Next morning... Hospital ... In Nandini's room.

Nandini lazily opened his eyes and found Manik sitting on the stool beside her bed. The moment she opened her eyes, he smiled at her.

 Stroking her hair lightly , he moved forward and kissed her temple.

"Good morning..!" He whispered in her ear, giving shivers to her whole body. Her heart beats raced against each other and she shyly smiled looking at him.

"Good morning.!" She replied softly.

He moved back , sitting straight, he asked ; "how are you feeling .?"

She tried to get up and Manik immediately got up to help her sit straight .

Getting comfortable she replied with his favorite smile , "much better." And he too smiled back.

He was about to say something when his phone rang which was from Vaibhav .

"Good morning Vaibhav." Manik greeted him after answering the caller.

"Hi Manik.. Good morning.. how's Nandini.?" He asked.

"She is much better." He replied looking at her and smiled.

"That's great ... Will surely come up soon to see her. Waise I need to tell you something." Vaibhav said.

"Ya tell me." Manik said paying full attention to his talks.

"Manik I know , you would be applying for leave as Nandini is not well but unfortunately all the leaves have been freeze. You have to come anyhow." Vaibhav informed him and his face fell down listening to him.

"I will try to release you as early as possible but can't do anything else." Vaibhav said again as Manik said nothing.

"That's okay Vaibhav , I understand" he replied slow and disconnected the call.

"What's wrong Manik.?" Nandini asked looking at his upset face.

"All the leaves are being freeze. I can't take leave." He replied in a sad tone.

Listening to him, she too felt bad as she didn't wanted him to leave. He was with her from yesterday and now she didn't wanted to stay back without him. 

But handling the situation , she said ; "that's ok Manik. Office bhi important hai. I will be fine. Trust me.. don't worry." She assured him.

"But Nandini.." He was not satisfied with her assuring words.

"Manikk... Don't worry.. I promise I will be fine." She attempted again and kept her hand on his.

He thought for a while and finally agreed to go to office.

"Fine... But not until Mukti comes up." He said and dialed Mukti's number to ask her to come to hospital .

Nandini wanted to stop him but she knew arguing with the giant stubborn is of no use. So she let him do what he wanted to do.

Manik left for his home when Mukti came. 

 *******

IN EVENING.. Hospital.. Nandini's ward.

"what's wrong nurse..?" Manik entered and saw nurse and Nandini arguing over something, having strange expression on their faces.

Manik came to hospital directly from the office and was surprised to see the tiff going on between Nandini and the nurse.

"Manik.. see na.. she wants me to give this injection. Please tell her not to give. It pains. Please Manik... please please please...!!!" She pleaded him while he came on the other side of bed and sat beside her keeping his bag in front.

He looked at nurse who was giving him a helpless look. Manik knew it was important for her health. He blinked his eyes assuring to help.

"That's ok na.. if she is sacred then we will not give injections. Fine..?" he said looking at her and she instantly smiled.

"I will talk to the doctor." he said looking at the nurse and blinked his eyes.

"Aacha see na, what I got for you." he diverted Nandini's attention and took out few cards from his bag.

"Wow..!! so many cards..!" she exclaimed in happiness.

"Yesss... these many cards. Your colleagues are missing you. They all want you back as soon as possible. May be some of them will come over at weekend."

Saying this, he wrapped his left arm around her shoulder, and held the card in his hand. She was very excited to see her colleagues caring for her this much. 

She was engrossed in seeing the cards, when Manik slowly and carefully lifted the sleeve of her dress and indicated the nurse to go ahead. She smiled at him and he again started talking to her to keep her distracted.

"auu..!" she hissed in pain and look at the other side. She saw nurse standing with the injection and smiling .

"ye kya tha..?" she asked her in surprise .

"Injection.." Manik replied suppressing his laugh .

"hawww...!!! You are too bad Manik..! I will not talk to you. You are a real monster." she started hitting him on his chest and the nurse left.

"aacha aacha ok.. I am a monster bas. Now stop stressing your hand or it will pain more." he said holding her hand and rubbed the cotton ball on the injected area and she pouted in anger.

Seeing her making such faces he smiled at her cute antics.

"What's so funny..?" she asked when she saw him smiling.

"Nahh.. Nothing is funny..! But why are you getting annoyed.. see na that was so tiny needle. Wo kya karegi tumhara haan..and also you will be fine soon.. hai na.?" He said softly and she again pouted and got busy in watching her cards.

Smiling at her antics, he adored her and pecked her temple to which she smiled and looked at him who was looking at the cards.

She looked at him and was mesmerized by  his smile. A smile appeared on her lips seeing him smiling and rested her head on his shoulder.

Both were engrossed in checking the cards, when she titled her head again to look at his face. The constant smile on his face was giving life to her with each passing second. 

She vaguely remembered all the moments right from when she woke up in the hospital; all his care and affection towards her; bearing all her tantrums; she gave a gleeful chuckle, which grabbed his attention. 

With eyes he gestured her what but she smiling nodded her head in no to receive his another cheerful smile. 

He again diverted his attention towards the card but she kept on gazing him. 

"Manik , why do I feel there is something else, something different in you and your behaviour since this accident has happened. Why do I see myself in your eyes in a completely different way. Kuch to badla hai Manik , and trust me ,I am loving it. But kya..? Is it the same I am thinking , or it's just I am over thinking." She thought to herself.

"So you liked it?" Manik asked her which brought her out of her thoughts. 

"Of course, they are beautiful Manik." She stated smiling at him and he responded back same. 

He was about to get up from the bed, when she held his arm and said softly; "Stay like this Manik, It feels good. Please." 

He smiled from ear to ear listening to what she said and sat back again beside her.

She encircled her right arm across his left arm while he kept on looking her. For not even once he tried to stop her and allowed her to do what she wanted taking full care of the wounds. She placed her head on his shoulder, and he in response kissed her head.

Both were smiling being with each other. No one said anything as sometimes words are not enough to describe your state of heart or mind. Silence has its own power. We just need to let the silence speak for the moment instead of ourselves, and be attentive enough to hear what it actually wants to say. 

He titled his head to rest on her head but she hissed as soon as his cheek touched her forehead as it was injured. He wanted to get up but she tightened her grip on his hand. 

"Don't go." She said softly 

He sighed listening to her but obeyed to what she said. Releasing his hand from her grip, he made her head rest on his chest and encircled his hand around her head to massage it lightly. 

"Does it hurt a lot?" he asked her softly and she bobbed her head in a yes like a child which made him smile and he again kissed her head.

He kept on pressing her head lightly not to hurt her from his one hand, where his other was held by her with which she was constantly playing. He kept on admiring her cute antics with a never ending smile where some times she joined their palms to see the difference in size and other times traced the lines on his palm from her finger. 

They stayed in that position for some time but no one said anything. After a while, Manik broke the silence ; "Nandini , lie down properly." 

She without arguing lied down but instead of keeping her head on pillow, she kept it on his lap.

He was at fist surprised at her sudden action, but smiled seeing her change behavior towards him. Her unsaid words were giving him immense happiness. 

Although, he realized his feelings towards her but wasn't sure about hers. He did not wanted to rush or hurt her in any sense. But seeing the transformation in her actions, he was more than sure about her feelings that were still to be avowed. 

Smiling to his own thoughts and drowned in the thoughts of an angel who was sent to erase even the minute sign of darkness from his life; he was brought back into the reality when he felt her touch on his hand. 

She held his hand and kept it on her head which made him chuckle. But obliging to his angle's silent demand, he again started pressing her head lightly and she closed her eyes, feeling his touch and smiling to herself.

Feeling his warmth so close to herself, and may be due to the effect of injection, soon she was fallen asleep. He caressed her hair and bend down to plant a soft kiss on her wound.  

It was almost 36 hours that Manik did not lied properly on bed to get a good sleep. He was exhausted being deprived from sleep and managing between office and hospital. Feeling almost worn out, he leaned back his head on the wall and within minutes slumber took over him and Nandini was sleeping peacefully on his lap.

Around 45 minutes his sleep was disturbed from the vibration of his phone. He opened his eyes to see Nandini sleeping peacefully in the same position, clutching his hand tightly.

He smiled seeing her and carefully adjusted her head on the pillow to attend the phone. He moved out of the ward and received the call which was from Mukti. 

"Hey Mukiti, wass up?" he answered the call.

"Manik, how's Nandini?" she inquired 

"Haan she is better. Recovering." He replied yawning over the phone and sat on the bench.

"Manik , you seem so tired. You are there since yesterday. Do one thing, you come over and today I'll be there at night." She said sensing his tiredness from his voice.

"Mukti, that's fine. I am fine. Don't worry." He replied leaning against the wall.

"Cabir aaya tha, I have send your and his dinner and your change with him. And if you need anything else tell me I will send that too." She said

"No, that's enough. Thanks for it." He replied softly.

"Really Manik? Now you will be this formal with me? come on man, what's wrong with you?" she replied in anger to which he smiled.

"ok ok , my lady bheem. Fine. No thanks and all. Ok? Aacha waise I hope you didn't had any problem with Nandini. Actually she's bit annoying when it comes to medicines and this hospital food. I hope she didn't troubled you much." He said 

"Come on Manik, she's my friend even before you, and beside she is not a kid why will she trouble me? Infact she herself took all the medicines and food." She replied in an amused tone.

"What? Really? That's strange." He opened his eyes with a jerk and sat straight.

"That means she only eats my head and annoy me with her nagging. Hmm... Nandini Moorthy.. you have to pay for troubling me this much." He thought to himself.

"Manik? You there?" Mukti asked again as he was lost in his thoughts and not replying.

"Haan. I am listening." He replied

"Ok then you take care and call me if you need anything. I will see you guys in morning." She said

"Ya , ok. Bye." He replied and disconnected the call.

As soon as the call was disconnected, he saw Cabir coming up there. Manik freshened up and changed his clothes from the formals. After a while of chit chat both had their dinner whereas Nandini was sleeping under the effects of medicines. Both were awake till late night but finally decided to call off the day. Manik slept on the couch in the ward , whereas Cabir slept on the bench outside the ward. 

********

It was mid night when Nandini's sleep was abruptly broken. She looked around the room which had dim lights. 

Her eyes then fell on Manik sleeping on couch in an uncomfortable position. She was happy seeing him taking care of her so much but at the same time was sad that he is taking so much pain for her. 

She felt the need to quench her thirst, so she carefully turned to the side table to take the glass. Suddenly she heard some sound. 

Looking around the ward , she noticed Manik who was mumbling something in his sleep. She made her way to the couch and found him sweating badly and constantly mumbling a no. 

Although she had pain in her leg but still she managed to bend down and sat beside the couch.

"Manik.. Manik.. Wake up.. Manik .!" she patted his cheeks to wake him up.

"Manik utho.." she caressed his chest and shook him to wake him up and with the other hand caressed his forehead.

"Aiyappa..! main kya karu?" she was on the verge of crying seeing him shivering so badly. 

"Manikkk..!" she shouted in a loud voice with time and used all her force to wake him up.

With a jerk he opened his eyes and sat once trying to register about his surroundings. 

Nandini was still kneeling down in front of him. She kept her hand on his knees and softly called his name; "Manik you ok?" 

His turned towards her and within seconds hugged her with all his force and energy. She was at once taken aback at his sudden action but responded towards it.

"Relax Manik... easy" she whispered in his ears rubbing his back and ruffling his hair simultaneously. 

"Please Nandini, don't leave me. I won't be able to live without you. Please don't ever leave me... please." He pleaded her which left her all baffled with the sudden outcome of emotions.

She knew something was bothering him a lot but that was not the right time to ask him.

"Manik.. Manik..look at me.." she forcefully broke the hug and cupped his face. She could easily see pain and fear in his eyes.

"I won't leave you ever Manik. Never ever. Trust me. I am always with you. Always.. HAMESHA..." she said in a determined tone, looking straight into his eyes. 

"HAMESHA...??" he asked her again to get the assurance. 

"HAMESHA..!!" she replied after kissing his forehead, giving a seal to her assurance.

They were lost in each other eyes when suddenly he again hugged him. 

After a while, Nandini said breaking the hug, "Manik , sleep. You need rest."

He without saying nodded his head. She sat properly on the floor while he lied again on the couch. She kept ruffling his hair to ease his stress. 

He was still frowning, thinking of something. She lightly rubbed her thumb on his forehead and soon his frowns were gone. 

Few minutes later, she witnessed his breaths even and was relaxed that he slept. She stood up and covered him with a blanket and herself laid on bed. 

She kept on staring him with the question of what exactly bothers him to this extent , and soon with these she was too fallen asleep. 

***************

A/N :-  I have following announcements regarding the story.

1. DHURV will not appear in the story again. The offscreen drama created by him was much to my nerves though I am not a Parth or Niti fan. The way he wrote out things was just not acceptable and adding to it is the character which never pleased me in KY2.. so the final decision is, there will be no Dhruv and no DHRULYA.

2. There were many characters in the show from start to end so I leave THE DECISION ON YOU GUYS TO TELL ME WHO ELSE YOU WANT IN THE STORY.  Please do tell me.