Part - 14
Nandini was quite in the car as per Manik's instructions and within no time she dozed off. It was easy for him to drive now as her useless talks came to an end putting a stop on his frustration level. After few mins they reached her home.
"Nandini ..!! Wake up ..!! We have reached.!" He was trying to wake her. After his several attempts of shaking her she finally woke up.
"Ahhh..! My head ..!!" She held her head in her hands and realised she was not able to see properly. She rubbed her eyes and a black spot was revolving in front of her eyes.
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Nandini's VO -
Again ..!! I need to check the doctor tomorrow on first priority . Ohh God..!!
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She then turned towards Manik who was just sitting and watching her. He noticed that she's back into her normal state. Though he was relieved seeing her normal but somewhere he liked the new avatar of her which he witnessed hour back. She with eyes asked what and he nodded his head in a no shrugging his shoulders.
"You need to rest. It will be fine. And here are your car keys." He said while watching her pressing her head as hard as she could which was aching badly and pulled out the keys from the key hole and forwarded in front of her. She was still holding her head from one hand and from other she took the keys. She looked at the time in car's watch , it was 12.15.
"Aur tum" she in a sudden asked him. He was opening the car door and this statement of hers made him turn back.
"I'll go to my home. Aur Kya..?" He said bit confused. "But it's late." Nandini said. He looked at the time and said "itna bhi late nahi hai .. At least not for me . So don't worry I will go." He then thought of something and smiling mischievously said , "are you like offering me a night stay at your place all over again..??" And raised his eyebrows.
She at first was nervous and looked here and there to which he gave his ever enchanting smirk but then she said stammering "I ... I ... I .. I don't mind." He was shocked at her statement as he didn't excepted her to say this. But Nandini was the one who would come up to surprise him with her behaviour every next time.
Manik over came the shock of what he heard and smirked looking at her but very politely refused saying , "it's fine Nandini ; that day it was raining but it's fine today don't worry I will go home. Thank you for it but really aaj koi problem nahi hai I'll go. And moreover you need rest , so I don't want to trouble you."
He gave her a sweet smile and turned around to open the door when Nandini pounced with her other statement "but you promised..!" .
Manik who was still turned around was shocked to hear what she said. In her drunken state he promised her that he will not leave her alone. He thought she might have forgot but to his surprise she remembered it and moreover said it in front of him. He turned around to face her and she bite her lower lip in embarrassment.
He was looking her in surprise. "I am sorry for my antics I did." She somehow gathered courage to say without looking at him. "You remember everything..?" He asked her in surprise. And she nodded slightly in a yes and spoke again suddenly "I am really sorry Manik. Wo pata nahi.."
Manik didn't let her complete her sentence and said "it's ok Nandini ; you don't need to be sorry. You did not do it intentionally." She smiled at him and he responded back to her with a smile.
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There was complete silence for few minutes. Both were stealing glances of other in between but both didn't know what to say. Manik then recalled what she said few minutes back about the promised he made to her. Knowing what she has gone through he decided not to disappoint her again and broke the silence.
"Nandini ; you go upstairs ; I'll park the car and come." Nandini was really happy seeing him keeping his promise but didn't showed it up. She just nodded with a smile and gave back the keys to him. Moving out of the car she went upstairs and he drove to park the car and too went upstairs.
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They moved into the house and after switching on the lights Nandini said "I'll get the change for you." "Nahi I'm fine.. I am good in these." He said looking at his clothes.
He looked at her and she looked tired. "Nandini you go and sleep you need it badly." He said. She nodded and moved towards her room but suddenly turned around and asked him " tumhe kuch Chahiye.?" They both looked at each other. "Haan woh I need water but I will take it on my own .. Tum jaao" he answered her.
She gave a faint smile to him and turned around to move but again stopped to see him. He with eyes asked her what to which she very softly replied ; "thank u Manik." And moved inside her room.
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Manik was all surprised to listen what she said. He still could not believe she actually thanked him ; but for what he thought and frowned his head. When he could not get exactly what made her say thanks he just smiled looking at the door and moved from there.
Inside the room ; Nandini felt really happy seeing Manik keeping his promise but she was confused as why did she made him remember his promise and why wasn't she willing to let him go. She stood on the closed door behind her and was smiling when she recalled her antics that she did.
She thought what he must be thinking of her and suddenly again a black spot appeared in front of her eyes. She rubbed her eyes and walked into washroom to change.
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Outside in her living room , Manik took off his blazer , folded his shirt's sleeves and went to kitchen to get himself water. He moved towards the balcony and remained there for sometime remembering what all happened.
While he was recalling the moments a smile crept on his face and with every passing second it grew wider and wider. He then recalled her state outside the lounge and his smile changed into his worry. He turned around to see her room door. It was closed. At first he thought to check but changed his mind as he knew she needed rest and that by now she might be in sleep. "I hope she is fine." He murmured to himself.
He stood there for sometime looking at those few vehicles passing on the road at that time but when he felt the need to lie down , he instead of moving to guest room crashed himself on the couch. He lied there on his stomach with one hand over his head and other falling from the couch and touching the floor. He was tired and as soon as he lied down he slept. Since Nandini was not feeling well and was also tired she too after getting freshen up was into deep sleep as soon as she laid down.
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In the night...
There were huge flames of fire reaching the roof of the room. Whole place was embraced by fire. People could see nothing except the smoke and fire. Manik came running and was stunned to see the scenario. He was trying to go inside but people grabbed him "are you mad ..?? kahan ja rahe ho.?? ander fire-men hain tum apni life kyun risk kar rahe ho..?? people stopped him from risking his life but he didn't wanted to listen them. "leave me ...!! i have to go..!!! i can't stand here like this...!! mujhe andar jaana hai ... hattoo...!!!" . He was shouting and crying as more than his own life ; the life inside the room was important for him and he needed to save it. The people stuck in fire were taken to hospital. Manik was outside the emergency room praying for the safety and crying his heart out. Doctor came out and announced neither of the people who were brought could be saved. Manik was numb. A hand surrounded him around his shoulders as he felt week after listening this and fell on the ground. "Manik... Manikkk...!!!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Manik opened his eyes in a shock to find Nandini sitting on floor beside the couch trying to wake him up.
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Few minutes ago :-
It was around 3 am when Nandini woke up as she felt thirsty. She forgot to keep water in her room and moved out to kitchen to get water only to find Manik sleeping on the couch. She did not disturbed him and went to kitchen to get water but just seconds after that she realised Manik was shivering. She went close to him and find him all drenched in sweat and shivering like a small baby shivers. She tried to wake him. "Manik ...!! Manik get up..!!" .
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And suddenly he in shock opened his eyes and sat on the couch.
"Manik ... Are you ok..?? Tum iss tarah shiver kyun kar rahe the and this sweat ..? " Nandini who was still kneeling on the floor asked him. His breathes were heavy as again he had that same nightmare. He rubbed his palms on his face to wipe his sweat and closing his eyes held his head for sometime. "I'll get water." Nandini said and got up from the floor to get water but he stooped her from behind. "Nai ... it's ok..!! I am fine." He said without looking at her And got up from the couch "I think I should leave." he said and took his blazer. "But Manik hua Kya..?? See its 3 am.. How will you go at this time.? Tum aaram karo .. Leave in morning . " Nadnini tried to stop him. "Nahi I'll manage . Abhi bas i need to go. Bye...!!" He said in one go and opened the door to walk out.
Nandini came to the door to say something and stop him but he just rushed down taking the stairs instead of lift. Nandini felt a little wired. "Kya ho Gaya ise achanak ...?? Aur ye aise shiver kyun kar raha tha..?? Koi bura sapna..???" Nandini was talking to herself. When she could not get what was it she closed the door and went to her room to sleep again.
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Manik came hurriedly downstairs without even waiting for a second. He was out of his breath. He held his head up high and clutched his hair in his fist as hard as he could. Frustration was clearly visible on his face.
Flashes of the moment of fire were in front of his eyes and in anger and frustration he punched the wall beside him. He moved out of the building and started to walk aimlessly on the road. He felt some one was trying to pull him backward as he was not able to move. His legs had no energy . He just kept on dragging his feet while continuously looking on the road without blinking his eyes. At a moment he felt he would just fall so he sat on the stairs of a closed shop that came in his way. Keeping his blazer in his lap he leaned backward taking the support of the closed shutter. He kept looking at the sky when he recalled something. He took out his wallet and a small zipper pouch from it. He kept caressing it with his thumb looking at the thing kept inside it recalling the memories attached to it , when suddenly a lone tear escaped from his eye and fell on the pouch. Seeing his own tear he was back into reality.
He kept back that pouch in his wallet and composed himself. Finally he stood up picking up his blazer , kept his wallet back and started to move.
Luckily he found a cab at that hour which he took and reached his home. To save himself from drowning into his own thoughts he just crashed himself on his bed without even getting changed. Soon sleep embraced him and this time a peaceful one.
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Next morning :- Sunday
#*#*
Sun GOD blessed the two souls almost at the same time with his sunshine. Manik and Nandini's sleep was broken by the sunshine falling on their faces. Both sat up on the bed resting their heads on the headboard and thinking about last night but the scene was different.
Where Nandini had a smile on her face remembering last night ; Manik was stressed out recalling the nightmare. Both were recalling the last night incidents but in their own way but then they were meant to collide ; they were meant to remain close ; they were meant to remain one. At a point while recalling everything they both thought of each other. Manik was worried about her health and she was worried after seeing his condition last night.
Both picked up their cell to call the other. Searched the name the pressed the dial button but within seconds both disconnected it thinking it was bit weird to ask the other as they have never been like this. Both dropped the idea and kept their phone aside and got busy in their morning daily routine.
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