KUCH BATEEIN ANKAHEEN chapter 12 pg 17 updated 26.4.16 AGAIN! - Page 9

CHAPTER 10

Malhothra mansion.

Manik was angry. Nandini didn't bother to finish the job he assigned her nor did she ask for permission to leave. God this girl surely does test my patience'.

He had a quick dinner and was rolling about on his bed trying to sleep. Something wasn't quite right. 5 mins later he heard someone knock on his door. Who could it be at this time of the night?'

He opened the door to see the worried face of Maya.

"Manik, Nandini hasn't reached home yet. Her chachi just called me. Do you have any idea where she is?"

Manik felt blood drain from his face. Dread filled him, his mind conjuring up worst scenarios. Without another word he took his car keys and rushed out of the house. He drove like a mad man. He lost her once. He was not going to let it happen again.

The car stopped in front of his company. The watchmen were startled to hear him barking at them. He rushed to her table and found that her bag was still there. He ordered a thorough search if the building. He himself was running up and down the stairs searching for her.

The searched almost everywhere but there was no trace of her.

"Sir, we've searched everywhere. She is not here" a brave watchman said.

Manik ruthlessly grabbed him by the collor of his shirt. " what did you say? Huh? She is still here. Search again and keep searching till you find her. Do you understand?"

"ye..yes sir"

Manik tried to calm himself. He had to think. His mind flew back to the time when both of them got locked up in the store room...store room. They hadn't checked the basement yet. Manik rushed down the stairs three at a time.

The store room door was locked. He didn't have the patience to get the keys from the others. So he shoved himself against it finally breaking it open.

He saw a figure lying on the floor of the dark room. It was Nandini. He cradled her in his lap. He face was unusually pale and her hands were cold.

"Nandini...Nadini pls open your eyes." There was no response. Maniki was totally freaked out. Without wasting any more time, he carried her to his car and strapped her up.

He didn't know what possessed him to take her to his home rather the hospital. Well, his sister was doctor. He knew she'll take care of her.

...

Maya was pacing across the living room. She badly wanted to go after Manik, but God knows where he went the way he did. It was getting late and Adithya was about to go searching for both of them when they heard a car approaching.

Maya saw Manik rushing in with an unconscious Nandini in his arms. He told her how he found her unconscious in the store room. Manik gently placed her on his bed. Maya went into her doctor mode and began her work. After a few mins Maya had her vitals back to normal. Nandini was now sleeping peacefully.

Maya looked up to see her brother's face dripping with worry. She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder and said " Don't worry. She is absolutely fine. Woh bas so rahi hain"

He just nodded without meeting her eyes. She understood what he felt and left them alone.

He looked at her lying on his bed peacefully. Her eyes closed and her breathing even. The last hour made him realize how much she mattered to him. There was no point in denying it any further. He sat on a chair near her. His hands slowly stroked her soft hair, her eyes, her cheeks trying to memorize every feature of her face.

"What have you done to me Nandini?" He asked her sleeping form. He didn't know when he fell asleep, his head on her pillow close to her own and their fingers intervined...

Nandini felt the morning rays stinging her eyes and tried to clear her clouded mind. She tried to make sense of her surroundings. Before she could figure out where she was she felt a hot breath on her cheeks. She turned to her side to see Manik sleeping peacefully beside her. He had her hand clasped possessively in his. Nandini felt her eyes fill. After all these years after all that had happened he still cared for her. Her other hand slowly reached him. She stroked his hair, her finger entangling in it.

" I'm sorry Manik for everything..." she whispered.

...

This was how Maya found them. She gave them a few more minutes of privacy before deciding that Nandini's medicines couldn't wait any longer.

" How are you feeling now?" she asked her.

"I'm fine...main kahan..?" she stutterd. Manik jerked awake when he heard her voice. They looked deep into each other's eyes answering every unasked questions.

Maya was standing there watching the couple lose in each other's eyes. After a few seconds she cleared her throat making them break their eyelock. Manik stood up abruptly and said

" Di, I'll be there downstairs" and rushed out of the room with a final glance at Nandini.

Maya chuckled at her brother's antics. " He is so much like our dad. Dil pe kuch hota hain aur muh pe kuch aur. Don't tell him I told you but he is an emotionaly challenged person" Maya whispered to Nandini.

Nandini just laughed and said " I know"

...

Manik was at the dining table drinking his morning coffee. Adithya sat opposite to him reading the morning newspaper.

" good morning saale sahib"

" Morning jiju" he said.

Adithya watched Manik's restless eyes. He knew exactly how he felt.

"Women have us men wrapped around their little finger don't they?" he said

Manik looked up at his brother in law, surprised at his abrupt question.

" Huh?"

"We think we'll be fine without them but as soon as we lose them we realize how wrong we were. Don't worry Manik. Yeh sab hota hain sabke saath. Your sister gave me a hard time as well... Don't tell her I told you this, but she was totally worth it." Adithya said smiling at his wife who was now coming down the stairs.

"And one more thing" he said "not everyone gets a second chance."

...

Manik was pondering over his jiju's spontaneous bit of advice. After making up his mind he walked into his room to check on Nandini. When he found her she was standing swaying slightly as if she was about to lose her balance.

"What do you think you are doing?"

Nandini heard his angry voice and jerked losing her balance. She waited to feel the hard floor but instead felt a pair of strong arms steadying her. She looked into the pair of deep brown eyes looking at her with concern. Suddenly he picked her up and placed her on the bed. She was shocked by his sudden gesture.

"Don't you dare get up from the bed unltil I ask u to." He said warning her.

Aiyaapa! What am I going to do with him. Har baath pe threaten karna zarooro hain?!' She thought looking at him with a pout.

Oh God why does she have put up her cute puppy dog face? No manik. Control . I'm sure she doesn't have a clue about what she is doing to you'

" Par mujhe ghar jaana hain. Chachi will be worried.."

"Chachi ko inform kar liya hain. So no need to keep arguing with me. Now shut up and take rest" he said. " yeah and one more thing. You are fired."

"Huh?" Nandini was confused.

Manik rolled his eyes like it was the most obvious thing in the world. " you are no longer my spot girl. Do whatever you want do with the album but I don't wanna see you anywhere near my cabin again."

Nandini blinked. I'm no longer his spot girl. I got the album deal. That's a good thing right?!'. Slowly a smile crept into her face. Stupid arrogant Malhothra!

Just then her phone rang. He eyes lit up when she saw the screen. " hello... Aryaman. How are you? Yeah I'm fine. Tum kahan ho?.." Nandini was happily chatting away unaware of a pair of narrowed eyes shooting daggers at her.

Oops! Ab Manik ki bari!

...