MANAN- Strings of love

28. Betrayal

  Thank you for all your votes, comments. I want you all to know that I have written some stories in Dreame app. The stories are "Revenge Of Billionaire" and "Changing The Royal Rules". If you are looking for more stories then you can look into it.

    As the morning sun hit me, I looked at my left. Shikha slept with me, with her hands wrapped around my left hand, hugging me to her chest. 

    Last night when I came she started crying that I should never leave her, then she took a promise that I sleep with her and should not leave her even if I go to wash room. If I have so much emergency then I should take her to wash room.

    "Shikha, get up. It's.... ! 10:30, get up!" I literally shouted and took her in my arms. Made her brush and bathe. I got ready and descended the stairs with Shikha. Gunjan came to me asking about Shikha's health. I was surprised when Shikha came running to me from the arms of Mrs. Saxena. 

     "Let's have breakfast. You two are the only ones who did not have. I will help Shikha." She said and took Shikha in her arms. I am everyone is spoiling her. I remembered Manik, I called his mother's number but she didn't receive. I called Mukti but even she didn't receive. 

       I was feeling something was wrong. I didn't think twice before taking my bag and going to hospital when Harshad came raging like a bull. "Gather in the hall, it is very important, call everyone." he said and moved ahead.

     I thought it was really important and told Gunjan to tell everyone. I called Aliya who was still sleeping. All were gathered in the hall. "Papa, this contract is a fake one." Harshad's words raised many confusion among us.

    "Which contract are you talking about?" Mr. Saxena asked once he drank his coffee. "The contracts designed by my grandfather and Malhotra's ancestor. It is fake dad. Today I had been to one of the lawyer when he said that there is no British officer or any contract like this. The only contract was the one that said that we both will be helping orphanage equally. The signatures are forged."

     Everyone in the hall was shocked. What the hell is he saying? "What? But, why is that so?" Mrs. Saxena asked holding Aliya's hands who was really shocked by the revelation. "Yes dad, they wanted Nandini. The lawyer said they were searching her for three years. The contract, marriage drama was everything fake. "

    "Don't lie Harshad. How can you say something like this?" Aliya asked finally coming out of her shocked state. I am still dazed at why would they were trying to find me? "Everything started about 7 to 10 years back. Aniket, that is Nandini's brother used to work there. To have a track of our family, they were friends with Aliya."

     He showed the photographs and some files. The file contained some routines of Aliya. We were all shocked. "Everything came to end when Aniket died. He had given the information that there is no one other than his mother and his wife, but when he died they found a bag which contained the letter to Nandini and I don't know why they were searching Nandini, even after they got the letter."

     "No Bhai, Druv cannot do such a thing. I know him." Now tears were streaming down from her eyes. Her eyes were pleading with her eyes to find some loop in that and Druv to be innocent. "Everything was a lie, Kabir, Mukti, Druv and Manik everyone was involved." Harshad's words were like they were stabbing my heart with knives.

     I didn't know why but a part of me desired that this should be a lie but the proof lying in front of me were true. It was an easy riddle and the answer was my blood, was everything done for my blood? 

     I remembered the way Mukti used to talk, I remembered the way Manik used to see me whenever I used to bring some files. I thought it to be affection, but it turned out to be anything but affection. 

     The betrayal that I faced from everyone was eating me. I looked at Aliya who repeatedly checking the audios and files of her love. In one of the audio Druv had completely admitted that he was just acting with Aliya being in love. 

    "How did you get to know all about this?" I asked wiping the tear that escaped. Thank goodness Shikha went with a maid to buy groceries. "After the attack on Manik, I hired a private investigator. I don't know where he got it from? But everything was true." I took a breather and went get my bag.

     I checked the blood which I took yesterday. It was closed in a glass bottle. I think this is enough to end my relation. I entered Malhotra Mansion when I heard laughing. "I can't believe that Nandini finally is giving us what we were waiting for. Yesterday one of my men hospital told me that she took her blood in a glass bottle when Manik was admitted." Mukti's voice was heard.

     I quickly hid behind the pillar and waited for more. "If I knew this act of us will get us what we will get then I would definitely do it before." Manik's cheery voice was heard. "Don't forget Manik we are still waiting for her to give us blood. " Mr. Malhotra's voice told me what was all required.

     "So when are you going to marry Soha. Please don't forget to invite me." I could not believe my eyes, Navya sat there with Kabir keeping her head on his shoulder. What I heard broke my heart to core. No, I should not be weak. I was just marrying Manik for my country and Shikha but now I don't want him. That's it.

    I came to their view by clapping my eyes. "You are all so brilliant. I think I am lucky to find a devils for friends." Their shocked faces were the ones that came into my view. I got the glass bottle and handed it to Mr. Malhotra. 

    "Never, I repeat , never ever come near me, Shikha and Saxena. Because we all got to know everything about fake contract and everything. So never show your faces to any of us. Congratulations for your wedding with Soha. Khurana, Mr. Manik. Manik Malhotra." I said and turned to leave. I knew my heart had been knifed into million pieces but I had to be strong for Shikha.

    "Nandu, listen..." I didn't let Navya complete her words. "Don't call me Nandu, it's Miss. Murthy for you. I regret giving a place in my house moreover I regret handing you Shikha. I thought you to be best friend but you turned out to be my worst enemy. I am getting retraining order against all of you. Stay away." I finally said and went ahead.

    I think this is the end of every dream I dreamt about Shikha. A happy family for her is broken. How am I going to convince Shikha? Now I don't have anyone. Today for the fist time in my life I am feeling lonely.

   I thought finally something good came in my life but it turned out to be the worst of my life. I lost a dream, a family, a friend and a.... love? "Mom, Anna please give me strength" I said as I touched the locket given to me by Anna on my 18th birthday. I sat in Auto Rickshaw as I thought about my future plans. 

___________________________________________

 So what do you think if you were in Nandini's shoes? Did Nandini did a good thing?

Character's Opinion

Lotus_dream: What are your next plan about future?

Aliya: Everything about my future was filled with Druv but now, I don't know.

Lotus_dream: So, If Druv comes and asks your forgiveness, will you forgive him.

Aliya: I think I will forgive him but I will never forget what he did? 

Lotus_dream: Will you marry another person other than Druv?

Aliya: I don't know. I think I need a break.