The early morning sun filtered gently through the blinds, casting soft golden rays across the room. Nandini stirred, blinking as she adjusted to the light, and then her gaze fell on the figure sleeping peacefully beside her—Manik. He lay sprawled on the small bed they’d set up next to her, his arm draped across his chest, his face softened by sleep. She smiled softly, warmth blooming in her chest as she watched him, feeling grateful and loved in that moment.

For a while, she simply admired him. The way his chest rose and fell with each breath, how his lashes fanned out against his cheeks, the way his hair had fallen messily over his forehead. He looked so calm, so at peace, and yet, there was an undeniable exhaustion etched on his face. She noticed the faint shadows beneath his eyes, the tired lines on his forehead, and it hit her how much he had been through for her.

He hasn’t left my side for a single moment, she thought, her heart aching slightly. Even when I told him to go home, to rest… he stayed. He always stays.

Nandini’s mind began to wander as she lay there quietly, her hand unconsciously reaching out but stopping midway before it could brush against his arm. She drew it back, closing her eyes, her thoughts taking her down a dark path of everything that had happened.

The day she fell down the stairs flashed vividly in her mind—how Soha had come to her, standing in the shadows, almost like a phantom from her past. She remembered Soha’s words, cutting deep, shaking her world.

"She is my Mother."

Nandini had been shocked, unable to believe it. Her entire life, she had believed one story, one reality. And yet, in that moment, everything seemed to blur, every certainty she had unraveling. Then, not long after that, she'd overheard that fateful conversation between Bela and Vishakha. It had been like a dagger to her heart, hearing her mother say that she wasn’t her real daughter.

"If I tell her that, I’ll have to tell her that she’s not my daughter,"

Nandini had wanted to storm in, to demand answers, but she had been frozen, paralyzed by the sheer weight of those words. The realization that the woman who raised her, the mother she had loved so deeply, was not biologically hers. It shouldn’t have mattered, but it did. The hurt was real. It cut deep.

And then there was Cabir. The one twist in her life that still left her breathless. Her twin brother. She had been friends with him for months. Cabir had been Manik’s best friend, and soon enough, he had become her friend too. They had laughed together, shared memories, moments… but never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that they were family.

Her twin. Her brother.

She had been so close to him this entire time, completely unaware of the bond that connected them beyond friendship. And now, everything felt like a blur, like a puzzle she couldn’t solve no matter how hard she tried. She wanted to scream at the universe for being so cruel, for keeping these truths from her for so long. Why hadn’t anyone told her sooner? Why had she been kept in the dark?

Her heart pounded in her chest as these thoughts swirled relentlessly, clouding her mind. It felt like too much like too many revelations had been dropped on her at once. How was she supposed to deal with all of it? How was she supposed to just… accept it?

How do I even begin to accept that my whole life is a lie?

The words echoed painfully in her mind, and for a moment, it felt like she couldn’t breathe. She clutched the bedsheet, her knuckles whitening as the emotions threatened to drown her. Her mind felt corrupt, overwhelmed by all the thoughts crashing against one another like waves during a storm. She felt like she was drowning in her own confusion, her own pain.

But then, something soft stirred beside her, and she glanced at Manik, still fast asleep. His presence was a quiet anchor in the storm of her mind. He had been there, through all of it. He had held her hand, comforted her, and whispered sweet words into her ear to calm her when she thought she couldn’t bear the weight of her reality.

She sighed softly, biting her lip as she blinked back fresh tears. Manik has been through so much too, she thought. And here I am, just… crumbling.

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the door opening softly. A nurse entered the room, her footsteps light but loud enough to rouse Manik from his sleep. He blinked groggily, sitting up in a daze, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Nandini watched him for a moment before giving the nurse a small smile, her voice gentle but tired.

“Good morning,” she said, her voice still a little hoarse from the strain of her tears the night before.

The nurse nodded warmly as she came closer, pulling out her equipment to check Nandini’s vitals. Manik, now fully awake, stretched slightly, casting Nandini a sleepy smile. “You’re awake early,” he said, his voice husky from sleep.

Nandini just smiled back at him, her eyes soft as she took him in again. The nurse quietly took her readings, checking Nandini’s pulse, her blood pressure, and making some notes. Manik, always protective, kept an eye on the nurse’s every move as if he could spot something wrong just by watching. Nandini chuckled softly at his concern.

“You’re overthinking again, aren’t you?” she teased lightly.

Manik gave her a sheepish grin. “Can’t help it. Old habit.”

The nurse finished her checks, giving them a quick nod of reassurance. “Everything looks good. You’re recovering well, Ms. Murthy. Just keep resting, okay? You’re on the right path.”

Nandini smiled politely and thanked her as the nurse left the room, leaving them in the comfortable silence once more. Manik shifted closer, reaching out to touch her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers.

“How are you feeling this morning?” he asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.

She hesitated for a moment, glancing at him before looking down at their joined hands. “I don’t know… better, I think. Physically, at least.”

Manik nodded, sensing the deeper turmoil behind her words. “But?” he prompted gently.

Nandini swallowed, biting her lip as she tried to find the words. “But… everything else feels… confusing. Like, everything’s all jumbled up in my head. I keep thinking about my mom, about Cabir, about… everything.” Her voice trembled slightly as she admitted, “I don’t know how to feel about any of it.”

Manik squeezed her hand gently, his thumb stroking the back of her hand. “You don’t have to figure it all out right now. One step at a time, okay? You’re allowed to take it slow.”

Nandini nodded, her eyes meeting his. “I just… I don’t want to hurt anyone. But I feel so hurt myself. It’s like… I don’t know how to process any of this.”

Manik shifted closer, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. “You don’t have to process it all alone, Nandini. I’m here. I’ll always be here.”

His words, as simple as they were, brought a sense of peace to her heart. She smiled at him, her heart swelling with love for the man who had been her rock through everything.

And for a moment, the storm in her mind quieted. For a moment, it felt like everything would be okay.

The hospital room was buzzing with the murmur of voices as everyone gathered, filling the space with a sense of warmth and anticipation. Nandini sat up in bed, her face glowing with a soft smile, feeling much better now that so many familiar faces were around her. It was as if the overwhelming love and concern of her family and friends had pushed away the heaviness that had been lingering in her chest for days.

Manik, on the other hand, stood at the edge of the bed, his eyes fixed on the doctor, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, looking as tense as ever. Raj and Neyonika were standing beside him, exchanging quiet looks as they watched their son practically hover over the medical staff, who were conducting a final set of checks on Nandini.

Vikrant and Soha stood quietly near Vishakha, his expression unreadable, while Bela and Mahir sat together on the couch while Navya was whispering something into Alya’s ear that made them both giggle softly.

Cabir, for once, wasn’t cracking jokes. He was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching the entire scene unfold with a thoughtful expression. Mukti, Abhimanyu, and Dhruv were sitting by the window, sharing occasional glances but staying quiet for the moment.

The doctor finally finished checking Nandini’s vitals and took a step back, looking satisfied. “Well, her reports look great. She’s making excellent progress.”

Manik immediately stepped forward. “So... does that mean we can take her home today?”

The doctor chuckled at Manik’s eagerness and shook his head. “Not just yet. Although her vitals are stable and everything looks good, we still need to monitor how well she can walk. She’s been in bed for quite some time, and we must ensure her mobility before sending her home.”

Manik nodded, though the crease between his brows remained. “Okay, but... I mean, how long are we talking about? Just a few days, right?”

“Three days,” the doctor confirmed with a patient smile. “We’ll test her ability to walk over the next couple of days, and if everything continues as well as it has been, she’ll be good to go.”

Manik exhaled in relief, but before he could say anything else, Alya, who had been watching the whole exchange, couldn’t resist teasing him. “Manik, seriously, you need to take a chill pill,” she said with a playful smirk. “You’re acting like Nandini’s going to vanish if you blink.”

Navya joined in, giggling. “Yeah, you’ve asked the poor doctor the same question like five times already. We get it. You’re worried. But she’s fine now. Even the doctor says so!”

Nandini chuckled softly, her eyes shining with amusement as she looked at Manik. “They’re right, you know. You’re acting like I’m made of glass.”

Manik shot them all a look, a mixture of embarrassment and defensiveness, before turning to Nandini. “I just want to make sure, okay? I don’t want to take any chances with you.”

Nandini reached out, taking his hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. “I know, but you don’t need to worry so much. I’m fine, really. You can relax a little.”

Manik sighed, his shoulders finally dropping a little, though he still held onto her hand tightly, as if afraid to let go. “I’ll relax when we’re home and you’re safe.”

Raj, who had been observing Manik with quiet amusement, finally spoke up. “Manik, beta, you need to stop giving the doctors a hard time. Let them do their job, okay? Nandini’s in good hands.”

Neyonika, standing beside him, nodded in agreement. “Your father’s right. Nandini’s recovery is going beautifully. You don’t need to hover over her like a hawk.”

Manik opened his mouth to argue, but Nandini cut him off with a playful smile. “They’re all right, you know. You’re being a little over the top, Manik.”

Alya grinned and nudged Navya, who was barely holding back her laughter. “Look at him, Nandini! He’s like a mom hen.”

Navya snorted, whispering loud enough for everyone to hear. “More like a mama bear, ready to claw anyone who even looks at you funny.”

That earned a round of chuckles from everyone in the room, except for Manik, who groaned and shook his head. “Alright, alright, laugh it up,” he muttered, though there was a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “But I’m just making sure she’s okay.”

Nandini’s eyes softened as she looked at him, warmth flooding her heart. *
He’s been like this ever since I woke up, she thought. Always so worried, always looking after me. She knew that Manik’s overprotectiveness came from a place of love, and even though everyone was teasing him about it, she felt incredibly lucky to have someone who cared about her so deeply.

“You know, Manik,” she said softly, “you’ve been by my side this entire time. I’m the luckiest girl in the world to have you.”

Manik’s eyes met hers, and for a moment, the teasing and laughter in the room seemed to fade away. He squeezed her hand gently, his expression tender. “I’m the lucky one, Nandini.”

Their gaze lingered for a few moments longer, and the room fell into a comfortable silence. Even Alya and Navya, who had been teasing him non-stop, quieted down, touched by the soft exchange between the two.

Then, the doctor cleared his throat, breaking the moment gently. “Well, as I said, you’ll need a few more days here. But if things continue to improve, you’ll be able to take her home soon. Just make sure she gets plenty of rest.”

Manik nodded, and Nandini smiled. “Thank you, doctor,” she said sincerely.

The doctor gave a polite nod and excused himself, leaving the room filled with the hum of quiet conversations. Raj and Neyonika started talking to Vishakha, who had been standing at a slight distance, her arms crossed and her gaze filled with concern. Mahir and Bela moved over to Navya, engaging her in a soft conversation about how she was holding up.

Abhimanyu said watching the whole scene unfold with a half-smile. “So,” he said, breaking the quiet, “looks like Nandini’s going to be fine in no time. But I’ve gotta say, Manik’s stress levels have probably aged him about ten years.”

Dhruv snickered, shaking his head. “I think Manik’s going to need a vacation after this.”

Mukti grinned. “Or maybe we can plan something for all of us once Nandini’s fully recovered. How about a trip, huh? Something fun to celebrate.”

Nandini’s eyes lit up at the idea. “That sounds amazing.”

Manik looked less enthusiastic, his protective side kicking in. “Only after you’re completely okay. No unnecessary risks.”

Alya rolled her eyes, nudging Nandini. “See? Mom hen.”

The teasing resumed, filling the room with warmth and laughter, and for the first time in days, Nandini felt truly lighthearted.

Manik, still holding her hand, leaned down and whispered in her ear. “You’re going to be okay, Nandini. We’re all here for you. Always.”

Nandini smiled up at him, her heart swelling with emotion. “I know, Manik. I know.”

And for the first time in days, she truly believed it.
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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 ❤️❤️