The Rake

Chapter Eighteen

“Na..Nandini!” It was for the tenth time when he was whispering or literally stumbling upon her name, weeping hugging Cabir who was trying to calm him down.

“I am really sorry Chachi..I shouldn’t have..!” And he broke down hugging his favourite Chachi, i.e Nandini’s Chachi who wrapped her hand around his hair “Don’t worry Manik! Nandini is very strong! She will be fine..!” And they kept weeping along with the others who just couldn’t hold their tears eyeing the sight across the glass door. The bubbly and lively Nandini who used to spread smiles was deprived of any smile on her face. She was kept on a life guarding equipment and her body was being operated by the specialists from all the over the world.

“Doc..doctor!” Manik literally stumbled running to Dr.Anand, who happened to be their family doctor even.

“Don’t worry, she’s a little better! You two just escaped death!” All the others heaved a huge sigh of relief but Manik wasnt even breathing properly “When will she regain her consciousness?”

“That will take time!” The doctor informed and went away while Manik took back his seat. He just couldn’t dare to look at his baby who was suffering so much.

“Manik, it’s already 2 am. Please have some thing!” Manik shook his head and walked to Chachi, Chacha, Amms his parents and Priya Maasi “You all should go home, it’s quite late! Even the visiting hours will end in an hour..I am there for her!”

The others did try, but he was adamant to let them go. They walked back slowly and steadily with dull faces to their houses while Manik and secretly, Cabir stayed back.

Manik looked around and slowly walked into her cabin and found her sleeping. She had bandaged around her head and hands, while her legs were covered with the sheet.

He sat beside her and kept his head on the bed closing his eyes. As soon as he closed his eyes, all the memories came back to him.

Their first clash, the way he acted to cruel to her, her crying and disheveled face, his for the first time being so much guilty, his trip to Mangalore, him getting to know about their connection in the past, them becoming friends, slowly coming in a relationship, their first kiss and the fight against Soha and Harshad, their dates and then this blissful car ride until a beam of darkness came and took the light away from their lives.

“Please come back to me!” He whispered and started weeping. He just couldn’t hold back. He needed her, his best friend, his girlfriend, his mentor, his everything.

He remembered how cruel he had become until she came and lightened up his life like never before. She became his reason to smile which no one could in his twenty years of livelihood. She was nothing but an orphan for the others but the reason to breathe for the Rake.

“I can’t Nandini..Please open your eyes love..I can’t live without you!” And he kept weeping holding her hand but destiny had some other plans. This time, it was because of her, he was crying and she couldn’t do anything.

AFTER A MONTH.

“Yaar! Nanduu! I tell you..This Ayesha is getting on my nerves Yaar!” He kept the orchids in the flower vase and kept complaining.

“Uff! I hate her man! Doesn’t she know that I am committed!” He rolled his eyes and walked to her. A body, with just a heart beeping.

“Nandini..!” He whispered and tears trembled down his eyes “I need you love.. this time I haven’t broken down because I know you will be there..!” He sat on the chair beside and cried.

“Manik, you have to accept it Son! She’s on life saving drugs..we have no hopes! Her heart ain’t beating normally!” Dr. Anand came up to console him to which he just nodded and kissed her forehead.

As the doctor walked away, he turned to his love with a weak smile “Won’t you wake up for me?” He just asked with a very little smile, almost diminishing one.

All of a sudden, her hands started shivering and she was responding to the drugs. “DOCTORR!!” Manik cried out for the doctors and in no second, the doctors stood there all shocked.

“Nurse!! Get the injections..She’s recovering!! We have a hope!” As soon as he muttered the word hope, Manik palmed his mouth and literally hugged Cabir who had came up there with the others “Cabir!!! She will be fine Cabirr!!”

Cabir patted his back and smiled whole heartedly.

AFTER A MONTH.

“Manik!! I hate you!” She smacked him to which he giggled and said “I tou love you!” She pouted and looked the other side to which he kept the soup bowl beside and hugged her “Just a week more..And then you will be discharged and we will have panipuris!”

Nandini cried out “Urghh! Manik!! Still a week! Whyy!!” Manik giggled “Yeah so! Aren’t you loving our live-in?” He winked at her to which she glared at him “What live in? You just sleep with me..nothing else!”

“Accha..tou you want me to do something else even!” He nuzzled in her hairs to which she blushed and pushed him “Manik, your parents are outside!” Manik kissed the nape of her neck “Shh, they have left for home! Now let me do my work..!” She closed her eyes and wrapped an arm around his neck pulling him closer.

He was about to delve deeper when they heard giggles from the door. They both turned at the gate and found their friends giggling at them. He rolled his eyes and took the soup bowl to which she silently started having it, while a red hue spread across her cheeks.

That’s how they outshined the darkness and started living in brightness, yet again! ❤️