Continued from chapter 42
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“good morning sweetheart” nandini greeted a very shirtless and very tempting manik on his back as he was boiling water for tea. She wrapped her arms around him as he turned to greet her “a very good morning Mrs Malhotra. Did you sleep well?”

“is that a rhetorical question?” she asked as he kissed her nose “because you know very well you didn’t let me sleep with your uhmmm activities”

He laughed “activities? Seriously. I hope it was pleasurable though” his hands went under her shirt and moved to capture the twin globes.

A pleasurable sigh escaped her lips but she managed to utter “its boiling”. Manik undid the hooks on her bra “ what ? your blood or hormones?” before latching on to suckle her peaks.

“water!” she spoke which was lost in the moan that escaped her lips.

A ringing sound reached their ears.

“manik…phone…oh god manik” reluctantly he pulled back.

“don’t pull on the bra!” was what he said before going to grab his phone.

It took nandini a moment to gather her wits. As instructed she didn’t hook the bra but rather pulled it off from under her shirt and pocketed it. Water had boiled and the pan was going to get dry, she hurriedly turned the knob and saved the kettle from turning black.

She wandered off to find manik who had not come out of the bedroom yet but as she neared she heard his nervous but calm voice asking his mother to keep calm.

Nandini was alert in an instant, something had happened. As she entered , she saw him sitting on the bed and one of his hands was shaking which he was desperately trying to control by fisting, other held his phone pressed to his ear.

“maa….relax…don’t panic, don’t cry…he will be okay. I am calling dhruv and cabir, they are in Mumbai. And don’t worry about money or anything. You just find a place and sit down. When doctor comes to talk to you please call me. I will find the earliest possible flight maa”

He looked up with barely concealed tears in his eyes and gestured to make a call.

Nandini knew he wanted her to call dhruv or cabir. She picked up her phone, her heart beating a mile a minute.

“maa …no…I know you are scared but please believe me…someone will be there beside you soon”

Nandini handed him her phone silently when the call connected.

“dhruv, listen its an emergency….please tell me you are in mumbai?” Whatever dhruv answered made him relax “thank god….bhai please papa is in capital hospital’s  emergency section. Mum doesn’t know what has happened but he was vomiting and complained of pain in his left arm. Please reach the hospital as soon as you can. Thank you man!....yeah I am going to book tickets…yeah thanks again”

Nandini who had gathered some idea of the situation was already looking for tickets on her laptop.

“yes maa I talked to dhruv. He is reaching the hospital in 5 minutes. Yes..please take care. I will call you in a moment. Bye” he hung up before turning to look at nandini who was sitting on the other side of  the bed behind him and looking at the screen intently. He handed her phone to her. She took it without looking at him and placed beside her on the bed.

“I think papa ko heart attack aya h” he said as he noticed that she has taken off  her bra and the tips were poking at her t shirt. He forced his eyes to look at her face and continued “our neighbors helped mother and arisha to bring him to the nearest hospital. She is very scared and lonely.

Although I have asked Dhruv and cabir will also be there yet I have to be there as soon as possible”

“I have booked your ticket. Your flight will leave in “she checked her watch “2.5 hours. That’s the earliest I could get”

He looked startled as she spoke “you are not coming?”

She looked at him lovingly and gathered both his palms in between hers, the shaking was not so bad now “you have to reach there as soon as possible , if I will go with you I will have to pack and that will take up a lot of time….i will come later…after I settle everything here”

He nodded, understanding her point and kissed her chastely on the lips” I love you…I don’t know what I would do without you”

“you will never be without me, so no point guessing. Start getting ready , I will pack your essentials for now and I will bring rest of the things with me. You will have toleave in 25 minutes it will take time to reach the airport” she was saying as she began pulling out a duffel bag and placed two sets of clothes and two sets of nightwear. Then she went inside the bathroom and brought his toiletries. Just as she placed the kit in the bag , he grabbed her and hugged her hard crushing her to his chest. She was surprised but she didn’t protest. The news has scared him, she felt.

“everything will be okay manik” she said rubbing his back.

“yeah” he replied hoarsely as if holding back tears. He released her then, “I will go , get ready”

She nodded and as he proceeded to bath, she put his clothes on the bed, his shoes, socks, wallet, phone. She placed the charger in his duffel. She readied his laptop bag.

Then she went to prepare a light breakfast and the tea.

When he came out duffel bag and laptop bag in his hands, the breakfast was on table and she was waiting “ I have called the cab. It will be here soon, please eat your breakfast”

“nandini I am not hungry”

“manik please , atleast just eat the omelette and drink the tea. For my peace of mind, please?”

He let out a sigh but obliged. He wondered how at one point of time in his life  had he thought he could live without her!