Dedicated to my buddy Suk-24

Reporter:- The famous business tycoon and CEO of Malhotra Industries, Mr. Manik Malhotra is COVID-19 positive. According to the sources he is doing fine. He was immediately shifted to his farmhouse and absolutely isolated. Let's pray for his speedy recovery.

At The Farmhouse

Manik was sitting on the bed and coughing badly. A lady doctor came there and stood outside of his door which was made of glass.

Doctor:- (angrily) Manik I told you to drink cough syrup. Do you want me to come inside and make you drink that syrup forcefully?

Manik:- (shouted) First of all it's Mr. Malhotra for you and secondly who the hell appointed you for me?

At that time Manik's full family came there and stood outside of the glass door.

Raj:- I appointed her. Do you have any problems?

Manik:- Yes I have a problem. Why her Dad? Is there any shortage of doctors for me that we have to hire her?

Neonika:- She is the best doctor Manu. Why can't you understand?

Cabir:- Also she is your ex girlfriend so she knows how to handle your tantrum.

Mukti:- Exactly bro. I agree with you.

Manik:- (angrily) Cabir and Mukti what are you both doing here?

Manik again started coughing and said,

Manik:- Mom Dad you shouldn't have come here. Now tell them to leave and you also leave.

Raj:- We had to come because you are not listening to anyone.

Manik:- (smiled) Don't worry dad. If something happens to me then Cabir is there to handle your business.

Raj:- (angrily) Shut up Manik.

Nandini:- See Aunty how stubborn your son is? Thank God I have broken up with him otherwise this man would make my life hell.

Manik:- Then why the hell are you here for? Just get lost.

Neonika:- (angrily) Manu is this the way to talk to someone? She is here as your doctor. We hired her because she treated you before too so she knows everything about you.

Manik:- But....

Raj:- I don't want to hear anything. You need rest, take care.

Saying this Raj left there and Neonika said,

Neonika:- Bye beta. Nandini please take care of him.

Nandini:- Don't worry aunty, I am here.

Cabir:- (winked) All the best with your ex girlfriend, bro.

Mukti:- Bye bro. Take care.

They all left there and Manik laid back on the bed. He is having a fever and cough. Moreover, continuously working made him so weak.

Manik:- I am feeling like a prisoner. Why aren't you giving me my laptop back?

Nandini:- You are already too weak. You need full bed rest.

Manik:- I am getting bored.

Nandini:- Then watch any movie or something.

Manik:- I don't like to waste my time by watching movies.

Nandini:- You have become a workaholic robot did you ever realize that?

Manik:- That's why you broke up with me right?

Nandini:- Excited. I thought you would change but no, you are still the same. Forget me no one can be with you, not even your own family.

Manik:- (angrily) Nandini now you are really crossing your limits, okay?

Nandini:- (rolling eyes) Whatever. Just close your eyes and try to sleep.

Day 2

Manik:- (shouted loudly) Who kept this guitar in my room?

Nandini:- I don't know. It was there when you were bought here.

Manik stood up and put that guitar in his cupboard carefully as if that guitar is very precious to him. He found his old diary in the cupboard and started reading it sitting on the floor.

Nandini:- Manik don't sit on the floor, you will catch cold.

Manik:- You are so irritating.

Saying this he sat on the bed and started reading his diary again. After some time he started having breathing problems. He had lung problems before and that time Nandini treated him and they fell in love with each other but his workaholic nature totally ruined their beautiful relationship.

Manik:- (shouted) Nan.... Nandini.

Nandini:- (panicked) Manik what happened?

Manik:- I....I can't breathe.

Nandini:- Wait, I am coming inside.

Saying this Nandini wore a full PPE set and entered inside the room. She immediately put an oxygen mask on his mouth and started checking his oxygen level in the oximeter. It was getting lower than usual.

Manik:- Nan...Nandini you....you should come inside.

Nandini:- Shut up, okay? Just breathe.

After sometime when Manik's condition was little stable he said,

Manik:- What if you also get affected by me. Aren't you afraid of death?

Nandini:- It's my job Manik. So what if I get affected? It's not like I will die. Proper treatment can cure this disease.

Manik didn't say anything else and soon his oxygen level became normal. He fell asleep due to weakness. Nandini couldn't understand what just happened to him. It seems more like a panic attack. She was about to leave when her eyes fell on the diary he was reading. She carefully picked up the diary and started reading it.

Nandini:- He and best friend Dhruv were very fond of music and they used to attend music classes together. One day Dhruv was crossing the road when a car hit him and he died. Since then he never played music. Oh so that's the reason for his sudden panic attack. Sometimes people bury their pain deep down their chest and pretend as if it doesn't hurt. But it hurts until they let it go.

Day 3

Manik:- I can't eat more.

Nandini:- No Manik. Try to eat a little more.

Manik tried to eat but vomited out everything he ate. A nurse was appointed for him who started cleaning up the mess when Nandini sat beside wearing PPE set him rubbing his back.

Manik:- (with teary eyes) I have never felt sick like this before. I can't smell anything, I can't eat anything.

Nandini:- It's okay, Manik. Drink water.

Manik tried to drink water and started coughing.

Manik:- Why isn't this cough going?

Nandini:- It will take time.

Manik:- (pouted) I can't breathe sometimes.

Nandini:- Take an inhaler.

Manik:- You are talking like a doctor.

Nandini:- I am a doctor, did you forget it?

Manik:- You are so bad.

Nandini:- Yeah that's why I am here and treating you.

Manik:- Whatever.

Day 4

Manik's condition was getting worse. He just vomits out everything he eats and he is so weak that he feels dizzy maximum time. His family members were so worried for him and it was difficult for them to keep Neonika sane. Right now Manik was lying on the bed and Nandini was checking his temperature.

Manik:- I am sorry Nandini.

Nandini:- (confused) Sorry for what?

Manik:- I never gave you time when we were in a relationship and told you that you mean things when you used to call me during my meetings. I also said that you are not as important as my business.

Nandini:- Why are you thinking all this right now?

Manik:- Because I think I don't have much time to ask sorry from my loved ones.

Nandini:- I think I should give you your laptop back because you are talking nonsense.

Idle mind is the devil's workshop and the same was happening to Manik. Till now Nandini also understood that if he keeps doing negative thinking then his condition will worsen more. She has to distract him. So she made a plan.

Nandini:- Manik let's watch a movie.

Manik:- I am not interested.

Nandini:- (pouted) But I can't go anywhere leaving you alone. I am getting bored, please Manik.

Manik:- Okay which movie do you want to watch now?

Nandini:- Hithik Roshan's "war" movie.

They watched the movie together and in between Nandini made him eat some fruits. Surprisingly he liked the movie and they kept talking about the movie the whole day.

Day 5

Nandini was doing yoga at morning when she said,

Nandini:- Manik you always do exercise by using equipment. As you don't have anything in this room why don't you try yoga with me?

Manik:- Yoga and me? Are you mad? I don't try such weird positions.

Nandini:- Try once. If you don't like it then leave it. No one is forcing you.

Manik:- Okay.

Manik tried some yoga positions and he liked it too. Nandini taught him some breathing exercises along with yoga.

Day 6

Cabir gave a video call as the full family wanted to see Manik.

Cabir:- Oh bro I am so happy to see you in one piece even after staying with your ex girlfriend in the same house.

Manik:- (rolling eyes) Very funny.

Mukti:- Bro let's play ludo.

Cabir:- No yaar Mukti. Boys don't play such kiddish games.

Mukti:- Please bro, let's play na.

Manik:- Okay.

Manik played online ludo with his siblings and realized how he couldn't give them time after completing his graduation. He joined Malhotra Industry and got so busy with work that he didn't have time for his own family. He missed those days when Mukti used to force them to play doll house with her. Manik smiled thinking that his little doll is still the same.

Day 7

Nandini was giving him a sponge bath when she noticed a tattoo on his back which she clearly remembered wasn't there before when they were in a relationship. So she asked him,

Nandini:- Manik this tattoo?

Manik:- I wanted to show it to you the day I was going to propose to you for marriage but you broke up with me.

Nandini:- Only if you understood the value of our relationship then.

Manik:- Can't we be together again?

Nandini:- Don't you think it's too late now?

Manik didn't say anything and seeing this Nandini said,

Nandini:- Manik, don't think too much. Maybe we are not meant to be together.

Manik:- If I change myself still you will say no to me?

Nandini:- If we have to change ourselves then it's not love. It's like some give and take business. I don't want it.

To be continued.....

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You know sometimes I really wonder from where those weird story plots comes in my mind but at the same time I am too lazy to write it down...🙈🙈🙈
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Take care
Bye
Nahar...😘😘😘