“Give me a few days of peace in your arms—I need it terribly. I’m ragged, worn, exhausted. After that I can face the world.”
...

Chapter 15 - Days that passed by.

"What is she doing?" asked senior Malhotra to junior as soon as he came out of the room.

"Finally asleep, I am surprised to know that even after so many painkillers and medicines, she couldn't sleep for so long"

"Manik, sometimes memories are more powerful that medicines" they sighed together and turned only to find the queen Malhotra standing there with folded hands and a look that could bury them six feet underneath.

"Mo-mom" Manik gulped

"N-Nyo" Raj Malhotra gulped

"In your office now, both of you" she pointed at Raj while glaring and left.

"It was a privilege being your son" Manik said seriously
"It was my honour to be your father" he said and they both gulped in fear exchanging pleasantries for it might be the last day of their lives. The mini monster was the scariest of them all, she never got angry but when she did ... Ohhh boiiii.

They made their way as slowly as they could to Raj's cabin and knocked before entering the lion's den. In front of them sat Nyonika in the head chair and signalled them to sit in the guest chairs.  They both took of their stethoscope simultaneously and sat down. Manik took the glass of water in front of him when Raj glared at him and took a hold of the glass Manik was holding, there went a tug of war between the two for about 40 seconds when someone cleared her throat to be more precise, Nyonika cleared her throat so Manik gave up and Raj drank half of the water and gave half to Manik.

Nyonika - When was the last time you both came home?

Manik and Raj glanced at each other and then back at her looking so guilty.

Manik - maa, I am sorr-

Nyonika - Answers Manik. She snapped angrily.

A part of her had already melted seeing both of them, the dark circles beneath their eyes were concerning her that when she came to his cabin she cried, thank god they took their own time to come inside.

Raj -3 days back

Manik - 4 days back

Nyonika - When was the last time you had homemade lunch?

They both gulped again

Raj - a week back? He asked more like a question than an answer to which Manik immediately nodded.

Nyonika - when were you both planning to come home?

"Today" they both said together almost happily.

Nyonika - when was the last time you both talked to me properly?

Raj - I - he sighed and looked down feeling so guilty.

Nyonika then looked at Manik with tears in her eyes and the one thing that can make Malhotra men weak and cry was Nyonika's tears. Manik glanced back at her with tears in his eyes now he too realising how much he missed her. Sometimes you don't miss someone when they are not there but when you see them again and you feel like something was missing in those days and now it's finally back. Like you were breathing but now you are living.

It was true, the last time he had a relatively proper conversation with her was when she came to his cabin, when he kept his head on her lap, the day they found out about Nandani but that day too she came because he wasn't coming home or eating properly. It had happened weeks ago.

Not letting his tears fall, he looked out if the window clenching his throat from inside that it started hurting. Everything was finally started taking a toll on him, EVERYTHING. The day he first talked to Nandani, their conference call with all the other doctors, the solution,  her going missing, his sleepless nights, she being found , he looking at her almost dead self, the press conference, the operation, the aftermath of operation, her finally getting up, the shine of pain in her eyes, the laugh, the hiss, the bruises, the police, the statement, her nightmares, his hold on her hand, the sleep which she got finally got and the fragment of what he carries in his heart everytime he sees her sleeping and that was her to wake up because everytime she feel asleep something heavy settled on the pit of his stomach. She was still not out of danger and what if she won't wake up ... He stopped himself for thinking more about it.

He missed his mother he realised now ,he had missed her so much, her comfort, her look everything but he knew that he didn't regret it apart from the fact that he should have called her at least twice a day but  if him staying here gives even a little peace to him himself that she was safe, it was okay . He will deal with it.

Manik - maa, come with me.
He cleared his throat and got up, held her hand and slightly nudged her to walk with him and Raj too followed him behind.

He stopped outside Nandini's room, took a deep breath and slowly opened the door. His heart clenched seeing her like again, like it does everytime. She looked peaceful while sleeping and as much as her sleep haunted him, he felt relived that she wasn't yet having a nightmare. He asked the nurse who was monitoring her at the moment to go outside while the three of them entered inside.

Nyonika gasped in shock as her hand went to her mouth, her eyes wide in disbelief. Infront of her was an unrecognisable girl with so many tubes and wires, her throat cut open with pipe inserted for better breathing, her forehead which had stitches, her one hand where there wasn't any skin just craters and scars kept in open for Abhimanyu to operate and give her a new skin and so much more. She didn't knew that she was crying until Raj wiped her tears.

She looked at him in disbelief and hid herself in his arms letting her tears soaked by his clothes.

The irregular beeping of the monitor alarmed them and they see her twitching in sleep, her eyes hardening more, she was having a bad dream, a nightmare in the afternoon. Manik walked towards her and sat where there was a little space left on her bed, bent down and started whispering in her ears

"Hey, it's a nightmare, you are not there anymore, you are here with us. You have us, you are not alone. Nandani, Shhh it's fine. Everything is fine and even if it's not it will be. We'll make it fine" her heartbeat calmed down and she started relaxing but that dream might have took a toll on her so she very tiredly opened her eyes and glanced at him while face was so close to her. She took a deep breath seeing him watch her this intensely while he released his breath seeing her awake and at that moment, that very moment they and shared the greatest intimacy of their lives.

Manik moved his head back and smiled at her, she smiled back and her the corner of her eyes became small for the full blown smile she gave him. She looked around and saw Raj and Nyonika together still half hugging and looking at them.

Nandini glanced at Manik in confusion seeing Nyonika.

Manik - she's my mom.
He said with a smile and blinked his both eyes at her.

She formed her mouth in "OOOOOO" and looked at his mother.

Nandini - I would have touched your feet but as you can see I can hardly lift my hands but that does not mean you can't give me your blessings  I am in a dire need of it.

She said and chuckled. Making Nyonika instantly fall in love with her. She came forward a kept her hand on her head blessing her with all her heart, Nandani closed her eyes for a second in bliss and then gazed at her with so much adoration.

Nandini - You are so beautiful I might just cry.

Raj laughed seeing Nyonika blushing and Nandini almost pouting and Manik couldn't help but smile of wide that his cheeks hurt.

Nyonika - you are beautiful too, so so beautiful.
She from her pinky finger touched the corner of her eye taking the kohl and put it behind her ears on her hair as skin contact with it wasn't allowed. And whispered something in the lines of "I wish no evil eye ever touch you".

Nandini glanced at Raj and raised her one eyebrow "Lucky man huh"

To which Raj raised his one eyebrow and and nodded yes with a smile.
And everyone smiled together then.
May be years later this room will reminisce all the memories, tears, smiles and life it had given and the picture of their smiling faces will always linger there. Always.

Nandini - hey,  did you guys notice, I didn't stutter.

She said happily, she eyes showing do much shine with happiness radiating around.

Manik's face broke in a huge smile showing his teeth and he nodded vigorously.

Manik - wow.

Nandini - I know right, it's a good sign. I am healing.

Manik - you are.

Raj - you are.

Nyonika - you are.

A peaceful minute of silence prevailed...

Nandini - Do you ever prefer doing modelling or acting ?

She asked still not getting over Nyonika's  beauty making everyone laugh again.

The scene freezes on their laughing faces, when you zoom in a little you'll notice blood in her throat pipe that no one noticed. Yet.

Don't stop breathing.

“There is nothing more terrifying than to offer your rawness to someone else, praying they know how to hold it.”
...

#not edited

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Published on - 3rd July.