I know late update, but last Saturday Sunday I was down with fever and then college assignment and projects kept me busy, besides was suffering from writer's block. So telling beforehand, that this chapter might not be the worth waiting Chapter.

Thank you for the love in previous chapter:)

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"Tere aadat lagne se pehle Tak,
Sab theek tha"

"Shi Maa!! Shee, Mumma coming in TV."

(See, Mumma is coming in TV)

Ishita who was preparing evening tea for herself in the kitchen, frowned in confusion when Anahita came running to her.

"Did you played any of the recordings, Shona?"

"No!!" Anahita shook her head in denial and shrugged and Ishita's confusion deepend as she switched off the stove and hurriedly ran to the living room and her steps halted and breath hitched as she saw the headlines and Nandini's photo in the news.

She looked at Anahita who was looking at the screen with curious eyes and took a shaky breath.

"Shona, uh, don't you have to do you homework? Your Mumma must be coming back from her work, so go and finish before she come and then we will go to the park." Anahita excitedly nodded and went to the room to do her homework and Ishita hurriedly unmuted the TV while keeping the volume low. And she was shocked hearing the news reporter.

...Yes, the picture you're seeing on the screen is none other than Nandini Suraj Goenka, the once treasured grand-daughter of the Prithviraj Goenka, who suddenly disappeared five years ago. Although her identity was never revealed but five years ago when she was disappeared, her family had declared her dead.

Finds out, she was not dead, but was thrown out of the house by her own family. Reason - because she had tried to defame the family's name.

Reports says that she got pregnant when she was just fifteen. They also further states that, she had tried to blackmail the family of the boy with whom she got pregnant by telling them that she will file rape case against them. The boy and his family is still unknown, but her own family had disowned her when she had stooped so low for her own profits.

Her whereabouts are still unknown but we feel that her family did right. Will hope that she didn't made any other family, her victim. But that raise a great concern in our society...

Not being able to hear anymore, Ishita switched off the tv as she slumped down on the couch. Her eyes had tears as the reporter's words echoed in her ear. How can they say such things about a girl, a girl who was just fifteen back then, who was herself a victim of everything and today she is being called as oppressor? They doesn't even know the whole truth and they're directly blaming the fifteen years old girl while calling the person who destroyed her life as a victim?

Ishita's heart beat quickened as she imagined Nandini's reaction to this. What will happen when she will see this. She will break down. With so much difficulty she had learned to smile, to live a little and now.

Ishita recall d today morning's incident when she arrived in the kitchen. She was surprised when she saw Nandini making the breakfast with a smile on her face and she was humming the song playing in her mobile kept on shelf, Fab Five's song -- Manik's voice.

Ishita had knew about Manik and Nandini's outing at midnight. It was Manik who asked her to make Anahita sleep with her and told her about his plans. And looking at the glowing eyes of Nandini, Ishita knew that it was Manik's love shining in them. She had never seen Nandini so happy and glowing ever before, at least not when Anahita wasn't around her.

Tears flowed down Ishita's eyes as she realised that how short-lived was Nandini's happiness. After seeing the news, she will break apart. Why was god so hell bent on breaking the poor soul into pieces. She kept staring at the blank tv screen with thousands of thoughts and fear for Nandini in her mind.

Nandini entered in the house and frowned feeling the silence around. She walked in the living room and saw Ishita on the sofa staring at the tv screen which was off. She frowned and went to her and her frowns deepened when she saw tears flowing from Ishita's eyes. Nandini panicked and sat on her knees in front of Ishita, bringing her out of her trance.

"Ishi Maa!! What happen? Why are you crying?"

Ishita looked at Nandini and saw her concern for her. Looking at her, Ishita knew that Nandini still doesn't know about the news. Her heart crawled for this girl as she caressed her cheeks. How can her own family be so cruel to her. How can people be so cruel to her.

"Ishi Maa. You are scaring me. What happen?"

Nandini was hell worried for Ishita. The looks she was giving to her were making her chest heavy. Ishita was quite happy and infact was teasing her in the morning when she had gone to library for her work. What happened now.

Both of their head went to Anahita's direction when she came running in the hall.

"Mumma!!" Anahita came and encircled her hands around Nandini's neck with a grin. Nandini smiled a little despite her worries for Ishita.

"How are you bacha?" She asked as she tucked the losse strands of her hair behind her ears.

"I am fine," then Anahita's gaze fell on Ishita who had tears in her eyes, "Mumma, why Shi Maa is crying?"

Nandini sighed and shook her head in denial before looking at Ishita, wanting to know about the reason, but Ishita sat motionless and no words came out of her mouth.

"Ishi Maa, are you crying because Mumma came in tv and you not?"

The innocent question grabbed Nandini's attention and she frowned.

"Me? On TV?" Ishita gasped and shook her head wiping her tears.

"No- No Nandu. Nothing like th- that. I- I was crying be-because, yes I- I was watching this serial and the female lead died. So yes."

The little confusion Nandini had turned into suspicion as Ishita fumbled with words. And crying over a serial? That's so not Ishita. Nandini's throat clenched as fear took birth in the pit of her stomach. She looked for the remote and found it on the coffee table. Before Ishita could grab it, she grabbed the remote and switched on the tv, and news channel aired on the screen.

Headlines--- Nandini Suraj Goenka- Innocent face, Clever Mind!!

Nandini felt her heart stopped beating and her lungs stopped the inte of oxygen as the news flashed on the screen with the photo of her fifteenth birthday. As the reporter's words rang in her ears and the headlines flashed in front of her eyes, she felt darkness around her. Her vision blurred with dark patches around her before the darkness fully consumed her and she fell into it.

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Manik came out of the washroom after taking a quick shower to see his phone ringing. He went pick it up and saw Cabir's call.

"Hello." Putting his phone on the speaker he went to comb his hairs but Cabir's words had him halted in between.

"Manik. Switch on tv and move to the news channel."

The urgency and fear in Cabir's voice had Manik following his instructions as he switched on the l.e.d in his room and put on the news channel. The remote fell from his hands when he saw the news airing on the tv.

In a flash he was out of his room with panic rushing in his whole body. The only person revolving in his mind was her, and he was praying that she wouldn't have seen it. He felt his eyes burning and it didn't took him seconds to realise that he had already tears in his eyes.

He stumbled back on his steps when he arrived in the living area of his house. The news headlines were echoing in the hall as he saw his whole family standing there. He gripped the railings tight when he saw Prithviraj Goenka, standing there too with his grandfather.

Manik's gaze met his brother's and then his mother's shocking face. Ofcourse they were shocked to know that Nandini is a Goenka. But right now, no-one here is important to him and he cared less, so he started moving out when Raj stopped him.

"Manik. Where are you going." Manik closed his eyes to stop himself from barking out.

"Somewhere." His steps again halted as Nyonika grabbed his hand and he looked at her, his eyes red.

"No Manu. You are not going there."

Manik looked at his mother in diabelief and removed her hand from his.

"Stop me if you can Maa." Nyonika again clutched his arm and stopped him from moving. Before Manik could protest Shivay, Om and Rudra stormed inside the house.

The ladies gasped as Shivay hold Prithviraj's collar in his both hands and jerked him closer, while Arijit and Raj moved to stop him but he wouldn't budge.

"You did this right? Why the fuck you would do this? Why would do this to her? Why dammit why?"

Arijit and Raj pulled out Shivay back and Yash slapped him on his face.

"What the hell are you doing Shivay? He is your grandfather."

"He is not. He is not. He is not. He is not." The voice which began with high note went to whispering as Shivay fell down on his knees, tears pooling out of his eyes. His brothers same as him.

"Shivay, Om, Ru. Please handle yourself." Raj voiced out feeling low seeing the boys. Omkara wiped his tears as he looked at his grandfather.

"Why you did this? Why are you destroying her life now, again? Stop- stop this please. You lnow- this- this all is lie. Wo bachi hai, kitna hi seh sakti hai, marr jayegi. Stop this."

(She is a child, how much can she hold, she will die)

Manik fisted his hand and his knuckles turned white as his eyes were burning with tears. His breathing turns shallow. He looked at Nyonika's tight grip on his arm.

"I didn't did anything. I- I didn't did it. It's not me." Prithviraj whispered out aloud to his grandsons while shaking his head.

"Lie. Lie. Lie. You're lying. How would this news go on air now? Now, when your reputation is at stake, you decided to do this? Just so, you would look good in the media? Just so that the news would get diverted from you? You did this. You." Rudra barked out and blamed him. He know that to which extent his grandfather can stoop low just to save his reputation.

"I said I didn't did this. Believe me or not. Beside, how does it matter. This is the truth coming out now. One day or another, it had to come out. The only thing I hate, is associating my name with her. She was a dis---"

"I advise you to choose your next words very carefully, Mr. Prithviraj Goenka."

Nyonika gasped and her hold on Manik's hand loosened when the words escaped from his mouth.

"Manik. Behave yourself." Raj bit out as he glared Manik harshly, which absolutely had no effect on him as he kept looking at Prithviraj with his dead stares.

"Truth? I will tell you the truth. The truth is, you doesn't deserve her. The truth is, you are not worthy of being called as her family. Truth is, that she was a rose, in the hand of those, who had no intention of keeping her. Truth is, she is the best ever person you lost, and you'll realise it when it's too late."

"Manik. What are you even talking? And do you even know what's the matter?"

"Trust me Dadu, it's you, who doesn't know the matter."

"Enough. Manik shut up. You won't say anything now." Nyonika glared at him and he frowned before jerking his hand out of her hold. Nyonika looked at him with eyes widened when he took two steps back.

"Manik. What is this behaviour. And for whom you're fighting? And fighting with own family? Do you even know who is she?" Raj was angry now as he saw Manik jerking his mother's hand.

"Nandini Murthy. That's her name. Nandini Murthy. And you ask that if I know her? Yes Dad. Yes. I know her, because she is the beats to my heart, she is my belief in love. She is The One, the one to whom I belong."

Everyone except Nyonika and Arijit gasped. Most shocked were the Goenka brothers. Everyone kept staring at Manik in shock. Damini looked at the tv screen and then at her grandson. Tears falling out of her eyes and then she looked at her husband whose gaze was hard.

"Are you in your senses even? You- you love- her? Her?" Raj looked at Nyonika who looked down making him fury.

"Yes. I do. And she has a name Dad, Nandini." Manik's firm voice and his bloodshot eyes had given birth to fear in Nyonika's and Damini's heart. And then the look on Raj's and Yash's face had intensified that fear.

Manik averted his eyes when from Prithviraj when Damini hold his hand. He took a deep breath and his gaze fell on the tv screen where the news was still playing, only the tv was on mute. And his senses came back as he thought about Nandini.

"I- I need to go."

"Where? To her?" Manik gritted his teeth in anger and frustration. The way his grandfather called her with so much mockery, like she is a criminal.

"Yes!" He breathed out and was able to move away when Raj blocked his way.

"You're not going anywhere. You heard me?"

"No Dad. You heard me. I'm going." Raj looked at him in diabelief and hold his hand in a rigid firm.

"Dad. Please. She- she might need me. Please let me go dad." Manik pleaded finally feeling weak.

Nandini's smile from the last night was flashing in his mind. How he wished to protect that smile always.

"Manik. Go to your room. We will talk about this later." Yash's voice was firm.

"No dadu. No." Manik jerked his hand from his father's grip and ran out of the mansion leaving them staring back at his retreating figure.

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No-one will say, small update, I'm already working on other, it will be a longgg one, fiftieth chapter afterall:)

Shocking update right?

Do leave your reviews!

Next update - Hopefully soon.

2500 words!!

~A♡