A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 80- Dilemma

''Thank you so much Nandini, I can't imagine how would I have survived without you'' Daksh said as he could talk now. ''No, no! This is the least I could do. How are you feeling now?'' Nandini asked. ''All I could feel is pain'' Daksh said with a heavy heart. ''Tho phir acha hai na'' Nandini said. Navya gave a confused look and murmured Nandini's name. ''Sorry, I mean when there is pain, there's life. Just imagine how it will be if you can't feel pain or any sensation in your body. You feel numb and lifeless. With pain, you only gain'' Nandini said. Nandini's words has unintentionally put a smile on Daksh's face. ''Weird motivation, but yeah I'll take it'' Daksh quoted trying hard to smile. ''I've got food for you'' Nandini said. ''Outside food is not allowed ma'am'' the nurse who was just entering the room strictly conveyed to Nandini. ''Not outside food, it's home cooked'' Nandini said. ''But we only allow our chefs to cook food for patients'' she said. ''I've lost 2 kg of weight in last 3 months with this food. Isse zyada healthy kuch nahi hoga'' Nandini said. 

Navya has rolled her eyes at Nandini. ''Don't argue Nandu'' she said. ''Why not! Hospital ke khaana bland hota hai. Ask them to prove that their food is much healthier than what I brought'' Nandini said. ''Okay ma'am, aap patient ko food de sakte hai but please make sure no doctor no knows it. You should follow the patient's diet'' nurse conveyed. ''Yeah, then I can make him eat'' Nandini had a victorious grin. ''Nandini, please don't take stress for me, I can eat what they give me'' Daksh said. ''No, this is the least I could do, even you saved me from an accident. Tumhe tho khaana hi hoga'' Nandini said placing it in front of him. ''I can't'' he said hesitant. ''But this is healthy and tasty too'' she tried to convince him. ''I can't eat because I have these wires and pipes on my hands'' he referred to the IVs he was put on. ''Oh sorry'' she said and opened the box to him. She was hesitant to feed him with her hands but having no other option, she fed him the food she bought. ''Thank you so much, food is really delicious''  he complimented. ''Ye maine nahi banaaya!'' Nandini said and he turned to Navya and thanked her. 

''This is Navya. My..'' Daksh didn't let her complete but said that she could be Nandini's cousin whom she live with. Navya has a confused look when he called her Nandini's cousin. ''Nandini said that you are working in Whitefield, which building?'' he asked Navya. Navya murmured but Nandini said that it is not important now and continued to feed him until he is unable to speak. ''We've informed at your office about your accident and someone from your office came to see you and stayed back here last night'' Nandini informed Daksh. ''Someone from my office! Who could it be?'' Daksh wondered. ''I have no idea, nurse keh rahi thi ki koi aapke saath tha and he said he is from same office as you'' Daksh had few names in his memory but he knew none of them would stay for him at a hospital. Nandini and Navya spoke to doctor while he is on rounds. ''How is he doctor?'' they asked. ''He is absolutely fine, but he will have to take rest for a month or so!'' he said. 

''No doctor, I can't. Mujhe office bhi jaana hai'' Daksh reacted frantically. ''Health se zyada kuch nahi ho sakta, you shouldn't work for some days, take leave'' Nandini suggested. ''No, I can't. I have an important project ahead'' Daksh said. ''Ok at least WFH le sakte hai na aap'' Navya suggested but Daksh doesn't want to take any risk with Manik. He thinks that staying indoors would push him away from the race with Manik. ''When will I get discharged doctor?'' Daksh asked. ''Considering that you aren't going to rest at home, discharge tho ab ek hafte ke baad hi hoga'' doctor smirked at Daksh and Nandini winked at him. ''Itna mazaa le rahe ho tum Nandini!'' he said. ''Koi kaam health se important nahi hoti, its good that you won't be discharged any time soon'' Nandini said. ''Now don't think of anything and take rest'' Nandini suggested. ''Visiting hours are over ma'am. Please give some rest to the patient'' nurse said. ''Ok then, I'll make a move'' Nandini said taking her bag and signed Navya to come with her. Both of them were about to leave when Daksh called her ''Nandini''. ''Will you please come again to see me?'' he asked with a tinge of hopelessness. Nandini went back to him and said, ''Sure, I'll come again and not just coming, phir se khaana bhi le aaungi. Now be a good boy and take rest'' she bid bye and went out. 

***********************************************************************************************

''You've come all the way from Hyderabad just to meet me and sorry I couldn't be with you'' Nandini said as Navya packed to go back. ''It's not your fault Nandu, and since when are we being so formal! When did these sorry and please entered between us?'' Navya asked and Nandini gave a tight hug to her. ''Now you have to be with Manik and not me. Don't take forever to propose him'' Navya advised. ''I wish I could do that as easy as you said'' Nandini sighed. ''Why are you overthinking? I feel Manik likes you too'' Navya said cheering her up. ''I know he likes me, but Manik ki dictionary mein like means admire, care and protect. Like doesn't mean love for him'' Nandini explained. ''Admiring you, protecting and caring for you, doesn't this mean love? Pyaar nahi hai tho ye sab kyu karega wo?'' Navya asked. ''Like and love are two different things Navya, I thought of marrying Abhinav but never loved him for real. I saw how betrayed he felt when I called off the engagement'' Nandini said and continued, ''maybe he loved me for real'' she said in a low voice but creek of the door interrupted their conversation.

Manik opened the door when he heard they were talking about Abhinav. ''Abhinav ke baare mein kya baat kar rahe ho dono?'' he asked her. ''Kuch nahi'' Nandini said but it was evident for Manik that she is hiding something. He convinced himself not to go into the details as he knew that she won't tell him. With Nandini, he knew she would open up herself when the time is right and he learned to wait for her and gave her privacy. ''Manik, will you come to drop off Navya?'' she asked. ''Why is Navya leaving! You just came yesterday'' Manik asked her to stay back with Nandini but Navya insisted to leave. ''I can't stay back now but I promise when I come again, I'll stay with you guys for at least a week'' Navya said smiling. ''Tum he tho rokna chahiye Navya ko'' Manik said to Nandini. ''No, Navya needs to go and I can't force her. We will meet again sometime later'' Nandini said to Manik and he nodded. They drove Navya till the railway station and drop her off. On their return, Manik stopped his car to have a coffee. 

''So, how's your day? How is your friend Daksh?'' Manik asked purposefully to know about him. ''He's fine'' Nandini answered quick. ''Sirf fine! When is he getting discharged'' he asked again. ''Not anytime soon, doctor said he wanted some rest. Maybe a week later'' Nandini said sipping her hot coffee. ''A week later! How about going to office then'' for a moment, Manik forgot about everything and was concerned for Daksh. ''Seriously! You just spoke like Daksh! He exactly reacted the same way as you did now. Is going to office so important than your own life!'' Nandini asked. ''I mean getting a sick leave from office is really so tough'' Manik made a lame excuse. ''Office! This reminds me that Daksh and you work in the same locality, you must be knowing his company right!'' Nandini asked. ''Whitefield mein ek hi company thodi hai, it's an IT hub'' Manik said. ''But Daksh is not into software or IT, he works for a construction company just like you. Generally you tend to know if you are in same stream'' Nandini asked. 

''No, mujhe nahi pata'' Manik lied outright. ''Acha, tell me where do you work?'' she asked him. ''Tumhe ye kyu jaan na hai? You know I don't like to discuss office at home'' Manik chucked it but Nandini didn't let him go. ''I'm living with you from 3 months and I don't even know where and who do you work for!'' now she knew he can't escape from her. ''I work for Paul & Green Architects and now that's some confidential information. Client company name should never be revealed or shared with anyone outside the office'' Manik said. ''Main kyu kisi ko kuch bolungi! Most of them doesn't even know we're married'' Nandini said. As they came home back, both of them retired to their rooms tired. Nandini stirred in her bed thinking what Navya said about Manik. ''Is Manik really feeling jealous of Daksh? How would I know?'' she thought. 

On the other hand Manik wished Daksh to get discharged as soon as possible, otherwise he knew he couldn't stop Nandini to meet Daksh.