"Rahul..!! For once you come in front of me I
will let you repent..!!" Manik
thought gritting his teeth."I promise..!!
Nandini kay aik aik aanso ka badla loon ga
tum say..!!" Suddenly Manik's phone started
buzzing. Thank God his phone was on silent
otherwise Nandini must be awake. Manik
carefully got up from the bed and came out
of the room. Caller ID was of Nayonika.
"Hello Mom..!!" Manik said in a low tone.
"Manik..!! Meri jaan kahan ho beta? How's
Nandini..!!" Nayonika was too much worried
for him and Nandini.
"Mom..!! Relax..!! Nandini theek hai..!! I am
with her..!!" Manik said trying his best not to
cry.
"Manik..!! Tell me the truth..!!"Nayonika
asked crying.
"Mom..!! Nandini..!!" Manik didn't had
words to tell Nayonika about Nandini.
"Beta..!! You are driving me crazy..!! Please
meri jaan tell me..!!" Nayonika too was
sobbing hard.
"Mom..!! Nandini is in so much pain..!! She
was rapped..!!" Manik started and Nayonika
gasped. Manik told Nayonika each and every
thing about Nandini he ended up crying
hard.He can't believe that Nandini suffered
that much..!! How will he able to heal her..!!
"Manik..!! Beta..!! Be strong...!! If you want
Nandini to be happy then you have to
control on yourself..!!" Nayonika herself was
too much hurt but she tried to console him.
"Just be with her ok..!! Usay akela mat
chorna..!!" Nayonika said potiletly.
"G Mom..!!" Manik said in a low tone as
tears were flowing down his cheeks.
"Take care beta..!!" Nayonika said and hung
up the call.
Manik slowly walked towards the kitchen to
drink water. He opened the fridge and it
was empty. Manik became shock.
"I starve in last days of months...!!" Nandini's words
echoed in Manik's ears.
He panickly started checking all the
kitchen cabinets. Except few spices he found
nothing. He again held his head.
"OMG..!! Nandini how are you living? So
misery..!!" Once again tears welled up in his
eyes. He sat on the chair.
"Manik..!!" Suddenly he heard Nandini's
voice. He immediately wiped his tears and
turned. Nandini was standing in the room
door with sleepy eyes.
"Nandini..!! Why are you up? I told you to
sleep..!!" Manik said lovingly and walked
towards her.
"Wo..!! I thought that you left..!! So just
came to check..!!" She said in a low tone and
Manik felt his heart will explode over the
pain of this ripped soul. He immediately
composed himself and cupped her cheeks.
"Nandini..!! I am not going anywhere..!!" He
said reassuringly. Nandini lifted her hand
and touch Manik's left cheek. She was
looking very keenly at Manik's face he
smiled and raised his eyebrow to ask what?
"Manik..!! I had never thought that you will
be so close to me..!! That I will able to touch
you..!!" She said as if she was really in a
dream.
"Acha..!! But now tou I am so close to you
na..!! Then what is the tension haan?" Manik
said naughtily and winked. Suddenly Manik
started tickling her and Nandini laughed her
heart out. She pushed Manik away and run
in her room.
"Why are you running haan..!! Come
here..!!" Manik said laughingly and Nandini
showed him her tongue.
"You can't catch me Manik..!" Nandini said
and again started laughing filling Manik's
heart with contentment.
"Acha..!! Challenge accepted Madam..!!"
Manik said and again started chasing her. At
last he caught her and fell on the bed
with her.
"So now??" Manik asked poking her nose
and Nandini again laughed. She rested her
head on Manik's chest and Manik pull the
blanket over them. Both were lost in
thoughts. Nandini was thinking about Manik
and Manik was thinking how to take revenge
from Rahul Khana.
"Manik..!!" Nandini called him.
"Hmmm..!!"Manik hummed looking at her.
"You know what? After coming to
Mumbai..!! I never ever slept peacefully in
night..!! I am too much tired Manik..!! It
feels my feet these are all wounded..! Mjh
main aur himat nahi hai Manik..!! Main
bohat thak gai hoon..!! It feels I am barefoot
running in a hot burning desert..!! I am
tired of fighting with this cruel world
alone..!! This one year seems a whole decade
to me..!! I want to sleep Manik..!! I want to
sleep peacefully without any fear..!!"
Nandini said wetting Manik's shirt again
with her tears and Manik felt like something
stabbed his heart.
"Nandini...!! You want to sleep na? Sleep..!! I
promise I'll protect you..!! I will guard you
from the evil eyes of this world..! From now
you don't have to get worried..!! Ok honey?"
Manik said and Nandini nodded. Manik
tighten his grip around Nandini and
Nandini clutched his collars tightly. Manik
kept patting her head and soon they both
drifted to sleep.
...
Next morning Manik was the first to
woke up. He saw Nandini still sleeping
cuddling to him. She had peace on her face.
The peace he had never ever saw on her
face. He smiled seeing her so peaceful. He
gently pecked her forehead and feeling his
touch she lazily opened her eyes.
"Good Morning sleeping beauty..!!" Manik
said tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Good Morning..!" She whispered and again
closed her eyes. "It's my best morning
ever..!!"Nandini again whispered.
"Acha best kaisy..!!"Manik asked naughtily.
"Waking up in your arms..!! It's the best
thing ever..!!" Nandini said smilingly and
Manik laughed patting her head. Suddenly
his hand went on her forehead. She was
burning. He immediately got up.
"Nandini...!! You have fever..!!" Manik said
caressing her forehead worriedly.
"It's ok Manik..!! It's normal for me..!!" She
said carelessly. "You lay down na..!! Kitna
acha lag raha tha..!!" She said sleepily.
"No..!! It's not normal..!! Let's go the
doctor..!!" Manik said and Nandini held his
hand.
"Manik..!! Kuch nahi hua mjhy..!! I'll be
fine..!!" Nandini said reassuringly but Manik
was least satisfied with her idiotic
explanation
"Chup..!! Last night you drenched in rain na
that's why you got fever..!!" Finally Manik
figured out the reason.
"Manik I said na I'll be fine..!!" Nandini said
in a low tone.
"Nandini have you taken those medicines
which I bought for you?"Manik asked
suspiciously and Nandini was looking in his
eyes immediately started looking
everywhere except Manik. Nandini's this act
gave Manik his answer that she didn't took
those medicines. Manik became more
worried. Before Manik could say anything
the doorbell rang he went to open the door
and Nandini went to bathroom to get fresh.
Manik opened the door and saw Nayonika's
driver standing. Nayonika had sent his
clothes and breakfast for them Manik smiled
and thanked him he left. Manik came back
in the room and saw the bed empty. He was
about to shout Nandini's name when he
noticed that she was in bathroom. He sighed
and for the first time he noticed Nandini's
room in daylight. There was a bed on which
he was sitting, A study table and a chair with
it. Moreover there was a little dressing table
over which there was a hair brush may be a
moisturizing lotion, few clips and
a kajol pencil.
Manik's curiosity increased he got up and
opened the small cupboard in the corner of
the room. There were a very few tops and
jeans. Manik again felt like crying. He very
well know about the Murthy's..!! They were
so rich..!! He could easily guess about
Nandini's life style..!! She would be the girl
who never wore a dress second time..!! How
was she living?Manik saw a drawer in the
cupboard he pulled that open and started
checking in it. A little money and the most
intriguing thing he saw was some kind of
medicines.
He picked them up as the purpose of
medicines was not written on it so Manik
searched the medicine name on google. And
what he read about those medicines was
enough to blow his mind. Those were "Anti-
depressant pills" . He was still in shock when
Nandini came out of the bathroom. He
carefully placed the medicines back in the
drawer and turned towards her.
"What happened Manik?" Nandini said
smilingly rubbing her hair with towel.
"Nandini..!!" Manik was loss of words.
Nandini became worried and came close to
him.
"Kya hua? Why are you so worried?" She
asked cupping his cheeks.
"Tum..!! Nandini tum anti-depressants laite
ho?"Manik asked in a low tone. And Nandini
lowered her eyes."Why?" Manik asked
holding her arms.
"Manik..!! Because of these pills I am
alive..!!" Nandini said in a low tone.
"No Nanadini..!! No..!! You know how much
harmful these are..!!" Manik said worriedly.
"Promise me..!! Promise me that you will
never ever take these again..!!" Manik said
cupping her cheeks.
"Manik..!! Main bhi theek hona chahti
hoon..!!" Nandini said and tears brimmed in
her eyes.
"Shhh..!! You will be fine..!! Main hoon
na..!!" Manik said lovingly and took her in
his embrace.
"Main theek ho jaoan ge na Manik?" Nandini
also didn't knew why she asked that
question but now she can't go back on her
words. Her words pierced in Manik's heart
he held his tears and broke the hug.
"Do you trust me Nandini?" Manik asked
looking in her eyes.
"I do..!!" Nandini said in a low tone.
"Tou bus phir..!! You will be fine..!!" Manik
said lovingly and Nandini again rested her
head on his chest and Manik wrapped his
arms around him.
"Waisy..!! Your mother in law has send
breakfast for you..!!" Hearing Manik's words
Nandini instantly broke the hug and look at
Manik in disbelief.
"What? Why are you looking at me like this?
Don't you wanna be my bride?" Manik
complained making an angry pout and
Nandini felt herself flying in the air.
"Manik..!!" Nandini was at loss of words.
"Haan..!!" Manik asked lovingly tucking a
wet strand behind her ear.
"I love you..!!" Nandini said and Manik
jumped with joy. Manik took her in a
passionate hug. After sometime Nandini
broke the hug and asked Manik to get fresh.
Manik went in the bathroom and Nandini
served the breakfast. After sometime Manik
came out of the bathroom and saw Nandini
sitting on the chair with her head on the
table. Manik went near her and patted her
head.
"Are you ok?" Manik said and she slowly
lifted her head to look at him. She smiled
weakly and nodded."You are not ok..!! Look
at your eyes they are so red..!! Chalo eat
your breakfast and then we will go the
doctor...!!" Manik scolded her and Nandini
didn't said a word in objection. Or maybe
she was too much weak to protest for
anything.
"I'll feed you myself..!! You know this aaloo
ka paratha is my favorite..!!" Manik said
smilingly and started feeding her small bites.
After so long she was feeling the taste of the
food..!! Or may be Manik was feeding her
with so much love that she was again feeling
the taste..!! Tears slowly welled up in her
eyes.
"Aray..!! Why are you crying? Shhh..!! Kya
hua didn't you liked it? You want to eat
something else?" Manik asked panicking and
he picked up his cell phone to order
some other food when Nandini held his
hands. Manik look at her and Nandini again
hugged him tightly. Manik was taken aback
for a second what has gotten into Nandini..!
But he hugged her back and started patting
her head. She was again sobbing Manik
knew that she had so much pain which
needed to come out so he let her cry. After
some time Nandini stopped crying.
"Ro liya? Ya you want to cry more?"Manik
asked naughtily just to enlighten her mood
and she playfully hit him on his chest. And
Manik laughed. Nandini placed her head
on Manik's chest and he kept feeding her
and she slowly swallowed each bite. She ate
the whole paratha and Manik was more than
happy that at least she ate something. After
that he himself ate the other paratha
meanwhile Nandini was just holding his
other hand which was free still resting her
head on his chest eyes closed. Soon Manik
finished his paratha.
"Chalo let's go the doctor first..!!" Manik said
and Nandini too got up. She picked up her
bag from her room and came out with
Manik.
"Manik..!! College..!!" Nandini said in a low
tone as they stopped in front of a hospital.
"Your health is more important for me
Nandini..!!" Manik said in a determined
tone. After sometime they both were sitting
in doctor Sharma's Cabin Manik's family
doctor.
"Hmmm..!!So what's the matter with this
pretty girl..!!" Doctor Sharma asked
affectionately.
"She had fever Sharma Uncle..!!" Manik said
shaking his head in a dismay.
"Hmm..!! Let's check..!!" Doctor Sharma said
and started examining her. Manik was
talking to Sharma Uncle about so political
issues and Nandini was quiet.
"What's your name pretty girl?" Sharma
Uncle asked.
"Nandini..!!" Nandini murmured.
"So..!!Nandini you have got a serious
typhoid here..!!" Sharma Uncle announced
and Manik felt his heart sinking.
"Serious typhoid?" Manik repeated a little
horrified and Nandini was sitting like
nothing happened.
"Yup..!! Since how long you are feeling this
fever Nandini...!!" Doctor asked
suspiciously.
"10 days...!!" Nandini said in low tone she
knew Manik will burst out in anger.
"What? 10 days?" Manik yelled. "You didn't
took any medicines for it..!!"
"Sorry..!!" She said lowering her head in
embarrassment.
"Chill..!! Manik..!! Usy darao tou mat..!!"
Doctor Sharma tried to calm him down and
Manik tried to calm his nerves. "Proper
medicines and good food will help her to
recover soon..!! Just make sure for these two
things ok?" Doctor Sharma said and wrote a
prescription for her. Manik nodded
and came out of his cabin along
with Nandini. Manik didn't said a single
word to Nandini and they both sat in his
car. Nandini noticed Manik's quietness.
