Tears flowed down Ishita's eyes as she realised that how short-lived was Nandini's happiness. After seeing the news, she will break apart. Why was god so hell bent on breaking the poor soul into pieces. She kept staring at the blank tv screen with thousands of thoughts and fear for Nandini in her mind.
Nandini entered in the house and frowned feeling the silence around. She walked in the living room and saw Ishita on the sofa staring at the tv screen which was off. She frowned and went to her and her frowns deepened when she saw tears flowing from Ishita's eyes. Nandini panicked and sat on her knees in front of Ishita, bringing her out of her trance.
"Ishi Maa!! What happen? Why are you crying?" 
Ishita looked at Nandini and saw her concern for her. Looking at her, Ishita knew that Nandini still doesn't know about the news. Her heart crawled for this girl as she caressed her cheeks. How can her own family be so cruel to her. How can people be so cruel to her. 
"Ishi Maa. You are scaring me. What happen?" 
Nandini was hell worried for Ishita. The looks she was giving to her were making her chest heavy. Ishita was quite happy and infact was teasing her in the morning when she had gone to library for her work. What happened now. 
Both of their head went to Anahita's direction when she came running in the hall. 
"Mumma!!" Anahita came and encircled her hands around Nandini's neck with a grin. Nandini smiled a little despite her worries for Ishita.
"How are you bacha?" She asked as she tucked the losse strands of her hair behind her ears.
"I am fine," then Anahita's gaze fell on Ishita who had tears in her eyes, "Mumma, why Shi Maa is crying?" 
Nandini sighed and shook her head in denial before looking at Ishita, wanting to know about the reason, but Ishita sat motionless and no words came out of her mouth.
"Ishi Maa, are you crying because Mumma came in tv and you not?" 
The innocent question grabbed Nandini's attention and she frowned. 
"Me? On TV?" Ishita gasped and shook her head wiping her tears.
"No- No Nandu. Nothing like th- that. I- I was crying be-because, yes I- I was watching this serial and the female lead died. So yes." 
The little confusion Nandini had turned into suspicion as Ishita fumbled with words. And crying over a serial? That's so not Ishita. Nandini's throat clenched as fear took birth in the pit of her stomach. She looked for the remote and found it on the coffee table. Before Ishita could grab it, she grabbed the remote and switched on the tv, and news channel aired on the screen. 
Headlines--- Nandini Suraj Goenka- Innocent face, Clever Mind!!
Nandini felt her heart stopped beating and her lungs stopped the inte of oxygen as the news flashed on the screen with the photo of her fifteenth birthday. As the reporter's words rang in her ears and the headlines flashed in front of her eyes, she felt darkness around her. Her vision blurred with dark patches around her before the darkness fully consumed her and she fell into it. 
.
.
Manik came out of the washroom after taking a quick shower to see his phone ringing. He went pick it up and saw Cabir's call. 
"Hello." Putting his phone on the speaker he went to comb his hairs but Cabir's words had him halted in between.
"Manik. Switch on tv and move to the news channel." 
The urgency and fear in Cabir's voice had Manik following his instructions as he switched on the l.e.d in his room and put on the news channel. The remote fell from his hands when he saw the news airing on the tv.