Manik sat with closed eyes holding his head between both hands. He Looked up suddenly when some one held his bleeding hand. There Mrs shiwani was kneeling down at floor with first-aid box. Manik tried to pull his hand from shiwani's hold but she held it tightly.

"why are you hurting yourself bacha" shiwani asked cleaning his hand gently with antiseptic wipes.
Manik just turned his face at other side.
"This pain is nothing at front of which I gave her. I disappointed baba today after making her cry" guilt was killing him inside.

"Don't say like that. You can never hurt any one. It was just your love for Mr Murthy making you upset" shiwani tried to make him understand after covering his wound with dressing.

" manik at the moment nandni is going through toughest time. She need support, care and courage. Just be with her. Try to give her strength. She need you. She need us" shiwani was trying to make him understand. Manik after listening her nodded his head.

"umm... is...she...still...crying..?? she ate something. she took her medicine..???"manik asked shiwani with hesitation.

"I made vegetable soup for her but she refused to eat any thing. I tried but she isn't listening. I went again later but she pretending that she is sleeping but I know she wasn't sleeping. It's just she is avoiding us" shiwani informed manik with helpless tone.

"If she will not eat then how she will take medicine empty stomach. This way she will become more sick. Just bring her soup and medicine in her room. I know how to handle her" manik said to shiwani after getting up from bed.

"What happend. Why you are looking so worried" manik turned back when he noticed shiwani still stood there looking worryingly towards him.

"Manik I know she is showing tantrums. It's not in her hand. She is going through dreadful phase. Beta don't be harsh with her....!" after witnessing his previous outburst at nandni she was worried.

"Don't worry I won't do Any thing to hurt her" manik ensured shiwani before leaving for nandni's room.

Manik knocked at door of nandni's room. But after getting no reply he understood she won't allow this way. She is trying to show that she is sleeping. So manik opened the door to enter directly in her room. As he entered his heart clenched with sight of room. Room was dark, all windows closed tightly and pin drop silence. Dark heavy curtains stopping any ray of light to enlighten her room.

Her room was reflation of her life. He took steps silently towards windows. He made curtains at sides to receive a warm shine of sunny day. When he opened window glass a cool breeze with beautiful fragrance of fresh flowers touched his face. He took deep breath to observe fresh air. Her room was so beautiful. Every window have breath taking sights. One was giving fresh look of flowery colourful lawn then other was showing peaceful sight of lake behind this house. Manik was surprised a girl who loved all these sights and a life full of each colour, now have closed herself in dark shell.

Next moment Mrs shiwani entered holding tray with nandni's soup and medicine. Manik signalled her to awake nandni.

Mrs shiwani went towards bed and sat near her.
"Nandni dear please take your soup. You didn't eat anything since morning" shiwani fondled her hairs.
"Shiwani Auntie I told you na please let me sleep. I'm not feeling hungry. I just want to take rest" Nandni gave same excuse.

Manik was silently listening all standing behind them.
"Nandni beta why are you behaving so stubbornly. If you will not eat then how I will give you medicine" this time shiwani said with somber voice.

"Shiwani Auntie you are also scolding. I'm a just burden at all of you now. Please leave me alone. I wont talk to you nor that monster. Nandni replied with heavy voice without lifting her head up.

Mrs shiwani suddenly looked back towards manik after listening monster word with shocked face. Manik's expressions were also worth to watch after listening a fantastic name for him. Manik gestured her with hand to leave the room. It looks like now he will fix the damage he had done. Shiwani got up from bed and left the room. After few seconds nandni heard door closing. She cried her heart out still lying at her stomach.

"May I know the reason why you don't want to eat...!" Nandni heard a masculine voice. She snapped in the direction to find manik standing near her bed staring at her.
"Aap..!!!!???" She asked with shocked face. She got up without delay of any second. She wiped her tears. She was avoiding to see in his eyes. She can feel he is looking at her without blinking his eyes. She was looking down trying to avoid his question because she don't know what reason she will give to deny food.

"Nandni may I know why you are not taking soup" manik again asked keeping little soft tone in his words.

"I...I am not feeling hungry" Nandni whispered merely audible, looking other side to avoid him.

"Nandni you know already you are not well and according to doctor you need food and medicine on time..!" this time he became little angry.

She raised her head up to see straight in his deep chocolate brown eyes. Manik noticed her nose red, eyes swollen, messy hair, pale face and scared expressions. He rubbed his forehead and reminded himself that he isn't here to make her scared again. He took steps slowly towards her and sat at corner keeping a reasonable distance.

"Finish this soup, take medicine then you can take rest as much as you want, no one will disturb you. At night I want to discuss about baba what we have to do next. OK..!!!" he tried to convince her calmly before picking up bowl of soup from side table.

"Have it please" he extended bowl towards her with softest request.

Tears escaped her eyes and reminded him that how much his curt behaviour affected her.

Manik sighed deeply but she wiped her tears, didn't want to make him more guilty. She took bowl of soup from his hand and started to take small sips.

"Sorry..!!!" after little silence she heard unexpected word. His apologise made her shocked.

"I am really sorry...I didn't want to make you cry. It's just whatever is happening was totally unexpected. Please don't punish yourself this way" he said looking down.

After saying this he got up and left the room without sparing single glance towards her. She gulped medicine after finishing soup and slipped into her duvet again.

Manik wasn't angry with her any more. Nandni was feeling herself free from a heavy burden at her heart. Few minutes later medicine started to show its effect and she slipped into sleep.

"Mrs shiwani nandni sleeping so no one will disturb her. I want to shift baba and nandni into malhotra mansion. I don't want to leave nandni and baba alone here.

Nandni also need me, I don't want to leaver her in this condition..!" manik uttered last line while speaking in flow.

"I mean she isn't well. It will be better for her to be around baba. And at Malhotra mansion there are lots of servants and dad also will be back so all will take her good care..!" after realising his own confession he turned his gaze down and tried to cover up.

Shiwani smiled at his all cute, innocent justifications, which he didn't need to give.
"You have all rights at her son..!" shiwani left the room leaving him in deep thinking that "Have he really all rights at her..?"

Manik did all arrangements to shift Mr Murthy at Malhotra mansion. He called at Malhotra mansion to ask all servants to keep ready rooms for all of them. In no time he talked with all professional doctors and nurses to hire them for 24 hr observation.

Without any delay medical team arranged every thing in one room at malhotra mansion. After handling all requirements he went to hospital to fulfil all discharge Formalities. Then he spent time in karan's room. It's almost night time when he left the hospital for murthy house.

"Now just last person I need to handle and convince is Nandni. I hope she will not have any objection about shifting of baba..!" Manik thought keeping his head at back of car seat. He inhaled deeply closing his eyes. He was looking so exhausted mentally and physically.

"Manik have your dinner first then you can do whatever you want. You didn't drink a single sip of water since you came here...!" shiwani stopped him when he was directly going towards his bedroom.

"Where is Nandni she ate something...!" manik asked while sitting at dining table.

"when I went she was sleeping. She have woken up now and coming down. Then I will give her something light to eat..!" shiwani informed while serving him.
"hmmm...!!!!" manik nodded his head simply.

Shiwani was washing dishes in kitchen when someone embraced her from back. Shiwani smiled , she was aware who's the person behind her. But tried to show little attitude and continued her work without turning around.

"Sorry....!!!!. Auntie I'm disturbing you so much na. Please sorry, I will not disturb you again. I will do whatever you will ask..!" shiwani smiled heartedly after listening her apologise.
"Nooo..! My dauggter cant disturb me, it was just I was showing tantrums same like you..!" shiwani turned around and took nandni in her tight hug.

"ok come have something first. Tell me what would you eat..?" shiwani asked nandni after dragging her towards dining table.

"wessy tou I'm not hungry but for your peace of mind, give me anything I will tryyyyyy to eat..!" Nandni said with puppy face giving pressure at "try" word. Shiwani smiled and shook her head saying "tum ni sudhar sakti".

"Nandni bittiya aap ko manik sir apny room main bula rahy hen" one servant informed nandni when shiwani was giving her medicine holding glass of water.

"Auntie manik again calling me. Please I don't want to go. Please tell him I'm, I'm, yes sleeping, say him I'm sleeping..!" she gave innocent excuse.

"listen listen sweetheart May be he wants to say something important. It's not good that we ignore a person came back home after 5 years...!" shiwani held her hand when she turned around to run away towards her room.

"Shiwani Auntie what if again I made him angry" nandni's reason of avoiding him was also genuine.

"Nandni..!!! don't worry. He will not be angry. I promise..!" shiwani made her understand lovingly.

"Now go and ask him may be he need anything. Go go..!" shiwani gave her soft smile and pushed her towards his room.

-----------------

Nandni raised her hand twice but didn't knock.

"Nandni come in....!!!" nandni's eyes popped out with shock when she listened his manly voice from inside. Her feet got stuck at floor that how he knows I'm outside. Nandni opened the door carefully and came inside.

Manik sat keeping head at headboard of bed. His one leg was spread straight and one was folded up. He was reading a book keeping at his knee of folded leg.

"Don't be shock. Kaka told me 5 minutes before that you are coming towards my room when he was exiting. So definately I knew it you are outside...!" he told without looking up from his book. He closed the book and placed at side table after removing his spectacles.

He shifted his eyes towards nandni who is still at door twiddling her fingers.
Manik observed her. she was wearing baby pink shalwar Kameez with beautiful dupatta neatly arranged at her shoulders covering her perfect curvs.

"Her long black hairs were wet may be she took shower before leaving her room. She was looking gorgeous in effortless avatar..!" manik was silently observing her stunning beauty.

"close the door and come here" after praising her beauty secretly in his mind manik asked her.

Nandni suddenly looked up with wide eyes after listening his demand. She gulped her saliva after registering exactly what she heard right now. After waiting few seconds she felt there is no other choice. She turned facing her back towards him, held door knob and closed the door. She took deep breath after closing eyes still looking towards door. Slowly she turned around to face him. She licked her dry lips when she felt he's looking keenly at her.

"Come here..!!!!" he asked softly and patted place at bed near him to sit. Manik found it hard to remove his eyes from her.

Nandni looking down completely numb, didn't take step towards him.
"Nandni...!!!!" manik snapped her out from perplexed thoughts. Nandni started to take little steps towards him. His gaze never left her all the way. As she was going closer she felt her heart was beating at full speed. She reached near bed but couldn't gather courage to sit close by him. After observing her nervousness manik extended his hand towards her and held her cold hand. He pulled her slowly towards him. Next moment she was face to face beside him at bed.

Manik gently squeezed her cold trembling hands in his hold to give them little warmth. A Smile appeared at his lips after feeling her uneven breaths. He was feeling strange when he noticed his closeness was affecting her this way.

"ab aap kesi ho...???" manik asked her politely.
"m...mein...th..theek...hun..!" her lips trembled as she whispered looking down.

"you ate something and took medicine...???" again his concerned question touched her ears.

Nandni nodded her head and raised her eyes up. That was the moment when she realised that both were dangerously close to each other. She looked down at her hands manik still holding in his lap. She pulled her hands out of his gentle grip. She blushed tucking her wet hair strand behind her ear and started looking at other side avoiding his gaze.

"Nandni I called you here to discuss about baba. I want both of you to shift with me at Malhotra mansion. I want to keep baba at front of my eyes..!" manik was asking with hopeful eyes.

"But baba's treatment is going on. How me and baba can shift there..!" Nandni replied all confused.

"Nandni please don't refuse. I have already failed to fulfill duties of a son. Please give me a chance to take care of my father. I wasn't with him when he needed me. This guilt is killing me. Please come with me if you think I have any right at him...!" manik was pleading with moist eyes.

"Manik don't say like this. You have full rights at baba and may be more than me. You came first in his life than me. Baba always said you are his first child. Then who I'm to take this right back. I'm ready to go wherever you want. I didn't want to snatch your any right. Believe me I was going to tell you but fate wasn't with us..!" she was sobbing. Again her tears were pushing him in guilt.

"I know, I know, please don't cry..!" manik turned her face towards him by holding her shoulders. She looked straight in his eyes with tears falling from her eyes.

"shhhh...!!!! Im sorry, Don't cry..!" manik gently rubbed his thumbs at her flawless skin to wipe her tears.

"have it...!!!" manik took glass of water from side table and offered her. She drank few sips. Manik kept glass back and closed eyes resting his head back at headboard of bed. Her hiccups were thrashing his heart deeply. After Some time manik opened his eyes. He silently sat looking towards her. She was still sniffing sitting near him looking down. His fierce gaze was making her conscious.

"May...I...go..in...my..room...now..??" She asked fidgeting her fingers looking here and there. Her little cute shy gesture made him smile again.

"Go and pack your bags tomorrow we will leave for mumbai..!" manik gave her permission to leave.

Nandni got up from bed asap to escape from his arresting eyes. After closing his door behind her she exhaled breath heavily which she was holding back unknowingly.

Nandni was passing from living area when she listened landline phone rang. She turned back and received the call.

Phone fell on the ground from her hold when she heard from other side. She collapsed at floor on her knees. Her loudest screams echoed in whole murthy house.

Manik came running towards nandni listening her heart piercing cries followed by shiwani. As he saw her crying putting both palms on floor at front of her knees. She was screaming just one word "baba". shiwani engulfed her in tight hug sitting at front of her on floor. He picked the receiver up with trembling hands, already guessing which news going to fall at him like thunder lightning.

"He...hello...!!!" words were not helping him. He felt knot in his throat.
"Sir I'm calling from hospital, Mr Murthy is no more...!" manik took step back and fell with thump on couch.

"Baba is no more..?" his words were like question more than a reality.
Shiwani snapped back towards him when she realised reason why nandni was crying senselessly in her hold.

Suddenly manik felt nandni's screams became silent.

"nandni...! nandni...!" shiwani was patting her cheeks. Manik came running towards nandni. She became unconscious. Manik took her from shiwani's hold.

"call the doctor...ask him to reach here asap..!" He was screaming at servants. Manik picked nandni up in his arms and went towards his room. He covered her cold figure in his duvet.

"Nandni....nandni open your eyes..!" manik was rubbing her ice cold hands. He himself was failed to control his tears. Helplessness was making him insane, don't know what to do with her.

Once again their dark fate was standing at front of them with wide open arms, Laughing at their miseries.

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