Back again!!!!

Warning - Might be emotional by the end of the chapter (at least that's what I tried)

And your guesses in the last chapter were almost wrong at least mang of yours 😂 C'mon Manik won't find the truth like this. He is the hero, give him some credits.

Ps- your Inline comments are ♡

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"सितारों के आगे जहां ओर भी है,
अभी इश्क के इम्तिहान ओर भी है!"

"Because Nandini got pregnant after she was raped when she was fifteen."

Cabir was aghast and looked blankly at Abhi. But both of them snapped their head in the direction when they heard vase breaking sound and they were shocked seeing the person.

"Mukti!!"

"Navya!!"

Cabir and Abhi whispered and were shocked to see Mukti and Navya standing there with shocked faces.

Abhi exhaled a deep breath and sat on the edge of the bed palming his face with his hands supported by his thighs. Mukti and Navya entered in the room and looked at him blankly and so did Cabir.

"What did you say Abhi? Nandini. She. She was ra. Raped?" Abhi looked at Mukti and nodded his head, gulping the lump in his throat. He saw Mukti and Navya's eyes filled with tears and Cabir was also looking too shocked to react. His own eyes were welled up when that night flashed in front of his eyes and he again looked down.

There was pin drop silence in the room. Nobody was able to believe it. That girl had gone through the most horrible thing a girl can face and still she is living so courageously, so bravely. While she looks so delicate and fragile, only she knows how brave she must be from inside.

Well that's the irony; broken people are not fragile!

"How do you know Bhai? And. And what happened to her, who. Who did it?" Abhi looked at Navya and then the other two who had the same question in their mind.

How does Abhi knows about this?

And who was the devil who did this to such a beautiful soul?

"I was there."

"What?" The trio looked at him bewildered and he closed his eyes before opening them and asked them to sit first which they all did with confusion on their faces.

"Remember, when we were in twelfth grade, during summer vacation, Nani's health wasn't well and here Navya was suffering from typhoid?" The trio nodded with frowns on their face.

(Nani- maternal grandmother)

Navya and Abhimanyu's mother- Shweta Singhania was the only daughter of her parents who lived in Delhi. Although Shweta and her husband - Deepak Singhania asked them to settle with them in Mumbai permanently, they won't budge.

It was then, when Fab Five were in twelfth grade, Navya got severely ill. She was suffering from Typhoid to the extent that she was hospitalized. Above that, Shweta's mother, i.e., Navya and Abhi's maternal grandmother also wasn't doing well with her health. And seeing his mother stuck between the two, Abhi volunteered to go to Delhi to look after his Nani. And hence he moved to Delhi where he stayed for almost one month. And when he came back, he was very much disturbed but soon recovered too.

"It was my last day in Delhi. Nani was very much fine, in fact healthy. And since Navya was totally fine too by that time, Mumma too came to visit Nanu-Nani. In that one month I became good friends with Nani's neighbour son- Rahul and his friends. So that day we decided to just roam around and enjoy a bit. At evening we even went to Rahul's best friend's birthday party. Though, I didn't want to go but maybe god wanted me to go there."

(Nanu-Nani- maternal grandparents)

Navya, Mukti and Cabir sat there with heartbeats raised. They had a guess now, what would have happened. They also remembered how Abhi called them that evening and how Manik and Cabir asked him to go and enjoy. They looked at Abhi who continued telling them about the evening with shaky breaths.

"The party was held in a hall which was owned by Rahul's best friend only. Moksh. That was his name. He was son of a politician maybe. Filthy rich and a brat. I didn't get good vibes from him earlier too, but I let it go. I went there to enjoy and that was I doing. And there, that evening, I saw her. Nandini. She was also there. She was like the life of the party. Almost everyone was surrounding her. She was laughing, giggling, making others smile. She was like the enigma, still full of innocence. Nothing like today. Maybe she also didn't know that her beautiful smile was being envied. A devil was about to snatch that from her."

Cabir, Mukti and Navya looked at him with anticipation. Firstly, they couldn't believe whatever Abhi was telling them about Nandini. Because she is the most silent and reserved person they had come across in a while. But then, some incidents change you, they don't let you stay the same. While Abhi was lost. He still remembers that night. The night when he witnessed something so tragic, that it never left his mind. He couldn't even wish to not be there, because he couldn't imagine more worst that that.

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4 years ago-

Abhi's pov-

"Abhi, have the drink man. You aren't a kid now, no?" I plainly smiled at Moksh who seems like was taunting me, but as if I care.

"Legally, I'm not an adult too Moksh. I'm seventeen." Moskh chuckled while Rahul blinked his eyes at me asking me to ignore Moksh. And that's what I did.

Oh man! I so want to leave this party already. I don't even think that anyone here is eighteen or plus, but still, they need to show off by drinking.

Stupid Teenager!!

"Abhi let's dance." I Shaked my head to Rahul who once again asked me before moving to the dance floor with his other friends. I looked around to saw that arrogant Moskh around but surprisingly he wasn't there. Strange! Birthday boy himself is missing. And I haven't seen him since an hour maybe. Well, who cares? Although the party isn't that boring, but I still miss my Friends. Only if they were here, it would've been so much fun.

I sipped on my fruit punch when my phone rang. I grinned seeing Buddy on the screen. Since there was too much noise of music, I moved to the silent area on the first floor. It was kind of a corridor with different rooms,with no-one around I entered in a room after knocking twice and found it empty. I sighed and dialled back Manik's number. It was ringing when I heard a loud sound as if someone banged the door loudly. I frowned but at the same time Manik picked up his call, so I ignored it.

Only if, I hadn't!!

"Yo Buddy, sup?" I chuckled at Manik's choice of words.

"Stop watching those stupid Netflix series with Navya and Mukti. Your vocabulary is deteriorating like them." I heard him chuckle and I smiled.

"So? Enjoying the party?"

"Naah! I am missing you guys. Especially you and Cabir. But hey, don't tell this to that buffoon. He will inflate with pride." Manik laughed and so did I.

"Well, we are missing you too. You're coming back tomorrow, right?"

"Yep!!!" And I couldn't hear Manik's next words as I heard some sounds from the room next to mine, as if something fell, which made me frown. What's happening?

"Buddy, you there?" I heard Manik's voice and Shaked my head.

"Nothing Manik, just some weird sounds from the room next to mine."

"Oh! Is someone in trouble?" I heard him and shrugged.

"Or maybe someone is making out?" I chuckled and so did he. Obviously, here teenagers are thinking themselves too adult, so won't be surprising if someone is making out.

"But I think You should at least check once. Maybe someone is in need? There's no harm in that right?" I pondered on his words.

"But what if someone is really making out?" I didn't want to take the risk and harm my virgin eyes. I swear if I saw someone making out in real, I would have nightmares. I didn't even kiss Mukti yet.

"It's okay Abhi, I guess knock once or twice. If someone would really be making out, they will scold you and you leave. But what if someone is really in need? Go check once. Am on line." I nodded to myself. He was right. What if someone was drunk and fell? I would regret later. So, it's better to take the chance.

With Manik still on call, I moved out of the room and stood out of the door next to it. I took a deep breath and knocked.

Once!!

Twice!!

Thrice!!

"Manik!!"

"Yes Abhi? What happen? Someone did kick you out?" I rolled my eyes as he chuckled.

"Manik Yaar!!" He again chuckled at my whining.

"Okay sorry. What happen?" I again looked at the door. Maybe no one is inside or whoever it was, is already gone.

"I guess there is no one. Should I just leave or check once?" I don't know why I was feeling strange. I think I should leave the party al together.

"It's okay Buddy. Check once and then leave hmm?"

"Yeah." I sighed and slowly opened the door. It was dark in the room. Now I was sure, there was no one. I was about to close the door back when again a sound came followed by a soft and light wince, like someone got hit with some furniture. I inhaled a sharp breath. I'm sure there is some drunk person. Still, I chose to check if he isn't injured. My hand went for the switch board behind the door. As I switched on the light, I heard a wincing sound from the side. I looked in that direction only to switch off the light with a jerk and I hurriedly moved out of the room and closed the door behind with a bang.

The scene I saw in the room was beyond my worst of worst imagination. I was breathing heavily and heard Manik's concerned voice. But my own voice was lost. My eyes welled up as the picture of what I saw in the room, flashed in my mind.

"Abhi. You're scaring me dude. Are you okay? Hello Abhi? You there? Buddy, say something." I could hear Manik's voice full of tension and concern but I was not able to gather the courage to speak anything. My mind was blank with what I saw inside. My legs were frozen. I kept standing there outside the door.

After some minutes I was able to find my voice, which was too dense. I looked at the closed door blankly.

"Ma. Manik."

"Fuck Abhimanyu. What the hell? Why were you so silent? Is everything okay? What happen?"

"Ma. Manik. There. In room. A. A. Fuck Manik. I can't." I can't. I could feel my tears flowing out of the eyes. Dammit!!

"Abhi. Calm down first. Relax, hmm. Take deep breaths. C'mon." I did as Manik said. I don't trust myself. It was him because of whom I was still sane a bit. I could feel him pacing around the room in worry.

"Good. Now close your eyes and relax. Now tell me what happen? What is in the room?" I felt myself getting calmer a bit. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

"There. There is a girl in the room on the. On the floor."

"Mhmm."

"She. She is N. Naked." And there I said it. And then there was silence on the phone. I know he must be too shocked to react. I took a deep breath.

"She isn't in her clothes Manik, and also, she. She is not conscious." I could hear him taking breaths. I heard him muttering something to Babaji. I too closed my eyes and took Waheguru's name. After silence of some more moments, I heard Manik speaking and I was shocked to hear him.

"Abhi. You had to help her."

"What? Are you mad Manik? She isn't conscious and didn't you hear me? She is Naked Manik. I. I can't." I shouted at first but then decreased my voice at the end of my sentence. How can I help her?

"Buddy. Listen to me. We don't know what had happened to her right? What if she. She was harassed in this state? You need to look for her dammit." I paced around the room in frustration. Coming to this party was a bad idea in itself.

"But I can call cops, right? OR I can call a girl from downstairs?"

"Yes, you can. But what if the girl is really harassed by anyone? And that person is still in the party? And what about the girl's dignity Abhi? If one person comes to know, eventually everyone will. And you know our society, they just know to raise their finger on the girl's character without thinking about her. Abhi, you need to help her. You were fated to be there, maybe to help her only. Get up Buddy. It's about life of a girl." I sighed and took deep breaths. He is right. People only know to blame girls, the don't see their sufferings, their pain and hardship.

But how can I help her? What if she blamed me later.

"Abhi don't think much. Just go for it buddy. You're not doing anything wrong, trust baba ji." I nodded and decided to not worry about consequences. I connected Manik's call with Bluetooth EarPods and opened the door muttering god's name and taking a deep breath.

"What should I do Manik?" I was feeling my hands sweating. But I need to do this.

"Okay first of all tell me what are you wearing?" I was confused with his question but looked at my appearance before answering.

"Tee, Jeans and a jacket."

"Good. Pull out your jacket, you will need it to cover her body. And am sure there must be some bedsheet in the room from where you were talking earlier. Fetch that too." I did as Manik said and bought out the white bedsheet and took out my jacket.

"Done."

"Okay, now enter in the room and if you know her position and  can move without light then go that way otherwise switch on the flash of your mobile and direct it around her and reach to her."

I nodded and did what he said. It was too dark so it was not possible for me to reach her without stumbling over something. So, I switched mobile flash on and kept that at side so as not to look at her. My hands were shivering and so were my legs. But Manik's constant encouraging words were keeping me sane. I somehow reached her and bend down near her body. I could feel her body trembling. She wasn't fully unconscious.

"Buddy do it fast. Make her wear the jacket and then cover her body with the bedsheet." I nodded and with trembling hands touched her arms. I backed off in the instant as she whimpered.

"Manik."

"Hmm?"

"She is not drunk. She is drugged. And am fearing that she. She is."

"I got it. I. I got it." With his voice I know he was also scared. He was also teary eyed.

"Abhi. Do it."

"Okay." I again held her arms and now I could hear her crying. With lots of courage, I separated her from wall and with a great difficulty made her wear my jacket and then covered her whole frame with the bedsheet I was carrying. All this while my hands were shivering. My throat was dry. I was shaking. I was feeling like running away.

But I couldn't.

This girl is already going through so much, I can't leave her like this.

"Abhi now first pick her up and make her lay on bed gently." I heard Manik and hurriedly did as he said. I made her lay on the bed and switched on the lamp. And I was shocked seeing the girl's face.

It was her.

The same girl, whom I saw laughing so freely in the party.

She was looking so lively then, and so lifeless now.

How some moments, some monster and  one tragic night took that smile of her face.

"Abhi, what happen?"

"Manik, yaar why her?"

"Abhi. Not only her. It should not be any girl. But Abhi, now is not the time. First you go and check if there is any back door from where you can take her to hospital without anyone noticing you. And yes, call ambulance first."

I put him on hold and called for ambulance and then I was about to go when I heard her whimpering sounds again which again filled my eyes with tears.

"Abhi, put your phone on speaker near her and go." I again nodded and kept my phone on speaker beside her and moved out.

"Hey Sunshine. You are." I heard Manik's words but I hurriedly moved out of the room to look for any back door. And I found one. If I'll bring her down through the workers lift then we will enter in this passageway which is silent and no one is here. And then we will be able to move through this back door.

Yes!

I then again went to that room and heard Manik's voice.

"And then Cabir's boxer too fell down." I chuckled  still trembling, knowing that he told her Cabir's one of the many embarrassing stories. But I was shocked when I saw that girl had a peaceful look on her face. Although her eyes were still closed.

"I'm back Buddy."

"Thank god." I heard his shaky breath. I know he is as much terrified as me. HE fucking can't see anyone in pain.

I then got the notification that ambulance was near and I re-connected my phone with EarPods and put one in the girl's ears. I smiled with tears when heard Manik trying to distract her subconscious mind with talks and humming who was trembling. At this moment she was looking so fragile and delicate. Soon I was out of the place and saw ambulance standing there. Two nurses and a compounder helped me to take that girl in ambulance and soon we were in hospital, with Manik still on call.

Soon the girl was taken to the ICU. I was asked to stay there and I know why.

Manik was still on the call but we weren't talking. Soon the police arrived and asked me everything. And I did tell them everything honestly. He seemed to believe me. He was talking with me when doctor too came out. And our guess was right when doctor confirmed.

"She was raped, brutally I might add. She was drugged with overdose of Diazepam. And in that state, she was raped. She didn't oppose much due to the drug but with the marks on her private area and inner thigh, it's clear it was forced." I took a sharp breath hearing everything and so did Manik.

Shit god, who is that monster.

Then Inspector again interrogated me and this time they took my phone and even talked with Manik too. They became soft when they heard that Manik is the son of Malhotra's and I was his best friend.

"Do you know her name?"

"NO."

Inspector nodded and looked at the doctor who nodded.

"Look son, it is a part of investigation but you have to give your semen for tests." Any other day I would have been offended but not today. What that girl has went through is too horrible than anything. So, I did as ask and was left by them saying they would call me if anything further. They decided to keep my identity secret as I was myself a student and If I hasn't done anything then why would I suffer.

I looked at the girl one last time through ICU glass pane and left from there.

Flashback ends

"And after that day, I saw her, in our college. Nandini."

Abhi came back to present and looked at his friends who were shedding their tears now. They were too shocked to say anything. They were numb. They couldn't even imagine what Nandini must have gone through.

Wasn't she too young to face all of this?

Their heart was crying for that little girl who had to face the cruel world too soon, and too harshly.

"My semen test proved that I wasn't guilty. I was connected with the police. I came to know that she was daughter of some big rich family and hence the case was kept confidential. So, I never came to know about her real identity. But later I came to know that she got pregnant. And firstly, she was about to abort the child but later didn't. I don't know why. I didn't know Anahita was her daughter until Cabir told me today, I just knew that she has a child and her family disowned her."

If Cabir, Mukti and Navya were shocked and aghast earlier, now the don't even know what they were feeling.

Her family disowned her?

At such time when all she needed was Love?

There was silence in the room and everyone were lost in their own thoughts, the only thing common was- her.

Nandini!

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Hah!!

Finally, you got the answer of most asked question- How Abhi knows Nandini! Sadly, none guessed right 🥴

But how was the flashback through Abhi's pov?

Expected?

And did you expected Manik to be a part of the dreadful day? He js so thoughtful I swear 🥺✨

It took me three hours last night to write this chapter, so pardon me if didn't came out best.

Now Now Now, are they gonna tell this to Manik?

Your thoughts on Nandini's past!

About Abhimanyu and Manik?

Will be waiting for your reviews.

QOD- Which book on watty you're hooked up with on watty?
(Mine is- Billionaire's Disastrous Kiss by Selenabanford)

Ps- You saw the aesthetics/moodboard I posted?

3716 words (my hand hurts)

~A♡