~Lethal Liaisons~ MaNan FF chapter 7, page 34 - Page 24

Who's Mukti?

My friend...I just remembered that she wasn't present at the crime scene.

He downed another glass. What was he thinking? This was just insane! He has always known that opening his big mouth in front of people who don't belong to his company has always proved to be disastrous! Thank God that he came up with a cover for blurting out Mukti's name in front of Nandini...he was sure that had it been some other time, she'd have caught his lie there and then.

He actually thought that Mukti can murder people? He has known her for six years! There can be so many girls in that goddamned school who'd have easily fitted that description. Yeah, it has to be someone else...he convinced himself and poured some more whiskey in his emptied glass.

"Manik" he heard his name being called by an all-too-familiar voice which made him jump and the glass slipped through his fingers and smashed on the floor.

His heart beating frantically as if he was fearing his thoughts being heard by her, he managed to ask in a meek voice as to what she's doing there.

"I thought I heard footsteps so I came to check, hoping I'll find you here" Nandini's voice was groggy as she spoke. She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. It took Manik some time to realize that she was wearing his shirt...just his shirt.

"Why are you drinking now"? She came in front of him as she questioned him but kept a safe distance from the shattered glass on the floor as her feet were bare. Her tone was curious instead of angry or demanding. "Is that what people do when they're upset? Start drinking at 2:30 in the morning"? She looked at the wall clock as she spoke.

Manik scoffed. Probably she's still treating him as her subject, might as well write a thesis on the same. "No...it's just me. I'm a single piece, you see" he answered in a mocking tone. Nandini raised an eyebrow at that.

"I'm tired, I'm going to sleep...join me when you feel like" she turned to leave. Manik didn't stop her but then he suddenly remembered that he is supposed to be present at the CBI office tomorrow afternoon for some Detective Gupta. He needed to sleep as well. He went right after her.

Once they both were back in bed, Manik resumed the conversation "I want to ask you about something". Nandini frowned and asked him what it is.

"Have you ever met a criminal"? He asked in a skeptical tone. "Hmm...loads" she was all but murmuring, she was too sleepy to talk about criminals now.

"Who do you think could have killed Pia"? His tone was inquisitional now. Nandini rolled her eyes and said "I told you...it was a crime of passion, has to be someone who hates her and have followed her". That caught Manik's attention at once...followed her?

"Followed her"? He voiced his confusion. Nandini sighed. "According to the police reports and Dr Goldstein, there was no break-in, the person must have followed her for a few days in order to keep track on her. Also, I've heard that no footprints or fingerprints were found in the whole house- an exceptionally neat job. It means that even though the person was channeling his or her hatred against Pia, he or she did it with planning...very careful planning. These are the kind of cases which we keep looking forward to, you know...the CBI is dealing with a diabolical, dangerous mind that has got patience too- a lethal package, I must say!"

"Lethal indeed" he agreed with her "what about the patience part, though"?

"The person waited for the opportunity to kill- didn't rush it, didn't leave a single clue for the CBI to figure out...

...or may be the killer did." He cut her mid-sentence. Nandini looked at him in confusion and then her expressions changed and she asked "why did you take Mukti's name when I told you about Pia"? Manik didn't answer; instead he took his phone from the side of his bed and opened the picture folder. He clicked on a picture of the Fab 5 together with Harshad and showed it to her.

Nandini frowned at first and then took the phone from his hand to have a better look. "This is the man I met at the store that day, right? The same store where I met you?" She pointed at Harshad in the picture as she spoke. "Yeah...that's him...but do you know this girl"? He pointed at Mukti and asked her.

Nandini frowned again and nearly placed the phone over the tip of her upturned nose. Manik's heart beat accelerated again. "Is this Mukti"? She asked and enlarged the picture to get a better look at the woman in question.

"Yeah it is, this was taken four years ago...on her, Alya and Cabi'r graduation day". He was in two minds right now, a part of him wanted to be proven wrong and a part of it wanted Nandini to recognize Mukti.

"I...I'm not sure" she said after holding the phone over her nose for long. Manik pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn't know what to feel about that.

"Nandini...I came to know from one of my inside sources from the CBI that there was a case of a missing, apparently murdered teacher which links this case because the murder weapon is similar...the person was a chemistry teacher"! He emphasized on the last two words. Nandini looked confused again "so"?

"So...well, we have been called for questioning again and that too regarding Pia's murder". He was starting to sound frustrated.

"Manik" she got up and said "you're not making sense! Please tell me clearly what you mean". Manik got up too, sighed and then he started.

"When Mukti came to our college, she had curly hair and spectacles. She got herself a makeover in order to impress Harshad. We all used to tease her for that". He finished in one breath. Nandini looked at him suspiciously. "Are you trying to tell me that you think that the senior who harassed Pia and this Mukti are the same"?

"I don't know Nandini" he buried his face in both his hands "it's not something I'd like to believe, it's just something that came to me and I know that I won't be able to share it with anyone but you"!

Nandini placed her hand on his shoulder "you've been through a lot in the recent past, you and your friends" she said in a soft, pacifying tone. "You're not thinking straight right now. Get some sleep Manik, talk with the officers tomorrow, may be they can help you, probably they've found out something regarding Pia's murder otherwise it doesn't make sense for them to call you all again".

Manik just nodded at her words and hoped that she's right.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Manik and Cabir decided to leave together for the questioning at CBI office. They didn't feel like bringing their respective attorneys like they did last time so they went without them. Dhruv volunteered to bring Alya who was probably in no state for a grilling session.

En route, Manik told Cabir everything about Nandini and his doubts regarding Mukti. Cabir was shocked at first on learning about the sexual harassment then he scoffed at his doubts on Mukti but after that he was reminded of the incident where Pia went all awkward when she met Mukti.

"But it could well be because she was meeting one of her seniors after a long time" he tried reasoning with himself. Manik chose not to speak on this matter anymore.

"I think I should stay away from this Nandini girl" he quipped "first Dhruv and now you, she sounds like a magnet for the Fab 5 men" he chuckled. Manik pouted in anger "there was nothing between her and Dhruv, she doesn't love him or anything"!

"And she loves you" Cabir was clearly in the mood for teasing today after a long time. Manik didn't know how to respond to that. "She came to you last night because she was worried...that ought to count for something" Cabir kept on with his musing as he drove. Manik looked towards the window, away from Cabir so that he won't be able to see the small smile that has crept up his lips. Was he feeling...special?

"I don't know why she puts up with me nor do I know why I can't just leave her alone" he blurted out, still looking at the window and the cars and houses/buildings/shops that were passing by.

"Whoa"! Cabir exclaimed hearing that, Manik suddenly realized what he'd said. Damn my big mouth!

"This has to be THE most romantic line you've ever uttered about a girl, or in general. She must be something man"! Cabir continued to exclaim. Manik just kept his mouth shut.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Dhruv drove in silence with Alya at his side. They both had nothing to talk about. Dhruv stole a few glances her way in order to make sure that she wasn't crying. She wasn't, her face was impassive.

He had chosen a near- empty highway as it would be easier to reach from where Alya stays. Dhruv handed her a water bottle without looking at her. She looked at him once and didn't say anything as she took it from his hand. He always knew. She knew that he always knew.

It was then when Alya opened the cap of the bottle to drink...it all happened to fast!

Dhruv saw a truck speeding into their way from the opposite direction, Dhruv turned the steering fast to get out of its way. The truck missed their car by a few inches. Dhruv pushed the brakes but the car didn't stop. It continued to run forward. Dhruv hit the brakes multiple times but nothing happened.

"Oh shit" he panicked and swore under his breath. Another car came in front of him and that's when he steered the car away from the main road. The car hit a tree hard and they both leapt forward with the force. Dhruv's head hit the steering but he didn't care about that.

"Are you all right" he asked Alya. He heard her gasp looking down. The top of her pink dress was splattered with water but it was something else that made Alya look horror-struck.

"NO"! She cried and out of confusion and concern, he followed Alya's gaze and his breath got stuck in his throat.

A thin stream of blood was flowing from the side of her right leg, dripping down her shoes.

* * * * * * * * * * *

"Detective Abhimanyu Gupta" he said as he extended his hand for a handshake. Manik just rolled his eyes in return. Abhimanyu took it back but looked pretty much unabashed. "I have to inform you that this session is being taped and that...

"I know all that; just get done with this questioning already". Manik cut him off mid-sentence in an irritated voice. "And yeah...before you ask about the attorney, he's not coming" he finished before anyone could ask.

Abhimanyu scoffed. Manik gave him a sharp look. "What's so funny"? Manik asked in a tone that was equally sharp.

"I only scoffed at your explanation Mr Malhotra...you are anything but funny" Abhimanyu added cheekily to which Manik raised an eyebrow. The rest of the officers present were all busy hiding their amusement at the exchange.

Before Manik could say something else, it was Dr Goldstein who spoke "Mr Malhotra please be seated, Mr Gupta..." He threw a meaningful look his way.

Manik sat on the chair that was facing the officers. It was a bit distracting.

Abhimanyu came up to him with a picture. "Do you know who she is Mr Malhotra"? He asked Manik, carefully gauging his reaction.

Manik was at first surprised "yes of course, that's Mukti when she came to our college". Weird coincidence. Only last night, he was discussing about Mukti and here he was, in the CBI office being questioned about her. What have they gotten to know that directed them towards her? Or is it just him over-thinking?

"Actually sir, this was her sixteen-year old self" Abhimanyu corrected him. Manik shrugged, trying his best to sound casual. "So"?

"Tell me about her...everything about her" Abhimanyu demanded. The rest of the officers grew a bit uneasy.

"Well...what do you wanna know"? Manik asked, choosing his words carefully. It was obvious that they had stumbled upon something."Let's start with college, shall we"? Abhimanyu replied.

"We have been friends since she arrived in college. She became friends with Alya and Cabir and I've known them since school. We used to call her the wild cat'. Harshad probably still does. She developed a huge crush on him after meeting him and went for a makeover- she started wearing lenses and straightened her hair because Harshad once remarked that he prefers straight hair to curly hair. They started dating after graduating. It wasn't an easy relationship, though. They both had conflicting personalities...there were a lot of things they both didn't approve in each other. Also she has been..." Manik stopped abruptly thinking he has said too much.

"Go on Mr Malhotra...tell us on your own cause it won't take us much long to figure things out" one of the officers insisted.

"Then why don't you" Manik challenged. Abhimanyu got up and started speaking "how about this bit of information- your friend Mukti has been sleeping with her husband's sister for the last two years"?

Manik looked at him in shock. Abhimanyu gave a satisfied smirk. "She's not worth it Mr Malhotra, stop trying to protect her and tell us the truth".

"I don't know the truth" Manik replied honestly "only yesterday I got to know about some girl who had sexually harassed Pia Jaiswal in the past".

"We know about that" another officer interrupted "Ms Nandini Murthy told us about that but she couldn't tell us the name of the person who did it. Has she told you, I'm guessing it was her who told you"?

Manik at first looked surprised, then understood that she might have been called in for questioning too as she was Pia's friend. "No...she hasn't. Why you guys didn't give this piece of information to Cabir? It was me who did it today"!

"We have our own reasons for what we do sir" Dr Goldstein spoke again "anyway...please continue".

"Well...when she described her, I thought I've seen that face before and I thought of Mukti, that's it" Manik finished.

"That's it"? Abhimanyu demanded "there are so many girls in the world who could easily fit whatever description your girlfriend might have given to you...why did you thought about Mukti only"?

Manik gave him an angry look; he was starting to get on his nerves now! "Because I personally haven't known all those thousands of girls who could've fit that description, detective" he added the last word like an expletive.

Abhimanyu shook his head and chuckled. "I'll tell you why, Mr Malhotra. It wasn't Pia's death but Viraj's death that made you think this way. Viraj is, after all Alya's husband".

"Congratulation for that Eureka moment' detective"! Manik's voice reeked of sarcasm "but you're still going around in circles".

"Mr Gupta" a stern voice called Abhimanyu from behind. He looked around to see on of the senior officers giving him a warning look.

* * * * * * * * * * *

"I can see what you're doing Mr Gupta...you're personalizing the case" Mr Singh finished after all but dragging him out of the questioning session. Abhimanyu didn't say anything, he knew Mr Singh was right but he also couldn't shake off the facts that were now facing him.

What confused him; however that was the girl he knew and once fell in love with wouldn't ever kill anyone. She had been a bully, yes but she can't be a killer.

Also, what could possibly be the motive behind her killing his father- if at all she has done it? Why would she go on a killing spree now? Why Pia? Why Mr Rathod?

And then he remembered what Dr Goldstein said about the killer- dangerous and very ill. Was it possible that Mukti has been mentally unstable? After all how much did he knew about her?

"Where is Harshad Saxena?" He abruptly asked.

"He said he's coming within fifteen minutes. Apparently his sister is hospitalized" replied Mr Singh.

Abhimanyu frowned at this latest piece of information. "Hospitalized?" he said aloud. What is with these people, this group? How is it that after Pia, everyone else is queuing up to either die or get hospitalized?

And then he stopped and thought that if that was the case, Alya would have been very much dead by now instead of getting hospitalized.

The killer doesn't seem to be the type to leave loopholes.

* * * * * * * * * *

Manik and Cabir reached the hospital where Alya was admitted after Harshad arrived for the questioning. He informed them about her but couldn't divulge details except the fact that the brakes failed while Dhruv was driving. The officers seemed very interested in this piece of information and ordered the local police for an immediate probe.

They both met Alya and wondered if the day could get any worse than this. She was like a statue on the hospital bed, staring off into space, refusing to talk or even react.

Even the doctors refused to say anything.

"I can't believe it's her this time" Manik said in a rush while walking fast down the corridor, "but if it's her, we need to tell the CBI everything we know."

Cabir knew whom is he referring to. "Give me a break" he muttered angrily.

Manik rounded on him "you think you know better than the police? This is Pia's murderer we're talking about Cabir!" he said loudly making passersby stare at the pair of them.

"Listen Manik" Cabir spoke in a tone of maddening patience of a teacher making a toddler understand that "B" comes after "A", "we're no experts in this field. And this is Mukti we're talking about Manik- our Mukti...Fab 5's Mukti."

Manik was getting frustrated now, he opened his mouth furiously but Cabir again cut him mid-sentence "Why would she choose to kill Viraj now...after all this time of Alya being married to him"? Cabir asked trying his best to sound sane.

"May be because" it was Dhruv's voice which answered to which they both turned to look at him "she got to know about something that she couldn't digest" he finished with his teeth gritted.

They both looked at him in confusion.

"Alya suffered a miscarriage today" Dhruv finished ruefully.

Precap- "I didn't feel like going to the CBI office" Mukti replied as she pushed Alya to make some space for herself on the narrow bed. Alya got up abruptly despite the pain, she didn't meet Mukti's eyes.

Once again, I'm EXTREEMEELLYYY SORRRYYY for the looonnnggg delay!

But as you can see that the show kept going downhill as time passed and now that I don't see MaNan anymore on my screen, I felt a terrible ache in my heart.

But once again, thanks to Zee, I started to write. It's like my own version of MaNan, my own AU where- rest assured- something as bad as what transpired on-screen won't be shown. 😊

Hit like and COMMENT if you liked it sacchi mein. 😳

I knew I owe you all a long update apart from apologies, so here it is. 😃