Hustle For Love |COMPLETE| MaNan Fiction

34. Interlogue II: It's Vegas, Baby!

A/N: Hello Readers, yes I made it this week! Unfortunately I haven't been able to write this week either, but hopefully, I will be able to write next week. However, let's not worry about that, I am so excited to present before you the POV of Manik Malhotra, finally! I know you folks have waited for 10 long chapters (aka 2.5 months) for it, and it is finally here! I wont waste time yapping now, hope you enjoy! <3

Happy Reading!

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Wynn Las Vegas, Casino Resort circa 2018

(Manik's Presidential Suite)

~Following the same timelines as Interlogue I ~

Manik Malhotra

Sipping my single malt and looking out at the Vegas cityscape from the city's most expensive property, I was greeted by an extravagant sight. The light, the shimmer, the bohemia of Vegas, the larger than life bill boards screaming sh*t expensive couture, basically everything that defined luxury, opulence, power, influence & sinful indulgence. I was here for my concert, the biggest Christmas Live Concert in the continental US. This year I was performing; it happened every year in Wynn, it was an extremely exclusive elitist concert - it was a concert for the 'insider folks' of the global multi billionaire community. The concept was MetGala like, all sale proceeds goes to charities across the world, & it was an event by celebrities for the celebrities. This year, I was ruling it.

You think, I am glowing in self pride here? No. I am stating what my life has been for a couple of years now. If I felt alive enough, these would give me a kick, but what matters to man doesn't matter to stone, right? What was Manik Malhotra more than stone, anyway, when he is not around his daughter? I usually never take up Christmas concerts because I love spending this time with Roo, but this time this event was too huge to ignore & even though I wanted to, Soha wouldn't let me!

"You really think I can't manage your daughter for one Christmas, seriously Manik?" she had asked me so incredulously that I had no choice but to come. I had gotten Soha & Roo with me of course, but they weren't staying with me here. My fatherly protectiveness, wanted to keep my princess away from the toxic glamour of money, drugs & casinos for as long as I could. So Soha & Rooh were put up in a farm resort with lots of farm animals that Roo could pet, in the outskirts of town. This way, after rehearsals & stage checks, I could quickly drive down most days and spend time with her. I couldn't stay too far away from her during Christmas, I am always sensitive around this time & Roo was my saving grace.

Cabir & Priyank had joined us too, we always celebrated this time of the year together! Ever since the Nandini episode all those years back, Cabir never left me during this time. I wonder what he fears I'd do, if I am left in my own company. I wish I could tell him, I'd do no harm to myself, not because I had some zeal left in life, but because I knew my daughter needed me. I would live through this excruciatingly long & painful life of mine for as long as I can & with a happy smile playing on my lips, because I knew in my doing so, my little girl would feel happy, safe & secure. That's all that mattered..& Soha of course.

My plan was simple: I was in Vegas for two weeks, twelve days of preps & rehearsals, one day of concert & last one for the after party on New years' eve, before we flew back to Australia & started the new year. However, by now as everyone knows, simple & I don't look eye to eye. Guess who I bumped into at a Christmas decor place of all places, in Vegas?

That's right. Nandini Murthy.

Nandini Murthy again, after 4 months. It felt like Nandini's Ayappa wasn't done laughing at our life, some more tricks were left to go.