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

Hi guys....

Here I m back with the next part. But before that I want to Thank all U adorable people out there. I hv my internal exams going on and thats why I wasn't able to reply to all ur comments in the last too part...

I hope u continue loving the story and sharing ur views to it.

Till then, Enjoy reading!!!

Part 70:

Fab5 refused to Mr. Desai's offer after Nandini entered her room. It was already 10:30 and everyone was tired so they decided to rest for the day and talk to her the next day. While Manik was desperate to know how her day went with Kartik. He was burning out of jealousy since the time she had stepped out of the house, but there was nothing she could do. All of them went to sleep early deciding to go out somewhere the next day as Abhi was free.

It was around 2 in the night when Nandini got out of the house. She looked around a few times to check that no one was there after which she walked to her car. Walking around to the driver's seat she tried to open the door but to her dismay the car was locked. She walked over to Abhi's car knowing it would be open but she turned out to be wrong again.

Frustrated she moved towards the main gate thinking to take up some taxi but the gate too was locked.

Nandini: Watchman!!!!

She shouted and within a minute the guard came rushing to her.

Guard: Yes Ma'am....

Nandini: Why are the cars locked???

Nandini shouted at him making him shutter.

Guard: Ma'am Abhimanyu sir took both the keys.

Nandini: Urgh... Open this gate!!

Guard: Ma'am sir has ordered not to open it till the morning.

He bowed down in front of her.

Nandini: What the..... I m telling u to open it!!

Guard: Sorry Mam I hv been ordered to not even listen to u....

Nandini stepped forward in anger but then turned away.

Nandini: Fine... I hv spare keys to it!! And u r fired the first thing next morning....

She got back into the house and moved to the dining area as she checked up the cabinet for the spare key.

Nandini: Where is this key now!!!

Nandini looked around the entire area frantically. All she knew was that she had to get out of the house right now at any cost.

She moved out of the dining area looking around for the keys in the living room as she toiled all over the space. Finally resulting in pushing over an antique lamp on a side which fell down and broke with a loud bang breaking its glass into shutters.

The loud noise woke up everyone in the house but she cared least as she continued finding the keys. She was looking for it in the lower most cabinets when she heard a voice.

"Kiddo!!!"

She looked up to see Abhi rushing towards her in concern, followed by Manik while Fab5 too were getting down the stairs. She got up from her place and moved towards Abhi.

Nandini: Abhi abhi.... I want the keys!! Give me the keys....

Nandini begged him standing in front of him.

Abhi cupped her face listening to her voice and asked,

Abhi: What keys kiddo??

Nandini: Keys to the main gate... That guard isn't letting me out!! Why did u ask him to lock it....

Nandini gasped pushing off his hands.

Abhi: But Nandu... Why do u want the keys??

Nandini: JUST GIMME THE GOD DAMN KEYS.....

Nandini shouted pushing him away when her eyes fell over Manik. She moved forward towards him and said,

Nandini: Manik... U tell him na, I want to go out. Plz ask the guard to open the gate Manik. Tell him to open it up!!

Manik: But Nandini its 2 in the night....

Manik said slowly to her cupping her face. But she pushed his hands off her and stepped back as a tear rolled down her eyes.

Nandini: I want to go out.... Why r u all NOT LETTING ME GO OUT???

She shouted again and threw another show piece on the ground as it broke making everyone shiver.

She looked at them once with tears flowing down her face as she shattered on the ground over her knees with the glass pieces piercing her skin as blood spilled out.

Manik: NANDINI....

Manik shouted and moved towards her but she stayed the same. He bent down in front of her being careful of the glass when Nandini looked up to him and held his hands.

Nandini: Manik... Manik plz tell him na, I want to go out. I hv to get those pills anyhow, or else I will die... I want those pills!!!

Manik cupped his face listening to her and tried to calm her down,

Manik: What pills Nandini, what pills do u want baby?? Tell me I will get it for u!!

Nandini wiped off her tears and looked at him expectantly,

Nandini: U will??

Manik: Yes, yes... I will get it for u, tell me what do u want??

Nandini: Manik I want those pills.... My sleeping pills, I want it now Manik. I can't sleep, I m tired of it now, I want to sleep Manik.

Manik looked at her shocked listening to this while Nandini continued blabbering, he looked up at the others to find shock on each of their faces.

Nandini: Manik....

Nandini shook him getting his attention back to her when Manik took a deep breath and said,

Manik: Ohk u want sleeping pills right... I will immediately get it arranged for u. Happy!!

Nandini smiled in between her tears and stood up on her feet when the glass pieces pierced her toe as well. Both her knees were bleeding like anything making everyone shocked while Manik winced at her pain.

Abhi moved forward towards her to cup her face when Nandini immediately flicked at his touch and stepped back further over the glass as she hid behind Manik.

Nandini: Stay Away.... Away!!

Nandini murmured as she held Manik's hand firmly, hinding behind him when Manik blinked at Abhi, who clearly seemed hurt by Nandini's retrieval.

Manik: Nandini... Come, lets go up to ur room and soon ur pills will be here!! Ohk..

Nandini looked at him unsure for a second after which she nodded. Manik picked her up in his arms as she hid her face into his neck, hiding herself from all the others. Manik took her slowly to her room and blinked the others to stay outside for sometime and then get the medical kit. He lied her down over the bed and caressed her hair backwards.

Manik: Ohk... So now u lie down here and try to sleep until ur pills come by.

Manik wiped off all the left over tears from her face when Nandini held his hand.

Nandini: Don't go Manik.... Don't leave me alone!! Plz don't leave me..

Nandini whispered holding his hand tight. Manik bent forward as he kissed her forehead softly.

Manik: I m not going anywhere Nandini.... I m right here by ur side always!!

He kissed her hair once as she held him even tighter. Manik lied down over the bed by her side as Nandini hugged him tight, digging her face into his chest.

As much as Manik wanted to cuddle back into her and fall asleep in her warmth. His only concern at that point of time were the various glass pieces on both her knees and on her right foot. She was bleeding continuously as a result of which the bed too was filled up with blood by then.

He felt Nandini's breathing get slow over his chest when he slowly took out his phone and msged Abhi to get inside.

Within seconds Abhi entered the room followed by Fab4 when Manik kept a finger of his mouth telling them to be silent. He signalled them towards her legs, when Mukti, Aliya and Abhi got to work, cleaning her wounds.

They plucked out the glass pieces when Manik felt Nandini wince in between her sleep. Tears were flowing down from all their eyes at only imagining her pain while Manik stayed still hugging her as he kept on kissing the top of her head from time to time.

Mukti did her dressing carefully as she got up from the bed. Abhi had her eyes fixed over the back of Nandini's head as she hid it into Manik. His eyes met Manik who nodded at him once, assuring him about her when all of them finally moved out of the room, closing the door behind them, leaving the couple alone.

Nandini was sound asleep while Manik decided to use the time and look at her. It seemed as if ages had passed since the last tym that he had her so close to himself, in his arms.

Manik kept on kissing her face and hair in every few minutes just wanting this to last for as long as he could.

MANIK'S POV:

Where hv I got the two of us??? This isn't us!! We were meant to be the happy couple I looked up to. The one which made me want to get closer to her. And here we are, fighting to hold onto that small little thread holding us together.

The day I had decided to thank her for being in my life was the same day when I ended up giving her one of the hardest push backs of her life!!

She wants to be away from me! She wants to be go back... But forget about following her request, I can't even imagine myself doing so... I feel her presence so vibrantly within me that I know that it's mark is permanent. She laced herself into the depths my heart, my soul, and there was no escaping now. We can't go back, only forward. And I want to go forward with her until there is no where left to go.

I either felt everything too damn much, or nothing at all. There is no middle. It's one or the other. No grey area, just black or white. But with Nandini..... With nandini I felt everything. Every look, every word, every whisper, every touch, I felt it all.

I wanted everything with this girl!

Call me crazy?? Hell, Maybe I m.... Crazy in like? Crazy in love? Crazy about her? A little of each all at once. I had no damn clue.

All I knew that being with Nandini made me fell like I m on the fucking top of the world. Everytime I made her smile or laugh; everytime she leans up on her tip toes and hooks her arms around my neck; everytime she allows herself to be vulnerable to me; everytime she lets me kiss her..... It feels as if my heart expands in my chest, threatening to burst out at any moment.

She made me feel the happiness I never even knew existed. And I want to make her feel the same... I want her to wake up every morning and feel like the happiest and the luckiest girl on this planet.

POV ENDS.....

Manik bent down and kissed her forehead again. He checked if her legs were comfortable, with not much stress on her wounds before he finally snuggled closer to her and fell asleep.

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The next morning, Manik opened up his eyes on getting disturbed by the sharp rays of sunlight entering the room. He moved his head to hide his eyes and dig her face in something soft. A deep breath to sleep again got a broad smile on her face. His Nandini was lying next to him in his arms, with his face dug into her hair.

He moved a bit upwards and looked at her angelic face which seemed to be at peace as she again snuggled into his chest. He lay there simply taking in her presence until she finally stirred in her sleep and opened up her eyes slowly.

Nandini opened up her eyes to find Manik staring at her, admiring the view as a smile stretched on her face.

Nandini: Good mrng Mani...

Nandini whispered closing her eyes again as Manik kissed her forehead and hugged her close to himself. None of them said anything, hugging each other for about a minute when Nandini suddenly pushed him away and got up.

Manik looked at her in concern as she laced her fingers through her hair remembering the last night. She took a few minutes to calm herself down but didn't say a word to him. He continued staring at her back until she finally said slowly,

Nandini: Get Out....

A sigh escaped Manik's lips as he finally got up and shifted ahead to keep a hand on Nandini's shoulder, which she immediately moved away and said again.

Nandini: Get Out now....

Manik: Nandini I-

Manik tried to say something to her but she interrupted him and shouted,

Nandini: I SAID GET OUT!!!

Manik looked at her for a few minutes while Nandini tried her best to hide her eyes from him. He got off the bed and simply walked to the door. He was about to move out when he saw her getting up from the bed and come forward to lock the door. His gaze shifted to her wounds as he saw fresh blood ooze out of her right foot.

Manik: Nandini, ur leg...

Manik said taking a step towards her. When Nandini held up her hand.

Nandini: Stay back...

She walked forward towards the door, leaving a blood trail of her steps and closed the door at his face with a black expression.

Manik groaned in frustration and rushed downstairs to find everyone standing at the steps itself.

Cabir: Manik... Is Nandini alright?? We heard her shouting!!

Manik shook his head frantically and turned towards Abhi.

Manik: Abhi... Call the doctor immediately!! Her is up on her feet again and its bleeding badly. We need to know what happened last night!!!

Abhi immediately took out his phone and moved away calling the doctor while Manik looked up towards Nandini's room. Cabir moved ahead and kept his hand over his shoulder as Manik faced him again.

A tear rolled down his cheek with no words from his mouth, as he turned around and got back to his room to get ready.

Exactly 15 minutes later, the doctor was there. As all of them moved upwards to her room. Manik too joined them as Abhi knocked on the door.

Abhi: Kiddo its me!!

Nandini: Abhi go away... I m not in mood right now!

Abhi: Kiddo plz open the door for once...

Abhi said knocking again while all the others stood back. Two minutes later, the door finally twisted open as Nandini stood back leaning over the door.

Abhi: Nandu!!

Abhi said slowly looking at her expressionless face as his eyes followed down to her feet.

She stood there in front of him, clearly out of a shower with her hair dripping wet, wearing a casual outfit, the bandages were removed from her knees and foot. With her foot still bleeding. Abhi immediately bent down picking her up in his arms and walked towards her bed.

Nandini: Abhi....

Nandini squealed due to his sudden action. Abhi settled her down on the bed when his eyes moved around the room at all the blood stains on the floor. Nandini noticed his gaze and held his hand.

Nandini: I m fine Abhi!!

Abhi shook his head and said,

Abhi: No... U r not!!! Doctor....

Nandini looked towards the door as Abhi called out and just then Fab5 entered with the doctor with Manik standing at the further most end, behind everyone.

Abhi: U need proper dressing!!

Abhi said to Nandini and got up while nandini looked at him in disbelief. The doctor started doing his work while Mukti and Aliya asked nandini if it was paining or if she needed anything.

Soon the doctor finished with the dressing and said,

Dr: I must say Nandini... U r a brave girl!! Its a very deep cut and still u didn't even flinch for a sec, commendable.

Nandini smiled at him slightly and looked at her now bandaged wounds.

Nandini: When u knw ur wounds are given by urself only, then there is no need to cry over it....

The doctor nodded at her while Manik looked up to see pain flicker in Nandini's eyes and within a second get covered by blankness.

Dr.: Ohk so now Nandini.... I hv a few questions for u!!

Nandini looked at him confused,

Nandini: Questions??

Dr.: About how u got these wounds??

He said softly making Nandini's expressions harder,

Nandini: It was just an accident...

Saying so Nandini got off the bed standing up straight.

Manik: Nandini.....

Manik moved forward looking at her leg when the dr said,

Dr.: Nandini.... It's still very fresh, u shouldn't be standing like this. U need rest!!

Nandini: I don't think I can rest with so many ppl around, I need to go...

Nandini said in a stern tone looking at no one and was about to move forward when Abhi said,

Abhi: No one is going anywhere Nandini Moorthy.... And U hv my swear if u take one step away from here without answering each and everything doctor uncle asks...

Nandini looked at him shocked and saw his angry face. When he ordered,

Abhi: On the bed now!!

Nandini groaned in anger as she sat back on the bed. Abhi walked to the other side of the bed and lifted her legs up, checking her wounds once more. He then settled down by her sides and held her hand but she immediately got free of it.

Dr: Ohk so nandini.... What exactly happened last night??

Nandini didn't look at him and simply picked up her phone and started playing a game as she replied,

Nandini: Nothing special...

Dr.: Well it didn't look like nothing special to me.... To what ur friends tell me, u clearly weren't in ur senses.

Nandini: Maybe...

Dr.: Look Nandini.... I don't know what u want, but I think it is serious, it could be anything!!

Dr. said trying to take her attention when Nandini looked up and said sternly,

Nandini: Ugh... Stop making it such a big deal. Both of us clearly know that it was nothing more than a panic attack. Now if u r done, can I plz be alone....

Dr.: How do u know that it was a panic attack??

The doctor asked suddenly while the rest stood there still.

Nandini: I just know....

Nandini replied slowly and got back to her game.

Dr.: No one can tell it so casually about hving a panic attack unless u hv had it before....

The doctor said more of telling than asking it to her. Nandini's fingers stopped on her phone as she gripped it hard still looking down, abhi noticed it and took her phone away from her.

Abhi: Nandu??? Say something....

He asked already dreading the answer. When the doctor said,

Dr.: No need I got my answer!! So now Nandini u tell me how many times in total hv u got these attacks including the one last night.

Nandini: I m sorry about whatever my brother has told u but if u r here for some sort of counselling now, then u r wasting ur time. Coz I don't need one...

Nandini said looking up at the doctor, talking in an almost threatening tone. As she got up from the bed and limped towards the window looking away from everyone else.

Dr.: Well I m not here for any counselling... I just need answers. Now if u will plz cooperate. So how many times??

Nandini: The fifth last night...

Nandini said plainly as she heard a gasp from everyone present in the room.

Dr.: And when exactly did u get the first one and what did u do?? How was it detected?

Nandini stood there silent without saying anything just staring out at the sky.

Nandini: Around four years ago, India... The doctor told me it was a panic attack.

A deathly silence surrounded the room while the doctor continued,

Dr.: Why were u at the hospital?

Nandini: Poison intake... I drank away the rat kill.

A number of gasps, whats and OMGs covered the room while tears welled up in Abhi's eyes as they stared at her back.

Dr.: And the second one??

Nandini: 10 days after the first one.... Nothing major happened but they still called me in...

Dr.: What was the analysis??

Nandini: Chronic depression.... Almost zero sleep!! I was given Anti depressants and sleeping pills.

Dr.: And the one after that??

He asked simply when Nandini turned around and shouted,

Nandini: Ohk rn't u done yet!!!

Dr.: Not yet... The next one??

The doctor ignored her anger. While Nandini shouted at his face.

Nandini: Two weeks after... I tried IT again with excess dose of Sleeping pills!! But those fucking ppl saved me again... Happy now??

No reaction came out of everyone as all of them stood still taking in her words while they stared at her Red eyes, spitting fire to the doctor.

Dr.: What happened then??

The doctor asked in the most calm voice that he could use. Nandini stared at him for a minute and then turned back towards the window saying nothing. All of them waited for her answer but she didn't say a word. After what seemed like a forever in just 5 minutes, she turned around. Her face blank, all anger gone... Eyes void of any expression. She took a step ahead and winced in pain, as she walked back to the bed and sat.

Nandini: They had me join into a rehab.... It kinda helped me, it got my mind off and motivated me to build up my life. Around 3 months later, I got a job and that got to be the turning point. About three months into the job and I was over the anti-depressants. And it got over.

Dr.: Then how did the fourth one take place? And when??

Nandini sighed a bit and skimmed her hair.

Nandini: A few days back...

Dr.: Did u do anything??

The doctor asked getting everyone's attention.

Nandini: No... I was busy throughout, It passed away on its own!!

Dr.: Busy with what exactly??

Nandini: Packing.... I was shifting!!

Nandini said simply but looked here and there not exactly having an eye contact with anyone.

The doctor sighed at it and then thought for a second before looking up,

Dr.: If I m not wrong, last night u wanted to go out to buy sleeping pills. Right??

He looked at Abhi who nodded when he continued his question.

Dr.: So how long were u taking those pills after the doctor recommended it to u.

Nandini: 3 years approx....

Nandini replied picking up her phone back.

Dr.: Thats a very long time.... So that means u left it a few months ago itself. How did u stop taking those??

He asked as Nandini's eyes moved up to Manik.

Nandini: I just didn't need then anymore!!

Realisation drew over Manik's face as her words revolved in his head.

"Stay here with me.... I can't sleep without hving u close!!"

Nandini looked back down avoiding his gaze when the doctor asked,

Dr.: When was the last time u slept properly....

Nandini: 3-4 days back when I came here.... I was on medication.

Dr.: Not with that Nandini.....

Nandini: Three weeks probably!!

Came a slow whisper from her as she thought about it. She got up on her feet again and took a deep breath before speaking up.

Nandini: I guess thats more than enough.... U hv got quite a lot on ur plate now.. Bye!!

Saying so she started walking towards the while no one dared to stop her this time. She was almost out of the door when the dr said again.

Dr.: Just one last thing Nandini..... Where r ur reports from the doctors for all these years???

Nandini: I tore then the day I got them....

Nandini replied without looking around and limped away.

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The doctor went away soon after Nandini. The servants told them that Nandini was in the Music room as they all moved downstairs.

Abhi: She went through so much.... And I had the idea of nothing!!! I knew she always hid her feelings behind that smile and still I never asked her.

Abhi whispered as he dig his head in his palm. Mukti caressed his back holding his hands.

Mukti: Its not ur fault. Don't blame urself Abhi.....

All of them were emotional at that point of time. The things that they got to know today were something they couldn't even imagine in their dreams. While the doctors words scared the shit out of them.

"I m sure u all know that she is going through something really big on the emotional level.... Whatever it is, it has affected her very badly. Two failed suicide attempts in the past, it won't be surprising for another one this time. Its good that u all didn't let her go last night, driving in such a condition, anything could hv happened..... Just take care of her very well!!! She needs it now the most.... "

Manik: Mukti is right abhi.... U r not at fault!! U weren't even there with her. But me??? I was there with her for the entire fucking 24hours. She used to be late every morning and never did I even try to know the reason of her getting late..... She continued taking those pills until we got closer. After that she always said that she wasn't able to sleep without hving me there. And I..... Well, I kept on thinking it to be some of her romantic beliefs and never thought otherwise.

Manik said staring at his hand as all those times that he scolded her for getting late came to his mind. All those times that she hid herself into his chest and slept moved through her eyes.

Cabir: No Manik.... No one is at fault here!! None of us could hv even imagined that things were so serious....

Aliya: Nandini has faced a lot in her life and she has faced it all like a strong wall, living through each of it. But obviously, everything has its limit, her limits got crossed. Even the strongest of materials get weakened if we keep on hitting it continuously.

Aliya said nodded at Cabir's words.

Manik: But she did guys.... She did get over all of it!! She fought with everything within herself and got over it looking ahead for happiness.... And what did I do!!! I pushed her back.... I pushed her back into the darkness through which she had fought her way out.

Tears rolled down Manik's eyes, as he opened himself up.

Manik: Here.... She was here last night looking lost. Lost in so much of darkness that she didn't even feel the physical pain of all those glass pieces. Did u see her face, she was broken..... Completely shattered!! Begging in front of me for simple night's sleep. And I couldn't do anything!!! I couldn't....

Manik said crying as tears welled up in all their eyes....

Abhi: U can!!!

Abhi said suddenly and got up wiping his tears.

Abhi: Only U can Manik..... Only u can hold her hand and pull her out of this darkness Manik. U did that once and u'll do it again...

Dhruv: What do u mean??

Abhi: Look at it guys.... U all got her out of it. She was depressed when she joined the job. Can't u think of anything major that happened after that??

Abhi asked all of them making them think when Mukti suddenly realised,

Mukti: Fab5 got back together....

Abhi: Exactly.... Fab5!! Music.... She had left her music here and she got it back in u ppl. Ur success was the only thing that she wanted... Ignoring ur work is the last thing she wants and this is what she heard u say yesterday Manik. U r ready to leave everything behind for her, but she isn't ready to let u lever it all behind!!!

Manik: Nothing will be left behind.... I won't let it happen and I will get her back on my side.

Manik said as he got up controlling all hide feelings. And with that he moved up the stairs towards the music room.

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They say to err is human.... Yes we all make mistakes, we all flounder but what matters is how we accept our mistakes and how we make them right....

And when the night is at the darkest and the road lying ahead is bumpy... Only then we know who the real men are!!

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That was it guys....

A lot of stuff revealed, I hope this part finally answered all ur questions about Nandini and her past.

So, how was the part guys?? Do share ur views and comment.

Love,

Navya!!