Note: I dont know how chemo therapy works and I really dont want to drag the chemo storyline too long as its too depressing so Ill write about it in this chapter and then skip past all that.

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After their wedding, Nandini & Manik were welcomed into Malhotra mansion by Nyonika. Then she left to go get something and returned with a large bowl filled with milk and rose petals.

"Yeh kya hai Ma?" Nandini asked. Nyonika stopped in her tracks looked at her. "Sorry...woh Bhabhi aur Navya aapko Ma hi bulate hai na so isi liye...."

"Of course, Ma ko toh Ma hi bulaya jaata hai right?" Nyonika smiled. "And to answer your question....yeh ek game hai jo tujhe aur Manik ko khelna."

She placed the bowl down infront of Nandini & Manik before taking their rings. "Yeh rings main isme dalungi...aur jo koi bhi inn rings ko pehle dhundenge, shaadi ke baad raj ussi ki chalega!"

"Humare shaadi ke waqt...main haar gaya tha." Raj told them with sigh.

"Main bhi." Abhi added.

"Main bhi..." Cabir also added. The three of them looked at each other then at Manik. "Manik...pls I beg you, tujhe yeh game jeetna hai."

"Haan beta, tu humara akhri umeed hai." Raj replied.

"Dont worry Dad, Cabir...This is Manik we are talking about. Aaj tak aisa hua hai kya ki Manik kisi cheez mein haar gaya?" Abhi said.

"Well iss baar haarega." Ishani spoke up. "Maybe you guys dont know...lekin meri yeh behen bhi kisi se kam nahi hai."

"Vaise bhi....iss khandaan ka tradition hai. The guys loose and the girls win!" Navya added.

"Oye Madhubala...zyada hawa mein mat udho, ok? That was just.....luck." Cabir said.

"Luck? Woh bhi teen baar? Ma, main aur Navya...phir toh humara luck kaafi acha hai." Mukti chuckled. "So...Nandini ka jeetne ka chance aur bhi zyada ho gaya! YES! Nandini...hum tumhare side pe hai."

"Aur hum Manik ke side pe." Aryaman pat Manik on the back. Manik & Nandini looked at each other amused that their family seemed more invested in this game than they were.

"Acha chalo...ab shuru karte hai." Nyonika dropped the ring into the bowl and swirled it a bit. Then Manik & Nandini both put their hands into the bowl and started feeling for the ring.

"Go Nandini!" The girls cheered.

"Go Manik!" The boys cheered.

While searching for the ring, Manik's hand landed on Nandini looked towards him. She tried to move her hand but Manik decided to be naughty and tightened his grip on her hand. Nandini have him a look telling him to let go but he just smirked.

"AHEMMM.." The two of them were started as their heard Cabri clearing his throat. He had leaned froward and his whole head was positioned right inbetween the two of them. "Guys...just FYI, yeh bowl unta deep nahi hai toh sab dikh raha hai okay?"

Nandini's eyes widened and she went red in the face while Manik just shrugged. Everyone else laughed.

"Now you guys can continue." Cabir said before moving back to his seat.

"Yeh Manik bhi na....sab ke samne mujhe sharminda kar rahi hai. Abhi tak main iss game ko seriously nahi le rahi thi, par ab maine 100% jeetungi tab isse paata chalega ke kisse panga liya hai." Nandini glared at Manik who finally let her hand go. She got to looking for the ring and finally found it. Just as she touched it she felt Manik's hand there as well. "Oh no...isne bhi dhund liya....think Nandu think..."

Then she thought of something and pretended to cough and also looked a bit weak. Manik got concerned and dropped the ring, reaching fro Nandini.

"Nandini tum thik ho?"

"I FOUND IT! I FOUND IT!" Nandini pulled out the ring and waved it in the air. Manik looked on in disbelief as he realized she had tricked him. The girls all clapped and cheered while the guys groaned.

"Hey! Thats cheating!" Manik complained.

"Haan toh? Woh kehte hai na...Everything is fair in love and war!" Nandini playfully stuck her tongue out at him. After that they played various other games and slowly Manik could see Nandini was actually looking weak and didnt have much energy left in her. Ishani had left a while back & Aryaman left to go drop her home.

"Um guys...ab bohot hua. Sone chalte hai ok?" Manik said.

"Mom...dekh rahe hai aap? Apke iss bete ko kitna jaldi hai SONE jaane ki?" Cabir teased with a wink.

"Shut up Cabir." Manik grumbled. "Mom..I was just saying ki...Nandini thak gayi hai na thats why."

"Ok Ok..tu rukh. Navya, Mukti...tum dono Nandini ko Manik ke kamre tak le jao." Nyonika told them.

"But...main kyun nahi jaa sakta?"

"Dont worry Manik, tu bhi jayega....just wait a few minutes." Abhi told him. Navya & Mukti took Nandini upstairs while his brothers kept Manik downstairs. The whole time Manik kept looking up as he was very worried for Nandini. Finally he was allowed to go up only to find Mukti & Navya blocking the way in.

"Seriously?" Manik asked.

They held out their hands with a grin.

"Yep...agar andar jaana hai toh apna wallet khaali karo." Mukti said. Manik took his wallet out and handed it to them.

"Here...rakh lo." He said and walked past them into his room.

"Well...he sure was in a rush." Cabir joked. The others also laughed and then left the two alone.

Inside the room, Manik sat beside Nandini on the bed and placed his hand on her forehead then felt her neck too. "You have a fever....bohot weak lag rahi ho tum. Main doctor ko bulaun?"

"Its ok Manik....its just a fever. Aadat hai mujhe." Nandini replied with a weak smile. "Actually aaj itna sab hua na...kuch zyada exert kar liya main khud ko."

"Ok tum soh jao...koi aur pareshan nahi karega." Manik helped her lie down. As he turned around Nandini grabbed his wrist. "Haan Nandini?"

"I was thinking....pehli ki baat aur thi. Mera chemo karwane ka koi irada nahi tha so sab se chupana thik tha.....par ab jab hum chemo karenge aur uske side affects to honge hi. I dont think hum ghar walon se chupa payenge." Nandini said. "Mujhe lagta hai, kal wahan jaane se pehle humme sabko sach bata dena chahiye."

"If thats what you want...then thik hai. Main kal tumhari Mom ko bhi bulata hoon ghar pe." Manik agreed.

Next Morning...

As planned, Manik called Devyani & Ishani also arrived with Aryaman close behind. Everyone was sat down in the living room where they brok the news and of course....it was shocking. Ishani already knew about it but she was happy Nandini was telling the rest of the family.

"Nahi....yeh....yeh sab jhoot hai." Devyani mumbled, tears in her eyes. "Yeh ho hi nahi sakta. Tu mazak kar rahi hai na?"

"Nahi Mom...yeh sach hai." Nandini replied. Devyani grabbed Nandini by her shoulders.

"How could you not tell me? Ma hoon main tumhari-" She froze as her own words sunk in. "Ma....Ma hoon main, aur mujhe paata bhi nahi chala."

"Mom...."

"Main...sach mein bohot burri Ma hoon. Kritika ke saath itna busy thi ki meri dusri beti bemaar thi aur mujhe aisaas bhi nahi hua. How could I not realize? Kaise? Kaise maine notice nahi kiya ki tu mujhse kuch chupa rahi thi?"

"Devyani ji...sambhaliye khud ko." Nyonika comforted her although she herself was devastated to hear all this.

"Mom...its not your fault. Maine chupaya tha...mera toh kisi ko batane ka plan bhi nahi tha." Nandini looked down knowing she was wrong for that.

"Nandini....tera dimaag kharab hai kya? Itni badi baat kaun chupata hai?" Navya scolded. "Im your best friend....tune mujhe bhi nahi bataya?"

"Im sorry...Im sorry! Main kisi ko dhukhi nahi karna chahti thi....isi liye." Nandini replied.

"Pls....sab Nandini ko maaf kar dijiye na." Manik spoke up defending her. "Usne jo bhi kiya aap sab ke baare mein soch ke kiya....haan galat faisla tha par uska irada galat nahi tha. Aur abhi usse sabse zyada aapke support ki zaroorat hai, she's starting chemo today."

Everyone hugged Nandini and assured her that nothing would happen.

"Main duniya ke best specialists ko le aungi tere liye." Devyani spoke up. "Kuch nahi hone dungi main apni bachi ko."

Nandini looked at her emotionally and hugged her. "Im sorry Mumma...mujhe pehle hi bata dena chahiye tha. Lekin mujhe laga ki aap-"

"Ke mujhe koi farak nahi parega hai na?" Devyani replied. Nandini looked ashamed. "Its ok...maine hi tujhe aise treat kiya. Humesha sabse zyada pyar Kritika ko diya...sabse zyada attention usse diya. Par ab nahi....ab mera saara pyar, attention, care...sab kuch sirf aur sirf tere liye hai."

The mother & Daughter cried while hugging each other tightly. Then Manik took Nandini to her first chemo session and stayed with her the entire time before driving her back home where she was pampered fully.

That was how things went, Manik took Nandini to her sessions and brought her home. Devyani & Ishani moved in with the malhotras to spend more time with and help take care of Nandini who was always tired and wear from the chemo.

Manik himself was growing closer and closer to Nandini. He spent every moment taking care of her needs and found himself getting more and more scared at the thought of loosing Nandini. He tried to always stay happy and positive for Nandini and told the rest of the family to do the same. Even Nandini loved the protective feeling she got from Manik. She was slowly falling in love with him and now was fight her sickness just so she could live with Manik forever.

One day, Nandini woke up and found herself wrapped in Manik's arms. She smiled looking at him sleep. Slowly she unwrapped his arms and placed a small kiss on his forehead. "Meri vajah se bilkul bhi soh nahi paate ho na tum? Humesha mere liye tension karte ho...ab jab soh rahe ho itne shanti se toh, tumhe koi nahi uthayega."

She then got up to get ready in the washroom. She got into the shower and turned to it to hot which felt so good on her skin. Nandini ran her fingers through her hair to apply the shampoo but as she brought her hands infront of her she saw lots of hair strands in them. Nandini was shocked and stumbled back in the shower, knocking down the shampoo bottles.

Hearing the sound, Manik woke up and was afraid Nandini had hurt herself. He ran to the door and knocked.

"Nandini....kya hua? Nandini open the door."

Nandini was in complete shock and couldnt answer him. She just kept looking at her hair and was crying as she slid down to the floor of the shower. Manik could hear her crying and he just freaked out more.

"Shit...Nandini! Nandini...kuch bolo pls! Varna... Im gonna break this door."

Still not hearing from her, Manik kicked the door open with one strong kick. Nandini was curled up in a ball sobbing. he quickly turned the shower off and wrapped a towel around Nandini before bringing her to the bed.

"Nandini kya hua? Gir gayi kya? Chot lagi hai? Dikhao kaha lagi?" Manik checked for injuries. Nandini kept crying and Manik couldnt bear it anymore. "Pls kuch toh bolo Nandini...you're scaring me!"

"Ma....Ma...nik..." Nandini sobbed. She slowly brought her hands forward and opened her fists showing him her hair. Manik gasped. "My...my...ha..hair.."

"Sab...sab thik hai Nandini." Manik tried consoling her. "Chemo ki side effects hai. Doctor ne bataya tha na?"

"You...You...Kn...ow...Di...Humesha se...mujhse zyada khubsoorat rahi hai. Her eyes, her beauty...her figure...sab mujhse zyada achi hai. Mere paas sirf mere yeh baal hai jisse dekh ke har koi kehta tha ki itne labe aur ghane kaise hai? Its all I have Manik."

"Hey!" Manik got angry and grabbed her face making her look at him. "Kisne kaha yeh sab tumhe? Ive told you before aur main dubara se keh rahi hoon...tum bohot khubsoorat ho Nandini. Kritika se 100 gunna zyada kyun tumhari khubsoorati yahan se hai."

Manik pointed to her heart. He softened his voice and gently carassed her face. "Sab thik ho jayega Nandini....yeh baal vapas grow karenge but baal or no baal it makes no difference to me."

"Sachi?" Nandini sniffled.

"Muchi." Manik rubbed his nose against hers. "Tum mere liye important ho aur humesha rahoge."

Nandini rest her head against Manik's chest as her comforted her. Thats when Devyani & Nyonika walked in and looked worried seeing her cry.

"Nandini...beta kya hua?" Nyonika asked. Manik quietly showed them the hair and they understood. Devyani pulled Nandini into a hug.

"Shh..shhh...mat roh Nandini. Chemo bohot strong hai na...isi liye aisa hota hai. Tu yeh soch agar iss chemi se tu thik hoti hai toh yeh baal toh bohot hi kam keemat hai uske liye." Devyani explained.

"Beta...tu chahe toh....toh hum...tere bala ko shave...matlab baar baar girne se acha hai ke abhi...you know." Nyonika suggested. Nandini was still crying but she slowly nodded. Nyonika turned to her son. "Manik...tu bahar ja."

Manik slowly left teh room & Nyonika closed it behind him.

"Manik...kya hua? Nandini roh kyun rahi thi?" Raj asked. Manik didnt say a word as he kept thinking about Nandini's tears. Ishani however noticed Nandini's hair in Manik's hand.

"Oh god! Nandini ke baal!" She gasped. Everyone looked and now understood what happened. Ishani felt like crying and Aryaman rubbed her shoulders comforting her. "She loves her hair...paata nahi uspe kya beet rahi hogi abhi."

Even Navya & Mukti were in tears seeing this and their husbands hugged them. Manik stayed silent through this and just left the mansion.

"Manik...yeh kaha jaa raha hai?" Abhi wondered.

"Shayad woh bhi Nandini ki halat nahi dekh paya." Mukti replied. "I know usne abhi tak kaha nahi par uske ankhon mein Nandini ke liye pyar saaf dikh raha hai."

Meanwhile, Nyonika & Devyani shaved Nandini's head and she couldnt stop her tears as her hair fell to the ground. Everyone then came in and tried cheering her up.

"Oye Nandu...tera sir itna chamak kaise raha hai? Silver polish se saaf karti hai kya?" Cabir joked. Navya nudged her husband but Nandini somehow found this funny and giggled a bit. Cabir was happy to see this and nudged Navya back. "Dekha! Jab dekho yun yun karti rehti ho...Nandu thinks Im hilarious!"

Nandini nodded with a smiled.

"Oh No pls dont encourage him Nandini!" Navya groaned. Nandini then noticed Manik wasnt around.

"Manik kaha hai?" Nandini asked.

"Woh..." Abhi was about to reply when Manik walked in. Everyone was stunned. Nandini stood up seeing him.

"Manik...yeh kyar kar diya tumne?" Nandini asked. There he as, with a completely shaven head. "Tumhara baal....kyun Manik? Kyun?"

"Kyun nahi?" Manik asked. "Life Partners hai hum...puri Life share karna hai. Acha burra sab...unfortunately main chah ke bhi tumhari bimaari share nahi kar sakta par...yeh toh kya hi sakta hoon na?"

Nandini looked at him with love.

"And vaise bhi...why should you be the only one who looks cool huh?" Manik said in a lighthearted tone. Nandini ran to him and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you." Nandini whispered.

"Tumhare liye...kuch bhi." Manik whispered back. The rest of the family watched emotionally at the love they had for each other and slowly left the room to give them space. As she left, Nyonika placed a hand on Manik's shoulder.

"Im proud of you Manu."

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Thoughts on MaNan?

Like I said, I wanted to speed through this chemo part cause its too much sadness you know.