Part 7
Manik: Doctor how is she now??
Manik was sitting in the doctor's cabin after he had checked on Nandini.
Doctor: Mr Malhotra... She is fine now!! Its just her right leg. She has got a minor fracture and a few injuries which will need about 7-9 days to heal. And her head injuries are also minor only... She might be completely okay in 10 days i think.
Manik: Thank u doctor... Thnks a lot!! But did u find out the reason for such sudden dizzyness.
Doctor: Oh yes... Don't worry as u noticed she had a really high fever and above that she hadn't had any proper rest or even food since the mrng.
Manik : ohk doctor... Thank u very much!!
Doctor: Its ohk Mr. malhotra... And yes ur secretary cn go back home as soon as she gets up.
Manik: Thank u doctor...
Manik moved back to Nandini's room where she was still lying unconcious... He sat there on the other end of the room and texted Fab 5,
" Hv to cancel practice today... Can't mk it!! M busy!!!"
All he could do was to wait for her to get up. Seeing her sleeping that way was killing him, Bandages on her head, and leg. He remembered how he saw her sleeping cutely the other day on the bench and now even her face symbolised how much physical pain she was in.
He sat there for about an hour after which he finally saw her stiring her head. He immediately walked closer to her, and cupped her face in his hands,
Manik: Nandini??
Nandini heard his voice and clearly knew who was it. She opened her eyes and saw him right there. His eyes filled with concern.
Nandini: Sir...
Manik: Ohh thank God... Ur woke up!! I was waiting from so long.
Nandini: I m sry sir... I know the meeting and ur practise. I guess u had to cancel it all bcoz of me. I m so sry i just-
Manik: Shh...
Manik kept his finger on her lips.
Nandini immediately shivered at his touch. She looked at the finder on her lips and also realised Manik's other hand on her cheek.
Manik followed her gaze and immediately stood straight.
Manik: Umn... How r u?? I mean do u hv any pain or something.
Nandini: Slight banging in my head i guess. Rest i m fine... Thank u for asking.
Manik: Hang on...
Manik moved to the other end of the room and filled up a glass of water for her. He walked back towards her and ordered,
Manik: Drink...
Nandini nodded at him and shifted to get up.
Nandini: Ouch...
Manik: What happened??
Manik asked again concern filled up his eyes.
Nandini: My leg...
Manik: Carefull!!
Manik kept the glass at a side a helped her to get up. Nandini looked at him straight into his eyes. She could almost get lost in his chocolate brown eyes while she felt those eyes going deep inside her soul. Manik diverted her gaze from her and said,
Manik: U hv got a minor fracture in ur leg along with a few other injures. U'll hv to take proper bed rest for about 7-9 days.
Nandini: But how cn i tk a bed rest. I mean i-
Manik ignored her words and gave her the glass of water.
Manik: Drink this... I'll call the doctor.
Nandini simply took the glass and followed him. Soon Manik returned with the doctor who checked Nandini once and then discharged her suggesting proper bed rest as Manik had said. As he left Manik said,
Manik: Ohk... Its been a long day. I think we should get back home asap.
Nandini simply nodded at him and turned to a side.
Manik: What are u doing??
Nandini: Sir we are leaving right??
Manik: Nandini.... If u couldn't even move ur leg then do u think the doctor is a fool to give u a bed rest. Off course u can't walk.
Nandini: But-
Before she could say anything, Manik held her hand and picked her up in his arms.
Nandini: Sir-
Manik: Shh... Lets go!!
Manik walked out of the hospital room to go out. The people surrounding then looked anxious while Nandini couldn't take her eyes off Manik's face. As they reached out where the car was already waiting, Manik got her into the back seat and made her legs lie straight.
Nandini: Sir.. U??
Manik: I'm sitting in the front.
Nandini: Sir but I don't need-
Manik: U r supposed to agree for everything that i say.
Nandini didn't reply anything listening to this and Manik got in the passenger seat asking the driver to get going. The ride to home was completely silent. Manik's gaze was fixed outside the window for most of the time and when he peeked back to check on her, a smile crept on his face seeing her sleeping peacefully.
They reached the Malhotra Mansion soon and Manik opened the back seat door. He wished to let her sleep and not disturb her but the moment he picked her up, Nandini opened her eyes in a sudden shock to look at him. As she saw him her eyes softened and Manik started walking inside.
Nandini thought that he would drop her to her room but instead Manik started walking inside the Mansion.
Nandini: Sir my-
Manik: Nandini... U r advised bed rest, so till the time u get fully well u r staying here so that everyone could take care of u.
U can send anyone u wish to get the stuff that u will need from the out house.
Nandini simply nodded at him while he took her to a room on the ground floor itself and settled her on the bed.
Manik: I think u r still under the high effect of pain killers and thus, u should get some sleep. If u need anything, just ask anyone or gimme a call. Ohk??
Nandini: Thank u sir.... Thank u very much for everything.
Manik: Get some sleep Nandini.
Manik got out of her room cloaing the door behind him. To find a servant standing there waiting for him.
Servant: Sir... Madam had asked to inform her as soon as u get home. She is willing to see u.
Manik: Ohk u go...
Manik walked straight towards Dadi's room and knocked,
Manik: Dadi... U called me??
Dadi: Son come in na... I was just concerned about Nandini... What did the doctors say?? Is she fine or not? When will she be able to get back home?
Manik: Relax dadi relax.... Ur favorite Nandini is completely fine. But she has got a deep cut on her head and a minor fracture in her leg. The doctor has advised her 7-9 days of strict bed rest. And she is already home. As she has to be on a bed rest I gave her that guest room on the other end and left her to sleep for sometime.
Dadi: Ohh God... Bless my Nandu!! Let her be all well.
Manik: Dadi... Chill!! Nothing will happen to ur Nandu. I promise that to u.
Dadi: I know....
Manik: By the way Dadi... I was wondering, if u hv any contact number of her family members. I think we should inform them.
Dadi looked at Manik in disbelief. Manik studied her exoression and asked,
Manik: What?
Dadi: Do u even know one thing about Nandu..
Manik: What makes u ask this??
Dadi: Manik... Nandu is an orphan. She lived in an orphanage and got scholarship for her studies.
Manik: What??
Manik thought about it for a minute and then suddenly said,
Manik: But i clearly remember her buying gifts for her family members on all our business trips.
Dadi: And do u remember even one day in the past two years that she went to see her family or give them anything. Even in the biggest festivals she was always here. Manik if u hvn't noticed then i must make u realise that frm the day Nandu had joined for this job, She hasn't even taken one day off from work other than Sundays.
Manik: But those gift??
Dadi: Manik the only family that Nandu has is this.... Every person living in this hoise is treated like a family by her. And don't tell me u never realised who sent u those miscellaneous gifts on every other occasion. The gifts for which u never showed but u always waited.
Manik: Was it her??
Dadi: Who do u think can know u so well other than her.... Son believe it or not, we all are her only family. Her life revolves around this house, ur office and especially u. The salary that u pay her every month is kept as it is in her bank account with only a very slight decline due to the gifts that she gets for us and a few of her useful expenses.
Manik took in everything that Dadi told him, still shocked that he never knew so much about Nandini and neither did he notice. Soon he was back up, alone in his room with Dadi's words revolving in his head, "Her life revolves around this house, ur office and ESPECIALLY U"...
It was quite late when he got up and walked downstairs willing yo check on her, when he saw Dadi sitting in her room,
Nandini: Dadi, if I get to know na that u r missing ur medicines then I m telling u this time u'll hv to face a punishment.
Manik: Absolutely... Punishment this time Dadi...
Dadi: Have u both created a gang against me.
Manik: Now what else can we do when u don't ever listen to u.
Dadi: Really...
Manik: Ohk ohk... Now its bed time and medicine time as well.
Dadi: Ohh yes yes, sure.
Dadi got up and soon left the room blessing Nandini.
Manik: So u had dinner??
Nandini: Yes sir...
Manik: Ohk so take rest, sleep tight, no need to get up early in the mrng.
Nandini: Ohh no... Sir I had to study about the Singhania's file and also u hv another meetings tmrw.
Manik: Oh God relax Nandini and don't worry about work. I'll see what could be possible.
Nandini simply nodded at him but he could detect on her face that something was wrong,
Manik: Nandini.... Remember one thing for the next few days speak up clearly what u feel or its gonna be ur fault. So speak up now...
Nandini still hesitated a bit and then finally said,
Nandini: Sir... Dadi's bday -
As manik heard her, he immediately started laughing out loud.
Nandini looked at him in disbelief and said,
Nandini: Sir??
Manik continued laughing for a long time not even trying to control it. Nandini was very irritated by him but his carefree laughter made her smile. Manik finally stopped laughing and said,
Manik: Nandini seriously.... U rn't even able to stand n u r thinking about this. Relax... Forget all this for now!! We'll think about it tmrw mrng..
Nandini took up her hand to argue but suddenly Manik held her hand and stopping her.
Manik: Nandini i knw u care for Dadi's bday but right now the thi
now the thing that is necessary is U. Ur health. Nothing is important than u today.