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...

Everything is power and business to me.

I love you, Nandini.

They were two contrasting statements and they are messing with me. What the hell was everything down there? I clearly remember him confessing his feelings for me but I rejected him since feelings are temporary and family values are permanent. But he gave another contrasting statement and called me useless because I have no valuable property in my name. How can someone change in a matter of minutes? 

I pressed my temple with my fingers as it became too much for me to think. I should have not spent too much time thinking about Manik, after all, he is a manipulator. 

But what about all the cute moments between us? He was so sweet towards me these days and I melted for his friendliness. He is strong which made me feel safe in his presence. My heart beats crazily for him as if I am running a marathon while standing still in front of him. 

I like all of those feelings happening for me but it could be some manipulation from Manik. I have never experienced those feelings before meeting him and all of a sudden they erupted, so what does this mean? Of course, these are the tricks played by Manik! 

That's the main reason I should not think about his so-called feelings and concentrate on my father's promise to the Malhotras. But why the fuck did my father agreed to let me marry Harshad? I covered my mouth as soon as the bad word slipped. I learned from Manik last night to swear when angry. And it felt nice!

Ah! I am changing into a bad girl because of Manik.

As soon as he said I am none of his business and left the house during the wee hours of the morning. Niyonika arranged me a guest room to retire as I plainly rejected staying in Navya's room or sharing a room with Harshad. Because it's eww! I am Princess and I need hygienic environment around me. 

This room did not have a secret garden door, or Manik's painting, or King size black bed, or a wardrobe full of Manik's clothes, or bathroom shelves filled with dark perfume set. Everything is empty! There is only a boring queen size bed in the middle of this dull room. I did not feel like this even when I was living in the servant quarters but since I came to Manik's house I am kind of addicted to him and his presence. 

I was unable to sleep all these hours replaying yesterday's events. It was around 3 in the morning when everything settled and I came to this room and now it must be 10 in the morning since I heard the servants preparing the breakfast for the Boss and cleaning his dishes. I do not want to face Manik, ever and ever. He is no one to me. I am not under his control anymore and I am a free bird.

Soon to be Harshad's wife! 

Shit! I really don't like being his wife. It's so awkward to think about the angel in such a way. Even the thought of marrying him is making me sick. For the last few hours, I have been questioning my father's choice.

Should I just break the promise and run away?

Shut up, Nandini. How can I even have such thought of breaking my father's promise? My family has given me everything and I am being selfish and tainting my family's reputation. I will make sure not to get such thoughts ever again and be a responsible daughter. 

My stomach grumbled as I did not eat anything yesterday and it was already 10 am. Princess Nandini is starving and there is no hospitality here. I sulked and remembered Navya. She was hungry too and nobody cared about her. She never slept hungry when were living in the Murthy mansion. Navya ate along with me, she was my friend after all. Now, we both are starving with adultered emotions within us. 

I opened the door still in my robe from yesterday as there were no clothes provided. There was a maid already standing in front of my door and greeted me with a smile. Why is she guarding my door? 

"How may I help you, Mam?" 

"I want to eat my breakfast," I said with a pout.

Her face turned from happy to sad in a second. "Sorry, Mam. I can't help you with it. You must not eat until you are cleansed."

Oh! I remember Niyonika telling me to prepare for a cleaning ritual. So, I can't eat anything till then, and that's sad.

"When will it start?" I questioned her. 

"In a few minutes." She smiled. 

Well, that's good to hear. While speaking with her I saw Alya walking inside the mansion and a hope rose in me. Maybe she can help me to negotiate about Navya's punishment. 

I waved my hands to gain her attention. "Alya! Alya!" 

She rolled her clearly not liking me to call her by her name. She prefers to be called Ladyboss just like someone I previously met. 

"I am coming to you anyways." She said walking towards my room. "Why didn't you come for breakfast?" 

"Well, I am not allowed to have any breakfast till the cleaning ritual." I shrugged.

Alya rolled her eyes at me and gave me packaged item to eat which said 'energy bar'. What is that? Is this food? What is inside it? Is it healthy?

"Stop overthinking! This is edible." She paused seeing my confused face. "This is edible rectangle filled with nuts and chocolate. Happy?"

I smiled. "Ofcourse, it makes sense now. But, I can't eat anything before the ritual so..."  

The servant infront of my room interupted me. "Mam, it's time for your ritual. I will take you to the yard." 

I nodded my head and took a step further to follow her but Alya pulled me back by my arm. "Seriously? Are you seriously going to perform in this circus?"

"Mam, it's an order from the Queen." The servant replied instead of me. 

Alya pushed the woman out of her way and said, "Tell her to piss off!" and closed the door on her face. She turned back to face me and raised her eyebrow promting me to say something. "Will you eat it or should I feed you?"

"But I can't eat breakfast without..."

"It's not breakfast. It's .... LukFast. So, you can eat it." She said loudly and I unwrapped the bar to eat it. "I have to say good bye to my senses with you." She muttered under her breath. 

She sat beside me on the bed and began talking to me as I ate the energy bar. "Nandini, do you..."

I cut her in the middle remembering the reason behind calling her to my room. "Alya, could you please help Navya. She is hungry and alone in the dungeon."

"This is the problem with you dumb woman. You are in a huge shit and you are thinking about cleaning others." She stood up and paced the room. "Do you understand why they are conducting a cleaning ritual for you?"

I kept my head low in shame. "Because I have crossed the Malhotra Empire territory without the Boss permission and I was living without any affliation since Murthy territory has been destroyed. Since, I am technically homeless, I will get a new start with ...Harshad." I said his name with much difficulty. 

"So, this is all you could make out of last night's battle between the brothers?" She questioned me and I agreed. "And you agreed for the ritual basing on this version of your story! Did you ever see what happens in this cleaning ritual?" I shook my head negatively and Alya continued, "They are going to peel your skin."

"What?" I shrieked in fear. 

"Finally, I got a valid response from you." She sighed. "You got marked on your 18th birthday like any mafia member on your palm right? Now, they will peel the skin on your palm, let it heal for as long as it takes and then make a fresh cut over it. You must not eat anything till you get a fresh cut, which by the way takes around 25 days." 

"25 days without food? How can someone live without food for that long?" I questioned as fear gripped me. 

This time she shrugged. "Well, they want a best woman to be part of their family so, the one who survives gets welcomed. If she dies, she would be thrown out as a feed for prey birds since she will no longer have the older cut as well. No affliation in mafia world is dangerous than anything else!"

I started pacing the room as I can no longer sit in peace. Why did I even agree to things which I do not know? Shit! Shit! Shit! I looked at my palm where I had a tiny cut reminding me of my family and now the thought of peeling the entire skin and starved is scaring me. 

"Funny part is they are just cleansing you to welcome you and get you married to Harshad. They just want to erase your bad past so that you could be pure for their darling child. But if they get even a tiny bit of suspicion about you having sex with anyone other than your soon to be husband Harshad, they will cut your fingers as sacrifice making sure you would not be able to cheat ever." She stated calmly and I found it difficult to breath. 

"But I did not have ... sex with anyone. In fact I am mourning about my parents death and it would be obnoxious to have such thought about me." I said putting my palm over my mouth.

"Doesn't matter! This ritual is misogynistic bullshit no matter what's their motive and it must be ceased to exist." She said.

"Did I agree to this? But how did anyone agree to this? It's cruel." 

"Because nobody agrees to it voluntarily, some are forced into it and other's are taken advantage of their naive mind like your situation."

I don't know what to do or how to avoid this situation. What would have happened if I went to the cleaning ritual without knowing anything? Does it make any difference now that I have knowledge about their ritual and the reason behind it? I can't even bear a prick of a needle and how am I supposed endure the pain all alone? 

"The Queen is coming!" A maid announced near my  door and it barged open with an angry Niyonika walking along with her two maids. 

I was too scared to say or do anything and the next scene froze me to the spot. 

...

Precap

How's the update?

Nandu got to know what she's getting into because of Alya aka ladyboss.

Will Niyonika leave Nandu or will she get cleansed?

Give me ideas to torture Harshad now that he got Nandu on his side.