niyonika and Navya. They were still chatting like lost best friends. I can't believe they were like this from the morning and now it's already seven in the evening. They spared a glance at me and went back to their chatting. I thanked my stars as they ignored me giving me a chance to escape their drama. 

But my stars were not in my favor as Alya walked towards me. Her frown soon turned to anger and her steps increased pace towards me. She dragged me with her into the nearest empty space and hid us both behind the huge pillar. 

"Why the hell are you back?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Ali left me in the middle, he did not drop me at the mainland."

"Mainland? Why don't you ask him to take you to the moon as well? I've clearly mentioned you are on your own after dropping you at the nearest den." Her voice now raising a bit higher than earlier. 

I remembered about the outcast and mentioned the same to her. "Actually, I was attacked by the outcasts as soon as Ali left me at the deserted area. And I could not travel further without any guidance or support. That's why I had to come back having no choice." 

She ran her fingers on her neck and looked down at my hands with one bag. "Where is the money?" 

Oops! 

What should I tell her? Harshad said he will convert the money to white and if I mention it to her she might create a scene for telling Harshad about her. As I kept thinking on the answer Alya herself spoke out. 

"Don't tell me you lost it to the outcasts?" She helped me with an answer and I smiled sheepishly confirming her question. "You got to be kidding me! It's actually my fault to even trust a dumb person like you and give you the money."

A second later Alya stared at my face finding for an answer. "But those idiots only want drugs. They would not know the value of money since there would be no transactions with those people. All they do is rob the food and drugs from the vans transporting. So tell me the truth."

I didn't know what to say further. It was true no body would sell or buy from the outcasts and that is the reason they rob as cash is useless to them. I took an entire minute to think and made up an answer. "Actually, they did not take from me but scattered all the money trying to look for drugs. When they did not find the drugs they attacked me."

"And you freaking left 25 million cash on the road because you were scared of these dimwits? Can't you fight - Leave it. Whom am I even speaking with! I have to punish myself for giving you such a huge responsibility." Alya rubbed her hands on her sleek hair on her head.

I remembered Harshad's suggestion to be friendly and not make enemies. I patted Alya's shoulder trying to console her. "It's okay, dear. Time heals everything. You will earn more than this amount. After all life is a reflection of -"

"Shut up!" She interrupted me. "You dare to speak rubbish after blowing out all my money. I don't care if you need money or not. Now you will leave this mansion and never coming back."

I immediately remembered the cheque leave in the small pocket of the clothes bag. I pulled it out and handed it over to Alya. "Actually, here is the half amount of our deal. Though I have lost the cash bundles I managed to save the cheque. How about we forget everything and try to make a new deal?"

She pulled the cheque from my hand harshly and gritted her teeth. "I will never forget anyone who tries to play with me. Manik is mine and you will pay for coming back." Saying that she left me and marched away out of the mansion. 

Her cars were waiting for her on the driveway and in a second she was gone. I blew the air from my mouth. I shouldn't have said that to Alya, after all it's her money. The money she was willing to give up just for Manik. But I can't help, I need to be cunning to survive here. 

Anyways, the plan to be friends with everyone failed as soon as I entered the mansion. I am pretty sure Alya tries her best to remove me out of the mansion. I need to stay strong and carry on my work without interfering with others lives. 

I picked up the bag and went inside my bedroom. Sorry, Manik's bedroom. As soon as I closed the door and switched on the lights the painting came to my view. It was as if he was smirking at my loss. As if he was questioning me about the challenge I made before leaving his territory. 

"I will defeat you, Monster." I challenged the painting and proceeded to arrange the clothes in Manik's walk in closet. 

The druggies messed up all the clothes and it was difficult to put them inside the wardrobe. All of them are wrinkled and they seriously need ... crumple reverser? The thing used to make wrinkled clothes like new. What's the name of that thing? 

As I was looking for this item I heard a voice, the voice which could send shivers to my entire body. His voice was distant and I could not hear what he said so I slightly opened the bedroom door to hear what he was saying. After hearing closer I realized he wasn't just saying anything in fact he was digging the hell open. 

"Where the hell is she?" Manik screamed from the living room as he took large strides towards the bedroom. 

...

Precap

Hey guys, how is the update?

Do you think Nandini can find evidence and prove her identity?

Should Nandini give back the money to Alya?

What will Manik do now?