She gets stunned seeing him lying on the floor unconscious in a pool of his own blood. She rushed and turned him around. She noticed the blood on the edge of the table and realized he must have hit his head which resulted in such heavy bleeding from his forehead. She got tense and instantly her eyes turned moist. 

She checked his pulse which was quite low, she glanced at the door and shouted "suniye!! Aap jaldi se andar aayie" she shouted for the staff. 

He entered inside and she glanced at him "aap madad kijiye inhe neeche car tak leke jaane mein.. Hospital jaana hoga khoon bahut beh gaya hai inka" she said, placing her dupatta around his wound to stop the bleeding. 

"Ji.." he helps her take Aarav downstairs. The driver quickly opens the door and she places him in the back seat. Her chain got stuck to his and she glanced at him. She untangled it quickly and settled beside him. 

The driver drives off towards the hospital. 

Lifeline Hospital

Aarav had been taken into the operation theater. Manvi had been pacing up and down the corridor playing with her dupatta. The nurse comes out with the paper and Manvi glances at her. "Yeh kuch injections.." 

She snatches the paper from her hands and quickly goes to the pharmacy to get the injections and medicines. She returns in a while and hands over everything to the nurse "yeh lo.. Aaravji thik hai?" she asked. 

"Don't worry mam! He is fine" Nurse assured her. 

She still wasn't convinced as the doctor had been still treating him. Half an hour later, the doctor stepped out of the OT room and she looked at him with curiosity "Aaravji!" 

"Aap unki wife hai?" He asked

Manvi refused "ji nahi.. Dost hun sab thik hai na?" she asked

The doctor informed her something which left her worried. "Please take care!" he said and left from there. 

Manvi sighed in disappointment. She heads to the counter and takes his medical reports. She walks to the room where he was shifted. He gained his consciousness and sat up straight. He glanced at his left hand which was connected to the drip. He rolled his eyes up "tum mujhe yahan leke aayi ho" he asked

"Jee haan! Main aapko yahan leke aayi hun" she replied, throwing the file in front of him. 

"Mr. Aarav Malhotra waise toh aap sabpe hukum chalte phirte hai yeh perfect nahi hai toh usey nikal diya job se wo kar diya lekin khudka kya karenge aap?" she asked angrily, crossing her arms across.  

"Matlab?" he asked, clueless. 

"Matlab aap ache se jante hai main kis baare mein baat kar rahi hun! Kyun aap khudki jaan ke dushman bane hue hai? Are 16 saal ki bachi hai aapki uske baare mein toh sochiye.. Bhagwaan na kare kal aapko kuch ho gaya toh uska kya hoga? Zara bhi khayal nahi hai aapko apna!! Main nahi aati toh aap subah tak behosh hi pade rehte waha.. " she scolded him. 

Aarav was shocked at her reaction "dekho tum iss tarah mujhpe chilla nahi sakti ho yeh haq maine kisiko nahi diya hai!" he warns her pointing finger at her.

She lowers his finger down "haq banta hai mera samjhe aap. Dost hun main aapki toh jaise Khushi ko daanti hun waise aapko bhi daant sakti hun" she warned him.

"Tum mujhe nahi daant sakti ho.. Aur zara si toh chot thi! Itna kyun bhadak rahi ho?" Aarav asked 

"Zara si chot hai yeh? Thik hai  yeh chot zara si hai par aapki reports?" Manvi asked

"I am fine! Khushi ko kuch batane ki zaroorat nahi hai samjhi tum.. " Aarav warned her.

"Main bataungi wahi legi aapki class' ' Manvi said and took out her phone to call Khushi. Aarav snatched the phone from her hand. 

"Ohh Miss toofan.. Apna muh band rakho samjhi warna.." he threatens her. 

"Warna kya dadda??" he heard the voice of his daughter. Aarav looked behind and Khushi had been standing at the door with Sharda. 

Khushi marched inside and hugged him tightly. Aarav smeared her head and smiled "Khushi main thik hun.." he assured her about his health. 

Khushi parted the hug and touched the white bandage around his forehead "yeh patti kyun hai phir?" she asked

"Wo bas.. Thoda sa chakkar aaya aur lag gaya sar.." He replied.

"Dadda! Yeh jo aapne sabko dhamkake rakha hai na office mein.. Uss wajah se hua hai yeh sab! Aajke baad aapka cabin bilkul bhi band nahi hona chahiye.. " Khushi instructed him. 

"Khushi lekin"

"No lekin Mr. Malhotra.. Dost nahi aati toh pata hai kya ho sakta tha? Mujhe toh laga aap kaam mein busy hai par nahi aap toh yahan aake tapke hai hospital mein.. Ainda aapka office ka cabin iss tarah lock nahi rehna chahiye aur agar hai bhi toh main jab phone karun toh aapke har employee ko permission hai room kholne ki samjhe" she warned him. 

He folded his hand in front of her "thik hai jaise aap kahe.. Agar tum teacher aur student ka mujhe daanta ho gaya toh main ghar jaa sakta hun?" he asked

"Nahi jaa sakte ho aap dadda.. You need rest" Khushi refused.

"I hate hospitals," He said, making a face.

"Then who asked you to be so careless?" Khushi asked, crossing her arms across. 

"Khushi please acha main kal ghar pe hi rahunga" he tries to convince her.

"Okay dadda.. Aap ghar aa sakte ho only if doctor permits" Khushi said

He had a sigh of relief hearing her. He glanced at the doctor who looked at him. "Mr. Malhotra aap.." 

He shot a deadly glare at him "I am fine doctor" 

Khushi noticed it "Dadda.. Aap doctor ko aise dhamkao nahi" she warned him. 

Manvi interrupted "Khushi tum janti ho yeh nahi sunenge.. Ghar le chalte hai waha pe tum ache se khabar le lena inka aur jaane mat dena office" she suggested.

Khushi nodded in yes "yeh toh ek dum perfect hai dost.." 

"Tum meri beti ko kya seekha rahi ho? Main ek dum.." he tried to get up but felt a pain in his head. Khushi gave him a deadly stare.

"Mr. Malhotra, you better keep quiet!" Khushi scolded him. 

Aarav argued with her and Manvi admired father daughter. She went out with the doctor to clear up the formalities so that he could get discharged. She returned and saw Khushi helping him wear his t-shirt. The nurse removed the drip from his hand. He gets up and slowly walks towards the exit. Khushi sits inside the car with Aarav and heads towards home while Manvi goes with Sharda into another car. 

Sharda placed her hand on hers and said "aaj maine tumhari aankhon mein ek alag fikar dekhi hai Aarav ke liye.. Mujhe shyam ne bataya kis tarah tum usey hospital leke aayi bhaag daud ki.. Agar tumhare mann mein ehsaas hai toh wo galat nahi hai beta.." 

Manvi looked at her and replied "Kaki please.." 

"Sach se kabtak bhagogi?" Sharda questioned

Manvi didn't respond and looked outside the window. She herself wasn't sure if she had developed feelings for him or if it was just friendship. They reach home and Manvi heads straight to the kitchen. She prepared light food and soup for him. She places them on tray and heads towards his bedroom. 

She hears loud sound of Khushi scolding him "dadda yeh toh aapko peena hi hoga" 

"main yeh nahi peene waala hun Khushi!" he refused to drink the tonic. 

Manvi entered inside and placed the tray on the side table "Aarav ji kya bacho ki tarah zid kar rahe hai pee lijiye" she insisted 

"mujhe nhi peena hai yeh kadva sa jo bhi tumne bhijwaya hai yeh" Aarav denied making a face

"aap par hi gaye hai Khushi ke nakhre.. Aapko office jaana hai na pijiye" Manvi ordered 

Aarav glared at her "nah" 

"Dadda phir soch lo aap! Main phirse Mr. Malhotra bulana shuru kar dungi aapko" she tries to emotionally blackmail him. 

Aarav snatched the glass from her hand and drinks it. A smile appears on Khushi's face "yeh hui na baat" 

"good ab yeh soup aur khana bhi khayie" Manvi pointed towards the tray. Aarav rolled his eyes and denied. 

"aapki laadli beemar thi toh usne bhi yahi sab khaya tha.. Aapko toh phir bhi sarpe chot aayi hai aur aapki baaki ki re.." Manvi added. 

"kha raha hun! Jab dekho emotional card khelte hai dono guru shishya" Aarav commented, all annoyed. 

"aap pyaar se sunte kaha hai" Manvi said teasingly. 

Aarav opened his mouth to speak something but Manvi poured the spoon filled with soup in his mouth "pijiye" 

Khushi giggled silently seeing their cute argument. 

She gave him his medicines and soon he drifts into sleep. Manvi stared at Khushi "chalo beta ab tum bhi khana khake so jao" 

"dost lekin dadda ko raat ko zaroorat hogi main yahi rehti hun unke paas" Khushi said in concern. 

Manvi smiled "Khushi tumhe bhi sona zaroori hai aur don't worry main hun" 

Khushi nodded in yes and kisses his forehead lightly "Good night dadda" 

She quickly leaves to her room while Manvi sits on the couch placed at the corner of the room. She placed her head on the armrest and admired him. A smile came to her face seeing the innocence visible which she had not noticed earlier. She hid her smile and thought "yeh kya ho gaya hai mujhe.. kyun main inki aur kheeche chale jaa rahi hun" she closed her eyes with such thoughts and drifted into sleep. 

It was midnight, she heard a few sounds and slowly opened her eyes. She gets stunned seeing the scenario in front of her eyes. She rushes to the bed and sees him reckless in his sleep. 

"nahi! Meri beti... mujhe  jaane do" she heard him murmuring. 

She placed her hand on his forehead and called him "Aarav ji" 

He gets up with a jerk and takes heavy breaths. She picks up the water glass and makes him drink water but he throws it away. He searched for something in the drawer but was not able to find it. 

"suniye shant ho jayie" she said

Aarav glanced at her "tumne mere kamre ki safai ki thi na! Wo pills kahan hai?" he nearly shouted at her. 

"dekhiye wo aapke liye sahi nhi hai.. Aap so jayie" she said in concern. 

"dekho tum.." he paused when he felt pain in forehead. Manvi made him lay down and calmed him by holding his hand tightly. 

"please.. Aap so jayie" she said. The smoothness of her touch calmed him and he looked at her. He closed his eyes and slept holding her hand tightly feeling secure with her presence around him. 

As the sun shines he opens his eyes and realises the situation. He sat up straight and Manvi got up. He looks at her and she assures him "Khushi ko nahi bataungi lekin aap kuch toh aisa chupa rahe hai jo.." 

He looked at her "kuch nhi hai tum jao yahan se" he said 

Manvi leaves while he gets off the bed and glances at himself in the mirror "Nahi! Yeh aur kuch nahi jaan sakti bahut muskil se maine apni bachi wapas paayi hai" he takes a deep breath. 

Manvi thought "sakht bante hai par hai naram dil insaan jaane kyun apne har jazbaat chupaye baithe hai.." 

The next morning, Khushi woke up and quickly rushed to Aarav's room to check upon his health. She didn't find him in the room, she ran down to the hall and found him sitting on the dining table having his breakfast. He was on the phone with his client. 

Khushi snatched the phone from his hand and disconnected it. Aarav glanced at her "yeh kya hai Khushi"

"aapko kal samjhaya tha no work today" Khushi declares. 

"beta bas 10 minute bahut zaroori hai" he tries to convince her. 

"nahi bola na ek baar" Khushi said

He takes a deep breath and sighed deeply. She forwarded his medicine and glass of water "naste ke baad yeh aapko leni hai" she informed 

"yeh? Are you out of your senses? Main nahi lene waala hun" he refused 

"Dadda.. Aap ghar iss condition pe aaye they ki ghar pe rest karenge aur chup chap apni dawaiyan lenge" Khushi reminded him

"tum apni dost ki tarah dadagiri mat karo mere saath" Aarav said cutely. 

Khushi glared at him "hitler giri toh aap krte hai dadda I am just following you so khayie" she glanced at him with anger gaze. He gave up in front of her and finally had the medicines. Khushi patted his cheek "that's like my Dadda" 

"event ki tayari dekhni hai mujhe office mein" he said 

"main dekh lungi aur meri help dost karengi haina dost?" she asked, eyeing at Manvi who had just entered the scene. 

"haan zaroor aap rest kijiye" Manvi said. 

He gets up and heads upstairs to his room. He turned and saw Khushi speaking to Manvi about the event. He didn't feel insecure with her presence around Khushi now. He was slowly developing a trust in her. Khushi noticed him looking at Manvi and a wide smile appeared on her face.

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