TRUE LOVE NEVER GIVES UP

Chapter-76: In His Arms, Her Peace

The hours in the hospital room seemed to stretch into eternity as everyone sat around Nandini, waiting, watching for any sign of movement. The silence was thick with tension, hope, and fear. Then, as if their prayers were heard, Nandini’s eyelids fluttered. Her fingers twitched slightly, and a soft murmur escaped her lips.

“Nandini?” Manik whispered, his voice soft but filled with urgency.

Slowly, Nandini opened her eyes, blinking away the haze. Her gaze found Manik, who immediately reached for the glass of water by her bedside. He gently helped her sit up, holding the glass to her lips. “Here, drink a little, okay? You’ll feel better,” he said softly.

She took a few sips, her throat still parched. As the cool water soothed her, she let the glass fall from her lips, and her eyes brimmed with tears. Without warning, she threw her arms around Manik’s neck, clutching him tightly as if she feared he would vanish.

“Manik...” Nandini sobbed, her voice cracking with pain. “Manik… why… why did this happen? Everything is so broken! Everything...”

Manik’s heart clenched as he held her against him. His fingers gently caressed the back of her head, soothing her like a child. “Shh… it’s okay, Nandini. I’m here now. You’re safe. I’ve got you. It’s all going to be okay.”

But Nandini shook her head in his embrace, her sobs growing louder, her hands fisting his shirt as she poured out everything that had been bottled up inside. “No! It’s not okay! Nothing is okay! They lied to me… everyone lied to me… Mumma… Mom… Pops… no one loves me. No one wants me!” she cried, her voice filled with raw, unfiltered pain.

Manik’s heart broke at her words, but he didn’t interrupt. He held her tighter, his lips brushing against her hair as he whispered, “I love you, Nandini. Don’t say that. You’re everything to me. You’re loved, more than you’ll ever know.”

Nandini continued to sob, her face buried in his neck, her body trembling with emotion. “Why… why did they lie to me, Manik? Why didn’t they tell me the truth? I’m so lost... I don’t know who I am anymore.”

Manik’s hand gently cupped the back of her head, pulling her closer, his voice a tender murmur. “I know it hurts, Nandini, I know… But we’ll figure it out. I’m not leaving you. Ever. We’ll face this together, okay? You’re not alone in this.”

As he whispered soft reassurances, Cabir stepped forward cautiously, his face lined with sorrow. “Nandini… can we talk?” he asked, his voice soft, yet filled with hope.

But the moment Nandini saw Cabir, her expression tightened with fear and hurt. She instinctively moved back, her body pressing deeper into Manik as if he were her shield. Her eyes flickered with distrust, the same way they did with Vishakha earlier.

“Stay back,” Manik said quietly, his eyes conveying more than words as he met Cabir’s gaze. Cabir swallowed hard, nodding in understanding, and stepped back, his own heart aching. Vishakha, who had been waiting anxiously by the side, moved forward too, but Manik gave her a gentle but firm look that spoke volumes. Now was not the time.

For now, Nandini needed peace. She needed to feel safe.

“It’s okay, Nandini. No one’s going to push you,” Manik whispered into her ear, brushing her hair back softly. “For now, just relax. We’ll talk about everything later. Right now, you need to rest, okay? I’m not going anywhere.”

His words seemed to calm her, and slowly, her sobs subsided into soft sniffles. Her grip on him loosened, but she still clung to him as if afraid to let go. To distract her, Navya, Mukti, and Alya stepped forward, offering soft smiles.