Naina was furious. She demanded of Manik, "How did Arun get kidnapped? He was with your guards! How could you let that happen?"
Manik, watching her distress, tried to calm her. "Naina, don't worry, I will find him."
Naina collapsed back onto the bed, tears streaming down her face. Manik instantly called KK and Avinash, giving a panicked order: "Find Arun at any cost."
He hung up and turned back to Naina, whose heartbreak over Arun was palpable. Manik sat beside her and gently grasped her shoulders. Wiping her tears with his thumb, he whispered, "Please, Queen, don't cry. I will find Arun at any cost, even if I have to die for it."
Hearing the word die caused a strange pang of pain in Naina's heart. Without realizing her action, she reached out and gently touched Manik's mouth with her hand. She was instantly shocked by her own spontaneous gesture, but Manik looked thrilled. He took her hand and kissed the center of her palm.
Naina quickly pulled her hand away and looked to the side. Manik smiled softly, moving closer. He kissed her forehead and murmured, "I love you, My Queen, and I promise, I will be only yours."
Naina's heart hammered in her chest, and she looked straight into his eyes. Just then, Manik received a call from an unknown number and answered it immediately. Naina leaned in, listening to the conversation.
The kidnapper's voice was cold: "I want you to come with Naina and hand her over to me. If you don't, I will kill Arun, her little brother, and she will blame you."
Manik's face flushed with uncontrolled rage. He wanted to scream, but Naina gently touched his hand and shook her head, signaling him to keep quiet. He was burning with the realization that this person wanted his love, his Queen. The call ended.
Manik slammed the mobile into the wall, the sound echoing his utter fury. Naina watched the display of his pain.
"You have to talk to the kidnapper," she said, calm but firm. "Please save Arun."
Manik looked at her, then strode over, grabbing her hands angrily. Tears of frustration streamed from his eyes. "Why? Why do you hate me so much, Naina? I love you! I won't lose you!"
Naina winced from the pain in her hands but remained silent, looking into his tearful eyes.
"What about me?" Manik cried.
Naina looked down, hurting for the pain she was causing him, yet unable to offer comfort. She tried to pull her hands free but couldn't. Manik watched her every conflicted movement.
She looked up at him again. Manik was inches away. In a second, his lips descended onto hers. He sucked gently on her lower lip, trying to gain entry to her mouth, but Naina resisted. Manik released her hands, pulling her against him by her waist, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on her lower back.
A moan escaped Naina's lips, and Manik took the opportunity to deepen the kiss. He tasted her mouth, tongue meeting tongue, a kiss that brought him immense peace after months of separation.
Naina was surprised by her own moans as he moved to her neck, leaving hickeys. With a small push, she broke the kiss.
"Manik, please stop," she whispered.
Manik simply smiled at her flustered state. Naina, embarrassed, stared at the floor.
"Queen," he purred, "I want to taste you again, please."
"Please stop. Can we go and save Arun?" she insisted. "I have a plan. You won't have to hand me over, and we will save Arun."
Manik listened, his desire replaced by determination. He nodded, but before leaving, he pulled her in for another twenty-minute kiss, leaving new hickeys on her collarbone. Then, they rushed out to save Arun.