Celebrity Castaway | COMPLETE | MaNan Fiction

5| Scandal

A/N : Hello readers! Here comes your weekly dose of MaNan from my side! So for the ones' who didn't notice, I have published a bonus chapter on this story just day before, and you need to read it before reading this chapter. Else this will not make sense! Also, while you're at it, don't forget to vote & comment on chapter 4! :)

Now, coming to this chapter. Well, as the title suggests, this is from where the story actually begins! I was a bit skeptical while publishing this story initially because I knew the first four chapters were a bit of a context setter and I worried my readers may not find it interesting enough to hold on till this chapter; but look at you guys, reading it, appreciating it & loving it all the way. This has only moved from strength to strength from the first chapter and I pray it only goes upward and onwards hereon!

Thank you for all the love, comments & votes. Thank you for emotionally involving yourself with my story & most importantly, thank you for reading this story while it's ongoing because I know many of you wait for a story to get over before reading, because sometimes writers leave it mid-way. So, I guess, thank you for showing that faith in me and reading the story as I publish every week, and I promise I will continue to publish every week (unless something really unavoidable happens) till the end of this story!

Okay, I just can't seem to stop talking! No more prattling from my side, Happy Reading!

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"Thank-you for trusting me, Nandu & giving us a chance to protect you. I don't think I'd be able to live with myself if I got to know that you came in harm's way because you helped clear Manik's name and the Malhotra reputation one more time" spoke Nyonica gently, sipping her sparkling wine, as she looked at Nandini lovingly. It had been two days since Nandini had been staying here, and Nyonica came to visit her, to fulfil her promise.

Nandini looked at her ex-mother-in-law and smiled. She loved her the most & she knew her mother-in-law adored her too. She was her backbone during her stay with the Malhotras, and Nyonica was the only one who stood up for her. In their vast mansion, she was the only person who showed her tender love, care and warmth. She was the mother Nandini never had the fortune of growing up with. Nyonica knew that Nandini had fallen deeply in love with her son, she had even tried in her subtle ways to push her son towards her, but Manik? When did he ever feel Nandini was anything more than a tool to flash before the media to fix his reputation? When Nyonica had realised, Manik was only going to hurt Nandini, she even tried to free her from the marriage, but back then, the Malhotra men still needed her & Nandini, she still thought she could win Manik with her love. So, Nyonica said nothing, despite knowing Nandini was in for a heartbreak. She thought only experience could teach her self-preservation & it did. Nyonica was the only happy person in the Malhotra household, three years back when Manik had informed her that Nandini had abandoned him completely and moved on in life.

"I missed you, mom." Nandini whispered back, as the older lady gently cupped her face and smiled at her.

"Mom, I stayed back, only because you asked me to & I didn't want to disrespect you before Cabir. Trust me, I can take care of myself now. I am not that naive anymore..please let me go back to where I came from?" she requested again, and Nyonica looked at her sadly. She could see that Nandu was happy in her present life, but the mother-in-law, in her, selfishly wanted her for her son. If there was one person who could love and protect Manik from the world and their disastrous Malhotra clan after her, it was Nandini, but Manik had pushed her too far off. She didn't want to stay here any longer & Nyonica could only wish that Nandini would once again find a reason to give her son a chance.

"Nandu beta, I know you can & you soon will, just give us a few more days. Once we ensure Soha..." but she couldn't complete her statement as the doorbell of the pent-house rang loudly, breaking their conversation. The butler hurriedly got to the door to see Cabir rushing inside with a dark face. Both the women knew this couldn't be good news.