Manik picked her up in his arms and
walked towards their bedroom. Nandini
snuggled in his protective embrace.Manik
opened the bedroom door and placed
Nandini on the bed. She was still holding
his collars and looking into his eyes
without blinking hers. Manik took her
fragile hands in his strong ones.
"Nandini..!! Say something please..!!"
Manik said worriedly.
"Manik..!!" Nandini said tightening
her grip on his hands. "Please don't leave
me please..!" Tears again welled up in
her eyes. Manik became more worried.
"Acha..!! Shhh I am not going
anywhere...!! Don't cry...!!" Manik said
wiping her tears. Light flashed on the sky
with a loud sound of thunder,making
Nandini scream and she again hugged
Manik. Manik hugged her back but now
his worries has no limits Nandini's
behavior was too much shocking for
him.
"Nandini..!! It's just a thunderstorm..!!
Why are you so afraid of it...!!" Manik
asked lovingly but Nandini didn't answer
to him and kept shivering and hide her
face in crook of his neck. Manik didn't
asked further and kept stroking her hair
after some time he noticed that she had
became normal he gently broke the
hug,made her lay down on the bed and
placed her head on the pillow. She was
just looking at him as if she had fear that
if she will close her eyes he will leave
her. Manik looked at himself he was all
drenched,he thought of getting changed.
He was about to get up when Nandini
again held his hand.
"Manik..! Where are you going?" Nandini
tried to get up but Manik again made her
lay down.
"Nandini I'll be back..!! Just going to
change clothes..!! You sleep honey..!!"
Manik said assuringly and she simply
nodded. Manik quickly went to the
bathroom to get changed. Now Nandini
was again alone in the room. Again those
bloody nightmares she jerked her head to
get rid of the thoughts but in vain. She
got up from the bed and went towards
the bathroom,she heard the sound of the
shower she sat down on the floor and
leaned her head with the bathroom
door,waiting for him.
Manik in bathroom was continuously
thinking about 4R spell how to start. The
condition of Nandini which he saw today
was very miserable. Manik felt like his
heart was stabbed when he saw Nandini
like this. Those insecurities,those
fears,those doubts of her were going to
far. Manik really had to do something
before those fear destroy his Nandini.
Manik turned off the shower and wear
his clothes. He opened the bathroom
door. As Nandini was leaning her head
with the bathroom door when Manik
opened the door she lost her balance but
before she could fall Manik immediately
sat down and held her. Manik was
surprised to see her there.
"Nandini..!! Are you ok? I told you to
sleep na..! Then what are you doing
here..!!" Manik asked worriedly again
gathering her in his arms.
"Woo..!! Mjy da...!! Dar lag raha tha..!!
So..!! I...!!" Nandini fumbled and left her
sentence incomplete.
"Acha..!! Shhh..!! It's ok..!! Now come
let's sleep...!!"Saying that Manik picked
her up in his arms and walked towards
the bed. He made her lay on her side and
sat on his side,resting his head with the
bed board. Nandini moved closer to him
and held his hand. Manik give her an
assuring smile to which Nandini moved
more closer to him Manik slowly started
running his fingers in her hair in order
to make her sleep about half an hour
passed she was still staring at the ceiling
and was playing with his fingers.
"Nandu..!!" Manik called her lovingly.
"Hmm..!!" She said lost in her own
world.
"You know I am not only your husband..!!
I am your friend too..!! And friends share
secrets right?" Manik started sweetly and
for the first time in last thirty minutes
she looked at Manik. "So I am just saying
that if you want to share something..!! I
am always there for you..!!" Manik ended
up with an assuring smile that he really
mean those words and looked deep in her
eyes.
Nandini had never ever discussed her
nightmares with anyone. And also no one
ever consoled her the way Manik did. She
was having those nightmares since she
was of eight years and now she was 20
but still those nightmares were haunting
her. Manik's soothing words were
provoking her to share everything with
him. Then she decided.
Manik was watching her face she was
thinking something. Suddenly she got up
and wrapped her one arm around his
waist and placed her head on his heart
Manik wrapped his arms around her.
"Manik..!!" She slowly lifted her head and
looked in his eyes. Manik raised his
eyebrows and sing her to continue when
she got permission,she again placed her
head on his heart and started.
"You know Manik..!! I wasn't like this..!!
It all started when my parents died in a
car crash..!! The weather was very stormy
that night just like it is today. Me,Mama
and Papa we were coming back from a
family marriage. I always force my Papa
to drive fast. And that night too I was
forcing Papa to drive fast but he told me
that because of heavy rain it was not
easy but I was distracting him with my
foolish talks. Then Manik..!! Pta ni kahan
say aik truck aa gya. And it hit our car.
After that everything went blank. I don't
know when I woke up I saw Mama
Papa..!! They both were drenched
in blo..blood..!!" Saying all that Nandini
choked and Manik kissed her hair. He
kept quiet and waited for her to
continue.
"Then I saw Mama she was breathing her
last she called me close to her and
said "Nandu Mama loves you honey..!!
Papa loves you...!! Take care..!! We have
to go..!!" And..!! And..!! "
Nandini stopped.
"And..?" Manik said politely.
"And then she closed her eyes...!! She
died...!!You know what Manik..?"
Nandini was looking like a child tears
were continuously rolling down her
cheeks she looked at Manik.
"What..??" Manik inquired politely.
"I cried for a long time on that road..!!
Calling for help..!! But no one helped
me..!! It was night I was afraid..!! I tried
to wake them up but they didn't
responded me..!! They were dead
Manik..!! They were dead..!!" Nandini
started sobbing and Manik rubbed her
back.
"Rishab bhaiya wasn't with us that night
so he was alright..!! Me and bhaiya were
left alone in this world..!! I craved for my
Mama's lap my Papa's hug but they were
not there..!! You know Manik that's why I
hate rain..!! It took my parents away from
me..!! That's why I am afraid of losing
people...!! Everyone to whom I get close
they left me..!!" Saying that Nandini
hugged Manik and started sobbing.And
Manik himself felt like crying now he
came to know how much she was hurt
from inside.
"That's why I am afraid..!! I don't wanna
lose you..!! You are my everything
Manik..!! You are the last person in this
whole world to whom I trust..!!" Nandini
said between her sobs and Manik was
like feeling out of this world.
"Shhh Nandini..!! I promised you na that
I'll never leave you...!! So you don't have
to take any kind of tension..!!"Manik
whispered in her ear. "Acha..!! What
about that teddy Nandini?" Manik
inquired.
"Woo.!! After Mama and Papa's death
Bhaiya went to boarding school..!! I was
left alone with my chacha chachi..!! One
day I went to park with
my Chacha..!! Chacha went out for some
work and asked me to play..!! I was
playing when few boys came and one of
them snatched my teddy..!! When I tried
to get it back he pushed me I fell down
my knee was hurt it started bleeding and
my skirt was also torn. And when I cried
they called my tears crocodile tears..!!
and they left,I was alone again no one
was there to console me chacha came
after sometime but those boys were gone.
That incident made me less confident. I
am afraid of new people..!!That's
why i am afraid of going in parties..!"
The pain of deprivation was all clear in
Nandini's voice.
But Manik was happy now that Nandini
has shared her fears with him.First step
"Reassurance" was accomplished. Now it
was time for rescripting to mold
Nandini's bad dream in a good one.
"Acha Nandini..!! Get up and come with
me..!!"Saying that Manik got up from the
bed. Nandini become surprised.
"Manik..?? Where..??"Nandini
said surprisingly.
"Don't ask questions..!! Just come..!!"
Saying that Manik dragged her towards
terrace. He stepped on the terrace but
Nandini stopped in the terrace door
because it was still raining. Manik stood
in the middle of terrace and opened his
arms,looked towards the sky closing his
eyes.Nandini was just admiring him.
"Nandini..!!" Manik exclaimed. "You have
bad memories na? With this rain..! Let's
make good memories..!! Our memories..!!
Only you and me..!!" Manik said
smilingly. Manik started singing.
Mohabbat barsa dena tu, sawan aaya
hai
Tere aur mere milne ka, mausam aaya
hai
(Manik run towards Nandini and dragged
her on the terrace she shivered and hold
Manik's hand tightly to which Manik
smiled)
Sabse chhupa ke tujhe seene se lagaana
hai
Pyar mein tere hadd se guzar jaana
hai
Itna pyar kisi pe, pehli baar aaya hai
(Manik bowed down dramatically and
acted like Romeo complementing the
lyrics)
Mohabbat barsa dena tu, sawan aaya
hai
Tere aur mere milne ka, mausam aaya
hai
(He repeated the words and twirled
Nandini with him and danced with her)
Kyun ek pal ki bhi judaai sahi jaaye na
Kyun har subah tu meri sanson me
samaye na
(Nandini gently pushed Manik away but
Manik again pulled her towards him and
Sung)
Aaja na tu mere paas, dunga itna pyar
main
Kitni raat guzaari hai, tere intezar
mein
(He cupped her cheeks and kissed her
forehead)
Kaise bataaun jazbaat ye mere
Maine khud se bhi zyada
tujhe chaaha hai
(Manik sung nodding his head to which
Nandini smiled brightly)
Sab kuch chhod ke aana tu, sawan
aaya hai
Tere aur mere milne ka, mausam aaya
hai
(Manik winked at her,smiled naughtily and
she laughed out loud filling Manik's heart
with contentment)
Sabse chhupa ke tujhe seene se lagaana
hai
Pyar mein tere hadd se guzar jaana
hai
Itna pyar kisi pe, pehli baar aaya hai
(Manik sung looking deep in her eyes that
he really mean it)
Bheege bheege tere lab,
mujhko kuch kehte hain
(Manik traced her lips with his thumb
seductively and Nandini lowered her head
shyly)
Dil hai khush mera ki khayal ek jaise
hain
Roko na ab khudko yun sun lo dil ki
baat ko
Dhal jaane do shaam aur aa jaane do
raat ko
(Manik made Nandini sit on the swing and
push the swing from behind)
Kitna haseen ye lamha hai
Kismat se maine churaaya hai
(Manik leaned near her ear and blow
sending shiver down her spine)
Aaj ki raat na jaana tu, sawan aaya
hai
Tere aur mere milne ka, mausam aaya
hai
(Manik made her stand holding her
hands)
Sabse chhupa ke tujhe seene se lagaana
hai
Pyar main tere hadd se guzar jaana
hai
Itna pyar kisi pe, pehli baar aaya hai
Manik ended the song and again cupped
her cheeks. Manik leaned closer to
her,she was breathing heavily due to
Manik's proximity. She noticed Manik
eyeing her lips and his eyes full of
desires,she shiver at the thought and
closed her eyes ready to give in and
slowly moved her head closer to him.
Seeing Nandini's gesture was a positive
sign for Manik. He gently placed his lips
on hers. When their lips met Nandini felt
like thousands of firecrackers busted in
her head.She clenched Manik's shoulder
for support.Manik started kissing her
sweetly yet passionately. As it was
Nandini's first kiss ever she hesitated a
little but seeing Manik's passion she gave
in. Manik gently sucked her lower lip to
which she gasped as the kiss proceeded
unknowingly Nandini's one hand went
into Manik's hair pulling him closer. They
broke after some time gasping for air.
Manik rested his forehead on Nandini's.
Slowly Nandini went into his arms and
Manik held her close.
"So Nandini..!!" Manik said slowly nearly
a whisper.
"Hmmm..!!" Nandini said playing with his
shirt button,smilingly.
"I know losing parents is not easy but
now it's been 12 years you have to get
over it na honey..? So now whenever you
think about the rain na..!! Never ever
think of that bad dream..!! Think about
us..!! The moment we just shared..!!"
Manik said smilingly stroking her hair.
"Manik..!! Thank you..! Thank you so
much..!! Thank you for being with me..!!"
Nandini said and give him a kiss on
corner of his lips.
"Ohhh hello madam..!! I haven't done it
for you..!!" Manik said naughtily and
Nandini gave him a confusing look. "I
have done this for myself..!! Because
whenever I see you crying na I'll felt like
my whole world collapse..!! So that's why
I make you smile..!!" Manik explained
and Nandini again laughed at him.
"Acha chalo let's go inside..!! Or else you
will catch cold..!!" Manik picked her up
in his arms and walked in the bedroom.
After changing clothes Nandini again lay
on the bed and tossed her pillow on the
sofa .Manik came and saw Nandini's
pillow missing.
"Nandini..!! Where is your pillow?" Saying
this Manik lay beside her. Nandini smiled
and placed her head on his shoulder and
snuggled herself more into him.
"This Is my pillow..!!" Nandini said
looking in his eyes to which he smiled
and gathered her in his arms.
"Acha Nandini..!! Now whenever next in
your dream that boy will snatch the teddy
from you na..!! You just take my
name..!! Dkhna mera naam sun kar he
bhaag jye ga..!!" Manik said lovingly and
ended up with a smile.
"Yup..!! Ok..!!" Nandini said nodding her
head like an obedient child.Manik looked
at her pouty lips,he couldn't resist
himself and just pecked her lips. Nandini
shyly hide her face in his chest.Manik
kept running his fingers in her hair and
slowly she drifted to sleep.
"Nandini k aiyappa..!! Thank you so
much..!!" Manik thought and slowly he
too slept.
