Lifeline hospital :

It's been 4 damn hours.. Nandini is still unconscious.. she has been treated but not gained her consciousness ..

All this while Manik is sitting in a corner with a guilty face..he never ever thought that his plan will leads her to be in trouble..

Navya and Cabir were also present there as after admitting Nandini.. he himself informed both of them..about Nandini..

Navya noticed his quietness..so she walked towards him..while Cabir was standing on the door of her room..looking at her through the glass window..

Navya placed her hand on Manik's shoulder..and now he looked at her..there was guilt ..pain in his eyes..and most importantly ..tears were pouring out of them.. he was really restless.. frightened to see her like this..her blood stains are still on his shirt..but his attention was only on Nandini.. All he want right now that she open her eyes and gives him her soothing shining smile..

He hugged her by her stomach..and she can feel his pain..she caressed his head..while he cried a lot..she let him cry..Cabir too noticed him..and walked towards them..

"Manik! Kuch toh hai ..kuch toh jarur hai tumhare dil mei..which is more than concern and worry for her"... she thought looking downwards at him..who was sobbing like a 2 year baby..

Cabir patted on his head and now Manik raised his face to look at teary Cabir..he stood up and hugged him tightly ..

Manik : "am sorry..am really sorry..sab meri galti hai..it's all my fault..am sorry Cabir..".. he said with guilt filled voice..

But this confused them..Cabir rubbed his back..to calm him down..but Manik kept crying ..he was really guilty of his deeds..

Cabir : "aesa kyu bol rahe ho Manik? .. baat kya hai?" .. he asked being confused with his outburst..

Manik broke the hug and looked at CaVya with apologetic face..

Manik : "yeh accident ..it was my plan.. ".. he said and their eyes bulged out with his revelation..

Navya : "yeh kya bol rahe ho tum Manik?".. she said in disbelief..

Manik : "sach bol raha hoon Navya..I had planned this accident..but not for Nandini..but for myself..".. he told them ..and they looked more confused now..

Cabir : "tum bol kya rahe ho?..".. he asked being totally confused with his talks..

Manik : "that shock remedy was needed for Nandini to cure.. she was responding well.. and this shock treatment was the final stage of her treatment... but mai Nandini ko danger mei nahi dal sakta tha..thats why I planned all this.. mujhe laga ..may be mujhe danger mei Dekh kar ..she will react .. Usne react toh kiya but cheeze is tarah turn legi ..I had never thought..".. he told then everything ..and they both were shocked.. not because because of this plan Nandini is unconscious.. But because they both witnessed a very new side of Manik..

For Nandini he put his life on stake..what if she wouldn't have reacted?.. what if she wouldn't have pushed him?.. he might have died till yet .. but the question arises.. for what he did all this?.. was this only because he is treating Nandini?.. Or there is more to it..

They both were trying to find answer of their questions .. whereas Manik already knew the answer.. it's only because ...he loves her more than his life..for her he can do anything.. for her he can even cross the river of fire as well..then this thing was very small.. All he want her to be fine asap.. that's all..

Navya placed her hand on Manik's shoulder and he looked at her with guilt.. she nodded a no to him..and hugged him..

Navya : "hum jante hai tum guilty ho ..but hum yeh bhi jante hai..tumne Jo bhi kiya woh Nandini ko theek karne ke liye kiya.. so please don't blame yourself for anything Manik..".. she said in the hug...

Cabir : " Navya is right Manik.. don't blame yourself .. we know you aren't wrong..".. he too assured him and a weak smile appeared on his face.. because of their understanding and most importantly their unbreakable trust on him..

Just then nurse came out..and gave the happy news to them..Navya broke the hug and the wave of happiness flowed inside their hearts..

The trio ran towards Nandini's room in full speed.. When they entered inside..they saw Nandini sitting on the bed calmly.. she was talking with the doctor.. Dr. Kappor.. her father's best friend and also like her father..

Cabir : "Mannat!" .. he exclaimed in his joyful voice..she looked straight to the door and a smile appeared on her face.. Manik was only looking at her.. he wasn't able to take his eyes off her.. he actually don't wanted to take his eyes off her.. while Cabir ran towards her ..and engulfed her in his protective brotherly embrace..

Nandini : "Bhai! .. Bhai.. am..sorry Bhai..am really sorry" .. she said while sobbing in his arms..while he caressed her head which was under his chin..and she was crying her heart out..

Trio were confused by her words.. Manik looked at the doctor..who was smiling ..he got more confused..

Cabir broke the hug and looked at Nandini..he lovingly wiped off her tears..and gave her a smile..

Cabir : "Mannat..you don't need to be sorry for anything.. main hoon na tere paas.. relax!".. he calmly said and she looked at him with tearful eyes..

Nandini : "Maine bahut pareshan kiya na itne time aap logo ko ..am sorry Bhai!" ...her sudden words left Cabir speechless.. he looked at doctor for some answers..who was smiling all this while ..

"Nandini is perfectly fine now " ... he told then the most happiest news of their lives.. their Nandini is finally cured.. she came out of that darkness..she is perfectly fine...they can't believe on this ..it was like ..they were praying since ages and finally ..finally god answered their prayers and gave them their Nandini back..

Manik's eyes filled with thousands of tears..but the smile was never leaving his face..he looked at Nandini in utmost love.. Navya who was till now standing..ran towards Nandini and in next jiffy..Nandini was in her arms... she too hugged her back with equal fervor ..

How much she craved for this soothing hug ..only her heart knows..although she was there with them only..but still far away.. it seems like after ages ..the trio are happy..

Manik was standing a little far..with tears of joy in his eyes and a never ending smile playing on his lips.. doctor saw him standing there looking at CaVya and Nandini ..he walked towards him and placed his hand on Manik's shoulder.. Manik looked at him..

"If am not mistaking ..then you are Manik Malhotra ..right?".. he asked And Manik nodded.. now their conversation brought trio back to reality..they all looked at the doctor and Manik..

"In my 25 years of carrier..I have never seen such dedication in any counsellor that too in such young age... So proud of you son!.. ".. he hugged him and Manik give in..

Manik : "but Maine kuch bhi nahi kiya hai..".. he said after breaking the hug..being the purest soul..how can he take the credit for curing her..

But suddenly he heard his favorite tune... her bewitching voice..

He looked straight to her..who was smiling..

"Kiya toh tumne he hai Manik.. agar tum nahi hote toh shayad mai kabhi theek nahi hoti.. I owe my this life to you..".. she said with a smile..and her last line echoed in his eardrums..

Navya : "Nandini is right Manik..it's all because of you..thank you".. she said with honesty and Cabir stood up..he walked towards him..and hugged him tightly..

Cabir : "thank you Manik..meri Mannat ko mujhe launtane ke liye...thank you so much Manik..thank you..".. he thanked him with all his heart..and Manik hugged him tightly..but his eyes were stick on Nandini only..who was smilingly looking at him..but still something was missing ..don't know why he felt like that..but he felt that..it was a very strong feeling..she may be cured but still she isn't perfectly fine..

*****

3 weeks passed by..

It's been almost a month..since Manik is staying in Mannat villa..and after Nandini was fully recovered from her injury..they took her back with them.. now MaNan is staying at one place only..

All this while.. both have became very good friends..but he always noticed that Nandini maintain a distance from him..

He noticed various changes in Nandini.. she talks with everyone but sometimes..she gets too lost in herself that she don't register the surroundings.. He saw a unknown fear in her.. she has lost that shining smile of hers.. No matter how hard she try to cover up her pain..he always feels it..

He wanted to ask the reason behind these changes but Every time he gets weak..and not able to grab that much courage to confront her ..

"Nandini! Can we talk for sometime".. he asked after coming in the kitchen ..she was making coffee for Cabir..

Nandini : "han..Manik bolo..kya baat hai?"... she asked while doing her work..

Manik : "woh..mujhe yeh puchna tha ki......".. before he could ask .. they both heard the voice..

"MANNAT!" .. she looked at him after listening the voice..

"Bhai bula rahe hai..hum bad mei baat kare?".. she asked very softly ..and this pinched in his heart.. he nodded in yes..and she smiled..she took the mug of coffee..and went out..leaving puzzled Manik behind..

Manik : "it's not you Nandini..woh Nandini kaha gayi Jo humesha authority se baat karti thi?.. where is that crazy Nandini?.. Jo 2 min shant nahi reh pati thi..you aren't that Nandini.. tum nahi ho Sakti woh.. ".. he thought with pain in his voice.. he came outside..

He saw Nandini talking with Cabir and Navya.. smiling..but that shine..that carefree nature is missing in her.. she has changed...and he noticed that change in her..seems like she is hiding something in her heart..she has cocooned something in herself which is killing her from inside..but the question is..what it is?.. and why she is even hiding? ..

Screen freezes on Manik's puzzled face..

Finally! Nandini theek ho gayi..she is back to normal..but why she is maintaining distance from Manik only?.. what she is hiding from them? .. lots of questions.. stay tuned to know the answer..

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Loads of love ..
Kajal :)