Manik's dad said that after his friend disclosed the truth, his life changed forever.

Dad : "My friend disclosed that he and Nyonika loved each other. I didn't know about it and I proposed her. She hesitated at first, but then she accepted my proposal. I felt that I was the happiest man on earth. After a few months, when I told my friend about it, he advised me not to take any decision in haste. He was out of town, so he told me to wait till he returns. But the circumstances were such that I couldn't wait till then. There was pressure at both our houses to get married to different people. So we got married without informing our families."

Dad : "Later, when I told my friend of what mom thought of Nyonika, he took my mom's side. He told that Nyonika broke up with him after I proposed. She chose riches over love. She was from a poor family and she wanted to lead a luxurious life after marriage. He wasn't as wealthy as me, so she chose to marry me over him. I felt that I had betrayed my best friend by marrying the girl he loved, though unknowingly. I couldn't show my face to him anymore. I was a fool to think that Nyonika loved me. She betrayed me as well as my friend. Because of her greed, I lost my best friend as well as my faith in love."

Manik : "Did you confront mom about it?"

Dad : "I did ask her if she loved someone else before she met me and she denied. For someone who could pretend so well, lying wasn't a big deal after all. Why would she say the truth and deprive herself of a luxurious life?"

Manik's dad was fully drunk by then and he wasn't in a position to speak anymore. So, Manik took him to his parents' room, and Nyonika helped Manik to put him to sleep. Nyonika was going through their old albums and reminiscing the days when they were a happy couple. Manik took his mom outside the room.

Manik : "Dad was talking about his best friend from college. Do you know about him?"

Nyonika : "Yes, it was through him that I first met your dad."

Manik : "What more do you know about him? Do you have any idea why they haven't met in all these years?"

Nyonika : "Not much. He was my partner in college for one of my classes and he was very friendly at first. But later due to differences, I got my partner changed and stayed away from him. He moved to a different city after he got a job there, but I have no idea why they haven't met."

Manik : "What differences mom?"

Nyonika hesitated. Manik's experience with Nandini had thought him not to judge anyone based on someone else's words, however close they might be to you. On top of that, Nyonika was his mom whom he looked up to.

Manik : "Don't hesitate Mom. I know that college life comes with it's own issues. Sometimes, we end up doing immature things without realizing the consequences. You can tell me whatever it is."

Nyonika : "He proposed me, but I didn't feel the same about him, so I declined politely, but he didn't take it lightly. He was agitated and he said that one day I will regret my decision. He also said that he was the best I could get considering that I came from a poor family. He also threatened that he wouldn't let anyone else enter my life."

Manik : "Did you tell dad about it?"

Nyonika : "I didn't. At first, I thought that they were best friends, so he would know. Later, I figured out that he didn't. I was planning to tell him, but his friend advised against it. He told me that Raj would be upset if he came to know about it, and that would lead to unnecessary complications, that's why even he hadn't told Raj. He also apologized for his previous behavior."

Nyonika : "Did your dad come to know about it? Is that the reason for he being upset with me?"

Manik didn't want to upset his mom telling her what was in his dad's mind till figuring out the entire truth. He felt that his dad had misunderstood his mom like Mukti had misunderstood Harshad, based on what his friend had told him.

Manik : "Mom, you don't talk about it to dad right now. .. Leave it to me. I will find an appropriate time and talk to him."

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Manik got the details of his dad's friend and went to his city. On investigating about him further, Manik came to know that he was having an affair with his secretary. Manik threatened him that he would expose his affair to his family if he didn't speak the truth. Manik made him call his dad and tell the truth.

Dad's friend : "I am sorry. Aunty ( Raj's mom) wanted to get Nyonika out of your life and get you married to a girl of her choice. I wanted to take revenge from Nyonika for rejecting me and make her suffer. So, we both joined hands and came up with a plan. Aunty continued to convince you that Nyonika had trapped you, and I lied to you that she left me for your riches."

Dad's friend : "We were expecting that you yourself will kick Nyonika out of your life after knowing of her betrayal, and both my and aunty's wish will get fulfilled. But I came to know that our plan had failed. Aunty informed me that you were taking good care of Nyonika instead of kicking her out. I thought that you came to know the truth and that's why you were avoiding me. So, I distanced myself from you and left the city."

Manik's dad was devastated after hearing the truth. Though he was lucky enough to marry the one he loved, he had ruined his own life believing in his mom and friend's words. He hadn't shown his disappointment immediately and had taken care of Nyonika because he had come to know that she was pregnant. But after Manik was born, and Nyonika had recovered from childbirth, he had changed.

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When Manik returned home, the atmosphere of his house had already changed. There were no more arguments between his parents. His dad was behind Nyonika asking for her forgiveness and Nyonika wasn't even responding to him. She was very upset with him for not trusting her. He had been behaving rudely with her for years though she wasn't at fault.

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Mukti used to visit Harshad very often with her friends and ask for his forgiveness, but Harshad hadn't forgiven her yet. On one such visit they overheard Arya and Harshad's conversation.

Arya : "Harshad, they have been apologizing repeatedly, why don't you forgive them and get back with them?"

Harshad : "Can you forgive them for what they did to Nandini?"

Arya : "They aren't anyone to me, but they are to you. You love them a lot, don't you? Then why do want to hurt them as well as yourself. I agree that they did a big mistake, but how long will you continue to punish them?"

Harshad : "Till I don't find Nandini."

Arya : "She doesn't want us to find her, that's why she made sure not to leave any trace. She cleared their misunderstandings and left so that you could get back to your life. Though she was depressed and was still recovering, she put in so much of efforts, but you are sabotaging it all."

Arya : "What will you tell her if you happen to meet her? 'Because of my stubbornness, all your efforts went down the drain.' .. If I were in your place, I would have forgiven them for Nandini if not for myself."

Arya : "Being related by blood alone doesn't make you her brother. You should be able to forgive like her too."

Harshad : "We still don't know where she is and how she is, then how can you be so cool about it and ask me to forgive them?"

Arya : "We don't know where she is, but I feel that she will be okay wherever she is. She assured that she will improve for the better, so she won't go back on her word. Who knows may be staying away from all of us, who remind her about the past, may be in her best interest."

Arya was trying all possible ways to convince Harshad.

Harshad : "I don't know if I can, but I will try to forgive them."

Mukti thanked Arya later for trying to convince Harshad.

Arya : "You don't have to thank me because I didn't do it for you. I did it for Harshad and Nandini."

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After analyzing what Nandini felt for Manik, she realized that she was in love. But at the same time she thought of the reality. She remembered Manik's words :

"I don't believe in love, I agreed to pretend only for Mukti's sake .. There's no way I will fall in love .."

and Alya's words :

"Don't think that he will fall for a girl like you just because he showed a little concern for you. He can never be yours. .. He is and will be only mine."

Nandini's thoughts : "Love isn't for me, it isn't going to lead me anywhere. I made the mistake of building castles in the air once, and I am not going to repeat it again. It is better I accept it now instead of building any expectations and getting disappointed in the future."

Nandini's thoughts : "I have only two options in front of me - either I should learn to suppress these feelings and try move on or I should learn to live with these feelings without any expectations."

After pondering over it for sometime, she came to a conclusion.

Nandini's thoughts : "So what if he doesn't love me, I can still continue to love him. I can live the rest of my life with his memories, and not expect anything in return."