Manik's POV

"MANIK!" Varun screamed.

I felt my mind getting woozy and my feet paralyze as I fall on my knees with a thud. Shock and pain are the only things I'm feeling right now...

The Person I thought I hated, got shot! He got shot saving me!

Varun!

T-The bullet was aimed at m-me! Nooo!

"Buddy!" I cried out and when I turned to look at the culprit. She was wearing a mask, so we couldn't see her face. But before she could do anything else, the Officers came in and immediately handcuffed her.

They removed her mask and to say I was shocked beyond my imagination would be an understatement.

"Shanaya?" A hollow whisper left my mouth.

****
I entered the room, closing the door softly behind me and sat on the chair.

My sunshine wasn't shining brightly like she always does.

She wasn't smiling, laughing..

She just looked pale and weak!

I held her hand and kissed it. I kept her hand on my forehead as hot tears came down.

All because of me..

If only I'd have come sooner to save her,

"Mani.." I heard her faint voice and her hand tightened its grip on mine. "I-" She started coughing and her voice croaked. I made her sit down and drink some water and immediately engulfed her in my arms.

I pecked her whole face and again hugged her as I pressed my lips on her hair. "I'm so sorry sunshine! It's all my fault!"

"Manik.." Her soothing voice reached my ears and she cupped my face in her hands, "See, I'm okay.. Haan these cuts would leave some scars but no biggie!" She joked and I found myself choking with emotions. "Arre! Mani.. Aise koi rota hai kya? Kya bacho ki tarah roye jaa rahe ho?!" She softly smacked my cheek and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

I called the doctor and others to ket them know about her condition. Everyone came inside, all the men kissed her forehead asking her to take care while the ladies were going ballistic. After a lot of comforting they calmed down and I persuaded them to go home since I wanted to be with Nandu.

As everyone left, I went near her and she pulled me in one of her own hugs.
We stayed like that for awhile, not wanting to leave each other even for a second. When we finally pulled apart, she scooted over and asked me to lie down with her. I was too overwhelmed by my emotions to deny her. It was all I wanted at the moment.

To be as close to her as possible!

I hugged her close to my chest and stroked her hair, "You know how scared I was! Main khudko maaf nahi kar pata, Nandini, agar tumhe kuch ho jaata." I kissed her hair, to reassure her that I'll always be there. But it was more like reassuring myself that it wasn't a dream. "I thought I lost you.. I love you Sunshine! I never wanna lose you."

"Shh.. Sab theek hai. I love you too!" She looked up and placed a chaste kiss on my lips, before snuggling to me again. "Waise, where's Varun? I bet kahin side pe baith ke ro raha hoga.. And he wouldn't have wanted to let anyone see him crying, image kharaab ho jaati na. So typical of him." I let her ramble, before I tell us what happened. She'd be so heartbroken.

"Nandu.."

"He doesn't even know, that I've seen him crying. And what image ki wajah se he wouldn't come see me now huh?"

"Nandini.."

"Manik, bulao na usse. Ab bohot ho gaya.. Where is he?!"

"Nandini!" I called her loudly but not in a harsh way. She jerked her head and stopped her babbling, "H-He got shot!" I felt like crying as I saw her face crumple into a remorseful one.

"What?" Her voice barely above whisper.

I shut my eyes tightly to control my emotions, "I-It was aimed at me but he came in front of me and t-took the shot!" And then I started crying for the nth time today.

"Noo! NO! I-I wanna see him. I wanna see him NOW!!" She spoke frantically and was about to get out of the bed.

"Nandini, wait!" I held her hand, stopping her, "You need rest, right now. You have way too many wounds and the doctor-"

"I don't care okay? I DON'T CARE! I just heard my best friend has got shot, a-and I need to see him.." She started sobbing while I held her, tightly in my arms.

"It's okay. Shhh!"

"At least just tell me, if he's okay.." She spoke hiccupping and I nodded. "But first tell me who did it?! Aryaman! Or that Harshad! I'm gonna kill them.."

"It was Shanaya!" I said looking down.

"What? I should have known she was in this too! Manik, I wanna see them. All three of them!" She pleaded.

"Wha-No! Why do you wanna see them?!" I said them with so much distaste that even she made a disgusted look.

"I just wanna know why? Why me?" She looked so lost at the moment.

"Hey! I'll take you to the police department tomorrow alright?"

She nodded and asked, "H-How's Varun?"

"I talked to the doctors before coming here. They said he had lost a lot of blood. They needed a blood transplant, but they ran out of B negative blood."

"His blood type is very rare. He used to joke about how nobody could give him blood when he'd need and he'll end up dy-" She choked on her tears as she laughed with no humour.

"I gave him blood."

"You did?" When I nodded, she immediately hugged me.

"Thanks. Thank you so much, Manik. I know you both have some differences but still you...Thanks a lot!" I gave her a watery smile and turned my head away.

"Of course, I would give him my blood! I'd give my life if it was for him. That jerk was my buddy! I could go any extent fkr him.." I was looking at her but my eyes seemed distant.

"Then what happened?! Please tell me what broke you guys apart??" She screamed, not so loud that it'd go out of the room, but enough for me to know that it was getting on her nerves. When she saw I was about to say something, she pointed a finger at me, "Don't! Don't you dare say that it's not the right time. Because I'm f*cking tired of listening that.."

O..kay?

I cleared my throat, "Um, I wasn't gonna say that.. Anyway, I would surely tell you...but not today, tomorrow!" She was going to protest, "No. I said I'll tell you tomorrow. It's been too much for a day! Now sleep." I spoke sternly causing her to huff in annoyance. She laid down beside me, not facing me, keeping a distance of an ince or two between us.

"I hate you!" She said but her actions spoke otherwise as she scooted closer to me.

I chuckled and carefully wrapped my arm around her taking care of the wounds. I snuggled even more into her and placed a kiss on her neck , just near her wound on her shoulder, "I think I have a pretty good idea of that!"
I felt her smile as she entwined our fingers together.

****
It was around 8 o'clock in the morning when I woke up. I saw Nandini still sleeping, so I gently kissed her temple and slid out of the bed.

I went out to get some coffee but saw Sanju sitting on the bench. I sat beside her, "Hey!" I said slowly and she just nodded in my direction, as a reply. I saw her eyes were red and puffed out. "Come on. I'm gonna go grab a coffee and you're coming with me.."

"Manik, I'm not interested please."

"Nuh-uh. Just come on, it's not like we are going out of the hospital. Hospital ke cafè jaa rahe hain!" She finally sighed and gave into my proposal.

We both got our coffees and sat silently, not uttering a word.

"Did you tell Nandini?"

I shook my head, "No. But I did told her half truth. I haven't told her about Varun, uh slipping into c-coma.." I spoke in a pained voice. She nodded and we again fell into a lapse of silence.

"You love him, don't you?"

She again nodded grimly but this time tears ran down her cheeks. I hugged her and rubbed her back to comfort her. "I'm okay. Let's go, mujhe Nandini se bhi milna hai."

The rest of the morning was spent in a better mood than I had expected. I was successful in diverting both the ladies' mind.
Sanjana was gonna go home, so I was going to walk her out when we saw doctors rushing to ICU, where Varun was.

"Excuse me! Doctor! What is happening?" I asked panicking.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Malhotra." He said and I heard a faint voice of a nurse shouting, 'We're losing him!'
___________________________________

Manik : No Author's Note!

Namdu : Yes! Because Author is very upset. She wouldn't budge, when we asked her to come.

Manik : But even I'm mad at you all! Your response is so disappointing! That is why she didn't give away Varun and I's flashback.

Nandu : If this chapter gets good response, then their past would be revealed soon. See you later. Don't forget to VOTE & COMMENT!