MUKTHI : thank god

ALIA : we were so worried for you manik

MAYANK : emergency thi tho kam se kam message tho kar detha na manik

NYONIKA : jaan nikal di tu ham sabki

DHRUV : aur nandini ki bath ham na hi kare tho hi acha hain

"I know....am sorry" and manik whispers sighing tiredly standing at a little distance from them and "but trust me....i had a good reason and now let me get showered first and then I will explain you all"

KABIR : we know that you are not irresponsible manik....anyhow it all doesn't really matter now that you are here sound and safe....just go freshen up and talk to nandini....she needs to here you more than anyone of us here

MAYANK : haan actually tu teek hain wo hi kaafi hain hamare liye

NYONIKA : tu ja kamre main....kaane ke liye main kuch upar bejthi hoon

MANIK : I know I have to hug you all but all thanks to covid let me have the shower first

MUKTHI : argggg this covid....chel ab jaa bi

ALIA : nandini must waiting for you

MANIK : nahi nahi....wo tho mujhse bath bi nahi karegi

NYONIKA : dar gayi thi manik wo....bohuth zyada

MANIK : huhhh....main dektha hoon

MAYANK : gusse se firse ladna math usse

"mujh main utni energy nahi hain papa....!!!" and manik  walks away muttering in barely audible tone soon reaching into his room while nandini lays down in bed facing her back to him making him lean back to his cupboard and "nandini....please"

She knew he was asking her to look him but she being she closes her eyes tightly as if he could see her while he silently walks into washroom after waiting for few minutes knowing well that she wouldn't listen to him anytime soon.

Getting ready manik heads downstairs not being able to see nandini in the room while she sits with everyone in the living room silently, making them all stare her worriedly every now and then in mid of their talks.

KABIR : you look better

"And I feel better too" and manik falls back on couch sitting opposite to nandini and "am sorry...sach main...I know how worried you all might have been"

MAYANK : kya hua tha manik

NYONIKA : agar hame bi sab path cheltha tho may be everyone here too would feel better manik ....hmmm....kaho....kya hua tha
Understanding her words manik glances at nandini who was inturn busy playing with her bangle and "kabir aur dhruv ke nikalne ke teek ek gante ke baad main bi vapas gar ane nikla tha....par....beech main do bache mil gaye the....wo darasal apne papa aur dada ke sath hospital jare the....apparently unke dada ji covid positive the aur unke papa unko hospital le jare the...unfortunately bacho ke papa bi positive the jo hame hospital jane ke baad patha chela....unki khud ki health bi teek na hone ki vajah se wo drive nahi kar pare the aur achanak beech rasthe main hi gadi rokke faint ho gaye....bachon ko kuch samaj nahi aara tha aur wo jab madad ke liye gaadi se neche uthre the tho unhe main mil gaya....!!!"

ALIA : ohh goddd

MUKTHI : that's bad....really bad for kids

DHRUV : so you took them to hospital?

MANIK  : haan....kids were smart and confirmed me that there was a covid positive patient....maine ambulance ko bulaya tha....police ko bi....fir formalities and all happened....hospital main bohuth problem huyi because there were no beds....it took some time to get them shifted to hospital and start their treatment....bohuth mushkil ke sath hi sahi we could get them hospitalized aur ye sab karthe karthe it was almost 3 aur fir unki family main se ham kisi ko contact nahi kar pare the aur main bachon ko vaha akele chod nahi saktha tha

KABIR : so you stayed back with them

"hmmmm....as soon as their family members were there, I explained them everything and started back to house....i know I should have at least left a message but mujhe kuch bi sochne ka vakth bi nahi mila....i had to act first and fast to save those people aur uss vakth mere dimag main aur kuch nahi chelra tha....i was relieved only when they were hospitalized par thab thak already bohuth der ho chuki thi....am sorry....am really really sorry....i didn't mean to worry you....not intentionally atleast " and manik finishes sighing sadly for umpteenth time while nandu lifting her head finally stares into his eyes making him release a breath of relief...!!!

MAYANK : you have to be in isolation

NYONIKA : sach main....iss sab main apko bas ye kehna hain

MANIK : haha...nahi maa....papa teek kehre hain....isliye main yaha baita hoon....tum logo se dur

KABIR : those people aren't in danger na

MANIK : patha nahi....lets just pray that they aren't

DHRUV : you did great buddy....!!

MUKTHI : we know that is how you are....but its good that covid is not stopping you from helping people

MANIK : I swear yar....this covid tho....poeple are literally running away you know....road pe jab main madad lene ki koshish karra tha....they were just running away without hearing anything....i was so irritated and angry....samaj hi nahi aara tha kuch

NYONIKA : everyone is fond of their lives....kair....lets just thank god that sab acha hua and just pray him that those people should be safe and so does everyone

MAYANK : true....manik....chel ab jaa kamre main....aram kar....thak gaya hoga sube se

KABIR : haan....ab isolation main reh kar aram hi aram kar

ALIA : aur nandini....tum hamare sath chelo na....ham kabir ke gar main rehthe hain

MUKTHI : manik vaise bi tumhare paas nahi ah saktha....i mean tumhare sath nahi reh saktha

DHRUV : tho buddy yaha rehke aram karega aur tum hamare sath akar enjoy kar lena

MANIK : ho gaya tum sab ka....main bas irresponsible nahi banna chahtha aur isliye isolation main rahunga baki kisiko bi kuch bi pareshan hone ki zarurath nahi hain aur na hi nandini ko yaha se leke jane ki

KABIR : par jeeja ji....nandini ke sath rehenge tho wo isolation kaise hoga

MANIK : saale tu....forget it....maa....mujhe bhuk lagri

MUKTHI : mujhe bi

DHRUV : tension ke sath kisine bi kuch nahi kaya na

ALIA : shayad isliye bhuk tho yaha sabi ko lagri

KABIR : yupppp

"main sab kuch thayar karthi hoon" and nandini muttering walks away into kitchen while manik closes his eyes groaning and "kya karu main iss ladki ka"

DHRUV : she is not at fault manik....she was too scared for you

MANIK : I know that she is not wrong yar....am just....huhhh....!!!

NYONIKA : don't worry....just have a talk....sab teek hoga

Everyone have their dinner and retire to their rooms being hell tired while manik here waits for nandini in their room trying to control his sleep not wanting to doze off without having a conversation with her.

Taking her own sweet time nandini enters into their room after what felt like an eternity for manik only to get changed and sleep on bed turning off the lights ignoring him completely making him ruffle his hairs and turn on the lights irritated.

MANIK : Nandini...please...main bohuth thak gaya hoon....i mean it....mujh main energy nahi hain

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MANIK : maine sab bathaya na tumhe....jo bi hua uss main meri bas ye galthi thi ki maine tumse bath nahi ki....na hi tumhe bathaya ki main teek hoon....and am sorry for that....am really really really sorry....please....dekho mujhe

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MANIK : kya karu main nandini....kya chahthi ho tum....vajah bathaya.....maafi maang raha hoon....aur kya karu....mujhe samaj nahi aara aur honestly am too drained to even think anything right now

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MANIK : I can't have a one sided conversation nandini....tum kuch kehthi kyu nahi

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MANIK : I really can't help it if you act like this

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MANIK : fine....tumhe bath nahi karni hain tho teek hain....am so done with your silent treatment....aaj kal hamare beech jo bi situation ho tumhe bas mujhe ignore karna hotha hain....mere sawalon ke badle bas khamosh rehna hotha hain....tho teek hain....don't blame me if am not talking to you from tomorrow because am so done with this silence shit between us and I can't and don't want to take it anymore.

and wrapping themselves around utter silence manan close their eyes half irritated, half angry and half tired facing their backs to each other.