Nandini's pov

" Navya, Has Vinay come ? " I asked her while putting my bag in the desk.

" No.." Navya replied. Vinay never misses his class even when he is sick. But from the last two days he is not attending the class. Which is very weird ? I am searching for him to return the note.

" Look Vinay has come" Navya said and I looked behind and saw him walking in the classroom. I let him settle down on the bench and went to his seat to return his notes.

" Thanks for the notes, Vinay.." I thanked him while returning his notes. He didn't look up instead he gestures to me to keep it on the table. I frowned at his behaviour. I put it on his table.

" Nandini.." He called me but he is still looking down.

" Please please stay away from me. Manik has warned me to stay away from you. I don't want to be his target and ruin my career. Please.." He requested me.

" What ? But why ? " I asked him.

" Please, stay away from me.." He requested me. Vinay seems afraid.

" Okay, okay. Don't panic. I will stay away from you.." I assured him. I went towards my seat and sat down.

" What happened, Nandini ? " Navya asked me and I explained to her the situation.

" I told you that men who are in love are jealous. I didn't know Manik is so possessive for you.. " Navya teased me.

" But it is wrong Navya. What is Vinay's fault in this? I just asked him for notes. He seems afraid even to look at me He should have confronted me at first before jumping into any conclusion.." I defended him. I am upset with his behaviour but at first I should confirm with the senior. I can't judge him based on other people's statements.

" But Love is blind, Nandini. It doesn't see what is wrong and what is right.." Navya said. Navya and her theories for people in love.

At lunch time, I called Manik to meet me in the garden. He came.

" Senior, Did you threaten Vinay ? " I asked him directly as I don't want to beat around the bushes.

" Did he complain to you ? Such a chicken.. " The Senior questioned me instead of answering the question.

" Answer me, Manik.." I demanded an answer.

" Yes " Manik said. Is he serious ?

" But Manik, He just gave me his notes when I asked him.." I defended him. He has no right to threaten him. He has no right control with whom I talk. It's not like we are friends. Vinay is just my colleague.

" If you wanted a note ? You could have asked me. Why do you need to take it from others ? Why? I am there to help you..." He yelled grabbing our colleague's attention.

" You are my senior not my classmates.. " I give him a logical reason.

" Don't talk to me using this tone. I don't like it and you are grabbing other people's attention. Don't make me more upset than I already am.." I placed my argument. Manik looked behind and signaled them to leave. All of them leave as they don't want to risk their degree. His behaviour seems changed.

" Why are you defending him ? You are my wife not his. You can't take his stand.." Manik is huffing and getting angrier. His fist curled in anger. His eyes are red in anger. I have never seen him this way. Honestly, his behaviour is scaring me.

" I am not defending him any way. I am telling you what is wrong and what is right. This is not the way you should behave, Manik. You shouldn't do it and I won't let it. What is wrong is wrong? I won't defend your behavior just because you are my closer once. You threatened and scared him just because he talked to me.." I told him my point of view.

" I don't like it at all, Nandini. I don't like it at all. The things I don't like will not exist in my life for more days, Nandini.." He warned me and I gasped.

" If you do anything to him. I will walk out of our relationship without even thinking once.." I threatened him instead of understanding me, he is threatening me.

He kicked the table lying in the side which gives me a jump scare.

" For others you will walk out of our relationship.." He chuckled and pulled me closer while holding my waist.

" You think I will let you Mrs Malhotra.. Then you don't know Manik Malhotra at all. Don't force me to show my evil side, wifey. Trust me you won't like it at all.." He tucked my hair strands behind while warning me. His body language screams danger. His eyes started scaring me. I am seeing another side version of Manik Malhotra. It is scaring me a bit. He is not my senior. He is someone else.

Manik left from here. I stood rooted in my place. Does fake love look like this ? I questioned myself.

Nandini's pov ends.

Manik Pov's

What has gotten into me ? Why am I behaving like this ? Why ? I am just using her like a pawn to reach the culprits who haven't been found till date. Why ? Why ?

I kicked the bench in frustration. I shouldn't feel this way. I shouldn't.

I can't control my anger when she starts defending him and I completely lost it when she said she would walk out of our relationship. Like I will let her walk out.

She noticed the fear in other eyes but she didn't notice my injured hand. She noticed others'pain but not mine.

Why always me ? Why me? Don't I deserve love ?

Love what I am thinking about ? After knowing the truth about me she will leave why I am thinking about love.

Why am I thinking like an insecure man when I know this relationship is not going to last longer ?

How about I never let her know the truth and keep her with me always ?

What happened to me? Why am I thinking like this? I am going mad. I should clear my mind. I shouldn't focus on these things. I should focus on my plan. What to do ?

Manik's pov ends..