I'd never thought losing you means gaining someone too

(Affu)

Sometimes, when you lose someone, you gain someone else, maybe along or maybe not. Its not so easy to accept the other person very soon too but sometimes, its a yearning to accept that second person in your life.

We Care Hospital

Manik: Get me a doctor. Fast!

Manik shouted while pushing the stretcher along with the ward boys, where Manvik is placed on.

Nurse: I'm sorry sir, but you're not allowed inside.

A nurse stopped Manik from going inside the operation theater when they were about to take Manvik in.

Manik: No! He needs me. Get aside. Just get aside, I said.

He yelled at the nurse forgetting his surroundings and the kids along with him.

Doctor: Sir, we understand your condition. Please be quiet. Your SON will be fine!

The doctor assured Manik and walked inside the operation theater while Manik got still with the word 'SON' and suddenly he remembered, he remembered he was going hysteric for that boy who meant nothing to him. Or..did he mean something to him?

Hearing some sniffs, he turned behind to see Alishka and Naila hugging each other while crying. They were terrified much. He moved to console them while wiping the sweat on his face only to get halted.

After seeing them-Karthik and Prathik!

They were seated on the bench with their hands held onto each other's but what he noticed was they didn't shed even a drop of tear. Though, their eyes looked red and swollen, he couldn't find them shedding a tear.

Nurse: Sir, I need the signatures of the boy's guardian.

Manik turned to the nurse and took the paper from her.

Nurse: Are you the guardian?

Manik looked at her and then looked in the paper and signed it.

Manik: Just know one thing, I want him back!

He spoke to her in the most dangerous tone and she ran away with the papers while he controlled his tears and took his mobile out.

Manik: Navya!

Navya, who answered Manik's call got alert with her brother's helpless tone.

Navya: Bhai? Kya hua? Are you..are you alright? Aap k..

Manik: Get Nandini in 'We Care' hospital.

Navya (surprised): Wh..what? Hospital kyun?

Manik: Jitha kaha wo karo. Bas, usse leke yaha aaja, in front of the operation theater. She shouldn't drive, okay?

Navya: O..Okay!

She ended the call and rushed to get Nandini from her office while in here with Manik,

Manik: He's going to be fine.

He patted both the girls' hairs and went towards the boys to see them sitting stiff while looking down. He knelt down and got to see their jaws clenched and hands curled into fists.

With shivering hands, he held onto their hands making them look at him and for the first time, he looked deep in their eyes.

Manik: Maybe..you need to cry to let go off the pain.

They looked down but didn't take their hands back from his hold.

Prathik (meekly): Nothing should happen to him!

Manik: I promise!

Karthik: You do keep your promises, right?

And for a moment, Manik got to see himself, the vulnerability that he saw in their eyes is the same feeling he goes through whenever he fears to lose someone close to his heart.

Manik: I don't break it until the one whom I promised to, forces me.

They kept looking at him and nodded while looking down. He was about to take his hand back when they held his hands tighter making him look at them in shock.

Prathik: We hate..loneliness! Can you..stay? Just..holding onto us, will you?

And that was when Manik's eyes shed a drop of tear yet he managed to nod at them.

Manik (thought): They were mine!

He closed his eyes and looked down to shed those tears. He didn't know whether he should feel joyful that he was already a father of three sons or should he cry that he's at the peak of losing one among his sons!

He looked up when he felt them moving to the ends making space for him in between them so that he could sit on it. He drank his tears back and settled between them but they never left his hands.

They were getting that warmth which only their mother provided them and it felt a lot special to them!

In Navya's Car

Nandini: Bhabi, I'm asking you for the nth time, where are we going? And..why do you look so tensed?

But Navya paid deaf ears, she herself was tensed and couldn't show it out. Soon, she halted her car and Nandini looked out confusedly and turned towards Navya, who got out of the car making her to get out too..

Nandini: Hum yaha k..

Navya pulled her along and walked inside the hospital which just increased her confusion but seeing her sister-in-law tensed, she grew tensed.

Nandini: Did something..happen to someone?

But Navya just stared at her and walked ahead pulling Nandini along.

Nandini: Bhabi, you're scaring me, now. Hua kya hai. Batha dho please..please?

Manik, who was in between the boys with his closed eyes heard Nandini's panic filled voice. He opened his eyes and got to see Navya dragging a tensed Nandini along. He removed his hand out of the boys' hold making them to look at him.

Manik: Am coming!

He moved ahead but the boys missed his warmth and looked down again.

Nandini: Bhabi aap k..

She halted her talks when she got to see Manik walking towards them but what she noticed was his shirt which had blood stains.

Nandini: Manik!

Sh rushed towards him and touched his shirt where she could see blood.

Nandini: What..what happened, huh? Ye..ye sab..ye sab kya hain. Are you hurt?

She looked up with her eyes already teary while cupping his cheeks and all he did was staring at her. This time, he knew, she wasn't just his ex-fiance but his kids' MOTHER.

Nandini: Why aren't you telling something, damn it? Ky...

She stopped again only to see Karthik and Prathik sitting on the bench with their heads dug down.

Nandini: What are they doing here..what are they doing in the hospital?

He looked at her helplessly and she walked past him to her sons.

Nandini: Karti..Prati..what the hell are you doing here?

She spoke while cupping their cheeks and they looked up making her to gasp.

Nandini: You were..crying?

They kept staring at her without saying anything.

Nandini: Ma..Manu kaha hain?

She spoke on not seeing Manvik around. She looked around to see Alishka and Naila with Mukti and Abhimanyu beside them.

Nandini: Mein kuch pooch raha hun. Manvik kaha hain?

She spoke this time sternly to the boys who banged in her chest and started to cry.

Nandini: You guys are scaring me. Tum log ro kyu rahe ho aur Manu..Manu kaha hai. Kuch tho bolo.

She said with tears flowing out of her eyes and broke the hug to look at her sons who were looking down while crying. She rose to her feet and turned behind to see Manik walking towards her with the same helpless look on his face.

Nandini: Where's my son?

She held his collars in her grip and asked with her tears flowing out of her eyes.

Manik: Nandini..relax.

Nandini: Where is my son?

Manik: He's..

He pointed at the operation theater making her to look at the door. Her grip on his collars loosened but her tears didn't stop.

Manik: He got hit by a car.

She stared at him emotionless which made him worried.

Manik: Doctors are doing..everything to save him.

She took baby steps to the operation theater but couldn't see anything from out.

Manik: Nandu!

He turned her towards him but she didn't have any expression on her face except for her eyes which were shedding tears.

Nandini: Please tell me you're lying.

He pulled her into his embrace.

Manik: He's going to be fine, Love.

Nandini: No..You're lying. You're lying. Manu ko kuch nahi hua hain. You're lying, I know it. I know it.

She tried to pull away but he tightened his grip on her. She beat his chest with her hands yet he didn't lose his grip on her.

Manik: He's strong enough to come back for us!

She busted in tears and hugged him back making him to tighten his hold on her.

Nandini: I..want him back, Manik. I want him back.

Manik: You will!

He broke the hug and wiped her tears which didn't have any end.

Manik: No matter what comes in between, I'm not letting him go away!

She bobbed her head and he kissed top of her head as an assurance forgetting that they were no more a couple.

Nandini: Karti..Prathi..

She moved towards them again and Manik followed her.

Nandini: I'm sorry I shouted at you. I..I was so scared.

She took both of them in a hug and this time, they didn't hide their tears but cried while hugging her tightly.

Manik: Its okay to cry, sometimes.

He ruffled Prathik's hair and he looked up at Manik with a weak smile.

Navya stood there watching at the little family who were in pain yet consoling each other. She looked at the parents in front of her who couldn't have a proper life and now, they might even lose one of their child. She ran to the farthest corner and cried.

Navya: Please don't take our Manu away, God. Please.

She got startled when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

Navya: Mukti.

She hugged Mukti tightly, who herself was in tears.

Navya: I can't see them in pain, anymore. I can't. Please pray to God. Please. What..what if he listens to any of our prayers! Please pray to God..

Mukti: They're Manik's, right?

Navya broke the hug and looked at Mukti in shock.

Mukti: I'm not blind, Navya. Neither, your sister is dumb to not see her brother in his sons.

Navya: Does Bhai know?

Mukti (pissed): So, they're Manik's.

Navya (yelled): Of course, they're idiot. How did you even manage to think that Nandini moved on, especially after seeing Bhai's copies in her sons?!

Mukti palmed her face in frustration.

Mukti: If you happen to be a widow in future, don't blame me.

She walked away with it while Navya stared at her retreating figure in agony.

Navya: I wish you'll never get to know the truth, Mukti!

On the other side,

Manik/Nandini: How is he?

They bombarded with questions at the doctor who came out of the theater after 3 long hours of operation.

Doctor: Nothing to worry. He's fine. All thanks to God!

The rest breathed a sigh of relief.

Nandini: Can we meet him?

Doctor: Yes, but don't disturb him. He's still in the sedation.

She nodded at him and got inside followed by Manik and the boys while others preferred to give them privacy thought Alishka wanted to go in too.

In the theater

There, Manvik was on the bed with an oxygen mask on, his head plastered completely with his one arm and one leg too damaged a bit which proved that he wouldn't be able to move his body without someone's help at least for 1 or 2 weeks.

Nandini (whispered with teary eyes): My baby!

She caressed his face lightly and the tears again made its way out. Manik stared at Manvik with tears filled eyes but couldn't even touch him in fear.

Nandini: He's fine, now.

She spoke while clearing Karthik's and Prathik's tears who were as afraid as their father, even to touch their brother.

She turned to Manik, who was staring at Manvik in pain and suddenly she remembered his care for Manvik and the way he said "Manvik will come back for them" not for her.

Sensing her gaze, he looked up at her to see her looking at him curiously. He walked closer towards Manvik and held his hand and caressed it softly.

Manik: Get well, soon!

He turned to her and stared.

Manik: You won the challenge!

He muttered before walking out of the room and she kept staring at him with her quickened heartbeats.

Nandini (muttered): He knows!

Flashback..

"Manik, night is peaceful when there's silence, right?" I spoke to Manik while staring at the dark sky which were filled with stars and moon guarding over us. Sometimes, I simply stare at them to believe that I too will have guardians like them.

"You always find peace in staring in the sky. What's so fascinating about it?" Manik asked me and I settled on the sand.

"Because, I too want guardians like them. The moon and stars." I pointed at the sky and looked at him to see him already beside me.

"As in?" he asked confusedly and I grinned at him.

"As in, I want a huge guardian like the Moon who could be my better half who will protect me from every evil and smaller guardians like the stars who could be my children and I know they will protect me too." I sighed dreamily while thinking about my own family and I knew, I wanted it with him. With my Manik. Because, apparently, I'm crazily in love with him and only him.

"What if I say your wish is already granted." I heard him speaking, who stealthily held my hand in his grip and I stared at him amused who was staring at the sky with that beautiful smile on his lips.

"Is it?" I managed to whisper on realizing the meaning behind his words. He turned to me and sat on his knees while holding my hands in his.

"Do you still think ours is just friendship?" he asked me and I nodded in No.

"I love you, Nandini. I love you so much that I wanted to be that huge guardian of your s and want my children to protect you by being the smaller guardians." he confessed and I didn't know when my eyes started to tear up in joy.

Manik loves me.

Manik loves me when I thought only Bhai could ever love me.

And I know, his love is forever.

God isn't that cruel to me. Though, he gave me a rough childhood, he's giving me a beautiful future ahead with Manik and that's more than enough for me.

"What if I confess back only if you accept my challenge." I said with teary-eyes and he frowned at me.

"What challenge?" he questioned and he looked so tensed that I wanted to laugh at it.

"I want more than one son as my guardian. I would love to be called 'Mamma' by boys. Its my dream. Manzoor hai kya?" I asked while raising my eyebrows and he took a moment to realize what is I said before puling me into his arms.

My heaven, it is!

"Stupid ladki, dara diya na." he said and I giggled at it.

"I love you, Mani. I really do. Promise me that whatever may happen but you'll never leave my side." I spoke while looking in his eyes though I know he would never leave my side.

"I promise, Love." he said and I tightened my hold on him.

And that was the day when I started to believe in fairy tales because I knew my prince charming was no common but special.

Your doll got the best in her partner, Bhai-your best friend!

I love you so much for coming my life, Manik!

Flashback ends..

Manik: Go away, Nandini or else..you wouldn't be able to bear my anger.

But Nandini stood rigid.

Nandini: Vent it, then!

And the next second, he punched in the wall making her flinch.

He took long strides to reach her and grabbed her arms in his grip which did hurt her but she cared less.

Manik: Why? Why did you hide it from me? Why did you hide my sons from me, Nandini? Did you forget how we broke up? Did you?

She nodded in No and he left her in a jerk.

Manik: Kuch bhi nahi bhooli tho kaise kar sakthi ho tum aisa kuch? Kaise?

He pinned her on the wall while seething in anger.

Manik: Or didn't you love me enough to let me know the truth about our sons, Nandini?

She stared at him like she couldn't believe what she heard from him. She pushed him off her which startled him.

Nandini: What did you ask? Repeat it. Don't I love you enough, huh? Let me rephrase it, did you forget that you were the one who asked me to leave you. Didn't you love me enough to fight for us, Manik Malhotra?

He pushed her towards the wall with his eyes spitting fire.

Manik: I did it for you. All for you.

Nandini: No. You didn't do it just for me but for your best friend too.

Flashback..

"Bhai.." I gasped while staring at Bhai who was huffing in anger.

"You didn't just tell it, right?" I heard Manik's whisper which wasn't even loud enough for any of us to hear but the silence around made it possible.

"I did. And I'm repeating it, I don't want doll to marry you, Manik." Bhai said again and I forgot to take the next breath.

"What the hell are you saying, Cabir? Pagal hogaye ho kya? Engagement ho chuki hai aaj Manik aur Nandini ki aur tum keh rahe ho ye shadi nahi so sakthi. What's wrong with you, beta?" I heard Dad (Raj) speaking harshly in the beginning but helpless at the end but I couldn't even look at him. I was busy in staring at Bhai. How can he say that? He knows I love Manik!

"Everything was worng with me, uncle. Tabhi tho mein ye shadi keliye haa keh diya. I'm sorry uncle but I can't let Manik marry my sister when I know he's the one whom Harshad befriends, now. How can you think that I'll let you marry my sister, Manik. How can you when you know I don't like Harshad and you're a friend of him, now." Bhai shouted and I stared at him in disbelief.

Manik and Harshad being friends?!

No!

They hate each other, reason being Harshad always lusted me! How can Bhai even think that Manik would befriend that jerk!

"You suddenly lack trust in our friendship, Cabir?" Manik's voice filled nothing but pain.

"Harshad? I befriended Harshad? The same guy whom we hate since our college times. The same guy who is lusting over my girl and you think I'm his new friend. How could you even think like that Cabir?" Manik's angry tone was heard and I stared at them in pain. They were the only best friends whom I adored the most.

"What if I have proof? What if I say I had seen you at Harshad's office not once but many at times." Bhai seethed and I looked at him in horror.

"Have you lost it, Cabir? According to you, if not for Nandini then think at least in my point of view, Manik wouldn't befriend Harshad. He bloody used to misbehave with me in our college times. And you expect my brother to befriend that same person?" Mukti lashed out and my eyes started to tear up seeing them fighting.

"Bhai..you would have got mistaken. Manik would never befriend Harshad, and who better than you can know him, Bhai?" I spoke while turning Bhai to face me.

"Tum tho ab apne pyar ke hisaab se hi jeethi ho." Bhai accused me and I stepped back on hearing him using such a tone at me.

"Cabir, ye kya keh r.." Navya Bhabi interrupted but Bhai showed his hand to her. "Mein sahi kar raha hoon, meri behen i bhalai keliye kar raha hoon warna tere Bhai ko bol to prove me wrong." Bhai added and we all were shocked to see him getting angry at Bhai which never happened in lifetime.

"Haa, I've been to his office but it wasn't for befriending him. I had to settle some scores with him like every other time whenever he loses a deal to us and play some nasty game to win over us. Don't you know that, Cabir?" Manik shouted angrily.

"If you had to settle some scores with him, then you would just meet him once and then leave but you were there for a lot of time and from my sources, I got to know that you're even planning to sell our company to him." Bhai spoke again.

"What the f*** is wrong with you, Cabir? How could you even think like that?" and soon I saw Manik holding onto Bhai's collars making me to palm my mouth in shock.

No! This can't be happening.

"Manik, leave him. Bhai, chod. Please." Navya and I held our brothers back.

"You're not getting married to someone who cheated your brother. If you still wanna be with him, then you're not having a Bhai hereafter." I gasped hearing him and nodded in No.

"Bhai.." he looked the other side and I stood there registering his words. I looked at Manik to see him already looking at me in shock.

No! No!

I can't chose someone!

I can't when I know I love both of them equally!

I can't chose any, when I know absence of one among them in my life makes me lonely!

I can't!

Someone please make everything alright!

"Go." I looked up when I felt a hand cupping my cheeks to see those same brown orbs with which I fell in love.

"Manik" I whispered in shock.

"Just go. I'm making the choice, for the final time in your life. Go away, with your brother." he declared before stepping back.

But, all I did was staring in his eyes which were asking me to stay but his words were different and I knew the reason too.

I looked over my right when I felt a hand clasping mine, to see Bhai glancing at my face but I couldn't decipher the emotion formed on his face.

"Agar tumhe aana hai, tho aa sakthi ho, Navya." I heard Bhai's voice but I preferred to stare at Manik who was looking at me with pain in his eyes. When I looked at him helplessly, he stared the other side and I looked away. I left Bhai's hand and ran towards Manik to hug him.

"One last time." I whispered in his ears and he held me tight in his arms.

"One last time." he too whispered back and I cried in his arms.

"I'm sorry I couldn't fulfill my promises." he said before breaking the hug and I looked away. I wiped my tears harshly and ran out of his home and got inside Bhai's car.

"Leave, please." I spoke to Bhai and I didn't even bother to see whether Navya Bhabi was present or not until I heard her voice.

"You'll repent, Cabir. You will. I wouldn't have come if at all I didn't have your child growing in me." I closed my eyes and let my tears out.

Ours isn't a forever, Manik. It isn't!

Flashback ends..

Nandini: I had a choice, Manik. I did. I could have gone back to Georgia without choosing any of you but..you didn't let me.

Manik (yelled): Because, I cared for you. I cared for my best friend.

Nandini: No. You didn't. You just cared for your best friend because you knew I'm nothing without you. I can't live without you and Bhai.

She pushed him away and wiped her tears harshly just like how she did years back.

Nandini: Kabhi galath nahi samjha tumne kyunki mujhe patha tha, tum sach tha. You were being the best friend and I was happy for my brother but..jis dhin patha chala ki I had your blood in me...

She looked at him with tears flowing out of her eyes and he snapped his head at her with the same expression on his face.

Nandini: I wished you were wrong so that..I could at least hate you and not to think about you. At least, I wouldn't have called you up even though Bhai asked me not to, even after knowing you wouldn't pick my calls up.

His eyes started to flow on remembering the night where he ignored her calls. He thought she was just missing him and the friend in him was much stronger than the lover in him.

Nandini: Phir bhi..hate nahi kiya. Because, I loved you enough to respect your choice.

She turned to move ahead when he held her hand.

Manik: I..I too had only Cabir as my support..in childhood..just like you. Kuch aur soch nahi paaya.

She turned towards him to see his helpless gaze.

Nandini: Kabhi kaha nahi na..ki tum galath tha. Kyunki, mujhe bhi patha hai..sirf Bhai tha tumhar paas bhi bachpan se..

She walked out while removing the hold on his hand and he thumped on the floor in tears..

Manik: Cabirrrr!!!

He palmed his face and cried harder.

Manik (muttered): You could have believed me, Cabir! I lost my sons' childhood, Cabir. I lost a family!

Manvik's Room(Hospital)

Anjali: Mera guddu!

She shed tears while caressing Manvik's hairs and Adyant held onto her.

Navya: Eat something, Karthik and Prathik. Manvik is fine, now.

But, they were adamant on not to eat anything until they see Manvik waking up.

Karthik: We don't want anything, Maami.

Prathik: Where is Mamma?

Like an answer to his question, Nandini entered the room.

Nandini: Aap sab?

She looked startled on seeing her entire family there, including the Malhotras and Thakkars!

Anjali: Pari..!!

Nandini stared at Anjali and the next second, she was in her embrace, weeping badly.

Anjali: Bas bas..kuch nahi hua hamara Manu ko.

What Anjali didn't know was it's not just Manvik's accident the reason for her granddaughter's tears. Cabir moved towards Nandini and hugged her from sideways and she didn't back off because she needed it, badly.

Nandini broke the hug without speaking anything to Cabir, and settled beside Manvik while holding onto his hand and then turned to the rest two and nodded at them making them to run towards her.

Nandini: He's going to be fine!

They nodded at her while hugging her sideways and staring at Manvik intently thinking that he would wake up soon.

Nandini (thought): You took my happiness away once, God but not anymore. I'm strong enough to bear any hurdles that you throw in my way to protect my happiness.

She hugged her sons close to her heart while holding onto Manvik's hand. Soon enough, she saw that person entering inside the room while staring at her and then her sons- it was Manik.

Or, call it, theirs sons!

Maybe, this accident was just a turning point for something good in their life. Maybe, God has finally stopped to test them. Or..Maybe not!

To be continued..