Manik woke up with the worst hangover ever. His heart was beating like a drum and his brain was projecting immense pain.when manik turned towards the nightstand,he saw a glass of some hangover curing liquid lying there with a note .

The note reads as such.

"Mr Malhotra,you do understand you have a company to run and people to care about right? How could you afford to drink so much in a party and make such a mess ...you maynot care about your reputation but i do...okay now... please drink this you will feel better and as soon as you do please get dressed..your dress is lying in the sofa and decide a matching watch and tie with it too. I won't be present there when you wake up as to I'll be preparing for the important meeting you have today which apperantly you forgot"

Manik let's out a sigh.
"You are great Miss Murty" thought manik

"Now now..i know i am great..so much so of experience you know"

Manik got surprised to see how nandini easily gets to know what he thinks .She understands him well.

After getting dressed, Manik ate his breakfast alone. With a knife and fork in his hand, he looked at the empty seats on his dining table. He never had any company he thought.

" And this is because of that damn girl!!! I swear I'll find you from any corner of the world" manik eyes were red and his face represented anger.

Suddenly manik's phone rang. He saw the caller name is that of Miss Murthy.

"Hello!?"

"Mr. Malhotra? You are still at home?????" Nandini shouted from the phone

"Yes Miss Murthy! I just completed my breakfast"

"Sir do you have any idea how difficult is to manage a client who have been waiting for you since the last one hour???"

"Shit! Shit! I forgot i had a meeting" thought manik

" I....am really sorry. I will try and reach in the next fifteen minutes"
Manik rushed out of the door.

**********

Nandini was waiting for manik in the conference hall and was verifying if the arrangements were properly made.

While busy, her phone rang. She took a bit of time to pick up the phone.

It was none other than her Appa

"Hello Appa?!"

"Hello Nandu?! You took so much time to respond. I got worried" said Nandini's appa with a concerned voice.

"Appa i wasn't even a minute late! Just three rings!!!"

"You should be receiving in the first one itself"

"What happened Appa? "

"It's Just...we miss you beta...also you are turning 25 this year and we have a marriage to plan "

"Appa you know i don't want to get married as of now."

" But you have to get married someday...so why not now?? Btw there is a boy who is the only son of my best friend and they are living in America...you could go meet him sometimes...bond!"

"Appa you know why i am in America right? And i don't want to get involved in any kind of relationship"

"I know beta...but if you don't find him your whole life then are you willing to wait????"

Now Nandini had no answer to that question yet. She doesn't know what she will do. She wants to wait but she doesn't want her parents to suffer because of her.

" No answer right? Forget it. We are coming there in a month after our Visa and then we will do what we have to do as responsible parents"

"But Appa??!!!"

"No...i don't want to hear any excuses... it's final...be ready.. I'll update you 'bout the date and time soon enough"

With that Appa hung up the phone.

With a sigh, Nandini rested the phone on the table. And while she was busy thinking, there is knock at the door. Nandini turns to see one of her colleague standing.

"Yes Andrew?"

"Ma'am they are here."

"Has Mr.Malhotra reached yet?"

"No ma'am...not yet...guess he is running late"

Nandini blinked in frustration.

"Okay. Make them comfortable in the hall . I'll go check on Mr. Malhotra's whereabouts"

"Yes ma'am"

While Nandini was walking all she could think was what will she do.

"I just have month! Or less?! God i have no idea what i am gonna do!!!" Thought nandini

"I have to try to find him asap... within this month ....or else i would never be able to find him."

She typed a text on her phone and sent it to someone.

"Call me when you are free!"

After a few minutes, Nandini's phone rang.

"Hello?"

"What happened Nandini?! Everything fine? You sounded urgent"

"Yes...i need his number "

"Who's?"

"His."

"You know that the number is unavailable and since the past 2 years i have dialled the number almost 25 times. Still the same response"

"Thank you for doing so much for me Navya cause i know he would never talk to me. But i need to know. Now"

"How will you? He left no trace of where he left"

" We can ask cabir"

"No."

"Navya please! I need this...and it's very important"

" You know what happened between me and cabir right. How could you ask me to contact him???"

Nandini frowned. The past always haunted her. She could never forget a bit if she tried also.

" I know. And i am not asking you to talk to him. I'll do it. "

" But mind me! He may not talk to you. Cabir hates you."

" And so does he "

Guilt has always led to sadness and nothing good thought nandini. Could she ever get rid of her guilt?Could she ever ask for forgiveness? Could she ever make her soul guilt free?

"Nandini, Are you sure about this?"

"Positive. Just forward his number to me"

"Okay. As you wish. I'll text it to you and Nandini i wish you find what you are searching for"

And Navya disconnected the Phone.

Almost immediately Nandini received a text message with a number in it.

Nandini hesitated first but then hit the call button.

And the phone rang.

**********

Hello everyone. Do like and comment and tell me if you liked the chapter or not.