Yaariyan

Untitled Part 48

"...and when the tension receded there was calm, the calm that is called before the storm, but is in reality the foundation of a human life, waiting there for us between the steps of our march to our mortality, when we are compelled to pause and not act but be." ― Mohsin Hamid

U N K N O W N   P L A C E
Nyonika's face went pale, hearing him. "Listen to me once. Give me a last chance."

The person nodded his head. "You don't deserve anymore chances, Nyonika."

"Mr Malhotra, you're taking everything wrong. I..."

"Shut up, Nyonika! Till now I was taking you wrong but now I am taking everything right, I'm taking you right. I thought if not anything else, Manik is your own blood, you will at least spare him. But what you did? You corrupted him completely. You almost destroyed his life and when someone is trying to convoy him to the right path, trying to provide him the love he deserves, you planned to throw her out of his life. Does Manik deserve that?" Mr Malhotra shouted on top of his voice.

Nyonika flinched hearing his voice. She has never seen him so angry instead he has always been very calm unlike Manik. Manik has definitely got the temperature from her.

"Mr Malhotra, I didn't do anything to Nandini. Pandit ji has also accepted that I was not with him. He has done everything alone and due to some misunderstanding it looked like I was helping him."

Shreekant Malhotra laughed harshly. "Do I look like a fool to you?" Nyonika was about to say something but he showed her palm gesturing her to be quiet. "No matter what he says but we all know you are the one who was guiding him throughout, else how would he know about Manik and Nandini's whereabouts. It was you who tracked Manik's car and gave him the location. Now don't say a word more because I know what more you have done in my absence." He said the last line in a dangerous cold tone.

Nyonika gulped down her saliva. For the first time in her life, she was feeling helpless. She knew there is no way out of this. She didn't say anything.

"So, what do you choose, Nyonika?" Shreekant asked after a brief minute of silence. "You still want to be the trustee of SPACE and I will disclose all your secrets in front of the world. Or you will leave Mumbai and all your ties here and in return your secrets will be safe with me."

"Mr Malhotra, I already told you that I'll be away from Manik and Nandini. I won't cross their path ever. Then why do you want me to leave? Where will I go from Mumbai?"

"That's not my concern. I forgot to tell you, you are not connected with Malhotra Industries anymore. Till now I wasn't here and Manik wasn't ready to take over the company so you had to come on board. But now I'm here and Manik will take over the company once his graduation is completed. I have already spoken to him about this and he agreed. Thank you for your service. But don't worry, I won't let you go without any reward, after all you did so much for the company. Like other employees, from now on you will receive a fixed salary in your account."

Nyonika heard him. She didn't have the audacity to say him anymore nor she has any right on anything. She had the place in SPACE only but she has to give up that too, if she wants to live. Else it won't take another minute for him to destroy her completely and she couldn't afford that.

"I'm waiting, Nyonika." He asked breaking her daze.

She took a long breath and looked at him for a while. "I would leave. From Mumbai."

"That's great. I knew you would make the wise decision. After all, you've always been very clever. So, when are you leaving?"

"It will take a few days to wrap all my work here. Then I will leave."