A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 79- Laal Gulaal

The siren sound of an ambulance made it horrified but what's most horrifying to Manik was Nandini's reaction. He thought she would be frightened to the core but she didn't react in that way. Her face showed no expression and this scared him more. Daksh is put in the ambulance and Nandini went along with him. ''Navya, can you be with Nandini! I'll get the car'' Manik couldn't believe why Nandini is so silent. Navya nodded and followed Nandini. By the time Manik reached hospital, he saw Nandini and Navya waiting in front of an emergency ward. As the doctor came out, Navya stood up and asked how is Daksh. ''He had much blood loss and there's a danger of hemorrhage. We need to arrange for blood transfusion immediately'' doctor said to Manik and Navya. Manik looked visibly worried for Nandini than Daksh. Navya noticed Manik's dilemma and decided to talk to him. They went to a side and spoke.

''Nandini ko kya hua? Wo kuch bol kyu nahi rahi?'' Manik asked looking at Nandini. ''Nandu seems to be so disturbed with this accident'' Navya said. ''I've never seen her this calm, har baar kuch na kuch bolti rehti hai, but her silence is killing it. It seems like the calmness before the storm'' Manik said. ''Nandu is really too emotional'' Navya said. ''I know choti si choti baat pe rone lag jaati hai, afraid and scared of every little thing in the world'' Manik said recollecting his memories with Nandini. ''Huh'' Navya had a confused look on her face. ''I mean she is really sensitive'' Manik said. ''Ye sab kaise hua?'' Manik asked her. ''We heard someone taking Nandini's name and shouting, when Nandu saw it was Daksh who was calling her, we were going near him. Pata nahi kya hua, he just slipped and fell down from that building'' Navya said. ''Nandini and me, we were just standing a feet away from where he had hit the ground'' Navya said. ''I think she needs you now, please help her wash off the blood on her face'' Manik said. 

Navya nodded and took Nandini with her. Nandini came back and sat silently beside Manik and Navya. As doctor rushed to see Daksh, Manik interrupted him. ''Doctor, Daksh ki blood transfusion'' Manik asked. ''We've called the blood bank, they will send it soon'' doctor informed. ''By the way, how are you related to the patient?'' he asked. ''We're his friends, Holi party mein unfortunately wo neeche gir gaya'' Manik said. ''Let's hope for the best'' doctor patted Manik. ''Any how what's your blood group?'' doctor asked Manik. ''Me! Mera O positive blood group hai'' Manik said. ''Oh great! then you can donate blood to your friend. Last 3 months mein kabhi blood donate kiya hai?'' he asked him. Manik paused for a minute and said, ''I'll give my blood doctor and I'm fit to donate. Main regularly blood donate karta hu'' Manik said. ''Then we must hurry up, gentleman'' doctor asked the nurse to arrange for blood transfusion. 

Manik came out after an hour and saw Nandini and Navya exhausted. He called Inaya and Vikas to inform about Daksh's accident. ''Holy shit! Ab wo kaisa hai?'' Inaya asked. ''No idea, doctors said that he needs blood and we found out that my blood group matched with him'' Manik said. ''Okay we're coming over there, you should go and take rest'' Inaya said. ''No, you should spend time with your family'' Manik said but Inaya and Vikas insisted. ''Navya, you can go home with Nandini, you both look tired'' Manik said to Navya. ''Tumhe yaha chod ke kaise chale jayenge hum, we will wait'' Navya said. ''Main bhi tumhare saath chalunga, waise bhi I've informed about Daksh in the office'' Manik slipped his tongue. ''Uske office mein inform kaise kiya?'' Navya asked him. ''Ah uske saare belongings mere hi paas hai, so I've informed with the help of his ID. There should be someone here who really knew him. Hum log uske baare mein kuch nahi jaante hai'' Manik covered up for Navya. 

''Nandini, shall we leave?'' Navya asked and Nandini just nodded. None of them spoke anything till they reached home. Manik noticed Nandini looking at herself in the mirror and wondered why is she behaving so abnormally. ''Nandini'' he called her name and she shook. ''Jaldi se fresh ho jao, I shall make something for us to eat'' he said and she turned back to go inside her washroom. Before Manik could go in the kitchen, he heard a loud scream from Nandini's room. He rushed to see Nandini and found a glass painting on the floor which was hanging on the wall earlier. It broke and the glass pieces were scattered in the room around Navya and Nandini. ''Careful, don't move'' Manik warned them. Nandini closed her mouth in shock and her muffled cries scared Manik and Navya. Manik hugged her and said, ''Shh...kuch nahi hua, its just a glass''. She clutched his shirt so tighter and wasn't ready to let him go.