I Need You to Be There... For a little more than Always!!

Part 59:

Nandini looked up at Manik wiping off her tears as she took a step to move towards him when Manik held up his hand.

Manik: Don't even dare to come near me.... Go!! Just get lost.... Go away from here, I don't even wanna see ur face for now...

Saying so Manik turned his back towards her while Nandini stood there shocked and broken. Tears were flowing down her eyes as she kept on looking at his back waiting for him to turn back but he didn't.

She kept her hand over her mouth as she stopped herself from crying out loud and turned around rushing away from there!! Cabir gave a disgusted look to Manik as he rushed behind her, followed by Mukti.

He reached her at the hospital door as she was barely able to control herself.

Cabir: Nandini wait... Where r u going??

Nandini: Relax Cabir... I m just going back home!!

Cabir: Have u lost it?? He will keep on saying all this rubbish n u will listen to him!! U should hv just slapped him right then n shut him up... U just come I'll kick that bastard until he realises his mistake.

Cabir was about to move away when nandini held off his hand,

Nandini: Cabir wait....

Mukti: No Nandini.... Don't stop him. Manik has to realise that he is making a huge mistake. He can't hurt u like that.

Nandini: Guys relax.... He is not in a proper state of mind. And he is not mad at me, he is mad at himself. Its just that he doesn't know anything that he can do for Dadi and thus, he took out all his frustration on the first person he saw.

Mukti: But nandini he is acting like a bloody jerk and-

Nandini: And he will realise it very soon himself. All he needs is some time and some closure. Be with him guys... He needs all of u for now, n plz don't say anything to him. Try n understand his point of view, its Dadi we r talking about. We know how important she is for him.

Cabir: So is she for u too Nandini...

Nandini: Cabir plz... Just trust me and be by his side for now. And I promise I'll be back here the first thing in the morning. And I m sure he will cool down by then.

Cabir: U sure that u will be fine... Should I come with u??

Nandini: No... Stay here, he needs u.... And I promise I'll be fine.

Cabir and Mukti sighed at her and went back in while Nandini rushed out of the hospital, straight back home.

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

The entire night passed by and Fab5 didn't move from the hospital even once. Manik was almost normal by the morning, he was worried for Dadi n other than that he was all quite saying nothing at all.

Cabir tried to make him talk but it wasn't of any use at all.

And as promised Nandini reached there next morning with breakfast for everyone and changes for Manik.

She entered the waiting area and was first noticed by Cabir. He gave her a slight nod as she kept the stuff that she got on the table.

She looked at Manik and saw him sitting on the chair, with his eyes closed. She walked slowly towards him and sat next to him as she kept her hand on his shoulder.

Manik acknowledged her touch and immediately jerked off her hand as he got up from the chair.

Manik: U can't just stay away right??

Nandini looked up at him shocked. The entire night she kept on telling herself that it was just an impulsive anger that made him blame her but seeing him angry till now did hurt her.

Nandini: Manik.... Listen to me atleast, I m-

Manik: U r what Nandini... What??? Isn't it enough for u that we r here in such crucial situation. That u r here again.

Cabir: Manik u...

Nandini: NO CABIR....

Nandini suddenly spoke out loud. She got up from the chair and stormed towards Manik as she pointed up her finger straight at him.

Nandini: Manik... I know what u r going through right now, but we all here r at the same place as u. I don't care what is going on here at this point between the two of us right now, but get one thing straight and clear, that I Do Care About Dadi as much as U Do....

Manik: If u did then nothing of this might hv happened Nandini....

Manik accused her right back. Nandini was about to say something more when he shook his hand dismissively,

Manik: Why was I even wasting my time all this time?? Obviously she won't mean that much to u. After all Outsiders stay Outsiders only.

All of Nandini's anger flew away at this as tears rolled down her eyes.

Nandini: Yeah... I guess u r right!! OUTSIDERS STAY OUTSIDERS ONLY.....

And before they knew Nandini was out of there. And so did Manik. This time none of the others followed her as they knew she would need time. The entire day passed by with fab5 still in the hospital as the evening grew closer.

And finally the doctor came up to them.

Manik: Doctor... Dadi??

Doctor: Mr. Malhotra, u should relax... She is absolutely out of danger. Though she might not gain her consciousness till tmrw mrng, but she is fine now.

Manik: Ohh thank u so much.... Thanks a lot doctor.

The doctor nodded at him and walked away as Manik hugged Cabir breaking down into the hug.

Manik: Cabir... She is fine.... She is fine!! I can't tell u how happy I m!!

Cabir patted his back while the others too smiled in happiness when Manik broke the hug and turned around saying,

Manik: Nandini u heard.. She is fine, she is-

Just then he realised that Nandini was not there and his words revolved around his head.

"Don't u dare start all ur fake drama again. Don't show as if u care for her. "

"If u would hv cared na, then u wouldn't hv given her the wrong medicines."

"Don't even dare to come near me.... Go!! Just get lost.... Go away from here"

"After all Outsiders stay outsiders only."

Manik: Shit... What did I do???

Manik held moved his hand through his hair as he sat back on the chair dumping his head into his hands.

And that was it for Mukti as she said sternly,

Mukti: U behaved like a real Dick.... A moron, to be saying all that to her.

Manik shook his head side by side still into his hands.

Dhruv: Manik.... I think u should go n talk to her.

Manik heard it and panicked immediately.

Manik: How will I face her Dhruv?? What will I say to her?

Cabir: Seriously Manik... U should hv though this before saying all those harsh words to her.

Manik: No... I can't!!! I can't face her right now. I won't.. No

Aliya: Manik... Just go to her!!

Manik: No... I can't... No!! I won't be able to face her right now, I'll talk to her when she comes here...

Cabir: N u think she would do that after all u said to her today.

Manik: I don't know... I don't know anything!! But I can't go to her right now, I'll talk to her when I go home.

Before anyone else could say anything to him. The doctor came back with some important stuff and Manik got into talking to him while the rest decided to drop the topic.

The next three days went pretty much the same. Fab4 kept on visiting Dadi while Manik didn't leave her side for once. He didn't meet Nandini after that and neither did he call her. He was guilty and somewhere he lacked that courage. Dadi did ask for her a number of times and he simply replied that she was busy handling office in his absence.

Cabir and mukti had left a few msgs to Nandini about that realising his mistake and being guilty but they too didn't call her. And it was finally the day when Dadi was discharged. The discharged formalities were finished off the first thing in the morning as Manik insisted and they finally took her back home.

Fab4 accompanied Manik from the hospital, all the way to the Malhotra Mansion. They knew Manik was going on through mixed feelings. On one side he was extremely relived and happy about Dadi being normal while on the other he was guilty, anxious as well as desperate to see Nandini. He had called home early morning and informed Simi that they were bringing Dadi back and he knew Nandini would be waiting for them eagerly.

Soon they reached back home and he carefully helped Dadi out. All of them entered the house when they heard a voice.

"Oh my god... Thank God u r fine, I was so tensed.... "

Manik looked up at the voice and saw his parents rushing towards them.

Manik: Mom... Dad.... When did u guys come??

Raj: We'll talk later Manik... Mom, how r u??

Dadi: Relax my child... I m absolutely fine now.

All of them settled down while Manik hugged Nyonika.

Manik: I missed u!!

Nyonika: Same here son... We got back last night. We would hv come to the hospital in the morning but simi told us that Mom was getting discharged.

With this they to sat down while Manik told Raj about Dadi's health. His eyes kept on moving towards Nandini's room which was noticed by his friends clearly. Neither did his parents or Dadi have any idea about the entire matter between Manan.

As he finished, Nyonika suddenly asked,

Nyonika: Manik... Where is Nandini???

Manik looked up at her confused and said,

Manik: She must be in her room Mom...

Nyonika: No.... I hvn't seen her from the time we got home.

Manik looked up at cabir confused and then called out for Simi. Simi came out running at his voice and he asked,

Manik: Simi... Did Nandini leave early for work today??

Simi: Sir... Nandini ma'am wasn't here in the morning.

Manik immediately panicked at it and asked,

Manik: Then where is she??

Simi: She was with u na.... I saw her last three days before, then she said she was going to the hospital. I thought she was staying there with u.

As Manik heard him, his world came crashing down his feet. Nandini hadn't cam back home from three days and he had no idea about her whereabouts. He was lost in his thoughts when he heard Cabir asking Simi.

Cabir: U mean that she left home with our breakfast and never came back that day??

Simi: No no... She did!! She came back after work that day and then rested in her room for a few hours after which she left again.

Manik immediately picked up his phone and called on her cell but to his bad luck no one replied.

Manik: She isn't picking up!!

Mukti: Call at ur office...

Raj: What's happening Manik... Wasn't she with u....

Manik: No dad... We hvn't seen her since that morning.

Dadi: What do u mean u hvn't seen her?? U said that she visited when I was asleep.

Manik gave book reply to her and simply called at office clearly showing that he had lied.

Manik: Hello Shubham.... Nandini-

Shubham: Ohh yes sir... I was calling Nandini ma'am only, there r some meetings pending and since u were not present we wanted her signatures. But she isn't picking up her phone I-

Manik: Wait wait... Shubham when was the last time Nandini came to office.

Shubham: Umn... I think three days back sir...

Manik disconnected the phone listening to him and kept his phone on the sofa. All of them noticed his black face and aliya asked.

Aliya: What happened Manik??

Manik: She went there Three days back...

All of them were shocked at the news while the three elders were confused, when Dadi said,

Dadi: Manik.... Would u plz tell us what's happening here??? Why did u lie to me? Why has u not seen Nandini for the past three days and where is she??

A drop of tear rolled down Manik's eye leaving him speechless when Dadi turned towards the others for explanation. Cabir moved ahead and narrated the entire events to them of both the days in the hospital.

The moment she finished Dadi turned towards Manik who still sat there with a blank expression when he suddenly received a hard slap right across his face. Manik looked up to see Dadi looking at him furiously.

Dadi: I wish I was there that day to slap u when u said all those things to her... That girl was the reason u were smiling Manik.... She was the reason why u were following ur dreams.... She is the reason why u r sitting right next to ur own parents today.... She was the one to take care of this house, and me all through the time when u were too busy to acknowledged all of it.... And u call her an Outsider!!! Even family members don't do as much as she did for u and U called her an Outsider....

Dadi was about to continue when they heard Simi's voice,

Simi: Sir....

Simi rushed towards them moving out of nandini's room and said,

Simi: Sir... Wo... Nandini Ma'am's room.... Its empty.

Dadi: Simi we know...

Simi: No Dadi.. Its empty, there is nothing there.... Her stuff is missing from the table, her cupboard is open and it is empty. Nothing is kept there...

Manik crashed onto the sofa listening to her as the situation dawned upon him.

SHE LEFT...

SHE WENT AWAY...

Simi: This envelope was kept on the bed along with her phone.

Aliya took the envelope from her and opened it to find a letter. She opened the letter and read out loud.

"Respected Sir,

This letter is to inform u that because of some unavoidable personal problems I will have to discontinue my services towards u and ur company. I m highly guilty for all the loss it will cause to the company and take full responsibility for it. All the details of the work that I was handling is kept in my cabin for ur other employee to take over. A Check as per the Company Rules is included along with this letter, as per the compensation of me not fulfilling the Notice Period.

Thanking you for the enormous experience and guidance that the company has provided me.

Yours' Sincerely,

Nandini Moorthy"

Manik: She left... She left me!!

Manik whispered listening to it.

Dadi: Well... Be happy that she has left u a resignation letter at least. Coz u didn't deserve that also!! Remember one thing Manik, what u just lost was the best thing about ur life.

Saying so Dadi turned around from there and moved towards her room with tears in her eyes. She stopped at the other end and turned,

Dadi: And if u still r blaming her, then u should know that Nandu came to give me the medicines but I asked her to leave as I had already had them myself. It was me!!

Saying so Dadi left from there leaving a broken Manik there while the rest of them seemed in similar daze to even realise how to react.

Tears kept on flowing through Manik's eyes seeing which Nyonika simply sat next to him and took him in a hug.

Mukti too had tears in her eyes as Nandini meant a lot to her as she stormed out of there, furious over Manik. Aliya moved behind her to talk to her while Cabir and Dhruv stayed with Manik. And all Manik kept on whispering was,

Manik: I Lost her... I Lost her!!!

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

So that was it for today ppl....

How was the part??

Where is Nandini??

Is there still any hope for Manan now.... Or did Manik really loose Nandini forever???

Stay tuned for ur answers...😉😉😉

Love

-Navya