A Part, Yet Apart

Chapter 116- Through Glass and Hope

Nandini's POV:

"Its just one hour since I left and you're already missing me" Manik teased over the phone when I called him. "No, I've called you to know if everyone left to Delhi" I asked him, ignoring his teases. After last night, I know his teasing game would be strong today. "Bad luck Nandini, I'm not alone at home. Aryaman and Tara have also stayed back" he said. "What? Aryaman and Tara bhi nahi gaye! Par kyu?" I asked if something is wrong. "Tara said she is tired and it might not be safe for her to travel at this moment and mom dad will return tomorrow. So Aryaman also stayed back for her" he said. "Its a very important occassion for the family and neither you nor Aryaman were there with your parents" I sighed. "But what we can do! Ok see you in the resort, come soon" he said. "Kyu ab tum mujhe miss kar rahe ho?" I asked teasing him back not knowing he has a solid answer for it. "I'll miss you every moment, I would have put you in my pocket if I could really do it" he said as cheesy as possible. "Acha ab phone rakho aur mujhe ready hone do" I said trying to act serious. "Hmm okay but what are you going wear today?" he asked with curiosity. "Main nahi batanewali, saree tho bilkul nahi" I said sounding it as a warning. "Who said I love to see you only in saree, tum jo bhi pehenna but I still love you the same way, and I don't mind if you don't wear anything too" he said.

"Is Tara fine? You've said that she is tired" I asked him. "Ha she said she will rest while I was at home, Aryaman aur main ek saath bahar aa gaye" he said. "Ok, should I go and meet her once?" I asked him. "She'll be sleeping anyhow, but if you want to see her, you can go home" he said and I think I should go and meet her. Yesterday might be too tiring for her. She might feel good if I go and meet her, anyway Nyonika aunty ghar pe nahi hai. I drove straight to the Malhotra house. The front gate was shut, the veranda empty unusually. I walked to the door and rang the bell. No response. I tried calling Tara's name, then her cell—but only silence answered. A cold knot formed in my stomach. Manik had said she was tired, sleeping—nothing more. I pressed my ear to the wood; still nothing. My hand shook as I tested the lock: it clicked easily under my panic-stricken fingers. Just then, a staff member emerged from the side gate. She paused at my frantic face. "Nandini ma'am! Tara ji said she would sleep, so I locked the door" she said.

Relief flooded me in a rush so intense I sagged against the frame. "Thank God", I stepped inside, lifting my voice. "Could you please call Tara? Bring me some water too" I asked her.  The woman hurried off, and I crossed to the drawing room. My phone beeped—Manik's reminder to reach the resort soon. I put my phone away and a shrill cry sliced through the house. I tore toward the kitchen. The scream came again, weaker, gurgling. My breath caught like a bird trapped in my chest as I burst through the doorway. Tara lay on the tiled floor, her face ashen, her body curled in a fetal slant. A dark pool had fanned out beneath her head, stark against the pale tiles. The staff member knelt beside her, hands trembling as she pressed a towel to Tara's neck. I dropped to my knees, horror and instinct colliding. "Tara!" I cried, cradling her head. Her eyes fluttered open once, wide with shock then rolled back. I fumbled for my phone with one hand while trying to stem the bleeding with the other. My fingers dialed Aryaman's number to inform her about Tara.

As usual he didn't answer my call, I wanted to kill him at the moment. I should have called Manik first. "Manik! It's Tara—she's hurt. Blood—she's unconscious. You need to come home, right now!" My words tumbled out in a frantic rush. The staff member knelt beside me, her own tears glistening. "She was sleeping, ma'am," she sobbed. "I—I found her like this". I buried my face in my hands, my breath coming in jagged sobs. "Call an ambulance. Please—call one now". As the staff member fumbled for her phone, I pressed my forehead to Tara's, offering silent apologies and desperate prayers. The bright kitchen lights felt brutal as I sat beside the woman I loved, my heart lodged in my throat, waiting for help to arrive—hoping against hope that she would fight her way back to us. "Manik, what about Aryaman? He didn't answer my call" I told Manik over phone. "I'll handle Aryaman. Just get her to the hospital. I'm coming" The line went dead and I stared at Tara's face for one more heartbeat, then snapped into action.