Maya and Arun were staring at Manik, who was looking at the floor, overwhelmed by guilt.
Naina broke the silence. "Arun, Maya, let's forget all of this." She turned to her brother. "Arun, you will come and stay with Trisha and me. We need you. We'll arrange for you to study music at the best college, and then we'll all go and start a new life together."
"No, you will not go," Manik interjected. Naina gave him a questioning look. Why couldn't they leave?
Manik looked at Maya, Arun, and especially at Naina. "I will give back your Sharma Company, which belongs to you. Don't you want to find the culprit who caused your family's bankruptcy, planned the rape that struck Maya and Simran, and caused the accident?"
The three siblings were silent, wanting answers.
Naina spoke firmly. "We don't need the Sharma Company. We need proof for the rape of Simran and Maya, and for the accident. I will find it. But for now, Arun needs to focus on his studies, and Maya on her married life. It will be good for them."
Naina continued, her voice heavy with finality. "The three of us were never interested in business. My dream is to be a painter, Maya's dream is to have her own family, and Arun's dream is music. Our father built that company, and it died with him. Let's forget it."
"I am the eldest," Naina asserted, "so I decide for Arun. Maya is married, so she can make decisions with her husband, Arjun. But for Arun, I want the best, and that's focusing on his education right now." Her words, which excluded him completely from their future, hurt Manik deeply. He knew she wanted him out of her life.
Naina continued, "I don't owe anyone anything anymore. That includes you, also, Manik. And for our uncle, my father's brother, I already paid him the ten lakhs he got for selling me to the goons. We have no relationship with him. We three siblings are dead to that life. Let's leave our past in the past."
She looked at Manik one last time. "Can we leave now?" Her question, devoid of any attachment, broke Manik's heart further. Arun and Maya were stunned to learn their uncle had betrayed Naina for money. Manik looked at Naina, hoping for a flicker of hope, but her eyes were utterly empty.
"No, Naina," Manik said, his voice pleading. "You don't understand. Arun's life is in danger, and so is Maya's. And you don't know who is trying to harm your family. I will protect you all."
Naina didn't want Manik's help, but she couldn't risk her siblings' lives. Reluctantly, she agreed to the truce.
Manik immediately arranged for Arun to be taken to a secret safe house known only to him. Arun gave his sisters a heartfelt farewell and left Dragon Villa. Maya also left with Arjun. Naina was about to leave when she fainted from sheer weakness.
The Kidnapping
Later that evening, Naina slowly opened her eyes. She saw someone sitting next to her. As she focused, she realized it was Manik, slumped in a chair. She watched him, feeling a strange warmth in her heart she didn't recognize, but quickly ignored it.
She started to sit up. Manik's phone rang, breaking his sleep. He looked up, saw Naina was awake, and immediately rushed to help her, but the phone rang continuously. He picked up the call.
His body froze in shock as he listened. Naina, worried, asked, "What is it?"
Manik lowered the phone, his face pale. "Arun got kidnapped."
Would you like to know how Naina and Manik work together to save Arun, or perhaps shift the focus to the investigation?