A/N: Ooh, as the title suggests, a lot happens in this chapter. So many questions, so many answers, our MaNan in the epicenter of it all. Readers, I have one advise: be strong, a jolt in on the way!...aaand don't for get to leave me your inline comments (Pleaseeeeeeeeee)!
On that note, Happy Reading! I shall see you on the other side, with my basket of qns.
***
Manik was sitting on a couch , his spine up straight, as he seethed in anger, exhaling long, hard, breaths. Sitting next to him, Navya and Zubin were engaged in a video call with Rose and her PR staff, and everytime Zubin provided an evidence, and Navya questioned her, Rose kept denying, saying she was being framed, as shed fake tears. Manik had had enough, this had to stop. Now.
"Rose, we know you did it. You got Nandini taped this morning. Your videographer has confessed and he's in lockup for breaching privacy. So maybe this is a good time to stop lying and explaining why. Why did you do this?" Manik's voice was firm and Rose knew this was a command. She rolled her eyes in defiance, and mumbled, "..but Manik, she insulted me at Alia's party and you didn't even defend me! Look Manik, I really like you, and I was hoping that we could really get together in a non-PR like way, but with Nandini always coming in t.." Manik snapped before she could complete.
"Nandini was drunk, Rose! and for avenging a harmless dig, you character assassinated her over national television?! Are you fucking serious?" Manik bellowed, losing his shit.
Rose looked mad too. "Manik, I just said, I like you, and all you gathered from my words were Nandini's plight? Are you blind? She loves Zain, she is playing you, you are her favourite toy! She is playing you like she did when she was with you, but was carrying that security guard's baby!" Rose shot back and Manik was stupefied for a moment. No, her claims were utter rubbish, but what stunned him, was how this lie his folks spread against Nandini was a truth in peoples collective consciousness & was coming back to them, at the drop of a hat; each time recklessly questioning Nandini's character & tagging his baby girl, illegitimate!
"Rose, just shut the fuck up!" Manik screamed, and just before disconnecting the call, he commanded. "Our PR engagement is over for good, and you will acknowledge on social media that you were with me in the apartment, and Nandini had come over just for breakfast & script reading, along with a few other people from the showbiz. If you say one word out of line, I will have your videographer talk on national news about how you bribed him to dig dirt on Nandini & the next thing you know, you will be the next Soha Khurana; out of business, offers and an outcast!"
"Manik, calm down, we're putting this story out, and everyone we've requested to play along has agreed; we will get Nandini out of this." Navya assured him.
Manik nodded and moved to his bedroom to make a call.
"Cabir, we have proof against Rose. We can get her to confess to my folks, she viralled an edited footing, that should keep Nandini safe." Manik whispered to Cabir on the phone.
"That's great Manik, I am here at Jannat, but your folks are acting really strange, they're cooped up in their study taking a call, and they have the door guarded too. I'm not allowed entry yet, once I go in, I will call you." Cabir replied in a tense voice. He didn't want to freak Manik out, but something about the Senior Malhotra's silence and hush hush behaviour, wasn't sitting well with him. They were up to something.
"Umm, Manik, where is Nandini? Why aren't you with her?" Cabir tried asking casually.
"She's gone to visit Zain, and asked me to help with her PR instead. I'm with Navya & Zubin at my place. She is safe with Zain, and meanwhile let's talk to my folks; once that is cleared, I will go and get her from Zain's myself." Manik replied, focusing on the press release that Navya just handed him.
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