The Forbidden Fruit (MaNan FF)

i.

Manik Malhotra never knew what it felt like to have parents who loved and cared for him. Ever since the moment he was born, his parents had always hated him. They didn't even love each other. His mother was only after his father's money, but to his father she was just another fling. When Manik's mother got pregnant with him, she was happy as she could now blackmail his father into marrying her. That was the only time he became the cause of her happiness.

His father never loved him. Instead, he always blamed Manik for everything that went wrong with his life. It was Manik's fault that he had to marry his mother, a woman he never liked, let alone love. It was Manik's fault whenever a business deal would go wrong. It was Manik's fault even if all alcohol stash got finished!

At the age of four, little Manik stopped expecting any sort of love and affection from his parents. He had realized that his parents would only hate him day by day, and he couldn't do anything about it.

As the years went by, he started becoming invisible to them. They barely talked to him and his existence in the same house was always ignored. They wouldn't even scold him or hate him anymore, they had grown indifferent to him, and they didn't care about his life in the slightest. Manik's only support were his friends at school. His own house suffocated him and that was the last place he would want to be at. Still, he was their blood and he loved them, even though he hated it.

To get his parents' attention, Manik would do all sorts of crazy things. During his school years, he would always try to top the class but it didn't really matter to them. When that didn't work, he would rebel in every possible way just to get them to notice him but alas, he failed again. The ones who introduced him to the world really didn't care about him in the slightest. He had no respect for them anymore, but he just couldn't hate them despite his desperate attempts. All he could do was love them and hope that one day, maybe one day, they'll start to love him back.

xx

Nandini Murthy had the life of a princess ever since her childhood. A poor princess living in a small, dusty house located in a crowded area, but a princess nonetheless. Her mama and papa always loved her unconditionally and fulfilled all her wishes. Even if they couldn't afford something she wanted, they would push their budget and try to get her that. Ever since her childhood, Nandini always understood their struggle and wouldn't ask for something unless she absolutely needed it. She had the best parents in the world, and they had the best daughter there could ever be. That is exactly why after they passed away in a car crash, the eighteen year old Nandini was left completely shattered. All she wanted was to have her parents back, but now that seemed next to impossible.

Shortly after their demise, Nandini found out that the people who raised her for all these years were actually her adoptive parents. This information which told her that the biggest truth of her life had been hidden for so long shocked Nandini to the core. However, when her biological parents offered her to stay with them once her parents passed away, she couldn't find herself to refuse. That was exactly how she landed up in their mansion with all her suitcases, ready to meet her real family.

Once she got out of the limousine they had sent for her, she was led into the house by a servant. It was even bigger and much more beautiful inside and Nandini sucked in her breath. She wasn't used to all this luxury.

The same servant took her upstairs to her room which was already well furnished. As she plopped down on the cream colored silk bed sheets, Nandini started wondering whether or not this was all true.

"So you're my sister?" A voice startled her as she got up immediately. Upon turning to its direction, she saw the figure of a male standing in her doorway.

"... Yes?" Nandini gulped, unsure of her answer herself.

The figure stepped forward into the light, allowing Nandini to have a better look at his face. He let a smirk take over his face as he merely whispered, "Welcome to your worst nightmare."