Nandini's POV

Why did I feel light? Even if I felt someone on top of me?

"Nan-nini! Nan-nini! Wakey wakey!" I heard a sweet voice which made my heart tug.

It was Navya and Bhai's babygirl!

I felt her baby lips on my cheek making my eyeballs move. I had no energy to move but when the little toddler kept her tiny head on my heart I couldn't help but feel ecstasy.

I opened my eyes and saw the tiny one who was now practically sleeping on me.

"H-Hi Nandini!" I managed to say while she gave me her toddler smile.

"Nan-nini!" She grinned and gave me a wet sloppy kiss on my cheek yet again making me chuckle.

Navya and Bhai came forward looking at me with tears in their eyes. I smiled at them but they were all blank. I know they missed me alot because their eyes said it all. After sometime they left taking Nandini. Sounds weird right.

I craned my neck to see Manik standing on his place all numb. His face was devoid of any emotion. My heart clenched seeing his state.

"Manik!" I whispered meekly but he heard it as his eyes met mine. I gestured him to come to me and he took baby steps still staring at me. When he finally reached near the bed he just sat down beside me without saying anything.

I slowly placed my hand over his, my vision getting blurred.

"Manik! Say something please!" I choked when I saw tears in his eyes. A sob broke out from his mouth and the next second he hugged me tightly sobbing uncontrollably, hiding his face in my neck.

"Ma-Manik! Ssh! It's okay! I'm here!" Though I was consoling him but my tears also didn't have a stop. We both were in pain, going through a lot. I didn't stop him from crying because he needed to let it all out.

After almost 15 minutes when he didn't move I felt it was enough.

"Manik! Stop crying. Look at me! I'm here. With you. In your arms! Won't you look at your Rose?" I asked helplessly and felt him shift his head.

He finally looked up and my heart pained looking at his red swollen eyes. He was staring at me like I was a dream. He didn't blink nor did he move his eyes away.

"Why did you do this?" He whispered vulnerably.

"I thought I lost you! Th-That same thing ...you getting shot right infront of me same like Mom got shot right infront of me. I couldn't do anything. Neither could I save her nor you! I failed both of you! I'm such a monster Nandini!" He continued without any emotions in his voice.

"Manik look at me! You are not a superhero who will reach everywhere and save everyone. You can't blame yourself for everything that happens. This, what happened was bound to happen and YOU could do nothing about it!" I said softly yet sternly.

"You won't leave me right?" He asked, his eyes pleading.

"I'm not going anywhere Manik! I'm here with you!" I said sincerely and he once again hugged me.
"I missed you!" He said and I sighed.

"I missed you too!" I replied.

"I love you!" He confessed as he kissed the spot on my neck where his lips were. My heart skipped a beat listening to it.

"I love you too!" I whispered back and felt him tightening the hug. He laid there beside me hiding in my embrace trying to convince himself that I was back and not going anywhere.

"Manik!"

"Hm!"

"I need to pee!" I said chuckling and he sighed getting up. Before I could even get down he was by my side scooping me in his arms taking me to the bathroom.

"Manik I'm fine!" I tried to say but he ignored it and put me down only when we were inside.

"I'm waiting here! If you need anything don't hesitate to tell me!" He said and I smiled.

I walked inside and tried to unzip my dress but winced feeling the pressure on my stomach. I felt his chest on my back and I gasped.

"Manik!" I breathed when his fingers caressed my stomach.

"My eyes are closed!" He whispered in my ears, his hot breath falling on my neck. He helped me get through it and then moved back. Once I was done he carried me again to the bed.

Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!

I looked around and saw Alex continuously jumping and woofing excitedly. My baby looked so weak. I asked Manik to get him on the bed and he obliged. Alex was all jumpy in my arms licking my face making me giggle. I hugged him and he whined in my neck.

"I missed you!" And I truly did. I don't know for how long I was on the bed but i know it was long enough seeing the little version of me grown up so much.

The door opened and Rishabh walked in with his head down. I know he was crying and not wanting to show it he always does this.

"Rishabh!" I called softly and he looked up with his swollen eyes. I smiled at him and gestured him to come close and he ran to me hugging me tightly. I bit my lip stopping myself from wincing feeling the pain.

"D-Dii!" Rishabh cried as I ruffled his hair.

"Shh Rishu! I'm here no! Stop crying!" I said as he sniffed.

"I was so scared that you would never wake up!" He voiced out his fears and my eyes softened. This little one had gone through much already.

"Why wouldn't I? I had to come back for my baby brother right? Now come on wipe those tears and go take Alex with you! He needs some sleep with you!" I said and he nodded smiling. After they moved out I sighed and looked at Manik.

"I too need rest!" He pouted and I chuckled as he made himself comfortable beside me.

"But I had enough rest!" I said and he frowned. I shook my head smiling and wrapped my arms around him as he laid his head on my chest. It felt like the role reversal where always I was the one to rest my head on his heart and now it was the opposite. I kept playing with his hair resting my chin on his head.

"Nandini!" He called and I pouted although he couldn't see.

"Okay sorry! Rose! You don't want to know what happened after ...after you ..!" He couldn't complete the sentence fearing and I sighed.

"I want to but not now! You need to sleep Manik! You need rest!" I said softly and he tightened his hold.

In no time I heard him snoring slightly telling me that he hadn't slept properly all this while. I kept moving my fingers in his hair staring at the ceiling not feeling sleepy at all. I had so many questions which I wanted to ask. What happened to Lily? What about Francis? And for how long was I on this bed? I sighed knowing only Manik could answer all these.

I thought of moving out so I tried to get out of Manik's hold but his hold only tightened. He wasn't letting me go even in his sleep.

"No! Please don't leave me! Nandini! I promise I won't hurt you!" I heard him murmuring in his sleep which made my heart break in pieces. He was still blaming himself for my state. He was having a nightmare.

"Manik! Calm down! I'm here! I am not leaving you!" I kept whispering in his ears pecking his head from time to time. I felt him relax but the next second he opened his eyes and looked up at me. I smiled and kissed his forehead.

"You are having nightmares!" I stated and heard him sigh.

"I started having them after you slipped into coma! I couldn't sleep alone and whenever I tried they triggered!" He said and my eyes teared up.

"I'm -sorry!" I choked up and he jerked his head up instantly wiping my tears.

"Rose it isn't your fault!" He said softly and I stared in his eyes.

"It isn't yours too!" I said and he looked away.

"I don't deserve you!" He muttered under his breath but I heard it.

"Don't say that ever again Mr. Malhotra! You don't realise what all you deserve! You deserve the world Manik but you don't realise this!" I said sternly and he closed his eyes.

"Manik!" I cupped his face and he opened his eyes.

"You love me?" I asked and he nodded immediately.

"Then promise me you won't blame yourself! For me!" I said and he nodded making me smile.

"For how long I was in coma?" I asked as he once again hid his face in the crook of my neck.

"Two years!" He murmured sadly.

"What happened to Francis and Lily?" I asked and he stiffened.

"They're dead!" He said deadpanned and I didn't ask further.

"Acha now let's go down! I want to meet my mini version!" I said and he nodded a no in my neck.

"No! You can't move out of here till the Doctor comes and checks you up!" He said lifting his head and I pouted. He pecked my pout taking me by surprise.

The doctor came exactly after half an hour. He checked me up and said that I was fine but very weak. I had to take proper rest and couldn't move out of the bed till few weeks. I was all grumpy listening to that.

"But Manik I don't want to keep sitting here! It's so boring!" I complained and he smiled.

So now he was finding this funny!

"Why are you smiling? I didn't crack a joke!" I said grumpily and he sat beside me.

"Rose I know you are feeling bored but you have just now got conscious! It just has been few hours! Please take rest for my sake?" He gave me his puppy eyes face and I cursed him in my mind for using this trick on me.

"Fine!" I looked away feeling irritated and he just walked out smiling.

What the hell! I thought he would do something to cheer me up!

But no! This Monster I tell you! Huhh!

I kept sitting there alone pouting when the door opened but I didn't look that way. I kept looking the other side until I felt small tiny hands circling around my waist. My lips curved into a smile as I looked at my mini version who was grinning at me.

"Nan-nini!" She said and I made her sit on my lap.

"Nandini!" Manik panicked and we both looked at him. I assured him that I was fine and he sighed.

"So we meet again!" I said and she nodded.

"Why is your name Nandini?" I asked and she pouted.

"Why ish youl name Nan-nini?" She asked back the same question and I chuckled.

"Um maybe because my Mumma and Daddy liked that name!" I said and she blinked at me. Then she turned and saw Manik before turning to me.

"Betause Manit untel lited youl name!" She said and my eyes grew wide and when I looked at Manik whose mouth was also hung open.

She giggled looked at both of us before getting down and running out. Just then Navya and Bhai walked in smiling at me.

"How are you feeling?" Navya asked sitting beside me.

"Much better!" I said smiling.

"You know your Bhai is such a cry baby! I told him that Nandini is a fighter and she is gonna come back but no he kept crying!" Navya said and I laughed but later winced due to the pain and Manik was immediately beside me with his worried look.

"Oh god I'm fine guyss!" I said as Cabir bhai glared at Navya and she mouthed a sorry.

"By the way Navya did you tell Nandini about me?" I asked and she smirked proudly.

"Who else!" She raised her imaginary collars making all of us chuckle.

"Take rest!" Bhai said pecking my head and I frowned at him.

"I don't want to rest!" I groaned closing my eyes.

"You have to!" Came three voices.

"Now you two need to sleep!" Bhai said sternly specially looking at Manik and I knew he was right. They left closing the door behind.

"Now, Mr. Mafia Manik Malhotra -!" I was interrupted in between by him.

"Not the Mafia Nandini!" He said and I looked confused.

"I have left all the Mafia business behind!" He said looking away and I was shocked.

Did he really?

"Yes I did!" He replied.

Did I say that aloud?

"Yes you did! Now let's sleep!" He said taking me in his embrace.

"Rose can I ask for something?" Manik asked, hesistant.

"You know you can ask for anything right?" I said and he said nothing for a few minutes.

"Manik -!"

"Canikissyou?" He asked hurriedly.

"I mean I know I shouldn't in this condition but I don't know ..I mean how ..!" He ranted nonsense and I had no option but to shut his mouth.

I placed my lips over his shocking him before he responded immediately. He kissed me so lightly as if a little pressure would hurt me. The kiss lasted only for few seconds much to my disappointment.

"Thankyou!" He said resting his forehead over mine.

"I love you Rose!"

"I can never get tired of listening this!" I said.

"Me neither!" He said and when I stayed mum for few minutes teasing him he whined.

"Say nooo!" I laughed at his childlike behaviour.

"I love you too my Monster!"

~~~

When you pay for your sins; you also are awarded for your good deeds!

Elle baby as Nan-nini❤