Hi fam! Long time no see, right?

Most of you must've heard what happened recently. A part of His Wife got plagiarised.

Plagiarism is a crime. Every word of every sentence written in this book and on this account belongs to me and I give no right to anyone to repost it into their account calling it theirs without prior permission. If plagiarised, legal action would be taken.

Now, back to the chapter. Long chapter for y'all to have more MaNan to swoon on. Yay.

Happy Reading! Vote, comment & share. Inline comments would be love.

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[ author's note:
   Nandini's lost her mom. There'll be several incidences where that'll be brought up. I don't think thats dramatic of her. If I lost my mom and she was my only family, I'd lose my will to live too. So please try to understand her POV. ]

+ unedited +

Nandini

"Stella, for the fifty second time in the past three days, all is fine. My vitals are normal, I'm breathing and my ribs don't even hurt anymore. Can I go home now?" I whined like a baby as my Doctor left the notepad and looked up, taking a deep breath.

"Come on sweetheart, it's just been four days you're up. One more day for our confirmation and we'd let you go, I promise," she persuaded. I gave her a glare before nodding and she smiled, patting my hair before leaving the room.

"God, it's been four days. 96 hours. I've got nothing to do. I want to go home," I turned my head to Aliya on the couch who looked up from the fashion magazine.

It had been four days since I woke up. Life fell into a pattern after the first one. I used to get up, have the bland breakfast, take a sponge bath (my ribs and feet still hurt), then have the tasteless lunch, sleep in the afternoon, get my vitals checked by Doctor Stella in the evening, then spend some time with my visitors (mostly Aliya and my Aunt), then hardly ate dinner (it was absolutely tasteless) and then slept because the medicines made me sleepy. That was pretty much my everyday thing.

"They're saying you're doing good," she smiled, "might as well let you go tomorrow."

"Yeah," I smiled sheepishly, "I can't wait to get home. I really want to eat good food. I wanna have Lasagna. God, I'm gonna ask Mom to--....." my voice faded.

Four days, and I still wasn't used to her absence. I think I could never be. The reality didn't touch me more until now. How would Home be home without her? It would just be four plain walls where three people used to live happily. Now, it's just going to be a graveyard for me where I'd bury all my memories with another person I loved.

"Hey," Aliya kept her hand on mine, sitting on the chair next time, "It's going to be okay."

I nod, giving her a half smile, too tired to argue. But truth being said, even after the next four years, it wouldn't hurt any lesser. She was my mother. And now she's gone. Forever.

"Maybe we could take Lasagna from Chilli's if you wanna have and watch Mean Girls for the one hundredth time at your place. Netflix and Chill, hah?" She tried cheering me up. I smiled wider, nodding again.

"Has my father been around?" I asked, hesitantly. It was four days since I saw him too and the last image of him was him trying to talk to me and me freaking out, and then he being thrown out of the room.

"No. Not that I have seen him. But the last I spoke to him, he said he's see you when his presence isn't toxic for you," she answered and I nodded, feeling disappointed. I hated to accept how there was a small part in my heart that was hoping he'd come to see me again and apologise for all he has done. Don't know what I was thinking.

"Manik was saying he'd stop by in the afternoon before his football practice. I told him you'd be sleeping, so he might come after. And that's good, since I am going for piano classes, and you'd have company. Cabir is staying here for the night, your aunt will be here in the morning," she smiled.

"Manik's coming?" I asked, confused.

"Yeah," she nodded, "Weird right? He said it was some promise he made to visit you again since you're his new best friend and stuff. He's crazy," she laughed.

I bit in a small smile. It was also four days since I heard from him, not that I had been really waiting, but I was looking forward to meet him. And when he didn't show up for days, I thought he had forgotten or something.

"I have to leave," Aliya said apologetically, reading a message on her phone, "Oliver's already reached home."

"Oliver?" I asked, "The guy from America who was our senior?" He'd graduated a year before us.

"Yup," she said with a popping p. "He's my Piano's teacher's son. She's out of town for the weekend, so he's gonna take the class instead. He's weird too. God, my life's full of weird things these days. And I wish I could have stayed, I hate leaving you alone this way," she blabbered.

"He's cute," I winked. "And don't worry, I'd be fine. You're anyway spending all your time here already, go out and shake your leg now."

"Yea-" she was cut off when the door flung open and her boyfriend stood there with a fluffy smile, just wearing his jeans and a jacket over his football jersey.

"Hello, beautiful girls," he greeted, as he kissed Aliya on her forehead and extended his hand to me for a hi-fi, which was nothing more than awkward and slow.

"Manik, amazing you're here. I'm leaving, okay? I'd catch both of you later," she kissed my forehead and then Manik's cheek quickly before waving a bye and leaving.

I stared at her disappearing figure for a long time before turning to Manik. "Hey," I smiled, suddenly aware of the mess I look. Hospitals meant boring clothes. But since I was getting better, they allowed me to slip into my black leggings and tee with a nude oversized cardigan. My unwashed hair were always in a bun, frizzy and messy.

"Hey you," he gave me a radiant smile, "You look much better today. How're you doing?"

"Better," I smile, "My leg doesn't hurt anymore. The plaster got off today and I can breathe normally, so I guess the ribs are healing too. The doctor says the wounds will take time, but they'd heal eventually."

"Wounds always heal. Some take longer than the others, but eventually, they fade away," he smiled back.

"That's the thing you see. Wounds heal, but scars remain," I whispered slowly.

He stared at me for a brief minute before taking a deep breath, "And isn't that good? Your scars.... We all have scars, some temporarily marked on their skin, while others have it permanently engraved in their hearts. We hide them, and I never understand why. Scars are nothing to be ashamed of. Each scar that you have tells a story about you, it is a reminder that you've been through a lot, and you've survived. The scars are a sign that you're strong and you can do it, no matter what. Just as you wear you stars and achievements with pride, look at your scars with pride too. The strongest hearts have the most scars, and masterpieces are ultimately made of all those dents and scratches. Your flaws just make you more beautiful."

I stared back for what seemed like eternity as his eyes held mine captive before a smile broke out on my lips. "I've never thought about it that way. Thank you," I said, grateful.

He smiled back. "You see, there's so much in life you're yet to know, to learn. There's going to be a moment when everything is better and you'd be happy and you'd look back and thank this very moment. Life's put you through odds but it'll be worth in the end. I-- I haven't been able to stop thinking about how you said you'd rather be dead. Could you give me a promise that you'd never say or think that way again? Please," He almost begged.

"I can't," I said slowly, "I can't give you a promise that I know will be broken. Tomorrow, they'd send me home. Aliya, you, Cabir everyone might stay with me all day. But there's going to be a time that you'd have to leave for your own home. And when I'd be lying on my bed in the darkness at night, alone at home, with no one... not my mom, not my dad, no one... that is the moment when it'll strike that my life has fallen apart and there's nothing I can do to bring it back together. Anything I do will be vain because my mom's gone. I am alone and nothing's changing that. And that is when I'll prefer being dead than living in loneliness."

He stared at me and I at him, the fire in our eyes burning equally bright, incomprehensible emotions breaking into a thousand thoughts in the silence, going unspoken yet speaking volumes in the way his eyes stared deep into mine, as he was staring into my soul and learning every inch of it, when all he was doing was staring at my plain, black, boring eyes.

The moment was broken with a knock on the door when the nurse brought in a tray full of food, "Its dinner time," she said. My eyes glanced at the clock and I made a crying face as she left. 7 PM.

I took an apple from the tray, pushing the rest away.

"What, you're not hungry?" Manik asked.

"Apple's fine. The rest is just plain and yucky. Makes me want to puke," I whined. He chuckled.

"What do you like eating?" He asked.

"Right now? I'd trade anything in this world for some Lasagna or even French Fries from Mc Donald's," I said dreamily, taking a bite of my apple.

"Your Doctor comes to give you medicines at 9 PM. Mc Donald's is a ten minutes drive from here. Lasagna at Chilli's would take seven minutes more. We can make it back in an hour. You up for this?" He asked suddenly and I stared at him flustered.

"I-- you-- what?" I stammered, shock stricken, "That's like illegal."

"Are you scared?" He asked, smirking.

"I had a near death experience. Hell, you think I'd be scared of jail?" I smirked back.

When I made my bucket list when I was fifteen, one of my absurd wishes was going to jail. Guess I'm just about to tick that off.

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"Okay, I need you to stay here until I distract Stella. Okay?" He said and I nodded.

"You didn't tell me we'd have to crawl our way out of the hospital like criminals," I complaint with a pout.

"Whiny baby," He teased, "You aren't going to fight a war that they'd send you off with garlands and flowers. You're sneaking out!" I rolled my eyes as he went to Dr. Stella on the front desk as I remained hidden behind on of the pillars. He told her something and she went off after which he signalled me to come out and we exited the hospital.

"God, that was easy!" I smiled sheepishly and he rolled his eyes. "I did the hard work, all you did was whine and complain like a baby," He teased.

"Manik!" I glared.

"Nandini!" He challenged, a little too loud.

We turned to see the security guards alerted. Folks was a small town, and not a lot of people came to the hospital. Me and a few others at must, would be the only ones in here and it wouldn't be difficult to run an identity check.

"Is there a problem, sir?" He asked, coming ahead. My breath almost got stuck in my throat. Don't identify me, please.

Manik stepped ahead, blocking me from his view partially.

"Absolutely alright, my wife is actually pregnant and we just got to know. And she's insisting on going out to eat tonight while I'm suggesting the opposite. So you know how wives can become when they're refused what they want," Manik laughed, lying indifferently while my breath got stuck again in my throat and I coughed loud when he said pregnant.

"Ah!" The security guard laughed, "My Wife gave me a tough time when we were pregnant. You better not say no to anything she wants. And congratulations to both of you, y'all would make lovely parents one day. You both look good together, you know the made for each other types!" He said.

Manik quickly thanked him and we moved away, almost jogging to his car and I rushed into the passenger's seat while he took the wheel.

"Pregnant? Seriously Manik?" I asked. He looked embarrassed. I bit my lower lip.

"I feel you're some lowkey wattpad writer who writes fluffy fanfictions. Tell me, you are, aren't you?" I laughed, teasing.

He glared at me. "You'd say that. You might want to get caught and go to jail, not me. And could you think of anything better?" He accused as he reversed the car out of the hospital and we were on safe roads.

"Yes!" I said, quickly, "I would have said we're visiting a friend on her birthday and arguing if we should bring her a gift or wait until she get's out of the hospital."

"Okay!" He agreed, "That one's better. I'll give you that."

I smiled in victory as he took his phone and typed a message to someone. I stared out of the window. After five days, I was back to these roads, I was breathing normal fresh air, staring at the trees and nature instead of my hospital walls. It felt good, made me feel better about a lot of things, and somewhere, this felt like a step closer to acceptance.

Acceptance of what my life now was. Different, if you could call it that.

"And we're at Mc Donald's," Manik smiled, breaking my thoughts. "You stay in the car, I go get you fries."

"No! I wanna come along!" I cribbed.

"And be with fifty people, some with cold, some with fever and get exposed to germs? No thanks. You stay in the car, I get you fries," he repeated.

I pouted. "Can I also get Chicken Nuggets?" I cried.

"Nope," He said with a popping p. "That's not what's the deal is. Only fries. You can have whatever you want next week. Now, you only get fries, and when we go back, you complete the hospital food."

"You didn't tell me that before," I accused.

"Oh I didn't?" He sounded fake confused as he strapped out the belt and got out of the car, "But now I am. You promise me you'd complete the hospital food, you get the fries. Orelse, nothing."

"Monster!" I glared at him as he smirked and closed the car door, going in.

I couldn't stop smiling to myself as he left, when something caught my eye. It was a family sitting outside Mc Donald's, a small baby boy with his parents, eating their take outs.

I was so busy staring at them that I didn't realise when Manik got back, and that yummy smell of fries distracted me.

I thanked him and digged in, offering him but he refused, eating the wrap he had got for himself. "Next stop for Lasagna?" He smiled.

"Nope! I don't feel like anymore," I gave a small smile, my eyes deflecting back to that family. It seemed like the mother was against eating there and the father had pampered the boy by bringing him here. She wouldn't stop scolding them and they both would just laugh until she gave in.

For me, this was never the case. Atleast not until my Dad left. After that, my Mom became so busy in her jobs, that we hardly ate together except on Sundays. When she didn't have time to cook, she would leave money on the kitchen counter and I would get a take away from wherever I liked, but I never minded because I knew it was just as hard on her, maybe harder. On Sundays, we used to cook together in the afternoon and then go fancy for dinner.

Manik's gaze followed my eyes. He nodded, not pushing anything at all.

"That kid's really lucky, right? He gets the love of both his parents," Manik said as we pulled out.

I smiled a sad smile, nodding. "What about you? What about your parents?" I asked.

He remained silent for a minute before he answered, "My mom's dead."

"Oh, I'm sorry," I gasped, "What about your Dad? It must've been hard."

"My Dad's alive. I wish he wasn't, though," he said, his eyes to the road.

The ride back to the hospital remained silent. He parked in the lot and we got in carefully, hoping no one must've entered my room, which is likely because that's what happened the last four days.

We sneaked into my hospital room to find it empty, and I breathed in a sigh of relief.

"We're not going to jail then, I guess," Manik chuckled and I laughed as well.

"Coming from somewhere?" We heard a voice and startled, I jumped turning behind to see my father on the couch.

"Dad," I said quickly, and then regretting I said that. He wasn't my Dad. He could never be.

"It's okay," He said, nodding, "I told the Doctor you were sleeping, I guess that's what Manik said too. She hasn't found out. I'll send her in for your daily medicine," he said before going out.

If he expected me to thank him, I sure as hell wasn't going to do that.

I breathed in relief and got onto my bed, wore the blanket to make it look like I just got up. Manik emptied porridge outside the window to cover up for the food.

Stella came in a minute later. "How was your sleep, sweetheart?" She asked. I nodded, smiling. I was a crazy bad liar.

"Ready to sleep again?" She asked and I nodded again. She filled in the grinder medicine into injection like she always does, and injected me. There was time I was so scared of needles, I used to shout and make my Mom crazy.

The old me just seemed to have ceased after the accident. It is things like this that make me realise I have lost a part of myself forever. I was becoming immune to things I didn't like, and I wasn't fond of that change.

I looked at Manik while it was done and couldn't help but smile. He was making all sort of weird faces looking at the needle pricking my skin, as if it was him who was doing that. I rolled my eyes, smiling. Drama Queen.

"And it's done!," she smiled, leaving the mess aside, "Nandini's father prefers waiting out while she falls asleep. You, Manik?"

"Oh no!" Manik smiled, "I'm fine. I'll wait until she falls asleep."

Stella nodded before murmuring a goodnight to me and left. The medicines were kicking in and everything was blurring slowly.

"Why does she give you sleeping meds to sleep?" Manik asked, sitting beside me.

"First night I slept... nightmares of the accident... couldn't sleep... could see my Mom dying..." I blabbered. Manik ohed but didn't say anything. He brushed a hair stand that stuck in front of my eyes and I closed my eyes, feeling drained.

"Thank you," I murmured not sure if I even said that out loud. I could see darkness and my thoughts slowed as unconsciousness started taking over.

"Sleep," I think I heard him whisper, "I'm sorry."

And then I slipped off into a dark abyss of nothingness that I now called sleep, hoping I'd open my eyes to good sunshine, and someone who would hold me until I was strong to say I was fine.

Oh, I hope some day I'll make it out of here
Even if it takes all night or a hundred years
Need a place to hide, but I can't find one near
Wanna feel alive, outside I can fight my fear

Isn't it lovely, all alone?
Heart made of glass, my mind of stone
Tear me to pieces, skin to bone
Hello, welcome home.

-- Lovely.

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Questions:-

1. Nandini's practical. Manik's hopeful. Thoughts?

2. Liked the update?

3. Fav part of the chapter?

4. Why do you think Manik said sorry in the last scene?

5. How was MaNan's unsaid mini-date?

6. Rate the chapter on 10?

7. Anything you'd like to see ahead in particular?

8. Can you see the new bond developing between them gradually? (I know it might be boring, but it's really important.)

9. MaNan sneaked out (; I was so tempted to make them get caught and end up in jail. But y'all would have killed me. Oops.

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Plagiarism is a crime. I'd like to thank everyone who's stood with me through this. Thank you for having my back.

Love, love & love.

--H.