It was night and Murty Mansion was completely silent, apart from the sound of the footsteps of all the servants working around in different corners of the huge mansion. Contrary to what happened today, the servants were very much nervous and scared for their jobs for they knew, even a tinest of their mistake can get them fired today.

The band had decided not to go back without gaining forgiveness from Nandini. Though they knew it wasn't going to be easy, they were determined on trying their best. Atleast, they wanted to.

In amidst of everything, Manik sat in his room near the bed, on the floor with his head thrown back and streams of salty tears running down his eyes. He and Cabir had gone to Aliya's room and tried to console her. She wouldn't stop crying and it only made Manik more scared for Nandini for he knew, Nandini was quite the opposite. She would keep everything bottled up inside her and suffer silently. The thought made him more worried and he left from there abruptly.

To say what happened today wasn't a shock for him, would be an understatement. Even he was shocked, the truth had left him beliwered.

Though he was aware of the hate living around the world, or himself had seen it, all thanks to his dearest mother. He had never encountered such situations. More than anything else, Nandini's condition had hurt him making him take it all out on his room.

In short, his room was messed up. The bedsheet which was suppose to be spread over the bed neatly was lying in some corner, all crumbled. The soft pillows were sacratted all over the hard floor with the heaps of cotton beside some. The big glass table which he had found absolutely beautiful on the first day itself, was broken in the worst way possible. He had hurt his own hand in creating this absolute masterpiece too.

Manik was so lost in his grief that he failed to notice a worried Cabir entering inside his room. Looking around for a second, Cabir silently shook his head. Manik had a bad habit of taking out his anger on both the living and non living things. His room had always been a victim of his anger.

Picking up the crumbled bedsheet and the sacratted pillows, he threw them over the bed before sitting beside Manik.

Cabir: Manik?

He called out and Manik hugged him tight the next moment. Cabir patted his back in return to console him and it did work to some great extent.

Cabir: It is okay, Manik. Nandini is going to be fine. Infact, she is all fine, Manik.

Though Cabir also knew Nandini was anything but fine, he couldn't say the same to Manik. Manik was already going mad over all the things, and he didn't want to add more to it but he forget, if Manik Malhotra loves someone, he does it with his every single cell.

How could he believe his Nandini was all fine when her pain was still hurting him?

Manik: She isn't fine, Cabir. She isn't. I know it. I can feel it, Cabir. Didn't you see her today? She looked so broken! So much in pain and all I could do was stand there and watch her breaking down.

Cabir: Stop hurting yourself, Manik. You were there with her. You held her all the time.

Cabir tried to made him believe but again, he was aware of how Manik is going to keep on hurting himself until and unless he makes sure Nandini is fine.

Cabir: She is going to be fine, Manik. You have to be strong, for her.

Cabir smiled but Manik shook his head making him look at him helplessly.

Manik: You don't get it, Cabir! How will she be fine? With her so called selfish friends buzzing around her with their stupid sorry, how is she suppose to be fine!? You tell me, tell me. How is she going to be fine when they are here to remind her every thing she went through!

He bursted out in anger and seeing this Cabir shook his head in disbelief. Though, Manik's anger was because he cared for Nandini, yet Cabir couldn't ignore how he was involving in all the mess even when he wasn't supposed to.

Cabir: Manik, listen to me. I know you love Nandini and care for her but you can't ignore the fact, at the end of the day, Black Shinners were once her family, Manik. She has grown up with them. They effect her more than her pain is effecting you.

Manik: What do you want to say, Cabir?

He frowned as Cabir took a deep breathe before speaking.

Cabir: Manik, Look. You know how Nandini is. You do know she isn't going to like your involvement in her personal matter

Manik: But I love her, Cabir! How can I not involve in this?

Cabir: I am not stopping you for talking to her, Manik but know your limits. You can't just keep on badmouthing Black Shinners all the time. This isn't going to help her!

Manik tried to argue but Cabir stopped him by holding his hand.

Cabir: I understand your point of view, Manik. But you need to understand Nandini's point of view too. She isn't a normal girl who would feel happy seeing a man taking stand for her. She would probably get angry at you for doing it.

Manik: Okay, Fine. I won't say anything about Black Shinners but I can atleast talk to Nandini, right?

Cabir: Yes, you go to her, I will check on Aliya again.

And it was then Manik remembered about Aliya or how he left her room. Guilt consumed him as he looked at Cabir who chuckled.

Manik: Sorry, I-

Cabir: It is okay. Aliya understands. You go and see Nandini.

Even after his assurance, Manik looked reluctant for a second before nodding his head firmly. Though he wanted to make sure Aliya was fine too but he also knew, at this time it was Nandini who needed him more than Aliya.

Aliya had her other friends but Nandini, she had no one. Even in the mansion full of people, she was all alone and it did nothing but broke his heart more.

___

Aliya: H-How could I be so stupid!

Aliya cried loudly in Dhruv's embrace as he continued to pat her head. Mukti had gone to check on Abhimanyu while Dhruv was consoling her from the time they came in her room.

Knowing the truth had done no good to her. Not only she realised she had been hating the wrong person all her life, but also, her own mother killed her father.

In a day so much has changed. The woman she adored, loved and cared for all her life, never actually deserved any of it. When did her judgement go so wrong?

Dhruv: Aliya, stop crying baby. You know it is not your fault. You didn't know the whole truth.

Aliya: Yes! I didn't know but I should've known better! How could I hate di for snatching my rights when all she did was care for me? And mom!

She sobbed and Dhruv sighed seeing her repeating the same thing again and again. At the same time, Cabir came there catching their attention.

Dhruv: Cabir, How's Manik? Is he fine?

He asked and before Cabir could reply, Aliya stood up and walked to him.

Aliya: He must be so angry. We all know how possessive he is for his people. Is he angry with me too? I hurt di so much. Is that why he left like that?

She cried looking down as Dhruv looked at Cabir helplessly. He had no idea how to console her. Seeing him helpless, Cabir looked at Aliya and made her look up.

Cabir: No. He isn't angry with you, Aliya.

He assured softly but still her chin wobbled as she looked around to see if he was there which made both the boys sigh.

Aliya: So why isn't he here?

Cabir: Because I told him to check on Nandini since she is all alone.

Cabir was scared of telling the truth to them too. Fab5 were so close and always there for each other. Today, he didn't want his friends to take Manik wrong for choosing his love over friendship.

Dhruv: You did right, Cabir.

Cabir looked at Aliya who also nodded her head agreeing with him. He smiled and hugged her while Dhruv hugged both of them.

Meanwhile, Nandini's Room

Nandini was standing in her balcony, all lost in her thoughts. After breaking everything that came in her hand in her room, she was feeling suffocated there. The revelation had left her on crossroad. Now that the truth was out and they were guilty, they will expect her to forgive them, and truth to be told, she didn't want to forgive any of them.

All at once, all of them had broken her trust. They had declared her as a jealous person, a bad omen, a curse and all that she couldn't even forget in day light.

However, even in her deep thoughts, Nandini didn't miss the presence of a particular someone beside her.

Cursing herself for not latching the door, she turned around and found Manik standing there, staring at her with his ever so soft eyes. The one she knew he uses for none. For a second, she tried to find sympathy or pity in his eyes but failed for his eyes held nothing else than the pain at that moment.

She heard him chuckle which broke her trance and she immediately looked away, though aware of how she got caught but not wanting to admit it.

Manik: Are you fine?

He asked all of the sudden and her head snapped in his direction. The room suddenly didn't feel as suffocated as it felt before. The stare didn't bother her as much as it did before. Today, for the first time Nandini wanted to admit, his face brought back the peace she had lost two years back.

A snap of fingers infront of her eyes brought her back from her trance. She raised her eyebrow which he might have found funny for she could see the corner of his lips curving up into a smile.

Nandini: W-What?

She stammered, trying to keep her aura only to fail miserably. She was aware how her hands were shivering too as she crossed them against her chest.

Manik seemed to have noticed that and he looked worried about it too.

Manik: Are you fine?

He took a step forward and she took two backwards immediately. Raising his hand in surrender, he stepped back.

Manik: Okay, I won't touch you again. Stay calm.

He himself took breathes to show her and she repeated it. As she calmed down, Manik realised he had seen her like that for the second time. Both the time, it was him in the moment.

Did her getting so restless had to something with him?

Manik: You feeling better?

He asked slowly as he saw her silent. She nodded her head and he had to thank his stars for she didn't shout at him again.

Nandini: Why are you here, Mr.Malhotra?

She tried to maintain the stern look as she crossed her arms against her chest, and raised an eyebrow at him for an answer. Manik took a moment to decide what to answer her. He knew a wrong word from him and she would ask him to leave and today, he wanted to be there, for her.

Manik: Actually, today, I am here for myself.

He smiled at her before turning around to hold the railing like her, while Nandini was surprised. She definitely expected him to throw a sarcastic comment in reply or maybe say he came to check on her like last time.

Seeing her silent and a little surprised, Manik chuckled inwardly.

Manik: See, I know you aren't fine. What if you hurt yourself in anger? I mean it is gonna effect my band too and now toh, we are business partners too, how can I let something happen to you?

He smiled inwardly knowing he had just pressed the right chord. Nandini was more than irritated hearing him. Did he just come here for his band or the business deal?

She shot him a glare before turning around to go back. However, Manik held her wrist from behind.

Manik: Can I atleast get a break?

Nandini frowned hearing him and immediately turned around.

Nandini: What?

Manik: What what?

Nandini: What do you mean by break?

Manik: tch! You don't know about break?

He tched in disappointment making her feel as if she really didn't know something very important.

Manik: It is like we will talk for five minutes, forgetting our differences. I need a break. Give me one.

He demanded at the end with a child like demeanor as she looked at him disbelief. Break? The idea sounded ridiculous. Yet, his hopeful eyes didn't let her say no.

Nandini: Five minutes.

Eyeing his hand around her wrist, she waited for him to leave it but to her surprise, he pulled her close and held her both hands with his. Her heart pumped loudly in her chest and she was afraid he would listen to it too.

Manik: Nandini, I know you are pretending to be rude just to show everyone how you don't care but I know, you do. Nandini, You have a beautiful soul and not everyone has it. You have your whole life ahead, don't let these hatred consume you. This will eat you up leaving you with nothing but hollowness and I don't want to see you there.

He requested, or tried to make her understand only to find her standing all blank as if nothing he said actually effected her.

Manik: Nandini?

Nandini: You won't get it, Mr.Malhotra. The hollowness you are talking about, it is a part of me. That's what how I am from inside. Nothing effects me anymore. Neither their accusations, nor your words. It will be better if you leave me alone now.

She tried to take back her hands from his hold but he tightened his grip, refusing to let her go.

Manik: I won't. You agreed for the break.

He declared pissing her off more.

Nandini: What do you want?

Manik: I want you to let it out.

She looked at him stunned as he stared back, determined of what he has asked.

Manik: Let it all out, Nandini.

Nandini: There's nothing to let out, Mr.Malhotra. Just leave me alone.

She pushed him away but he pulled her close again by holding her shoulders making her gasp at their sudden proximity.

Manik: You say nothing effects you, their accusations doesn't matter anymore then why did you break down today? Why did you cry? Why are you so silent, so aloof now? Tell me why?

Nandini wasn't sure what bothered her more, his words or his eyes? What was so special about this specific human being, that she could feel her walls melting. There were tears in her eyes and she knew he was aware of it too.

While Manik wanted her to let all her pain out for he knew it she didn't, it will eat her up from inside. It was hurting her, he knew but then it was also important.

Manik: Why did you cry seeing how that woman killed your father? Why did you cry remembering how your own people accused you? Why-

Manik was interrupted in between by a loud slap delivered on his cheek. He looked at her immediately, and found her fuming in anger with tears rolling down her cheeks.

Nandini: What do you think of yourself huh? You think you know everything? You think it is easy? You think it was easy to leave the hospital with my bestfriend dying inside and knowing my own people held me responsible for her death?

With this, She broke down into tears. Her shoulder thumped down and her knees gave up as she sobbed continuously sitting on the floor. Manik immediately sat down beside her and held her close before wiping her tears gently.

Manik: No, No, I know it wasn't easy, Nandini. I know. Tell me what did you do after that?

Knowing she was too much in her pain, Manik knew she will respond to him. He didn't know why, but he had seen her allowing him to be near her when ever she was crying.

Nandini: I- I wanted to die. I- I - The car and I!

She left the sentence in mid as a sob left her lips, while Manik closed his eyes, tears brimming in them knowing what she wanted to say. Sending a quick thankyou to the almighty for saving her, he turned his attention to her.

Nandini: But Raj uncle, he saved me!

She cried more and he continued to rub her back up and down until she fell asleep.

That day, Manik for the first time felt his heart actually breaking for someone else than his close ones.

To be Continued.