The hospital room was eerily quiet except for the rhythmic beeping of the machines that surrounded Nandini’s fragile form. As the doctors finally allowed everyone inside, there was an overwhelming weight in the air, a stillness that felt almost suffocating.

Manik was the first to step into the room. His feet moved mechanically as if they were not his own. His eyes were locked on Nandini’s face, pale and bruised under the harsh hospital lights. He felt like his entire world had collapsed. His chest tightened with every step he took closer to her. When he finally reached her bedside, he just stared at her, his face completely expressionless, his heart silently screaming inside.

There was no movement from him, no sound, not even a single tear. It was as though he had shut down completely, unable to process the overwhelming agony that clawed at him. He couldn’t even recognize the girl lying in front of him, the one who used to smile so brightly, whose eyes would light up his entire world.

Beside him, Vishakha moved with the same lifelessness. Her steps were slow, her face gaunt, her entire body slumped with despair. She stood next to Manik, her eyes fixed on Nandini’s motionless form, but she was somewhere far away, trapped in a nightmare from which there was no waking up. She didn’t say a word. How could she? What words could express the emptiness she felt?

Cabir and Navya entered next, and the sight of Nandini on the hospital bed shattered them. Navya’s tears came instantly, streaming down her face as she clutched Cabir’s arm for support. Her sobs broke the silence, soft but heart-wrenching. She leaned over Nandini, her hand shaking as she touched Nandini’s cold fingers.

“Nandini… please… please wake up,” Navya whispered through her tears. “Please… we need you. I need you.” Her voice cracked, and she buried her face in her hands, her sobs echoing in the room.

Cabir, usually so composed, was barely holding himself together. His eyes were red, his hands trembling as he tried to comfort Navya, but his own heart was breaking. He reached into his pocket and took out the small family photo he always kept with him, staring at it for a moment before placing it gently beside Nandini’s pillow.

“It’s you… my Trishu,” Cabir whispered, his voice hoarse. “I waited so long to find you, and now…” He swallowed the lump in his throat, his hand covering his mouth as his body shook with suppressed sobs. “Please wake up, sis. I can’t lose you again… not like this.”

In the corner, Bela and Mahir stood quietly, their tears falling freely. Bela held Vishakha’s hand, trying to offer some comfort, though her own heart was breaking. Mahir gently stroked Vishakha’s back, whispering soft words of reassurance, though none of them believed their own words.

Vikrant stood beside Soha, his arms wrapped around her as she cried silently, guilt and sorrow etched into her face. She didn’t know how to face anyone, especially Manik and Vishakha. She felt like she didn’t deserve to be in the same room, but she couldn’t leave either. She watched the pain around her and felt suffocated by it.

Dhruv, who had remained quiet, walked over to Manik after some time, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. “Manik… you need to go home for a while. Change your clothes, at least. You’re covered in blood.”

At those words, Manik stiffened, his jaw clenched tightly. His blood-stained clothes had long dried, the fabric sticking uncomfortably to his skin, but he didn’t care. The moment Dhruv mentioned leaving, a surge of fury rose inside him.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Manik muttered, his voice low and dangerous.

Dhruv looked at him carefully, trying to remain calm. “Manik, you need to take care of yourself. You can’t help her if—”

“I said I’m not going anywhere!” Manik roared, suddenly standing up, his hands balled into fists. His eyes were wild, filled with an intensity that none of them had seen before. “You want me to leave her here? How can you even ask me that?”

“Manik, please…” Dhruv began, but Manik cut him off.

“You don’t get it! I won’t leave her! I can’t leave her!” His voice cracked, and he turned away, pacing the small room, running his hands through his hair, pulling at it in frustration. “If I leave… what if something happens? What if… what if she needs me and I’m not here?”

His words came out in a choked sob, and Dhruv’s heart broke at the sight of his best friend unraveling before him. Abhimanyu stepped forward, trying to intervene.

“Manik, listen,” Abhimanyu said gently. “We’ll stay here with her. You can come right back after you’ve changed and rested. It’s not safe for you to stay like this.”

Manik whipped around, his face contorted with grief and anger. “Safe?” he shouted. “Nothing is safe! She’s lying there because I couldn’t protect her. I let this happen! And you want me to leave her alone? I’m not leaving, do you hear me?! I won’t leave her!”

Vishakha, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke up, her voice barely a whisper. “I’ll stay with her. I’ll be here, Manik.”

Manik turned to his mother, his eyes wide with disbelief. “No. No No… you’re not staying either. None of you are staying. I’ll stay with her. She needs me. I promised her I wouldn’t leave her.”

At this point, Cabir stepped into his own emotions in turmoil. He had been trying to keep himself together, but seeing Manik like this was breaking him. Alya quietly whispered to Cabir, urging him to talk to Manik.

Cabir wiped his face quickly and gently walked over to Manik, grabbing his shoulders. “Manik, listen to me, okay? You need to go home for a little while. Just change, get some fresh air, and come back. I’ll be here with her the whole time. I swear, I won’t leave her side.”

Manik shook his head vehemently, tears spilling over as he looked at Cabir. “No, Cabir, please… don’t ask me to leave her. I can’t. I can’t lose her.”

Cabir’s tears returned as he tightened his grip on Manik’s shoulders. “I know, bro. I know. But you’re not going to lose her, okay? She’s going to come back to us. But you need to take care of yourself too. You can’t help her like this.”

Manik’s body shook as he dropped his head, tears falling onto the floor. He was exhausted, broken, and terrified. “I can’t… I can’t leave her…”

Cabir pulled him into a tight hug, letting Manik sob into his shoulder. “I’ll be here, Manik. I promise. I won’t leave her. Not for a second.”

Manik clung to Cabir, his body trembling with sobs. “I can’t lose her, Cabir… I can’t…”

Mukti, who had been quietly watching, stepped forward. “I’ll bring you clothes here, Bhai. You don’t have to leave. I’ll make sure you have everything you need.”

Cabir nodded in agreement. “You stay, then. But at least let Mukti bring you some fresh clothes. You can’t sit here like this.”

Bela and Vikrant, seeing how fragile Vishakha was, gently guided her out of the room. “Come home, Vishakha. You need to rest, and we’ll bring you back in the morning,” Vikrant said softly.

Vishakha, her face still pale and lifeless, walked mechanically as they led her out. Bela glanced back at Nandini with tear-filled eyes before leaving with Vikrant.

Navya refused to leave Nandini’s side, holding her hand tightly. She wiped her tears but never let go, whispering to Nandini as if her words could somehow pull her back from the edge.

Cabir looked around the room, his heart heavy. “Mahir uncle, take everyone home,” he said softly, glancing at Mahir. “I’ll be here with Nandini and Manik.”

Mahir gave him a nod, his grief too deep for words. He quietly guided the rest of the group out, leaving Manik, and Cabir alone with Nandini.

Cabir placed his hand on Nandini’s as the door closed behind them, giving it a gentle squeeze. He looked at her, his eyes filled with unshed tears.

“We’re all here, Trishu,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “We’re not leaving you. Please… just come back to us. We can’t do this without you.”

Manik, still sitting beside her, reached out and took her other hand, resting his forehead on it.

The hospital room was dimly lit, the machines beeping softly around Nandini as she lay motionless in the bed. The silence in the room was suffocating. Manik sat by her side, his gaze fixed on her pale face. He hadn’t spoken a word since everyone left, not even when Cabir tried to engage him. He simply sat there, his heart heavy with a mixture of pain, guilt, and helplessness.

His fingers lightly brushed against Nandini’s hand, and he clutched it tightly, as if holding her close could somehow bring her back.
Cabir leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, struggling to keep his emotions in check.

He watched his best friend, who had always been the strongest, the one they all leaned on, now reduced to a shell of himself. It broke him, but he knew he had to stay strong, not for himself, but for Manik and Nandini.

Now and then, he glanced at Nandini, his heart aching to see his sister like this, but he bit back his tears, knowing he couldn’t afford to fall apart. Time seemed to stretch endlessly, the weight of the moment pressing down on them both, making every second feel like an eternity.

After some time, Mukti quietly entered the room with a bag in her hand. She saw the state they were in, and her heart sank. She put the bag down on the side table and went straight to Cabir, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug.

“Hey,” she whispered, her voice soft but full of emotion. “You have to be strong, okay? We’ll get through this.”

Cabir hugged her back, his body shaking slightly as he fought to keep his emotions under control. “I know, Mukti. I’m trying,” he whispered, his voice thick with unshed tears. “But look at him…” He glanced over at Manik, who was still sitting lifelessly beside Nandini. “He hasn’t said a word. He’s not even… he’s just… I don’t know how to help him.”

Mukti looked over at Manik, her heart breaking all over again. She let go of Cabir and walked over to Manik, kneeling beside him. “Bhai,” she said gently, her voice filled with concern. “You need to eat something. Please. You haven’t had anything all day.”

Manik didn’t respond, his eyes never leaving Nandini’s face. He was completely lost in his own world, unable to hear anything around him. Mukti reached out, gently touching his arm. “Bhai, please,” she urged, her voice cracking slightly. “For Nandini. You need to take care of yourself.”

Manik blinked but still didn’t speak. His hand tightened around Nandini’s, as if afraid that letting go would mean losing her forever.

Mukti exchanged a glance with Cabir, silently pleading for his help. Cabir sighed and walked over to Manik, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. “Bro,” he said softly, trying to keep his voice steady. “You need to eat. If you don’t, you won’t have the strength to be here for her. Please… just a few bites.”

But Manik didn’t move. His eyes were glazed over, his face expressionless. He stood up abruptly as if to walk away, but Mukti quickly grabbed his arm, stopping him.

Before anyone could say anything, the door opened again, and Vishakha walked in, followed by Mahir. They had come, to bring food for them too.

Vishakha, seeing Manik’s state, immediately walked over to him. “Manik,” she said quietly, her voice filled with a gentle firmness. She gently pushed him back into the chair. “Sit down.”

Manik looked at her, his eyes hollow and lost, but he didn’t resist. He sat back down, still not saying a word.

Vishakha took the plate from Mukti’s hands and sat beside Manik. She placed the plate in front of him and picked up a spoon, gently scooping some food. Without a word, she brought the spoon to his lips, urging him to eat. Manik looked down, not resisting but not responding either.

“Not eating won’t make her wake up, Manik,” Vishakha said softly as she fed him. Her voice was steady, but there was a deep sadness in her eyes. “If you want to stay here with her, you need to take care of yourself. You know, if I wanted, I wouldn’t let you stay here. So please… eat.”

Manik didn’t speak. He opened his mouth slightly, letting her feed him, but his movements were mechanical. He was completely disconnected from everything around him, his mind focused solely on Nandini.

Vishakha continued to feed him in silence, her own heart breaking for both him and Nandini. She glanced up at Mukti, Cabir, and Mahir, all of whom were watching the scene with tears in their eyes. Mukti wiped away a tear that had slipped down her cheek, while Cabir stood there, his hands clenched into fists, trying to keep his emotions in check.

When Manik had eaten a few bites, Vishakha put the plate down and gently brushed his hair away from his face. “She’s going to wake up,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “She’s strong, Manik. She’ll come back to us. But you need to be strong for her, okay?”

Manik nodded slightly, though his eyes remained downcast. He still hadn’t spoken a word.

Vishakha turned and left the room not before kissing Nandini’s forehead, Mukti and Mahir following her out, leaving Cabir and Manik alone with Nandini once again. The silence that followed was deafening.

Manik sat back down in his chair, his hand automatically reaching for Nandini’s again. His thumb gently stroked her fingers, as if trying to coax her back to him. He leaned forward, resting his forehead against her hand, his shoulders trembling slightly as silent tears finally began to fall.

Cabir watched, his heart breaking all over again. He wanted to comfort Manik, to tell him everything would be okay, but he knew words wouldn’t help right now. Instead, he walked over to the side bed and lay down, staring up at the ceiling, his own tears falling as he tried to come to terms with everything that had happened.

After a few minutes, Manik, too exhausted to fight anymore, leaned forward and rested his head on the bed beside Nandini, his hand still clutching hers tightly. He closed his eyes, sleep finally overtaking him, though it was far from peaceful.

The night passed in heavy silence, the room filled with nothing but the soft beeping of machines and the weight of unbearable pain.

Cabir lay there watching his best friend, his heart aching for him, for Nandini, and for everything they had lost. He clenched his fists, praying silently, hoping that somehow, some way, things would get better.

But in that moment, all they had was each other, and all they could do was wait.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Hope u all like the chapter.....

Few words for Manik....

Few words for Nandini....

When will Nandini wake up???

How will manik manage himself???

What were your favourite moments???

Thank u 🙂🙂

Love,
Kiara ❤️❤️