Third update !!! Shocked , surprised ? Bas compensation hai for the delay. Hope you all are happy.

Take this as a gift from my side as Valentine's gift.

Enjoy...!

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NEXT MORNING

Nandini was the first to wake up. She lazily opened her eyes and the sight in front of her eyes made her day and she smiled looking at it. Manik was sleeping on the couch like a baby on his side body, covering himself with the blanket.

She moved out of the bed and went near the couch. His restlessness and state of last night left her all blank.

"What is wrong with Manik? I have often witnessed him suffering with these nightmares but ye kabhi uske bare mein baat nahi karta. But the way he was scared and asked ME not to leave him, iska kya matlab hai? He never said like this whenever I have woke him up from the nightmare. What is bothering him so much? How to know it?" She thought to herself and bend down to his level.

She looked at his face, and thought to herself; "Manik, what's pricking your heart this badly. Why you never share it anyone?" Thinking all this, she kept her hand on his forehead and as an immediate reflex action, her eyes widened in shock.

She went all blank at first and then checked his neck and arm again.
"Aiyappa , itna high temperature. Oh God," She panicked.

"Manik, Manik" she tried to wake him up.
"umm.." he lazily stirred in sleep but didn't open his eyes.

She stood up and walked out of the ward.
"Cabir.?" She frowned and murmured as she saw him sleeping on the bench.

She moved ahead and woke him up.
"Nandini, what happen? Tum theek ho.?" He at once stood up the moment he saw her standing.

"Cabir... wo... Manik.. he.." she was sacred from his condition and couldn't utter anything.

"What happened to Manik?" He freaked out and went inside the ward followed by Nandini.

"He has high temperature" she said as they entered the ward.

Cabir checked him and himself was surprised as till late night both were together and he was all fine.

"He's burning" Cabir himself was shocked to witness this high temperature.

Nandini sat beside him and caressed his forehead. She was on the verge of crying as Manik was not opening his eyes fully but was just being half conscious at times.
"I'll just call the doctor." Cabir said and ran to the doctor.

Nandini kept caressing his forehead and tried to bring him in full conscious but failed.

Soon Cabir entered with a doctor and two ward boys. They laid him on a stretcher and shifted to other room.

"Nandini you stay here, I am with him. I will inform you." Cabir said to her as she also moved out of the ward to come with them.

"Cabir, please, let me be with him. Please." She requested him as the tears finally made their way out to roll on her chubby cheeks.

He instantly hugged her and she started sobbing.

"Relax... quiet..." he patted her head and breaking the hug said; "first stop crying. He will be fine. And you want to see him, fine, come." He held her hand as she was not able to walk properly because of the injury.

They reached the ward where doctor was examining him. After he was done, he turned towards them to brief them about his condition.

"I guess because of stress and exertion, he has got high fever. Let him sleep, he will be fine. Nothing to worry. I have given the medicines, soon the temperature will be down." Doctor informed them and moved out of the ward.

Cabir witnessed Nandini shedding silent tears standing at the foot side of bed. He carefully side-hugged her and wiped her tears.

"I told him to go and rest but he never listens to me. Always has to do what he wants. See what he has done to himself." She exclaimed in anger but still crying only to receive a loop side smile from Cabir.

"We will do one thing, once he gets fine, we both will beat him up and make him drink lots of kaahada and haldi dhoodh. What say?" he said and she smiled listening to his planning.

He smiled back at her and consoled her that Manik will be fine soon. She stopped crying and was back to normal when suddenly something stuck in her mind.

"Cabir, I want to ask you something." She said to him and he nodded to go ahead but before that he made her relax on the couch and sat beside her.

"Go ahead ask." He said.

"Cabir, I have many times witnessed Manik waking up in night due to a nightmare. Bahut dara hua rehta hai. Everytime he keeps on mumbling a NO. I have tried to ask him many times but he somehow diverts the topic. Infact kal raat bhi , he was in the same state. He was very scared, when I woke him up.

Cabir kya hai? Kya baat hai? What is this nightmare? I am sure you must be knowing about this, please batao na what keeps on bothering him so much." She asked him very curiously whereas Cabir was feeling helpless as he didn't wanted this truth of Manik's life should be out from anyone else than Manik himself.

"Nandu, its true I know, but you need to wait till Manik himself tells you about this." Cabir made her understand.

"But Cabir..." Nandini still wasn't convinced so tried to say something else but was cut in between.

"Nandini... have trust on him. And trust me he will be fine. Very soon he will be rid of this nightmare. He will tell you everything for sure." He convinced her to wait for the right time till Manik himself spills the beans.

Nandini nodded in agreement and after lots of convincing from Cabir - saking on Manik's name; she came to her ward leaving sleeping Manik behind.

...

"Nanhi, Manik is just down with fever baby. Why are getting so hyper. He will be fine soon but if you won't take care of yourself, we will be bound to keep you for another week in hospital. Do you want that?" Abhi asked her strictly as she was adamant to see Manik and was not ready to take medicines.

She just nodded her head in a NO on Abhi's question of staying in hospital for another week, and finally ate her medicines. Soon she was drifted into sleep.

After 2 hours, Manik woke up and lazed his eyes around the room to sense his surrounding to find Cabir on the couch engrossed in his phone.

"Cabir" Manik whispered and Cabir immediately turned his attention towards him and found him getting up.

He rushed towards him and helped him to get up.

He checked Manik's temperature which was reduced but still not gone.

"Wasn't one enough that you too decided to book a bed here?" Cabir slapped his shoulder lightly and he just smiled faintly.

"Nandini?" he asked Cabir.

"She's fine. Sleeping." He replied and Manik felt relieved.

Cabir sat down on the stool beside his bed and looked at Manik.

"I think it's high time. I should talk to him." He thought and initiated his chat with Manik.

"Manik, Nandini is fine now. Whatever happened was just an accident. You were not responsible for it in any way this time and also last time. Dono cases mein it was just an accident. You are stressing yourself so badly. Ye nightmare baar baar isi liye aate hain because you feel you are responsible for all this.

Please Manik, for God sake , stop blaming yourself. Do you have any idea how much tensed and worried Nandini was seeing you like this. Tuhje iss tarah raat mein uss halat mein dekhna and then in morning seeing you like this. Manik, she cares for you a lot. You affect her a lot and you know this very well. Relax kar Manik. Please."

Cabir tried to make him understand and not to feel guilty any more for what happened with Veebha and Nandini.

Manik sighed listening to Cabir and said, "Pata nahi Cabir, I was just sacred. Pehle Veebha and now Nandini, I just could not help it. Kal raat bhi I saw this nightmare, but it was not Veebha, it was Nandini and that really scared me."

Cabir patted his shoulder and smiled. "Relax. All is fine and will remain fine."

Manik smiled nodding his head on his words.

"Come on now you rest. Fever is still there. I have talked to vaibhav so no need to worry." Cabir continued and Manik lied down to take rest.

...

In the afternoon...

Here Nandini woke up in her ward and found no one around. Just then a nurse entered with soup.

"Nurse, Wo Manik ?" She enquired about Manik from the nurse.

"He's fine. Mild fever hai abhi but he is sleeping. Till evening he will be fine." She answered her which made Nandini feel bad. It was afternoon and still his fever was not gone.

Thinking all this , she drank her soup when her phone rang.

"Hey Navya !" She exclaimed as soon as the phone was answered.

"Nandini ! How are you now ? Pain kum hua ? And wounds heal hue ?" Navya asked all in one go.

"Navya , please relax. I am fine. Haan pain is still there and wounds are also healing but it will take time." She answered her and Navya smiled from the other end.

"When are you shifting here Navya ?" Nandini asked her.

"Next week. And Nandini what's wrong ? You sounding low ? All fine?" She sensed her low voice.

"Navya actually Manik , Wo he is down with fever because of so much stress and tension he took in these 2 days. Managing between office and hospital is affecting his health. I told him many times to go home and rest but why would he listen to me. Now see what he has done to himself." She stopped in between as the lump in her throat took all the power of speech from her vocal cords.

"He will be fine Nandu , why do you have to worry. We all know how much he cares for you and your condition is worth taking stress and tension. He won't speak about it to anyone but the truth is , this incident must have affected him a lot . Don't worry. He will be fit till tomorrow." Navya tried to lift up her mood and her words made Nandini think about the time Manik spend with her in the hospital , making her comfortable and taking care of her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Navya's constant calling of her name from other side.

"Nandu, where are you lost?" She asked worryingly.

"Navya, I wanted to ask you something." She said.

"Haan bolo na.!" Navya answered back.

"You remember, last time, when you were here, tumne Manik ke baare mein Kuch bola tha. ". Nandini said.

"Haan.. bola tha. Yaad hai. " Navya replied after thinking for while what she told her last they met.

"Navya , you really feel whatever you said was true. I mean, do you actually feel it.? " She asked sheepishly.

"Nandini , I only said what I saw. It's very clear from his actions that he has feelings for you but he himself is not aware for this. Many times , when we are in love with our best friend, we get confuse . We are not able to differentiate between the two feelings and often mistake them with friendship. Same is with Manik and you . But why you asked it today all of a sudden." Navya cleared her doubt and asked her the reason for this conversation as because she use to avoid talking about it.

"Ahh.. nothing Navya . Just like that. Okay I will call you back. Take care." With that she disconnected the call as she didn't wanted all this new realisation should be known to anyone else.

She was fighting with her emotions when the nurse entered again as it was time for her medicines.

After taking her medicines she gathered a lot of courage and said to the nurse.

"Sister can you please take me to Manik." She pleaded her making the most innocent face in the entire universe.

"But we are not allowed to do so." She replied sadly as her job does not allow her to do this.

"Please sister, pretty please. I promise there will be no problem. Please." Nandini again pleaded and this time sister was in a puzzle state as to what she should do.

Nandini became dear to her because of her loving nature. She so wanted to fulfil her wish but her duty was causing hindrance in fulfilling her wish. But still keeping all these things aside she smiled at her and got a wheelchair for her as her legs were still not fine and took her to Manik's room.

Cabir went to office half heartedly after lots of convincing from Manik and Abhi. Manik was just awake when Nandini entered his room.

"Nandini ?" He said slowly seeing her in his room but she did not responded. Nurse helped her to sit on the chair and Manik to sit.

"What are you doing here ? You should be resting right now." Manik almost freaked out but Nandini didn't said anything and kept on staring him.

She slowly got up and sat on his bed in front of him. He all the while kept a tight hold on her hand to support her.

The moment she sat in front of him , she pinched him hard on his arm and he shrieked out in pain.

"Ouucchh... Nandiniii...!! Ahhh..!! Are you mad ? What you doing ?" Manik kept yelling in pain and she pinched him with all her force and stopped when after good 1 minute.

"Yes , I am mad. Can't you just take care of yourself ? See what you have done. I told you to take rest but no , Nandini is mad. She says anything , why to listen her. Fine , do what you feel like and I did what I feel like." She said pointing toward his arm.

He was all the while rubbing his arm as she pinched him really hard and didn't replied anything.

She sadly pouted seeing him in pain and checked his forehead.

He smiled at her and clutched her hand on his forehead.

"I am fine. Kuch nahi hua." He replied smiling at her and kissed her hand.

"Haan.. I can see that." She pulled her hand away and slightly slapped his shoulder while he adored her with smile.

"You will not stay here at night." She ordered him and he sighed listening her words.

"Nandini , I am fine" he tried to convince her but was cut in between.

"Nothing going . No means no. You will go home and rest. I will be fine here." She said pointing her finger towards him.

"But." He tried once again but this time she was determined.

"I am not listening anything. You are going means going." She said in a loud commanding tone.

He rested his case , sighing in defeat and replied rolling his eyes , "Okay fine. Will go home. Happy ?"

She smiled on her victory and he smiled back seeing her smiling.

She stayed with him for 10 minutes and after that nurse took her back to her room.

In the hospital lobby -

Mukti came to hospital after knowing about Manik 's condition and while going towards his room she met Abhi.

"Hey hi !" Abhi greeted her the moment he saw her.

"Hi " Mukti replied politely with smile.

"Umm.. I think you are here to see Manik but right now he is sleeping and Nandini too , so I guess to need to wait." Abhi said knowing the obvious fact that she was here to meet Manik.

Mukti nodded at his piece of information and Abhi moved ahead to walk but was stopped by her immediately.

"Abhi , 1 minute please." She said and he looked at her.

"I hope you don't mind me calling you Abhi ?" She asked in hesitation and he smiled.

"Of course not dear. Surely you can." He replied in a jolly tone.

"Well Abhi I just wanted to thank you for saving me that day by not letting Manik know anything about what happened . He surely would have freaked out." She thanked him knowing the big favour done by him to her.

"You don't need to say it. I know Manik. He's impulsive and this surely wasn't the way to let the things reach him." He replied assuring her secret is safe with him.

She smiled at him and he responded back with the same.

"Coffee ?" She asked suddenly.

"Well I need to" Abhi needed to be at some place so wanted to leave but Mukti didn't wanted that.

"Just 10 minutes. Please. It's just a coffee. I insist." She requested him .

"Okay." He agreed and both left for cafeteria for coffee.

In the evening -

By evening , Manik was fine and was allowed to go home so he came to see Nandini . Cabir came from office and the trio along with Abhi spent some time together.

As the night ascended , Nandini almost got Cabir and Manik kicked out from the hospital as she knew they have to attend office at any cost and didn't wanted any of the two to affect their health again.