TRUE LOVE NEVER GIVES UP

Chapter-41: Revelation

The atmosphere was heavy with tension as Vishakha gently pulled Nandini out of Manik's arms, her worried expression mirroring the turmoil that Nandini was going through. She cupped Nandini's face, trying to calm her, but the touch only seemed to heighten Nandini's panic. Her breathing quickened again, and her eyes darted around, wide with fear.

"No, no... leave me... I can't stay here... it's suffocating..." Nandini mumbled, her voice trembling with desperation.

She stepped back from Vishakha, her hands shaking as she tried to distance herself from everyone. Manik reached out, his heart aching to see her like this, but Nandini flinched away from his touch. The others, too, tried to approach her, offering comforting words, but she pushed them away, her panic growing by the second.

Suddenly, in a burst of frantic energy, Nandini turned and ran outside, her footsteps echoing through the quiet night. Everyone was left standing in shock, their minds struggling to catch up with what had just happened. They heard the roar of an engine as Nandini jumped into a car and sped away, leaving them behind in a cloud of confusion and fear.

Vishakha stumbled back, her face pale as she whispered, "Where did she go?" Her voice was laced with a mix of worry and disbelief, as if she couldn't comprehend what had just unfolded.

Mahir and Bela quickly moved to support her, guiding her to a chair as she nearly collapsed from the shock. "We'll find her, don't worry," Mahir reassured, though his own voice was shaky with concern.

Navya was already frantically trying to call Nandini, but there was no answer. Each ring that went unanswered only increased the tension in the room.

"She's not picking up," Navya said, her voice filled with anxiety as she redialed, hoping desperately for a response.

Neyonika moved to Vishakha's side, trying to offer some comfort. "Don't worry, we'll find her," she said softly, though the worry in her eyes was unmistakable.

Manik stood still, the realization of what had just happened slowly sinking in. He clenched his fists, frustration and worry swirling inside him. He couldn't just stand there while Nandini was out there, scared and alone. He needed to find her.

In a sudden movement, Manik pushed the chair beside him, the loud scrape of wood against the floor making everyone jump. They all turned to him, concern etched on their faces, but Manik was already lost in his own thoughts. Then, as if a light bulb had gone off in his mind, he realized where she might be. Without wasting another second, he turned and bolted towards the door.

Cabir called out after him, "Manik, where are you going?"

"I know where she is!" Manik shouted back, his voice urgent as he ran to his car.

The younger group quickly followed, piling into the car with Manik. Alya, Mukti, Cabir, Navya, Abhimanyu and Dhruv exchanged worried glances

Meanwhile, the older group-Vishakha, Bela, Neyonika, Raj, and Mahir-scrambled to get into another car. The fear and worry were palpable as they followed Manik, hoping against hope that they would find Nandini safe and sound.

The night air was thick with tension as the cars sped through the streets, each person lost in their own thoughts. For Manik, every passing second felt like an eternity. The only thing keeping him together was the thought of finding Nandini and holding her, reassuring her that everything would be okay.

The streets blurred past as they raced to the place where Manik was sure Nandini would go. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white with the pressure.

Nandini gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles turning white as she sped down the empty road. The wind whipped through the open windows, but it did nothing to cool the burning in her chest. Tears blurred her vision, but she didn't care. She could barely breathe, her mind a chaotic swirl of memories and emotions, all centering around Manik.