I need u to be there... For a little more than always!!!

Part 47:

One week later:

Nandini: Mukti... See, these are the gifts for all the guests... Plz check it once na, i hope I hvn't missed out on anything.

Mukti: Nandini relax.. I hv already checked those!! It's perfect...

Nandini nodded at her and walked towards the other end.

Nandini: Aunty... These are Dhruv and Aliya's engagement rings!! Will u plz keep these with urself. I will take the delivery of the Mangalsutra this evening and keep it with me.

Dhruv's Mom: Sure beta!! Give it to me....

Nandini: Ohk cabir... Plz read out the list of all the works that I had made!! Lets see what all is left.

Cabir: Ohk so, invitations??

Nandini: Sent..

Cabir: Venue, decor??

Nandini: The team is ready.. so check!!

Cabir: dresses for Dhruv and Aliya... For all the functions??

Nandini: Check...

Cabir: Aliya's make up??

Nandini: Check...

Cabir: Rings?

Nandini: Check...

Cabir: Food arrangements... Well that's done, I just got off the phone with them.. next is-

Manik: Nothing... Next is nothing!! Nandini.... U hv checked it a number of times!! Relax.... Vese bhi we hv to leave for Udaipur day after tomorrow, so everything is sorted.

Nandini: But Man-

Nandini was about to say something to him when he again interrupted her as he took away the stuff from her hands and gave them away to Simi and said,

Manik: And now its time for lunch... So lets go!!

All the others smiled at it as they moved towards the dining area. All of them took their seats including Dhruv's parents when Manik saw Nandini about to get up. He immediately held her hand and asked her,

Manik: Oh hello!! Where now??

Nandini: Kitchen!

Manik: They know what their work is... Sit here and eat!

Nandini: Arey Manik....

Manik: Nandini.... Are u sitting back here or u want me to do some honours??

Nandini broadened her eyes and immediately sat back as all the others laughed. While Dhruv's Mother said,

"Aww..... Nandini beta!! U r very lucky that u hv got someone in ur life who loves u this much!!"

Nandini blushed hard at it and looked at Manik who had a simple smile on his face.

Cabir: Arey aunty... U still hvn't seen their Love yet!! Lets just get to Udaipur first.... I guarantee u that we hv a lot of exciting stuff in stock.

Cabir said as he winked at Manik who glared at him and Mukti.

Nandini: Ohk ohk... Enough of ur drama!! Take rest for sometime if u guys want, we hv a meeting in two hours, for the new album. The deal needs to signed today, rest u can start working on it next month after Aliya and Dhruv return from their honeymoon.

Cabir: Yeah I remember.... By the way, at what time do we have the meeting?

Nandini: 4:30 this evening.... At the Imperial Palace Hotel.

Mukti: Ohk then... I m going for a nap after this lunch.

Cabir: Me too!!

Aliya: Dhruv and I will go and drop Mom-Dad back home...

Aliya said referring to dhruv's parents, who smiled at her.

Soon they all retired to their rooms while Dhruliya left.

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Later that day, Fab5 and Nandini attended their meeting at the hotel which went on for about an hour or so.

Mukti: Ohk so for further issues... Dates and all.... U can contact our manager, Nandini!!

"Ohh yes yes... Sure! We have her contact details... Thank u!"

Manik: I think our work here is done...

Soon they finished off the see off greetings and moved out of the meeting hall.

Mukti: Nandini yr... How do u manage such idiots??

Nandini smiled at her and stopped for a second.

Nandini: Hmn.. Lemme think!! Yeah... I think Managing idiots is much much more easier than managing these five smart ass people standing in front of me.

Mukti: Smart ass haan!! Wait I'll tell u...

Saying so Mukti moved towards her while Nandini ran towards the opposite direction. Though they were at a renowned hotel of the city but no one dared to stop them, knowing they were the Fab5.

Manbir and Dhruliya followed them laughing at their childishness.

Nandini: Mukti yr... Not here plz!!

Mukti: Nandu ki bachi... Just let me get u once..

Mukti laughed at her and continued running when Nandini suddenly stopped at her tracks.

Mukti reached her and held her arm.

Mukti: See I got u... Now tell me, what were u saying??

Nandini didn't even heard what she said and kept on standing in the same position as the others joined them.

Cabir: Hello 5 yr olds...

Mukti looked at all of them seriously and then turned back towards Nandini who was still standing still.

Mukti: Nandini... Are u fine??

Manik looked at her and came closer.

Manik: Nandini??

He called her out, he tried to shake her a bit but got no reaction, when he followed her gaze and found it fixed at a tall handsome guy, standing at the hotel reception at the far end. He turned back towards Nandini and noticed a lone tear flow down from her eyes as she continued staring at that guy.

Manik immediately held her hand and made her face him as he cupped her face.

Manik: Nandini....

This made her finally respond as she immediately burst into tears.

Nandini: Manik... Manik!!

Manik: Shh... What happened??

Nandini: Take me home plz.... Manik take me home.... I don't want to be here.... Take me home!! Take me home...

She kept on repeating making everyone tensed.

Manik: Ohk ohk lets go!!

Nandini broke down further into tears, scaring him further while they turned around to leave. He had never seen Nandini breaking down ever like this. She had always been the strongest one, but looking at her in such a devastated state confused him as much as it hurted him.

They moved out of the hotel and Manik made Nandini sit into the car.

Mukti: U take her, we r coming in the other car.

Manik nodded at her and moved to the other side of the car, while Nandini continued crying. He turned around slowly to get a last glimpse of that guy and found him talking to someone, when he suddenly turned to look at them.

"Nandini..." Manik saw his lips murmur when he got into the car and they sped off leaving the guy running behind their car.

Manik took Nandini in a tight hug, as she continued crying clutching his shirt.

Manik: Nandini... Shh!! We r out of there... Shh!!

Nandini heard him and tightened her grip over his shirt and cried when the driver suddenly applied the brakes making them jerk off.

Manik: What r u doing??

Manik asked the driver sternly, who slowly said,

Driver: Sir that car overtaked us and stopped right in the front.

And right then Manik saw the same guy getting out of the driver seat as he rushed towards them. Manik felt Nandini's grip tighten further over him when the guy approached them. And knocked over Nandini's window.

"Nanz... Nanz..."

Manik immediately got out of the car and pushed him away.

Manik: Hey... Who r u?? What do u want??

"Listen buddy... I don't know me, I just want the lady..."

Manik: Want her... Huh!! U jerk.. How dare u think that I will even let u meet her once??

"I didn't mean that... i just-"

Before he could say anything they heard her voice,

"MANIK..."

Manik turned around to see her standing outside the car. But what surprised him was her condition, she seemed totally normal. No tears visible on her face, apart from the dried ones. And there she stood, strong as ever. Manik threw one last glance over the unknown guy and walked towards her,

Manik: Nandini.... U-

Nandini: Will u do something for me plz??

Manik: Anything!!

Nandini: Then plz let me handle this!! Let me just talk to him once, not promise me u won't interfere.

Manik: But Nand-

Nandini: Manik plz... Trust me, I m fine!!

Nandini held his hand assuring him. Manik got his hand free from hers and kicked the car's tire.

Manik: I won't interfere until n unless he is in his limits.

Nandini nodded at him and slowly moved forward towards the guy.

"So now I m so unknown to u that u'll run away seeing me!!"

Nandini: We weren't running away from anyone. We don't need to.

Nandini said coldly making him irritated as he shouted.

"Nanz... Stop it!! Just stop all this yr..."

Nandini: U stop shouting!!

Nandini too said loudly and the next second he grabed her arms tightly, and shouted again,

"I hv all the rights to shout at u and believe me, no one can stop me Nanz.."

Manik got agitated at it and was about to move ahead when he heard a loud noise as Nandini slapped the guy hard.

Nandini: Mr. Abhimanyu Thakur.... Firstly, its Nandini Moorthy, don't u dare call me by that name ever again, i hate it... And secondly, u don't have those rights anymore...

And here the real identity of the unknown guy is revealed. Abhimanyu Thakur!!!

Abhimanyu took a deep breath to calm himself down and said again,

" Nandini... Plz!! Why are u doing this?? Plz!!"

Nandini: I m sry.. But we r getting late and I m not at all interested to talk to u.... It was nice seeing u!!

Nandini said sternly when another car stopped on their side. Cabir was about to get down when Nandini said,

Nandini: Chill guys... We r done!! Lets go back home...

Nandini took one last glance over Abhimanyu and turned around towards Manik. She was about to move away when suddenly Abhi held her hand tight and before they realised what happened, abhi was punched right on his gut by Manik.

Nandini: MANIK....

And within the next minute they got into a brawl. Cabir and dhruv rushed out of the car to stop the fight, while Aliya and Mukti joined Nandini.

Nandini: Manik... Stop!! Plz!! No..

But the next minute Manik punched him hard again making him fall down on the side of the road as his head hit a stone.

Nandini: ABHI !!!!

Nandini rushed ahead towards him and got to her knees as she saw him unconscious...

Nandini: Water... Water!!

She shouted as the driver got a bottle of water out of the car. Nandini sat there crying uncontrollably as she sprinkled water over his face, trying to stop the blood oozing out of his head. While Fab5 stood there shocked at her reaction, she was crying for someone bcoz of whom she was crying a few minutes back. When suddenly, Nandini turned towards Manik and shouted,

Nandini: I told u to stay out of it Manik... I told u!!

Nandini broke down again at this as she kept on patting on his face trying to wake him up.

Nandini: We need to take him home and get a doctor... We need to take him.

Manik: No!!

Nandini looked up at him with a pleading look and cried as she said,

Nandini: Manik... I can't let anything happen to him!! His life means a lot lot more to me than mine....

Manik sighed at it and soon they picked him up as Nandini got into the back seat with him while cabir and Manik took the front seats and Cabir drove. While the other three followed in the other car and the driver got Abhi's car. Nandini called a doctor to reach the Malhotra Mansion.

Soon they reached back to see the doctor already there and they took him to the guest room. The doctor checked him while Nandini simply kept on hugging Manik as she cried and cried.

Doctor: He is totally fine. I have given him an injection, he'll be up in a few minutes.

Saying so the doctor moved out so did all of them. As the doctor left, they all settled down in the living room when Cabir asked,

Cabir: Nandini.... Who is this guy?? Firstly u seemed to be so scared of him and now u r crying for him.... What is happening??

Nandini: Guys... I m so so sorry for everything!! I just don't know what happened to me... I promise to answer all ur questions, but I need a few minutes alone plz!! I m sorry.... I m sorry Manik...

Nandini said the last line looking at Manik and simply turned around as she moved to her room.

Aliya: Manik... I think she needs u!!

Manik nodded at her as he followed her. He entered her room, to find her sitting on the bed, staring at the floor with no expression on her face.

Manik: Nandini....

Nandini heard his voice and looked up as she rushed towards him and hugged him.

Nandini: I m so so sorry Manik!! I shouldn't hv blamed u...

Manik: Shh... Its fine!! Just stop crying.... I m not used to ur tears and I can't see u like this...

Nandini slowly broke the hug and wiped her tears as she saw him smiling at her.

Manik: Now thats like my Nandini....

Nandini: Thank u Manik... Thank u!! U r my strength!! I love u...

Manik: I love u too!! Now go freshen up a bit, wash these tears off... I need some Nandu's special coffee...

Nandini smiled at him and nodded as she moved to the washroom while Manik got out of the room.

Dhruv: How is she??

Manik: She is fine... Relax!!

All of them settled down, finally sighing a relief. A few minutes later, they heard a voice,

"Excuse me..."

They turned around to see Abhimanyu walking towards them.

Cabir: Umn... Hi!! Come join us...

Abhi: Thanks...

Abhi took a seat beside Dhruv while Manik still wasn't quite ohk with his presence so he stirred back.

Abhi: I m sorry for all the drama!! I didn't mean too... So, sorry... I would especially like to apologize to u!!

He said facing Manik. Manik simply nodded at him but didn't say anything.

None of them said anything for a while, and Manik noticed abhi looking all around as if trying to find someone. When they heard a cheerful voice coming towards them.

Nandini: Time for some refreshment guys.... Coffee and some snacks. Vese bhi aaj meeting thodi-

Nandini stopped in her words as she noticed Abhi sitting with the others. Simi came out with the coffee and kept the tray on the table.

Nandini: So u woke up!!

Nandini said as she too kept the two mugs she was carrying on the table.

Abhi: Yes... I m fine, don't worry!!

Nandini: No one was worried Abhimanyu...

Abhi: I wasn't fully unconscious... I saw u crying!! No matter how much u hide, I know u still care for me Kiddo!!

Nandini didn't say anything at it and simply sat beside Manik, who held her hand tightly. Abhi: Hmn... I knew u won't forget!! My kiddo makes coffee only for me.

Saying so Abhi picked up Manik's cup while Manik tightened his grip over Nandini's hand while Cabir giggled.

Cabir: So... Abhimanyu right?? Won't u introduce urself?

Abhi: Ohh yes sry... Umn I m Abhimanyu Thakur, I m Nandini's best friends or more of a-

Nandini: Was... U were....

Nandini said sternly making him look down, when Nandini continued,

Nandini: Guys.. Have u heard about RNA Hotels??

Mukti: The international hotel chain right?? I guess they hv two hotels in Mumbai too...

Nandini: Hmn... He is the owner.

Nandini said uninterested when Abhi interrupted.

Abhi: One of the owners...

Nandini: Yeah one of the TWO owners....

Nandini snapped back at him.

Fab5 looked at each other sensing the tension when Abhi said cheerfully,

Abhi: Come on... I think I too deserve an introduction Nandini. Nandini glared at him and suddenly stood up,

Nandini: Enough... We need to talk.

Abhi: Finally... I m glad u agreed.

Nandini: Now!!

Nandini said and turned around as she walked out towards the garden. While Abhi simply followed her.

Manik saw them moving out and got up from his place being restless.

Cabir: Manik... Are u fine??

Manik: No... I m not fine cabir!! I m not fine... No matter how much I try I m not able to forget her devastated state. I don't know what is the story behind this abhimanyu, but believe me, one more time I see her crying and I will kill this guy...

Aliya: Guys... Lets move up to the front balcony. In that way, u will be able to see her also and not feel this restless...

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Well well... Thats it for today guys!! A lot many of u were requesting me for Nandini's past. So here I m... With a glimpse of it in the next chapter.

Don't let ur hopes high ppl... U still r going to get just a few hints!! The fully story is still a few more parts to go... Pehle hi bata diya h bhai, baad me gaali mat dena😝😝😝

Till then, keep waiting!!!

And yes, do tell me how was the part??