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...

Niyonika examined both of our faces for a moment but we stayed rooted to the spot. Alya sat on the bed while I was leaning on the wall. Niyonika took a deep breath and took the initiative to speak since the room was pin drop silent. 

"Alya dear, I heard you were not agreeing to the cleaning ritual of Nandini. Is it true?" 

Alya frowned. "No. I don't remember saying that, what did you say?" She asked the maid.

Niyonika once again spoke instead of the maid, "That you do not want Nandini to --" Her words were cut short by Alya.

"I said to Piss off. Nothing more or nothing less." Alya said crossing her legs. 

Niyonika's eyes slightly became big as the maids next to her looked at the floor not to disrespect her. "Go out and wait." She ordered them and the maids shut the door on their way leaving us three in the room. 

Niyonika turned to me and questioned, "Don't you have anything to say, Nandini?"

"Alya is telling the truth, my Queen. She really asked you to piss off and did not say other words." I said truthfully hoping that she would believe what happened in the room. 

Niyonika gritted her teeth as Alya left a chuckle. Why?

"Alright! I understand you both are young and modern but this is a really important ritual. You should not disrespect it." She tried to convince us. 

"Why is that?" Alya questioned.

"Because Nandini was living with Manik all these months and she will get married to Harshad soon. She must be cleaned so that she is pure for Harshad and we can remove all her past." Niyonika explained. 

Alya laughed. "Really? Then let's do this amazing ritual. It surely helps to clear their past before marriage and they will become virgins once again."

Niyonika smiled from ear to ear. "Exactly! I did not know it would be this easier to convince you, Alya." She turned to me and smiled more. "Nandini, let's perform your cleaning ritual. A skilful knife master is already waiting for your arrival." 

What? Knife master, to peel my skin? Alya, how did you agree to this? Now how do I escape from this situation? I do not want to be cut! Should I cancel the marriage? Will that make me selfish?

"Why not bring Harshad along with you my Queen and I will bring Nandini to the ritual?" Alya said with a smile.

"Harshad? He doesn't need to watch this event. It's just between the women and no men are allowed."

"Not to watch, but to get cleansed, my queen," Alya said making doe eyes.

"What rubbish? My darling child doesn't need a cleansing! In fact, it's only for women and not for men."

Alya raised her eyebrow. "Why so? If there is anyone who needs to get cleansed it is your son Harshad. After all, he was also staying with Navya all these months. There could be Hanky panky between them making him impure." She paused. "But I doubt he was impure here or while he was studying in America. You see, he is a man after all, living away from his family surrounded by women who haven't performed this primitive ritual."

"Alya!" Niyonika screamed. "Stop badmouthing my son! How dare you speak ill about my son in front of me? My darling is a diamond and nobody could get him impure. He knows his values!" 

"Then what about Nandini?" Alya's voice is now soft. "She is also someone's daughter and a princess of her family. They would be shattered if they get to know how their precious daughter is getting treated in her in law's house." She paused. "Or is it because her parents are dead and you could have your way with her?"

My respect for Alya grew ten times bigger seeing her supporting me. Never did I imagine I could get someone on my side and openly fighting for me. I wish we were assigned friends instead of Navya. Alya is everything I could wish for in a friend! 

Niyonika shook her head negatively. "Why are you pulling out a different meaning, Alya? It's a simple ritual and it would be done in a matter of a month. Why are you being an obstacle to my son's happiness? My son deserves the best and I am not going to stop even if you create a drama here."

Alya rolled her eyes. "Why is it only for women? Why not the men who are clearly chasing after every skirt for their personal revenge or pleasure? This is clearly a misogynistic and bullshit event!" 

Niyonika opened her mouth to say something but Alya stopped her from speaking and continued, "I am not done yet! Let's say you value this ritual since you belong to the stone age then how come nobody in this family had been through this cleaning process? Why only Nandini?"

"Stop making me a villain, Alya. Nandini accepted this herself last night. Nobody is forcing her, so stop being a good Samaritan." Niyonika said standing beside me.

Alya stood up from the bed and pulled me away from Niyonika creating a distance between us. "She didn't accept it for your kind information. She was manipulated. Even if she accepted willingly we must stand against it as everyone knows Nandini's upbringing is different from us. She is a sheltered princess and was manipulated by her friend all her life. You out of all people must understand the troubles of being a princess in a mafia world."

"You think I am taking advantage of Nandini, don't you? If she can spend time with a man all these months I am pretty sure she can tolerate a bit of pain." Niyonika stood adamant in her words.

"My question is still unanswered! Why is only Nandini chosen for this ritual and not the other women before their marriage?" Alya questioned folding her hands above her chest.

Niyonika shrugged. "Because she was living with another man before her marriage who is not her husband. And, all the other women in this family did not do such acts."

"Really? I was in a relationship with Vivek Malhotra, your eldest son. But you promised to take me as a wife for Manik as soon as Vivek was dead. You knew I was not a virgin and still chose me for Manik and I do not remember going through your primitive tradition back then." 

"Because Manik is elder than Harshad and he knows how to survive. Unlike my Harshad who is still an innocent baby who needs protection from this cruel world. I am that protection as his mother, so try to understand that, Alya." 

"!0 minutes. Manik is just 10 minutes older than Harshad. Who the fuck treats twins the way you treat them? Anybody would think there is a generation gap between them if you continue to treat Manik as a man who can survive the wild and Harshad, a 26-year-old man as a toddler who is still learning his first words." 

Niyonika gasped. "How can you say such things about me, Alya? A mother does not show partiality between her children and all are equal in my eyes. If you can't see that then it's not my problem. You must become a mother to understand how a mother feels."

Alya chuckled. "All I have to be is a human with working senses to find differences in your treatment of Manik and your darling child. You call yourself a kind hearted mother, but to me, you are nothing but a self centred narcissist doting upon your golden child."

"Alya, how dare you call me such names." Niyonika raised her arm to slap Alya but was cut mid air as Alya held Niyonika's wrist in her strong hold. 

"Wrong move, my queen." She pulled Niyonika closer to her face and continued, "I am not a princess like Nandini or a maid like Navya. I am the Lady boss who chose guns as my dolls!" Alya released her grip and Niyonika instantly rubbed her wrists. 

"Kids these days don't have respect for their elders! I used to shiver just to stand in the same room as my mother in law after marriage and you both don't even have basic decency let alone manners." Niyonika muttered under her breath and walked towards the door to leave the room. "I have to try so hard to get this Nandini in my control as a perfect bride for my Harshad. I can't let her become impudent like Alya."

Alya cracked the knuckles of her right hand. "One more thing, my Queen. Don't you dare trick Nandini into your cave man thoughts and traditions once again? If I see this happening once again, then I ...." Her words was cut short as Niyonika tuned her heel back. 

"If not what Alya? What will you do?"

"I will break your promise and this marriage arrangement with Manik. Let's see how you will deal without Alya Saxena's power to defeat Vikram Rathore's mafia. I can be confident of Manik but what about your darling child? Will he be able to replace me and fight against the Rathore's mafia with his chicken legs? Or will his mother protect him here as well?"

Niyonika curled her fist into a ball. "You would not do that, Alya."

"Try me." She smirked.

"What is she to you that you are going to this extent even tampering with your relationship with Malhotra's? As far as I remember she was stealing your man, shouldn't you be against her? What's your deal with Nandini?" Niyonika questioned between her gritted teeth.

Alya stepped forward and stood next to me. "Friend. Nandini is my friend."

Niyonika left the room not before pulling her hair in frustration with Alya's answer. 

Friend. My Friend. 

...

Precap

How is the update?

I know this update is all about Alya but I wanted to show her point of view as well. I like when women stand up for other women instead of fighting over silly issues and becoming evil. 

What do you think of Alya and Nandini? Should they become friends or is Alya planning something evil with a good face? 

What do you want to see in the next update?