The Star To My Dark World

CHAP 8 : MANIK'S DARK SECRET

Nandani freshened up and went downstairs for breakfast. She wore a black short dress that was thigh length and a black shrug over it. When Manik saw her, he couldn't stop staring at her, she was looking damn hot and gorgeous. 

"Manik lets have breakfast", said Nandani, but Manik was busy staring at her. Nandani snapped her finger and Manik came out of his dream world. 

"Manik where are you lost?", asked Nandani

"In you", said Manik.

"Huh?", Nandani looked at him confusingly.

"I mean tell me what were you saying", said Manik changing the topic.

"I am hungry, lets have breakfast", said Nandani.

They had their breakfast. Nandani asked, "Manik I am getting bored. Shall we watch a movie?"

"Okay, which movie you want to watch?", asked Manik.

"SMURFS ", she said excitedly like a small kid.

"Okay ", said Manik. 

Nandani was watching the movie with a great interest and so was Cabir. Manik whispered, "Cabir what did you understand?"

"Nothing", Cabir replied.

"So why are you watching it with such a great interest?", asked Manik.

"I was thinking about something", said Cabir.

"Oh may I know what were you thinking ?", Manik inquired

"Maybe the snakes had bitten this smurf", said Cabir.

"And why do you think so?", asked Manik.

"Buddy the poison has spread in their entire body, due to which their body had turned blue in color", said Cabir laughing. 

Manik laughed, listening to Cabir. 

The movie got over. Nandani told excitedly, "It was a good movie, wasn't it?"

"Yes, truly it was a good movie", said Manik and Cabir started to cough, to pull Manik's leg.

"Cabir bro, why are you coughing?", asked Nandani.

"I am having a bad throat", said Cabir giving her an excuse.

"I will wring your neck, so than you won't ever have a bad throat", said Manik angrily.

Dhruv asked pointing towards the Papa Smurf, "Nandani who is that Santa Claus "

"Dhruv bro, he is not a Santa Claus, he is Papa Smurf", said Nandani.

"Oh I see", said Dhruv.

"You know when I was a kid I always dreamed of marrying a cartoon character", said Nandani.

"Oh , Nandani your wish has come true, our Manik is not less than any cartoon", said Cabir laughing

"Very funny Cabir. It was a lame joke, I didn't even feel like laughing", said Manik with a fake smile

"But we found it funny, isn't it Nandani?", asked Cabir

"Yes, Cabir bro", said Nandani laughing

"Oh you are laughing too much ", said Manik tickling Nandani. Nandani started to giggle and told, "Sorry Manik".

Manik smiled and took her in a tight hug. He kissed her forehead , cheeks and pecked her lips. Nandani clutched his shirt in fear , so Manik left her and said, "You really look beautiful when you laugh"

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Cabir opened the door and found Andrew. Manik inquired, "What's the matter Andrew you seem to be tense".

"Boss, can you all come with me", asked Andrew

"You go, we will follow you", said Manik .

He than told Nandani, "My little star, you sit over here, watch some more movies we shall be back"

"Okay Manik", she said smiling. Manik smiled back and FAB 5 went behind Andrew.

Nandani watched another movie but FAB 5 didn't come back till than. Nandani was bored so she thought to take a stroll in the mansion. While walking she reached a small room which was shut. Nandani muttered, "Oh, I am seeing this room for the first time, I didn't see it before"

She was curious to see that room so she opened the door and went inside. It was dark inside and the room looked scary. There were a lot of dust and cobwebs, it seemed that no one entered in that room since years. She saw a photo of a man and a woman of mid-thirties.

*SCENE CHANGE*

Manik came back to the theater room but Nandani was nowhere to be seen. He checked out in his room but she was not even there. 

"Where had she gone", he thought worriedly.

"Manik relax she might be somewhere in the mansion only,  we will search for her", said Cabir. 

FAB 5 started to search for her in the entire mansion. Manik was getting restless with every passing second. He went to his secret room, and found Nandani over there. Nandani asked, "Manik who are this couple, and the small girl in the picture? Are they your parents? Damn they look such a perfect pair where are they?"

Manik eyes were red with anger. He shouted angrily at top of his voice, "What the hell are you doing over here"

Nandani got scared and steeped back due to fear. Fab 4 went to the room hearing Manik's scream.

"Answer me Nandani", said Manik angrily. But Nandani got scared and tears started to roll down her cheeks, which made Manik more angry. Manik pushed her against the cupboard and screamed at top of his voice, "Answer me damn it".

There was vase kept on the cupboard which was about to fall on Nandani but Manik hugged her tightly due to which the vase fell on Manik. All the vase pieces were on his back and his back was bleeding. Manik asked worriedly to Nandani, "Did it hurt you ?"

But Nandani didn't reply and pushed him with all her might. She ran downstairs towards her room and locked the door. Manik and Fab 4 also ran behind her. 

Manik knocked the door and told, "Nandani baby please open the door"

But Nandani sat on the floor and was crying loudly. Manik could hear her loud cries. He was feeling guilty. He was on the verge of crying, he told, "Nandani my star, I am sorry please come out"

FAB 4 were shocked to see Manik who was almost on the verge of crying. Manik's shirt from behind was covered in blood because of the vase that fell on him. 

"Manik leave her alone for some time", said Cabir. 

"Cabir I don't want to lose her ", cried Manik hugging Cabir.

Cabir hugged him back, and took him downstairs to the living room. He called up Aaditya and in some time Aaditya came. 

He did dressing on Manik's back and inquired, "How did you hurt your back?"

Cabir narrated everything to him. 

"Manik you scolded that innocent, she doesn't know about your past, or she wouldn't have gone in that room if she knew", said Aaditya.

{ There is a dark past of Manik, which is going to be revealed soon}

Manik was angry with his own self. He went to his room and shut the door . He cried and said, "How could I scold her? What if she leaves me , I don't want to lose her "

Isn't it beautiful, when a monster is crying due to a mere thought of losing someone.

He sat on the floor and was looking towards the sky. By now, it was night time. Manik wiped off his tears and stood up. He freshened himself up and wore a black vest and a cargo pant. He went to Nandani's room and knocked the door.

"Nandani come for dinner", he told.

"I am not hungry", she said sobbing.

"Nandani please open the door sweetie", said Manik knocking.

But Nandani gave no reply. Manik went to his room and got the duplicate keys of Nandani's room. He opened the door. Seeing Manik, Nandani told crying, "Go away from here , I hate you". Manik locked the door behind him.

"But I love you sweetie", said Manik.

"No you don't , you scolded me so badly", said Nandani crying.

"I am sorry baby girl, please forgive me!", said Manik.

"No ", she said angrily

"Fine than I shall be sitting over here until you forgive me", said Manik sternly.

"Fine, you sit over here, sleep over here, do whatever you want to do , I am going", said Nandani and stood up.

When she was about to leave, Manik pulled her and pushed her gently on the bed. He hovered upon her. Nandani tried to say something but Manik interrupted her in between and said, "The picture of whom you saw in the room, yes they were my mom dad and my twin sister Sarah. My mom Neyonika Malhotra & my dad Raj Kapoor. My dad was a greedy man, he married my mom for the sake of money and her body. He had affairs with several other women. He belonged to an underworld. He just used my mother for the sake of pleasure. My mom got pregnant and then I and my twin sister Sara were born. Eight years passed, my mother learnt about my fathers affair and gotta know that he belonged to underworld. She thought to give divorce to him, but dad was not ready to divorce her. My mom along with me and Sara decided to run away, but dad's men saw us. They started to fire on us due to which a bullet hit Sarah and she died. We had to leave Sarah's dead body and run away, because dad was determined to kill us too. We escaped from there and came to India. Few years passed, after that the monster again came to ruin us. He got to know that we were hiding in India. One night he came with his men and burnt down our house. My mom asked me to run away from the window. I didn't wanted to leave her , but she pleaded me. I took our family photo frame and ran from the back door, while my mom died in that burning house. I could hear her screams and cries, people gathered over there but none saved her. There was terror of my dad among the people. I couldn't do anything to save her. She died when I was just 7 years. I became an orphan , my father thought I also died along with mom. My life became a living hell, I started to work in a tea stall and went to school at night. Many days I slept hungry on the footpath. I didn't want to live , life showed me its harsh reality! I got scholarship after a few years, since I was a bright student. When I turned 15 , I met Cabir, Dhruv, Alya , Aaditya and Mukti. We became good friends and completed our studies together. They were more like a family to me. I got a reason to live. At the age of 18, we got into the underworld, and I killed my father and took my revenge. We named our g**g as FAB 5 and the symbol of our g**g is SCORPION. We hid our identity from the whole world, people fear and shiver by our name.But I always miss my mother and sister , and just wish to see them once", said Manik crying

Nandani was shocked to know his dark past, "Nandani I don't want to lose you baby. Please forgive me and don't ever go away from me" , said Manik crying and caressing her face.

Nandani could see the pain in his eyes. 

Manik got up from her side, and sat on the bed and cried. 

"A monster, was an innocent, once upon a time......."

Nandani hugged him tightly and said, "Manik please don't cry I promise I won't leave you Manik"

"I am sorry Nandani for scolding please forgive me , star ", said Manik.

"Its okay Manik", she said and kissed his teary eyes and forehead.

Manik closed his eyes to feel that beautiful moment. Manik told, "Now come down for dinner baby you didn't even have your lunch "

Nandani and Manik went downstairs for dinner. Everyone had their dinner in silence.