Everyone's heads turned in the direction of the voice. The person who stood at the entrance, left all of them, except Manik, in a state of bewilderment. Mukti stood there like a statue, staring at him. She felt as if her body had forgotten how to react. They all had lost count of the number of shocks they had received in a day and they didn't know if they could survive another one of those, if thrown their way. Little did they know that the most dreadful of those awaited them.

Mukti : Tu.. Tum yaha? 

Her voice was almost inaudible but Manik caught her words. The person walked towards them. He came and stood in front of the Inspector. The Inspector's eyes had widened in confusion. 

Inspector : Yeh aap kya keh rahe hai? Hume Mr. Malhotra ki jali hui gaadi mili hai aur uske paas ek jali hui body bhi. Waha se thodi hi duri par hume unka phone bhi mila hai. Agar aap Mr. Malhotra hai toh woh body kiski hai? 

It was the person's turn to be puzzled. 

Person : Nahi nahi, Inspector sir. Aap galat samajh rahe hai. Mei Manik nahi hu. (Turning towards Manik and pointing towards him) Yeh Mr. Manik Malhotra hai. Mei toh Abhimanyu hu. 

The Inspector glanced at Manik who came forward. 

Manik : Yes Inspector. Mei hi Manik Malhotra hu. Aapko koi misunderstanding hui hogi. Woh body meri nahi hai. 

Inspector : Lekin hume aapki gaadi highway par mili thi aur uske paas aapka phone bhi mila tha. And when we ran the number plate in our database, it was registered on your name. Agar aap Mr. Malhotra hai toh woh body kiski hai? Aur jab humne subah Miss Mukti ko call kia tha tab unhone hume kyu nahi bataya ki aap zinda hai? 

The Inspector questioned Manik. 

Manik : I'm sorry Inspector. Actually kal raat ko mei apni gaadi lekar highway par gaya tha aur waha mera ek chota sa accident hogaya tha. Shayad tabhi mera phone waha par gir gaya hoga. Aur ussi waqt waha mujhe Abhimanyu mila tha. Wo hi mujhe farmhouse lekar aaya tha. Aur humne meri gaadi waha highway par hi chod di thi.

All heads turned in Manik's direction at this new piece of information. Everyone stared at him in astonishment except one person. Mukti. She gaped at Manik in disbelief. Her mind wandered back to the conversation that took place between Manik and her after he had returned the previous night. "Why didn't he tell her that Abhimanyu was alive when she was crumbling to pieces yesterday? He, out of everyone, knew how much she missed Abhimanyu and he still chose to hide the truth from her? Why?" These were her only thoughts. She lowered her head and stared at her feet.

Inspector : Toh kisine phone par kyu kuch nahi bataya?

Manik : Actually mei subah bahar gaya tha aur maine kisiko inform nahi kia tha. Aur unhe mere accident ke baare mei bhi nahi pata tha. Isliye jab aapne mere phone se call kia toh inhe laga ki jo aap keh rahe hai wahi sach hai. I'm sorry aapko itni pareshaani hui. 

Inspector : That's not a problem Mr. Malhotra. Yeh toh hamara kaam hai. In fact I'm sorry ki subah subah maine aapke friends ko ek itni devastating news di jo sach bhi nahi thi. 

Manik : No Inspector. Ismei aapki koi galti nahi hai. Aap sirf apna kaam kar rahe the.

The Inspector smiled and nodded. He removed Manik's phone from the plastic bag in his hand and handed it over to Manik. 

Inspector : Yeh lijiye aapka phone.

Manik took the phone from his hands.

Inspector : Also, kya aapko koi idea hai ki woh body kiski ho sakti hai? 

Manik : Nahi. 

Inspector : Okay. We'll look into that matter. Thank you for your time. And once again, sorry for the inconvenience. 

With that the Inspector shook Manik's hand and left with his team. Manik turned to Abhimanyu. 

Manik : Tum yaha kaise aaye? I mean how did you know that we were here?

Abhimanyu : Just the way the Inspector got to know. 

Manik furrowed his eyebrows in question.

Abhimanyu : I mean mei farmhouse gaya tha. But waha ke watchman ne mujhse kaha ki Nandini behosh hogayi thi aur tum sab usse lekar hospital gaye ho. Toh mei bhi yahi aagaya. 

Manik nodded his head in understanding. He was about to go towards Mukti when Cabir questioned him.

Cabir : Tune hume Abhimanyu ke baare mei kal kyu nahi bataya Manik? 

That was the trigger for Mukti. All this while, she stayed silent but now her emotions overpowered her senses. She had felt betrayed the moment she got to know that Manik knew Abhimanyu was alive since yesterday. Two people, one who is the love of her life and the other one who she considers her best friend, had concealed the truth from her. The truth she deserved to know. The girl whose head was lowered until now, looked up. 

Mukti : Yeh kyu hume kuch batayega Cabir? Isse toh baatein chupane ki aur apne promises todne ki aadat pad gayi hai. 

Everyone turned to stare at Mukti. Her face was covered with tears. She felt a million emotions in that moment but the most overwhelming of them was anger. Manik walked towards her and kept a hand on her shoulder.

Manik : Dekh Mukti, tu jaisa samajh rahi hai vaisa nahi…

Mukti shoved his hand away from her shoulder. Her eyes were filled with fire. Manik gaped at her. 

Mukti : Mei jo ab samajh rahi hu woh sahi hai Manik. Aur tu sahi keh raha tha Manik. Nandini ki iss haalat ka zimmedar tu hi hai. Aaj teri wajah se Nandini iss hospital mei hai. Kyunki tu apne promises nibha nahi paata hai Manik. 

Saying that, she stormed out of the hospital. Manik staggered behind. Tears brimmed his eyes. Mukti's words were like salt to his already wounded heart. Was he really responsible for Nandini's condition? Was Nandini hanging between life and death because he failed to fulfil his promises? Tears flowed down from the corners of his eyes. 

Manik : Mei.. mei respon.. responsible hu. It.. It is all my.. my fault.

His words faltered. Abhimanyu kept a hand on his shoulder.

Abhimanyu : Manik, tumhari koi galti nahi hai. Please Mukti ki baato ko seriously mat lo. Usne yeh sab gusse mei kaha hai. She doesn't mean those words. Woh bas upset hai ki humne usse mere baare mei nahi bataya. Mei usse samjha kar lekar aaunga Manik. Woh samajh jaayegi.

Manik turned around to face Abhimanyu. 

Manik : Lekin usne kuch galat bhi toh nahi kaha. Sahi hi toh keh rahi thi woh. Mei hamesha apne promises tod deta hu. Aur aaj dekho. Meri wajah se Nandini iss haalat mei hai. Agar mei subah kahi jaata hi nahi toh yeh sab nahi hota. Maine Nandini se promise kia tha ki jab woh subah uthegi toh I'll be in front of her eyes. Lekin maine apna promise tod dia. Aur uski saza Nandini ko mil rahi hai. 

Abhimanyu peered at the others for help. Cabir blinked his eyes at him assuring him that they were here with Manik and he should go and look for Mukti. Abhimanyu smiled at him in gratitude and left in search of Mukti.

Cabir : Manik, Nandini ko koi saza nahi mil rahi hai. Usse kuch nahi hoga Manik. Tu please apne aap ko blame mat kar. Chal, aakar waha baith jaa. Hum sab hai naa, hum Nandini ko kuch nahi hone denge.

Navya : Haa Manik, hum Nandini ko bacha lenge.

Manik walked to the chair and sat on one of them. He shut his eyes in anguish and a fresh set of tears escaped his eyes. He placed his head in the cup of his palms. The others' hearts hurt at his state. But they didn't know what to do to take, if they could, any of his pain away. Cabir kept rubbing his back to provide some comfort.

Outside the hospital

Abhimanyu came outside the hospital after looking for Mukti everywhere. He was glancing in all the directions when he spotted her in the garden, sitting on a bench. He went towards her and put a hand on her shoulder. 

Mukti : Please jo bhi hai, mujhe akela chod do. I don't want to talk to anyone right now. 

Abhimanyu : Mukti..

Mukti remembered this voice. How could she ever forget this voice? All their past memories flashed in front of her eyes. The way he helped her. The way he made her fall in love with herself again. And the way his actions made her fall in love with him, without even her knowledge. But she was furious at him. Angry tears were streaming down her face. Abhimanyu was the last person she wanted to interact with at that moment. She got up, turned around and shouted,

Mukti : KYU AAYE HO TUM YAHA? HAA? TUM TOH CHALE GAYE THE NAA? TOH AB KYU WAAPAS AAYE HO? JUST GO AWAY ABHIMANYU. MUJHE TUMSE KOI BAAT NAI KARNI HAI. ESPECIALLY ABHI. CHALE JAAO YAHA SE AND LEAVE ME ALONE. 

Abhimanyu : Mukti, please ek baar…

Mukti cut him off and screamed again. 

Mukti : I SAID LEAVE ME ALONE. I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU.

Mukti's vexation was clearly visible on her face. She was losing her cool by the minute. She didn't want Abhimanyu to be near her because she was afraid she would say something that she would regret later. Also she didn't want to break down in front of him. She didn't want him to know how much he affected her. Abhimanyu wasn't going to leave Mukti alone. Not so easily. Not when he was back to apologize and fight for that second chance he knew he didn't deserve but would cross mountains for.

Abhimanyu : Mei firse woh galti nai karunga Mukti. Ek baar tumhe chodne ki galti kar chuka hu mei. Iss baar tumhare bolne par bhi mei tumhe chodkar nahi jaaunga.

Mukti stared at him. Seeing him after so many months, warmed her heart. Her happiness knew no bounds when she first saw him. But her rage prevailed over all her other emotions. She was angry that he left her. Angry that he didn't trust her enough to share his grief with her. Angry that she couldn't be with him when he needed her the most. Angry that he left her with no way to track him down. Angry that he broke up with her without even talking to her about it. But most of all, she was angry that he left her so that she could move on. How? How could he even think that she would move on from the person she loved? How could he think that she would forget him? But she knew one thing for sure : No matter what he did, she could never hate him. She was on the verge of a breakdown. She moved towards Abhimanyu and held his collar to demand answers but mostly, it was for support. She didn't trust her legs to not give up. The tone in which she spoke the next words broke Abhimanyu's heart. 

Mukti : Kyu? Kyu Abhimanyu? Kyu tum mujhe aise chodkar chale gaye? Kyu tumne ek baar bhi mujhse baat nahi ki? Kya galti thi meri? Mei toh sirf tumse pyaar karti thi naa? Did I not deserve to be by your side when you needed me? Kya mujhe itna bhi haq nahi tha? Bolo Abhimanyu? Kyu kia tumne aisa? Kyu?

That was it for Mukti. She fell to the ground on her knees. Her shoulders slumped. She kept her hands on her knees and cried her heart out. All the pain and hurt that she had been trying to supress was once again flowing down her cheeks in the form of tears. Abhimanyu mentally cursed himself for Mukti's state. He knew it was all because of him. He was responsible for this. What had his abandonment turned the strong and fearless Mukti into? Into a vulnerable and defeated person? He hated himself at that moment. He immediately bent down in front of her and cupped her cheeks but Mukti's eyes were fixated to the ground.

Abhimanyu : Mukti, Mukti, look at me. Mukti, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please just look at me. (He was pleading) I know maine tumhe bahut hurt kiya hai. Itna ki I don't even deserve to be in front of you. I'm so sorry Mukti. Please meri taraf dekho.

He couldn't bear her indifference. Even though he knew he deserved it and that he was the reason behind her state, it was killing him. He pulled her close to his chest and wrapped his hands tightly around her shoulders. She rested her head on his shoulder but did not hug him back. Her hands remained on her sides. His heart pinched when she didn't put her arms around him but he would give her all the time in the world if that is what she needed. They sat there. Tears were streaming down his face too. But his tears were more of the comfort he felt, having her in his arms after so long. He had missed her. He had missed her terribly. And he wasn't aware how much until this moment. They let the months of pain, longing and anguish flow through their eyes. He left her after a while. Abhimanyu wiped Mukti's tears and made her stand on her feet. Mukti cupped Abhimanyu's face and wiped his tears too. 

Abhimanyu : Mukti, I'm..

Before he could complete, she kept a finger on his lips while still cupping his cheek with the other hand. 

Mukti : Shhh.. I know why you did what you did. It's okay. Yes, I am angry but for a fact, I love you. And seeing you here, in front of me alive, is enough for me to forgive you. 

Abhimanyu didn't have words. His eyes had widened in confusion. She forgave him, just like that? Without him even trying to win her over? 

His chain of thoughts was interrupted by Mukti.

Mukti : You must be thinking how I forgave you so easily, right?

He nodded his head.

Mukti : I've seen Nandini do something similar to what you did. And I know how much strength it takes to do something like that. Manik se rudely baat karne ke baad maine usse bathroom mei rote hue suna tha. Aisa lag raha tha ki jitna woh Manik ko hurt kar rahi thi ya karna chahti thi, usse bahut jyada woh khud hurt ho rahi thi. Woh Manik ka dil toh tod rahi thi rahi thi lekin saath saath khud bhi andar se tut rahi thi. I get it Abhimanyu. Shayad agar mei tumhari jagah hoti toh yeh hi karti.

Abhimanyu had the biggest smile on his face. Not knowing what to say, he hugged her. And this time, Mukti reciprocated with equar fervour. 

Abhimanyu : I love you too. And I'm so so so sorry for everything. And I promise, I promise I will never ever leave you again. 

He kissed Mukti's hair and she smiled at this. After breaking the hug, he cupped her face.

Abhimanyu : Tumhari koi galti nahi thi Mukti. Mei bas tumhe move on nahi karne ka koi reason nahi dena chahta tha. Mujhe nahi pata tha ki mei zinda rahunga ya nahi. 

A pained expression crossed Mukti's features.

Mukti : Abhimanyu, mei..

But he kept a hand on her mouth.

Abhimanyu : Nahi Mukti. Please mujhe bolne do. Tum yeh explanation deserve karti ho. And you deserve everything that I had snaffled away from you. And I will try my best to make up for all the lost time. I was the weak one, Mukti. Mujhe darr tha ki agar tum mere saath hoti toh mei marna nahi chahta. Agar tum mere saath hoti toh mei marna regret karta. I don't know if that's possible but you understand right? 

Mukti nodded with tears in her eyes.

Abhimanyu : Aur agar, God forbid, mujhe kuch ho jaata toh I didn't want you to cry for me because I wouldn't have been there to wipe your tears. Aur maine letter isliye likha tha kyunki mujh mei tumhare saamne aane ki himmat nahin thi. Agar mei tumhare saamne aata toh tumhe chodkar nahi jaa paata. Because I know you would have stopped me from leaving. I know mei sirf apne baare mei soch raha tha. Aur mujhe aisa nahi karna chahiye tha. Tum toh sirf mujhse pyaar karti thi aur maine tumhe…

Abhimanyu closed his eyes in pain but composed himself before continuing.

Abhimanyu : I know I have hurt you a lot and I'm sorry for it. I truly am. Lekin aisa ek bhi din nahi tha jab maine tumhe miss nahi kia. Aur kuch din toh aise hote the ki bina tumhari aawaz sune mujhse raha hi nahi jaata tha. Isliye mei tumhe call kar deta tha.

Mukti's eyes widened in surprise. She removed Abhimnayu's hand that was covering her face. 

Mukti : You did what? 

Abhimanyu scratched the back of his neck and blushed. A small smile tagged along his lips.

Abhimanyu : Tumhe jo unknown numbers se call aate the, jispar koi baat nahi karta tha, woh mei hi tha.

(A. N. - Refer to chapter 9 in case y'all don't remember 🙈)

Mukti gaped at him. 

Mukti : What? Tumne kabhi baat kyu nahi ki? 

She put her hands on her hips in mock anger. When she didn't get a reply, she rolled her eyes.

Mukti : I hate you Abhimanyu.

Abhimanyu laughed heartily. Mukti couldn't hold back her smile either. She playfully hit him on the shoulder. Abhimanyu pulled her in for a hug. He kept his chin on her head and closed his eyes in solace. They stayed in that position for a bit before Abhimanyu spoke. 

Abhimanyu : Mukti? 

Mukti : Hmm..

Abhimanyu : Tumne jo andar Manik se kaha woh sahi nahi tha.

Mukti got out of his embrace abruptly. Abhimnayu didn't like it but it was important for Mukti to understand that she was wrong. She shouldn't have talked to Manik that way, especially when it wasn't even his fault. When he was already battling with his own set of emotions. 

Abhimanyu : Woh toh chahta tha ki mei uske saath andar aau aur tum sab se milu. Lekin maine hi usse mana kia tha kyunki maine tumhare liye ek surprise plan kia tha. Aur woh surprise kal raat ko ready nahi tha. Woh tumhe mere baare mei batana chahta tha lekin maine usse mana kia tha. Isliye usne kisiko kuch nahi bataya. Uski koi galti nahi thi Mukti. 

Her hands flew to her mouth at his confession and tears filled her eyes as she realized what she had done. How had she become so cruel to the person who needed reassurance the most? Yesterday night when she needed someone to put her worries to rest, Manik had been her anchor. And today, she repaid his empathy with asperity? How could she have done this to her best friend? She broke his heart even though he had been the one to save hers from breaking just yesterday.

Mukti's tearful eyes met Abhimnayu's concerned ones. A teardrop rolled down the corner of her eye. Abhimanyu was quick to wipe it off. He shook his head indicating her to not cry.

Abhimanyu : I know tumne galti ki hai lekin agar tum sorry bologi toh Manik tumhe maaf kar dega. And he needs you Mukti. I don't know how long he will be able to hold himself together before he breaks down again. You have to be strong. And make him too.

Abhimanyu tenderly explained and Mukti listened attentively. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Determination shone in her eyes when she opened them. She held Abhimnayu's hand and they both headed to the waiting room. When they reached the entrance, they heard Dr. Arohi say something that snachted the earth from beneath their feet. 

Dr. Arohi : I'm sorry Manik. But I think y'all should prepare yourselves for the worst. 

She tapped Manik's shoulder pityingly and left from there.