Nandini's POV

"Manik gifted you a puppy?" Bhai asked for the 11th time.

"Yes! And don't call him a puppy! His name is Alex!" I made an irritated face.

"I mean Manik -"

"Bhai enough!" I glared at him.

While Navya was sitting there lost in her own thoughts.

"Why is Manik behaving like a romantic lover?" Suddenly bhai popped this question in irritation which unknowingly caused me to blush.

I looked away as I didn't want them to see me blush. But how can Navya let it go?

"Nandini are you blushing?" She teased and Bhai's head snapped in my direction.

"N-no ...I-I'm not ..." I stammered badly.

"Ohh but I thought I saw something red on your cheeks!" She wasn't going to let it go.

"Navyaa!" I cribbed and she laughed and Bhai sat there smiling.

"Well okay enough of teasing! Listen both of you! I have work so I'll be going out and also Manik won't be home! So you too take care and if anything is needed then call us okay?" He informed and we both just bobbed our heads.

"Good!" He said and kissed Navya's forehead and then walking towards me pecked my forehead too before leaving.

"Nandini I'll freshen up and come!" Navya said and I nodded before moving out.

I was walking with Alex in my arms when Manik stood infront of me out of nowhere.

"Good morning Rose!" He smirked and I frowned at him.

Why is he looking at me like that?

Alex started jumping in my arms so I had to put him down. And as soon as I put him down he ran to the monster who picked him up in his arms happily.

"I think he likes me!" He commented looking at Alex and I rolled my eyes.

"By the way thankyou for the lime juice!" He said smirking at me and my eyes grew wide as he said that.

Does he remember what happened yesterday night?

No! No! How can he? He was drunk!

He was - right?

I looked at him nervously fidgeting while all he did was give me his smirk which was irritating the crap out of me.

He walked close to me and leaned down to my ears.

"Quit the pretense Rose! I know you care!" He whispered and placed Alex in my arms.

I took Alex in my arms but the next thing he did made my breath hitch.

He slowly and leisurely placed his lips on my right cheek, kissing me painfully slow.

Ugh. What is this guy doing to me?



"I'll be back soon!" He winked at me and left leaving me all shocked.

Why was Manik Malhotra behaving all romantic with me?

Did he fall down from the bed and hurt his head in the morning?

Or did he drink too much that his head is affected?

Oh god! I'll go mad!

Tomorrow I was going to go to college again and I was just little happy because now going to college means leaving Alex and Navya behind.

I pouted. I don't want to!

But just few days were left for my graduation as I was in my last year. I'll be graduated after I give my exams in few days and then I can find a job.

But the question was will the monster let me go for a job?

"Nandini where are you?" Navya called and i came out of my land.

"Coming!" I yelled and went to her.

"Let's go!" She said excitedly.

"Where?" I asked confused.

"Anywhere! But I don't want to stay at home all day! I feel so bored! And you know pregnant ladies should go for a walk it is nice for the baby!" She explained.

"But Navya -"

"Nandini please! And besides the bodyguards aren't going to leave us alone so there's nothing to worry about!" She pleaded.

I sighed.

"Okay! And besides we have Alex with us too!" I winked at her and she grinned.

Soon we were out of the mansion with three guards following us and Alex jumping around happily. Probably this was the first time I took him out since he was home. We went to the nearby park for some fresh air.

"I feel so fresh!" Navya said taking a deep breath.

"Me too!" I smiled.

Alex barked telling us that he did too. We chuckled at him and he wailed his tail.

But something wasn't right! I felt as if something bad was going to happen. It felt like someone was watching us. I roamed my eyes around but found no one.

"What happened?" Navya asked.

"Navya I feel like someone is watching us!" I put my worries infront of her.

"Nandini you're overthinking! There's no one here beside us! The park is empty!" She said and I nodded as I looked around once again.

"I guess you're right!" I sighed.

Suddenly Alex started barking looking at a particular direction and the guards got alert. We looked confused at the guards and then Alex.

"What happened?" I asked the guards.

"Ma'am! We should leave right now! This place doesn't seem safe anymore!" One of them spoke.

"Why?" Navya asked confused.

"You see the dogs get to know about another presence very quickly before any of us! He can smell them from afar! And this little pup here!" He said pointing at Alex.

"Is barking looking at that particular direction! So we suppose there is someone keeping an eye on our movements. So please hurry we should leave!" He said and we nodded.

Two of the guards went in the direction where Alex was barking looking at and the only left followed us.

I held Alex close to me while Navya looked calm. She wasn't scared! Why?

"Navya! Aren't you scared?" I asked.

"Nandini what's so great in living with fear when you know your enemy wants the same! He wants you to get afraid so that he can easily attack you! Show them that you're not a coward and you can fight back!" She said confidently and proudly.

I have so much to learn from her!

We were walking fast when out of nowhere a guy jumped before us with a gun in his hand. He shot the guard on his shoulder before anyone could react. I screamed when he held my hand and started to drag me.

Alex jumped out of my hold and started barking at him. He ran to his leg and bit him there to which the guy screamed in pain before kicking Alex away.

"Alex!" I screamed as he was thrown away.

Why was the guard dead only because of the shot on his shoulder?

Was he drugged?

Navya lunged on the guy and tried pushing him away on the sides bit the guy was too strong. He pushed her away and she stumbled back.

"Navya don't!" I screamed as she was pregnant.

The other two guards were no where to be seen and I failed to understand what was wrong. I tried to free myself from his grip but he was too strong.

Nandini what's so great in living with fear when you know your enemy wants the same!

He wants you to get afraid so that he can easily attack you!

Show them that you're not a coward and you can fight back!

Navya's word rang in my ears and I kicked the guy in his guts. He groaned in pain as he fell back on the ground. I fumed as I walked to him and kicked him hard few more times for hurting Navya and Alex till he fell unconscious.

Then quickly running to Navya I held her and asked her if she was fine.

"Are you fine Navya?"

"I'm okay Nandini!" She blinked her eyes and I looked down.

"The baby?" I asked worriedly.

"The baby is also perfectly fine! Now go find Alex so that we can go back quickly!" She said and I froze.

Alex!

I ran towards where he was thrown only to find him laying there unconcious.

Oh my poor baby!

I picked him up in my arms as few tears rolled down my eyes. He is so brave! He tried to protect me!

"Nandini let's go!" Navya called and we hurriedly left the place.

Once we reached the mansion we breathed in relief as we were now safe. Alex was still unconscious and that made me sad.

He was just a small and innocent life!

"I'm sorry Nandini! This was all my fault!" Navya said with guilt.

"Why are you sorry Navya? This wasn't your fault!" I sighed.

"It was! If only I didn't insist on going out! If only I had listened to you when you said someone was watching us! This wouldn't have happened!" She looked down.

"Navya this was bound to happen! So don't blame yourself please!" I said softly and she looked up.

"Please?" I said and she nodded and then her eyes fell on my arms.

There were scratches from all the pulling and little bruises from his strong hold.

"Nandini your hands!" She said worriedly.

"Its okay Navya! I'm fine!" I assured her.

"Besides Alex was the one to suffer the most!" I looked at him and saw that he had scratches on his little body too.

"He is one brave boy!" Navya said looking at him.

"He is!" I smiled.

"But the question is who was that guy? And why was he trying to kidnap you?" Navya said seriously.

"Aryaman!" I said bitterly.

"Aryaman?" She asked.

"That guy was sent by him to get me! He wants to kidnap me! He said the same thing when I was in hospital." I spat in disgust.

"Did you inform Manik?" She asked and I nodded in a no.

"I wasn't talking to him!" I sighed and she nodded.

"But you have to tell him! What if he tries to attack again?" She put forth her worry.

"I know! I will tell him today!" And it was true I was going to inform Manik about everything that happened in the hospital.

"What about the guards Navya?" I asked her suddenly.

"I guess they are dead!" Navya sighed sadly and I nodded grimly.

Just then we heard some whines and our heads snapped in Alex's direction to see him getting up. I smiled widely and picked him up carefully.

"Alex!" I said softly as he opened his eyes and looked at me with his innocent eyes.

His eyes shined as he looked at me and jumped on me licking my face and making me giggle. Navya too smiled looking at us.

He was happy that I was fine and I was more happy that he was okay!

"What the fuck happened?" Manik roared as he entered in the mansion in fury followed by Cabir bhai.

~~~