Mukti's POV

I stared at Cabir, Dhruv, and Alya standing in a line in front of me and trying to digest the truth they heard from Manik, I mean Bhai, a moment ago. Even I'm processing the blur memories of a cute girl with two ponytails always playing around me, my best friend, Alu, and those two friends of Bhai are like the overprotective package of three brothers who are ever ready to fight for me with others and against me to tease.

"Muku" Alya cried out before running to me and engulfing me in a tight hug and soon Cabir and Dhruv joined her crying "Doll"

I let out a breathless chuckle as they all are hugging me so tight and show no sign of leaving me anytime. So finally I've to say  "I can't b-breathe!!!"

"Oh... Sorry sorry" they left me within seconds and checked if I'm ok.

"Get off her... and let's sit first" Manik ...Bhai came for my rescue and pulled me to the sofa to sit near him.

Yes! Now we're back to Malhotra Mansion, which is also mine... like the surname 'Malhotra'. Mukti Malhotra... 'MM'

I looked up to see a clueless and confused Abhi whispering with Navya and Nandini as they three came and sit on the sofa to our left while Alya, Dhruv and Cabir took seats on our right. I then glanced up to see Mom walking slowly, slowly while looking around here n there.

I know she's feeling uncomfortable and hurt, mostly after what Manik accused of her and how Cabir, Dhruv, and Alya react when they saw her with us; shocked and enraged!
But she's not the culprit.... she's the victim. Like me!

Hmm...
I've recalled everything that I've forgotten... I remember who is my mother, my superhero, my father, my friends, all those memories... even though they are blur and unclear. My head still hurts when I try forcing myself for a clear one, but I remember!
The moment my eyes landed on this petite familiar feminine figure of my mother... something triggered in my head, pools of flashes ran in a fraction of second, my head reeled and blackness covered my eyes... ...And when I woke up... I remembered... everything! From my childhood to that deadly night... Everything!

I got up to my Mom and pulled her along with me making her sit beside me on the sofa while the Mafia clans who happens to be my bros and sis, gave Mom looks.

"What is she doing here, Manik?" Cabir asked pointing to Mom.

"Yes! And How? I mean, how do you know Mukti is our Mukti and this..." Alya too added impatiently.

"Even I need some answers!" Manik spoke sternly glancing over from left at my friends to me.

I can see in everyone's eyes full of questions, doubts, misunderstandings, and confusion... This needs to be cleared... to be answered certainly and clearly.
But this doesn't just about me... this involves my soul sister, my savior, my best friend from nothing, Nandini too.

I shifted my eyes at her and found her already staring at me... and I clearly didn't miss the pain in her eyes. 

Should I reveal it all? It might scrap the unrecovered wounds of Nandu! Will it be okay?
No no... I can't hurt her anyway!

"17th January 2003"

All head snapped to the person who broke the silence, Nandini! when I was hanging on whether to tell or not?

She slightly nodded her head telling me to say it out, and I guess, this is the best! I took a deep sign before starting

"That day, I didn't go for school as I've fever from the later night and Bhai has to go alone as he has the football matches" Manik nodded while looking at me telling that he remembers.

"Later in the afternoon, Dad came and told us that he wanted to take us to the Mela(fair) that was going to end that day only. I was all excited to go, but I wanted to take you too" I spoke looking at Manik trying to make him understand what exactly happened that day.

"But since you'd not back yet, Dad said we should go first and he'll bring you when you'll be back. And me, Mom and Dad stepped out for the fair...
...But instead, we landed in some scary abandoned factory.

Then... I just don't know out of where... few goons came and forcibly took us into that ghost-house. And I can't even understand anything, what's going on. We're supposed to be at Mela; swinging, playing, buying toys and eating a lot of fast-food... but there we're shouting, yelling and crying for God knows what and how???" Tears have started to make their way through my eyes by now as I'm remembering the sequence of incidents that happened on that dreadful night.

"Then... they tried to touch me... and when I resisted, they slapped, hit me and even forced me- Mom! Mom!..." I turned to face mom being baffled and see her with teary eyes.

"Bhai! They forced on Mom too... they hit her... Mom... Why did you make me run? What did they do with you? How?... Are you fine?" I asked anxiously checking her up and down to ensure if she's fine.

God! I can't even imagine what my Mom would have been through for trying to save me?

"I'm fine, Doll..." Mom caressed my cheeks lovingly and gave a smile amidst the tears "How could I have let those men harass my daughter? No mother would want that.
I'm so glad that you successfully ran away from them that night and now... you're fit n fine in front of my eyes... I'm so happy to see you alright!" She hugged me tight and I responded equally.

"No Mom... I wouldn't be alive today if for not Nandini." I voiced and even almighty knew how much truth my words are.

"Nandini! How can I thank you enough for saving my daughter's life!" Mom cried folding her hands to which Nandu kneeled down in front of her taking her hands and shooking her head vigorously

"No no, Aunty... It was Mukti who helped me through my life when I was left devastated. I did take her with me as I run, but she never left my side till day... She has become my life and I won't hesitate to keep myself at stake for her" I took her in a tight hug as she finished saying those words. I really think sometimes, where did I go so lucky to have someone like Nandini in my life?

"But..how are you present at that place?" Alya raised the question and I could feel nandu tensed up.

"That night!... i- my parents got killed in front of my eyes... and I escaped." Nandini murmured looking down at the floor and I decided to not drag the topic that deepens her pain.

"Then... she found me sitting n crying inside a big precast cement pipe......." I narrated how she & I ran from the goons, how we took a train and escaped the city, how we've spent nights in slums without shelter, without food... and I got ill adding to the trouble

"Somehow Nandu managed to get me admitted to one of the hospitals and one kind lady helped us with the formalities too. I was so wounded mentally stressed and also physical pain and exhaustion that I had passed out for almost a week in the hospital which cost almost every nit of money Nandini had brought with.
And when I get the sense, I couldn't even recall anything about what happened with me, not even my name. I've never opened my mouth during those few days I stayed with Nandu, so even she had no clue. But most of the time, I got this scary nightmare and end up blabbering 'Superhero... Save... Mom... Mukti...' That's how I was named Mukti by her."

By the time I ended, I saw Manik Bhai has his head bowed down. I know he must be feeling extremely guilty and at fault for not being able to save me when I needed him the most... when I needed my Superhero with me.

I placed my hand over his causing him to look up at me... "Don't blame yourself, Bhai!"

He shook his head pulling back his hand "No Mukti! No! It's all my fault. My fault! I shouldn't have believed him when he said all those lies to me about our Mom. He fed me with his lies and I got manipulated so easily... I- I believed when he said that Mom's after money because I've seen Mom& Dad fighting for money. Dad used to stay away from home and used to be back late at nights after we slept... and I've seen Mom shouting at Dad and having petty fights... And I believed. I-I'm..." he palmed his face rubbing it harshly.

"Manik..." Mom whispered causing Manik to force his head up at her. I stood up from between them, giving them space.

"Manik beta" She again whispered with love looking at his son and Manik's face has turned so vulnerable, he grabs hold of Mom's palm gently

"Mom" A low cracking voice escaped his lips and the next moment he's on Mom's lap hugging him as if his life depends on her and Mom's eyes brimmed with tears as she patted her son's head after a long time, finally.

As the emotional session subsidizes, Cabir asked his mind out "Aunty, Where were you all these years long?" This certainly gained everyone's attention, after all even I wanna know.
I couldn't find her because I'd lost my memory, but why didn't she find me?

"I was in Malaysia" All gave her confused looks wanting the explanation and she signed before starting to tell her part of the story...

"That night, they physically abused me and... gang-raped too" I gasped loudly at the sound of it while Mom continued looking at her lap "When they were satisfied, but still angered that I made my daughter escape, they hit me with their belts and left me on the ground where I fell all lifeless and blooded. I almost thought it was my end when I heard some footsteps approaching, found it to be a lady stumbling and trembling, holding her stomach to stop the blood from oozing out of it. It seems like she was stabbed multiple times with a knife!
Watching her, I got the strength to stand up and walk to her... She die-off in my hands, but her courage to walk till there in spite of those wounds forced me to fight for my life and I walked out somehow and luckily got a savior who happened to drop me on a ship to Malaysia. But, I was so abused and wounded that I passed out before knowing.
And I woke up just three years back!"

Well, that's surprised us... Three years back?

"Hun? How?" Navya voiced.

"As I woke up, I found two girls, of around Mukti's age near me and brimming with happiness with the fact that I woke up. Later I got to know from their father, who has actually save me from that ship and took me under care, that I've been in coma for 14 years due to some brain injury and my body was so damaged to be operated or healed any faster.
He was a doctor and had been to India that time to search for the mother of his children, but he found that she'd moved on with someone she loves, so he was returning back disheartened. But as he saw me, he took me as his patient but to keep his kids heart, had to lie his daughters that I'm their mother, and I had an accident leading me to coma.

I would have come back three years back to search for you... But I got to know that he was detected with last stage cancer and has a very few days in his hands. he wanted both his daughters to get married and have a happy life afterward and asked me to do so.  I could not deny him as he's done so much for me, saved my life, gave me the treatment... so I stayed there after his death, get his daughters married just a few months ago and finally told them the truth of me not being their real mother. Finally, I was all set to be back, when Mr. Naveli's special force came to bring me here... to you."

The hall fell silent after every truth got disclosed... all are silent...

Well, What should I say or think... everything is so blank! So... sad!

"She was alive!" This meek voice broke this pregnant silence prevailing and all snapped their head to the source

Nandini!

But what is she talking about? Who?

"She was alive and I ran away leaving her to die there" she whispered more likely to herself. Her face held this surprised-at-the-fact look and it was expressionless, eyes not blinking but staring at the floor all blank, lips trembling slightly as she breathes in & out the air through her mouth as if having the difficulty in breathing

"Nandin-" I was about to call when she stood on her legs abruptly startling all of us. She still isn't looking at anyone but floor with the blank look whereas all of us have our eyes on her.

And the next moment she ran!

She ran out of the house and we are left shouting for her from the back till we get a ping in our chat group "Just let me alone... Plz"- Nans.

I sighed. Hope she will be fine... alone!

*****

Hump! So much Drama, right?

What do you think about Manik's Dad now?

And anything about his Mom, Nyonika?

Okay, so let's wait n watch Nandu.

Finally, the major part of the revelation is here and now the focus will go to our protagonists; Nandini & Manik...

So, The targeted vote will the same- 200.

Till then, stay safe! Bye!!