Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Few hours ago,

After dropping Nandini, Karan came to the Hotel Grand Hyatt, 5 star hotel in Mumbai.  He just had one bottle of beer in his house so he wasn't drunk.  He was very much calm than before and was in sane mind to have conversation with a girl who cheated on him with his brother.

He came to her hotel room, she was waiting for him. She was nervous but she didn't looked much guilty.

"Come inside" he entered inside, she closed the door and made him sit on the bed.

"Why u did that?" He knew Manik can do anything but will never forced himself on a girl that means she slept with him all by her will and it bothered him. Why the hell she cheated on him?

"I was always like this ...... I never liked to be in a relationship or any kind of restrictions in my life ..... That's why if we skip my early teenage part, I wasn't in a any relationship ...... Even I started living alone, I am independent girl from every aspect ...... Life is thrilling and enjoying when u r not bounded by any person or thing, that's what I used to think ...... But when we met that time I was feeling very low, u was new in India, u was trying to find ur brother and I started helping you genuinely because that was making me feel better".

"U r handsome and good man ..... U used to behave nicely with everyone, I was attracted towards this soft side of urs and when u asked me to be ur girlfriend, I thought for a while and I thought I should give it a chance ..... May be this is turning point in my life ...... Then we came to Mumbai, I was very happy because I love traveling ..... With u in this new city everything was good and I was different person with u ...... I never had thoughts of cheating on u until I saw Manik ..... When u found him he was rude, arrogant and dominant, that was like huge turned on for me ..... I so wanted to go wild with him but I controlled ...... And when I got to know about his one night stands then I wanted him truly at least for once ...... I tried to gave him signals and he instantly caught them and banned me from coming with you ...... Before doing anything with him, I wanted to cut ties with you .... But I wasn't sure about Manik so today I got chance and I used that before caring about anyone ..... I knew I was wrong and u don't deserve a girl like me ...... Don't worry I am leaving this city but I thought we both need closure ..... Thanks for being a small part of my life " he have many complaints against her even he is angry but there is no need of violence just because she cheated on him. He believed everyone have right to choose and he won't blame her for her choices.  They can separate from each other like mature couple without any drama.

"U just had to ask and we would have parted our ways, mutually ..... I know I was attached with you but still I would have let you go ..... U didn't have to break my trust" he was very much hurt. It wasn't his first break up nor she was his one true love but still it was hurting hum, his feelings were involved.

"I know and I am sorry for that ...... I know u can't forgive me but forget me" she said with a painful smile on her face.

"It's okay ..... U can leave with a peace" without any more accusations or fights he let her go like a mature man.

"Thanks for being part of my life" for the last time she hugged him.

"Good by " he instantly broke the hug and left her room.

...................||

Both Manik nd Nandini were sleeping on the half burnt mattress, unaware of the surroundings. Manik was sleeping by keeping his face in the crook of her neck and her hands were snaking his figure, holding him close to her chest and protecting him like a mother protects her child.

The constant buzzing of phone broke Manik's sleep. The sound was faint as phone was inside her purse but still that was the only sound in room so he stirred in sleep.  The effect of drugs and alcohol from his system has reduced completely so he woke up due to the constant buzzing of her phone. He found his face pressing against something very soft, softer than his mattress. He opened his eyes to see the mole on her neck, which was quite intimating part on her body. Her intoxicating scent brought him back from her spell and he woke up quickly.

He followed the sound then found her bag on the floor at the entrance of room, she might have dropped that while coming to him. He brought that purse with him and shook her gently but she didn't woke up in fact she hugged her knees so he held that bag on her ear which worked on her.

"Are you planning to make me deaf?" She groaned and opened her eyes to see Manik standing there showing her purse by raising his eyebrows nd asking her to take that, sternly.

"Hello" she picked up the call without looking at caller id and said in sleepy tone, Manik too sat on the bed near to her but at one hand distance between them.

"What hello di? ..... Where are you nd ur phone? ...... Do you know how much worried we were? ..... It's 11pm and on top of that there is a heavy downpour outside ..... And u r still not at home" within a single breathe he spoke and she was just getting reality check one after other.

"Calm down Rishu ..... And yes I am fine, no need to worry ...... I was stuck in some work ..... I will be there in half hour" she said in controlled tone, she can't let her family know about the situations she is going through she can handle them by her own.

"And ha ..... Where is Diya di? ..... She is not at her home ....... U was not here so I thought of taking her help for bday preparations" he told her.

"Holy fuckkkkk " she jumped on the bed and Manik gave horrified reaction to her action.

"How I can forget his bday? ...... Ohh God that jerk Swaroop will roast me if he gets to know that I forgot his bday ...... Otherwise he is very mature but he is worst than kid if I will forget his bday ...... Aayiappa(God) please help me, what I can do? ...... I have very less time" she was panicking, in that moment she forgot everything including Manik who was staring at her like she is kangaroo nd jumping on his bed .

"Diiii ...... Shut up ...... Listen I have done the decorations because u two were out of reach  so I have done that on ur behalf ...... Only cake is left " she took a breathe of relief, how lucky she is too have brother like him who also takes care of her friends too. May Aayiappa bless him with so many loyal girlfriends.

"I owe you this time bro ...... Now listen go to my room ...... I have kept his clothes in gift box in my cupboard ...... And Queen of cakes have already made his bday cake, go and take it from her mother ..... Bye I will be there soon" she gave him much needed information and disconnected the call. In the morning only Diya had made cake for tonight's celebration.

After cutting the call she looked around to realise what had happened here few hours back, how her hair are messy, half dried very much similar to the condition of her dress, outside it's raining so the temperature is already moist and now she started feeling cold because she is out of that warm embrace. Then her eyes landed on Manik who was particularly looking at her naval, then she followed his gaze to remember her skin is burnt over there.

"Umm I am going " she did whatever she could do to make herself little representable  and then climbed down from bed, grabbing her things.

"Please stay " her heartbeats quickened instantly, when he held her wrist, stopping her from going away. Her heart missed a beat when she looked in to his pleading eyes. Her heart fluttered at the sight of him.

"I need to go" she said looking into his eyes but he nodded no.

"Please" she pleaded and he pulled her on bed.

"Okay but stay for a minute" saying so he left her hand and went to brought first aid kit.

"Ouu" he slightly pushed her on bed, he kneeled on the bed then took the small amount of ointment on his two fingers, he was about to pulled her top up but she held his hand out of little bit shyness which amused him, she can be shy too. He held both of her hands in his one hand and rested them on her chest. Looking into her eyes he rolled her top up till her diaphragm. He was looking so fucking hot going all dominating on her.

"Szz" she hissed at the slight touch of ointment on her burning wound.  He bent down and started blowing air on her naval, slight touch of his lips over her sensitive part and she curled her toes in anticipation. He was so soft, and caring more than necessary 'he surely never have treated anyone's wound before', she thought.  She don't know if he is aware of his sensual effects on her or not but it was surely affecting her so much that she literally bit her lower lip to control her moan.

"U will spend the night with him?" It was more of a like statement than a question. She was confused for a moment then she realised he is talking about Swaroop. She was looking at him but his eyes were on her wound only.

"Obviously" her answer pricked his heart, she also knows how to give back the same agony because she wanted him to feel how it hurts even with this thought when u r not bounded by any relationship. He knows he don't even have right to feel bad not after whatever he did but he was feeling worst with a thought that she belongs to someone else.

"Come ..... I have work somewhere ..... Take me there" he stood up and after straightening his posture, he spoke with a authority without looking at her face. He was trying to snatch her time from her because he is very selfish to let her go for anything or anyone.

"Sry to break ur bubble but I am not ur driver anymore" she also stood up from her place. It was like reminder to him and he hated the moment when he fired her.

"See ..... I was angry so don't take my words seriously ...... Umm consider they meant nothing to me" he shrugged his shoulders.

"But those words meant something to me ..... I can't do this job anymore".

"Why?".

"I don't want to live in constant worry that my job is temporary and I can lose it anytime ..... Nd it totally depends on my boss's mood swings .... I can't put my responsibilities at stake just for ur unprofessional behaviour ..... Sry but I am not rejoining" she mocked him which angered him a little, that why she is not rejoining? can't she get simple thing he was angry?, he fired her but now he is taking her in, isn't it enough for her to resume her job?.

"Good night and yeah please change this shirt .... It's looking disgusting on ur 'precious' body" she said with lipped tight smile mocking his filthy ways of ruining things in his life, instantly his face showed guilty expressions for a sec. She coudn't hold her bitchy self back because he ruined her first gift and also the feelings behind it.

"U may have nightmares" he murmured to himself in irritation as he remembered she is going to spend night with her boyfriend. He also remembered that dwarf will wear that lose maroon shirt which she has purchased. He cursed, why side effects of drugs and alcohol are over.

He again drank to keep himself sane but his imagination power made it difficult and just like that he broke another glass in his already messy house. He wasn't aggressive now but just frustrated still tranquil like every other day.

"She might have puked after seeing it" he remembered her, when he realised warm stream of liquid is flowing through his hand he chuckled painfully and took another glass without cleaning his wound.

He realised he can't caged her, she herself is a freedom, also the freedom of his heart from darkness.

..................||

Karan ordered good stock of alcohol and started drinking, he was feeling sad, rejected, angry and inferior in front of his brother. Though Manik never got his family's attention but he always used to attract people with his charms and strong personality. Karan was cute nd handsome little boy with few features similar with Manik but Manik's personality used to stand out different and eye catching. He always had slight inferiority complex since childhood but that was long forgotten in these years until today.

He was feeling very low in his own eyes that his own girlfriend chose to ditch him for Manik. Without doing anything Manik always gets the things which he don't deserve and sometimes also the things which he don't wish for. He really started thinking is he that bad on bed? Is he incapable of pleasuring woman?.

Karan's thoughts were going insane with the amount of drinks he was having then suddenly he felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked to his side to find a similar face. He remembered that girl is Nandini's friend who fought with him in Mall for her mistake.

"Need a partner?" She asked and sat beside him chair next to him, on same table.

"U look stressed?" He said after looking at her. Anger and disappointment was visible on her face.

"Kinda feeling frustrated, I just had fight with my closed ones" she sighed.

"But I look less stressed than you ..... What's up with you?" Though she knows the real reason still she pretended to asked as if she don't know.

"My girlfriend cheated on me with my brother ..... And I am feeling inferior in many manners" he blurted the truth and she caught him being impuissant and much drunk to be sane after some time.

"May be you can show me that u r superior" her offer caught him off gaurd and he looked at her surprisingly.

"Today I really need that, but are you sure?" He asked and she made horrified face by looking at cctv camera in the hotel then nodded.

He again looked at her for confirmation but she just looked at him and said nothing. Assuming it's her yes he moved towards her and was about to kiss her lips but she turned her face to other side so he started kissing her neck by holding her nape with other hand.

Instead of moaning she was making other noises as if he is biting her bruitely but he was drunk enough to ignore it. She was bearing his kisses with disgust on her face because she was letting someone use her.

She was bearing till the time he slightly lowered her top, slightly scratched her shoulders in urgency of need and started kissing her cleavage, it became uncomfortable and unbearable for her. She tried struggling to get out of his hold and then she finally pushed him, he fell back on the floor. He was so drunk that he dozed off there on the floor itself.

"Ma'am what happened ? ...... Are you okay?" Bar tender quickly ran to their table after hearing sound of Karan falling down. She was crying which made him suspicious.

"Did he do something ? ..... Are you okay?" He asked carefully, she controlled her tears and then nodded no.

"Take care of him" saying so she ran out of the hotel.

.................||

Air outside the hotel was chilled and night was darker than any other day. Rain was pouring but not heavily.  Diya's ph rang and she quickly picked it up.

"Hello Diya"

"Diya"

"Diya .... Are you there?"

"Diya"

"Nanduuu" Nandini's heart filled with fear hearing Diya's cries, she wondered what happened to her that she is crying hysterically.

"What happened?"

"Please say something u r scaring me"

"Nandu ..... Nan"

"Okay tell me where are you ? ..... I am coming" she asked calmly trying to assure her she will be there with her.

"Grand Hyatt" her lips were shivering while speaking because temperature was very low.

"Keep ur ph on ...... I will be there in 10" she took the right turn which will take her to the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai.

...................||

At 2am,

"So ma'am as per your complaint ...... U saw him in hotel, he was drinking then u shared few casual words with him because you have met him once before ...... Then he started taking advantage and misbehaved with u, as he was drunk ...... U tried to stop him but he didn't " police confirmed her statement before filing the FIR against Karan Malhotra.

When Nandini reached outside the hotel, Diya looked horrified and after few minutes she relaxed a bit in Nandini's presence then told her above story to which Nandini was shocked at first, she didn't thought Karan can do anything like this but again her best friend won't lie about such sensitive matter. So they directly came to police station and filed a complaint.

Diya requested them not to bring out this matter in public, not even on newspaper or anywhere, please keep it private and even please do other things like enquiry nd all secretly. They agreed reluctantly because they knows how this matter is delicate to handle. She told whereabouts of Karan, police took his drunk body out of the hotel and brought him here in police station, except bar tender no one knows about police nd case. He too kept mum for Diya.

"Mr Malhotra do you accept the crime?" Officer questioned him but he wasn't completely sane, alcohol is still there in his system.

"I don't know sir ..... I was with her but I know I can't do inappropriate things with any girl" he in his half consious state said whatever he could.

"Sir u can ask  lady inspector to see the marks on her neck and shoulder" Nandini said taking Diya's side.  And officer did that then after 10mins lady inspector confirmed about marks, Nandini also clicked pictures so they can be helpful in future.

"Keep him in the prison..... He is drunk so in the morning ask him to call anyone from his family" officer gave an order to sub inspector.

"Nandini" while passing by her he called her in drunken state with hope.

"U r worse than ur brother" she said vehemently and he looked down.

"Thuddd "

"This for crossing ur limits of man" she slapped him and he didn't said a word.  He wasn't remembering everything clearly to defend himself, but still he felt someone slapped on his character. It hurted him deeply, he don't remember if he ever had misbehaved with any woman.

"Thanks for help officer" she thanked them all for being supportive in this matter. Sadness and worry were dripping through her face.

"It's our duty ..... We r not doing any favour" Nandini gave small smile to respected officer before going out with Diya. All the time Diya was completely silent except for the time of her statement.

...................||

"What happened Nandu?..... What took u both so long? ...... Are you fine? ...... Did Manik do something?" As soon as they both entered inside their party room. Where Swaroop and Rishabh were waiting for then impatiently. When they didn't reached after past 12.30 am and it made them both worried and during that time it was raining heavily so they were constantly calling Nandini then she told them to wait nd not call her, she will tell everything after reaching home. And finally after 2-3 hrs they r here.

"Swaroop let me explain" she asked him to stop.  Why it's so obvious for people to only think about Manik if it comes to something bad or dangerous.

She explained them whole scenario which she knew and both the boys became totally numb.  This was the thing which used to scare them always about the girls in society and specially about their loved ones. Seeing this has really happened with their friend made them hate a specific mankind.

"Guys I have a request, please don't tell this to anyone ..... Not even our parents ..... Right now I am not in state of mind to bear all the sympathy or questions or anything related to this matter ...... I also don't want them to worry so much ...... We will tell everything after Karan will get his punishment" Diya managed to say while being in the hold of Swaroop who was patting her back to soothe her.

"He will be punished Diya di ..... Don't worry we r with u" Rishabh to patted her back and said these words.

"But he has Manik Malhotra with him who will get him out within seconds by using his power and money" Diya's worry was genuine because Manik do have powers to make it possible.

"Manik won't support him and if he do, we will fight against him too ..... Don't worry" Nandini hugged her back and they Sandwiched Diya between them. Nandini knew Karan used to meant something for Manik but don't know how is there equation going to be now, but she really hope Manik should never support Karan because forcing or raping someone is the only sin she can't forgive no matter what and also she can't stand with a person who will support it.

After that they all slept there in their decoration room of society. Their family knows they won't return before morning as it's bday of Swaroop so they weren't worried about kids and they were unknown to fact that birthday was ruined badly. No one wished him.

....................||

In the morning,

That alone, vulnerable Manik was gone with a night and monster himself was standing outside his house which was utter mess from inside, even he was mess yesterday but she handled the mess and went away.

She absolutely became his morning after a dark night

He woke up at 5am till then bleeding of his hand was stopped, he went to his disarrayed room and entered in the same washroom where they were together inside that bathtub few hours before. He switched off his feelings and let hot water flow through his body, he relaxed under hot shower and also wash his wound after picking glass pieces out of his palm.

He let go off all feelings which were crowded in his mind. Sometimes you have so much inside you that makes you feel nothing in particular. He wore his clothes which were saved from fire, last night and came out of his house.

He was thinking about to call his p.a so that he could find someone to clean this mess and at that time only he was engulfed in strong bone crushing hug. He groaned at unexpected attention from his p.a.

Last evening he got to know about the everything about Manik including his past and how things went wrong at Karan's place. His reaction was kind of same as Nandini and before mending things with his girlfriend he came directly to Manik only to heard that he is inside with Nandini.  Then he asked Sahil to call him whenever Manik comes out of the house in the morning and now he is here hugging Manik.

"Hey gay boy .... Fuck off" Manik whimpered in annoyance. He wriggled in the hug and Abhimanyu smiled like a teenager who is in love with Manik.

"I like u better this way" this emotionless Manik is way better than vulnerable Manik.  Manik glared him after breaking the hug. Manik's ph rang showing unknown number, he wondered who have his number?

After hearing everything Manik spoke "So why u called me? ...... It's not my matter, handle it by urself ..... And yes please don't spread my number like this" these unconcerned and strange words yet expectedly unexpected behaviour of Manik hurted the Karan most. He realised how alone he is and he literally don't have anyone to call as family. No one is there to trust him or take his side, how on the earth he is so alone.

"What happened ?" Abhimanyu asked curiously.

"Karan is arrested in the case of molestation and he was asking me come over there at police station" he said being completely insensitive and unconcerned.

"So what u think, he is guilty or not?".

"How would I know?".

"He is ur brother ".

"So what? ...... Last I have had known him at the age when I must have barely heard word sex so then u can understand how far he was to carry such thoughts or desires ..... And after that I don't know how he thinks nd in which way he has grown up to take stand for him " he was getting irritated with this Q nd A session.

"And last thing I haven't done anything and it's not my matter to get involved with ..... So it's ur responsibility to keep my name out of it, u can do anything" Manik ended that session .

"Aren't u concerned with a girl at least ? ..... I mean is she really victim or she is plotting against him?" Abhimanyu asked him hopefully to see any signs of good human in Manik.

"Why would I? ..... When I am not concerned about my namesake brother  ...... And it's not new, on regular basis I see these cases .... Sometimes many of them do this for popularity too and some unfortunate ones really suffers" this insensitive sight of Manik made Abhimanyu scrunched his nose in disgust.

"Anyways who is the victim?" Abhimanyu was really getting worried for the victim .

"Driver's friend ..... Her name is I guess Diya or something like that" with a given information Abhimanyu's heart felt a sudden pang and also his tongue gave upon his ability of speaking .

"Yeah it reminds me ..... Go to one florists shop and buy one beautiful bouquet for driver  then send it with a job application letter and yes this time make it 1.5 lakh ..... If she hits you then consider she is worried for her friend so don't get offend and keep trying until she says yes" he wasn't in a state of mind to hear and obey the orders Manik was giving.

"Sorry but I need to go" he ran out of the house leaving Manik behind. Who just stood there wondering did he just disrespected Manik?. This made him angry and he decided to cut 50k from his salary. Then he gave that task to Sahil.

He went with Sahil to Half Note to discuss about the grand event happening in upcoming days for celebration of 100M views on his new album.

..................End ...............||

Let me know if you find any mistake.

How was the chap?

............. Aish ................