It is said that where there is anger, there is always pain underneath. This is exactly happening with Manik. He is so much hurt by Nandini's distrust that his pain turns to uncontrollable anger. He dispels his physical pain and forcefully brings Nandini to his car. The parking is dark and vacant. So, no one watches them. Nandini is still struggling to free herself. Manik scoffs and spanks on her butt.

"Be quiet or else I will tie you with my car bonnet and drive it at the average speed of 150 km/hr."

In reply, Nandini can only make a helpless sound from her tied mouth,

"Bruuuuuuu..."

Manik opens the car door and almost throws her in the back seat. Then he occupies the driver's seat and speeds out the apartment premises. Nandini is lurching like a sack on the seat. Manik observes her from the front rearview mirror and sardonically mouths,

"If you are thinking that I am kidnapping you then you are absolutely right but if you are guessing that I am getting you to my house then you are absolutely wrong. Today we will play a game where you will be the trophy and I will be one of the gladiators."

Nandini who was scuffling to be steady amidst the jerking and bumping of the car becomes still for a moment.

"What just this crazy man said?"

Her mind alerts her. Simultaneously, fear dries off her throat. Manik snickers and adds,

"Confused? Well, you will come to know very soon. Be patient, Baby."

His voice is calm but Nandini can feel the undercurrent. Within 10-15 minutes the car screeches stop at a place. Being lying on the seat, Nandini can't see the outside. Manik gets off the car and predictably opens the backside door to carry out Nandini's bondage frame. He again throws her on his shoulder and paces towards a building. Only then, Nandini observes the surrounding and the antiquated house. It's a two-storied building that has numerous signs of dilapidation. Some feeble rays of light are coming from the closed window cracks. Everything seems very awkward and gloomy to her. Manik reaches the closed door and bangs on it. Within 2 minutes it gets open and a gigantic black American comes out. Manik asks,

"Are the fights still going on?"

The man observes him from top to bottom and replies in a hoarse voice,

"Last two rounds of the last fight are pending. The opponent is puking blood. Today Liger is in the top mood. Wanna see?"

Manik counters,

"Uhhhu...wanna fight. The last two rounds."

The man scrutinizes him again. His attention is more on Nandini.

"The reward is 20000 bucks. Why do you want to crack your bones? Liger won't let the reward go from his hands. Go away."

The black man alarms. But Manik's next words stunt both Nandini and him.

"I don't want the money. This is my reward. (he indicates Nandini slouching from his shoulder) I will fight to win her from Liger. I think he would love to start the last two rounds soon now."

The guard once again honours both of them with weird and surprised looks and in the next moment, vanishes inside. Manik puts down Nandini from his shoulder and makes her stand like a doll. Nandini wobbles in discomfort and makes some ambiguous sounds. Manik looks at her timid eyes and utters with an arctic voice,

"Scared, Baby? But you only wanted to be desperate. You only said you can do anything with anybody. I am just giving you options. I think you will enjoy the fight in this Fight Club. Liger is a good fighter. But of course, he will have to defeat me to gain you. After all, you are the trophy and we are the gladiators."

Manik winks at her panic-stricken face.

.....................................................

"Nobody will touch her before I touch the floor for the night."

Manik mouths in a virile voice. Now Nandini's hands are only tied. She is sitting on a chair kept in front of the ring where the fight will be fought between Manik and Liger. Liger is a regular starfighter of this Fight Club. He is an Anglo with wriggling muscles and inked skin. Like a hybrid of a Lion and Tiger, he is strong and agile at the same time. Manik's words bring a sarcastic smile to Liger's face. He spits and nonchalantly utters,

"Then I am going to touch her in a second because you are going to kiss the ground within a blink, my chocolate boy. This is my lucky day. I haven't lost a single round so far. The money and the girl, both will be mine, Kitten."

Liger puffs his biceps in self-confidence. Manik slowly unbuttons his shirt and removes it from his body with a jerk. Nandini's pavid and wide-open eyes fall on the bandage of his left chest. It has a faint blood spot on it.

"This man has gone insane. He will leave me to die after being killed."

The thought brings her heart to the mouth. She budges on the chair to leap up when two black men try to grab her shoulders but Manik's growl makes them withdraw their hands.

"Dare to touch her. I am still on my feet."

It was enough for Nandini. She screams in desperation,

"Are you even in your sense? You are betting on me? You will lose. Just look at yourself. You are injured, weak. Stop this madness."

As all the members of the club are either Yankee, Anglo, Black Americans or Latin they can't understand Nandini's Hindi words. In fact, Manik has chosen this Club because nobody is aware of their screen identity as they hardly watch a Bollywood movie. Manik looks at Nandini for a moment and mouths ruefully,

"No...I am betting on both of us. I want to see how desperately I want to save you and how desperately you can feel my importance in your life. I want to test both of our desperation for this relationship. Either it has that warmth till now or it is dead long back."

Manik's words make Nandini sags on the chair again. It is truly said, when you are mad at someone you love, be careful what you say or do because your mind gets angry but your heart still cares.

Author's note: I know most of you are thinking, what madness of Manik is this? He can't put Nandini's dignity and life at stake to satisfy his ego. Chill... don't be judgmental so soon. Very soon this question will be answered. In the next chapter, the entire fight and drama will be described. So, stay tuned and keep faith in the writer. 🙏❤