MaNan: It all started with a lie

Time to Confront- 1

As soon as Manik learned about Pandit's location, he made no delay and left the jam room along with the gang after informing the police.

Soon they were at the location but the view in front of them was very pleasing instead of disturbing like the gang had imagined it to be.

Pandit was right there, yelling in pain as Nandini who stood next to him was furiously hitting him with a metal rod making him bleed. Manik, Maddy and Abhimanyu had a proud smile on their faces while the others looked amused seeing the little tigress in front of them.

Sure they hadn't expected this sight at all.

The police reached soon after and rushed to Nandini, trying to stop her but in vain for her anger knew no bounds. Chuckling at his mini monster, Manik strolled towards her and held her from around her waist, preventing her from reaching the already bloody Pandit to hit him.

Nandini: Leave me! I am not sparing him. Yeh Amms ka favourite student tha, Amms trusted him but he betrayed her

She screamed angrily, struggling in Manik's arms to get herself free.

Manik: Shh...Nandini I know but ab police aa gayi hai na so they'll handle him. Let's go

Nandini: No I won't spare him so easily

She continued to struggle and sighing in defeat, Manik had to eventually drag her outside forcefully.

Nandini: Why did you bring me out? Acha sabak sikhati main use

Nandini huffed angrily as soon as she stepped out of the place with Manik. Manik looked amused at her anger while Abhimanyu and Maddy chuckled and the rest were plain shocked.

Abhimanyu: Nandu relax. Police acha sabak sikhaegi use, you don't need to worry

Nandini: But-

Maddy: Munchkin he is right. Let's leave it on the police. You shouldn't get involved in this

Nandini: Fine

She pouted and Manik just wanted to kiss the life out of her, seeing her being so cute.

Soon they reached Nandini's place and settled in the living room after freshening up a bit to know what actually happened.

Nandini: So today morning when I reached Space, the Pandit was behaving weirdly. I started getting suspicious due to his weirdness but then I thought I was overthinking so I let it be. He lighted the dhoop and asked me to sing in that smoke. I had seen Amms conducting such activities so I agreed but the smoke kept increasing and slowly I fainted. The next I remember I was locked up in a room, tied with ropes and Pandit was sitting right in front of me

Aryaman: But ek baat abtak samajh nahi aayi, why did he kidnap you?

Nandini: For revenge

Mukti: Revenge?

Nandini: Ha actually Maddy you remember Rohan? He is Pandit's brother

Maddy: WHAT!?

Manik: Ek second...who is Rohan?

Aryaman: Rohan was one of our classmates back in NY who tried to harass Nandini physically but Maddy caught him in time and got him arrested

Abhimanyu: Nandu you didn't tell me this

He sounded disappointed and so did Manik since he wasn't there when this happened and nor did Nandini find it important to tell him about it.

Manik: Let it be Abhi. Maybe she thought it wasn't important to let us know about it

Nandini: No it's not that. Its- it's just uss waqt Amms thodi bimaar thi toh Abhi was stressed and I didn't want to stress him more with this aur Manik you had your talent hunt coming up at that time and I was sure ki agar main tumhe batati toh tum sab chodke yaha aa jaate

Abhimanyu: But you could have told us after all that happened

Nandini: I wanted to but I wasn't strong enough to share. I am sorry

Manik: Simce when did you need to be strong to share stuff with us Nandini? We always shared what we felt out of habit and because we wanted the other one to know what we felt or what was happening in our lives

Manik still sounded hurt and so did Abhimanyu. Nandini was on the verge of crying now for she didn't want their relationship to suffer.

Nandini: I was disturbed and I didn't know what to do par fir I slowly I overcame my fears and moved on. I didn't want to remember my past and make you two suffer because I knew that once you two would come to know about it, you would feel guilty and I didn't want that to happen

She choked for a second but continued again.

Nandini: Trust me, you guys are really important to me and I am sorry for hiding it...I am sorry

Her voice broke towards the end as she was engulfed in a tight hug from both the sides. She was very adorably squished between Manik and Abhimanyu who were hugging the life out of her.

Abhimanyu: Hey baby doll don't cry na. Tu jaanti hai we don't like your tears

Manik: Exactly! These tears are precious and you are wasting them by crying so ab rona band karo

Manik agreed and gently wiped away her tears gesturing her to smile which she did eventually.

Sanjana: I think I should leave now

Sanjana said awkwardly, feeling a little left out which caught everyone's attention but was stopped by Manik.

Manik: We'll drop you after all you've helped us so much and also tumhe chot lagi hai so first we need to take you to a doctor and get your wound treated

Sanjana: No its-

She began to refute but was cut off by Maddy.

Maddy: Tumhe lagi hai? Kaha?

He asked worriedly but before she could replied he saw her hand that had turned blue now due to all the swelling.

Maddy: Shit your hand! Kya zaroorat thi tumhe superwoman ban-ne ki ha? You could have called for help na but nai madam ko sab khud hi karna hai. Voh toh acha hua ki the Pandit was in hurry isliye zyaada kuch nai kiya but hone ko toh kuch bhi ho sakta tha na...it could have been a risk to your life dammit!

He blabbed, concern clearly swimming in his eyes which Sanjana adored. It had been too long since she had witnessed this side of Maddy for her and she just wished for the moment to never end.

Feeling her gaze, Maddy got conscious and snapped out of his trance, awkwardly moving away from Sanjana.

Maddy: uh voh I mean...you...uh...visit a doctor and just get it treated

He spoke slowly, avoiding any sort of eye contact. Nandini sighed watching him trying to cover up his concern and strolled towards him.

Nandini: Maddy stop running away for God sake and just get done with this already. You know you need a closure and she is here to give you that. Give this a chance...one last time

She said softly and left patting his shoulder along with others who understood her cue leaving behind Maddy and Sanjana.

Happy reading.

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