As the room settled down after the heavy revelations, one person was standing apart from the group, watching silently with a sad smile — it was Cabir. His usual lively spirit seemed dulled, and his eyes held a deep sadness that contrasted with the emotional reunions around him. Nandini’s gaze caught him, and at that moment, the weight of everything they hadn’t said, the connection they had yet to embrace, settled between them like a heavy fog.

Nandini, still sitting with her hand wrapped tightly around Manik’s, felt her heart rate quicken. She looked at Cabir, her mind racing with how to even begin, her throat suddenly dry. Her chest tightened with emotion, and fear gnawed at her insides. She didn’t know if she was ready for this — the conversation she had avoided ever since Cabir revealed their bond, their shared blood, their lost years.

Sensing her hesitation, Manik squeezed her hand gently, his eyes meeting hers with a soft, encouraging gaze. He could see the nervousness and fear in her expression, and he nodded at her with quiet reassurance, silently telling her, *You can do this.*

Nandini took a deep breath, steeling herself, and called out softly, her voice trembling, "Cabir..."

Cabir looked up, his eyes meeting hers. He had been standing there as if waiting for her to say something, yet when she finally did, it seemed to catch him off guard. He blinked a few times, then slowly, hesitantly, took a few small steps forward. His usual confident stride was missing, replaced by the careful, almost timid steps of someone walking through broken glass.

"You… you can come closer," Nandini said, her voice quivering but filled with warmth.

Cabir’s breath hitched, and he nodded slightly, though the weight of years of buried emotions seemed to drag him down with every step. As he reached the foot of Nandini’s hospital bed, he opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out at first. He tried again, his voice thick with emotion, struggling against the tide of memories he hadn’t confronted in years.

"I… I don’t remember everything clearly, Nandini," he began, his voice shaky, his hands trembling as he clenched them into fists at his sides. "But… Dadi told me… it was after our second birthday."

Nandini listened intently, her heart pounding in her chest as Cabir spoke. He was piecing together fragments of their shared past, and the gravity of what he was saying made the air in the room feel suffocating.

"Mom and Dad… they had this urgent business meeting in India. You, Mom, and Dad left for India while I stayed behind with Dadi in London because… because I had a fever." His voice cracked slightly as he spoke, his eyes distant as if he were reliving those memories. "I was so upset that I couldn’t go with you, but Dadi promised I’d see you soon."

Cabir paused, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Nandini’s grip on Manik’s hand tightened as she held her breath, listening to every word.

"It was about a week later," Cabir continued, his voice barely above a whisper now, "that we got the news. There had been… an attack. Some business rivals. They didn’t want Mom and Dad alive… and… and there was an accident."

Nandini’s breath hitched, her chest tightening as tears welled in her eyes. She had never known this part of her story. Her past was always a black hole of questions, and now Cabir was filling in the blanks, each word landing like a hammer blow.

"Dadi was devastated," Cabir went on, his voice breaking now, trembling with the weight of emotions he had held back for so long. "She… she had to take over everything. The business, the responsibilities. And I… I was just a kid, Nandini. I didn’t understand. All I knew was that… you were gone. Mom and Dad were gone. And I… I couldn’t believe it."

Cabir’s voice wavered as he relived the pain of that time, his shoulders slumping under the burden of his memories. Nandini’s heart ached for him, for the little boy who had lost everything, for the brother who had never known the truth.

"I was out of control," Cabir admitted, tears finally spilling from his eyes, his voice shaking. "I kept asking for you, for Mom and Dad… every day. But Dadi… she tried her best. She showed me videos of us, photos. She told me stories about you… about how you used to follow me everywhere, how we couldn’t be apart for even a second. But… no matter how many times I saw those videos or photos, it wasn’t enough. I wanted you back."

Cabir’s tears fell freely now, and the room was completely silent, everyone watching in quiet heartbreak as he continued. "The police couldn’t find your body, and that gave me hope. I kept thinking… maybe… maybe you were still out there. Maybe you survived. But the authorities… they concluded that you must have… that you…" His voice broke completely, and Cabir buried his face in his hands, sobbing uncontrollably.

"They said you must have burned… or been buried in the wreckage… that there was no way you could’ve survived."

Nandini’s tears were streaming down her face now, her heart breaking for the brother she never knew she had, for the pain and loss he had carried alone for so many years. She couldn’t hold back anymore. She reached out to him, her voice a soft, trembling whisper.

"Bhai…"

Cabir’s head snapped up at the word, his tear-filled eyes locking onto hers. The word, the single word that he had longed to hear for so many years, echoed in the room. He stared at her in disbelief for a moment, and then, without warning, he rushed forward, collapsing into her arms.

Nandini wrapped her arms around him tightly, holding him as his body shook with sobs. Cabir buried his face in her shoulder, clutching her as if afraid she might disappear again.

"I’m sorry," Cabir choked out between sobs. "I’m so sorry, Nandini. I wasn’t there for you. I didn’t even know… I didn’t know you were alive… I should’ve found you. I should’ve…"

Nandini shook her head, holding him tighter. "No, bhai, no… don’t say that. You didn’t know. None of us knew. Don’t apologize… you were just a child. You were hurting, too."

Cabir pulled back slightly, his face wet with tears, his expression filled with guilt. "But I wasn’t there for you. All these years… you were alone… and I couldn’t…"

Nandini placed her hand on his cheek, wiping away his tears gently. "We were both alone, bhai. But we’re together now. That’s what matters. You don’t need to apologize. You’ve been through so much, too."

Cabir shook his head, still feeling the weight of his guilt. "But Dadi… she never gave up. She kept hoping you were alive, but she didn’t live long enough to see you again. She… she died when I was twenty, and after that, I had to take over the business. I had to grow up… fast."

Nandini’s heart broke all over again at the mention of their grandmother. "Dadi…" she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. She had never known her, but knowing that this woman had held onto hope for so long, only to die without ever knowing the truth, filled her with a feeling of deep, aching sorrow.

Cabir nodded, his tears still falling. "She would’ve been so happy to see you again, Nandini. She loved you so much."

Nandini pulled him back into her arms, her tears mingling with his as they held each other, finally allowing years of pain, loss, and separation to dissolve in the warmth of their embrace.

The room was quiet, filled with the quiet sound of soft sobbing as everyone watched the siblings reunite, each person feeling the deep, emotional connection that had been lost for so long.

Finally, Nandini pulled back slightly, looking into Cabir’s eyes with a soft, tearful smile. "We’re together now, bhai. And that’s all that matters."

Cabir nodded, still crying, but there was a flicker of peace in his eyes now, a sense of closure that had been missing for years.

"I love you, Nandini," Cabir whispered, his voice filled with the tenderness of a brother who had lost and found his sister all over again.

"I love you too, bhai," Nandini whispered back, her heart full.

And in that moment, despite the years they had lost, they knew they had found something far more precious — each other.

The moment after Cabir and Nandini's emotional reunion had quieted, Alya, ever the one to break the tension with her cheerful optimism, sighed in relief and said, “Finally, everything is fine.”

Just as people began to smile and exchange glances, Vishakha’s voice cut through the room, calm but commanding. “Not everything, Alya.” Her tone made everyone pause, and their smiles faded as they looked toward her in confusion. “There is still one thing left that needs to be fixed.”

A palpable tension filled the air. Nandini’s brows furrowed, unsure of what her mother was referring to. The others exchanged puzzled glances, their minds racing as they tried to figure out what Vishakha meant.

Nandini’s heart began to race as she waited for Vishakha to continue. What else could possibly be left? she wondered. What does Mumma mean?

“Nandini,” Vishakha said, turning to face her daughter directly, her voice filled with an authority that only a mother could have. “Do you remember the promise you made to me?”

Nandini’s throat tightened as the memory came rushing back, her breath catching. She did remember. It was one of the last things Vishakha had insisted upon before their relationship had gotten so strained. She had promised her mother, in a moment of trust and love, that she would marry the man Vishakha chose for her. It was a promise born out of a desire to make her mother happy, to show that she respected her decisions.

Now, with everything that had happened, that promise felt like a burden she had forgotten about until this moment.

Vishakha’s next words were like a punch to the gut. “You promised me that you would marry the man I chose for you, right?”

Nandini’s face paled. Her eyes welled up with fresh tears as she struggled to find her voice. “Mumma, I…” She didn’t know how to respond. Her heart clenched with fear, and she instinctively tightened her grip on Manik’s hand. Beside her, Manik froze. His chest tightened as his breath became shallow, and a wave of dread washed over him. He felt as if the ground beneath his feet was slipping away. Was she going to force Nandini to marry someone else again?

Mahir, who had been watching the scene unfold, couldn’t remain silent any longer. His voice, usually calm and composed, now held a sharp edge as he spoke. “Not now, Vish! This isn’t the time for—"

But Vishakha held up a hand, silencing him with a look. “Mahir, please,” she said softly, yet firmly, not allowing him to interrupt. “This is important.”

Manik’s heart was racing. He glanced at Nandini, whose tear-filled eyes met his in silent panic. He could feel her fear, and it mirrored his own. What is she planning? they both thought, their hearts in their throats.

Everyone in the room was holding their breath, waiting for Vishakha to reveal her intentions.

And then, in a move that stunned everyone, Vishakha reached for Manik’s hand. He stood frozen as she took his hand and placed it gently in Nandini’s. The weight of the gesture was heavy, and the room seemed to hold its collective breath.

For a moment, it felt like time itself had stopped. No one moved. No one spoke. It was as though the air had been sucked out of the room, leaving everyone wide-eyed and breathless, unable to process what was happening.

Then, with a gentle smile, Vishakha broke the silence. “I want you to marry Manik,” she said, her voice soft but steady. Her eyes flickered with warmth as she gazed at Nandini and Manik, standing there, hand in hand. “Not because I chose him,” she continued, her voice filled with a deep sense of peace, “but because… God chose him for you.”

The words echoed in the stillness, and everyone seemed to release the breath they had been holding all at once. A collective sigh of relief filled the room, followed by a ripple of laughter as they realized what had just happened.

It had been a test — a final hurdle of sorts — but Vishakha had been on their side all along.

Nandini’s face lit up with a radiant smile, her heart swelling with a rush of overwhelming emotion. Tears of joy spilled from her eyes as she looked at her mother in disbelief. “Mumma… does that mean…?”

Vishakha smiled softly, nodding. “Yes, Nandini. I’ve seen how much you and Manik care for each other, and I want you to be happy. I accept your love for him, and I bless your relationship. I’m sorry for ruining your relationship just because of my past.”

For a moment, Nandini couldn’t move. She was too overwhelmed by the rush of emotions flooding through her. Then, without thinking, she let go of Manik’s hand and ran toward Vishakha, throwing her arms around her mother in a tight, tearful embrace.

“Thank you, Mumma,” Nandini sobbed into her mother’s shoulder. “Thank you for accepting us.”

Vishakha’s eyes shimmered with tears of her own as she held her daughter close, her heart lighter than it had been in months. “I’m sorry, Nandini,” she whispered, her voice breaking slightly. “I’m sorry for being so hard on you, for all the things I said. I only wanted to protect you… but I see now that I was wrong.”

Nandini pulled back slightly, wiping her tears with a watery smile. “You don’t have to apologize, Mumma. I understand… you were just trying to protect me.”

Vishakha’s eyes softened as she reached out and cupped her daughter’s face gently. “But I was wrong,” she said softly. “And I owe Manik an apology, too.”

She turned to face Manik, who had been watching the scene with wide eyes, still too stunned to fully comprehend what was happening. When Vishakha addressed him, his heart skipped a beat.

“I gave you a hard time, Manik,” Vishakha admitted, her voice sincere. “I said things I didn’t mean. I pushed you away because I was afraid… afraid that you would hurt my daughter. But I see now how much you love her. I see how much she means to you. And I am truly sorry for everything I put you through.”

Manik’s throat tightened. He felt a lump forming, and he tried to speak, but no words came out at first. He swallowed hard, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Please, ma’am, don’t apologize,” he finally said, his voice hoarse. “You were just trying to protect Nandini, and I understand that. You don’t owe me anything.”

Vishakha shook her head with a small smile. “I owe you my gratitude,” she said, her eyes softening as she looked at him. “For loving my daughter. For standing by her even when things were difficult.”

Manik’s eyes filled with emotion as he looked back at her, unable to find the right words to express how much her acceptance meant to him. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “Thank you for trusting me with Nandini.”

Vishakha smiled and took a step closer to him. “And one more thing, Manik,” she said, her tone lightening. “Stop calling me ‘ma’am.’ You can call me ‘mom’ from now on.”

Manik’s eyes widened in surprise, and then a slow, disbelieving smile spread across his face. “Mom?” he repeated, the word feeling foreign but comforting on his tongue.

Vishakha nodded, smiling warmly. “Yes, ‘mom.’ You’re part of the family now.”

Manik blinked back his tears, his heart swelling with happiness. “Thank you… Mom,” he said, the word coming out with a mixture of joy and relief.

Laughter and applause broke out around the room as everyone finally allowed themselves to celebrate. Nandini, still holding onto her mother, looked over at Manik, their eyes meeting in a shared moment of pure happiness.

With tears of joy still shimmering in her eyes, Nandini smiled at him, mouthing the words, I love you.

And for the first time in a long while, the future felt bright, filled with the promise of love, family, and a life they could build together — with both their families standing behind them, supporting their love.

Manik smiled back at her, his heart overflowing with love and gratitude, as the room filled with the sound of laughter, joy, and the warmth of a family finally united.
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Hope u all like the chapter.....

Few words for Manik....

Few words for Nandini....

Finally Nandini accept Cabir and Vishakha accept Manik and Nandini's relationship......

Thank u 🙂🙂

Love,
Kiara ❤️❤️