MANIK's POV:

The weather in Shimla changed miraculously. It was no more snowy and damp rather the bright Sun was shining spreading its positive rays across the meadow full of sunflowers. Happiness was seeing the sunny day after what it felt like ages; as they say sunshine is the best medicine. I was happy. Finally I was. There was no worry...nothing. I bent over and plucked a sunflower from its stem and my heart rejoiced its soft feathery touch. I admired it but not for long as the sight before me caught my eyes. There's a tiny farm hut before covered with straws but before that was something else; rather someone wearing a sun hat of pink colour with hair open that reached her hips and frolicked in a sleeveless sky blue knee-length dress with a bunch of sunflowers in her grip amidst the long green grasses that reached her high waist. She was ahead of me thus I couldn't see her face but it was evident enough that she was having on her own.

I looked around and it was only she and I in the vastness and I realised I needed to make a conversation with a real person rather than boring those flower petals twitching them within my slender fingers.

"Hey!" I called out but she didn't listen rather stretching her hands across the land enjoyed the light breeze throwing her head back a little and I watched as the green grasses dangled their heads with the rhythm of the breeze.

I realised she wouldn't hear me or rathe didn't want to step out of her reverie thus I took long steps towards her until I stood two inches away from her back. She still wasn't aware. She jumped and threw the flowers on her head aiming at the sky like it would catch back and at the end when the flowers fell back on her face, she laughed. Me too.

This time I was lucky enough as my laughter at least reached her ears and she turned back and I saw her doe eyes growing wider with astonishment each second while mine got absorbed in them and my gaze slowly descended to her strawberry lips which were so full and slightly parted and those puffy cheeks which were as good as cream. It might sound cliche but she was unbelievably outstanding.

"Manik?" She spoke, finally.

"Feels like I know you too." I stated merely in a whisper staying absorbed in her beauty.

"It's been so long, Manik. I missed you." She took a step closer staying still an inch away. Her eyes were so captivating.

"What are you doing here alone?" I asked locking my eyes with her.

"...maybe, waiting for you. As I said, it's been long and it's going to feel more like thousands of years." I was being held hostage by her mesmerising presence.

She sighed studying my facial features as if she longed them since eternity.

"You're so perfect." She whispered "How I've missed you."

"You know my name then you also must be knowing if I've missed you too, have I?" I asked. It sounded stupid but I wasn't in any sense.

She kept staring into my eyes deeply and I realised tears were filling up her ones.

She nodded "...yes. You've missed me more than anyone else after I've gone away."

"Why did you go away, erm?" I looked down at those grasses.

"Nandini." She muttered and some sort of pain arose in my heart which started to beat ten times faster than medically it should.

Her name.. Nandini.. this name somewhere was tensing up my muscles pressuring my brain and the weather didn't seem soothing any longer.

"Why...did you have to leave and why can't I recollect your presence in my mind?" There were lines forming in my forehead due to pulling of my brows.

"Because you forgot me, Manik and it's good that you did. Else, you wouldn't have survived and I'm satisfied seeing you doing good with your new life." She answered with tears brimming her eyes. She seemed pained yet proud.

"Were we close?" I asked.

"Like a heart and it's beat." She replied.

"Then how can we two be happy staying so apart? Why aren't you there in my life and why am I not in yours?" I was feeling sweat dribbling down my forehead.

"Because..." she gave a small smile "our worlds no longer match."

"Can I take you with me there?" I met her recently but I couldn't stand the idea of returning without her. She felt important. More than one should be.

"You've to return alone." She stated, her voice in a mere whisper but never did that smile fade away "It's just fluke that we got to meet here in this place which is in the middle of both of our worlds. You've a new life where I can't fit in any longer and I've places to go where you can't come."

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if we together could form one of our own?" Desperation clear in my voice.

"There're rules." She informed.

"Fuck the rules! What is stopping us? I don't know who you're but all I know is that after seeing you here, I don't want to return alone. If we were that close as you described then don't you think we can fight any and everything? Pardon me but I need you. If you can't come to my world, then I can." I demanded although I begged.

"I wouldn't appreciate that." She breathed "I've come a long way." A tear rolled down her satin cheek which none of us cared to wipe.

"I can break every wall, every rule, cross every line if it takes me to you." I didn't even want to think why all of sudden this stranger was so important that I was willing to toss out my life for her. Which world did she speak about?

She came closer without wasting a word from her lips which soon touched my stubbled cheek as she toed up resting her palm on my shoulder. She kissed me and my cheek got wet with the tears rolling down her cheeks.

"I love you Manik. Shine with the light you've got inside you." She whispered with her hot breath reaching my ears and I closed my eyes letting her lingering lips on my cheek calm me.

I expected her to say something more. The more she wasn't speaking, the more vulnerable my thoughts were pooling in my heart.

"Say something" I begged keeping my eyes closed but came no reply. Maybe, she's testing my patience trying to see how far I could go.

I sighed.

"Your voice soothes me, please say something." And I felt no hot breath anymore near me.

As I opened my eyes with the hope of never wanting to reopen them, the bright sunlight blinded me and I immediately shut them but I knew I had to open them so and look for her. She already seemed to precious for my existence.

I opened my eyes blinking shortly to adjust my orbs with the light but when I looked around, everything was vacant. The meadow still was alive with bright sunflowers dancing but the farthest I laid my eyes on, no trace of my newly found peace was evident. Where did she go so quickly? The thought of losing her sight was making me insane only and the more I frantically searched for her, the insaner I was turning.

"Nandini?" I screamed as the vocal cords were prominent. My slender fingers ran through my hairs as I tugged them like a mad man.

"Nandiniiii???" I crushed the flowers in my grip and threw them harshly at the ground. Fuck, where did she go?

"Nandiniiiii?"

"Take me with you?"

"Nandiniiiiiiiiiii?"

I broke down on my knees taking long breaths as I was running out of them with my eyes burning.

"Nandiniiiiii?"

"Nan...diniiiiiiii?" I called out stretching my arms.

"Nandiniiiii??"

"Nandiniii?"

My eyes opened with a jolt as my heart pounded like a horse gallops and breathlessness struck me, again. I was drenched in sweat as my white and red checkered shirt got transparent and palms felt sloppy.

I looked around and grasped I was sitting on some bench not being able to understand how did I return from the meadows all at once? Was she right? Were our worlds really distant? I gulped not fathoming anything but one thing being the only difference. The unknown girl of my dream was my reality. In dreams, I may not have recognised her but how could I... not recognise my Nandini.

I ran the sweaty palm down my face as I felt a strong palm on my shoulder. It was an assuring touch. I looked up and fathomed it was Cabir who had sorry written allover his face.

My eyes moved past him and I saw a grumpy nurse approaching me.

"Reduce your volume, gentleman. There are other patients too." Her shrill tone pierced my ears and I understood I was slouching on the hospital bench with Aryaman, Navya, Mukti gaping at me.

"I'm....sorry." I murmured looking down at the floor but the nurse's glaring didn't reduce. Murmuring some gibberish things she went away.

And like it happens in those movies, my reality played in my mind swiftly. Damn, Soha..Nandini...accident.

"Cabir? Cabir? How's.. she?" I grabbed his elbows. I dreaded to hear an answer after the fuck I went through in my dream. Fuck, dream? It was worse than any nightmare.

"Manik,.. the emergency department is taking care of her." He stated and immediately looked up at Mukti whose eyes were already brimming.

My body slid down on the white hard bench I was slouching but my palms formed fists and jaw clenched tightly as I heard a voice calling my name.

"Manik?"

I didn't dare to look at the source knowing that I was going to lose my calm soon.

"Get the fuck out of here Soha." My voice came out as a thunder, louder than I intended.

"For God's sake Manik, you know I would never do such a thing intentionally. It was just a misfortune." She begged kneeling down before me.

"Misfortune?" I smirked sadly and shook my head "Yea..right.. misfortune for me." I looked down at my lap taking me every ounce of my being to subdue my anger and I knew my face by then was the richest shade of red.

"Manik...." she touched my knees but I didn't bother to spare her a glance "We all love and lovers sometimes make mistakes." She sniffed. "You know me, I did everything for you. I know I'm sounding absolutely unreasonable but to me Manik, nothing matters more than you." Tears ran down her eyes uncontrollably "Aaliya told me to get rid of her and I was.. I was charged with her words not knowing what the hell I was doing and its consequences. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart." She rested her forehead on my knee and I gulped.

"Manik, say something please. I'm ready to pay for my mistake but I don't want your silence...it's..it's maddening..me." She cried her heart out and I discerned all the other visitors' attention we were drawing.

"Soha.." Holding her hand, I stood her up angrily and dragged her along until I reached the emergency ward where my life was breathing in danger.

I stood her firmly with a jerk outside the rounded window through which I saw my queen, my beautiful queen covered in bandages with a large part of her angelic face covered with an oxygen mask with her chest rising and falling as she breathed.

Soha looked through the glass and I could see how the guilt was worsening her condition.

"Do you see what mistake have you done Soha?" My voice filled with disgust. "Are you still agreeing to pay for it? Tell me how? How Soha? How should I punish you for this?... How should I wake that sleeping lady up and ask her to punish you herself? Do you see the damage you've done?" My voice shook as I no more was stable. I was crying and it doesn't make me any less of a man.

She seemed to numb to react with her eyes traveling back and forth between Nandini's lying frame and my eyes.

"God, I'm so sorry Manik. I'm not this. I was never this. What have I...." Her back collided with the wall as took a step back and holding her elbow I fixed her near the glass again.

"You've to see this Soha. Do you know what would it take me to reduce the burn in my heart now? I want to rip the entire skin off your body and still it'd prick me because that wouldn't get her react. You love me Soha? You said you did? What sort of selfish love is this?.." I cried while she shook her head and a void replacing the emotions in my heart.

I sniffed not wanting to fall weaker but I think I reached my breaking point.

"I loved you Soha. Once I loved you genuinely but never have I thought you'd do the worst to me." I breathed.

"D..don't hate me Manik. I can't live with that." She looked down shaking while crying her eyes out.

"I told you once not to make me regret having you in my life ever, but right now I am." She looked horrified "Do you realise what will happen to me if something happens to her? She's my only escape from everything worse Soha and see what you did to my life!" Not wanting to see her any longer, I threw her back and turned around. I could hear a thud and discerned she fell on the floor but she didn't make an effort to rise up. She howled there. Never had I known I would do something like that to any woman but I was a human being too and I was at the edge of losing everything.

"I'll take care of her." I heard Navya and Aryaman reaching up to her and seconds later her sobs disappeared, they might've dragged her somewhere away.

I glanced up to the head nurse who's heading my way scrunching her nose under the big glasses but she stopped in her tracks seeing my wrecked condition. A broken man is a horrible sight I guess. She gave me a sympathetic look and I averted my cloudy eyes to the glass and sighed.

"Nandini.."

***

3 Days later:

"Mr.Malhotra, Dr.Sinha wants to have a word with you, kindly meet him at his cabin." Asked the nurse.

I stood up with a hitched breath and weary eyes. Nodding at the direction of the nurse, I took weak steps towards the chamber of the doctor. I stopped outside the door when the nameplate on such door read 'Dr.Sinha'. Having let out a heavy sigh through my dried lips and praying to my stars, still I couldn't convince my mind to enter into the cabin.

I knocked.

"Yes come in" spoke a middle-aged man from inside the chamber.

"Oh Mr.Manik come have a sit." Said Dr.Sinha.

I stood there for a little more time to observe the unspoken words written on the doctor's face.  Feebly I walked to the chair and seated opposite the doctor. My palms were firmly entwined under the table to control the tingling sensation of my nerves and the urge I had to throw up.

"Mr.Malhotra, I've studied her condition and considering the fact that she had this immense blood loss...." The doctor paused.

"Do..Doctor she's the only one I have,please." I pleaded feebly and prayed the Almighty to have some mercy on my heart.

"See Mr.Malhotra that's why I won't be giving you any false hopes because I want you to face the reality. This is medical science and it's not driven by emotions and as you've said we had arranged the best of doctors,but..." Said the doctor.

I was seeing my entire world collapsing bit by bit and couldn't help but get numb.

"She has slipped into Coma. We tried our best but she didn't respond to any of those." The doctor uttered concernedly.

I didn't react for I felt nothing except a thousands pf bees stinging my eardrums. I just kept looking blankly at the doctor.

"Will...she...ever...?" I couldn't finish because of the lump formed in my throat.

"Mr.Malhotra she had an anoxic brain damage where the injury has ceased the way of oxygen into her brain for a long time causing an acute lacking. It can take her weeks to recover or months or years or..." the doctor lowered his eyes.

Inhaling deeply, I nodded at the doctor and took his leave. Having come out of the cabin, I stood outside the glassed ICU cabin and peeped through the rounded transparent part of the door and tears escaped as my eyes couldn't hold up their weight anymore.

"Nandini..." I whispered while caressing her image from the glassed door with his fingers. It felt like years that she hadn't responded to my call.

The siren of the ambulance, the beeping sounds of the machines, the medicinal odour was making me nauseated together with the words that I heard minutes back. I couldn't fit in that no matter how loud I called, the love of my life wasn't going to respond. I felt disgusted and helpless seeing my lifeline lying lifelessly on the bed with so many ducts and pipes injected into her satin soft skin and an oxygen mask covering half of her face diminishing her beauty while her head is bandaged. I felt as a loser for having failed to protect the priceless possession of my life.

I was feeling extremely weak to carry my frame anywhere and sat down on my knees at the garden of the hospital. I wanted to cry, to shout, to set this entire world on fire, to smash everything that came my way but nothing could bring my Nandini back to the normal life she led.

It started drizzling as if the mother earth was crying at the separation of two soulmates. Soon, it was raining heavily but still the raindrops couldn't wash away neither the love that was dwelling into two divine souls nor the burning pain in my heart.

[A/N- Okay! That was one hell of an emotional update, isn't it!? Justajoo is so close to my heart. Sorry for the late update and please bear with my mistakes, if any as it WASN'T EDITED. Thank you all so much and please please vote and comment and the next update is coming real soon. Gosh, I can hear the ending bell too. Take care lovelies. Until next time, *kisses*]