Hey guys, I know I took long but things have been hectic as a student so I hope you all understand! I have one more bad news, this is the last update before I take a break for my exams but I promise, I will be back in June. Till then miss me! 😉

Ps. My hunny bun Mystifying_Diva has helped me with this update so thank you Divu! Love you dher sara! 😘

Happy reading! 💓

Its been few days since Manik left for
India and Nandini, well she kept herself busy in hospital work which she joined just the next morning he left regardless of the fact that she was on holiday. She wanted to subside the emptiness she felt, which came with Manik's departure, as much as possible and kept herself busy careless about her meals just as Manik predicted but he couldn't pay attention to that because of his hell tight schedule which he had already informed about to Nandini before leaving London. They were in touch with each other through text but couldn't gather time to talk much. He had once called her in between squeezing some time from his lunch time to talk to her yesterday as he was really anxious about her health knowing her well.

Flashback
Nandini had just come out of the operation theatre after completing a small surgery under the supervision of Sarah. Now she had 30 mins in hand before her appointment starts. She entered her cabin, removed her coat, gloves, washed her hands and settled on the couch closing her eyes. She was feeling a bit too tired than normal which was making her worried but she shoved it off with some reason. She had lost her appetite too and would feel like puking just by the name of food. She hadn't said this to anyone as to not worry them. She knew it will be fine. Her rest session ended when her phone ringed. She looked around to find her phone and found it between the files. Immediately picking it up, she kept the phone between her ear and shoulder and started adjusting the mess she created with her files before the emergency case came.

Nandini: Hello, who's this?

Caller: Aah.. my wife forgot me just in a day it seems!

Nandini: *excitedly holding her phone, leaving her files* Mani! How are you? And what are you doing? Had lunch?

Manik: Ooo meri express train.. slow down a bit and first tell me why didn't you reply to my message? You know na I get worried when you dont reply bacha.

Nandini: *smiling at his concern* I am fine Mani, woh I didn't check my phone in morning and when I came to hospital, I had an emergency case to handle, sorry!

Manik: Dont apologise bacha, I understand!

Nandini: Waise how come you are free at this time?

Manik: Woh I wasn't going to be free but meeting postponed by an hour and you weren't replying too so I thought, I will call you.

Nandini: *sitting on the couch* Is everything ok Manik? You sound worried? Aap nervous lag rahe hai..

Manik: *in mind* Yeh hamesha kaise jaan leti hai ab kya batau? *ruffling his hair* Nahi aisa kuch nahi hai shona woh bas woh..

Nandini: *softly* Itna bada project hai isiliye darr lag raha hai?

Manik: *sighing* Nandini I want to get this project for you now since you wanted me to show that Harshad his right place and if I get this project, it will be a major loss for him as now he has invested a lot in this by bribing the manager and it will be a big slap on his face but..

Nandini: But?

Manik: Nandini agar mai yeh project haar gaya toh kya mere liye tumhara pyaar kam hojayega? Tumhara respect, tumhare trust kam hojayega?

Nandini: Aisa kuch nahi hoga, aur mere husband harne walo mai se nahi hai, samjhe? Besides mai prarthna karungi!

Manik: *closing his eyes* Phir se bolo.. I wanna hear that mai hamesha tumhari prayers mai rahunga!

Nandini: *smiling* Mai prarthna karungi Manik!

Someone from behind: Manik sir meeting ka time hogaya hai.

Nandini: Jayiye Manik, mai aapse bohot pyaar karti hu!

Manik: *smiling brightly* I love you too jaan, take care bacha!

They disconnected and Nandini joined her hand looking up, praying for his success.
Flashback end.

Its truly said that when you love someone truly and get habituated to their love, it's difficult to stay away from them. Your mind just drifts in one way causing you to stop thinking about other things. Same was the case with Nandini Malhotra whose mind right now was just drifting in one way - her soulmate and one of the reasons of her existence, her Manik.

Afternoon,
St Mary's hospital, London,
Reminiscing herself about the moments she spend with her love, Nandini was walking towards her cabin dejectedly. Manik's absence did take a toll on her health as well herself for she spent sleepless nights habituated of sleeping in his arms and skipping meals added more to downfall of her health. All this became a reason for her low BP and as she was walking she fainted. Neha who was passing by panicked seeing her friend lying on the floor unconscious. Calling for a stretcher, she patted Nandini's cheeks calling out her name, sitting down on the floor taking Nandini's head in her lap as if trying to wake her up. Not getting any response, Nandini was shifted to emergency ward as stretcher was brought. Sarah, Nandini's supervisor and a doctor by profession checked Nandini and meanwhile, Neha called Swarna to inform about Nandini.

In Goenka Villa, Swarna who was in the kitchen, cooking as per her rule that she will cook for her family atleast one dish per day, picked up the call happily as the name flashed "Neha" on her phone screen. However all the happiness drained off her face when she heard Neha's panicked statement which made her panic too.

"Bua Nandini is admitted in emergency ward. She fainted in the hospital" Neha said worried and Swarna replied that she would come as soon as possible. Reaching the hospital in the least time possible, Swarna rushed to Nandini after asking in reception who by now was shifted to a general room. Sarah informed Swarna that Nandini fainted due to low bp while reason would be known only after Nandini gains consciousness.

After some time, Nandini gained cousiciousness unaware of the total situation. She squeezed her eyes due to the sudden light and Swarna immediately covered her eyes slightly with her palms. She acknowledging the situation tried to sit up only to fall back on the pillow due to dizziness.

Swarna: *patting her head* Aaram se beta, lay down! Let me fetch some water for you!

She filled a glass for her and made her sit carefully, leaning on the head rest and made her drink water.

Swarna: *patting her hair* Theek ho?

Nandini: *nodding slightly* I am ok bua but mai yaha hospital bed pai and aap bhi hospital mai kaise.

Swarna: Batati hu pehle let me call doctor.

Swarna called Sarah and she asked Swarna to move out for a bit while Neha had to look after her patients so Swarna had assured her to go as she is there and Neha unwillingly left. As Swarna left, Sarah inquired about Nandini's health from past few days and though Nandini was hesitant to share, she knew that it will be wrong to hide thus told her that she is unable to sleep and feels loss of appetite and thus skipped her meals. Sarah then told her and Swarna that sleepless nights and skipping meals was the only reason for her low BP plus her constantly working body felt the lack of glucose and thus she fainted. She also adviced Nandini to take rest for a couple of days by staying at home with proper care, sleep and meals and prescribed some medicine for her weakness.

Swarna scolded Nandini a bit for her carelessness as she knew that majority of the time Nandini does so when she is really upset or angry and this time the reason was Manik's return. She took Nandini to Goenka Villa and made her sleep on bed in Nandini's room. Swarna fed Nandini soup and little healthy food which she had with difficulty. She then asked her to take medicines making Nandini crib a lot but Swarna's stern face worked. As she took the medicines, Swarna left to keep everything in kitchen but not before covering her properly with duvet and kissing her forehead.

Laying down, Nandini realised she hasn't checked her phone and picked it up to see Manik's message 5 mins ago which she immediately replied to not make him worried. Nandini texted him casually without informing him about her health because she knew how important the project was and informing him about her health would make him come to her leaving behind all his work, that is what he was going to do when last time she had fever. She informed him about her living in Goenka Villa for a few days to which Manik thought was a good idea for her thinking it would distract her a little. Soon Nandini drifted to sleep and Swarna who entered the room after a while sat beside her. Due to effect of medicines, Nandini slept for a long time.

At night Manik, who came back to his room after dinner, called Nandini to talk with her as he missed her and her talks. They couldn't talk after yesterday's phone call except few text as he had a lot of pending work from 2 weeks. The results of the project were to be announced tomorrow making him more anxious.

Swarna picked up the call immediately so that her sleep doesn't get disturbed and came out of the room.

Manik: Hello shona!

Swarna: *smiling* Manik beta, mai bua bol rahi hu.

Manik: *embarrassed* Bua, sorry mujhe laga Nandini hai...

Swarna: Koi baat nahi but Nandini so rahi hai, uthau usse?

Manik frowned hearing that as she never sleeps in evening. All bad thoughts came up to his mind and he staying away from her just increased his fear.

Manik: *worriedly* So rahi hai, iss time pe? She never sleeps in the middle of day, is she okay?

Swarna: Ya woh medicine ke effect ki wajah se she is in deep sleep.

Manik: *panicked* Medicines? Konsi medicines?

Swarna: Manik relax, shayad Nandini bata nahi payi but she fainted due to low BP in the hospital so Neha called me and I brought her home.

Manik was tensed hearing all this but now her sudden plan of staying at Goenka Villa makes sense. She didn't tell him it seems which made him angry but nevertheless he controlled.

Manik: Achanak se yeh sab kaise hua?

Swarna told him everything Sarah said as she thought its his right to know. Manik asked her to take care of Nandini and please call him whenever needed to which she nodded in assurance. He also asked her to tell Nandini to call him when she wakes up and hung up.

As soon as the phone disconnected, he threw it on the bed and started pacing the room feeling worried, tensed, angry and helpless. He groaned in frustration which was heard by Nyo who just entered the room.

Nyo: *rubbing his biceps* Manu what happened beta? Sab theek toh hai na bachay?

Manik: *feeling helpless* Mom mai kya karu iss ladki ka? Khud ka dhyaan bhi nahi rakh sakti and then she hid it from me! Pagal hojaunga mai ek din, arghhh!

Nyo: *sighing and making him sit on bed* Nandu se jaghda hua?

Manik: Nahi mom, she is not well.

Nyo: *worried* Kya hua usse?

Manik told her everything and Nyo settled beside him.

Nyo: Manik sun meri baat, aise gussa hone se kya hoga, tu uspe chillayega aur woh aur bimar hojayegu... *pointing her finger at him in warning* tu bilkul gussa nahi karega, mai keh rahi hu!

Manik: But mom..

Nyo: Uski health aur bigad jayegi and think about it, woh aise toh kuch nahi chupayegi na.. usse pata hai how impulsive you are isiliye chupaya hoga..

Manik: But mom, is it not my right to know all this? Woh hamesha apni health ko ignore karti hai and doctor banne wali hai, huh!

Nyo: It is your right, but yeh baat tum usse shanti se bhi samjha sakte hona?

Manik hmmed and lied down keeping his head on her lap and she smilingly caressed his hair.

Manik: Mom, I dont like this feeling, bohot helpless feel ho raha hai.. I want to be there and take care of her. Woh hamesha meri choti se choti baat ka dhyaan rakhti hai but I am failing as a husband it seems.. jab bhi usse meri jarurat hoti hai mai waha nahi hota, last time jab she had fever tabhi aesa hua tha. Maine usse kabhi bataya nahi but even I dont like this secret relationship, I just wish this project finishes soon.

Saying all this, a lone tear escaped his eyes which Nyo wiped who was in tears too. She bend down and kissed his forehead as she cant do anything else to reduce this pain of her children. She can understand how difficult it must be for them for she cant even imagine to stay away from Raj for a month. Manik snuggled in her stomach and soon drifted into peaceful slumber. She placed his head on pillow and covering him with duvet, left the room after kissing his forehead.

Author's note: Hey guys, how's the update? What part do you like or dislike? Boring much? Well it was needed!

What do you think about Manan's phone convo?

Do you think Nandini did right by hiding it to Manik?

How did you like Manik's reaction?

How about Manik-Nyo convo?

Pls vote if you liked it, drop long inline comments and follow me!
Silent readers, it won't take long to press that star button so pls do!
No targets because I cant update even if the target will be finished!
Lots of love from Vaish! ❤