*Two weeks later*

It had been the most agonizing 14 days of Manik's life. Nandini was still unconscious, despite the withdrawal of the medication that put her in a deep state of slumber. And to add to Manik's miseries, Chacha had decided not to leave Nandini's side, not even for a second. Chachi and Abhimanyu had attempted to change his decision but failed miserably. Chacha was adamant on being by Nandini's side, every second of the day as well as the night. That left Manik with no chance to visit the hospital or be close to Nandini. It had been two weeks since he had physically felt her presence around him. Two weeks since he had taken her hand in his or caressed her hair or planted a kiss on her forehead. Abhimanyu kept giving him hourly updates about Nandini's health. Every opportunity Abhimanyu or Chachi got, they would video call Manik so that he could at least see Nandini and talk to her, just as Dr. Mehra had advised. But that wasn't enough for him. It wasn't the same as being in the same room as her. Being around her, gave him some sense of assurance that she was with him. That nothing was going to happen to her. That they would be just fine. His patience was wearing out and it was only a matter of time until he would land up in Nandini's room at the hospital, caring about nothing more than seeing her in flesh, in front of his eyes. 

Manik was seated on the bed when Alya, Dhruv, Mukti and Cabir entered his bedroom. They came and stood in front of him but he didn't notice their presence. When Cabir kept a hand on his shoulder, Manik came out of his trance. 

Manik : Arey guys tumlog kab aaye?

He asked as he put on his mirthful façade. The one he had been putting on in front of them, since the last 14 days. Not even once, in the past 14 days, had he shown how much his heart hurt to be away from Nandini. He was the one who kept their hopes alive. He was the one who said that everything would be alright. He was always his positive self around them. But they knew that the distance had been killing him, bit by bit, every single day. They knew that he was putting up a brave act in front of the world and behind closed doors, his wall of strength was crumbling to pieces. And today, they could see it in his stance when they entered his room. Those worry lines on his forehead and those droopy shoulders when he was lost in his thoughts, told an entirely different story from the one he portrayed to be true. Before any of them could answer his question, Manik's phone started to ring. He fished it out of his pocket and glanced at the screen. Manik's eyes widened as he looked at the name of the caller. 

Cabir : Kaun hai? 

Cabir queried as he saw the change in Manik's expressions.

Manik : Inspector Deshmukh. 

All of them became alert as Manik mentioned the name of the caller.

Mukti : Manik, speaker. 

Manik nodded his head. He received the call and put it on speaker. 

Inspector : Hello, Mr. Malhotra?

Manik : Yes, Inspector. Kuch pata chala?

In Dr. Mehra's cabin

Chacha and Chachi were seated on the chairs opposite to Dr. Mehra and Abhimanyu was standing besides Chacha. Dr. Mehra was studying Nandini's latest brain scans. Chachi, Chacha and Abhimanyu were waiting eagerly for him to replenish their spirits with some good news. Dr. Mehra kept the scans on the table and looked up at them.

Dr. Mehra : The scans are good. Nandini ke brain mei koi nayi swelling ya infection nahi hua hai. Humne Nandini ko behoshi ki medicines dena toh bandh kar hi dia hai. Ab hume sirf uske hosh mei aane ka wait karna hai. 

Dr. Mehra's words dampened the hope with which they had entered his cabin. This was the exact same thing he had told them, two days ago. Dejection covered Abhimanyu's features. Chacha let out a despondent sigh. How long would it be until Nandini would open her eyes again? No matter how strong he acted, his heart ached to listen to his daughter's chirpy voice. But Chachi's level of tolerance was dead. 

Chachi : Kab doctor saab? Bataiye mujhe.

She demanded.

Chachi : Pichli baar bhi aapne humse yeh hi kaha tha. Mujhe jaan na hai ki hamari bachi ko hosh kab aayega? 

Chachi's voice wavered as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. Chacha squeezed her shoulder to calm her down. She glimpsed at him and let some of her tears roll down. She was tired of waiting and hoping. 

Dr. Mehra : Dekhiye, aap himmat mat haariye. Kabhi kabhi medicines ka asar, unhe nahi dene me bavajood bhi rehta hai. Yeh normal hai. Jaise hi medicines ka asar utarega, Nandini ko hosh aa jaayega. Aur aisa bahut jald hoga. 

Dr. Mehra looked at her with a hopeful smile. Badimaa wiped off her tears and nodded her head. Somehow his words provided a kind of unknown relief to her heart. They all left from there.

Manik's room

Manik : Okay. Thank you Inspector.

He managed to say and disconnected the call. Inspector Deshmukh's revelation had shocked the wits out of every person present in the room. Horror covered their features. Only one question invaded their minds, 'How could she stoop so low?' As Manik came out of the initial shock, his face hardened. His blood started to boil. He slammed his fist on the nearby wall. Fab 4's heads shot up in the direction of the noise. Blood oozed out of his knuckles. Before any of them could react, they heard Manik's voice.

Manik : I won't spare her this time. 

He seethed in anger and stormed out of his room. Alya, Dhruv, Mukti and Cabir exchanged worried glances and rushed behind him. They knew Manik's anger when it came to Nandini. His rage would burn everything in its way. 

Outside Nandini's room

Chachi was seated on a chair in the corridor with her head in her hands. Abhimanyu stood near her while Chacha was standing near the door of the ICU room, peering at Nandini's sleeping form inside. Abhimanyu walked up to him and kept a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to look at Abhimanyu. Tears glistened in Chacha's eyes but he was quick to hide them. Abhimanyu had noticed them but he let it go.  

Abhimanyu : Uncle, aap tension mat lijiye. Nandini ko kuch nahi hoga. Aur doctor ne bola hai na ki usse jald hi hosh aa jaayega. She'll be fine Uncle. And I think aaj aapko ghar chale jaana chahiye aur rest karna chahiye. Aap pichle 14 days se yaha ho. Aur kahi aisa na ho ki aapki tabiyat bhi kharab ho jaaye. Aur hum nahi chahte hai na ki jab Nandini uthe toh aap ki health kharab ho? Isliye aaj aap ghar jaaiye. Mei yaha Nandini ke paas ruk jaata hu. 

Abhimanyu waited for his approval expectantly. He did care about Chacha's health but he also knew that Manik would lose his sanity if he didn't meet Nandini soon. Chachi also lifted her head as she heard Abhimanyu's words. She understood what he was trying to do. 

Chachi : Abhimanyu sahi keh raha hai. Aapko bhi aaram ki zarurat hai. Aur aisa na ho ki Nandini jaage aur aap bistar par let jaao. Isliye, aaj Abhimanyu ko yaha rukne dete hai. 

Chachi supported him. Abhimanyu passed her a grateful smile. Chachi nodded in response. Lost in deep thought, Chacha didn't notice their small encounter. He was going to say something when Abhimanyu's phone went off. He looked at the caller's name and excused himself to receive the call. 

Once he was at a considerable distance from Chacha-Chachi and sure that they couldn't hear him, he received the call. 

Abhimanyu : Bolo Mukti.

Mukti : Abh.. Abhimanyu, wo.. woh abhi.. Abhimanyu woh.. 

Came Mukti's panicky voice. Fear struck Abhimanyu's features as she struggled to form sound words. 

Abhimanyu : Mukti shant ho jaao. Aur saaf saaf batao ki hua kya hai. 

Abhimanyu tried to calm her down while his own heart was racing. His gut told him that something was terribly wrong for Mukti to behave in this manner. 

Mukti : Woh.. woh Ma.. Manik.. woh..

She tried again but failed miserably. Mukti's stammer was making Abhimanyu anxious. And to add to that, it was something related to Manik. Before his mind could jump to conclusions, he heard some noises at the other end of the call. The person who spoke next wasn't Mukti but Cabir. 

Cabir : Hello Abhimanyu..

Before Cabir could have the chance to explain, Abhimanyu interrupted.

Abhimanyu : Cabir, Mukti kya bol rahi hai? Manik kya? 

Cabir : Manik bahut gusse mei yaha se nikla hai. Usse pata chal gaya ki kisne aur kyu woh sab kia jiski wajah se Nandini ki yeh haalat hai. 

Abhimanyu's posture stiffened as his eyes widened in alarm.

Abhimanyu : Kisne?

That was all he managed to ask. 

In the middle of some unknown road 

Manik was driving at full speed. After hearing the truth, his mind had shut down. All that was flowing through his entire being was fury. He held the steering wheel so tight, his knuckles had turned white, despite the dried up blood on his right hand. In that moment, all he needed was one person. The solution to all his problems. Nandini. But who was he kidding? Nandini was still unconscious and he couldn't even see her because Chacha wouldn't leave her alone. Manik halted his car. When he looked outside the window, there were multiple cars parked around. But what caught his sight was the ambulance parked in a distant corner. He let out a heavy sigh. Unknowingly, he had found his way to the parking lot of the hospital. To the only place where lay the person who he needed more that anyone or anything, in that moment. The person who could take away the pain in his heart with the click of her fingers. But realization hit him like a lightning bolt. It was impossible to meet Nandini and he didn't know for how long. 

Manik : I need you Nandini. I need you. 

He said to no one in particular and kept his head on the steering wheel as hot tears made their way down his cheeks. 

A little away from Nandini's room

Abhimanyu : WHAT? How could she?

His eyes bulged out of its sockets as he heard what had made Manik's rage cross the roof. 

Cabir : Right now, our concern is only Manik. Hum sab kabse usse call karne ki koshish kar rahe hai lekin woh kisi ka phone nahi utha raha hai. Please tum try karo Abhimanyu. Woh tumhara phone definitely uthayega. 

Cabir spoke confidently. He was sure that out of all the people, Manik would receive Abhimanyu's call because he was the one who updated Manik about Nandini's health. 

Abhimanyu : Okay. 

He hurriedly disconnected the call and dialled Manik's number. Before Manik could pick up the call, Chachi came to Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu moved the phone a little away from his ear to listen to what Chachi had to say. 

Chachi : Mei aur Nandini ke Chacha ghar jaa rahe hai. Tum Nandini ke saath rehna. Aur Manik ko bhi bata dena. Bahut dino se woh bhi Nandini se nahi mil paaya hai. Usse yaha aakar acha lagega. 

She rubbed Abhimanyu's arm and passed him a tiny smile. She and Chacha left from there. Abhimanyu pressed the phone against his ear only to hear a firm voice.

Mei aa raha hu. 

In the parking lot

Abhimanyu's phone call and Chachi's words were like a light at the end of a dark tunnel for Manik. As soon as he saw Abhimanyu's name flash on his screen, he immediately received the call, only to be greeted by Chachi's words.  

"Manik ko bhi bata dena. Bahut dino se woh bhi Nandini se nahi mil paaya hai. Usse yaha aakar acha lagega."

He understood what Chachi's words meant. His heart filled with contentment. Chachi truly was his blessing in disguise. He wiped off his tears, got out of the car and rushed towards Nandini's room. 

Outside Nandini's room

Abhimanyu was on a call, informing Mukti that Manik was coming to the hospital, when he saw Manik walk towards him. His brows furrowed in confusion. It had hardly been 2 minutes since he talked to Manik and he was here already. But before Abhimanyu had a chance to ask anything, Manik just pushed the door of Nandini's room open and stepped in. 

As soon as he stepped inside the room, the smell of roses hit his nostrils. The very roses he blamed for Nandini's condition. Had he not left to buy them on that eventful day, Nandini wouldn't have been here. Nevertheless, he still sent a bouquet of those roses for her via Abhimanyu, every single day. Nandini loved them! How could he not? But after today, he wouldn't blame those flowers anymore. Because now, he knew who was behind this entire game. Taking baby steps, Manik made his way towards Nandini. He plopped himself down on the stool next to her bed. His throat clogged up at the sight of her sleeping form that had grown thinner while her face looked paler than the last time he actually saw her. The colour had drained off the face of the Nandini who was once a bubbly and lively girl. Tears clouded his vision. Entwining their hands, he placed a chaste kiss on the back of her hand. He sat there, wordlessly, trying to rebuild his wall of strength that had completely collapsed after coming face to face with the truth. He silently stared at her pallid face while tears flowed down his cheeks, some of which fell on their entwined hands. After no one knows how long, Manik got up. Taking one last glance at Nandini's face, he turned around to leave but stopped dead in his tracks as he felt something that had started to feel like a distant memory now.