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Chapter 21 (e):
"Bhai mene kaha na aap betho! Khoon beh rha h.. Let me do your dressing..", Aliya tried to convince her Brother again. She couldn't see him like this. Till now she was fine because she thought Nandani will do his dressing but as soon as she saw her brother still in blood, she became restless. Madhyam sighed again listening to her sister's pleas. His head was already full of so many important things and here her sister was worried for this silly wound.
"Fine. Karle tujhe Jo karna h..", Madhyam gave in and sat on a stone outside Aliya's tent. A smile came on Aliya's gorgeous face and she came with a first aid box and started dressing her brother's wound. While her sister was talking about some random stuff to him while dressing he was busy thinking of some way to set everything right. If there is even one percent feelings left in Nandani's heart for Manik, he had to do something soon!
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Each team came up with some food like fruits and whatever was available on that mountain's forest and they were also left with some packed food which they saved during the day. The three teams present there decided to spent the night together as they were not about to get any sleep there. They all lit a campfire inbetween with the logs on four sides so that they all can sit.
Everyone came there. "Nandani kahan h?", Mukti asked suddenly realising Nandani's absence. Manik became alert and looked here and there to find her. Everyone was worried as except Nandani all the members of the three teams were present there.
"Arrey Madhyam tumhe pta hoga nah Ki Nandani kahan h?", Sanjana asked Madhyam. Madhyam was also tensed because of Nandani's absence but before he could say anything Harshad interrupted, "Arrey ise kese pta hoga.. Kyuki mene toh last Nandani ko Manik ke sath dekha tha..". Manik gave him a deadly glare. He was already losing his sanity listening that Nandani is missing and top of that Harshad is taking advantage of this situation also! How can someone stoop so low?
"Tere paas aur koi kaam h humpe nazar rkhne ke ilawa?", Cabir shouted at Harshad. Harshad chuckled, "Jake apni friend ko dhundle.. Vese bhi itne salon baad ayi h kahin phir.."
Manik cut him inbetween, "Just shut up Harshad !!"
"Tum log ladte rho.. Me ja rha hun use dhundne!", Madhyam said and went on right side to find Nandani along with Aliya and some other people.
"Lets go guys!", Manik said to Fab-5 and moved towards the other direction with his friends.
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It has been around fifteen to twenty minutes since the Fab-5 has been finding their fifth member.
"I think guys Hume alag alag direction me Jake dhundna chahiye..", Dhruv suggested. Manik nodded swiftly and moved to one direction and rest of them also split up. Dhruv in one direction and Cabir and Mukti in one direction.
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Nandani was sitting alone under a tree admiring those little diamonds in the sky. Her tears has dried up. She has cried a lot. Yes, after so many years she let herself cry. Seeing Manik again wasn't easy. Her feelings and mind were constantly fighting with each other making her weak and nothing else. He was the monster of her life, there was no doubt on that. She used to call him 'Monster' playfully to irritate him but she never knew that will become her reality. Was she so naive that anybody could play with her feelings? Nope. She never was. Then what happened in Manik's case. He became her friend, then her one and only love, betrayed her and she couldn't do anything. These thoughts of hers were suffocating her to the core.
She tried to distract her mind from him and again looked at the sky. But whom she was fooling? Distracting her mind from him was nearly impossible because anything or everything can remind her of him. There were so many memories associated with him. And these stars were nothing but the living proof of that. They have spent many endless nights together under the sheet of those sparkling diamonds. His love for stars was undeniable that's why he also used to call her the star of his life. But that love was fake, in fact everything about him was fake. Remembering those memories was just a waste of time and energy.
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Manik was getting restless by each passing second. He was considering himself the sole reason of Nandani's absence. He has hurt her again, and that's why she was missing. She again went far away from him. Was he that bad?
He was constantly praying to find Nandani in one piece and that too soon. He was shouting her name in that lonely forest but there was no response. God knows what he will do to himself If he couldn't find his star. He just can't bear to lose her again. He was here to win her heart again but he has hurt her instead.
He didn't realise from how long he was running here and there in the forest to find her. He was all in sweat but he didn't care about anything but to find Nandani.
"Nandani kahan ho tum?? Where the hell you have gone? Pls m sorry.. But don't leave me again like this..", He shouted looking at the sky helplessly.
He has come near the edge of the mountain in the process of finding her. He feel down exhausted and dejected. Tears were rolling down his face. But he instantly rubbed them and whispered to himself, "I have to find her.. Waste krne ke liye time nhi h mere pas..!"
He got up and was about to move in other direction but stopped seeing something. A girl was sitting under a tree laying her head in the tree with closed eyes. In no moment, he make out even in the dark that she was none other than his Nandani. A satisfactory smile came onto his lips seeing her in one piece. He came near her and bent down. The moonlight was falling on her placid face making her look even more serene and glowing. Manik chuckled lightly, "Sabko pareshaan krdia.. Aur khud yahan chain se so rhi ho.. Not fair haan Nandani!"
He touched her face to make sure that she was his Nandani only. He was finding her like anything and finally she was here in front of him which was tough to believe. Nandani Woke up as soon as Manik touched her. She slowly opened her eyes and took a minute to realise that it was Manik in front of her and got up with a jerk.
"Why the hell are you here now?", Nandani almost shouted.
"What do you mean? Tum gayab hogyi thi ekdum se, we were finding you..", Manik was saying something but Nandani interrupted him, "Oh just stop it Manik! Don't act like you care.. Just stay away from me.. Jao yahan se!!", Nandani said frustratingly.
"I do care for you Nandani and this truth will never change! Aur Abhi ke Abhi tum mere sath vapis chal rhi ho..", Manik said with authority stepping towards her.
"Mujhe kahin nhi jaana.. Aur tumhare sath toh bilkul bhi nhi.. Mene kaha na you go.. Me aajaungi!", she said stubbornly stepping backward. Manik sighed in frustration, "Dekho Nandani! You hate me.. I know that.. Par Abhi tum mere sath chl rhi ho yahan se.. Akele rehna is not safe here.", he stepped towards her.
"You just can't boss around me, Okay? Just. Stay. Away. From. Me.", She said stressing at each and every word stepping backward.
"Fine. But let me remind you we are on a task and unfortunately we are in a same team.. Toh Hume sath rehna hi pdega.. Toh chup chap chalo yahan se..", Manik retorted and tried to hold Nandani's hand but she stepped backward dodging his hand, "What do you think of yourself Manik.. Mera jb man krega me aajau.. AAAHHH!!", the land under Nandani's feet got slipped away because they almost were at the edge of Mountain.
Everyone got startled hearing Nandani's shriek. Mukti and Cabir looked at each other realising it was none other than Nandani's voice. Dhruv too ran towards the direction from where he heard the sound. Madhyam, Aliya, Harshad and others too got alert and follow the direction.
Manik catched her hand before she fall down to her death. but still she was hanging down and her one and only support was Manik's injured hand.
"Nandani.. Tu.. Tum daro ma.. Mat!", Manik somehow managed to say these words. Nandani looked down and again shouted in fear and then closed her eyes. It was do dreadful, seeing death from so close. "Nandani neeche mat dekho!", Manik ordered her, "Listen just trust me.. Okay? Me tumhe kuch nhi hone dunga..". Somehow Nandani believed on Manik's word. Something was there in his tone that was telling her that he will never ever let anything happen to her but knowing that his hand was already injured she knew it was really becoming difficult for him to bear her weight. It could be seen on his face.
"Nandani me tumhe upar kheechunga.. Just try to push up your body.. Okay?", he instructed her. She nodded desperately. Manik tried to pull her upwards. He too shrieked in pain. The blood was oozing out from his injured hand but at that moment he just wanted to save Nandani. Nothing else was going on his mind. Unfortunately his grip on Nandani's hand loosened and she About to fall down but he catched her again. Nandani again shouted in fear. Tears started making their way from her eyes. Manik's heart was tearing apart into million pieces seeing her in that state but he knew he cant be weak in this situation.
Nandani's eyes were shut closed. She didn't wanted to see the deadly situation she was in. Manik was getting the idea of her condition by her trembling hand in his'.
"Nandani look at me!", Manik whispered.
"I can't.", she admitted.
"Nandani just trust me! Dekho meri taraf..", he requested her sincerely.
Nandani got into the spell of his voice and opened her eyes and looked at his chocolates ones. She felt relieved for a second. In that fraction of a second, she got a feeling that nothing will happen to her.
"Just trust me!", Manik again whispered and pulled Nandani up with all his might and they finally land up on the land safe. Manik fall back with Nandani on top of him. A fresh tear came out from her eyes. She was safe now. She was no more hanging between life and death but was very alive with some minor bruises. She instantly hugged Manik. After all, he saved her life. Manik make her sit while still hugging her. He saved his Nandani. He saved her from falling from that cliff. It was such a relief which he cant even express in words.
Nandani was hugging him like it was her last hug. She was also sobbing a bit.
"Shh.. Nandani.. Calm down.. You are fine! Kuch nhi Hua..", Manik patted her back. Nandani experienced some sticky liquid on her back. She broke the hug rubbing off her tears. She looked and found out it was nothing else but Manik's blood. The blood has again came out of his injury. And why not? Her all weight was on his single hand that too a injured one. She cannot even imagine how much pain he must have gone through in order to save her. She touched his blood filled arm and he hissed in pain. Nandani immediately took her hand away. They were not hugging but were still very close to each other as if reminding reach other that they were alive and fine.
"Manik tum.. Tumhara hath.. Phir se it.. Itna khoon.. Beh rha..", Nandani managed to say between her sobs.
"It's okay Nandani.. Thk hojayega..", he assured her but she wasn't convinced at all but before she could say Anything she realised that they were surrounded by fireflies. Manik saw a smile on Nandani's and finally realised the reason behind it. There were those twinkling insects everywhere. It was such a beautiful sight!
Nandani was mesmerised seeing the beauty of the scene. A minute ago which place seemed her horrifying and was about to take her life, it was looking so breath-taking now! Beautiful fireflies were twinkling in that pitch dark atmosphere illuminating it. But why were they shining now? They shines only when there is true love our friendship around according to her mom's their. But here.. Manik saved her life. Maybe that's why.. No no no! These fireflies have lied many times to her about her and Manik's relationship. She cant fall into that trap again! She instantly stood up. Manik initially became shocked but then he also stood up. At first, he has laughed at Nandani's fireflies theory but then he also started believing in them and today seeing them shining again for them he has thought that Nandani will realise the power of their true love but it didn't seem so.
"Kya Hua Nandani?", Manik asked softly. Nandani didn't replied but just kept stairing at the ground.
"Nandu!!", Mukti shouted as soon she saw Nandani. She was hell worried for her since she had listen her shout. She was happy seeing her in one piece and too with Manik. Nothing can happen to her if Manik was there. Cabir too sighed in relief seeing them together. Dhruv and Harshad too came there from opposite sides panting. While Dhruv was smiling seeing his friend fit and fine, Harshad was smirking seeing Nandani with Manik.
"Tu thk toh hai nah?", All three of them, I.e., Cabir, Mukti and Dhruv asked Nandani at the same time. Nandani smiled nervously, "Yah..m fine!"
"Thank god!", Cabir whispered.
"Han yar tune toh aj dara hi Diya tha..", Dhruv said.
Harshad was standing at a distance folding his hands and smirking seeing the Fab-5.
"Nandani!! Finally I found you..", Everyone heard Madhyam's voice. Aliya was also along him. He came running to Nandani and instantly hugged her. Nandani got startled and didn't know how to react. Fab-5 including Harshad was also stunned except Aliya who was smiling seeing his brother. Madhyam broke the hug and cupped Nandani's face, "Thank god you are fine.. Pta h me kitna darr gya tha?"
'Me toh thk hun but I don't think so you are fine..', Nandani thought.
"Wait a second! Nandani yeh cliff.. Kahin tum..", Aliya said horrifying.
"What?? Tum yahan neeche girne waali thi.. That's why you shouted?", Madhyam asked shooking me. Nandani didn't say anything. She was too stunned because of his suddenly changed behaviour.
"Seriously Nandani? Tu Thk toh h na.. Tbhi tujhe yeh chote..", Mukti was hell tensed now. Nandani got rid off Madhyam's grip which was a thing of relief for Manik standing beside her. She said, "Just calm down guys! M Thk hun.. Don't worry.."
"Thk toh hogi hi.. Manik the hero Jo tha tumhe bachane ke liye..", Finally Harshad made his entry with his evil smirk. Again, the atmosphere became tensed because of his words but Cabir tried to make it light, "Lets get back to the camp site guys.. Kal vese bhi jldi neeche pahunchna h..". Everybody nodded and went towards the same direction.
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Waiting for the valuable comments of yours! Do drop them.. 😉
And the question for the day is, "Do you have anything to comment upon Madhyam? If yes, don't mind sharing it with me.." 😛
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Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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