In a flash he was out of his room with panic rushing in his whole body. The only person revolving in his mind was her, and he was praying that she wouldn't have seen it. He felt his eyes burning and it didn't took him seconds to realise that he had already tears in his eyes. 
He stumbled back on his steps when he arrived in the living area of his house. The news headlines were echoing in the hall as he saw his whole family standing there. He gripped the railings tight when he saw Prithviraj Goenka, standing there too with his grandfather. 
Manik's gaze met his brother's and then his mother's shocking face. Ofcourse they were shocked to know that Nandini is a Goenka. But right now, no-one here is important to him and he cared less, so he started moving out when Raj stopped him.
"Manik. Where are you going." Manik closed his eyes to stop himself from barking out.
"Somewhere." His steps again halted as Nyonika grabbed his hand and he looked at her, his eyes red. 
"No Manu. You are not going there." 
Manik looked at his mother in diabelief and removed her hand from his.
"Stop me if you can Maa." Nyonika again clutched his arm and stopped him from moving. Before Manik could protest Shivay, Om and Rudra stormed inside the house. 
The ladies gasped as Shivay hold Prithviraj's collar in his both hands and jerked him closer, while Arijit and Raj moved to stop him but he wouldn't budge. 
"You did this right? Why the fuck you would do this? Why would do this to her? Why dammit why?" 
Arijit and Raj pulled out Shivay back and Yash slapped him on his face. 
"What the hell are you doing Shivay? He is your grandfather." 
"He is not. He is not. He is not. He is not." The voice which began with high note went to whispering as Shivay fell down on his knees, tears pooling out of his eyes. His brothers same as him. 
"Shivay, Om, Ru. Please handle yourself." Raj voiced out feeling low seeing the boys. Omkara wiped his tears as he looked at his grandfather.
"Why you did this? Why are you destroying her life now, again? Stop- stop this please. You lnow- this- this all is lie. Wo bachi hai, kitna hi seh sakti hai, marr jayegi. Stop this." 
(She is a child, how much can she hold, she will die)
Manik fisted his hand and his knuckles turned white as his eyes were burning with tears. His breathing turns shallow. He looked at Nyonika's tight grip on his arm.
"I didn't did anything. I- I didn't did it. It's not me." Prithviraj whispered out aloud to his grandsons while shaking his head. 
"Lie. Lie. Lie. You're lying. How would this news go on air now? Now, when your reputation is at stake, you decided to do this? Just so, you would look good in the media? Just so that the news would get diverted from you? You did this. You." Rudra barked out and blamed him. He know that to which extent his grandfather can stoop low just to save his reputation. 
"I said I didn't did this. Believe me or not. Beside, how does it matter. This is the truth coming out now. One day or another, it had to come out. The only thing I hate, is associating my name with her. She was a dis---"
"I advise you to choose your next words very carefully, Mr. Prithviraj Goenka." 
Nyonika gasped and her hold on Manik's hand loosened when the words escaped from his mouth. 
"Manik. Behave yourself." Raj bit out as he glared Manik harshly, which absolutely had no effect on him as he kept looking at Prithviraj with his dead stares. 
"Truth? I will tell you the truth. The truth is, you doesn't deserve her. The truth is, you are not worthy of being called as her family. Truth is, that she was a rose, in the hand of those, who had no intention of keeping her. Truth is, she is the best ever person you lost, and you'll realise it when it's too late."
"Manik. What are you even talking? And do you even know what's the matter?" 
"Trust me Dadu, it's you, who doesn't know the matter." 
"Enough. Manik shut up. You won't say anything now." Nyonika glared at him and he frowned before jerking his hand out of her hold. Nyonika looked at him with eyes widened when he took two steps back. 
"Manik. What is this behaviour. And for whom you're fighting? And fighting with own family? Do you even know who is she?" Raj was angry now as he saw Manik jerking his mother's hand. 
"Nandini Murthy. That's her name. Nandini Murthy. And you ask that if I know her? Yes Dad. Yes. I know her, because she is the beats to my heart, she is my belief in love. She is The One, the one to whom I belong." 
Everyone except Nyonika and Arijit gasped. Most shocked were the Goenka brothers. Everyone kept staring at Manik in shock. Damini looked at the tv screen and then at her grandson. Tears falling out of her eyes and then she looked at her husband whose gaze was hard. 
"Are you in your senses even? You- you love- her? Her?" Raj looked at Nyonika who looked down making him fury. 
"Yes. I do. And she has a name Dad, Nandini." Manik's firm voice and his bloodshot eyes had given birth to fear in Nyonika's and Damini's heart. And then the look on Raj's and Yash's face had intensified that fear. 
Manik averted his eyes when from Prithviraj when Damini hold his hand. He took a deep breath and his gaze fell on the tv screen where the news was still playing, only the tv was on mute. And his senses came back as he thought about Nandini.
"I- I need to go."
"Where? To her?" Manik gritted his teeth in anger and frustration. The way his grandfather called her with so much mockery, like she is a criminal. 
"Yes!" He breathed out and was able to move away when Raj blocked his way.
"You're not going anywhere. You heard me?" 
"No Dad. You heard me. I'm going." Raj looked at him in diabelief and hold his hand in a rigid firm.
"Dad. Please. She- she might need me. Please let me go dad." Manik pleaded finally feeling weak. 
Nandini's smile from the last night was flashing in his mind. How he wished to protect that smile always. 
"Manik. Go to your room. We will talk about this later." Yash's voice was firm.
"No dadu. No." Manik jerked his hand from his father's grip and ran out of the mansion leaving them staring back at his retreating figure. 

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No-one will say, small update, I'm already working on other, it will be a longgg one, fiftieth chapter afterall:)
Shocking update right?
Do leave your reviews!
Next update - Hopefully soon. 
2500 words!!
~A♡