Everyone was waiting in the waiting area for a few hours to hear about Nandini when Abhi came back from talking to the police.

"Manik...Lavanya was caught trying to leave the country. Arrest kar liya unko." Abhi said.

"Good. I hope rots in jail." Manik muttered.

"The police will want to speak to Nandini, when she wakes up. Sirf usko Lavanya Bua ki saari sachai paata hai."

"Hmm....aur Shravan?" 

"He was also thrown in jail. They have enough proof to keep him locked for life. Baat karne ki koshish ki unhone par....I refused. He is stupid if he thinks itna sab ho jaane ke baad he still has a brother." Abhi turned to Smita and Anand, "Mom, Dad...Shravan ne jo bhi kiya...I so so sorry. I know sorry se kuch nahi hoga. It cant undo anything par....I dont know what else to say. Bhabhi...nahi Bhabhi nahi jab Shravan ke saath mera ki rishta nahi toh main unko bhabhi kaise bula sakta hoon....Di. Roshni Di didnt deserve this and Im so sorry."

Mukti hugged Abhi to console him. "Isme tumhara koi galati nahi hai Abhi....dont apologize for something you didnt do."

"Haan beta, hum tumhe bilkul blame nahi karte hai." Anand said.

A few more minutes later the doctor came out.

"Doctor...how is my wife?" Manik asked, running to him. 

"We have taken out the bullets but..."

"But what?" Nyonika asked, fearfully.

"But she had alot of internal bleeding. In fact her condition is still very critical." The doctor said. Manik's whole stopped and he felt like he couldnt breathe. "Im sorry but....if she doesnt wake up in the next 24 hours, we wont be able to do anything."

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN YOU WONT BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING? HUH?" Manik furiously grabbed the doctor's collar and shook him. "YOU ARE A DOCTOR! ITS YOUR JOB TO SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES SO DO IT! SAVE MY WIFE'S LIFE!"

"Manik!" Raj & Anand peeled Manik off the doctor. The others were in shock.

"Save her pls..." Manik dropped to the floor sobbing. "Pls...Pls..Pls..."

"Im so sorry Doctor.." Raj apologized.

"Its okay, I understand. "The doctor gave a sympathetic look to Manik. "Once we move her into a room, you can go in if you like."

"I can't loose her...maar jaunga uske bina main." Manik cried, not hearing what the doctor said. 

"Manik...tu andar ja. Nandu se baat kar...woh pakka thik ho jayegi...kuch nahi hoga." Nyonika helped her son up once Nandini had been moved. Manik wiped his tears and entered the room. Nandini lay there, looking pale as needles were pierced into her skin, there were many machines and an oxygen mask still covering her face. Only the steady beep beep of the machine to show that Nandini was still hanging onto life. Manik sat down on the chair beside Nandini's bed and took her hand in his, kissing it gently.

"Yeh jo saare doctors hai na yahan. Paata nahi kahan se apni degree haasil ki hai..pakka paise de ke kareedi hogi." Manik chuckled to himself. "They know nothing....kuch nahi hoga tumhe. Kuch ho hi nahi sakta. Tumne promise ki hai mujhe...ki tum mujhe chod ke kaabhi nahi jaoge. Aur meri biwi apni promises rakhti hai...so I know tumhe hosh aa jayegi."

From outside the room, the two families watched as Manik talked to Nandini emotionally. Nyonika, who was staying strong until now broke down and Raj held her.

"Yeh kya ho gaya hai Raj? Pehle Roshni aur Nandini ke saath, bhawan kyun kar rahe hai yeh sab?" Nyonika sobbed. "Humare bachon ke saath kyun?"

"Bhagwan nahi...Lavanya ne kiya hai yeh sab. Agar by chance woh choot gayi na....toh main usse apne haathon se maar dunga!" Ravi yelled. The others silently cried for Nandini.

***************

The day went by and now it was night. Most of the family members were all sent back to the guest house reluctantly to rest as not many people were allowed to stay. Manik never budged from his position beside Nandini whereas Cabir, Laksh, Rishab, Kartik & Veer were waiting outside.

"Wake up Jaan...ankhen kholo pls." Manik whispered to Nandini. "Nahi jee sakta main tumhare bina...I know you know that phir kyun saata rahe ho tum mujhe?"

Soon Manik fell asleep.

A couple more hours later, Nandini woke up to see Manik's head placed gently on her stomach and his arms wrapped protectively around her waist. Smiling weakly, Nandini ran her hand through Manik's hair waking him up.

"Na...Nandini!" Manik looked at her with happiness. "Tu..tumhe hosh aa gaya...I knew it...mujhe paata tha tum mujhe chodke nahi jaa sakti."

Manik sobbed and hugged Nandini, kissing her everywhere. "Dont ever scare me like that again...kuch ho jaata tumhe toh? Main kya karta? Kaise jeeta main?"

"Par...k..kuch..hu..a..t..oh..nahi..na..Ma..Manik." Nandini managed to say. 

"Tum na behas mat karon mujhse...aaram karo, main doctor aur bakki sab ko bulata hoon." Manik got up to leave when a nurse came in. The same nurse form before.

"Oh...Mrs Malhotra is awake?"

"Yeah, Im just going to inform our families."

"Alright....Ill check your wife." The nurse smiled and went to Nandini as manik left the room.  "Your husband love you soo much....he wouldnt leave you alone for even a second. You are very lucky."

"I...Kn..ow.." Nandini smiled. 

"Nanhi...." Kartik, Veer & Rishabh came in followed by Laksh.

"Bhabhi...you're awake. Im so happy." Laksh hugged Nandini gently. 

"Tujhe dard toh nahi ho raha hai na?" Rishabh asked.

"Nahi Rishabh...Im fine." Nandini smiled at her brother. "Baaki sab kaha hai?"

"Cabir unko phone karne gaye hai." Manik explained. Soon the other family member arrived and one by one met Nandini hugged her. Ravi & Kavita stayed at the back although they were also very happy.

"Ma...Papa....aap dono apni beti ko gale nahi lagayenge?" Nandini asked. Ravi and Kavita looked at her and Nandini held her arms open.

"Nanhi..." Ravi & Kavita took her into thir arms kissing her all over.

"Im so sorry princess. Maaf karde apne Papa ko...Im sorry." Ravi cried.

"Its okay Papa...maine maaf kardi, main sab ko maaf kardi hai."

"Sachi mein?" Veer asked.

"Muchi mein." Nandini replied. She was once again pulled into a hug, this time by her brothers.

**************

"Manik." Nandini whined. "Mujhe nahi khaana hai yeh. Bohot hi ganda hai...koi taste hi nahi hai."

"Sorry Jaanu." Manik laughed at her cuteness. "This food is good for you..toh khaana toh parega."

"Manik...woh Jiju-"

"Shravan ke baare mein mujhe koi baat nahi karna hai Nandini." Manik sternly replied.

"Par...woh Gaurav ka papa hai..."

"Toh kya? Maaf kardun? Nandini maafi toh door ki baat hai uss insaan ki humari zindagi mein koi jagah hi nahi bachi hai." Manik replied. He turned to Nandini and cupped her face. "Tumhara dil bohot bada hai Jaan and I know tumhe sabse zyada Gaurav ki chinta ho rahi hai...I also know ki tumne humesha Shravan ko respect kiya par woh uss layak hi nahi hai....Gaurav ke paas hum hai...pura parivaar hai. Hum Gaurav ko uske Mom Dad ki kaami mehsoos nahi hone denge."

A Few Days Later...

Nandini was slowly recovering in the hospital, and Manik was with her for the entire time. while the other family members came and went. 

Nandini was enjoying some family time with Manik and her parents when a man knocke don her hospital door.

"Yes, who are you?" Manik asked.

"Sir...I am Shravan Thakkar's lawyer."

Manik's smile dropped. "I dont have anything to say to you, pls leave."

"Actually sir, I just wanted to say....Mr Thakkar is no more."

"What!?" Everyone looked shocked.

"K...Kaise.." Abhi asked.

"He was found in his cell this morning...somehow he got his hands on a blade and...."

Abhi gasped, tears forming in his eyes. After all, Shravan was his brother.

"He left this letter for Manik & Nandini Malhotra. I came to deliver it."

Manik took the letter and the lawyer left. Opening it, Manik started reading out loud.

Manik & Nandini,

I know sorry isnt enough infact....sorry wont do anything but still I want to start off with a sorry. I was never like this, you all know me for many years and I dont know when or how I became such a monster. Im not making any excuses, nor will I blame Lavanya buaji because at the end of the day the decisons I made were my own. My own insecurities and jealousy led to Roshni's death. To tell the truth, I probably wouldnt have even realized I was wrong if Nandini hadnt saved me that day. After that, I couldnt even look at myself in the mirror. I was punished with life imprisonment but that just didnt feel like enough after everything I did.

I just want to ask you two for one thing....pls take care of Gaurav. Make sure he never forgets his mom, Roshni and that he grows up to not know a thing about me....I dont want my crimes to leave an impact on my son. I want you two to adopt him....he needs parents and because of me, he lost both....but you two would be better parents then I could ever be. Once again, Im really sorry. Tell Abhi, I hope one day at least he can forgive his older brother.

Shravan Thakkar.

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Note: hey guys, I decided to upload two chapters in a day just cause I was on a roll. Hope you like it.