I am late.... Actually very late but what to do I am was sick then I didn't feel like writing anymore. I think I am lost interest in writing. I guess I am not gonna start anymore new book after these ongoing ones.

👇🏻

In London
Manik was found sitting in front of a doctor who was looking serious. Maybe something was seriously wrong. "You should have come earlier, Mr Malhotra. It's very late."

"Sorry, doctor. I was busy." Manik let out a sigh as a flash of Nandini's smiling face hit his mind.

"She was just asking about you. She keeps on chanting your name. If you didn't come now, then it would have been difficult for us to save her."

Manik had nothing to say. He could only hum. To save one life, he has already another one who is more important to him.

Manik was feeling restless. He was sitting in the corridor of hospital. He was thinking, if he hadn't saved Soha that night, then this day would have never arrived. He was cursing himself for the thing he has done before.

Manik looked back hearing Anurag calling him.

"Soha is now fine, uncle. Don't worry." Manik managed to speak but his voice was sounding dead, devoid of any emotion.

"I know she is fine. All this happened because of you. Thank you so much, Manik." Anurag knew what they are doing was wrong but sometimes fate forces us to be selfish.

"Don't say like this."

"Now you are here Soha will be perfectly alright."

"Mr Malhotra, come with me please." A nurse came there looking for Manik.

Seeing Manik, Soha was out of the world. She called Manik near her. Manik sat beside her her on a chair.

"How are you, Soha?"

Soha smiled brightly seeing Manik. "Best. Now you are here how can I be not fine."

"Why did you do all this?"

"Because you left me." She battled her eyelashes trying to look cute where she failed measurably.

Manik couldn't take it anymore. "That doesn't mean you will try to commit suicide." He shouted in frustration.

"Why are you scolding me?" Soha tried to hold Manik's hand but he already took a step back not wanting her to touch him. He was already in a bad mood and he was holding himself back with a great difficulty not wanting to hurt her.

"I am not." Manik closed his eyes trying to calm his nerves but the girl in front of him was already giving him a hard time.

"Okay. Never scold me." Soha smiled.

"Hmm." Manik was getting irritated with her behavior. If it was someone else, then he would have run away from here till now.

"Let's go home." Soha told excitedly.

"We will but before that you have to get well."

Soha opened all the wires from her hand and tried to get up.

"What are you doing, Soha? You are still weak." Manik tried to stop her.

"Leave all that. Let's go."

Soha tried pulling Manik with her but before they could reach the door she got unconscious. Manik held her before she could touch the floor. He picked her up and made her lay down on the bed.

Manik remembered Nandini who also lost her consciousness after drinking that night. He had also picked her up and made her lie down on his bed. They were so close that time and now they are miles away from each other. He knows nothing will be okay henceforth.

Nurse came and gave some seductive to Soha. Manik came out of the room. He saw Soha's parents standing there hanging their head low. Seeing Manik, they cried hugging him. Manik was also crying but for someone else.

At Malhotra Residence
Next morning
Nandini got up at her usual time and came down after getting ready. She saw everyone sitting there being sad. She herself was heart broken but she can't let everyone like this. So, she thought of cheering them up.

"Why are you all sitting like this? What happened?" Nandini tried to sound cheerful keeping a stone over her heart. She was broken but didn't want anyone else to see it.

Everyone looked at her as if she is some alien. They didn't this kind of behavior from her after previous day.

"Why are you looking at me like this? Chachi, give me something to eat. I am starving."

They knew Nandini is no okay still she is trying to show herself strong. They were trying to hold their tears back. Mohini went near her and patted her cheeks, "My strong baccha."

"Thank you, chachi." Nandini smiled even though it didn't reach her eyes. Everyone present there noticed but they didn't say anything because it would only hurt her more.

"Come. I will give you breakfast. Everyone come to dining now." Mohini said taking Nandini with her.

After breakfast Nandini went to meet Nyonika. She was still not out of trauma so she didn't come out of her room.

"Mom."

Nyonika looked at Nandini with teary eyes. She couldn't control herself when Nandini called her mom. Nandini sat beside her and held her hand tightly.

"Mom, tell me when I will become doctor what will you give me?" Nandini asked holding her hand.

Nyonika smiled wiping the tears from her eyes. "Whatever you will ask for."

"I don't need anything else just love me always the way you do now." Nandini hugged her and a few tear drop slipped from her eyes.

Nyonika nodded her head hugging Nandini back.

Nandini broke the hug and made her sit. "Now have the breakfast fast and then you also have to take the medicine."

Then Nandini herself started feeding Nyonika. She was looking at the little girl in front of her who was trying to be all mature and strong even after facing so much.

In London
Since the time Manik has come here, he is quite. He is not in his usual self.

How can someone be in his usual self when his soul is not with him???

Manik was sitting lost in his thoughts at the silent corner of the corridor. Anurag came there and took the seat beside Manik. Feeling someone's presence Manik turned towards him.

"We will always be grateful to you for what you did for us." Anurag spoke.

Manik let out a dry chuckle. All these words nothing touched him anymore. He knew all this was fake and because of it he had to commit a sin. A sin of hurting the most innocent and most important person of his life. "You know it feels life is a joke. One day it takes us to the height of happiness and the other day only we are so far from it.

Uncle, I have not come here to be great. I have never thought about Soha the way she thinks about me. I just know she is not okay. She has some mental problem and she tried to harm herself when she doesn't get what she wants.

You know when aunty called me and said Soha has again attempted suicide and she won't stop until I come, that time I was going to get ready for making Nandini mine.

Officially.

It was our engagement. Soha is no one to me. If I wanted then I had option that I won't come back and stay there with Nandini. But I knew at some point of my life Soha will become the hurdle of my life. Nandini's life. I had to come."

Silent tears were falling from Anurag's eyes. He knew her daughter is at fault. They were at fault. They are snatching the happiness of Manik's life for their own sake. They don't have the right to do so. But they are helpless too. May be nothing will be okay after this in his life. But he is a father after all. Soha is his only daughter. It made him selfish that point. He knew he won't be able meet Manik's eyes ever. They will always be his culprit. Forever.

"Don't worry, uncle. Soha will be fine. She will stand in front you all fine soon." Manik said but his eyes turned cold.

"Why did you save her from that accident that night? Then this day wouldn't have come ever. You would have live your life happily."

Prerna had also come there.

"Manik, you go and take rest. You have traveled so much and you are here till now. You need sleep."

"It's okay, aunty. I am okay. You both go and take rest."

Manik said and came out of there. He was standing in the garden of the hospital. He sat on one of the empty benches and looked at the sky full of starts. Last time when he gazed at them, Nandini was with him. Today he was crying. Alone. Today he felt like asking the sky all his questions.

Like Nandini. . . . .

At Malhotra Residence
Nandini was coming out of her room when her phone rang. She picked up the call without seeing the caller id.

"Hello. . . . ."

But there was no response from other side. No voice came.

Nandini's heart started beating fast. Tears welled up in her eyes. She closed her lips with her hands to stop herself from sobbing loudly. There was no sound from other side.

"Manik!!!"

That's the only thing she managed to utter.

The call got cut form other side.

Precap: Don't know.

Want to kill me for this? But you know distance and fight make a relationship stronger. So, at the end they will be together only.

Do tell me how was it?

Guess how did Manik save Soha?

What do you think Manik was the caller?

Do vote and let me know your opinion.

Bye.

30.07.2021