"Dr!" A nurse came running in, looking scared.

"Kya hua?" The doctor asked.

"Kuch...kuch log aaye hai iss ladke ke baare mein puch rahe hai. Lekin mujhe woh log bilkul bhi sahi nahi lag raha hai. Ek aami toh bohot hi bhayanak lagta hai...aur unke pass guns bhi hai." The nurse replied.

"What? Lekin kisi ko paata kaise chala iske baare mein? Humne toh police ko call kiya nahi." The doctor wondered.

"Paata nahi...."

"KAHAN HAI WOH LADKI?" Man shouted. Manik & The doctor peeped out of the room to see the scar man and his men slamming every door open and looking for Nandini.

"Oh god...aapne sahi kaha tha Mr Malhotra. Yeh ladki sach mein bohot badi musibat mein hai....ab kya hoga?" The doctor whispered. Manik turned to see Nandini who was sitting on the bed crossed leg, innocently playing with her hair.

"I cant let her be caught....yeh toh uss condition mein bhi nahi hai ke khud ko bacha sake." Manik thought to himself. He then turned back to the doctor. "Dr saab...yahan se nikalne ka koi dusra raasta hai?"

"Nahi...bas yahi darwaza hai."

"Dammit..." Manik cursed. Then he thought of an idea. "Aap apna coat mujhe dijiye."

"Kya?"

"Time nahi hai...just give it now."

The doctor was confused but removed his white doctors coat and gave it to Manik. Manik wore it then walked over to Nandini.

"Nandini..."

"Haan Manu." Nandini replied. That annoyed Manik but he let it go.

"Game kheloge mere saath?" 

"Haan!!!" Nandini bounced excited.

"Great....game na hide n seek wala hai. Tumhe yahan laitna hai aur main tumhe cover kar dunga. Then you have to be super duper quiet ta ki jab hum bahar se jaaye toh kisi ko paata na chale ke tum covers ke niche ho."

"Game ka prize kya hai?" Nandini asked.

"um....ice cream?" Manik suggested. Nandini's eyes widened with glee.

"Ice cream!!!" 

"SHHH! Haan haan ice cream. Ice cream khayenge par tumhe yeh game jeetna hai okay?" Manik said.

"Ok Manu!"

Manik then lay Nandini down on a stretcher and covered her from head to toe with a white sheet like a dead body.

"Sunaina...madat karo inke." The doctor said as he finally understood what Manik was doing. Nurse Sunaina nodded and helped Manik take the stretcher out of the room.

"Rukh!" Scar man called out as he saw Manik. He walked over and looked at Nandini who was all covered. Manik closed his eyes and hopes with all his might that she wouldnt move. "Kaun hai yeh?"

"Woh....kisi ki....Dadi hai." Manik lied. "Abhu abhi mauth hui hai...morgue le jaa rahe hai."

"Shakal dikha." To Manik's horror, the man was about to uncover the sheet but Nurse Sunaina stopped him.

"Actually sir....inki shakal puri tarah se destroy ho gaya hai....woh....woh...train! Train ke niche kuchla gaya." Sunaina lied. Scar man made a face and moved away. 

"Eh...ok. Tum log jao." He then turned to his men. "Wahan khade kya ho...dhundo usse!"

Manik & Sunaina pushed the stretcher down the hall to the back entrance of the hospital. 

"Thank you so much." Manik said to Sunaina.

"Koi baat nahi....aap inka khyal rakhiye. Hum unn gundo ko dekhte hai." 

Manik nodded. As as oon as she left, Manik uncovered the sheet and Nandini sat up with a grin.

"Did I win?"

"Yep...you win. Chalo ab." Manik grabbed her hand.

"Ice cream khaane?"

"Haan haan....chalo toh." Manik dragged her to his car and made her sit. Then he drove off, looking back to make sure they were not followed.

*****************

On the road, Manik called his Dad to figure out what to do next.

M: What...you cant be serious Dad. Main isse ghar kaise le aa sakti hoon, we barely know her!

R: Toh? Bechari bachi musibat mein hai aur iske paas koi nahi hai. 

M: I know Dad, isi liye maine uski madat ki hospital se nikalne ka but ghar kaise?

R: Then what do you suggest? Marne ke liye raaste pe chod dega tu?

M: No...

R: Phir?

M: P..Paata nahi....I didnt think that far.

R: Maine soch liya hai. Tu ghar le aa usse, baad mein teri Ma apne NGO ke through uski madat kar degi. Lekin abhi kaafi raat ho raha hai...so come home.

M: Yes Dad.

Manik looked to the passenger seat where Nandini was asleep, sucking on her thumb and sighed knowing his Dad was right. So he drove to Malhotra Mansion and then entered with Nandini in his arms. His family members were updated on the situation so they werent surprised and Nyonika got a room ready for Nandini.

Next Morning!

"AAHHHH!!!" 

Manik woke up with a start to the sound of screaming and things being thrown around. "What the hell..."

He went out into the hall and saw Cabir, Abhi, Mukti & Navya standing outside of the guest room....where the sound was coming from.

"Guys...kya ho raha hai?" Manik asked.

"Teri woh Nandini hai na? She's having a full on temper tantrum." Cabir informed her.

"Ok first....woh MERI Nandini nahi hai thik hai?" Manik grumbled. "And....why?"

"Humme kya paata yaar, tu hi dekh." Cabir turned Manik to the door where he saw Nandini standing on the bed throwing things and screamig while Anjali & Nyonika were trying to sooth her.

"Beta...ls niche aao." Nyo said.

"NOO! MUJHE MANU CHAHIYE!" Nandini screamed.

"Who's Manu?" Mukti asked.

"Me...." Manik admitted. Cabir, Navya, Abhi & Mukti all started laughing. "Shut up guys!"

"MANU!!!"

"Oye! Manu...jaa, tera Nandu tujhe dunde rahi hai." Cabir joked. While the others laughed, manik glared at him. 

He then entered the room to see what was going on. "Nandini..."

"Manik...thank god. Dekh na, paata nahi iss kya ho gaya." Anjali said.

Nandini turned to Manik and pouted. 

"Nandini kya hua?"

"Tum bohot burre ho! Cheater ho! Cheatercock Manu!" Nandini stomped her foot.

"Arre, par maine kiya kya hai?" Manik asked.

"Main kal game jeet gayi thi na? Phir mera prize kaha hai? Tumne mujeh ice cream nahi di! You lied!" Nandini complained. "Nandini katti hai!"

"Seriously? Tum Ice cream ke liye-"

"Manik.." Nyo gave him a warning look.

"Um...ok you want ice cream na? Pehle niche aao."

"No! Tumne jhoot bola!" 

"Jhoot nahi tha....main bas galati se bhool gaya. Par ab tumne yaad de diya na toh abhi le aata hoon...par pehle niche aana parega." Manik said. 

"Pakka ice cream doge?"

"Haan beta...abhi leke ayenge." Nyonika assured her. Manik helped Nandini down then turned to Cabir.

"Cabir tu niche iske liye ice cream le aa pls." Manik asked.

"Thik hai."

"Yeh kaun hai?" Nandini asked and Cabir looked at her.

"Main Cabir hoon...Manik ka bhai."

"Bhai....Bhaiyyu...Mujhe ghar jaana hai!" Nandini suddenly said. "Meri Mumma Papa, Badima, Badepapa sab wait kar rahe hai. Main itni der tak bahar nahi reh sakti...Mumma dantegi!"

Everyone got quiet not knowing what to say to her. 

"Aur bhaiyyu ne bola tha mere saath vido game khelenge! Ice cream chodo..main ghar jaake bhaiyyu ke saath ice cream kaungi." Nandini told Manik. Then she went to leave but Manik stopped her.

"Wait! Nandini...tumhare gharpe koi nahi hai."

"Kyun?" Nandini asked.

"Kyunki.....kyunki sab trip pe gaye hai." Manik lied. Nandini looked sad.

"Mere bina? How mean!!" Nandini pouted.

"Nahi beta...actually woh log kaam se bahar gaye hai." Nyonika explained. "Aur tum toh choti ho na? Isi liye tumhari Mumma ne mujhe bola ke main ache se tumhari khyal rakhun."

"Aap Mumma ki friend ho?" Nandini asked.

"Haan..." Nyonika nodded.

"Par....bhaiyyu ne bola tha ke game khelenge. Promise thoda bhaiyyu ne." Nandini looked like she was about to cry. Cabir felt really bad seeing her and walked upto her.

"Nandini...main bhi toh tumhari bhaiyyu jaise hoon na?" 

Nandini looked at him and nodded slowly.

"Toh ek kaam karte hai...main pehle ice cream leke aata hoon phir hum dono video game khelenge!" Cabir replied.

"Really? Par...bhaiyyu na mujhe kabhi jeetne nahi dete. Aap doge?" 

"Haan, if you want, main tumhe haar baar jeetne dunga." Cabir said.

"YAYYY!! Wait!" Nandini started to cheer but then looked super worried. "Main aapko kya bulao?"

"Mera naam Cabir hai." 

"Yeah...she's not gonna call you that." Manik scoffed.

"Hmm...Cabbu Bhai!!!" Nandini said in an excited voice.

"Cabbu! Hahaha!" Manik started laughing. Cabir glared at him and Nandini frowned.

"Burra naam hai kya?"

"Nahi Nahi...I love it. In fact, main soch raho hoon ki, Ill also give you a name." Cabir said.

"Ok." Nandini nodded.

"How about....cutie pie!" Cabir suggested. Nandini clapped with glee.

"I love it!" 

"Awesome!" Cabir high fived Nandini. "Chalo...ice cream khaate hai."

He then took Nandini with him.

------------------------------

Thoughts on this chapter?

Did you like Cabir & Nandini's new bond?