"You are back..!!" She said resting her head
on his back.
"Hmmm..!!" Manik just hummed and kept
quiet. Nandini noticed his unusual silence.
"Manik is there something which is
bothering you?" Nandini said making him
face her but again silence and he lowered
his head. She slowly held his hands in hers
and looked at them although it was dark but
she can clearly see that redness on his hands
because of slapping Mayank.
"Manik..!! Why your hands are so red?" She
asked worriedly. Manik looked in her eyes.
Crystal clear hazel orbs has nothing but love
and care,which was for him. He without
saying anything pulled Nandini in a hug.
Nandini was worried with his behavior but
wanted to give him time same as he gave to
her.
"Nandini..!! Can we stay like this for
sometime..!!" Manik said still inhaling her
warmth in his arms.
"Of course Manik..!!"Nandini said smilingly.
She kept ruffling his hair and Manik closed
his eyes,dig his head into her hair. They
stayed like this for sometime. After that
Manik slowly broke the hug Nandini knew
he was worried. "Hmmm what to do?" She
thought.
"Acha Manik..!!" Nandini said putting her
arms around his neck lovingly. "Whenever
my mood is off you sing for me na? Why
don't today we both sing as we both needed
a little change in our mood..!! What say?"
Nandini said excitedly and for the first time
after coming home Manik laughed and
nodded his head. Then he prepared himself
to sing with Nandini.
Tumse hain din mere
Tumse hain raatein
Tumse hai rahat meri
(Manik sang lovingly holding her waist tucking her
hair behind her ear)
Tumse hain pal mere
Tumse hai kal
Tumse hai chahat meri
(Nandini sang and put her arms around his neck
and smiled)
Ab rehna hai sang tere hi mujhe
Ab jeena hai sang tere hi mujhe
(Nandini again sang and winked to him naughtily)
Ab rehna hai sang tere hi mujhe
Ab jeena hai sang tere hi mujhe
(Manik sang and pecked her forehead)
Teri saanson mein aise bas jaaoon
Juda koi na kar paaye
Teri baahon mein yun simat jaaoon
Juda koi na kar paaye
(Manik sang and embraced Nandini in a bear hug)
Ho koi bhi safar
Saath chalna mujhe
(Manik sang holding her hands and they both
walked two steps just to complement the lyrics )
Bepanah meri jaan
Chahoonga main tujhe
Chaahe lele mera imtehaan..
(Manik sat on his knees and stretched his arms
dramatically as both of them were laughing on their
crazy thing)
Teri saanson mein aise bas jaaoon
Juda koi na kar paaye
(Nandini sang and danced in front of Manik)
Teri baahon mein yun simat jaaoon
Juda koi na kar paaye..
(Manik sang getting up on his feet and pulled
Nandini towards him)
Dil ki zameen pe tere nishaan hain
Tumse hai duniya meri khushrawaa
(Nandini leaned on the terrace wall and sang this
time a little serious as if she meant those words)
Main chal raha tha tanha akela
Tum jo mile to mila karvaan
(Manik sang nodding his head and looking deep in
her eyes)
Lafz banu main tere tu ban zubaan
Mere andheron ki tu ban subah
(Manik again sang sitting on the floor leaning with the
wall and Nandini too sat with him)
Teri zulfon mein aise kho jaaoon
Juda koi na kar paaye
(Manik sang playing with her hair and she smiled)
Teri daaman mein sise so jaaoon
Juda koi na kar paaye...
(Nandini sang and rested her head in Manik lap.
Manik caressed her head and put his arms around
her)
Ho koi bhi safar
Saath chalna mujhe
(Nandini sang still lying in his lap and smiling all
the time)
Bepanah meri jaan
Chahoonga main tujhe
Chaahe lele mera imtehaan..
(Manik sang and nodded this time naughtily)
Teri saanson mein aise bas jaaoon
Juda koi na kar paaye
(Nandini sang and smiled brightly)
Teri baahon mein yun simat jaaoon
Juda koi na kar paaye
(Manik ended up the song and hugged her tightly)
After sometime they broke the hug and
kissed each other passionately as if drinking
each others worries and pain. They broke
apart gasping for oxygen and Nandini
snuggled herself in Manik's chest.
"Manik..!!" Nandini said after sometime
playing with his shirt's button they were still
sitting on the terrace floor.
"Hmmm..!!" Manik said stroking her hair.
"Ice cream..!!" Nandini said in a serious
tone.
"What ice cream?" Manik said confusingly
looking at her face.
"Uffooo Manik..!! I want to eat ice cream..!!
Let's go na..!!" Nandini said excitedly.
"At this time you want to eat ice cream? You
really don't care for your health..!!" Manik
said scolding her. To which Nandini
laughed.
"Tum ho na meri health
ka khyal rakhny kay liye..!! So no worries..!!
Now can we go to eat ice cream..!!!
Please..!!" She said making a cute face and
Manik again fell for it. She really knew how to
make Manik agree for her stupid demands.
"Ok fine..!! Chalo..!!" Manik sighed. Nandini
got up and started jumping with joy,clapped
her hands.
"Yupieee..!! Ice cream..!!" Nandini said
licking her lips. "I love ice cream Manik..!!
And l love you more for this..!! Thank
you..!!" Saying that Nandini hugged him
childishly Manik just smiled on her
cuteness.
"I love you too..!!" Manik said hugging her
back.
"Ok now Chalo..!! We are getting late..!!"
Saying that Nandini broke the hug and held
Manik's hand. She almost dragged Manik
towards his car.
"Nandini..!! Ice cream parlor is nearby..!!
Why don't we walk to there..!! What say?"
Manik suggested.
"Perfect..!!" Nandini exclaimed and dragged
him towards Mansion's gate. They both
reached to ice cream parlor hand in hand.
Manik made her sit on a table and brought a
big cup full with ice cream of different
flavors. Nandini rubbed her hands in
excitement and licked her lips seeing a big
cup of ice cream. Manik wasn't too much
fond of ice cream but seeing Nandini
enjoying her ice cream was a proof that the
ice cream must be too much tasty. Nandini
was licking the ice cream with the spoon and
Manik was just admiring her how much cute
she was..!! He also knew that he was the
only one to see Nandini's this side...!!
Nandini was too much reserved but with
him she felt herself relaxed and much more
comfortable. Nandini looked at Manik he
was just looking her. She silently extended
her spoon full with ice cream gesturing him
to eat. Manik smilingly licked the ice cream
and Nandini again got busy in eating the ice
cream and Manik again kept admiring her.
When she ate her full she signaled Manik
that she was done.
"Ho gya? Chalo let's go home..!!" Manik held
her hand and they came out of the parlor.
They were walking towards the Mansion.
Manik side hugged Nandini and she placed
her head on his heart.
"How much you love me Nandini..!!" Manik
asked casually. To which Nandini smiled.
"I love you that much kay I can die for you
Manik..!!" Saying that she immediately
turned Manik and came in front of him. At
the same moment Manik heard the fire of
bullet and then he saw blood oozing out of
Nandini's body. His eyes widened in shock.
Manik sat down with Nandini in his arms.
She was breathing heavily.
"Nandu..!! Please no..!! Meri jaan please...!!"
Manik said patting her cheeks. Tears welled
up in his eyes,making his vision blur.
"Mani..!! I love you..!!" Nandini whispered
in his ears and closed her eyes.
"How much you love me Nandini..!!" Manik
asked casually. To which Nandini smiled.
"I love you that much kay I can die for you
Manik..!!" Saying that she immediately
turned Manik and came in front of him. At
the same moment Manik heard the fire of
bullet and then he saw blood oozing out of
Nandini's body. His eyes widened in shock.
Manik sat down with Nandini in his arms.
She was breathing heavily.
"Nandu..!! Please no..!! Meri jaan please...!!"
Manik said patting her cheeks. Tears welled
up in his eyes,making his vision blur.
"Mani..!! I love you..!!" Nandini whispered
in his ears and closed her eyes.
"No..!! Nandini..!! You can't to this to me
please..!! Don't leave me Nandini..!!" Manik
shouted and sobbed hard. He immediately
called his driver who reached there within
no time and he lifted Nandini in his arms
,sat in the car. Driver drove the car with full
speed. Nandini had her eyes closed and
Manik was continuously crying. At last they
reached the hospital. Manik rushed in the
hospital and doctors shifted Nandini in
ICU.
Manik sat down on a nearby bench. He
didn't know how to stop his tears. His phone
buzzed. The caller ID was Mama. He picked
up the call with shivering hands.
"Ma..!!" Manik said and sobbed.
"Manik? Where are you both? Why are you
crying beta..!!" Nayonika said in a worried
tone.
"Ma..!! Nandini..!! Hospital..!!" Manik didn't
have words to tell Nayonika.
"Acha I am coming which hospital..!!''
Nayonika asked worriedly.
"City..!!"Manik told her the hospital name
and hung up. He cried, crying like a two
years old baby.
"Manik..!! You know na I love you..!!"
"Manik you are the best husband in this
whole world..!!"
"Manik if something happened to you na I'll
die..!!"
"I can't live without you Manik..!!"
"I trust you Manik But I don't trust my
fate..!!"
"I love you that much kay I can die for
you..!!"
Nandini's words were echoing in Manik's
ears.
"Nandini kay aiyappa..!! Please Nandini ko
kuch mat honay daina..!! I'll die without
her..!! Please..!!" He mentally shouted. Then
he saw Nayonika and Cabir coming towards
him. When he saw Nayonika he run towards
her and hugged her.
"Ma..!! Me Nandini to protect nahi kar
paya..!! I am very bad..!! It's all my fault..!!"
Manik sobbed.
"No beta..!! Shhh..!! It's not your fault...!!
Nandini will be fine..!!!" Nayonika herself
was crying she ruffled his hair but Manik
was crying badly. She had never saw him
this upset she helplessly looked towards
Cabir. Cabir nodded and pull Manik away
from Nayonika.
"Manik..!! Get a grip of yourself..!! Why are
you behaving like this..!!"Cabir said holding
Manik's shoulder.
"Bro..!! I'll die if something happened to
her..!!" Manik shouted and Cabir pull him
for a brotherly hug.
"Kuch nahi ho ga Nandini ko..!! Please don't
cry..!!"Cabir tried to calm him down.
"I'll talk to the doctor Cabir you stay with
Manik..!!" Nayonika said and walked
towards the doctor.
"Doctor how's my daughter in law..!!"
Nayonika asked to doctor.
"Mrs.Malhotra..!! Abhi hum kuch nahi
keh skty..!! We have operated her..!! Bullet
has damaged her sensitive tissues...!! She has
lost a lot of blood..!! Next eight hours are
very important for her..!! If she regain
conscious within eight hours then it will be
ok..!! And if not then we can't guarantee for
her life..!! And yeah..!!" Doctor explained
and was about to say something more when
Manik grabbed his collars.
"Listen up you doctor...!! I am warning
you..!! Agar meri Nandini ko kuch bhi hua
na..!! I will set this hospital to fire..!!" Manik
shouted.
"Mr..!! Mr. Malhotra...!! She will be fine we
are trying our best..!!" Doctor was hell
scared.
"Do whatever you want but please save
her..!! Please..!!" Manik again sobbed and
begged. Cabir freed doctor's collar from
Manik's hand and gestured him to go.Cabir
made her sit on the bench. Nayonika went to
get some water for him. Manik closed his
eyes and rested his head back. Cabir looked
at him instead of closed eyes tears were
rolling down his cheeks. "What magic you
have done to my friend Nandini..?? I have
never saw him crying this much for a girl..!!
You must be special..!!" Cabir thought to
himself.
"Manik..!! Who was he..??" Cabir whispered.
"Who else..!!He must be Mayank...!!" Manik
said agrily. "And as far as I think that bullet
was for me..!! But I am sure Nandini saw
him firing so she came in front of me..!! She
saved me Cabir..!! And I am such a loser..!!"
Manik again sobbed. Cabir was about to say
something when Nayonika came with a
water bottle. And sat beside Manik.
"Manik..!! Drink some water beta..!! You will
feel better..!!"Nayonika patted his head and
made him drink water.
"Ma..!! Nandini theek ho jye ge na?" Manik
said with teary eyes.
"Of course beta..!!" Saying that she took
Manik in her embrace and tried to shush
him. Manik hide himself more in her
embrace.
Those eight hours were very much critical
for Nandini but were also the matter of life
and death for Manik. Those eight hours were
passing like eight decades.
"You have to come back Nandini..!!"
"You have to come back for me..!!"
"You have to come back for us..!!" Manik
thought.
"Nandini..!! Nandini..!!"
...
Nandini was lying on the bed, unconscious.
When she heard a familiar male voice. Her
Manik..!! He was calling her..!! He was asking
her to come back...!! What are you doing
Nandini..!! Get up..!! Your Manik is crying for
you..!! Get up and wipe his tears..!! Nandini's
inner voice was provoking her to get up. She
opened her eyes using her full strength. The
surrounding was unfamiliar.The last thing
she remembered was she saw Mayank
aiming gun on Manik and she came in front
of him ,and then blood, Manik was carrying
her in his arms. Then?? Everything was
blank after that. She noticed a drip attached
with her hand. She was in hospital
clothes.Her mouth was covered with oxygen
mask. She felt a sharp pain in her wound.
"Manik..!! Manik..!!" She murmured.
A Nurse was standing beside her when she
saw her awake and calling Manik she rushed
to call the doctor.
Manik was becoming restless with each
passing second. He was continuously
watching his watch. Each tick tick of
watch was making him more restless.
Nayonika and Cabir were still sitting beside
him. Suddenly they saw Nurse coming from
Nandini's room shouting for the doctor. All
three run towards her.
"Nurse how's my wife?" Manik asked almost
crying.
"Congratulations she is awake..!!" She said
and Manik released a breath." BTW who
is Manik?" Nurse asked smilingly.
"I am Manik..!! Why?" Manik
said worriedly.
"It seems she loves you a lot...!! First name
she called was of yours..!!" Nurse told him
smilingly.
"Can we meet her?" Nayonika asked.
"Yes but first doctor has to check her
up..!! till then you wait here..!!" Saying that
Nurse went to call the doctor. Manik almost
fell on the ground, sitting on his knees. He
again started crying. He was feeling himself
speechless. God gave him his life back...!! He
didn't have words to thank Him..!!
"Congratulations Bro..!! Nandini is fine..!!"
Cabir exclaimed and pull him for a hug.
Nayonika also thanked to God for saving her
children. After some time doctor told them
that they can meet Nandini.
...
Nandini was watching towards the door
waiting for her family. Suddenly she saw
Nayonika running in the room. She came to
her and kissed her forehead, cupping her
cheeks.
"Mama..!!" Nandini said in a weak tone.
"Nandini Mama ki jaan are you
ok?"Nayonika said lovingly and she nodded.
At the same time Cabir entered the room.
But where was Manik?
"How are you now Nandini..!!" Cabir asked
patting her head.
"Manik..!!" Nandini again said in a weak
tone. Nayonika and Cabir look at each other
and they both get aside. Manik was standing
behind them lowering his head. Nandini
noticed his face, his eyes they were blood
red because of constant crying. His shirt was
drenched in blood with Nandini's blood.
"Manik..!!" Nandini again called him
collecting her full strength and extended her
hand gesturing him to come near her. Manik
looked at her with teary eyes and then her
hand. He slowly walked towards her and
held her hand. Cabir and Nayonika walked
out if the room to give them some privacy.
"Nandini..!!" Manik sobbed and sit beside
her. "Why did you do this Nandini..!! What
if something happened to you..!! You know
I'll die without you..!!" Manik said scolding
her but his tears were unstoppable.
"Mani..!! I am sorry..!!" Nandini said weakly
and again extended her arms for a hug. That
was it for Manik he embraced Nandini in his
arms and cried out loud. Nandini was
dumbstruck. Manik was shivering badly.
"Shhh Mani..!! Bus I am ok..!!
Kuch ni hua mjhy..!! And as far as you are
with me nothing can bad happen to
me..!!"Nandini said rubbing his back and
ran her fingers in his hair.
"Nandini..!! I was scared..!! I was too much
scared..!! I thought I lost
you..!!" Manik said between her sobs. "It's
all because of me..!! Main tmhy protect nahi
kar paya..!! I am sorry..!!" He whispered in
her ear.
"Shhh..!! It's ok..!! The thing is we are
together again..!!" Nandini calmed him
down.Manik broke the hug and look in her
eyes, cupping her cheeks.
"Never ever do this to me again..!!" Saying
that Manik kissed her forehead. "Stay
safe..!!" He sat beside her and slowly kept
her head on his heart. He didn't want to
discuss the matter with Nandini because he
didn't want to stress her more, he kept
running his finger in her hair and Nandini
held his other hand. Now it's time to show
Mayank his place. Slowly Nandini's breath
became even she was asleep. He slowly
placed her head on the pillow and pecked
her lips.
"I promise you Nandini..!! I myself will dig
Mayank's garve..!! Mayank now you are
gone..!!" Manik whispered in her ear and
left from there advising Nayonika to be with
Nandini. Also gesturing Cabir to follow him.
