The car pulled up to Paradise Point, and Cabir, Alya, Dhruv, Mukti, and Abhimanyu stepped out, the tension of their earlier encounter still weighing heavily on their minds. As they walked up the steps, they could hear the faint sound of footsteps echoing from inside, a sign that Manik was already pacing restlessly.

When they entered the living room, the scene that greeted them was one of agitation. Manik was indeed pacing back and forth, his face a picture of anxiety and frustration. Raj and Neyonika were seated on the couch, their expressions a mix of concern and helplessness as they watched their son’s restless movements.

As soon as Manik noticed his friends enter, he rushed over to them, barely giving them a chance to step inside. His eyes were wide with worry, and he began firing off questions in rapid succession, barely pausing for breath.

“How is she? Did you see her? What did she say? Is she okay? Did she ask about me? What did her mom say? Did you—”

Raj raised a hand, his voice gentle but firm. “Manik, calm down. Let them sit first.”

Manik stopped mid-sentence, his chest heaving with the force of his emotions. He nodded, though it was clear that sitting still was the last thing he wanted to do. He watched with an almost feverish intensity as his friends took their seats, and the moment they were settled, he launched back into his barrage of questions.

“Please, tell me everything,” Manik urged, his voice strained. “How is Nandini? What did she say? Did she look okay? Did she say anything about me?”

The Fab 5 and Abhimanyu exchanged glances, each one silently deciding who would start. It was Cabir who finally spoke, his voice calm and measured. “Manik, we saw Nandini. She’s… she’s not doing too well.”

Manik’s face fell, a mixture of fear and guilt flashing across his features. “What do you mean? What’s wrong?”

Alya leaned forward, her expression softening with concern. “She’s just really tired, Manik. She’s been through a lot, and it’s all taking a toll on her.”

Dhruv added, “She’s not eating properly, she’s not sleeping… She’s just really out of it.”

Manik ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. “I should have been there with her. I should have—” He stopped, his voice breaking slightly. “Did she ask about me?”

Mukti nodded. “Yeah, she did. She wanted to know why you didn’t come with us.”

Manik’s heart sank. He could imagine how she must have felt, waiting for him, only to be told that he wasn’t there. “I hate this,” he muttered, his voice laced with anger and frustration. “I hate not being able to be there for her.”

Abhimanyu, who had been quiet, finally spoke up. “Manik, we all hate this. But we had to make a choice. Vishakha Aunty is still really upset, and we didn’t want to make things worse.”

Manik shook his head, his jaw clenched tightly. “I can’t stand this. I can’t stand being kept away from her.”

Raj, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. “Manik, we understand how you feel. But sometimes, patience is necessary. You have to trust that things will work out.”

Manik looked at his father, his eyes filled with a mix of desperation and helplessness. “But what if they don’t? What if I never get to see her again?”

Neyonika, who had been silent, reached out and placed a comforting hand on Manik’s arm. “Manik, you have to stay strong. Nandini needs you to be strong. If you fall apart now, what will she do?”

Her words seemed to hit him hard, and he swallowed, trying to keep his emotions in check. “I just don’t know what to do,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I feel so… helpless.”

Cabir leaned forward, his tone reassuring. “We’re not giving up, Manik. We’re going to keep trying to talk to Vishakha Aunty. We’ll make her see how much you and Nandini mean to each other.”

Alya nodded in agreement. “We’re all in this together. We won’t stop until she understands.”

Manik looked at his friends, his eyes filled with gratitude but also a deep, lingering fear. “Thank you,” he said softly. “I just… I just don’t know how much more of this I can take.”

Dhruv reached over and squeezed his shoulder. “You’re not alone, Manik. We’re here with you, every step of the way.”

Manik nodded, though the weight of everything still pressed heavily on him. “I just wish I could see her,” he murmured, almost to himself. “I just need to know she’s okay.”

Abhimanyu leaned back, his expression thoughtful. “Maybe we can find a way for you to see her. Something discreet, something that won’t cause more trouble.”

Manik looked at him, a flicker of hope in his eyes. “Do you really think that’s possible?”

“It’s worth a shot,” Mukti said, her voice determined. “We’ll figure something out. We just need to be careful.”

Raj, who had been watching the conversation, nodded in agreement. “Whatever you decide, we’ll support you. Just make sure it doesn’t make things worse.”

Manik took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. The thought of seeing Nandini again, even if just for a moment, was enough to give him the strength to keep going. “Okay,” he said finally. “Let’s figure something out.”

The group exchanged determined looks, and the bond between them was stronger than ever. They knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but they were ready to face whatever challenges came their way. For Nandini and Manik, they would do whatever it took.

As the conversation continued, the tension in the room began to ease slightly, replaced by a sense of solidarity and purpose. They were in this together, and no matter what happened, they would find a way to make things right.

Over the next two days, the atmosphere at both Paradise Point and Nandini’s home grew increasingly tense. Manik was a bundle of restless energy, pacing the length of his room, eyes red from lack of sleep. Raj and Neyonika tried to offer comfort, but nothing seemed to ease his anxiety. At Nandini’s house, the situation was no better. She was confined to her room, her phone confiscated by Vishakha, who was determined to keep her away from Manik.

Manik stood by the window, his phone clutched tightly in his hand. His eyes were fixed on the horizon, where the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the room. He hadn’t slept properly in days, and it showed. His hair was disheveled, his clothes crumpled, and there was a wild look in his eyes.

“Manik, please sit down,” Neyonika said gently, her voice tinged with worry.

“I can’t, Mom. I just can’t,” Manik replied, his voice strained. “She’s out there, alone, and I can’t even reach her.”

Raj sighed and exchanged a look with Neyonika. They had tried everything—reasoning with him, distracting him, but nothing worked. Manik was consumed by his worry for Nandini.

“She’s trying to stay strong,” Dhruv added, his voice calm and reassuring. “But Vishakha Aunty is being really strict with her.”

“Strict?” Manik’s voice rose. “She’s practically imprisoning her! This isn’t right. I need to see her. I need to be there for her.”

“Bhai, we know you’re frustrated,” Mukti said softly. “But we’re trying our best to talk to her mother and make her understand. Just... give it a little more time.”

Manik shook his head, pacing again. “I can’t just sit here and do nothing.”

Abhimanyu, who had been quiet, finally spoke up. “Manik, we’re all worried about Nandini. But rushing in there could make things worse. We need to be smart about this.”

Manik stopped and turned to face them, his eyes filled with a mix of desperation and determination. “I’m not going to lose her. Not like this.”

“We’re with you, Manik,” Cabir assured him. “We’ll figure this out.”

Nandini sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the closed door of her room. Her phone was gone, locked away by her mother, and the walls of her room felt like they were closing in on her. She hadn’t left her room in two days, and the weight of the situation was pressing down on her.

There was a knock on the door, and before she could respond, it opened to reveal Vishakha. She entered with a stern expression, a tray of food in her hands.

“You need to eat,” Vishakha said, placing the tray on the bedside table.

“I’m not hungry,” Nandini replied, her voice flat.

“Nandini, this isn’t a debate,” Vishakha said firmly. “You will eat, and you will stay in this room until I know you’ve come to your senses.”

Nandini’s eyes flashed with anger. “Come to my senses? Mom, I love him! You can’t just keep me locked up like this!”

“I’m doing this for your own good,” Vishakha snapped back. “You’re young, and you’re blinded by love. I won’t let you ruin your life for someone who—”

“Who what?” Nandini interrupted, standing up. “Who loves me? Who’s been by my side for years? This isn’t some fling, Mom. This is real.”

Vishakha’s face softened for a moment, but she quickly hardened her resolve. “You’re too young to understand. Love isn’t enough, Nandini. Life is complicated, and you don’t see the bigger picture.”

“And what’s the bigger picture, Mom?” Nandini demanded. “That I should just marry whoever you choose for me? That I should forget about my own happiness?”

“I’m trying to protect you,” Vishakha said quietly, her voice laced with emotion. “I’ve seen what love can do. It’s painful, and it doesn’t last.”

Nandini shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. “You’re wrong, Mom. What Manik and I have is special. It’s real, and it’s worth fighting for.”

Vishakha looked at her daughter, torn between her own fears and Nandini’s pain. But she couldn’t relent, not when she believed she was doing the right thing.

“You’re staying here until you understand,” Vishakha said, turning to leave.

As the door closed behind her, Nandini sank back onto her bed, tears streaming down her face. Navya, who had been waiting outside, quietly entered the room and sat beside her.

“Nandu,” Navya whispered, wrapping her arms around her friend. “It’s going to be okay.”

Nandini shook her head, burying her face in Navya’s shoulder. “I just want to see him. I just want to know he’s okay.”

Navya held her tighter, wishing she could do more to ease her friend’s pain. But for now, all she could offer was her presence and her support.

The days dragged on, filled with a painful silence that was only broken by Nandini’s quiet sobs and Manik’s restless pacing. Both of them were trapped in a storm of emotions, each struggling to find a way back to the other.

The atmosphere at Sehgal Industries was tense yet buzzing with activity. Manik, Raj, and Neyonika walked through the glass doors, their footsteps echoing in the spacious, modern lobby. Manik’s mind, however, was elsewhere, trapped in a loop of thoughts about Nandini. He had agreed to accompany his parents because he knew he couldn’t ignore work forever, and he desperately needed a distraction from the turmoil consuming him.

As they entered the conference room, Mahir Sehgal greeted them with a polite nod. The discussion about the ongoing deal began, but Manik struggled to focus. He stared blankly at the documents before him, his mind drifting back to Nandini—her smile, her voice, the warmth of her hand in his.

“Manik,” Raj’s voice cut through his thoughts, returning him to the present. “What do you think about this clause?”

Manik blinked, trying to pull himself together. He glanced at the document and gave a terse nod. “It looks fine,” he replied, though he hadn’t processed what was written.

Raj and Neyonika exchanged a worried glance. They could see that Manik was not himself, and they tried to subtly guide him through the meeting. But Mahir, who had been observing Manik closely, noticed the tension and the aggressive way Manik was handling the work. There was a storm brewing inside him, and it was evident in the way he spoke, in the sharpness of his words, and in the restless energy that radiated off him.

As the meeting drew to a close, Mahir stood up and gestured toward the door. “Manik, could you come with me for a moment? There’s something I’d like to discuss.”

Manik hesitated, glancing at his parents, but they nodded encouragingly. “Go ahead,” Raj said. “We’ll finish up here.”

Manik followed Mahir out of the room and into a quiet hallway. They walked in silence until they reached the terrace of the building. The view of the bustling city stretched out before them, but Manik was hardly aware of it. His thoughts were still consumed by Nandini.

Mahir leaned against the railing, watching Manik carefully. After a few moments of silence, he finally spoke. “Manik, I know we don’t know each other that well,” he began, his tone calm and measured, “but Nandini is like a daughter to me. I’ve treated her and Navya equally from the day they entered my life.”

Manik’s gaze shifted to Mahir, curiosity and a touch of skepticism in his eyes. “You’re not angry with us? You’re not against our relationship?” he asked, his voice tinged with a mix of hope and disbelief.

Mahir shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. “I was shocked, yes. And maybe a little hurt that you both felt the need to hide it for so long. But angry? No, Manik. I’m not angry. I understand why you kept it a secret, but perhaps you kept it hidden for too long. You could have told us earlier—at least those of us who care about you.”

Manik let out a sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “We were afraid... afraid of how everyone would react, especially her mom. We didn’t want to cause more problems.”

Mahir nodded, understanding the weight of the situation. “I’ve had a love marriage myself, Manik. I know that love isn’t wrong. It’s something precious, something to be fought for. And I’ve seen how much Nandini loves you. Seeing you like this, I can tell that you love her just as much.”

Manik looked down, his hands gripping the railing tightly. “She means everything to me, Sir. I can’t imagine my life without her. And knowing that she’s suffering because of me, because of this situation... it’s tearing me apart.”

Mahir placed a comforting hand on Manik’s shoulder. “I know it’s difficult. But you need to be calm and patient. This isn’t easy for any of us, especially for Nandini. Vishakha has her reasons, and while I don’t agree with how she’s handling things, I understand her concerns.”

Manik turned to Mahir, desperation in his eyes. “Why does she hate me so much? Why doesn’t she believe in love? What is it about me, about us, that she can’t accept?”

Mahir sighed deeply, the weight of unspoken truths heavy on his shoulders. “It’s not my place to say, Manik. Some things are better left unsaid, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. But trust me, it’s not about you. Vishakha’s fears run deep, and they come from a place of love, even if it doesn’t seem that way.”

Manik felt a pang of frustration, but he knew Mahir was right. “I just want to be there for her, to protect her. But I feel so helpless.”

Mahir gave him a reassuring smile. “You’re not alone in this, Manik. We’re all here to support you, and to support Nandini. But you have to stay strong—for her sake and your own.”

Manik nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. “Thank you, Sir. It means a lot to me that you’re supporting us.”

Mahir pulled him into a warm, reassuring hug. “We’ll get through this, Manik. Just be patient and trust that things will work out.”

As they stood there on the terrace, the noise of the city below them, Manik felt a small spark of hope rekindling in his heart. He wasn’t alone in this fight, and knowing that gave him the strength to keep going, to keep fighting for the love that meant everything to him.
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Hope u all like the chapter.....

Few words for Manik....

Few words for Nandini....

What were your favourite moments???

Thank u 🙂🙂

Love,
Kiara ❤️❤️