In the morning,

It was supposed to be a best morning after that peaceful night but it turned out to be a disastrous for Manik who is now in the hospital standing outside the room where she is admitted.

Once again in life he experienced that happiness is surely not for him , he deserves hurt , betrayal and sorrow in his life. His life seems normal with usual emptiness around , him and his mother. Betrayal and abandonment is written in their fate .

His life was normal from last 8 years , it was going okay with some bittersweet memories and lots of work but then she happened to meet him , and suddenly everything started to change , he also got changed around her . With her , he was just Manik, who can laugh , who can take care , who can behave nicely, who can love others in short he started living his life. He never allowed her to break his walls but stubborn she entered without permission , like a unknown mild breeze of air and gradually he got changed.

He just started feeling that everything can be normal , with her he can live happy and peaceful life. He started wishing things for them , he started believing that now it's his nd his mother's time to be happy they deserves this happiness . And Nandini actually became their little source of happiness but as they say nothing is permanent , so was their happiness .

And worst part is she herself snatched their happiness from them.  She was the same person who was responsible for both of their conditions. She was the same person who made him feel more than special and became his peace. And next moment she became the source of his , current misery and biggest fear to see his mom hurt.

His blood turned cold when he saw his mother's unconscious body lying on floor. He saw blood oozing out from her head  and he skipped few breathes when she didn't responded to his countless cries and numerous screaming. He cried more holding her near to his chest when she didn't open her eyes, when she didn't move a bit to console her crying son he saw only darkness nd emptiness in his life.

For the first time he realised how people must be feeling who don't have mother , today he understood the real meaning of all mother related poems that he used to learn in school. He felt relieved and most lucky mumma's boy on the earth when doctor told him that she is fine , she will gain consciousness in few hours , and she will get discharged in two days. But she needs to take proper rest for 15 days at least , because she has already lost so much blood due to head injury ,  though Manik donated some amount of blood for her survival during her treatment.

A soft shivering hand on his shoulder brought him back to earth "Manikk" soft trembling voice which used to soothe him , for the first time angered him the most . Instantly grabbing that hand and twisting that around her back ,

"Why r u here ?" he yelled at her .

"Manikkk ..... It's hurting please leave" she cried and struggled in his hold.

"Exactly...... This is fucking hurting me Nandini " his vulnerability was clearly visible through his anger and tears .

"Manik she is fine ..... Don't worry " she tried to calm him down but his hold got more tighter and he twisted her hand again.

"Off course she is fine......But I can never forget why she is here " he dangerously spoke into her ear that she shivered under his manly rough voice . She started wincing when pain became unbearable . Hearing her hurtful voice he left her hand quickly and pushed her away from him and roared "Stay away and get lost from here" .

Words pierced her heart 100 times greater than his actions and tears started flowing down through her big eyes. "Manik I am sorry , please" she pleaded and fell on her knees on the floor.

He bend down on knees and holding her shoulders tightly he asked in hurtful tone " Why Nandini ?......Why u asked me send her with him ?......Why u made me trust u ?.....Why didn't u kept ur promise today ? ...... U know na Nandini she is my only family then Why Nandini ? Why are you wrong today ? Why ? " More than anger his vulnerability scared her , how at the end he just lose his strength started sobbing keeping his hand on his eyes.

She didn't think anything and just cupped his cheeks and kissed his forehead but he didn't remove his hands from eyes . Holding him close she kept her forehead on his trying to get some peace for them and finally his sobbing stopped and his breathing rate became normal.

As soon as he saw her entering again he opened his eyes and pushed her away from him . He got up and started going back but she held his fingers , trying to stop him "Manik please don't leave.....I am sorry Manik" she was crying hopelessly .

"Don't" freeing his hand from her grip , he warned her and left her crying there on the floor.

"Manik I am sorry......Manik I am sorry ......Manik I sorry " in low and shakey voice she chanted sorry Mantra for numerous times while crying helplessly.

.............||

Manik entered inside the room where his mother was lying unconscious , he sat beside her and keep looking at her pale face with gloomy eyes. He closed his eyes to calm his nerves down , he  remembered , how they both survived for each other in these 8 years , he remembered how she used to console him saying he is only ray of her life , he is the only reason behind her survival , he is the only family and peace of her , but how could she forgot before pulling such stunt on him, that she is also the only family of him whom he loves so much , and can't imagine his life without her .

Here outside the room Nandini also came to see her friend , after praying to her Aayiaapa for Neyonika's well being , she may not be loves Neyonika as much as Manik do , and no can match him ever in that matter , but after Manik Nandini would be the next person who loves Neyonika for everything she has .

She stopped at the door only when she saw his extremely tired face with closed eyes, she wanted to console him she wanted to hug him , protect him . But she couldn't and specially when she is the reason behind his misery. Her heart ached seeing the view of loving mother-son duo, through glass window of that room.

She also remembered how they both loves each other and they are the only family of each other's . She remembered their last night conversation and she saw whatever she said is real, that Manik is DhruvvBaal who is living all alone with his mother inspite of having father too . And her thoughts interrupted when she felt presence of hand on her shoulder and she looked up and saw the reason behind mother-son's  miseries.

"Yes ...... They both are suffering.....And it's hurting " Shrikant said looking at his family through that window.

"Yes and only because of you ...... Manik can bear anything but not this but u chose to give him this much pain ...... How father can be so heartless towards his own child?" Nandini accused him with teary eyes.

"Yes I am reason behind their suffering" his voice was so low and he also was accusing himself.

"I myself don't know how I can hurt this beautiful soul ..... Which is nothing but a part of me ...... Who did nothing wrong in his life but loved his father more than anyone else in this world....He always loves a person with his whole heart but eventually he ended up getting hurt by same person....And all this is happening because of me....me .....me" he hysterically cried in front of her and fall on his knees. Listening this Nandini's tears too rolled down her cheeks.

" Then why can't u love him back?...... Why can't you give him his share of happiness ?" her confused voice brought a helpless father out of his thoughts. Standing up on his feet he straighten himself .

"I just can't......And ha trust me I don't mean to harm her ...... I can never harm her ...... I am sorry for whatever happened ? " he said looking into her eyes his words seems true but she don't know if she can believe him again or not.

"Why ? ..... Why should I trust ? ....... Didn't u saw , we trusting you brought us here , at this stage? ....... Manik was right I shouldn't have trusted you...... Even I broke his trust , because this time I was wrong who thought that u can't harm his mother..... Because of u my friend is here admitted.....And also Manik is in pain because of you" this time she was furious and her strong voice already declared him culprit.

"Just because of that u have to believe me ...... Because I love Manik and I can't see him in pain " he simple answered her .

"But still u r the only reason behind all his hurt ...... And u claim to love him " she chuckled painfully.

"Sometimes u r nothing but the puppet in the hands of destiny ....... U don't chose ur fate but destiny does...... Sometimes u just can't chose two contradictory things simultaneously...... It's a rule of nature to gain something u have to lose something......And unfortunately I am that same lucky and unlucky man who is  that puppet " saying this with the intensity of pain and humour of destiny he patted her cheek and left from there , smiling painfully.

She stood there frozen not knowing what to do and whom to believe , she remembered the same thing happened with her mind in the morning that she couldn't chose appropriate option and hence she is here all lost and hurt.

.............||

FLASHBACK ,

In the morning she was coming to his house to pick him up for the academy , while driving she was so happy about remembering their early morning conversation, tapri chai , and main thing that they both wished to have same morning everyday in each other's arm , they didn't confessed this feeling directly to each other but they knew they felt same when he locked his eyes with her , when she was getting up from his chest after their peaceful sleep. After that he dropped her at her place and left for his mansion.

She entered and saw three of them having breakfast on the same table, she wondered how that happened but when she moved closer she found them arguing over something.

"Neyonika I want to talk to you " Shrikant said.

"But I don't want to " Neyonika ignored.

"I said I want to" he said sternly.

"And she said she don't want to nd she won't" this time Manik said with same rage.

"Manik don't interfere in our matter " Shrikant said.

"And u should stop interfering in our lives" Neyonika said.

"Okay..... I will leave today only , but not before talking with u" this time he was calm.

"She won't talk with you and u already have stayed here for longer than I can bear " Manik said.

"I know but please let me talk with her ...... Neyonika it's really important ...... I can't go back without doing that ...... Please understand and make him understand " seeing him pleading Neyonika also thought something must be important.

"No ..... She had already said she won't" Manik was determined.

"It's okay Manik.....I will" Neyonika assured.

"But mom..."

"Manik ...... If she is okay with talking then be it na ......May be it's really important Otherwise she wouldn't have agreed " interrupting Manik in the middle Nandini continued and gained attention from three of them.

"Yeah Manik " Neyonika said and smiled at Nandu.

"Nandini u don't know him but I know him..... He is a manipulative evil person.....He only knows how to hurt people" Manik said calmly.

"Trust me this time it's really important" Shrikant said .

Seeing Manik's raising anger Nandini said , "Manik do u trust me ?( he looked at her and nodded after few seconds , she smiled)..... Then let them solve this matter or else he won't leave house till then and it will create more conflicts between u three..... Specially between u and him ..... And eventually aunty will be hurt and helpless......So let them speak and even she herself has agreed na " Nandini's words made sense to three of them and reluctantly he agreed because his mind was denying but he ignored it and listened to her. Nandini knew she promised him not to interfere but she thought it's a good way to see him suffering less without his father or else he will be sad around his father and she can't bear that and also it will affect Neyonika too.

................||

"Neyonika I wanted to handover Malhotra industries to Manik " Shrikant said when they entered inside Neyonika's room.

"Manik don't need it , he has his own company and moreover he won't accept anything from you" Neyonika spoke the truth.

"That's why I want you to make him understand " now this sentence triggered her.

"Whattt?"

"Yeah " he smirked.

"I won't.....My son is happy without u and ur business " she spat back.

"But he deserves this and it's his right ...... this property belongs to him only"

"Ohh really u r talking about his rights......How ironic ..... When u urself have snatched right of being happy from him......He deserves ur love too.....But u never loved him " she mocked him and chuckled sadly

"Shut up.....Just shut up.....U know I love him ..... I really love him " he held her shoulders tightly and pulled her in anger towards wall near her bed . She gulped at the intensity of his voice but she didn't showed her fear to him .

"U shut up..... And stop saying u love him ...... When we both knew u don't " she said igniting his anger and he threw the glass water jar from side table on the floor  . It shattered into pieces on the floor

"Stop pretending u love him ......And leave from here ....... stop hurting my son ......My son don't need to bailout for surviving.....He had earned enough by his hardwork " her words pretending, my son , bailout , ranged in his ears and they infuriated him.

"Leave me ...... U fucking don't have right on my son " she spoke with the venom in her voice and he just pushed her hard , he couldn't hear that he don't have rights on his own son .

Because of strong push her steps fumbled and unable to control herself she fell on the ground and pieces of glass pierced in her head and she just heard loud scream "Mom" before fainting.

Manik and Nandini who were downstairs waiting for Neyonika heard the sound of glass breaking and instantly ran up and after reaching there he was his father pushing his mom and she fell on floor with glass pieces inserted in her head .

"Mommm" he ran towards her .

FLASHBACK ENDS

.............||

After few minutes he felt hand over his hand and he opened his eyes to see her smiling face . Her face showed the smile knowing that how much he loves her but her pained eyes showed that how mother's heart cried when she saw his vulnerability and fear of losing her.

"I love you mom " he hugged her and she caressed his hair in sleeping position.

"I am fine "

"Promise me....You won't leave me ever " breaking the hug he demanded and she just smiled at his stubbornness.

"Do I have any option" she chuckled.

"Nooo" he too smiled.

"U take rest I will call doctor" saying this he left from there .

"Manik" he turned back and saw her finding someone in the room .

"What?"

"Ummm ..... Nothing" hurt was visible in her tone after not finding Nandini there and Manik noticed that. Without saying anything he left.

...............||

He came out of the room and saw expected person there with longing in her eyes of seeing Neyonika and so much tears of guilt.

She was asking his permission through her eyes and waited for his answer with hopefully teary eyes and he couldn't snatch her right to meet her friend but also he can't let her meet his mother who is there because of that man whom Nandini supported.

But he couldn't denied to her so he showed her way towards room and she smiled , she thought may be he will give another chance to her.

"Listen u can meet ur friend whenever you want to ....... Because I can't force her to stay from you....... And I saw her eyes searching for u , so don't want to break her hope on u ..... At least don't prove her wrong " he was straight forward and she got confused with his behaviour. She couldn't understand is he giving her second chance or not.

"Thank you" Not knowing what to say she thanked him . And turned to open the door.

"Nandini " she stopped and turned with hopeful grin on her face .

"Haan"

Facing his back to her he said blankly "Just forget whatever there  was between us .....Now it's over " and he left , snatching and crashing every hope from her .

............End.............||

Let me know if you found any mistake.

How was the chap ?

............Aish❣️...........