KAISE BATAAOON TUMHE...

THE DISTANCE...

Nandini's been unconcious for now about 8 hours. The doctors and hospital staff comes and goes checks her but nothing working. Manik still havent seen her. The others didnt know about it still as Aryaman and Cabeer were too tensed to look at any other thing.

Aryaman - doctor. How is she now??

Doc. - mr. Khurana, mein abhi kuch bhj nahi keh sakta... she is still not up. She needs time mr. Khurana. Let her rest.

He nods and the doctor leaves. Cabeer pats his shoulder sympathitically.

Arya - when will she wake up Cabeer??

Cabeer - everything will be alright Arya... Aryaman, ek baat kahu??

Arya - hmm.

Cabeer - Manik ko Nandini se milne de.

Arya - No.

Cabeer - Arya... bhai... samajh.... Meine dekha hai Manik ko..... haalat dekhta tu uski. Tune jo usse kaha... tu jaanta hai ki Manik harr cheez sehen kar sakta hai lekin usse uske dad jaisa kaho toh voh nahi sehen kar sakta.

Arya - I dont care. Mere liye Nandini Manik se zyada important hai. Usse koi bhi harm karega toh mein uski jaan le lunga.

Cabeer - Arya Manik bhi uske liye aisa hi feel karta hai. Infact isse zyada.

Arya - ya right!!?? Tabhi poore plan ki dhhajiyya uda di nahi?? Aur uske baad situation sambhaalne ki jagah janaab bhaag gaye. Chod diya Nandini ko pandit ke paas. Admit it Cabeer your friend is a looser.

Cabeer - (defeated) Aryaman enough. Yaar bohot bol liya. Bhool gaya kya if not for Manik, tum kabhi jaan n paate ki Nandini ka rape Pandit ne kiya tha. If not for him, she wouldnt be this strong. He is not a toxic. He is the one that makes her strong. Makes her sane in the most insane situation.

Outside the hospital, Manik stepped out of the car, feeling numb. He walked inside the hospital with tears flowing down his cheeks. He wiped them off and walked to the reception.

Manik - Nandini Murthy.

Receptionist - she is in OT sir.

Manik - abhi tak hosh nahi aaya usse.

Receptionist - nahi sir. Apparantly, injuries internal hai. Heal hone me time lagega.

Manik - umm... yeh mera number hai. Jab usse hosh aa jaaye kya aap please..

Receptionist - ok sir. I will see. Aapka naam??

Manik - Manik.

Receptionist - ok sir.

Manik left the hospital and walked to his car and left the place. The road was all empty with exception to a few trucks that pass by. He went to the place of accident. He found the car badly crushed.

He was shocked. How had it happened?? How did Pandit escape this??
He doesnt have any answer to these. He kept on repeating everything. The dinner. The dance. The kiss. He leaving. Nandini's accident and lastly Aryaman's words.

Manik - gaadi poori tarah distroyed hai. Agar Nandini ki yeh haalat hai toh Pandit nikal kaise gaya. Aur gaya toh gaya kaha. Agar voh nikal gaya hai matlab ho sakta hai usse maalum pad gaya ho... shit. Agar usse maalum pad gaya ho toh... kahi yeh sab pandit ne toh nahi kiya. What if he knew?? Shit. Agar aisa hai toh Nandini is in danger.

He took out his phone wuth shaking hands and called Cabeer but his phone was switched off. Then he remembered, he himself threw Cabeer's cell phone.
He cursed himself and called Aryaman's phone. Naturally he didnt picked up. He triedd again but this time his cell phone was switched off. He understood Aryaman was angry.

Manik - godd....i have to tell them anyhow. Agar pandit hospital me hua toh...

He rushed in his car to the hospital. He ran inside and then straight to the OT. When Aryaman spot him running towards it from the waiting room he stopped him and pushed him away.

Aryaman - ek baar bezatti bardaasht nahi hoti kya ho dobara karwane aa gaye. Nikal jaa yaha se Manik.

Manik - Arya bass. Bohot ho gaya. Ab meri baat sun. Chala jaoonga. Par mere iss sawaal ka jawaab de. Kya mene Nandini ka accident kara. Kya gaadi mein chala raha tha?? Kya mein sach me Nandini ko yaha dekhna chahunga??

Arya - par harr baar jab voh tere saath hoti hai sirf tabhi uske saath sab kuch galat kyu hota hai?? Tu kuch kare n kare Manik, YOU ARE TOXIC FOR HER. AND NOW LEAVE.

Manik - Arya pandit knows everything. He may be here. Nandini is in danger.

Arya - how can you say so??

Manik - you saw pandit's car?? Do you think anyone could be saved when your car was crashed that badly?? There wasnt a drop of blood. He planned it. And if he can do it once he will strike again. Please. Pleeeeaseeee. Lets check on Nandini.

Aryaman agreed faint heartedly. He asked Cabeer to call the house and tell them about it.

Manik and Aryaman rushed to the OT. They saw a doctor entering the OT wearing mask. They stopped him. He turned a mask covering his face.

Manik - aap andar kyu jaa rahe hai.

A hard, metalic voice replied to them.

Doctor - ji yeh meri patient hai. Mein andar nahi jaaonga toh kon jaaega. And she in under observation. So you cant come inside.

Manik - hmm.. sorry. You may go.

The doctor turned and went inside.
He looked at Aryaman and sighed.