As Manik's senior signalled the lady constable, she took Nandini inside. Nandini followed her looking at the chocolate which Manik gave her. After they went inside the cell, another constable locked both of them in the cell. Nandini looked around then at the lady. She signals her to sit on the chair. Nodding Nandini followed her. The lady pulled a chair and sat.
“Toh bata! Kon hai tu? Kaise janti hai Vikas Murthy ko?”
Nandini scratched her head to grasp her fast and loud words but all she felt was puzzled.
“Manik!”, She said in confusion.
“Shahb nahi ayegy! Unhone tujhey yaha bheja hai! Yahi jagah hai tum jaise scammers ki!”, She shouted as she laughed looking at her confused face, “Tereko kya laga tujhey shahb apni biwi bana legy? Manik Malhotra hai wo! Tujh jaise kitno ko thikame lagaya hai!”
Her loudness was increasing her headache. She stood and went to the cell gate and cried, “Maniiikkk!”
Her cry went in vain as they have purposely took her to the last cell where her cry will be unheard.
The constable held her hair in grip and threw her on the chair, “Chup chap sach bol dey! Nahi toh issey b bura haal karungi!”
Nandini cried as she felt Manik left her as others did with her.
___
Outside, Manik argued with his senior, “Sir! Listen to me!l I'll take her full responsibility but please do not bring her name in this case! She's innocent! I have personally verified it!”
“That's where I see the problem, Manik! You personally verified it”, he quoted. “There's no personnel in our profession when it comes to criminals. Did you take any permission before shutting off Vikas charges! Did you?”
“I did not shut off the charges. I'm still finding him but this small girl is nowhere at fault.”
“What's the proof? Court will ask for proof! Gimme that and I'll let her go!”
“I have footage of a whole month not for once anyone called her or she tried to contact anyone.”
“Well! I don't see that as proof!”, His senior smirked and took his seat.
“She's not fit for this harsh world, Sir! Please! Understand!”, Manik begged as tears came out of his eyes on his helplessness.
“That’s what I'm telling you Manik! Let the court decide!”, He said as he stood to leave but patted Manik's shoulder before leaving, “Save her if you can!”
As he left, Abhi came inside and found Manik running towards the cell.
“Manik! What happened? Where's Nandini? Sir was here?”, Abhi asked.
“My life! She's inside!”, Manik cried as he ran with Abhi following him.
They went inside and found a silent Nandini sitting at the corner of the cell. No tears, no smile, no injury but there's one more thing which was not present, her twinkling eyes.
“Nandini!”, he called her name as a prayer.
She looked at him with blank eyes. She trusted him but he was not there when she called him. When she manhandled.
“Ohh! My life!”, He whispered looking at her from the other side of the cell.
He looked at the gate and found it locked. “Where's the damn key?”, He shouted.
Everyone shuttered at his loud voice. Nandini scouted back as fear engulfed her.
A constable opened the gate and he ran inside the cell. Sitting in front of her, his hands shivered as she jerked back expecting a slap from him. His eyes widen in realisation that his girl has more secrets than he expected.
With shivering hands, he cupped her face which she tried to jerk but he didn't let her do that.
“Yaha. Kuch. Kisine. Kiya?”, He asked calmly but everyone present there knew it was calm before the storm.
She looked at him and whispered, “Manik… nhi.. nann..nandi..nandinii… daarr.. Manik.. maa… papa.. nan… nandini.. maar…”
Nodding no, Manik took her in his embrace and said to Abhi, gritting his teeth, “Abhi! Do whatever it takes but punish everyone present here who did this to my life!”
Saying that, he picked her in his arms and she hid her face in his chest. Both came out of the cell. They were passing by the constable when her hold tightened on his chest. He stopped and looked at the constable who looked down, “You'll see what Manik Malhotra can do!”
He came out of the police station and made her sit on the passenger seat. Putting her seatbelt on, he quickly ran towards the driver seat and drove her to his home. Looking at her shivering figure he held her hand with his one hand kissed her palm.
He sighed after sometime as he found her eyes drooping with sleep.
“Another drama must be waiting at home!”, he muttered.
