Over the next few days, the room filled with laughter, stories, and warmth as everyone rallied around Nandini, doing everything possible to keep her spirits high. Although her physical recovery was coming along remarkably well, the emotional wounds would take longer to heal. Everyone knew it, especially Manik, who stayed by her side like a shadow, ignoring her countless pleas for him to go home and rest.

One evening, as the golden sunset filtered through the window, casting a warm glow across the room, Nandini shifted slightly in her bed, glancing up at Manik, sitting beside her with his head resting on his hands. Dark circles had appeared under his eyes, and he looked utterly exhausted, but he offered her a small smile.

“Manik, seriously… just go home. Look at you,” she said, frowning. “You’re turning into a ghost. I can’t be the only one resting around here.”

He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “A ghost, huh? Well, then I’m your ghost. And you’re not getting rid of me that easily, Nandini.”

Nandini sighed in frustration, but the affection in her eyes was clear. “Fine. If you won’t go home for yourself, go for me. You look terrible,” she said, adding with a hint of humor, “and frankly, I need you to look your best if you’re going to be here, hovering over me like my personal bodyguard.”

Their gentle banter was interrupted as Alya, Mukti, Dhruv, and Navya entered the room, carrying an assortment of snacks and gifts they had gathered to keep Nandini entertained. Alya leaned down, smiling warmly at her friend. “We thought you’d need some non-hospital food. And besides, Manik doesn’t exactly have a chef’s hand when it comes to feeding you.”

Nandini laughed, a light, genuine sound that filled the room and lifted everyone’s spirits. She accepted a snack from Alya and shook her head, looking back at Manik with a mischievous grin. “See, Manik? Even they agree. Go home, take a shower, sleep. Or I swear I’m kicking you out myself.”

Dhruv and Abhimanyu chimed in as well, taking Nandini’s side. “Manik, she’s right,” Dhruv said, trying to sound stern but breaking into a smile. “You’re going to scare the poor nurses looking like that.”

Manik raised his hands in surrender, smiling at the group. “Fine, fine, I get it. You guys just want me gone so you can have all the fun without me.”

As everyone laughed, Nandini leaned closer to him, her voice soft but serious. “I’ll be fine, Manik. Really. You’ve done more than enough for me.” Her fingers brushed his hand lightly. “Just… please go rest. I promise, I’ll still be here when you get back.”

Finally conceding, Manik nodded, squeezing her hand before he stood. “Alright, alright, I’m going. But only because you’re ganging up on me,” he joked, feigning exasperation.

Once he left the room, a hush fell over the group as they watched Nandini gaze thoughtfully at the closed door. It was clear how deeply she cared about him, and the silence hung heavy for a moment until Navya broke it, lightening the mood with a playful tease. “Aww, look at you, all smitten! And here we thought you were annoyed with him.”

Nandini rolled her eyes, giving her friends a half-hearted glare. “I’m not smitten; I just… care about him.” Her expression softened as she trailed off, her gaze dropping.

Just then, her attention turned toward the window, where she noticed Cabir and Vishakha pacing outside the room, their shadows falling on the door’s glass pane. She stiffened slightly, her expression hardening as she turned back to her friends.

Alya noticed the shift in her mood and cleared her throat. “Hey, Navya, didn’t you have that story you wanted to tell her? About the time you got stuck in the elevator with Mukti?”

Navya brightened up immediately, launching into the story with enthusiasm, her voice animated as she recounted every detail. Nandini’s eyes lit up with interest, the lingering tension easing as she listened to her friend’s tale, laughing and shaking her head in disbelief at Navya’s antics.

Outside, however, the scene was quite different. Cabir and Vishakha had been waiting just outside the room, their expressions tense and uncertain. Every so often, Vishakha would glance at the door, as if hoping Nandini would miraculously call out to them, ready to listen. But every time, there was only silence.

“She doesn’t want to see us, does she?” Vishakha’s voice was low, barely above a whisper, but the hurt was evident. Her hands twisted nervously as she leaned against the wall.

Cabir let out a sigh, his eyes reflecting a mix of guilt and regret. “She’s hurt, Aunty. And we… we need to give her space to come to terms with everything. She’s been through so much.” He paused, swallowing hard. “But it doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you. I know she does.”

Vishakha’s gaze dropped to the floor, her voice breaking. “I thought I was doing the right thing, keeping all of this from her. But now… now I’m not so sure.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I’ve never seen her look at me like that, Cabir. Like… like I’m a stranger. It breaks my heart.”

Cabir reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder controlling his own emotions and tears. “It’s going to take time, Aunty. She’ll come around. We just have to be patient and let her find her way back.”

Bela and Mahir, who had been watching the scene unfold, stepped forward, their voices filled with encouragement. “Vish, Nandini’s still the same girl you raised. She just needs time,” Bela said softly, her hand resting gently on Vishakha’s arm.

Mahir nodded, his voice steady. “And maybe this whole situation will bring you all closer. She’ll understand your intentions when she’s ready. But you need to have faith in her.”

Vishakha took a deep breath, nodding slowly as she looked at the door once more, a flicker of hope returning to her eyes.

The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing gently along the walls as the silence of the night settled over everything. Nandini lay in bed, her face turned toward the window, eyes glistening with silent tears that traced their way down her cheeks. She didn’t bother to wipe them away, letting the weight of the past days sink into her like a tidal wave, overwhelming her. So much had changed, and yet everything felt painfully stagnant, each revelation a fresh wound that deepened her confusion and heartbreak.

Just then, the door creaked softly as Manik entered, his steps quiet but purposeful. He immediately noticed her lying still, staring out into the night, and the faint tremor in her shoulders. His heart clenched, seeing the weight of the sorrow she carried, and he approached her with gentle care. Reaching out, he tenderly brushed her hair back, his hand resting on her head.

Feeling his familiar touch, Nandini turned slightly, her gaze meeting his, and for a moment, she tried to put on a brave face. But Manik’s soft, understanding look shattered the last bit of restraint she had, and she couldn’t hold back any longer. Her tears began to flow freely, each one carrying the silent agony that words had failed to express.

“Manik…” she choked, barely able to form the words. “It’s… it’s like everything I knew, everything I believed… it’s all slipping away.”

He sat beside her, brushing away a stray tear with his thumb, his voice calm and soothing. “You’re not alone in this, Nandini. I’m right here with you, okay? Whatever it is, you can tell me.”

She took a shaky breath, her fingers clutching the blanket tightly. “It’s just… I thought I knew who I was, Manik. My family, my life… but now, it’s like I don’t even belong to them. I’m not… I’m not even my mom’s real daughter.”

Manik felt the weight of her pain, and he gently lifted her chin so she could look into his eyes. “Nandini, listen to me. Whether or not you’re her biological daughter doesn’t change anything. Your mom—she’s the one who raised you, loved you, nurtured you. Did she ever once make you feel like you weren’t hers?”

She shook her head, fresh tears spilling over as she admitted, “No… she never did. But it hurts, Manik. It hurts so much that she kept this from me. I trusted her with everything, and she kept this part of my life hidden.”

He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close as she sobbed into his shoulder. “I know, baby. I know it hurts, and you’re allowed to feel that way. You’re not wrong for feeling betrayed. But… maybe she had her reasons. Did you ever give her a chance to explain?”

Nandini hesitated, her voice small and uncertain. “No… I was just so hurt and angry. I didn’t want to listen. I thought… maybe it was easier to just push everyone away.”

Manik held her tighter, his voice filled with warmth and understanding. “You’ve always been the one telling me not to let anger get the better of me, to hear people out before jumping to conclusions. You’ve always been the voice of reason, Nandini. So why are you not listening to your own advice now?”

She looked up at him, her face streaked with tears, her lips trembling. “It’s different this time. This… this is too personal, Manik. My whole identity feels like it’s… shattered.”

He gently cupped her face, his thumb tracing comforting circles against her cheek. “I get that, bacha. I really do. But you’re stronger than this pain. And your mom… she deserves a chance to explain herself, don’t you think? You owe it to yourself to at least listen to her side.”

Nandini’s gaze faltered, her expression clouded with confusion. She clung to Manik’s hand, the weight of his words grounding her. After a pause, she whispered, “Am I… am I really Cabir’s twin? Are we really… siblings?”

Manik sighed, running his fingers through her hair. “Yes, sweetheart. You are. It’s true.” He took a deep breath, recalling the moment he found out. “When you were in that coma, we ran every test possible. Your blood matched Cabir’s. And when we confronted Vishakha ma’am, she told us everything—about how she adopted you, and how Cabir had always missed his twin, even if he didn’t fully remember those memories. He had all those pictures, and videos . He never showed them to anyone. He kept them… and he didn’t know that… that you were alive. He didn’t know, Nandini. He thought he’d lost his twin forever. That’s why he kept those memories close, like something sacred. And now that he knows you’re here, he’s scared… scared of losing you again. It’s all just as overwhelming for him as it is for you.”

Nandini’s lips trembled as she processed this, her chest heaving with the weight of everything that had been kept from her. She struggled to find her voice, barely managing a whisper. “But why didn’t anyone tell me? Why did they keep me in the dark? Don’t I deserve to know who I am?”

Manik pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering there as he spoke. “You do, Nandini. You deserve to know the truth. But sometimes, the people we love make mistakes out of fear. Maybe your mom was afraid… afraid of losing you, of you rejecting her because of this. People do things out of love that don’t always make sense. But one thing I know for sure—your mom loves you more than anything in this world. That part has never changed, and it never will.”

His words softened her pain slightly, soothing the storm in her heart. She leaned into him, her fingers twisting in his shirt as she let out a shaky breath. “I’m just… so tired, Manik. I don’t know how to face all of this.”

He held her close, his voice filled with unbreakable determination. “You don’t have to face it alone, Nandini. I’m here with you, every step of the way. Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out together.”

A small, fragile smile tugged at her lips as she looked up at him, her voice a whisper. “Promise?”

Manik looked into her eyes, his gaze steady and unwavering. “I promise. And you know I always keep my promises.” He reached out, wiping the remaining tears from her cheeks. “Now, you’ve been through a lot. Get some rest, okay? I’ll be right here.”

She nodded, her head falling back against the pillow, her eyes fluttering shut as exhaustion finally began to overtake her. Just before she drifted off, she murmured, “Thank you, Manik… for being here.”

He brushed a gentle kiss over her knuckles, his voice soft as he replied, “Always, Nandini. Always.”

As she fell asleep, her breathing evened out, and Manik stayed beside her, watching over her with a quiet devotion. For him, this wasn’t just a promise to stay by her side; it was a vow that he would protect her, no matter what came next.
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Hope u all like the chapter.....

Few words for Manik....

Few words for Nandini....

Will Nandini forgive Vishakha???

Will Nandini accept Cabir???

Thank u 🙂🙂

Love,
Kiara ❤️❤️