Swara's eyes sparkled with amusement as she extended the invitation to Sanskar, her innocent facade barely containing her mischievous grin. "Even you are invited, sir," she said, biting her inner lip to hide her smile.

Sanskar's response was swift and biting. "Sure, Miss Swara, isn't it obvious I'll come? Without the groom, there won't be any engagement." With that, he turned on his heel and walked out, leaving Swara startled and momentarily speechless.

For a moment, Swara's mask slipped, and she stared after Sanskar, her eyes wide with surprise. She hadn't expected him to call her bluff so bluntly. As the realization dawned on her, a flush rose to her cheeks, and she couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation. "Touché, Sanskar," she whispered to herself, a newfound respect for his quick wit and sharp tongue.

Swara's mind still reeling from Sanskar's possessive outburst. "Uff, I never knew one day I'll love your possessiveness," she thought, a flutter in her chest.

But reality quickly set in, and she was reminded of her current predicament. "Now, I have to find a groom (bakra) for me," she thought, her eyes scanning her contacts with a mix of amusement and desperation.

As she scrolled through the list, her fingers stopped on a particular name, and a sly smile spread across her face. "Perfect," she whispered to herself, a plan beginning to form in her mind. The name on her screen seemed tailor-made for the role she had in mind "hope he won't end up from Sanskar's hands, well who cares"

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Sanskar's face twisted in anger as he ordered Rahul, "Find the person who dared to wish what's mine." But before Rahul could even begin to act on the order, he interrupted with a grave expression, "Sir, Nandini ma'am have been attacked."

Sanskar's eyes turned dark, his pupils constricting with rage. "Where is she now?" he growled, his voice low and menacing.

Rahul's words tumbled out in a rush, "Maheshwari mansion..."

Sanskar didn't hear anything else. He was already in motion, rushing out of the room with a singular focus. He drove his car at breakneck speeds, weaving through traffic and breaking all signals. His heart pounded in his chest, fueled by fear and anger. The thought of anyone harming Nandini was unbearable, and he was determined to reach her side as soon as possible.

The speedometer needle hovered precariously close to the red zone as Sanskar took sharp turns, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. His eyes were fixed on the road ahead, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. He had to get to Nandini, had to make sure she was safe. The world around him blurred into insignificance as he pushed the car to its limits, driven by a primal urge to protect what was his.

Sanskar burst into the house, his frantic search for Nandini ending as he spotted her surrounded by her parents. They were hovering over her, checking for any injuries, their faces etched with worry. Sanskar's relief was palpable as he rushed to Nandini's side, enveloping her in a tight hug.

As he held her close, Sanskar felt a depth of emotion he hadn't experienced in a long time. "After a long time, I felt scared," he thought, his mind reeling with the realization. "Scared to lose my only family, scared to be left alone in the whole universe again."

The fear that had driven him to reckless driving moments ago still lingered, and Sanskar held Nandini even tighter, as if he'd never let her go. In this moment, he was vulnerable, his guard down, and his love for Nandini shone through like a beacon. He was grateful to have her safe and sound in his arms, and the thought of anything happening to her was unbearable.

Sanskar's gaze shifted from Nandini's face to the figure emerging from the kitchen. Manik, with a calm and collected demeanor, walked towards them, washing his hands. As he caught Sanskar's eye, he offered a casual greeting, "Hi," and waved his hand in a relaxed manner.

Sanskar's expression turned icy, his eyes narrowing as he took in Manik's nonchalant attitude. The warmth and vulnerability he had displayed just moments ago while hugging Nandini seemed to dissipate, replaced by a cold, calculating gaze.

Sanskar's eyes blazed with anger as he stepped away from Nandini, his gaze fixed intently on Manik. "What the... you are doing here?" he demanded, his voice rising in indignation.

He took a step closer to Manik, his eyes narrowing. "How did you enter inside? What are the guards doing?" Sanskar's voice was a low, menacing growl, his anger and suspicion evident.

Manik, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by Sanskar's anger, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the stormy atmosphere.

"Relax brother in law" manik smiled "this is your house only chill pill" he said acting cool.

Manik's smirk grew as he pulled Nandini towards him. "And about me being here," he said, "didn't your right-hand man, the brilliant hacker, your assistant Mr. Rahul, inform you that I'm your precious sister's childhood lover?" He delivered the question with such an innocent tone that Sanskar couldn't help but wonder if this was really the same Manik Malhotra known for his masterful mind games.

Sanskar's eyes widened in incredulity as Manik casually dropped the bombshell about being Nandini's childhood lover. The words hung in the air like a challenge, and Sanskar's mind reeled as he tried to process the information.

Sanskar's gaze flicked to Nandini, who was watching the exchange with a mixture of amusement and wariness. Her eyes met Sanskar's, and for a moment, he thought he saw a glimmer of confirmation.

Manik's smirk grew wider as he pulled Nandini closer, his eyes never leaving Sanskar's face. "I'm the same Manik Malhotra who... well, let's just say I'm a man of many talents," he said, his voice dripping with amusement as if reading what's going on Sanskar's mind.

Rahul looked at Manik with a pout, "Mujhe kyun thoda?" he complained.

Sanskar turned to Rahul, his voice stern. "How can you miss such an important thing?"

Manik chuckled and smirked. "Maybe because I know how to hide my precious from the whole world."

Sanskar's eyes flashed with anger as he turned to Manik. "Get off my sister's hand," he growled, pulling Nandini towards him and prying her loose from Manik's grasp.

Nandini's eyes darted between the two men, her expression a mix of amusement and wariness.

Manik's smile grew wider as he pulled Nandini towards him again. "Sorry, brother-in-law, that's not happening – at least not in this birth, or even in the next," he said, his voice dripping with amusement.

Sanskar's face turned red with rage, his fury reaching a boiling point. "Get out of my house before I kill you," he thundered, his voice echoing through the room.

The air was charged with tension as Sanskar's anger seemed to crackle with electricity, his eyes blazing with a fierce protectiveness towards Nandini.

Manik's eyes sparkled with mischief as he feigned concern. "Means doesn't Nandu have rights on this house?" he asked, his voice laced with fake pity.

Sanskar's face twisted in anger as he grabbed Manik's collar. "She has all rights in this house, or every single thing in this house," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "Don't you dare play your mind games with my sister," he warned, his eyes blazing with a fierce protectiveness towards Nandini.

Manik removed Sanskar's grip from his collar, he smiled, his words hanging in the air like a challenge. "And I'm right now in this house means only she has rights on my existence," he said, his tone dripping with confidence.

Sanskar's eyes widened, taken aback by Manik's bold declaration left Sanskar momentarily speechless.

Before he could react, Manik turned to Nandini, his expression softening into a gentle smile. "Let's go to your room, baby doll," he said, taking Nandini's hand and pulling her towards him.

Sanskar's eyes widened in outrage as Manik's words hung in the air. "What? Why?" he spluttered, shocked by Manik's suggestion.

Manik's eyebrow arched perfectly as he asked, "Don't you know what couples do inside the room?" His tone was laced with amusement, and he seemed to be enjoying Sanskar's discomfort.

Sanskar's face reddened as Manik added, "How will you know? You're still single." The jab hit its mark, and Sanskar's anger simmered just below the surface, waiting to boil over.

Nandini cleared her throat by his statement, manik saw her then his face turned in amusement "really!" he exclaimed, Nandini nodded giggling, her eyes shining with amusement.

"How my God, brother-in-law, you're not single but double," Manik's grin grew wider as he pulled Sanskar into a tight hug. The gesture caught Sanskar off guard, and he stiffened, unsure how to react to Manik's sudden display of affection.

Rahul looks like he will faint any second while Sanskar was taken back by manik's gesture.

Manik's tease was perfectly aimed, and Sanskar's reaction was priceless. "Congratulations, means even you know how to hide your precious possession just like me," Manik said with a smirk.

Nandini burst into laughter, her eyes shining with amusement "Same pinch!" The words only added to Sanskar's shock.

Sanskar's face was a picture of stunned outrage – his mouth hung half-open, his eyes wide with incredulity, his fists clenched, and his muscles tensed. He looked like he'd been struck by lightning, his reaction speaking volumes about the depth of his shock and anger.

Raman munched happily on his popcorn, the crunchy sound filling the air as he savored each bite. Meanwhile, Ishita relaxed with her orange juice, the tangy flavor refreshing her as she watched the scene unfold with amusement.

"Papa, I'm so tired," Nandini said with a pout, dragging Manik towards her room and leaving Sanskar looking like a ticking time bomb.

Sanskar turned to rahul but Rahul was already backing away. "Aahh, sir, my stomach is hurting badly, I need leave," he cried, clutching his stomach in mock agony.

Raman chuckled at the sight, pointing out, "Beta, you're holding your head." Rahul gulped, his sheepish grin betraying his attempt to feign innocence.

Sanskar's anger seemed to be building towards a volcanic eruption, and Rahul knew he needed to escape. "I will email my resignation letter, sir," he said, hastily retreating before Sanskar's wrath could descend upon him. Rahul fled the scene, leaving Sanskar seething with rage, his face a picture of fury, reminiscent of mogambo at his most menacing.

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The goon gasped out his words, "Mission failed, boss," but before he could even finish, the boss's expression shifted from expectation to fury. The boss's calmness was more terrifying than any explosion of anger, and the goon felt a chill run down his spine.

In the next second, the goon's world went dark as he was brutally silenced, his lifeless body crashing to the floor. The boss's ruthlessness leaving no doubt about the consequences of failure. The room fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the boss, his eyes flashing with a deadly intensity holding a gun that commanded absolute control and fear from his underlings.

The boss's cold tone sent a shiver down the spines of his men, despite their hardened exteriors. "I want her at any cost," he growled, his voice devoid of emotion. "Bring her here, or be ready to leave your useless life."

The air seemed to thicken with tension as the men nodded, their faces expressionless. They knew better than to question the boss's orders or show any sign of weakness. The boss's ruthlessness was a well-known fact, and they had witnessed it firsthand.

With a curt nod, the men dispersed, their mission clear. They would stop at nothing to bring her to the boss, no matter the cost. The boss's obsession had become their top priority, and failure was not an option.

The boss's words dripped with malice as he savored the thought of Nandini's impending capture. "Soon you will be in my territory, Nandini Rajveer Maheshwari," he sneered, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure.

His voice took on a taunting tone as he continued, "Your father died while saving you, but he still failed to save you." The words were laced with venom, and the boss's evil laughter echoed through the walls, sending a chill down the spine of anyone who heard it.

The sound of his maniacal laughter seemed to reverberate with an ominous significance, foreshadowing a dark and sinister fate for Nandini.

Little did the boss know, Nandini had two formidable protectors who would stop at nothing to keep her safe. Sanskar Maheshwari, her brother, and Manik Malhotra, her lifeline, were forces to be reckoned with.

Together, they would unleash a firestorm of fury upon anyone who dared to touch Nandini.

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Hey readers! 👋

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