Hello people! Hope you're all doing good!
For those asking about Nandini, have some patience 🙈
You'll get to know soon! Happy reading! 😊

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Nandini reached home luckily on time before Navya.
She carefully hid her reports under the mattress and also kept her medicines in a safe place where Navya wouldn't notice.
Half an hour later, Navya arrived. The two girls had lunch had a good time after long.

On the other hand, ManBir reached Mukti's place. At first she was furious at them for being late, but soon she calmed down. The three spent their day making some music since Dhruv and Alya had gone out.

Monday morning:

Nandini and Navya went to the locker room only to find everyone present there already. Some going through files while the others were checking their lockers.

"Gooood morningg people!" Nandini greeted in her ever so cheerful voice.
All of them looked at her and smiled. They greeted her back. Cabir smiled at her proudly to which she winked at him.

Manik was lost in her. The world seemed a better place for him when she smiled.

Soon, they went for briefing. Manik seeing no doctors around, went and hugged Nyonika from back but instead got a fake scolding from her and everyone giggled silently.

"So now, one week is over and so are the groups of five. Now onwards you'll be in pairs of two or three."
Everyone nodded and she continued, "So Cabir,Rahul,Mukti - general ward
Navya,Shweta - children's ward
Manik,Nandini - lab......"

As soon as Manik and Nandini heard this, they both smiled inwardly but Nandini, as well as being happy was nervous too.

".....Manik,Nandini there isn't much work in the lab, so if you're done, just be there, I'll get back at you." They nodded. "Okay so get going" Nyonika finished and they all dispersed.

In the lab:

Both were doing their work since long with complete silence. Fortunately or unfortunately, there was no one else present in the lab apart from these two.
They both wanted to talk but none had the courage to do so. Both were afraid that the other would ask about the previous day.
Unable to bear the silence anymore, Manik faked a cough and Nandini who was giving a final look on the microscope, looked at him.

M: uhm..are we..restricted to talk to each other?
N: n..nahi...no! (nervously)
M: then why so quiet?
N: Tum bhi toh chup the..
M: (chuckled) yeah...actually..kuch samaj nahi aaraha tha kya bolu..
N: kuch bhi bolo..

Nandini was now in the mood.
N: acha tell me how was the US?

Manik smiled while closing his file, "Awesome! Seriously, it was amazing."

Nandini too smiled and he continued, "You know, pehle toh I didn't want to go..but I had no choice, but after getting there, it wasn't that bad..just that I missed mom so much!"

"You love her alot na?" she asked remembering her parents.
"Hmm.." he looked at her and found her looking down. He went closer and kept his hand on her shoulder. "You miss them alot na?"

She looked at him and again down and managed to smile. "Yeah..but they are happy at a much better place" she closed her eyes to control her tears.

M: Yes..they are...but you know what?
N: (still looking down) what?

Manik held her hand and she abruptly looked at him. "They'll only be happy if you are happy. Ye jo kabhi kabhi tum itni sad hojati ho na, I'm sure they won't be liking it."

Nandini gave a faint smile.
Manik made a face. "Noo...you can do better, c'mon"

Nandini giggled and he smiled. "Exactly, that's what suits you the most"
"Ab smile karwadiya, toh haath toh chod do" Nandini said eyeing at their hands.
Manik instantly left her hand. "Uh..sorry"

N: (trying not to blush) it's okay...woh..are you done with your work?
M: yah..thank God...we are free till mom comes. Come na, sit.
They both sat on the chairs facing each other.

M: so how was it here? And by the way..you've changed alot ha?
N: Haa..but you're still the same
M: hmm...ab kya karu..aise hi ladkiya mujpe marti hai so I thought of staying the same (he winked at her)
N: oh please! (looking away)
M: ofcourse, not to forget you may be one of them (he gave a sly grin)
She looked at him in disbelief for a moment, and both ended up laughing.

N: so tell more about what you guys did in the US

With this, Manik started telling her almost everything they did there.
Nandini kept on asking questions and he answered happily. She also told him all what was going on around her.

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Cabir was going through some files when he remembered about Nandini.
He prayed to God. "God please! Let everything be fine soon. Choti certainly doesn't deserve this! The all time happy-go-lucky girl is now going through so much!" Something suddenly hit his mind. "Shit! Manik and Choti are together! After what happened yesterday, I hope all is ok between them."

Canteen; lunch time:

All the others were already there when Cabir saw MaNan entering and to his surprise both were laughing.

"Saale! Yaha me itni tension leraha hu aur inko dekho! They are laughing as if nothing happened yesterday. But acha hi hai" he thought.

They reached the table when Navya asked, "Kya baat hai Nandu? What's so funny?"

"Nothing much Navya" She sat beside Cabir and patted his shoulder. "I didn't know aapke jokes itne lame bhi hote hai"

Cabir frowned and Mukti laughed, "abhi pata chalgaya na"

Cabir pointing at Manik "What did you tell her?"

M: (casually) nothing much bro! Just your ever so famous jokes.

"Haa toh Nandini, itne hi lame hai then why are you laughing?" Cabir asked sarcastically.
Nandini laughed again "Because he also told me how you used to get beaten up by them."

Everyone giggled and Mukti hi-fived Manik.

They all had their lunch with Cabir cracking some of his 'lame' jokes and returned to their duties.

Nyonika asked Nandini to check some more blood samples and also asked Manik to be with her incase she needs help to which he happily agreed.

Lab:

Nandini was checking the samples and Manik was quietly noticing her. Her hair strands were continously disturbing her and she kept on tucking them behind her ears. He saw a clip on the handle of her bag and took it.

He went and stood behind her and very hesitatingly moved his hands to her hair. Nandini felt him behind her and stopped whatever she was doing. As he carefully tied her hair, her heart raced, like a runaway train, going faster and faster.

When he was done, he bent down a bit and spoke very softly. "Though I really like your open hair, but right now it has to be tied so that you can peacefully do your work"

She looked at him and he winked. Her cheeks flushed to the color of scarlet.
She immediately looked away and thanked him in the same tone.

He smirked seeing her and went back to where he was sitting as she continued with her work.

The day ended well for everyone especially for Manik and Nandini who were now comfortable talking to each other.

Nandini's POV:

Aiyyapa! We talked so much today!

I never knew it would be so easy. We shared so much about the past 2 years.

Ab aisa lagta hai that he was never gone.

Nandini tu bhi na!
But I'm so happy that we talked. Atleast I won't be nervous around him now.

She remembered the afternoon incident.

Does he have any idea how much he affects me?

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Manik's POV:

Wow! Finally we talked!

I mean...what was I doing for the past one week?

But duties bhi toh aaj hi saath me mili

Forgot everything! I'm just happy with the fact that she's atleast comfortable with me now.

End of POV

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The rest of the week went quite well, they all were paired differently each day which made their bond stronger.
They would all meet at lunch time, where they spent some quality time together.
Within these two weeks, they had all come closer. Nandini and Navya were no more nervous around Manik and Cabir respectively.
Cabir had a close notice on Nandini incase she needed any help, and thankfully she was fine.

Saturday afternoon:

Everyone was informed to be at the conference hall before the interns leave. The Dean informed and invited them to the Diwali party which was to be held the next day at Malhotra Mansion 7pm onwards.

All of them left the hall leaving behind Nyonika, fab 5 and NavNi.

Nyo: Guys ready?
Manik: Not this time mom!
Nyo: Do you have a choice?
Cabir: c'mon Manik...you know we can't do anything
Manik: but this is not done! Just because he wants to tell everyone that the arrangements are done by his son & his friends, we are supposed to do this? Is he for once concerned, what I want?
Nyo: Manik relax, tumhe pata toh hai na woh kese hai.
Manik: I know but I'm sorry, this time, NO!

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