Naina said: "Your engagement is tomorrow. What if you make a mistake in the midst of all this? What if that man does something wrong to you? I won't say anything more. All I'll say is stop doing all this and let happiness come into your life. You understand what I'm saying, right?"
As Naina was speaking, Mannat interrupted, "I know I've been accused, but I can't accept this false blame. I hope you understand my pain too."
Naina, now angry, said, "Do you even know what that man is capable of if you try to confront him? He's extremely dangerous. Who knows what he might do to you?"
After a short pause, Naina continued, "Look, my job is to make you understand. If you don't want to, that's your choice."
Mannat, getting irritated, said, "Only he can answer the accusations he made against me. I'm going to get that answer."
After arguing with Naina for two hours, Mannat finally decided to go to Yug Bajaj's office to confront him — to ask what her mistake was, why he ruined her career, and how he dared to put such shameless accusations on her.
1:00 PM, Bajaj Industries:
Mannat arrived at Bajaj Industries. The first thing she did was approach the receptionist and said she wanted to meet Mr. Bajaj.
The receptionist replied, "Sir can't meet anyone right now. He's very busy. And you don't have an appointment."
Mannat was getting angrier but controlled herself and said, "Yes, I didn't take an appointment. But it's very important that I meet him."
The receptionist replied again, "Ma'am, we can't let you in like this. I'll inform sir, please wait outside."
Mannat nodded and sat in the waiting area.
The receptionist called Yug: "Sir, someone named Miss Mannat Aggarwal is here to see you."
Sitting in his cabin, Yug narrowed his eyes and gave an evil smile upon hearing her name. He said, "Okay, send her up after one hour."
"Okay, sir," the receptionist said, and ended the call.
Turning to Mannat, she said, "Miss Mannat, you may meet sir after an hour."
An hour felt like forever to Mannat. She simply nodded and sat on a chair, lost in thought. Time passed slowly.
After an hour, Mannat stood up and said to the receptionist, "It's been an hour. Can I meet him now?"
The receptionist replied, "As soon as sir is free, he'll inform us. I'll take you to his cabin then. Please wait a little longer."
Instead of sitting, Mannat started pacing back and forth. Time dragged on and another hour passed.
Mannat said, "Can you let me meet him now? It's been nearly two hours!"
The receptionist called Yug again, but he didn't answer. She said, "Ma'am, you'll have to wait. Sir might be in a meeting."
Mannat was getting angrier but sat down again, defeated. Another 30 minutes passed.
Yug, watching Mannat on the security camera from his cabin, seemed to enjoy making her wait. Then he called the receptionist: "Send that girl to my cabin now."
The receptionist turned to Mannat: "Ma'am, sir has called you. His cabin is on the sixth floor, to the right."
Mannat quickly got up, grabbed her purse, and stormed toward the elevator. She reached the cabin and, without knocking, burst in like a storm. Yug was sitting confidently in his chair, oozing his dashing personality.
He looked up at her — she was staring at him in fury. Their eyes locked.
Yug kept staring, while Mannat's eyes raged like a volcano.
She slammed her hand on his table and shouted, "How dare you say all that about me? And who are you to get me fired from my job? Even if I made a mistake, that doesn't give you the right to punish me as you please! Who are you to decide my punishment?"
Yug leaned back in his chair and kept staring. He put his hands in his pockets and said, "So, you're Mannat Aggarwal? Tell me — who sent you? Who asked you to come here? Are you doing this for money?"
Mannat stepped back slightly and pointed a finger at him, "Take off your fake, pretentious mask and face reality, Mr. Bajaj. Do you see everyone as a criminal?"
Yug replied, "In my eyes, anyone who messes with Yug is guilty. And once someone crosses Yug, Yug never lets them go — I'm sure you've figured that out." He ended with a devilish smile.
Grinding her teeth, Mannat said, "You think your money and power can crush a common person? You're wrong. Very soon, your ego will shatter. And then I'll ask you all these questions again."
Yug smirked, "Fabulous."
After a brief pause, he added, "But what if by then you're of no use anymore? You don't even have a job right now, no spicy news stories. What will you do next?"
Mannat replied, "You don't need to worry about me. Worry about yourself, Mr. Bajaj. When people like you can't win fairly, you stomp on others' lives."
Yug angrily said, "You're questioning my capabilities?"
"No, Mr. Bajaj," Mannat said, "How could I? You're right. You do deserve a reward for what you've done. Here's your reward." She removed her bangles and extended them toward him. "This is your prize for all your 'great' work."
She placed the bangles on the table and stormed out like a hurricane. Yug stood there like a stone, watching her leave, boiling inside.
He picked up the bangles and stared at them. With a twisted smile, he said to himself, "Soon, I'll make you wear these bangles with your own hands."
"There's so much attitude in you, but now I, Yug Bajaj, will break that pride."
Bajaj Villa, 12:00 AM:
Yug was sitting on the sofa in his room, thinking about everything that had happened that day. Of course he was — he couldn't just let his enemies roam free when he wanted revenge.
He kept thinking about how an ordinary girl came and created such a huge scene.
He looked at the bangles she gave him, examined their size, and said to himself, "Size 5 — nice. Why not make you wear them with my own hands?"
His anger grew. Suddenly, he remembered — Mannat's engagement is tomorrow.
"She must be so happy. Her house must be bustling right now. What's that guy's name… Yuvraj? You love him, don't you?"
Yug pulled out his phone and called someone.
Next Morning, Kandivali, Mumbai — Aggarwal Family:
It was a typical middle-class morning. Sujata Aunty from next door admired the colorful rangoli and said, "Pihu, give me my phone so I can take a picture. After all, it's Mannat's engagement today. How can the atmosphere not be colorful?"
Seeing Mannat with a purse, Sujata asked, "Where are you going today?"
Mannat knelt down, placed a hand on her shoulder, and said, "My lovely aunty, don't you want your sweet daughter to look like a princess? I'm going to the parlour to get ready."
Sujata cupped Mannat's chin and said, "You don't even need makeup. You're so beautiful that the groom might say he wants to marry you right away!"
They all laughed.
"Enough, aunty," Mannat said and went inside.
At the Aggarwal house, the preparations were in full swing. Mannat's father, Keshav Aggarwal — whose first wife was Mannat's mother — was busy organizing everything.
Seema, his second wife and Mannat's stepmother, only showed fake affection in public. Deep down, she held hatred and anger. But today, she was happy — Mannat would finally leave the house.
She took out jewelry for Mannat while muttering under her breath, clearly showing her displeasure, though she tried to fake a smile.
Keshav and Seema were sitting in the room. Keshav said, "In just a few days, my daughter will leave this house — the daughter I raised with so much love."
Seema placed a hand on his back and said, "Not your daughter — our daughter. She's going to start her new life. We should be happy for her. Her happiness is our happiness."
Keshav hid his tears and nodded.
Outside the door, Mannat overheard this and teared up. Just then, Pihu came and scolded her, "Mannat di! You're standing here — who's going to get me ready? Hurry up! I want to look better than the bride today. And only you will do my makeup."
Mannat laughed and said, "Alright, I want you to look so beautiful that someone sends a marriage proposal even before mine!"
"Stop it, di! I'm not thinking that far ahead."
Though they had different mothers, their love for each other was the same — all thanks to Keshav ji's values.