I Need You To Be There... For a little more than Always!!!
Part 64:
It was almost 3 am but sleep was far away from all of them. Dhruliya were on the balcony looking over the city in the silence of the night, sitting in each others arms.

Mukti and Cabir were in Abhi's room lying on the bed thinking about everything they got to know about Nandini from Abhi.

Abhi was right next to Nandini, sitting on her bed with her head placed over his lap as he caressed her hair lovingly. Feeling the presence of the most important person of his life, right next to him. A slight smile was placed constantly at his lips remembering all those years that they had spent together. Her laughter, her pranks, her cuteness, her innocence, everything about her!!!

Manik..... Well, he could just not afford to leave Nandini alone. He knew that he should let Abhi talk to her first, but still he could just not leave her.... He sat there on the floor leaning at the door of her room watching Abhi taking care of her like an ideal brother. Her entire life was now kept in front of him like an open book and all he could do was to blame himself for increasing the dreadfulness in it.

"APPA!!!!!"
Nandini screamed suddenly as she woke up with a start, terrified by something. Manik hide behind the door immediately while the others too heard her shout and rushed towards her room, but Manik stopped them hiding them along with him and Abhi held Nandini by her shoulders.

Abhi: Nandu!!! Kiddo relax....

Nandini looked around her and realised the dream when she noticed the unfamiliar surroundings and Abhi.

Nandini: Abhi??? Where r we???

Abhi: At the penthouse....

Nandini thought about something over a second when she remembered where she was and said slowly,
Nandini: But I..

Abhi: That hotel is of one of my friends.... I got to know that u had a room there n came to meet u but u were lying unconscious, so I got u here...

Nandini: U didn't..... U didn't inform...
Nandini hesitated a bit at it when Abhi completed her sentence.

Abhi: Manik?? No I didn't call him.

Nandini sighed at it and rested her back along the bed rest as he gave her a glass of water.
Abhi: U wanna eat anything?

Nandini: No... Not now!!
She whispered closing her eyes, abhi nodded at her and caressed her hair.

Abhi: What's happening Kiddo???

Nandini heard him clearly but didn't say anything as she simply lied back on his lap. Abhi kept on caressing her hair willing her to open up but she didn't.

Abhi: Kiddo.... U know right, no matter what happens, I will always be there for u!!

Nandini nodded at his words still her eyes closed while he continued,
Abhi: Then why didn't u call me kiddo??? Whatever happened, I don't care.... But u can't even realise what I went through when I saw u in that devastated state in the hotel room.

Nandini held his palm tightly as if trying to apologize but still didn't say a word. Abhi looked up at Manik hiding behind the door to find his eyes fixed at Nandini's face as tears threatened to fall from his eyes. None said anything for a while after which Nandini said,

Nandini: I didn't Kill them!!!

Abhi looked at her startled by her words, "What??"

Nandini opened up her eyes looking at him as she again said,
Nandini: Amma-Appa.... I didn't kill them Abhi!!!

Abhi: Hey... I know!! Whatever happened it was just an accident kiddo, no one was at fault there..... U know na, how much amma-appa loved u....

Nandini: So did he Abhi!! Rishab too loved me, but still he said that to me. He didn't trust me!!
Her voice cracked at the end of it as tears flowed down her eyes again.

Nandini: I still can't believe He of all ppl would do that.... He, my so called brother thought so low of me. The guy who kept on protecting me from the entire world for all my childhood suddenly believed something that some random drunkard said about me.

Abhi didn't say anything at it allowing her to let it all out. He kept on caressing her hair watching her speak. Nandini closed her eyes as she turned to a side looking at her picture over the wall.

Nandini: U know... I never talked about it out loud. Today is the first time after that day that I m saying anything about this. I don't know, its as if I still don't believe if all that was actually the truth or was it just a terrible dream.

Abhi: Think of it as a terrible dream kiddo!!

Nandini: But that doesn't change the truth....
Nandini murmured moved her gaze back from her picture to the ceiling.

Abhi: And what about Manik??
Abhi asked slowly making her go still.

Nandini: Abhi I-

Abhi: Don't wanna talk about it!! I know... But I also know that eventually u need to speak it out.

Nandini sighed listening to his words and nodded as she got lost into her thoughts.
Nandini: I don't know why I left Abhi!! I really don't know....

Abhi: So that means u r going back??
Nandini: No... I m Not.
Abhi looked at her alerted immediately by her words while his eyes flicked over to Manik as hurt was clearly visible on his face. Just then nandini continued, she narrated the entire event to abhi again ignoring the details to all that manik said to her, thinking that Abhi didn't know it already. Abhi still heard everything that she said when she finally mouthed out her mind.

Nandini: I m scared Abhi... I m very scared!!

Abhi: Scared??

Nandini: "When he said that na, it reminded me of the time when Rishab said that I killed Amma- Appa... I know that Dadi is completely fine now, she has ppl to take care of her so I don't need to worry about her. But what if something would hv happened Abhi!!!

Neither would I hv been able to handle his accusations and now leave him alone knowing that he is broken and grieving in loss!!! I know he loves me a lot Abhi, maybe much much more than I even deserve..... But see, here I m back to square one, back to the same question, Does he really trust me???

U know what, I think Ayiappa na, he did all this for a reason. Its as if, he is telling me that all this is entirely my fault!! "

Abhi: What?? Shut up... Its nothing like that!!

Nandini: "It is abhi... Think about it, first Amma-appa passed away, I lost myself completely.... Then when I finally started getting over it with Music and all, everything back flipped and I lost myself again.... And now, when I was so happy, this....

How can it always be others at fault?? It has to be something about me na.... I m the only problem out here!! "

Abhi: Nandu U R NOT A PROBLEM.... GET THAT STRAIGHT!!

Nandini: Think about it na Abhi.... Manik, he loves me so much!! So much that he crossed all his boundaries to show me that love...  And I??? I couldn't even gather enough courage to tell him the truth of my life... To tell him my past, my identity. I just kept on avoiding the topic so that I don't hv to lie to him.

Abhi: U had ur reasons nandu...

Nandini: No reason is above love Abhi!!! Its all my fault in everything....

Nandini said as Abhi felt her breathing heavily, while her eyes dropped due to sleep.

Nandini: U know Cabir and Mukti na.... They were so angry at Manik that day... They wanted to beat him and get him take his words back, to get him back into his mind. But I knew, I knew that he didn't mean any of it.. It was just his helplessness speaking coz Dadi was in danger and he felt as if he could do nothing for her other than sit and watch. I explained them..... I explained everyone!!!!

Abhi nodded at her tears flowing out of his own eyes looking at her like that when she shook her head in sleep.
Nandini: But I couldn't explain myself Abhi..... I explained everyone, but I couldn't explain myself!!!! I failed.... I failed again... I failed!!!

Her eyes closed finally as sleep took over her stressed mind while she kept on whispering,
Nandini: I couldn't explain myself.... I failed!!

Tears broke out of Abhi's face as he tried his best not to break down. He gently moved her head off his lap to the pillow and got up from the bed. He moved out of the room hiding his face from everyone as he rushed back to his room breaking down on the way itself seeing his sister in such a condition.

Manik fell down on his knees there itself as cabir held him.
Manik: What did I do cabir??? How could I  ever do this to her!!

All of them were holding back their tears trying to strengthen up their friend who broke down in front of them.
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The sun was up high in the morning sky when Manik felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Guys wake up!! "

Abhi saw him opening up his eyes and nodded forward to cabir.

Abhi: Cabir... Dhruv!!

He somehow woke up all the three guys who looked at him rubbing off their eyes as he smiled broadly at them.
Abhi: U all really r weird.... Even after hving empty beds, all 5 of u choose to fall asleep here on the sofa!!

Dhruv looked around to find themselves in the living room.
Dhruv: Umn... The girls??

Abhi: They woke up a few minutes back. They r getting freshened up in the guest room upstairs. U all too get freshened up and yes, plz feel like home guys.

Dhruv gave him a small smile so did cabir when Manik got up still the same. Abhi knew that he was going to say something, so he stopped him.
Abhi: Manik....  It's the new day! Start it with a new happiness, things might get changed.

Manik nodded at him while Abhi smiled broadly.
Abhi: Well... I don't knw if u guys know it or not, but Lemme tell u all. U look really shitty in his just woke up look. Plz straighten urself up before u scare off my staff.
All three of them chuckled as he tried to lighten up the situation. When a servant walked upto him with a tray in his hands. He handed over the tray to abhi and left when Abhi said again,

Abhi: Well I don't knw about this new one... But my dearest 17 year old Nandu didn't like to leave bed until n unless she was served with some delicious breakfast on bed. So if u all would excuse me, I have a Princess to serve. Plz freshen up the staff would serve u with breakfast.

Saying so Abhi walked towards Nandini's room leaving them smiling. Abhi entered the room, leaving the door open to find nandini sleeping as he expected. He placed the tray on the bed sitting by her side as he slowly caressed her face.

Abhi: Nandu!!

Nandini moved slowly at it as he called her slowly for a few times finally making her open her eyes.
Abhi: Good morning princess.... Wake up!! I hv got ur favorite breakfast for u...

Nandini smiled slightly at his words and woke up her eyes lit up the moment she saw the tray. And before they knew, she was gobbling down the entire breakfast.

Nandini: I so missed u Abhi!!
Nandini said in between chewing when abhi gave her a hurtful look.

Abhi: And u realise this just bcoz I gave u breakfast.... U really didn't miss me bcoz of any other reason??

Nandini: Any other reason....
Nandini said thinking once after which she shook her head, " Nah... I don't think so!!"

Abhi gasped loudly listening to her while Nandini threw her head back laughing out loud at his dramatic expressions.

Her laughter echoed around the entire room reaching out to the living area as well where Fab5 sat trying to pursue Manik for some breakfast.

Manik heard her laughter and immediately a smile formed over his lips.

Cabir: Le majnu!! Ab toh teri laila bhi hass di.... Ab toh kuch kha le!!
Cabir said immediately stuffing Manik's mouth with a sandwich. Manik gave him a dirty glare but still continued eating. All of them continued with their breakfast while inside the room Abhi tried everything to keep up Nandini's mood in the same way.

He was busy pulling Nandini's leg about one of her old habits of chewing her own hair when his phone rang.

Abhi: I m telling u nandu... I hv proof that u used to do that!!
Abhi said before pulling out his phone whIch showed a call, from Anjali bhabhi.

Abhi: It's Anjali....
Abhi said with a smile which came up on Nandini's face too listening about her Bhabhi cum best friend.

Nandini: Abhi can u plz put the call on speaker... I want to hear her voice.

Abhi smiled broadly and nodded at her as he picked it up as he greeted her cheerfully.

Abhi: Bhabhi.... Arey wah!! Calling me so early, I didn't knw ppl missed me so much...

Anjali: Abhi...
Nandini and Abhi frowned listening to her tensed voice when abhi spoke up.

Abhi: Bhabhi... What happened?? Why r u sounding so low? Is everything okay?

Anjali: Abhi fly back here as soon as u can...

Abhi: Bhabhi what is it... U r scaring me!

Anjali: Abhi its Amms... She suffered from a heart attack. Though it was a minor one but the doctors hv clearly stated to take care of her and not to stress her emotionally at all.... She has been calling out for Nandu continuously Abhi, u know only u can control her. Just get back okay!! ASAP...

Abhi: Yeah.. Yeah... I m coming over soon don't worry. U take care.

Abhi disconnected the call and looked up at Nandini to find her face stiff. He immediately regretted putting up the call on speaker and sighed.

Abhi: Kiddo-

Nandini: How many times??
Nandini asked blankly.

Abhi: What?

Nandini: How many times has this happened before??

Abhi sighed listening to her as he moved his fingers through his hair.
Abhi: Heart attack is the first. But she often got off calling out for u continuously and only I could handle her. U know how much attached she was to u Nandu, its been tough for her...

Nandini looked down still with the blank face while abhi waited for her to say anything.

Nandini: In how much time are u leaving??

Abhi: Probably 2 hours...
Abhi stated directly looking down feeling helpless. As much as he wanted to be here for Nandini, he knew he had to get back to Amms, or else it might even cost them her life.

Nandini: Can u plz arrange someone to get my stuff from the hotel?? I m coming with u!

Abhi looked up at her surprised.
Abhi: Are u serious??

Nandini: I can't afford to let another person who is so important to me, die just bcoz me!!

This time her words hurt him. No matter how much, he was happy that she was finally going back with him, he knew her reason to get back was absolutely rubbish.

Abhi: Kiddo-

Nandini: We don't hv much time abhi... Lets get going I m sure u hv to arrange the jet.

Abhi nodded back at her as he slowly got up.
Abhi: Fine... U freshen up and rest for sometime. Don't step out of the room, u need rest. I'll arrange for everything...... We r finally going back to L.A.

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Finally done with it....

So guys, how was it???

Was it much predictable or just took u all by surprise?

What do u think will happen now?? Nandini doesn't wish to get back with Manik. She is going back to L.A. along with Abhi!!

Lets see how this distance is gonna hold up for MaNan!! Till then, don't forget to comment ur views.

Love,

Navya