I get in the car and slam the door. The new Ferrari whizzes past the garden area and exits the Khurana Villa. Right now, my mind is completely vacant. There is no pain, no anger, no remorse and no emotion. I feel like today my atonement ends. My all callbacks conclude. My bonds with everyone get terminated. Maan's face flashes in front of my face. My eyes get misted for a second. I rub those to concentrate on the road ahead. Nandini is right. I am only creating complications in her life. She is happy in her place. In her life. I am not needed there. Yes, Maan needs his father. But only blood relation doesn't give the right to a father on his child. I am only his biological father. But I don't deserve to be his father. I veer the car towards the main city. Right now, I need my medicine. Some booze. A sarcastic smile peeps on my lips.

"Pinewalo ko pineka bahana chahiye...(The drinker needs an excuse to drink)

I hum the song and stop the car in front of a bar. Today I will drink till I lose every bit of my sense to sense any emotion. The car beeps to lock. I stride to the bar door. Samuel showed me this place. Didn't know I will need this so soon. The boxer stamps my wrist and pushes the bar door. Alcohol and smoke induced stuffy air hits my nose. I step in. It's a pub cum disc. Some Latin Americans, White Americans and some black Africans are grooving to loud music.

"Oh, oh no, oh no (oh)

Hey yeah

Diridiri, dirididi Daddy

Go!"

The DJ changes the track and the crowd on the dance floor hoots in zeal.

"Sí, sabes que ya llevo un rato mirándote

Tengo que bailar contigo hoy (DY)

Vi que tu mirada ya estaba llamándome

Muéstrame el camino que yo voy.."

I saunter at the bar counter and occupy a bar stool.

"Scotch on the rocks..."

I order my drink and revolve the stool to look at the dance floor.

"Oh, tú, tú eres el imán y yo soy el metal

Me voy acercando y voy armando el plan

Solo con pensarlo se acelera el pulso (oh yeah)"

"Your drink, Senor.."

The bar boy pushes the glass towards me. I grab it and sip on my drink. The familiar taste makes my eyes close in a temporary peace. The bar desk is vibrating due to the loud music.

"Despacito

Quiero respirar tu cuello despacito

Deja que te diga cosas al oído

Para que te acuerdes si no estás conmigo

Despacito..."

My eyes gradually become blurred. The mobile vibrates inside my pocket. I take it out. Navya calling...it flashes. It reminds me, I have booked my ticket. It's time to say goodbye to Salvador. Tonight, I am leaving for Mumbai. I am turning down Decoración's collaboration offer. I know I have to pay a huge amount of compensation for this to Morrone but I am ready for this. I reject the call and message to Navya, "Coming back...see you soon." I tap the send button and gulp some scotch.

"Pasito a pasito, suave suavecito

Nos vamos pegando poquito a poquito

Cuando tú me besas con esa destreza

Veo que eres malicia con delicadeza"

The groovers are still swaying their booties.

"Hola! Guapo. ¿Necesitas compañía?" (Hi! Handsome. Need company?)

A husky voice breaks my reverie. I turn sideward and find a pretty girl. Her pearl teeth are shining with a dimpled smile.

"¿Puedo?" (May I)

She indicates the stool beside me. I indifferently turn my face to my drink and reply,

"I don't know Spanish. So, whatever you said...go ahead."

A giggle makes me scrunch my forehead. The girl giggles out,

"If I said I want to have sex with you. Can I go ahead?"

Her nonchalant husky tone almost makes me choke on my drink. Is she serious? I turn at her. Mischief and jest are dancing in her eyes,

"I am not a gigolo. You should try somewhere else."

I sternly reply. The girl occupies my next seat and retorts,

"Neither I am a nymphomaniac. Don't worry. I just want to talk to you. Hi! I am Alara Demir. A Turkish by birth. Are you Pakistani?"

"Indian."

I remain short.

"Wow! Actually, I am half Indian. My mother was an Indian. Nice to meet you."

She stretches her hand to me. I don't reciprocate by a handshake. Only nod in approval and then again concentrate on my booze.

"Why are you in a bad mood? Had a fight with girlfriend?"

She asks. Uff, this girl is so annoying. I turn at her and reply in a staccato,

"I..have...no...girlfriend. Now, can I enjoy my drink without any disturbance?"

In reply, I only get a giggle. I arch my brow at her. She raises her glass at me and says,

"Cheers! But your eyes are saying some other story. You are hurt and despondent."

Enough is enough. I swirl and slam the glass on the desk. Thank, God it doesn't break.

"Okay! I am hurt...despondent. I have lost my love. So, what can you do for me? Can you fill the void?"

I chide. Because of the loud music, it doesn't get noticed by others. Alara gulps her remaining liquor and keeps the empty glass on the table. Then she gets down from the stool and grabs my wrist.

"Come...let me try!"

She pulls me to follow her. Due to surprise and intoxication, I forget to react. When I muster my thoughts and get freed from bewilderedness, I find ourselves on the dance floor. She yanks me to the centre and starts dancing. For the first time, I observe her. She is wearing a bottle green shimmering dress that ends 3-4 inches above her knees. Her burgundy hair is tangled in a messy bun on her head. A diamond string necklace is adorning her slender neck. Two diamond studs in her ears are pairing it. I furrow my brows. She seems to belong to a wealthy background. Alara is grooving to the music while I am still standing like a stupid statue. Suddenly, Alara grabs both my hands and places them on her waist. Simultaneously, she comes closer and snakes my neck with both hands.

"Sink into the music. Your emptiness will be filled for a while. Come on..."

She whispers against my ears. I close my eyes and follow her instruction.

"Don't leave me this way

I can't survive I can't stay alive,

without your love oh baby..."

It's truly said, when you are happy, you enjoy the music. When you are sad, you understand the lyrics. Nandini's angry face comes in front of my closed eyes. My fingers dig on Alara's waist.

"Don't leave me this way,

No, I can't exist ...

I'll surely miss your tender kiss

Don't leave me this way..."

I lean on her body, shackling her in a tight grip. I don't know when tears start rolling down from my eyes. I dig my face into the crook of her neck and cry out like a kid. Alara's hands trail down from my neck and start rubbing my back.

"My heart is full of love and desire for you

Now com'on down and do what you gotta do

You started this fire down in my soul

Now can't you see it's burning out of control

Com'on, satisfy the need in me

'Cause only your good lovin'

Can set me free.."

................................................

"You heard all. Now, you know everything. Still, you are supporting him?"

I scoff out at Arya and add,

"Well, it's natural. At the end of the day, you are a man. You can't feel a woman's pain."

My voice has lots of satire. It's around 1 am. We have abruptly called off the party. After Manik left, I was not in a mood to confront anyone. I was about to leave for Sánchez Mansion with Maan, when Arya stopped me by saying those unbelievable words.

"It shouldn't have been ended like this. At least, I didn't want that. I didn't call him for this."

This was Arya's reaction. Though Soha doesn't know the whole thing she intervenes,

"How could you feel for him, Arya? Can't you see Nandini's pain? She is shattered, man."

Arya turns at his sister and bluntly replies,

"I can see everybody's pain, my sister. Perhaps that's why I could see the disastrous void in his eyes."

He turns at me and utters in a feared voice,

"Nandini...don't let your hatred push him so far that you can't see him ever even if you want to. And I am saying this not because I am a man. But I am a human. Nandini, hatred can never pacify your hatred. Only forgiveness can. He broke you beyond repair but you are keeping your wounds alive by your hatred. You want him to go away from your life but in reality, you never let him go from your life. Otherwise, his presence never shook you like this. He is the villain of your life, Nandini but at the same time, he is the hero of your son's life. I have seen the immense love in his eyes for his son. Still, he was ready to go away from your life. Because he wants to see you happy. He was not here to snatch Maan from you but to see him for the last time. He did many mistakes and he was ready to take the punishment. His biggest punishment is to be away from his Champ."

Arya pauses for a moment and eyes Maan who is now sleeping peacefully on the bed after crying a lot when he came to know that Manik, his Captain America left without meeting him. Arya turns at me and mouths in a grave tone,

"Always remember, when a deep injury is done to us, we never heal until we forgive. If you really want to forget him then forgive him...before it's too late."

I don't know why the last line of his shivers me to the core. I part my lips to say something when my mobile rings. Mr Morrone...why did he call so late? I slide the green button with my shaky finger. His voice comes in life,

"Mr Manik Malhotra's plane has crashed. He was supposed to return to India tonight. ¿Tiene alguna informacion? (Do you have any information?).......Ms Murthy....Ms Murthy...."

My numb hand hangs still griping the unanswered mobile. I plummet on the sofa with vacant eyes. Arya's words are still resonating in my ears,

"Before it's too late..."

Author's note: No question, no answer. Even I am shocked. 😒😒See you in the next chapter.