Next Morning, Murty Mansion

Manik let out a sigh as Cabir nudged him for the nth time. Infront of him, Abhi was sitting silently with his head buried into his palms.

Manik hated this. He absolutely hated the fact that even though Abhi was wrong, he couldn't blame him completely.

Even if Abhi didn't hear Nandini in the past, it was him who started searching for her first.

He left his leading company in the hands of his pa or manager and himself worked as a manager in her company.

All this, for what?

Just to get Nandini's forgiveness.

Again, as much as he hated to admit- Abhi loved Nandini the most in his life. She was above everything for him, even more than his own sister or all of the wealth he owns.

Dhruv: Buddy, are you gonna speak now?

Dhruv whispered from behind and Manik came out of his thoughts. He looked at Dhruv and nodded his head in yes before walking to Abhi.

The others waited impatiently for him to say something if not apologize for his rude behaviour but when he just clear his throat awkwardly, they all face palmed.

Aliya: Manik!

She whispered yelled from behind and Manik hurriedly nodded his head.

Manik: Abhi?

Abhi, who had been oblivious to his surroundings looked up and frowned seeing Manik.

Abhi: What?

Manik: I-I - I a-am Sorry!

He finally let out a huge breathe. His friends were rolling their eyes standing behind them while Abhi just shook his head.

Abhi: It is okay. I deserve all the words you said, or also the punch. Though don't tell Barbie, she might kick you out of here.

Manik: Nandini!

Abhi: huh?

Manik: Her name is Nandini. Barbie is a doll, not human. Don't call her that.

Manik frowned over his stupid logic making others shake their head in disbelief including Abhi, though they know he was just being jealous at that moment.

Abhi: Listen, Your Nandini is my Barbie right from the time when I was ten and she was seven. So thinking that I will stop calling her barbie  is pointless.

Manik looked at him wide-eyed, not able to believe that the guy was just in a terrible mood few moments ago and was now boosting about his and his barbie's relation as if he was injected with Glucose-D.

Abhi: Anyways, I was saying-

Manik: We are gonna prove Nandini innocent.

He interrupted Abhi who nodded his head, a little irked for he was interuppted in between but didn't say anything.

Cabir: First, we need to know where was she for the whole six months.

Abhi: No, we will ask her later. For now, let's find what actually happened that day.

Manik: And for that we need to start from the start.

Dhruv: You mean?

Manik: Yes, Take us to the hospital where Soha was admitted, Abhi.

Manik spoke making others frown in confusion.

Aliya: But why there, Manik?

Manik: Aliya, as Abhi said a person called Harshad to inform them about Soha being in the hospital, it means the person was in hospital too. The hospital might have registered his name, mobile number, or maybe address. We can get some information there.

Mukti: But do you think they will have all the details even after two years?

Cabir: And even if they have, it might be difficult to find, Manik.

Manik: Difficult or easy, doesn't matter. Now when we have decided to do it, we will do at any cost.

They all nodded and came out of the mansion. At the same time, they came across Nandini who was also leaving for office. She looked angry but knowing she won't tell them the reason behind her anger, nobody asked her except Manik who directly went and stood infront of her.

Manik: Hey, Good Morning.

Nandini: What?

Manik: You look angry. What happened?

Nandini: Nothing.

She waited for him to utter a bye and leave but when he didn't, she crossed her arms against her chest and raised a eyebrow, waiting for him to say something.

Manik: You know you shouldn't frown always. Your face-

Nandini: Two hours.

She interrupted and this time he frowned along others.

Manik: Huh?

Nandini: I can see you people are going somewhere. You have two hours to finish your work and reach office. We have music to make and I don't like putting my work on hold.

Manik: Yeah sure, No problem.

Giving her a tight lipped smile he looked back at others who looked at him dejectely but he blinked his eyes and asked them to come.

They walked near the car and as Abhi took the driving seat, Mukti was going to sit beside him but before she could, Manik held her hand. Shaking his head in no, he gestured her to sit at the back with others while he himself sat infront.

Though disheartened, Mukti agreed and sat on the back where the others tried to cheer her up and were even succesful to some extent.

As Abhi started the car, Manik could feel Nandini's eyes on them all the time. From the side mirror, he even caught her frowning at his behaviour but he ignored it for time being.

He knew he was wrong but he couldn't help. He couldn't trust Abhi with his bestfriend. What if Abhi didn't stand up for Mukti in future just like he didn't stand for Nandini? Will Mukti be able to handle it?

He sighed and leaned back on the seat closing his eyes until they reached the hospital.

Walking in the same place where they had lost their everything wasn't at all easy for Abhi and that too when he had no support. Yes, Cabir, Dhruv and Aliya were there but he missed his bestfriends, and Mukti who even though was there, but not with him.

Although, he couldn't blame her or Manik for it. He knew he deserved everything that he was going through. Manik, not trusting him for his bestfriend, sure hurted him, it stung his heart on realising that he might not be able to hold Mukti's hand in his ever again, but he couldn't complain for he had given no reasons to Manik to trust him for Mukti.

He let out a sigh and realized they had reached the reception area. He looked around for a second and all the memories came rushing in his mind but before he could slip into the past again, the receptionist spoke gaining their attention.

Receptionist: Yes, How can I help you, sir?

Cabir: We are here to get some information regarding an accident that happened two years ago.

Receptionist: I am sorry, Sir but we can't give any details regarding any case like this.

Abhi: Listen, Miss. Rhea, the information is really important for us. And we aren't any strangers. We are family to the patient.

He replied calmly and she fell silent.

Aliya: Are you going to speak?

Rhea: I am really sorry, Mam. I still cannot give you any details.

Manik: Look, We are asking you politely or else we can call the owner and close your hospital in seconds.

Rhea: S-Sir but

Abhi: We don't have time to waste here. Are you giving us the information or should we do as he said?

He threatened and the poor receptionist could only nod her head. She knew who he was and what he could do.

Rhea: I-I am giving. Wait for a second, Sir.

Abhi nodded and they waited for her as turned to the laptop and typed something before turning it towards them.

Rhea: T-This is the list of all the cases that came two years before.

They nodded and Mukti came ahead to check the list.

Mukti: Abhi, At what time and date Soha was brought here?

Abhi: Huh?

Mukti: Time?

Abhi: A-Around Eleven in the morning on Twelve August.

Mukti nodded and continued checking. All of the sudden, her eyes lit up and she called all of them.

Mukti: Here it is,

They looked at her with hopeful eyes but soon saw her frowning.

Mukti: There's only his name.

Manik: Show

Mukti pointed at the screen and Manik sighed reading the name "Raju" given there. It didn't take him much to realize the name was fake.

Manik: Now what? Let's check the cctv. Maybe, we can get something there.

Dhruv: You are right, buddy. And now when we have already came till here, there is no harm in seeing the cctv also.

They nodded and Abhi turned to the receptionist.

Abhi: Can we see the cctv footage of 12 August, 2016?

Rhea opened her to deny but before she could, Abhi and Manik glared at her and she just nodded her head in yes.

Rhea: It is there but it won't be easy to find of that particular day.

Mukti: Leave that on us. Just show us where it is.

Rhea nodded and guided them to the old store room. Showing them the place, she hurriedly left from there and came to her desk.

Taking a deep breathe, she dialed her number.

Rhea: Hello, Mam. As you said, Mr.Abhi Thakker came to the hospital with their friends to get the information.

Nandini, who was on the other side sat emotionless.

Nandini: I hope you haven't given them any information.

Rhea: M-Mam, Actually-

Nandini: Actually what?

Though her voice was extremely calm, Rhea felt her hands shivering in fear. Everybody knows NM's anger and there was no way she wanted to experience it.

Rhea: I- I tried, mam but they threatened-

Nandini: Even I threatened you not to give any information to them, Rhea. I guess I will have to show you a little demo of what happens when you double cross me.

Rhea: M-Mam I am sorry. Please.

Nandini: Okay, Last chance. Go and stop them right now or you know what I am capable of.

Rhea: I-I will, Mam.

Nandini: and it is Abhimanyu Thakkar for you, not Abhi.

Rhea: O-Okay Mam.

She stammered and Nandini hung up the call.

Rhea: Everyone is behind me, what should I do now!

She cursed herself for even coming to the hospital today. However, she walked to the store room and found them still trying to find that one footage.

Rhea: Mam, Sir, Please leave from here. I cannot let you search anymore.

Manik: Look, Miss-

Rhea: Sir, I know you can closs the hospital but trust me, if I let you here, I will lose my job. So, please.

Hearing her words, Abhi understood it was Nandini behind all this. He gestured others to agree and they all walked out.

Abhi: We are going but can you try to remember if you know anything about this accident.

Rhea: Sir, I don't remember exactly but it was the day I joined here. There was a critical accident case. The patient was a girl and her friend along with a man brought her here. The man registered his name and left from there. It was normal until the girl started screaming at the doctors when they refused to treat the patient without informing the police. She created a big scene here.

Manik: And how are you sure the man was there friend?

Rhea: If he was her friend, he would've stayed there but he didn't.

Aliya: Thankyou so much, Rhea. You have helped us a lot.

Rhea smiled at them and they all left from there.

Abhi: Barbie, she is doing this deliberately so we won't be able to find the truth.

Cabir: We are doing this to proof her innocence, why is she doing this?

Abhi: Because she doesn't want to proof herself innocent. She knows if we proof her innocence, Black Shinners will ask for her forgiveness and she doesn't want to forgive them .

He sighed and took a deep breathe.

Abhi: Anyways, what should we do now?

Dhruv: Let's visit the accident spot.

Aliya: Yes but what about office? Two hours are over and we need to go there.

Mukti: Let's go office for now. We can go there later.

They agreed and decided to go to the office first. It didn't take them long to reach there, though they were already late.

Abhi knocked at the door and heard a faint "Come in"

Glancing at each other time to time, they all entered inside and found Nandini sitting on her chair, her head buried in the file.

Sensing them, she looked up and smirked at their tired and worn out faces.

Abhi: You are doing this deliberately, right?

Nandini: Well, If you think I will let you people find the truth so easily, then you guys are surely fools.

Abhi: And if you think doing this will stop me, then you are a bigger fool. I know you are innocent and I will-

Nandini: Mr.Abhimanyu Thakkar, I was innocent two years before also and I asked you to trust me, but you didn't. So why now?

Abhi: Barb-

Nandini: Don't. Don't use that word for me.

Abhi: Okay fine. But listen to me carefully, I will find the truth one day.

Nandini: And I will not let that day come. I won't let you reach the truth. You won't be able to find it.

Manik: If not he, than I will and trust me, Nandini. I am way more stubborn than you think.

A smirk formed on his face as Nandini stared at him in extreme anger. He chuckled and she clutched the file tighter in her hand.

Nandini: Let's see, Mr.Malhotra.

Manik: Sure, Ma'am.

To Be Continued