"Breath in! Breath out!" Nandini tried to calm herself down on reaching her room.
"Jitna sochti hu ke usse door rahu, utna hi me uske paas jaati hu. What's wrong with me? Aiyyapa! Why can't I stay away from Manik?"

"Nanduuu" Navya's voice broke her chain of thoughts.
"Cominngg" she answered and went down.

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

It was announced the next afternoon that four of the interns will be going to the other branch of their hospital which was on the outskirts of the city.

"You'll be leaving today at 4pm and will be back by tomorrow evening. No need to worry about the accommodation, because everything is arranged. The chosen one's are Rahul, Cabir, Mukti and Navya. All the best" the Dean finished and everyone clapped and wished good luck to the four of them.

"Hum Nandu ko akele chodke nahi jaasakte" Navya said once the other doctors had left. "Baar baar bhimar padjati hai aur akele rahegi toh pata nahi kya hoga"

"C'mon Navya, it's just one night..and I can take care of myself" Nandini assured.

"HA HA HA! That's the biggest lie I've heard" Manik mocked.

"Excuse me?" Nandini faced him. "Kya matlab hai tumhara?"

"Matlab yahi that you can't take of yourself, you're one clumsy girl I've come across" Manik remarked finding it difficult to hide his smile.

"Haww! Tumne muje clumsy kaha, how dare you?" Nandini slightly hit his chest out of irritation.

"I dare yes!" Manik took a step closer to her.

"Half time!" Cabir came between the two and turned to Navya. "Okay if you're worried about her, then one of them will stay with her for the night." He looked at Dhruv and Alya, "tum dono ko toh permission nahi milegi"
He looked back at Manik, "Manik will stay over"

"What?" Manik and Nandini shouted together.

"Bhai, iski koi zarurat nahi hai..I'll manage" Nandini said.

"Exactly Cabir" Mukti spoke. "Warna ladte ladte ek dusre ko khaajayenge"

"Itna bhi nahi ladte hum" Manik interrupted.

"Yeah..he's right..so it's decided, Madhubala ji ab toh koi problem nahi hai na?" Cabir asked Navya and she shook her head.

"Navya" Manik began. "You don't need to worry about this drama queen, I'll handle her" he winked at Nandini and she rolled her eyes.

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

"Bhai what did you do? Kya zarurat thi Manik se kehne ki that he'll stay over at my place?" Nandini questioned Cabir once they reached the locker room.

"Didnt you see? Navya was refusing to come, I had no option Choti and what's wrong with this? Manik hi toh hai" Cabir answered.

"Yahi toh problem hai ke Manik hai..you..you won't understand" Nandini said.
Every time she thought of staying away from him, destiny would bring him closer to her.

"I understand" Cabir said and Nandini looked at him.
"Tu nahi chahti na ke woh tere paas aaye?"

"Bhai.."

"Look Nandini, I know what you're thinking. But let me tell you ke aisa karne se you won't only be hurting yourself but also Manik. Both of you like being together, you enjoy each other's company, so be it. Don't let anything or anyone take away your happiness. Tu agar usse avoid karne ka sochrahi hai so don't even try doing that. I'm not saying this because he's my friend, but because the peace I see on his face when he's with you is completely different. And tuje bhi dekha hai meine jab tu uske saath hoti hai, you're happy."

He placed his hand on her shoulder. "This is not the end Nandini, don't put a full stop to your happiness. You deserve alot. Don't let this illness affect you. You both can heal each other."

He patted her shoulder and left while she stood there reminiscing his words.

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

In the evening, the four interns started off their journey but only after Cabir and Navya giving strict instructions to Nandini to take care of herself.
Manik arrived at Nandini's place with his bag pack after informing Nyonika that he won't be home for the night.

"Oh my God!! Am I dreaming?!" Manik exclaimed dramatically as he entered the kitchen.

"Kya hai Manik? Pagal hogaye ho?" Asked Nandini who had just kept the pasta for boiling.

"Nandini Murthy, tumne hi kaha tha na that you don't know how to cook? Toh phir ye kya hai?" He pointed at the gas. "Listen, I don't wanna risk my health, let's just order food from outside."

"Hogaya? Ab me bolu?" She asked sarcastically and he gave a nod.
"Haan mene kaha tha I don't cook, but you know what?" She suddenly became excited. "Mere haath ka pasta are damn yummy. Tum ek baari try karoge na, you'll definitely ask for more"

"Seriously?" He asked showing no interest. "Fine! But if it's not nice, then I'll make sure ye saara tum hi finish karo" he warned and exited the kitchen leaving her irritated once again.

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

Nandini had been staring at Manik for almost a minute now ever since he put a spoonful of pasta in his mouth but his face was expressionless.

"Ab bata bhi do kesa hai" she finally asked unable to bear his silence.

"What is this Nandini? Aisa khaana kabhi koi banata hai kya?" He asked with a stern face.

"Aisa matlab? Acha nahi hai? But it's always nice, Navya also likes it" she frowned and tasted the pasta herself.
She found nothing wrong with it and glared at Manik for playing around.

"You're such a monster!" She said irritated on his actions and he started laughing.

"God! Nandini seriously, tumhara face dekhne layak tha" he spoke between his laughter and she looked away.

"Okay okay fine" he managed to stop laughing. "Well..I must say..it's too good" he complimented and she glanced at him.

"No..really, I mean it" he admitted. "By the way..if you were so sure that the food will turn out good and Navya also likes them, why were you waiting for my answer?" He smiled playfully keeping his fist under his chin, elbow resting on the table.

"Woh..a..aisa kuch nahi hai..chup chap khaalo" she stammered not daring to look at him and he smiled.

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

Manik and Nandini were seated beside each other on the floor of the terrace, their backs leaning on the wall. Silence surrounded the area as they admired the dark mantle sweeping across the sky, studded with pulsing diamonds.

"I love stars" Manik broke the silence and Nandini looked at him sideways. She could see a beautiful smile playing on his lips on which herself unknowingly smiled.

"I always used to watch them with dad and Mayank." He said, his gaze fixed at the white twinkling stars surrounding the gleaming luminous moon.

"Mayank?" She frowned and he nodded.

"My brother" Manik disclosed and her eyes grew wide in surprise. She had no clue about this.

"He was 3 years elder than me. Dad treated us more like friends than a father. We were one happy family, with mom,dad,Mayank and fab 4. Mayank was very passionate about music, ussise hi toh I got an interest in it..he wanted to be a singer, but dad was against it. He wanted Mayank to join medicine. And..Harshad...he..he was Mayank's best friend, Mayank trusted him alot, but he used my brother for money. He ruined his life. Harshad instigated dad..that he'll make sure Mayank leaves music and in return dad will give him money. Aur dad ko pata nahi kya hogaya, he overlooked his son's happiness and woh Harshad ke baaton me aagaye."

Manik's eyes became moist and Nandini gently rubbed his arm to calm him down.
"Harshad ne Mayank ko bohot sunaya, that he doesn't care about his father's dreams and happiness. Mayank was shattered, he couldn't understand what to do. Mom and I tried our best to explain dad, but he didn't listen to us. Mayank finally announced that he'll quit music only for dad, I was in my last year of high school that time. Not only Mayank, but even I was broken by his decision. Harshad succeeded in his plans and in return dad gave him a blank cheque and he disappeared.
But one night, Mayank got drunk and there was a massive argument between him and dad. They were arguing like two enemies Nandini. I..I couldn't handle it, I locked myself in my room and I didn't realize when I fell asleep. But when I woke up, it was raining heavily, there was a power cut and there was only darkness all over. I went to my brother's room and.."

Manik choked as tears escaped his eyes. Nandini gently squeezed his arm, whose own tears had been rolling down her cheeks.

"Mayank...he..he had committed suicide..he..was hanging by the fan..my brother..was no more. Mein akela rehgaya tha, my support system was gone. Since then, i just hate darkness. I cant bear it. That..dreadful night changed it all. Nothing remained the same Nandini. Dad aur mera rishta badalgaya, because we both knew, that..he was somehow responsible for Mayank's death.
After high school, dad asked me to join medicine and I refused. I wanted to fulfill my brother's dream of becoming a singer, but mum requested me to listen to my father. She didn't want to lose me..just like she lost her elder son. I..I had no option other than joining medicine but I didn't leave music and dad had to agree to it. And now, itne saalon baad, that Harshad has come back to our lives. He'll ruin everything again, he'll destroy us Nandini, dad phirse uski baat maanenge..I..I don't want him back in our lives Nandini..I don't"

Manik face palmed himself to hide his tears which were flowing uncontrollably.
Nandini had never imagined that Manik had gone through so much, but she had to be strong for him. She wiped her tears and held his hands uncovering his face.

"Manik, look at me, dekho meri taraf" Nandini spoke softly cupping his face and made him look at her.

"Don't loose hope okay? Nothing will go wrong this time, everything will be fine..thoda waqt lagega, but sab thik hojayega.
Just be positive. Tum ek baari apne dad se baat karo, I'm sure he'll listen to you. He's your dad Manik, if you'll explain to him calmly, woh zarur tumhari baat samjenge. Phir woh Harshad dobara kuch nahi karpayega." Nandini explained to him wiping his tears and he pulled her for a hug.

She stroked his hair blinking her eyes repeatedly to control her tears. Manik as always, found his peace in her.

"Tum mera saath nahi chodogi na?" He whispered on her neck.

"Kabhi nahi, jab tak meri saansein chalegi, me hamesha tumhara saath dungi" she promised and a faint smile overtook his lips.

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Hola readers! I hope I did justice to the past, bear with me if it's not up to the mark 🙈