Third Person Pov.

Nandini woke up on her bed.

Arnav tucked her in before leaving.

With dizzy head she moved towards the washroom.

She stared at herself in the mirror with dry tears, red burning eyes and her hair stuck on her face and unbearable headache.

She looked like a homeless woman.

Splashing cold water on her face.

She looked in the mirror again and told herself.... she is better than this....she completed her routine and under the hot shower she decided she wouldn't destroy her life like this in guilt or resentment.

Her brother always wanted to see her happy so this is it.

She will be happy.

After changing into an casuals she moved down to find Mukti sitting on the chair of the dinning table while she was eating.

She moved near to find some veg gravy and rice in her plate as she took small morsel staring that the food intensely.

Nan: Eating two days stale food will get you sick Mukti.
She said taking a chair opposite to her filling her mug with coffee, holding her head in her hands to lessen her pain.

Mu: I'm sure this food will not make me any close to sick. Afterall it's the last meal what Abhi made for me
She said take another bite.

Nandini stared at her as she swallowed her last morsel put the remaining food in air tight containers and stored it in the refrigerator.

Nan: I lost my brother too.
She said looking at her angrily.

Mu: I know.
She said washing her hands.

Nan: We have to be strong and learn to live with the fact he is gone.
She spoke taking a deep breathe.

Mu: For me he would never be gone. You can speak for yourself Nandini.
She said moving out of the kitchen.

Nan: Mukti....
She stopped her.

Nan: What have you thought about...you know ahead of this....I'm sure you would not sit and dwell over my brother for rest of your life.
She said waiting for her reply.

Mu: Right. Your brother. Well Nandini he happens to be my husband too.
She said facing her.

Nan: Right.
She replied with tight lips.

Mu: I haven't thought yet.
She said closing her eyes.

Nan: You can come with me to Canada if you want.
She proposed while Mukti looked at her.

Nan: You can start a fresh there as this place will not let you move on. Memories will keep on haunting you.
And about the company and work. Arnav can handle it now temporarily until we decide what to do with it later after sometime when we are more mentally stable and not emotionally drain. Afterall you and bhai had already decided to move abroad soon so it doesn't make much of a difference.
She said looking at her while by now Mukti eyes were filled with anger and tears.

Mu: Memories will haunt me here.... yeah...right....my husband memories won't haunt me Nandini they will make me stronger each day. And about the company what he built with his blood and sweat I won't hand over to some stranger so easily. I can take care of the affairs.
She said looking in her eyes.

While Nandini chuckled.

Nan: Stop being dramatic Mukti. I was just trying to offer help. The company which you're so proudly addressing. I have an equal right too on it.
She said moving to the living room with her mug of coffee.

Mu: Ofcourse you do.
She said walking in the living room.

Nan: So I give my attorney rights to Arnav he will handle the affairs on my behalf.
She said sitting on the couch.

Mu: You can take the 100% profit sharing ratio Nandini, but I will not allow a stranger to take care of the Company that my husband built.
She said pointing a finger at her.

Nan: You think this is about money.
She smiled moving her finger down.

Nan: He was my brother too. You get it. You came later Mukti. I was there with him from the start. So....
She was stopped in middle by Mukti.

Mu : Although I came later Nandini but I never left. I was there from the time I came until the last. I didn't leave for some sorry for myself reason and stayed out of touch from past three years.
She said making Nandini go red in anger.

Nan: Right. A woman who was always just a step away to cheat on my brother has the guts to tell me I was not there for three years....so convincing.....
She laughed fakely clapping her hands.

On hearing this Mukti eyes went wide.

Nan: Are you shocked ? How does sweet innocent little Nandini know's about my dirty little secret. Harshad is his name some Sexana guy, an actor. Who gave you a ride of your life and made you pathetic. You were nothing more than a drug addict Mukti with casual relations with every another guy you meet for a night. You were.....I can't even describe you in words.
My brother gave you another life. He loved you and you....you each and every time ended up with your ex breaking my brother trust and heart. I had given pain to my brother for not talking to him for so long but atleast I wasn't disloyal to him.
She said angrily while Mukti stared at her in shock.

Mu: You can't be serious Nandini. You think I was cheating on Abhimanyu.
She said pointing a finger at her.

While Nandini chuckled and looked away sipping on her coffee.

Mu: Who are you ? And what have you become I can't believe I'm talking to you.
She said shaking her head.

Nan: Well I'm Nandini Murty who is no longer a dumb emotional, stupid girl. Who doesn't gets carried away with fews tears and thinks before hurting anyone with her words. She speak bluntly with truthfully.
She said resting her back on the couch and taking another sipping of her coffee.

Mu: Right. Did your Amms tell you all this. And you very well trusted her words too. And put water on our four years relationship as sisters and friend's.
She said taking a seat next to her.

Mu: I don't know why I'm telling you this but I love Abhimanyu and he gave me a reason to live. And I never cheated on him.
She said crying while Nandini looked away and smirked while mouthing

'Here comes crocodile tears.'

Mu: I really did love him.
She said wiping her tears and keeping a hand on her stomach as if she was ensuring.

Nan : 'LOVE' right....you know this word Love is objective. It has different meaning for different persons. For me Love means Happiness. For Abhi bhai Love meant Pain. And for you Love means Money.
She said making Mukti eyes go wide as she covered her mouth.

Nan: You don't want me to get involve with the Company because you want your pathetic boyfriend in your life back again and the money to stay with his excuse ass you want to use my brother hard earned money.
She said looking at her with disgust.

Mu: Enough, Nandini. So much venom you had for so long in you against me.
She said getting up from the couch.

Nan : Venom right. Yes I do...because you were the reason I left Mukti. You were the reason that my brother let me go. It was not my decision to leave.
He asked me to. You had your spell all over him. God know what did he see in you. You were so pathetic and such a big liar.
She yelled the last part facing her.

Mukti was shock to hear this....Abhimanyu had asked Nandini to leave.

Why ?

Nan: It was your words against mine. Mukti. When I told him about you taking the birth control pills and fooling him, he told me to stay out of it. And turned deaf ears. You were so pathetic Mukti that you were not even fit to carry my brother child as after the amount of drugs you had taken you had ruined your chance to become a Mother.
She spoke with tears as Mukti stared at her in shock.

Nan: But still my brother trusted you even after knowing everything he still kept blind eyes. And you were a woman of no shame. You still kept in touch with your ex.
She said with disgust.

Nan: In ooty bhai caught you and here during Navya wedding too. That was the issue going on between you two right ??....as you were again back to square one trying to get back your ex.
She spoke while Mukti stood like a statue.

Nan: I still don't understand why was he so blind to your lying ass. How could he trust you while all you did is broke his trust.
She said looking at her.

Mu: I had contacted him because he knew....
She was cut out by Nandini.

Nan: You got to know about Veeraj uncle being in jail from him... so what....that was a pathetic reason to contact him and break my brother trust and your promise.
She said chuckling.

Mu: I just.... wanted to.... to know....
She said stuttering

Nan: What great deal of things did you do after knowing the truth. Infact what by brother was trying to hind from me for so long just because of your over smartass it was so easy for Trilok to tell me.
She said cunningly.

Mu: You believe Trilok over your brother words Nandini.
She asked being confused.

Nan: Don't you dare go there, putting this on me. And by the way I'm not you Mukti. I have trusted bhai with blind eyes for so long. And I would never go against him not now or ever. If Veeraj uncle is a murderer according to my brother then he is one.
She said looking away holding her hair in tight grip.

Mu: Right.
She said swallowing a lump in her throat while looking at her.

Mukti breathe deeply.

Mu: Nandini....I never had intention not before or now to get any close to any of my ex's. The only man I have loved truly was Abhimanyu. And yes might be I'm not good enough to be a mother but unfortunately I'm going to be one now.
She said with tears.

Mu: The day when accident happened that very same day we were suppose to visit a doctor for check up. I was too scared to get again disappointed by the pregnancy test kit so we decided we better visit the doctor as I had missed my that day of month. We were hopeful as my treatment was going on from past one year. I took pills earlier but I stopped then Nandini. I might have done wrong and hurtful acts....but I have never cheated on Abhi or was disloyal to him. And I had no idea about the reason behind you leaving.
She said taking her hand in her hold while Nandini stared at her.

Mu: I knew our equation were not good after Trilok telling you about his father being in prison and trying to persuade you to set him free. And you confronting Abhimanyu. And then you locking up yourself in the room as you were upset with Abhi and all of us but I didn't know....
She stopped and looked away.

Nandini took her hand away from her hold.

Nan: I want to be clear with you Mukti as now it's just you and me. I had no idea about your past and yes Amms told me and when I checked your medicines I did find the pills.
It was me who told bhai about the pills and still he kept quite and I didn't understand why ? But after seeing Harshad thrice near our house made my doubt more clear and when I told bhai that..... he shut me down. He told me to not get involve in his life. And when I tried to talk to you and confront you he stopped me yet again. In short I was trying to look out for him but he misunderstood me and the last straw to his patience was the last dinner which I had with him when I asked you when will I be an aunt. That very day he asked me to leave as he didn't want to see you sad or hurt and I was causing you pain with my indirect taunts and witty comments.
She said with tears while Mukti mouth had gone dry.

She always thought Abhimanyu loved Nandini more than anything but she misunderstood it was her who he loved beyond words.

Nan: I was shocked to hear him say that to me..... I couldn't believe and my heart cried for months that he choose you over me. So I made my heart convince that I left my brother as I was hurt by his betrayal for hinding our parents death. And that's exactly what you too thought.
She said with a bitter smile on her lips.

Mu: I.....I'm so sorry.....I would never want this to happen. Nandini he loved you....you were so precious to him. He missed you each day. I did see him cry couple of times especially in past three years on any occasions, birthdays or festival he would have tears in his eyes remembering you....he missed you Nandini.....he loved you....he was no better without you. And I couldn't asked him to.....you know I thought it was your decision to leave and he was just respecting it.
She said crying.

Nan: I know he loved me and he was there for me always, even though we were far apart. He had a close watch over me always. And I don't need to know that from you.
She said wiping her tears.

Nandini turned around to leave when Mukti spoke stopping her.

Mu: I want my baby to have a family Nandini. An aunt, a resemblance of his father Nandini.
She said with hiccups and tears.

Nan: Congratulations for carrying my brother child and ofcourse he or she will have an aunt I can't trust the baby alone with you. Can I ?
She asked with her eyebrows raised looking in her way.

Mukti was surprise to see this new shade of Nandini.

She was happy that Nandini turned into a strong bold and independent woman.

But her tongue and attitude had taken a toll she had become so judgemental and didn't think once before speaking.
For her others feeling didn't matter anymore.

And this new change was very hard for Mukti to grasped.

Next Day.

Morning while Nandini and Mukti were having breakfast the door bell went off.

Nandini got up to answer the door while Mukti continuing eating the small portion of left over food again.

Nandini saw a middle age couple standing at the door.

She stared at them, their face were familiar but she couldn't recollect.

She had seen them at the funeral too the man stood next to Cabir while the woman holded Mukti as she cried on her shoulder.

Nan: Yes.
She answered trying to remember where did she see them before the funeral.

Might be they were Mukti's relative's.

Woman: Hello Nandini. I hope you are okay dear ?
The woman asked politely with sadness and grief in her eyes.

She didn't answer to her question.

Nan: I'm sorry I can't recollect who are you ?
She asked to which the man smiled and replied pointing at himself and his wife.

"Raj Malhotra and Neyonika Malhotra. Manik's parents."

On hearing this Nandini's eyes turned cold and she step aside from the door for them to come in.

______________________________________

Happy Reading.

Precap:

Manik: I didn't get to say Goodbye to my brother.
He cried surrounded by dirty empty walls......

To be continued.

Good night.