Manik got out of the car. Never had he thought that the person standing in front of him would be here after all that had taken place inside the hospital. 

Manik : Chachi, aap yaha? 

He was dumbstruck. Was it actually true? Or was it all his hallucination? He couldn't tell. Chachi ignored his question and swamped him with the questions that troubled her mind. 

Chachi : Jab tumne yeh sab kia hi nahi hai toh bina kuch bole waha se kyu chale aaye? Kyu tumne Nandini ke Chacha ko saamne jawab nahi dia? Kyu Manik?

Chachi's face reddened in fury. Tears lined the borders of her eyes. She loved Manik as much as she loved Nandini. He was like a son to her. In fact, she considered him, her own. And she hated the way in which he had been accused. She hated the way in which both her children had been suffering. 

Manik : Chachi aap.. 

He was interrupted as Chachi spoke further.

Chachi : Mei jaanti hu Manik ki tum Nandu ke saath kabhi bhi aisa nahi kar sakte ho. Kar toh kya, tum meri Nandu ke saath kabhi aisa kuch karne ki soch bhi nahi sakte ho. Mujhe tumpar pura bharosa hai Manik. Mei jaanti hu ki Nandini ke Chacha ne andar jo bhi kaha woh sab galat hai. Toh phir tumne chup chap unki saari baatein kyu sunn li? Kyu tumne ya kisi aur ne kuch nahi kaha? Kyu Manik? Batao mujhe. Kyu? 

There was no end to her questions today. Manik's eyes brimmed with tears and a small smile spread across his lips as he sensed the love emanating through Chachi's questions. But that smile didn't last long. He knew what Chacha had held him responsible for wasn't entirely false. 

Manik : Chacha ne andar jo kuch bhi kaha woh sach hai. 

Manik's words came as a blow to Chachi. She staggered behind and stared at him with wide eyes. Did she hear it correctly? Did Manik just admit to being guilty for Nandini's condition? 

It took a while before Chachi recovered from the shock. Her mind was filled with a million thoughts but her heart refused to believe what Manik said. 

Chachi : Tum.. tum jhooth bol rahe ho na? Yeh.. yeh sa.. sach nahi ho sakta hai. Mei.. Mei jis Manik ko jaanti hu, wo.. woh aisa nahi hai.

She stuttered. She drew in a breath and peered straight into Manik's eyes.

Chachi : Bolo Manik. Yeh jhooth hai na? 

This time, she spoke firmly. Her heart knew that Manik was lying. But why? That she didn't understand. Manik averted his gaze. Out of all the people in the world, only Chachi and Nandini were the ones who could look through his pretence. That was the cue for Chachi to believe her heart and not Manik's words. Her tone softened as she spoke the next words. 

Chachi : Manik beta, tumhara mujhse nazre churana hi iss baat ka sabut hai ki andar jo bhi tumhare Chacha ne kaha woh sab sach nahi tha. Aur mera dil yeh maan ne ko taiyaar hi nahi hai ki jo insaan Nandini se pyaar karta hai, woh uski iss halat ka zimmedar hai. Toh ab bataoge ki sach kya hai?

Manik's head shot up. His expressions changed from confusion to shock to anguish in a millisecond. The truckload of tears that he had been trying so hard to conceal, cascaded down his cheeks. Horror clouded Chachi's features as she witnessed Manik fall to his knees, his body shaking with sobs. She immediately rushed towards him and knelt down in front of him. Without a second's delay, Chachi clasped Manik in her arms as he let out all the pain that he had been holding in, on her shoulder. 

Outside Nandini's room 

Chacha was seated on the chair with his head in his hands. A million thoughts fleeted through his mind. How could he not see the pain in Nandini's eyes when Manik broke her heart? How could he have been blind to Manik's reality? How had he failed to protect his daughter? Why didn't she trust him enough to let him know about her illness? But the one thought that disturbed him the most was : Why had God assigned his daughter to this fate? She had never been unkind, not even to the ones who had been inhumane towards her. Then why was she subjected to the callous games of destiny? Aryamann came and sat besides him. 

Aryamann : Uncle, aap tension mat lijiye. Nandini ko kuch nahi hoga. 

He tried to dispel Chacha's fears. But would that put a father's trepidation to rest? Nandini may not be his biological daughter but he loved her in a way he would have loved his own. With a tired expression on his face, he sighed heavily. Without saying a word, he got up from the chair and walked towards the door of Nandini's room. His heart was in his mouth while he twisted the doorknob. But nothing could have ever prepared him for the sight that awaited him. 

The beeping of machines filled the air in the room. His heart bled at the sight of Nandini aided by all kinds of needles and machines for each breath. With slumped shoulders and hesitant steps, he dragged his feet towards Nandini's bed. He plopped himself on the stool next to the bed. A weary look etched on his features, seeing Nandini's frail body. His hand trembled as he stroked her bandaged head. He may act like he is the strongest in front of others but how long could he keep up the façade? A teardrop escaped his eye as he helplessly watched his daughter lying unconscious on the hospital bed. At that moment, he made a promise to himself. A promise that held the power to upturn his beloved daughter's life. 

Chacha : Jo insaan teri iss halat ka zimmedaar hai, usse mei tere aas paas bhi nahi bhatakne dunga. Yeh tere Chacha ka wada hai tujhse. 

His voice held conviction. With one last glance at Nandini, he walked out of the room. 

In the parking lot

Chachi kept rubbing Manik's back to ease some of his sorrow. As Manik's sobs subsided, he got out of Chachi's embrace. He wiped off his remaining tears with the back of his hand. 

Chachi : Ab thoda behtar lag raha hai? 

She asked, concern dripping from her voice. Manik slightly nodded his head. He got up to his feet and helped Chachi up too. He looked for a bench nearby and signalled Chachi to follow him there. Chachi blinked her eyes in response. 

They both sat on the bench. Manik stared at his hands as he fidgeted with them, not sure where he should start from. Chachi sensed his inner tumult. She kept a hand on his. He looked up at her.

Chachi : Shuru se batao kya hua tha. 

She passed him a small smile. He smiled meekly, grateful to have someone show so much trust in him and someone who loved him unconditionally besides Nandini. Taking a deep breath, he started to narrate how his friends and him harassed Nandini, how he had started to develop feelings for her, how he broke her heart because Dhruv liked her, how because of Nandini they all had a change of heart, how Nandini and him got back together, how he got to know about her tumor and found out a way to save her, what happened on his birthday, how he met Abhimanyu and concluded with the incidents of morning that had led them to the hospital. Chachi listened to each and every word patiently. 

Chachi : Tumne andar kyu kuch nahi kaha Manik?

She still didn't understand why Manik had stayed mum when the reality was completely the opposite. She knew Manik wasn't one of those who kept quiet when someone was being wronged. 

Manik : Kyunki mere paas apni begunahi ka koi sabut nahi tha. Aur Chacha puri tarah se galat bhi toh nahi the. Unhone jo kuch bhi kaha, woh sab sach hi toh tha. Maine Nandini ka dil toda, usse dukh pahuchaya. Aaj Nandini hospital mei bhi sirf aur sirf meri wajah se hi toh hai. 

His body drooped as he lamented. Chachi's heart hurt at his plight but she wouldn't let him blame himself for something he's not responsible for. 

Chachi : Nahi Manik. Ismei tumhari koi galti nahi hai. Tum Nandini ki iss halat ke zimmedar nahi ho. Agar tum nahi hote toh shayad Nandini aaj..

She trailed off. She didn't want to think what would have happened if Manik didn't get one of the best doctors for her on time. She composed herself and looked straight into his eyes. 

Chachi : Mei tumhe bina kisi galti ke saza nahi bhugatne dungi. 

She said without a shadow of doubt. 

Chachi : Chalo mere saath. Hum abhi jaakar Nandini ke Chacha se baat karenge. 

She was about to get up when Manik held her hand. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

Manik : Nahi Chachi. Aap aisa kuch nahi karengi. Chacha Nandini se bahut pyaar karte hai. Aur mei jaanta hu ki jab woh mujhse uss tareeke se baat kar rahe the toh khud kitna hurt ho rahe the. Aur mei yeh bhi jaanta hu ki unke uss gusse ke piche unka Nandini ke liye pyaar chupa hua tha. Aur shayad…

Chachi cut him off.

Chachi : Aur tumhara pyaar? Uska kya Manik? 

Manik lowered his lashes. He didn't have an answer to that yet. 

Chachi : Toh tum firse kisi aur ke liye apne pyaar ki kurbaani de doge? 

Manik's astonished eyes met Chachi's red ones. Some of the redness due to the tears she had shed but most of it due to anger. She hated how someone else's misunderstanding determined the fate of her children. Even if that someone else was her husband. 

Manik : Nahi Chachi. Mei ek baar woh galti kar chuka hu. Dobaara nahi karunga. Mei dobaara khud ko aur Nandini ko uss dard se guzarne nahi dunga. 

Hurt fleeted through his eyes as memories of the past invaded his mind but he composed himself before continuing. 

Manik : Mere kehne ka matlab tha ki hum abhi Chacha se kuch nahi kahenge. Ek baar yeh pata chal jaaye ki Chacha ko kisne call karke yeh sab bataya tha, uske baad mei khud Chacha se baat karunga. Lekin tab tak, aap mujhse promise kijiye ki aap Chacha ko kuch nahi batayengi. 

He held out his hand. Chachi hesitated a bit but kept her hand in his. 

Chachi : Thike. Mei wada karti hu ki mei unhe kuch nahi bataungi.

A tiny smile played along Manik's lips. Chachi smiled too.

Manik : Vaise.. aapko kaise pata chala ki mei Nandini se pyaar karta hu?

He asked the question he had been dying to find an answer to. Chachi laughed. Manik tilted his head in confusion. 

Chachi : Mei Chachi hu tumhari. Aur Nandini ki bhi. Apne bacho ke dil ka haal unke bina bataye hi samajh jaati hu. Tumhe kya laga ki tum dono kuch bataoge nahi toh mujhe pata nahi chalega? 

Manik scratched the back of his head in embarrassment and looked away. 

Chachi : Mujhe shak toh bahut pehle se tha ki tum dono ke beech kuch chal raha hai. Lekin mujhe yakeen uss din hua jab tum hamare ghar aaye the, khane par aur galti se Nandini ka haath jal gaya tha. 

Manik looked back at Chachi as a knowing smile rested on her face. His mind wandered back to the memory. 

*Flashback*

Chachi had asked Nandini to invite Manik for dinner. So here he was, earlier than usual, seated on one of the chairs of the dining table while Chachi and Nandini were busy with dinner preparations. 

Manik : Vaise Chachi, aapko pata hai Nandini hamare college mei bahut famous hai! 

Manik said out of the blue. Nandini, who was stirring the soup on the stove, halted and looked up at him quizzically. Chachi stopped chopping the vegetables.

Chachi : Acha. Woh kaise?

She asked intriguingly and got back to her work. A sly smile adorned Manik's face. He glanced towards Nandini before speaking.

Manik : Arey Nandini, tumne Chachi ko bataya nahi? 

Chachi's head shot towards Nandini as Manik asked the question. 

Chachi : Nandu.. Yeh Manik kya bol raha hai? Kya nahi bataya tune mujhe? 

Chachi narrowed her eyes at Nandini. Nandini freezed. 

Manik : Haa haa Nandini. Chachi ko batao na. Kaise college ke saare ladke tumpar marte hai lekin tum toh pehle se hi kisi ko apna dil de baithi ho! 

Manik chuckled. As soon as the words left his lips, Nandini's pupils dilated and her mouth dropped open in horror. Chachi, who was staring at the duo's little exchange, laughed silently. She understood what Manik was doing. So she decided to play along. 

Chachi : Nandini, kaun hai woh?

Nandini was so busy glaring at Manik that she didn't hear Chachi's question. Manik took that as a hint to tease her further. 

Manik : Nandini, mujhe ghoorna bandh karo. Chachi tumse kuch puch rahi hai. 

Throwing a murderous glare at Manik she turned towards Chachi, a puzzled look on her face. 

Chachi : Kaun hai woh jise tu apna dil de chuki hai? Mujhe bhi bata. 

Nandini's eyes popped out of her sockets at the question. She shifted her glance around the room, thinking of a way to quickly divert the topic. Manik was having a gala time observing Nandini's awkward stance. An idea struck Nandini's mind. She walked towards Chachi. She slid her arms around Chachi's shoulder in such a way that she was behind Chachi and her gaze was directly fixated on Manik. A sneaky smile dancing along her lips. 

Nandini : Actually Chachi, kya hai na, uss ladke ko meri koi fikr hi nahi hai. Woh jab dekho tab mera mazaak udata rehta hai. Isliye ab mei soch rahi thi ki apna dil kisi aur ko de du. Jise meri fikr ho. Jo mera mazaak na udaye. Kyu Manik? Thik hai na? 

Nandini questioned craftily. It was Manik's turn to be shocked. He gaped at Nandini who was giggling. Before Manik could answer her questions, they heard a sizzling sound. As they glimpsed towards the source of the noise, they saw that the soup was spilling over the stove. Nandini bolted towards it to turn the knob off. In an attempt to turn the knob off, some of the burning hot soup fell on the back of her hand. 

Nandini : AAHHHHH!

She screamed and pulled her hand away in reflex. The colour drained off Manik and Chachi's face. 

Manik and Chachi : NANDINIII..

They cried together. Manik jumped up from his seat and whizzed towards Nandini while Chachi was by her side in the blink of an eye. Manik inspected Nandini's affected hand. 

Manik : Tum dhyaan se nahi kar sakti thi! 

He chided in concern. He left her hand and rushed towards the refrigerator. He took the ice tray from the freezer and a bowl from the adjacent cabinet. He filled the bowl with water and emptied the entire tray of ice in it. He carried the bowl towards Nandini and carefully dipped her hand in the icy cold water to ease some of her stinging. Nandini hissed in pain as her hand came in contact with freezing water.

Manik : Sorry, I'm sorry. 

Nandini could hear the worry laced with a hint of guilt in his voice. Tenderly, he stroked the sore area of Nandini's hand under the water to take her pain away. Nandini knew that Manik was blaming himself for whatever had happened. She wanted to talk to him, tell him that it wasn't his fault but she couldn't do that in Chachi's presence. 

Nandini : Chachi, woh mere room mei na ek ointment pada hai. Woh specially aise burns ke liye hai. Aap woh le aayengi please? 

Chachi nodded and left from there. Nandini turned to look at Manik. He was still gently stroking her hand. 

Nandini : Manik?

He didn't not look up. She let out a sigh and tried again.

Nandini : Manik, meri taraf dekhoge please? 

This time he looked up. His eyes glistened with unshed tears. Nandini immediately embraced him in a tight hug. He shut his eyes and hugged her back with equal fervour. Nandini kept on rubbing his back. After a few seconds, they broke apart. Nandini kept her other hand on his arm.

Nandini : Manik, mei thik hu. Bas chota sa burn hai. Ointment lagaungi toh thik ho jaayega. I'm fine. So, stop blaming yourself for it. 

Manik stared at her in surprise. 

Manik : Tum.. tumhe kaise pata chala ki mei…

He trailed off unable to form coherent words. 

Nandini : Mei tumhe, tumse better jaanti hu. I know tum yeh soch rahe ho ki agar tumne woh mazaak nahi kia hota toh yeh sab nahi hota. Lekin tumhari koi galti nahi hai. It was just an accident. Kisi ke saath bhi ho sakta tha. So stop accusing yourself for it.  

Nandini tried to free him of his guilt. 

Manik : Mei tumhe pain mei nahi dekh sakta hu. I can't. 

His features contorted and his gaze shifted back to her wounded hand. 

Nandini : Manik.. Bas haan. Ab agar tumne apne aap ko blame kia na toh.. toh mei tumse baat nahi karungi. 

She huffed in annoyance. How does she explain to this boy that it was just an accident? 

Nandini : Aur mei ointment bhi nahi lagaungi. 

Shock covered Manik's features and she knew that she had won. 

Manik : NO! Tum aisa kuch nahi karogi. 

Nandini : Haa toh tum bhi apne aap ko blame nahi karoge. Deal?

She held out her other hand. Manik kept his hand in her. 

Manik : Okay. 

A smile broke out on Nandini's face.

*Flashback ends*

Chachi : Uss din kitchen mei maine tum dono ki baatein sunn li thi. Chot usse lagi thi lekin dard tumhe ho raha tha. Aur mera shak yakeen mei badal gaya. Agar tum dono khud mujhe aur Nandini ke Chacha ko yeh sab pehle hi bata dete toh shayad aaj jo hua, woh nahi hota.

She said referring to the events that took place a while ago and sighed heavily. 

Manik : I'm sorry Chachi. 

Manik lowered his head. 

Chachi : Nahi Manik. Ab jo hogaya uss par afsos mat karo. Aage kya karna hai woh socho. 

She motivated him. With Chachi by his side, Manik had some hope of being around Nandini when she needed him the most. Chachi truly was a miracle in his life. 

Manik : Filhaal toh aapko waapis jaana chahiye. Agar aap itni der gayab rahengi toh Chacha ko shak ho jaayega. Aur mei nahi chahta hu ki meri wajah se ab aur koi bhi problem ho. Isliye aap please jaaiye. 

Chachi nodded in understanding. She got up to leave but not before reassuring Manik. 

Chachi : Tum chinta karo. Mei kuch karti hu. 

Saying this, she kissed his forehead and left from there. 

Mukti, Cabir, Dhruv and Alya reached the parking lot after looking for Manik in every corner of the hospital premises. They found him seated on the bench and rushed towards him. As soon as they reached Manik, they bombarded him with questions.

Mukti : Manik tu thik hai?

Dhruv : Yaar tu apna phone kyu nahi utha raha tha?

Cabir : Tujhe koi idea bhi hai ki hum kitna darr gaye the? 

Alya : Manik, tum waha se aise kyu chale gaye? 

Manik : Guys! Stop. I'm sorry that I just walked away from there and didn't receive any of your calls. Mera phone shayad gaadi mei hai. Aur haa mei thik hu. Don't worry. Tumlog theek ho? 

Manik was equally concerned for them as they were for him. He had Chachi come by to soothe some of his pain. But what about his friends? They had been hurt too. When none of them replied, Manik spread his arms for a group hug. All of them leaped in for a hug. 

Outside Nandini's room

Chacha was talking to the doctor when Chachi reached the place. Abhimanyu, Navya and Aryamann were standing a little away and intently listening to the doctor. Chachi walked up to Abhimanyu and stood next to him.

Chachi : Doctor kya keh rahe hai? Nandu thik toh hai na?

Concern masked her features as she whispered to Abhimanyu.

Abhimanyu : Nandini thik hai aunty. Woh doctor bas kuch regular baatein kar rahe hai aur yeh keh rahe hai ki Nandini ke paas hum sab mei se koi ek hi ruk sakta hai. 

As soon as Chachi heard this, an idea struck her mind. She signalled Abhimanyu to bend a little and murmured something into his ears. Abhimanyu stared at Chachi, stupefied. What she had said wasn't something he was expecting. Looking at Abhimanyu's expressions, Chachi blinked her eyes and smiled at him. Their little exchange was interrupted when Chacha walked up to them. 

Chacha : Kaha thi aap? 

He looked pointedly at Chachi, a blank expression on his face. 

Chachi : Woh.. woh.. mei.. 

She stuttered. She didn't know what to tell him. She glanced towards Abhimanyu, in the hope to find some help. Abhimanyu was quick to respond. 

Abhimanyu : Uncle, mei kya keh raha tha ki aaplog travel karke thak gaye honge toh aaplogo ko ghar jaana chahiye. Mei yaha ruk jaata hu. Nandini ke paas. Vaise bhi hum sab mei se koi ek hi yaha ruk sakta hai. 

He smiled. Chachi let out a breath. She was sure Nandini's Chacha would forget about her absence.

Chacha : Nahi beta. Tum kyu takleef karoge? Mei yaha ruk jaata hu. Tumlog sab ghar jaao. 

Abhimanyu's smile faded. But he knew he had to try and convince Chacha.

Abhimanyu : Arey uncle, ismei takleef kaisi? Nandini meri bhi dost hai. Mei uske liye itna toh kar hi sakta hu. Jab mujhe ek dost ki zarurat thi toh Nandini hamesha mere saath thi. Aur aaj jab Nandini ko ek dost ki zarurat hai toh mei bhi uska saath dena chahta hu. Isliye please aaplog ghar jaaiye aur rest kijiye. Mei aaj Nandini ke paas ruk jaata hu. Aur agar kuch bhi hoga toh mei sabse pehle aapko hi call karunga. Aap tension mat lijiye. 

Chacha's heart filled with happiness on hearing Abhimanyu's words. He smiled and nodded his head.

Chacha : Thike. Lekin agar kuch bhi hoga toh mujhe phone karna. 

Abhimanyu bobbed his head. Chachi threw a grateful smile his way. They left from there along with Navya and Aryamann. As soon as they were out of sight, Abhimanyu dialled a number on his phone and pressed it against his ear. As he heard a beep,

Abhimanyu : Chacha-Chachi yaha se chale gaye hai. Now you can come.