The sun was beginning to cast its golden glow over the towering buildings of the city as Mahir Sehgal walked briskly into the conference room of Sehgal Industries. The room was buzzing with activity; the staff was busy setting up the projector, arranging files, and preparing refreshments for the important meeting. Mahir checked his watch, ensuring everything was on schedule. He knew today was crucial-the final presentation of the collaboration project that had taken months of effort and negotiation. As the CEO, it was his responsibility to ensure everything went smoothly.

Bela entered the room shortly after, her sharp eyes scanning the setup. She gave Mahir a reassuring nod. "Everything looks good," she said, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Manik is going to nail this."

Mahir smiled, though his eyes held a hint of concern. "I hope so. He's been working hard on this, and it shows. But..." he trailed off, his gaze shifting towards the entrance as Vishakha walked in, her expression steely. As a key board member and an important figure in the company, her presence was crucial today.

Vishakha greeted them both, her voice calm but with a slight edge. "Are the sponsors here yet?"

"Not yet," Mahir replied, glancing towards the door. "They should be here any moment. We just need to stay focused."

Vishakha nodded, her expression unwavering. "I'm here for the presentation, nothing else," she stated as if steeling herself against the potential storm that was brewing beneath the surface.

Mahir exchanged a look with Bela, both understanding the tension that hung in the air. Before they could say anything more, the doors swung open, and Raj Malhotra entered, followed closely by Manik, who looked composed and determined. Behind them trailed Vikrant, his presence immediately shifted the atmosphere in the room.

Mahir's jaw tightened at the sight of Vikrant, and Bela's eyes narrowed. Vishakha stiffened, her expression darkening as she glanced at Vikrant, memories of their tumultuous past flooding back. But before anyone could address the obvious discomfort, the doors opened once again, and the sponsors walked in, exuding an air of authority that demanded attention.

"Good morning, everyone," the lead sponsor greeted, his tone brisk and businesslike. "I trust we're ready to begin?"

Mahir quickly stepped forward, his professional demeanor snapping into place. "Yes, of course. We're excited to show you the final presentation of our collaboration. Manik Malhotra will be leading it."

Bela leaned slightly towards Vishakha, her voice low and supportive. "Just a few hours, Vishakha. Stay strong. We're all in this together."

Vishakha nodded, her eyes momentarily meeting Bela's. She took a deep breath, grounding herself. "Let's get through this."

The conference room settled into a focused quiet as everyone took their seats. Manik stood confidently at the head of the table, his laptop connected to the projector. As the slides began to appear on the screen, the room filled with an air of anticipation. Manik launched into the presentation, his voice clear and persuasive. He walked them through the detailed plans, the projections, the anticipated growth, and the innovative strategies they had employed to ensure the success of the project.

Throughout the presentation, Mahir watched with pride, his earlier worries fading with each slide. Bela, too, found herself impressed, her gaze shifting between the sponsors' approving nods and Manik's assured delivery. Even Vishakha, who had come prepared to simply endure the meeting, couldn't help but be captivated by Manik's confidence and the clear effort he had poured into the project.

As Manik concluded the presentation, the sponsors began to ask questions, probing into the finer details of the plan. Each time, Manik answered with precision, displaying not only his deep understanding of the project but also his capability to think on his feet. His responses were met with nods of approval and murmurs of satisfaction.

"Excellent presentation, Mr. Malhotra," the lead sponsor finally said, standing up and extending his hand to Manik. "You've clearly done your homework, and we're impressed with the direction this project is heading."

"Thank you," Manik replied, shaking the sponsor's hand firmly. "We're committed to making this a success, and we look forward to your continued support."

As the sponsors congratulated the team, Mahir stepped forward, his face alight with pride. "We'd like to invite you all to a success party in two days to celebrate this milestone."

The sponsors agreed with smiles, and after a few more pleasantries, they departed, leaving the conference room buzzing with the energy of a job well done. As the door closed behind them, the atmosphere in the room shifted once more. The tension that had been momentarily set aside resurfaced as Vikrant's eyes fell on Vishakha.

"Well, that went smoothly," Vikrant commented, a sly smirk playing on his lips. "Almost makes one forget the past, doesn't it?"

Vishakha stiffened, her eyes narrowing as she met Vikrant's gaze. "Don't start, Vikrant. Not here, not now."

Vikrant's smirk widened, his tone turning mocking. "Why not? It's just us now. No need to put on the professional act, right?"

Mahir, sensing the tension escalating, stepped between them. "Vikrant, that's enough. This is neither the time nor the place for this."

Vikrant ignored Mahir, his eyes fixed on Vishakha. "You always were good at putting on a show, weren't you? Acting like you're the victim when you were the one-"

"Stop it!" Vishakha snapped, her voice breaking slightly with the effort to control her emotions. "You don't know anything about what happened."

"Don't I?" Vikrant shot back, his voice dripping with bitterness.

Vishakha's face flushed with anger, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You think you're blameless? Do you think you were the perfect one? You have no right to come here and point fingers!"

Mahir moved closer to Vishakha, his voice firm yet gentle. "Vishakha, don't let him get to you. He's not worth it."

Bela, who had been watching the exchange with growing concern, spoke up, her voice sharp. "Vikrant, that's enough. We're here to work, not to rehash old arguments. If you can't keep things professional, then you should leave."

Vikrant's gaze flicked to Bela, his expression hardening. "So you're all going to gang up on me now? Defend her no matter what? Typical. You always took her side, no matter how wrong she was."

Bela stepped forward, her voice steady and unyielding. "We're not taking sides, Vikrant. We're trying to move forward, something you have a problem with. If you can't be part of the solution, then maybe you should reconsider your place here."

Vikrant's face darkened, and he opened his mouth to retort, but Mahir cut him off, his voice firm. "That's enough from everyone. This isn't the time to air personal grievances. We have a company to run, and today was about the success of this project, nothing else."

Vishakha, her composure fraying, turned to Mahir, her voice tight with barely restrained emotion. "I'm going with Bela. I don't need to stay here and listen to this."

Mahir nodded, his expression softening as he gestured for Bela to accompany Vishakha. "Go. We'll handle things here."

As Vishakha and Bela left the room, Vikrant watched them go, a flicker of something unreadable passing over his face. Raj and Manik, who had been silent observers of the unfolding drama, exchanged a look of confusion and concern.

Manik glanced towards the door where Vishakha and Bela had disappeared, a sense of unease settling in his chest. Whatever had happened between Vishakha and Vikrant, it was clear that the wounds were still fresh, and today had only scratched the surface.

As the meeting room emptied, Mahir ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. "This isn't over," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "We need to keep things professional, no matter what."

Raj placed a reassuring hand on Mahir's shoulder. "We will. Let's just get through the next few days, focus on the success of this collaboration, and take things one step at a time."

Mahir nodded, though his thoughts were far from settled. As he watched the doors close behind the last of his team, he couldn't help but wonder if the past would ever truly stay buried, or if it would continue to haunt them all. For now, he pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. There was still work to be done, and despite the personal conflicts, the project's success remained the priority.

Manik returned home, his heart still pounding with the adrenaline of the successful presentation. As soon as he entered his room, he loosened his tie and tossed his jacket on the bed. But there was no time to relax; the first thing he needed was to hear Nandini's voice. Without a second thought, he grabbed his phone and dialed her number, pacing the length of his room while it rang.

Nandini, who had just settled into bed, saw Manik's name flash on her screen. She picked up immediately, her voice soft and warm. "Hey, Manik! How did the presentation go? I've been waiting to hear from you."

Manik's face lit up at her familiar voice. "Nandini, it went better than I could have ever imagined! The sponsors were impressed-like, really impressed. They were nodding along the entire time, and when it ended, they congratulated us. They even called it one of the best pitches they've seen in years!"

Nandini smiled, her heart swelling with pride. "Oh my god, Manik! That's amazing! I knew you'd do great. You always put your heart into everything you do. I'm so proud of you!"

Her words washed over him like a comforting wave, easing the tension he hadn't even realized was still there. "I couldn't have done it without your support, Nandini. You're the reason I keep pushing myself. Every time I thought I might mess up, I just thought about you and how you always believe in me."

Nandini giggled softly, her voice playful yet sincere. "Well, of course, I do. You're Manik Malhotra, after all. Nothing is impossible for you when you put your mind to it. I knew you'd knock it out of the park!"

Manik leaned against the wall, his smile widening. "I wish you could have been there. You would've loved seeing the looks on their faces."

"I'm there with you in spirit," Nandini replied, her tone gentle. "Always."

There was a brief pause as Manik's thoughts shifted. He hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should bring it up, but the nagging question wouldn't leave him alone. "Nandini," he began, his voice softening, "can I ask you something? It's about Vikrant uncle."

Nandini's smile faltered slightly, her brows knitting together in confusion. "What about him?"

Manik took a deep breath, his tone careful. "Today, after the meeting, there was this... argument between your mom and Vikrant uncle. It seemed pretty intense, and I couldn't help but wonder... Do you know why they separated? What really happened between them?"

Nandini sighed, leaning back against her pillows. "I don't know the whole story, Manik. Mumma told me that he left her when she needed him the most. She never went into the details, but I know something really bad must have happened. She was heartbroken, and when she talks about him, it's like there's this deep pain she's carrying."

Manik listened intently, his heart aching for her. "That must've been hard for you."

Nandini nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "Yeah, it was. For years, I used to ask about him, wondering if he'd ever come back. But mom always told me to stay away, not to go near him or call him 'dad.' She said he didn't deserve to be in our lives. And now that he's here, he hasn't even tried to talk to me. It's like... I don't exist to him. Don't I deserve his love too, Manik?"

Her voice cracked on the last words, and Manik's heart twisted painfully. He could hear the hurt and confusion she was trying so hard to keep hidden. "Nandini," he said softly, "you deserve all the love in the world. None of this is your fault. Sometimes, adults make choices that hurt the people they care about the most, and it's not because of anything you did or didn't do."

Nandini's eyes welled up with tears, her voice barely above a whisper. "But why, Manik? Why did he leave? And why doesn't he care now? It hurts to see him so close but feel like I'm nothing to him."

Manik closed his eyes, wishing he could reach through the phone and hold her. "I don't know why he made the choices he did, but I know one thing for sure: it's not because of you. You're amazing, Nandini. Anyone would be lucky to have you in their life. If he can't see that, then that's his loss, not yours."

Nandini sniffled softly, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I just wish things were different. I wish I knew what went wrong."

"I know, Nandini. And maybe someday, you'll get those answers. But for now, you have people who love you. You're not alone in this."

She nodded, finding comfort in his words. "Thank you, Manik. I'm glad I have you."

Manik's voice softened, filled with sincerity. "You'll always have me, Nandini. No matter what happens, I'm here for you. And if you ever need to talk or just need someone to listen, I'm just a call away."

Nandini managed a small smile, the warmth of his words wrapping around her like a gentle embrace. "I know. And I'm here for you too, Manik. Always."

There was a comfortable silence between them, the kind that only comes from a deep understanding of each other's pain and love.

Manik finally broke the silence, his voice playful to lighten the mood. "So, about that success party... Should I bring my best suit, or do you think showing up in pajamas would make a good impression?"

Nandini laughed, the sound lightening the heavy air. "Oh, definitely pajamas! We'll show them how the real bosses do it-comfort over style."

Manik chuckled, feeling the tension ease from his shoulders. "Deal. I'll save the suit for the award ceremonies when we're celebrating our next big win."

Nandini's smile was wide now, the lightness returning to her voice. "I can't wait for that. We're going to conquer the world, Manik."

"Together," Manik agreed, his voice filled with conviction. "Always together."

They stayed on the phone a little while longer, sharing stories, laughter, and gentle reassurances, until the late hour finally caught up with them.

"Alright, you should get some sleep," Manik finally said, his voice tinged with a reluctant goodbye.

Nandini laughed softly. "I will. And you take care too, okay?

"Yeah," Manik agreed, feeling a renewed sense of calm. "Thanks, Nandini. For everything."

"Goodnight, Manik," she whispered, her voice soft and comforting.

"Goodnight, Nandini," he replied, lingering on the line for just a moment longer, not wanting to let go of the warmth her voice brought him.

As they hung up, both felt a little lighter, a little stronger, knowing they had each other to lean on no matter what challenges lay ahead. And as Manik set his phone down, a determined smile crossed his face. With Nandini by his side, there was nothing he couldn't face.
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Hope u all like the chapter.....

Few words for Manik....

Few words for Nandini....

What were your favourite moments???

Will Nandini gets to know about her identity???

Thank u 🙂🙂

Love,
Kiara ❤️❤️