NEXT MORNING:

IN NANDINI'S HOME:

IN NANDINI'S HALL:

(Nandini woke up by 6:30 a.m. and immediately woke up navya and made her go by 7:00 a.m. Then, they started doing preparations for the puja and nandini went to washroom to get ready. She came and chachi saw her and she got to know that she had cried a lot in the washroom by seeing her red puffy eyes.) (Amms have arranged a puja in the mangalore, so she hasn't come to mumbai.) 

(Nandini and Rishabh sat to do the puja and Manik also came with the gang and Navya. Nandini couldn't saw them as they were standing behind her. They came inside and manik sat behind nandini. All the while, nandini was trying to control her tears and manik sensed it as he was sitting just behind nandini. After an hour, puja got over and they all stand up. Panditji gave nandini a kalash full of rice to pour in front of her amma-appa's photo frame. (Rishabh was younger than nandini, so all the vidhi has to be done by nandini only.) (Okay, i know guys, that this doesn't happen in real life as all vidhi is done by son only, but because it's required in the story, so, i am showing nandini doing all this. If i go against anybody and hurt anyone's sentiments, then, i am really sorry.) 

(Panditji asked nandini to pour the rice, rishabh got aside to give nandini space. Nandini was going to pour rice but kalash slipped from her hands and was going to fall but manik as he was standing just behind her hold the kalash. Nandini got relief that it doesn't fell down but in this manik's hand touched nandini's hand and she became confused and worried too that is he really manik as she can feel manik's touch and confirming her doubts, manik came in front of nandini holding the kalash. They both stood straight facing each other. Nandini saw manik and the tears which she were trying to hide from so long started falling from her eyes and manik's eyes immediately became moist seeing nandini's tears. Nandini turned her face towards others and saw everyone standing there with tears in their eyes. Her stream of tears started flowing widely. She again looked towards manik and manik nodded his head in a yes as if indicating her that he is there for her and as nandini understood it, she immediately hugged manik and bursted out in tears. Manik also started crying. He wrapped his one hand around her shoulder and his other hand holding the kalash was wrapped around her waist. Nandini has holded his kurta from the back in her tight grip and was crying immensely. Manik has closed his eyes and was pecking her head and hair time to time assuring nandini that he is there with her.)

(Looking nandini like this, rishabh also started crying and mukti and cabir immediately rushed towards him and hugged him from sides. They both were crying too. Chacha-chachi and navya was also crying seeing nandini in so much pain.) (After few minutes, panditji spoke.)

PANDITJI: Beta, puja? (All looked towards him except nandini. Mnaik opened his eyes and looked towards him and nodded his head. Manik caressing nandini's hair started speaking.)

M: Nandini? (Nandini hugged him more tightly.)

M: Nandini, meri taraf dekho.. (She nodded her head in no in his embrace only.) Please Nandini... (She snuggled in him more.)

M: Dekho.. hamein amma-appa ki puja ki aakhiri vidhi puri karni hai na? Please... (Nandini slowly took her face out of his embrace but was still holding him with her hands around him and his one hand around her shoulder. As nandini looked in his eyes, manik saw helplessness in her eyes and he nodded his head as if telling him that he is there and nandini somewhere got strength. She looked at the kalash in manik's hand and again looked at manik, he gestured her to take it. Nandini holded it with her one hand and with other hand, she was still holding manik and manik was also side-hugging her. Then, with one hand, they both holded the kalash and turn towards the photo-frame and both started pouring the rice together in front of the photo frame.) (Panditji was going to stop manik to do the vidhi as he is not related to them but chachi stopped him to say anything.) 

(Manik and Nandini together pour the rice and one flower falls down from the photo-frame of amma-appa as if they were blessing both Manik and Nandini to be together always and both chacha-chachi saw that and gave each other a small smile.) 

(Manik and Nandini poured whole of the rice and put the kalash at the side and then stood straight facing each other. As soon as they stood facing each other and look in each other eyes, nandini immediately hugged manik tightly and manik also hugged her back tightly.) (Nandini was crying and manik was rubbing her back to calm her down and side by side pecking her hairs.) (Panditji was chanting some mantras and after few minutes, he stopped and announced that puja got completed.)

PANDITJI: Aur ye puja sampann hui.. (Hearing those words, nandini came into her senses and realised that she was crying in front of all of them and she go weak in front of them but she didn't wanted to share her pain with anybody, so she immediately broke the hug and ran upstairs. Manik firstly became confused by her this act and then understood why she did so. He was going to run behind nandini but then he saw rishabh crying in mukti's and cabir's embrace.)

(He knew that rishabh also needed him and moreover, he has to first calm down rishabh as his health might got worsen because of enough crying. And he also knew, that nandini will become tensed looking rishabh like that and he knows that rishabh is his family now and he can't see his family sad or crying. He moved towards rishabh and called him.)

M: Champ... (Rishabh heard manik calling him. He looked towards him and broke the hug with mukti and cabir and immediately hugged manik tightly and manik hugged him back. Rishabh was crying in manik's embrace and manik was ruffling his hairs to calm him down.)

M: Champ... Shh... Bas.. Bas... Tu toh mera strong champ hai... Bas.. Shh... Mera bacchha toh bhut strong hai.. Bas... Mera baccha.. bas.. shh.. (Rishabh's eyes started flowing more by hearing bacchha from manik for him. He became emotional that someone other than his chacha-chachi and his didi is calling him bacchha. He felt a strong connection with manik.) (All other also got surprised listening bacchha word from manik's mouth because he was never that emotional but they knew that nandini has a strong impact on manik and now, manik feels all relations straight from his heart.) 

(Even manik felt a different kind of feeling with rishabh. He wanted to protect him like a father or an elder brother. He felt protective towards him. Though, not bounded with blood, but they both felt a strong connection with each other.) (Rishabh broke the hug and said to manik with tears in his eyes.)

R: Manik Bhaiya, please meri nandu di ko vapis la do. Meri di ko vapis la do jo khelti thi, hansti thi, muskurati thi, jo zindagi jeeti thi. Please bhaiya.. meri di ki khushiyan vapis la do. (Manik's eyes became moist listening to rishabh getting so concerned for his elder di. He cupped rishabh's face and spoke.)

M: Rishabh, tujhe apne manik bhaiya par bharosa hai? (Rishabh immediately nodded his head in yes and manik smiled.) Toh bas, tu tension mat le.. and trust me.. main teri pehle vali didi ko vapis le ayunga.. aur vo dil se khush hoyegi. I promise. (Rishabh smiled and hugged manik again which manik reciprocated. After some minutes, they broke the hug. Manik wiped rishabh's tears and kissed on his forehead to which rishabh smiled.) (I know it's quite rare when a father kisses his son's forehead or an elder brother kisses his younger brother's forehead. Father used to kiss his daughter's forehead, brother used to kiss his sister's forehead, sister used to kiss brother's forehead, mother used to kiss son's forehead. Even mother used to kiss daughter's forehead, even sister used to kiss sister's forehead but when it comes to father and son and two brothers, then, they used to hide their emotions. Though they care for them, but in terms of expressing emotions, they used to hide it. But i so love it when a father kisses on his son's forehead or a brother kisses on his brother's forehead. So, that's why included it in this story.)

M: Chal, ab tu jakar khana khale. Thk h?

R: Nhi.. main aapke aur didi ke saath khayunga. (Manik smiled at his wish but he knew that it will take time for him to heal nandini and it's important for rishabh to have food otherwise his health might worsen. So, he tried to make rishabh understand politely as a father does.)

M: Champ, dekh.. abhi toh main teri didi se baat karne ja raha hoon na.. toh usse samjhane mein time lagege aur tu toh janta hi hai ki vo kitni tension leti hai teri aur agar usse pata laga ki tune abhi tak breakfast nhi kiya, toh vo fir pareshaan ho jayegi.. Tu apni didi se bhut pyaar karta hai na aur usse pareshaan nhi karega na? (Rishabh nodded his head in no that he will not trouble her and manik smiled.) Mera accha baccha.. (Rishabh smiled.) Chal ab jakar khana khale.. Hmm..? (Rishabh nodded his head in yes.) (Manik turned towards chachi and called her.) Chachi... Rishabh ko khana khila dijiye aur ap sab bhi kha lijiye. Main tab tak nandini se baat kar leta hoon. (Chachi nodded her head in yes and took rishabh with her.)

C: Ja.. tu doll se baat kar le? (Manik nodded his head and went towards nandini's room.)

INSIDE NANDINI'S ROOM:

(Manik knocked nandini's room door but nandini didn't said anything. He called her but no reply. He was not even able to hear her weeping sound. He became worried and concerned and immediately entered the room. He saw nandini was not in the room. He was going to go outside to search nandini but he heard water flowing and immediately came to know that nandini is in the washroom.) 

(He knows that she definitely be crying. He wanted her to come out and cry in his embrace but he also knew that she needed some time.) (Nandini knew that manik was outside waiting for her to come out. After some 5 minutes, she went out because she knew manik will not go before meeting her. She wiped her tears and came out.) (Manik saw her but nandini was looking everywhere but not him because she knew that she will become weak if she look into his eyes.) (She went towards her cupboard and took some clothes and put on her bed and started speaking with her back towards manik.)

N: Dekho na mani.. kitna ganda ho gaya hai sab. Socha aj ghar par hoon toh apni cupboard hi arrange kar loon. (Manik looked towards her clothes which were properly ironed and are in proper way. Infact, nandini were opening them and again arranging them just to avoid topic. Manik painfully chuckled that even now, nandini is trying to hide her pain from manik even after knowing that she needed him.) Vaise mani, tumne apni packing kar li kya? Agar koi help chahiye ho, toh mujhe bata dena, main kar dungi. (Manik knew that he has to make nandini let go her pain because she herself will not do that and he can't let her keep her pain to herself for long time.)

M: Aur jo iss waqt tumhe help chahiye, uska kya? (Nandini knew what he is talking about but still tried to behave different as if she doesn't know anything.)

N: Mujhe? Mujhe kaunsi help chahiye? Tum packing ki baat kar rahe ho? Don't worry main apni packing khud kar lungi. (Manik knew that she understood but still trying to divert the topic. His eyes became moist but he also knew that he can't let the topic go now. He was adamant now to make nandini let go all her pain.)

M: Mujhe pata hai, tum kar logi. Main packing ki nhi, tumhari baat kar raha hoon. (She spoke still facing her back towards him.)

N: Meri? Mujhe kya hua hai? Main toh bilkul thk hoon. (Manik's eyes become moist seeing her hiding her pain from him now even. Now, he loose his patience and he knew, what he has to do to finally make nandini let her pain go. He goes near her and stood exactly behind her and asked her with tears in his eyes and pain in his heart.)

M: Aur kini der jhooth bolna hai mujhse? Aur kitni der apna dard chupana hai? Aur kitni der apne aansun chupane hain? Hmm.... ? Aur kitni der khud ko aise hi taklif deni hai? Bolo? Aur kitni der apne dard ko apne dil mein daba kar rakhna hai? Bolo Nandini? (Nandini's eyes became moist.) Bolo? Tum kehti ho na ki dard baantne se kam hota hai, toh kyun apna dard mujhse share nhi kar rahi ho? Kyun mujhe khud se dur kar rahi ho? Kyun apna dard badha rahi ho? Kyun? (He holded nandini from her shoulders and made her turn towards him. But nandini was looking downwards. He cupped her face and made her look into his eyes. He saw tears and a lot of pain in nandini's eyes. Even his eyes were holding pain of nandini. Nandini's pain can be seen in his eyes too because seeing nandini in pain, he was also feeling it.He spoke calmly and politely to her with so much pain.) 

M: Nandini, main hoon tumhare paas.. tumhare saath. Tumhara mani hai tumhare paas tumhe sambhalne ke liye. Apne apko itna dard mat do.. Main hoon na tumhare paas.. Let it all out... (This was it for nandini. She bursted into tears and hugged manik tightly. Manik hugged her back with the same force and hide her in his embrace and his tears also started flowing. He hugged her more tightly and was kissing her head and hairs time to time to give her much-needed strength.)

M: Nandini, aj main tumhe chup hone ke liye nhi bolunga. Tumhe jitna rona hai, rolo.. itne saalon ka sara dard nikal do... Main hoon yahan tumhe sambhalne ke liye. Sara dard.. sara gussa sab nikal do... Tumhara mani yahin hai tumhare saath.. (This was it for her. Nandini started speaking while crying immensely in manik's embrace.)

N: Kyun mani? Kyun? Mere saath aisa kyun hua? Maine toh kabhi kisi ka bura nhi chaha, toh fir mere saath yeh sab kyun hua? Meri kya galti thi? Aiyappa ne mere saath aisa kyun kiya? Maine kisi ka kya bigada tha, jo aiyappa ne mujhe itni badi saza di, mere amma-appa ko mujhse cheen liya.. Kyun mani? Kyun? Kya main itni buri hoon ki main koi khushi deserve nhi karti? Kya main itni buri hoon ki main apne amma-appa ka saath, unka pyaar deserve nhi karti thi? (She was crying immensely, there was no stop on her tears. She hiccuped while speaking and manik immediately rubbed her back to sooth her. He was crying himself but not for once, he loosened his hold on nandini. Nandini was crying in his embrace. He was in pain to see nandini crying like that but he didn't asked her to be calm or stop crying or stop speaking because he knew it's important for nandini to let go everything which she was hiding in her heart from so many years. Nandini again started speaking.)

Meri kya galti thi manik, jo mere saath aisa hua? Meri kya galti thi, jo mere amma-appa mujhe akela chodkar chale gaye? Meri kya galti thi ki mujh jaisi ek chotti si bacchi se uska bachpan cheen gaya? Meri kya galti thi manik, ki main bilkul akeli reh gayi? Meri kya galti thi mani.. meri kya galti thi? (With this, she broke down completely and immediately fall on her knees taking manik with her as he was hugging her tight. She was crying bitterly holding manik tight. He tightened the hug more and was continuously pecking her head and hairs and caressing her hairs. He wanted to tell her that it was not her mistake, she was not at fault, but he also knew that it's important for her to let her all pain go, so, he kept quiet. But nandini's words brought immense pain in his heart which was falling through his tears seeing nandini in so much pain which she is hiding from so long.) 

(All other's were also standing outside. They have come a few minutes back and heard nandini's breakdown which brought tears in everyone's eyes. They wanted to go to her but they also knew that manik is the only one who can calm her and make her understand and gave her peace and solace.) 

(Nandini was crying bitterly in manik's embrace. Manik was hugging her tightly. He sat properly with his back supported with foot rest of the bed and make nandini sat on his lap. She has hidden her face in manik's crook of neck and has holded his kurta from the back tightly in her fist. Manik made nandini sit properly on his lap and his one hand is at her back holding her close to himself and his other hand was caressing her hairs and he was pecking her hairs time to time. Nandini was sobbing in his arms and seeing nandini in so much pain, even his tears were not stopping. He was crying with his closed eyes but he didn't lose his hold on her not even for a second and also not stopped pecking her hairs.) 

(After about 1/2 an hour, nandini's crying turned into sobs and manik knew that now, it's his time to calm her down.) (Nandini's head was still in manik's neck only and that way only, he brought his hand to nandini's face and wiped her tears softly with his thumb and fingers and by cupping her face with one hand on her cheek raised her head a little kissed both her eyes and forehead. He again made her hide her face in his neck and then, caressing her hairs, he asked her politely looking towards her face which is hidden in his neck's crook.)

M: Acha ab main kuch bolun? (Nandini snuggled more in manik indicating him to speak and manik smiled amongst his tears at her cute antic. He make nandini more close to himself if any space still lies between them, that now, not even an ounce of space was there in between them.) 

(Manik while caressing her hairs and holding her close to himself and looking towards her face started speaking.)

*****

I wanted to write more and add happy moments too in this update but my health didn't permit me to write further and i don't want you to wait for long.. so, giving the update.. Happy moments will be in next update for sure.. :-)

Thanku for your wishes.. I am somewhat better now.. thanks a ton.. :-)

Thanku for your love and support... :-) :-)