But I love you.

Part 17i

Manvi's POV:

"Hey..." Virat whispers from behind.

I look up to find him staring down at me. "Heeey...." I try to smile.

"Are you doing okay?" He asks. His eyes were filled with worry.

"Dad's doing fine. I am relieved." I try to make conversation with great difficulty.

"You've been standing here a while now, Mannu..." He comments.

"Nice view. View of people discharging from the hospital and going home." I point out the obvious, showing the parking lot below.

He smiles. "Come here..." He softly turns me around and draws me closer. I readily go into his comforting arms as he puts his hands around me and kisses my forehead softly.

He doesn't say anything. Neither do I. But the hug said a lot of things. That in spite of everything that is happening, it is going to be fine, it is going to pass and he will be right here by my side.

I lean my chin on his chest and look up at him. "Thanks for the hug."

"Hey, what are husbands for!" He chuckles.

I smile and hug him with all my strength.

"Haye haye..." We hear Priya's voice. I hide my face in his shirt for a second for my face to compose to normal before turning around. Rahul and Priya were leaning on either side of the hallway wall and smiling with the look that said we are in for a lot of teasing.

"Looks like your trip was very productive!" Bhabhi comments.

"This is a hospital dude! Get a grip of your hormones!" Rahul tells Virat.

"Strange, I was about to say the same to you. Cut it out." Virat warns him.

"Really! That easily!" Rahul chuckles looking at Bhabhi.

"Thanks for taking such good care of Papa, you guys. I don't even know how to thank you."

"Nice distraction tactic. Mannu, I want details." Priya drags me away from Virat.

I turn around and look at him with a scared face. He was smiling and shaking his head.

Virat's POV:

"So, Simmy?" Rahul asks me.

I sigh and look at him with a blank face. What does he expect me to say?

"Don't let her get to you this time Virat. You are with Manvi now." He tells me.

"I know that!" I tell him irritated.

"Virat?"

"What?" I look at him more irritated.

"Promise me you will not let her get to you this time."

"Bhai! I am in love with Mannu. Simmy is a closed chapter. I don't want to talk about this anymore." I tell him with an angry face.

"Alright. Chill. That's all I wanted to hear." He rolls his eyes.

I look at with the same angry face and he is smiling now. "You are in love?"

His joy gets to me. I look outside the window and it is really a happy sight to see people leaving the hospital. "Yes." I smile.

"Do you know how happy that makes me? I kept telling you all this time Virat - you deserve much more than all that was Simmy. You deserve someone who makes you happy and I think you finally found her."

"Thank you." I nod.

"Oh, this calls for congratulations!" He hugs me.

"Alright. Stop it now." I tell him. He looked really happy. I look down at the other end of the corridor. I cannot hear their conversation but Mannu was standing with both her hands on her hips looking angrily at Bhabhi - no doubt had enough of her pestering. Rahul joins their banter and they were all laughing. Even in the present situation, in between all the tension, tears and grief - she looked so goddamn beautiful. My angel.