The Malhotra family sat together for dinner, the soft clinking of cutlery and the gentle hum of conversation filling the air. Raj and Neyonika were discussing the day’s events with Mukti and Alya, who chimed in with their thoughts, creating a warm and lively atmosphere.

Manik, however, was only half-listening, his thoughts drifting to Nandini. He hadn’t heard from her since their last conversation, and a small part of him was worried, though he tried to shake it off.

Just as he was about to take a bite of his food, his phone buzzed on the table. The name on the screen made his heart skip a beat: MOONSHINE.

Nandini.

He quickly picked up the phone and answered, “Hello?”

Silence.

He frowned, checking the screen to make sure the call hadn’t dropped. But it was still connected.

“Hello?” he repeated, his voice laced with concern.

Across the table, Raj, Neyonika, Mukti, and Alya noticed his sudden shift in demeanor.

Mukti raised an eyebrow, nudging Alya, who whispered, “Who is it?”

Manik glanced at them, trying to keep his voice calm. “It’s work,” he lied, standing up from the table. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

He hurriedly left the dining room, heading straight for his bedroom where he could have some privacy. Once inside, he closed the door behind him and brought the phone back to his ear.

“Nandini, are you there?” he asked, his voice more urgent now.

On the other end, there was still silence, but then he heard it—a small, choked sob. Manik’s heart dropped. “Nandini? What happened? Why are you crying? Did someone say something? Are you hurt? Please, say something!”

Her silence was killing him. He felt a wave of panic wash over him, feeling helpless miles away from her.

His voice softened, turning into a gentle plea. “Moonshine, what happened, baby?”

At that, Nandini’s sobs turned into full-blown crying. She was crying hysterically, and Manik could feel his heart breaking with every sound.

“Manik, I can’t breathe,” she managed to get out between sobs. “It’s too much. I need you. Please, take me away. Please.”

Manik’s worry turned into full-blown panic. He tried to calm himself, knowing he needed to be strong for her. “I’m here, Nandini. Just breathe with me, okay? Inhale… exhale… that’s it, keep breathing with me. Now, tell me what happened.”

It took a few moments, but Nandini’s sobs slowly subsided enough for her to speak. “Manik… Mumma… Mumma called a family… they’re coming tomorrow…”

Manik’s mind raced. “Okay, so what does that have to do with us?”

Nandini’s voice trembled. “They’re coming to see me.”

Manik said still not getting the meaning behind her words. “Are you a museum Nandini that they are coming to see you.” 

Nandini said closing her eyes in pain. “For marriage.”

Manik’s world seemed to tilt, his feet rooted to the floor as he tried to process her words. “You’re joking, right?”

“I’m not joking, Manik,” Nandini replied, her voice filled with despair. “They’re coming tomorrow. Please, take me away from here. Mumma will never accept our relationship. Let’s just run away. Please, Manik, please.”

The desperation in her voice made Manik’s chest tighten. He wanted nothing more than to go to her, to take her away from all this pain. But he knew running away wasn’t the solution. He was torn, feeling helpless and frustrated that he couldn’t make everything right at that moment.

“Nandini, listen to me,” he said softly but firmly, trying to steady his own emotions. “I know it feels like the walls are closing in, but running away isn’t the answer. If it was, we would’ve done that a long time ago.”

“But I can’t do this, Manik,” Nandini cried. “I can’t meet them. I’m not ready. I don’t want to marry anyone else. I want to be with you.”

“And you will be with me,” Manik assured her, though his own heart was heavy with uncertainty. “You’re going to meet this guy, okay? Just meet him. After that, we’ll figure out what to do. We’ll find a way.”

“You want me to meet a guy… for marriage?” Nandini’s voice cracked disbelief and hurt evident in her tone.

Manik closed his eyes, trying to find the right words. “I know it sounds crazy, Nandini. It’s killing me too, but this is the only option right now. Just meet him, and then ask for some time to think about it. We’ll use that time to figure out our next step.”

There was a long pause on the other end, and Manik could almost hear her thinking it over. Finally, she spoke, her voice fragile but resigned. “Okay.”

Manik felt a pang in his chest, hating that this was the best they could do right now. “Do you love me?” he asked quietly.

“The most,” Nandini whispered back.

“Do you trust me?”

“More than myself.”

A tear slipped from Manik’s eye, and he quickly wiped it away, swallowing the lump in his throat. “We’ll get through this, Moonshine. I promise.”

“I love you, Manik,” she said, her voice filled with a mix of love and sorrow.

“I love you too, Nandini,” Manik replied, his heart aching.

They both lingered on the line for a few more moments, neither wanting to hang up, but knowing they had to. Finally, they both said a quiet goodbye, the call ending with a heavy silence that seemed to settle over both of them.

Manik sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the phone in his hand, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on him. He knew they were facing an uphill battle, but he also knew that he wasn’t going to give up. Not on Nandini. Not on their love.

After the call ended, Manik remained seated on the edge of his bed, his phone still clutched tightly in his hand. His mind was racing, thoughts colliding with each other as he tried to grasp the gravity of the situation.

He had always been the one in control, the one who could handle anything life threw his way, but now, for the first time in his life, he felt utterly helpless.

Nandini was his everything. She was the light that had brightened his world, the person who had shown him what love truly meant. And now, the thought of losing her to someone else, of seeing her marry another man, was unbearable.

He stood up abruptly, running a hand through his hair in frustration. The walls of his room seemed to close in around him, and he felt suffocated by the weight of the situation. His heart was aching, a deep, gnawing pain that he didn’t know how to ease.

He began pacing the room, trying to think of a solution, anything that could prevent this from happening. But every idea that came to him seemed futile.

How could he convince Vishakha to accept their relationship? How could he make Nandini’s mother see that their love was real, that they belonged together?

The frustration built up inside him, a storm of emotions that he couldn’t control. He slammed his fist into the wall, the impact reverberating through his body, but it did nothing to ease the turmoil within him.

He had never felt this way before—so lost, so out of control. Nandini had brought out emotions in him that he didn’t even know existed, and now those same emotions were threatening to tear him apart.

He thought about calling her back, hearing her voice again, but he knew she needed time to herself. She was dealing with her own turmoil, and he didn’t want to add to her stress. But the thought of her sitting alone in her room, scared and upset, made his heart ache even more.

Manik walked over to the window, looking out at the city lights that twinkled in the distance. The world outside seemed so calm, so indifferent to the storm raging inside him. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but his mind kept returning to Nandini.

He had never loved anyone the way he loved her. She was his moonshine, his anchor, the one person who had taught him what love is. The thought of losing her was unbearable, and it filled him with a sense of desperation that he didn’t know how to handle.

His phone buzzed again, and for a moment, his heart leapt, hoping it was Nandini. But when he saw it was just a message from work, he tossed the phone aside, unable to focus on anything else but her.

He leaned against the window, closing his eyes and trying to breathe through the pain. He knew he had to be strong, for her and for himself, but right now, all he felt was fear—fear of losing the person who meant the world to him.

The room felt too small, too confining, and he suddenly felt the urge to get out, to clear his mind. Grabbing his jacket, he left his room, quietly slipping out of the house. The cool night air hit him as he stepped outside, but it did little to calm the storm inside him.

Manik started walking, not knowing where he was going, just needing to move, to do something to distract himself from the overwhelming emotions. The streets were quiet, the city asleep, but his mind was wide awake, racing with thoughts of Nandini.

He knew he had to find a way to fix this, to make everything right again. But as the night wore on, the uncertainty of the future loomed over him, and for the first time in his life, he felt truly scared.

Scared of losing the love of his life. Scared of a future without her. Scared that no matter what he did, it might not be enough. And that fear, more than anything else, was what tore at his heart.

Nandini stood in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection as she splashed cold water on her face. The tears had dried up, but the ache in her heart remained.

She knew she had to pull herself together, to find strength within herself to face what was coming. Manik’s voice echoed in her mind, his reassurances and love giving her the courage she needed.

She took a deep breath, wiping her face with a towel. Manik is my everything, she thought. He’s always been there for me, and I have to be strong now—for him, for us.

She knew she had to face her family, to tell them she was ready to meet the guy Vishakha had chosen. It wasn’t something she wanted, but she didn’t see any other way.

As she walked out of her room, she saw them—her family—sitting in the living room. Vishakha, Bela, and Mahir were seated on the couch, their faces a mix of anticipation and concern. Navya sat beside them, her expression worried as she looked at Nandini.

Nandini approached them, trying to keep her emotions in check. She could feel all their eyes on her, especially Navya’s, who was still reeling from the bombshell Vishakha had dropped earlier.

Vishakha was the first to notice Nandini’s presence. She stood up, her face lighting up with hope and a bit of trepidation.

“Nandini,” she said softly, her voice laced with the weight of her own expectations.

Nandini took a deep breath, steeling herself. “I’m ready to meet the guy,” she said, her voice steady, betraying none of the turmoil she felt inside.

For a moment, there was silence. The words hung in the air, and then, almost instantly, Vishakha’s face broke into a smile, one of relief and joy. She stepped forward, cupping Nandini’s face in her hands and pressing a kiss to her forehead.

“I knew you’d understand,” she whispered. “I would never make a wrong decision for you, my love.”

Nandini forced a smile, her heart aching with the knowledge of how different their definitions of “right” were. Vishakha’s eyes shone with happiness, as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

Mahir and Bela stood up as well, moving to either side of Nandini. Mahir placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, his expression a mix of pride and relief.

“You’ve grown up so much, Nandini. I’m proud of you,” he said, his voice warm.

Bela, who had always been more like a friend than an aunt, pulled Nandini into a side hug.

“You know we just want what’s best for you,” she said softly, her words meant to comfort, but they only added to the heaviness in Nandini’s chest.

Nandini nodded, unable to find the right words. She knew they meant well, that they were doing what they thought was best, but they didn’t understand the depth of what she was feeling, the conflict that raged inside her.

Navya, however, did. She stood back, watching the scene unfold, her eyes wide with shock. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Nandini, her Nandini, who had always been so clear about her feelings, was agreeing to meet a guy for marriage? It didn’t make sense.

“Nandini…” Navya began, her voice tentative, as if she wasn’t sure how to approach this.

But Nandini turned to her, their eyes locking, and with a subtle glance, she communicated more than words could. We’ll talk later, her eyes said. And Navya, though still worried, nodded slightly, understanding that now wasn’t the time.

Vishakha, oblivious to the silent exchange, was too caught up in her own joy.

“This is a good family, Nandini,” she said, her tone full of conviction. “I know you’ll like them. And if you don’t… well, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. But I believe this is the right match for you.”

Nandini swallowed the lump in her throat, nodding again.

“I trust you, Mumma,” she said, and she meant it, though not in the way Vishakha might think.

She trusted her mother’s love, even if she didn’t agree with her decisions.

The tension in the room began to ease, the atmosphere shifting from serious to something more relaxed. Vishakha’s relief was palpable, and she smiled warmly at everyone, clearly pleased with the way things were unfolding.

“Let’s make sure everything is perfect for tomorrow,” Vishakha said, her tone more upbeat now. “Nandini, take the day off. We’ll get everything ready.”

Nandini nodded, but her mind was elsewhere. She was thinking about Manik, about the conversation they’d had, about the future that suddenly seemed so uncertain.

Mahir and Bela resumed their seats, their expressions still a little uncertain, but they didn’t say anything more. They knew this was Vishakha’s decision, and they respected her wishes.

Navya remained quiet, her thoughts racing as she tried to make sense of everything. She wanted to talk to Nandini, to understand what was really going on, but she knew she’d have to wait until they were alone.

Vishakha, on the other hand, was already making plans, her mind racing with details.

“Everything will be fine,” she assured everyone, though it was as much for herself as for them. “Nandini will be happy, I’m sure of it.”

Nandini nodded mechanically, her heart heavy with the weight of her decision. She could only hope that somehow, everything would turn out alright. But deep down, she knew that the road ahead was anything but easy.

In the quiet of her room, Navya guided Nandini to sit on the bed, her eyes filled with concern. “Nandini, what’s going on? You seemed so upset earlier.”

Nandini took a deep breath, her eyes welling up with unshed tears.

“I talked to him,” she started, avoiding mentioning Manik's name. She knew how much was at stake and that keeping things vague would protect them both for now. “He’s just as worried as I am. We don’t know what to do, Navya.”

Navya reached out, placing a comforting hand on Nandini’s shoulder. “I could see how much this is affecting you. But who is he? Why can’t you just tell amma?”

Nandini shook her head, her voice trembling as she spoke. “It’s complicated, Navya. Mumma… she’s already decided what’s best for me. She thinks she’s protecting me, but she doesn’t understand what we have.”

Nandini couldn’t hold back anymore. She leaned into Navya, her tears finally breaking free. “I feel so trapped. I don’t want to hurt her, but I can’t lose him either.”

Navya wrapped her arms around Nandini, holding her tightly as she cried. “It’s going to be okay. You’re strong, and you’ll find a way to make this work. You have to talk to her eventually, but for now, just breathe.”

Nandini clung to Navya, feeling the comfort of her friend’s embrace. “I just want everyone to be happy,” she whispered through her tears. “I wish it wasn’t so hard.”

Navya continued to hold her, stroking her hair soothingly. “We’ll figure it out, Nandini. You’re not alone in this. I’m here for you, and so is he. We’ll find a way to make it work, no matter what.”

Nandini nodded against her friend’s shoulder, her heart heavy but a little lighter knowing she had someone who understood, even if only a little bit. They sat like that for a while, Nandini’s tears eventually slowing as Navya’s calm presence helped to ease her pain.
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Hope u all like the chapter.....

Few words for Manik....

Few words for Nandini....

Few words for Vishakha....

What will Nandini and Manik do now???

What were your favourite moments???

Guys any suggestions you want to give for upcoming chapters like you want to see something???

Thank u 🙂🙂

Love,
Kiara ❤️❤️