Ah. I don't remember the last time I updated at this hour of the day but guess what, someone is angry at my phone addiction and now, I have been given a challenge (I am already losing but that's okay.)

I hope you guys enjoy this update because people, this might get me in trouble today!
😂❤️

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Manik stood at the side as Nandini walked inside the mansion with her parents beside her. Abhimanyu followed after them dragging Nandini's luggage.

Manik walked ahead to take it from him, and asked a servant to keep it in their room simultaneously, all the while he ignored the look Abhi passed him.

Nandini was instantly pulled in a hug by Niyonika who muttered a string of apologies for that phone call. Nandini herself cried as she assured her it was okay.

Next, Mukti and Navya were quick enough to hug her. Even Cabir went ahead to hug her and asked her if she was fine, even though he knew the answer already.

Elders greeted each other, Cabir pulled Abhimanyu in a conversation while Nandini stood there at some distance staring at anything but him.

He watched her take a hesitant step ahead in his direction and at the same time Abhimanyu turned to him.

Abhi: We need to talk, Manik.

Manik stared at him for a moment. It gained the attention of the elders too and as they stared at Manik, he realised they were all waiting for an explanation from him. He sighed and nodded his head.

Manik: Let's talk in the study.

With that, he walked to the study followed by the four elders and Abhimanyu while the other three decided to divert Nandini's mind.

°°°

There was thick silence around. Manik stood near the study table while Ayesha and Niyonika sat on the couch. Raj and Karan stood at the side while Abhimanyu was standing by the door.

It was Karan who broke the silence.

Karan: What is happening, Manik?

He sounded worried, tensed and Manik didn't blame him. He opened his mouth to reply but a panicked Ayesha cut in.

Ayesha: Nandu told us you agreed for the baby?

Manik hesitated, but nodded his head.

Manik: I did.

Abhi: She can die, Manik. Why did you agree to her.

Abhi hissed in absolute anger. Karan glared at him from the side but he ignored it. He needed answers today. He took a step ahead and stared at Manik in anger.

Abhi: You know what is at stake, Manik. Yet you choose the baby, what happened to your 'I choose my wife' now?

Manik remained silent, ashamed and not knowing how to explain while Abhi scoffed in return as he turned to his parents.

Abhi: Look at him, Amma- Appa. He has no answer. I am telling you, we will loose her.

Manik let out a low chuckle in response. They all frowned at him as he looked up. His eyes didn't have tears, but all of them could feel his inner turmoil.

Manik: You will loose her, But I have already lost her.

Niyonika: Manik-

Manik: There is a limit for me too, Maa.

His chocked at the end, his voice betraying him as he looked at his mother's teary eyes. She came forward and he shook his head.

Manik: How long will I keep fighting against her? I can't, Maa. She is weak at this moment, she doesn't need this stress.  This is for the best for now.

Abhi: How is it for the best? She would have been fine. We were taking care of her at Murty Mansion.

Manik chuckled again, siding his mother and stepped forward.

Manik: You were? Tell me then, why did she skip her medicines?

Abhi frowned.

Abhi: What-

Manik: She could hardly walk today, her back hurts more than it does normally which means she skipped her yesterday's medicine.

Abhi looked at him surprised along with others. Even as her brother, being with her the whole yesterday and from the morning he had not realised this. Maybe, no one did but Manik, who only happened to see her for no longer then ten minutes, not only noticed it but also knew the reason.

Manik: I know her, Abhi. She is my wife. I know what goes inside her head. Few days and she would have gone into self pity zone, blaming herself for ruining our relationship when in actual it was us both.

Everyone fell silent. Abhi's face flashed with guilt and Manik smiled shaking his head.

Karan: So what now?

Manik: I don't know, Appa.

Ayesha: Do we loose my Nandu?

Manik sucked in a sharp breathe as he looked at her. For a moment, he had no answer but then he knew the amount of faith this elder lady had on him. He felt responsible. He went ahead and sat on his knees infront of her. Ayesha immediately tried to stop him but he held her hand firmly.

Manik: Trust me, Amma. You lose me, before you lose her.

Manik could hear his parents gasp at his sentence. Ayesha only cried in disappointment. Manik shook his head with a small smile.

Manik: Your daughter is a fighter, Amma. She will fight. She has to fight. And the doctor said, all she needs is happy environment and lots of care. There are chances for recovery.

Manik didn't mention the chances were only two percent. He couldn't. The reality was too harsh for him to accept.

Ayesha: Take care of my daughter, Manik. Please.

She moved to join her hands but before that Manik held them with his own. His heart thudded loud in his chest.

Manik: Please, Amma. Your daughter is my life too. I will not let anything happen to her, atleast not until I am here. I promise.

He promised. Ayesha smiled caressing his hair and he pressed her hand in his hold, determined to save her at any cost.

They talked for sometime with Manik explaining them about Nandini's condition more. How the doctor told him Abortion was out of question now and all they could do now was take care of her.

By the time he walked into his room, Mukti, Cabir and Navya were there with Nandini. The three seems to be making efforts to make her laugh by dancing weirdly infront of her and soon enough he saw Nandini laugh out loud.

He stood at the door, grateful to his siblings as they continued doing weird steps. It was Mukti who noticed him first, followed by Navya and Cabir.

The three silently left the room giving them much needed privacy while Manik entered inside. He didn't say anything, neither did Nandini.

Manik silently walked to the side table beside her and took her medicines. She made a bad face but looked down when he caught her. Manik chuckled, filling the glass of water.

Manik: How many dozes did you skip?

Nandini: Two?

She replied, embarrassed but Manik was not surprised. He had completely expected her to. Infact, more than two.

Manik: Why?

Nandini didn't reply. Manik smiled and handed her the pills along with the glass of water.

Manik: Gusse mei?

He confirmed. Nandini shook her head.

Manik: toh?

Nandini: Aap nai the na, to remind me. I forgot.

She looked down as Manik let out a sigh, wanting to scold her so bad but controlling himself. She didn't need his anger, he had to remind himself.

Manik: Why do you do things that make me angry at you?

He chided softly.

Nandini: I toh always end up doing things that angers you, Manik. Like now..

Nandini trailed off. She tried to hold his hand but Manik moved back his hand before she could. Hurt flashed on her face and his chest tightened, his hand twitched to go back in her hold.

Nandini: There's hope, Manik.

Manik: But there is risk also. You don't see it, but I feel it.

He mumbled. Nandini probably heard him but didn't say anything. Manik silently took the glass from her and made her lay down. Nandini watched him quietly as he patted her head to make her sleep while his other hand held her one in light grip.

Nandini didn't know how much time it took her to fall asleep, but she knew he was there the whole time.

Never leaving her side, even when she took decisions cornering him.

By the time she woke up, she was alone in the room and it was almost night. Nandini looked at the clock which striked nine. She frowned, Manik was not at home. It was already past his time.

Or maybe he was there but not in the room . She should probably check. Nandini tried to get up but flinched in pain at the ache she felt in her back. Just then, Niyonika knocked at the door.

Nandini noticed the clothes she was holding and asked her to enter inside.

Nandini: Maa.

Niyonika: Nandini-bacha, how are you feeling now?

Nandini: I am fine, Maa. Aap yahan?

Niyonika nodded and sat down on the bed.

Niyonika: I came to give you this.

She looked at the clothes in her hand. There was yellow, blue and a red. They all seemed small and Nandini was indeed right. It was a baby's clothes. Probably, they belonged to Manik, Cabir or Mukti.

Niyonika: These are all Manik, Mukti and Cabir's. I mean, ofcourse these are so old but I kept them just as memories. Keep this with you. When the baby comes, make him or her -

Nandini: It is a boy, Maa.

Nandini interrupted. The doctor had revealed this that day. Niyonika burst out in tears as Nandini nodded at her.

Niyonika: Nandini- bacha- I am so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I know all this, it is difficult for you but -

Niyonika cried, unable to say another word. Nandini just looked at her and at the clothes in her hand emotionally.

Nandini: I hope I get to make him wear all these clothes, Maa.

Niyonika: You will. Ofcourse, you will, Nandini. Nothing will happen to you.

Nandini wanted to beleive the elder woan and tell her that she was probably right. Nandini will survive but the truth was, she didn't know. It was a risk and she was just living on a hope.

Nandini: Maa, Manik didn't come home?

Niyonika fell silent making her frown. Nandini held her hand and asked with worry written all over her place.

Nandini: Is he in the study?

Niyonika: No, he comes home late now.

Nandini: Late?

Niyonika: By Ten or Eleven.

Nandini let out a sigh. What else did she expect? That he would come home to these four walls where her fregnance stayed all the time? She knew it was not at all easy for him.

Niyonika: But it was because you were not here. Now that you are here, he might be on his way. Do you want to come and sit in the hall for sometime?

Nandini nodded, trying to silence her heart that wanted to know about his whereabouts. She let Niyonika help her to the hall where they heard loud noises.

Nandini: Manik is home.

She muttered and increased her speed. Niyonika followed her and they saw Manik standing among others. He seemed to he holding two polythenes in his one hand while Mukti jumped to take them from him.

Niyonika: What is happening?

Manik looked at them, his gaze falling on her and she blinked. He passed her a smile, a faint one but Nandini couldn't even smile back. She watched his smile fade away but he pulled on a bigger fake one as he turned to his mother.

Manik: I got icecream, Maa. And please make sure this Anabella gets less than everyone else!

Mukti: No! Mom would give me more than anyone else! Specially more than you bhai!

Manik: tch! Such a brat!

Manik shook his head in fake disappointment. Nandini chuckled in her mind at the facade he was putting up for their family and more at how they all seemed to be playing along.

Niyonika walked to take the icecream from Manik while he himself walked to her.

Manik: Are you okay?

Nandini: Yes. Aap itti late aye?

Manik: There was work.

He avoided eye contact knowing she will see past his lie while Nandini didn't even need to do that. She smiled and gestured him to help her sit.

As they sat there, with everyone indulging in a small conversation, Niyonika brought the icecream in bowls.

Nandini ate it with all her interest and from the corner of her eye, she could feel Manik staring at her. She looked up, and this time Manik didn't look away.

He continued to look at her as if she was really going to fade away.

And it reminded her all of the times his face adored that teenage grin on seeing her or the times he would smile so wide that it would even dull the shine of the sun.

In that one moment, Nandini really questioned her own decision.

What was she gaining out of this? A baby who wouldn't even see her.

And what was she losing? The man who loved her enough to bend down to her wish even when his own heart was breaking.

And that was the moment, guilt started to home her heart.

To be Continued.

Mhm.. So Nandini has started to feel guilty of her decision. What do you think comes next?

I agree to most of you, Nandini really didn't think practically but I have a doubt.

If you were on her place and you knew there are two percent chances to survive, would you guys still have choosen Abortion?

I feel, it is really complicated. What if they choose Abortion now, wouldn't the guilt that they had chances, even if only two percent- stain their hearts and relationship forever?

Nandini might seem wrong considering how it is hurting Manik but at the end of the day, it is Nandini who is losing her life. I feel her pain cannot be really measured at all.

Apart from this, I would only ask you guys to keep your faith in me. I would try my best not to disappoint any of you.

Thankyou,

See you guys soon❤️