They reached home and jumped on the couch *tired*.
where Nandini sat on Manik's lap keeping her head on his shoulder.

"Kya huya baby??You are fine right?" Manik asked a little worried seeing the ever energetic Nandini like this.She just nodded in yes and but her eyes closed.

"You are tired ?? You wanna sleep??" Manik asked caressing her hairs gently.

She just hummed making Manik and others worried.Nandini is never like this..She never gets tired of anything.That's why Navya used to say "All the energy of this universe is in Nandu" but her this side is making them worried. Most worried was her man who can never tolerate even a mosquito bite on her body how come he can bare this dull Nandini. Yes!! May be He always asks her to stop jumping & running all around but her these naughty acts,her cuteness keeps him sane too,Her cuteness makes him fall for her again n again.

"Choti tu thik hai Na?" Mukti came close.

"Nandu you don't need to be afraid about those boys ok!!?" Navya said patting her head.

"Nandini is brave,Hai Na?" Dhruv's concern.

Alya couldn't speak,she's the weakest one in this matter.

"Bunny never gets tired hai Na??"Cabir tried to cheer.

Nandini finally lift up her head and gave them a little smile "Don't worry guys,am absolutely fine,It's just that I want to sleep for sometime"

Everyone sighed but not relieved.

Manik took her towards their room muttering sweet nothing in her ear to sooth her mind.

"Baby,what happened?? Tum thik Ho Na??Why are taking so long breathes?? Kahi pain hai bachha??Batao Mani ko?? Are you upset?? Are you afraid sweety?? Main hoon na,you don't have to worry about anything ok!?Just tell me" Manik's heart was in his mouth.

"Kuch nahi hai papa,I am fine,,jab tak Mani hai,Nandini ko kuch nai Ho sakta.Main hai Hamesha tumhare pass,Don't worry" Nandini comforted Manik and kissed him to assure him,her well being.Manik deepened the kiss trying to explore every corner of her.The Kiss was possessive,The kiss was kinda assurance for himself but he couldn't continue as Nandini's breathes were uneven.

They broke apart and Manik made Nandini sleep.

________________

Manik was in the garden area attached to their room gazing at the stars when someone patted his shoulder "She is just tired,kuch Nahi hai!!Don't worry,she will be fine" Cabir it was,who knew that Manik would be hell worried.

"Yaar,Nandini was never like this!!! I know she is having some problem but she is not telling me!!! Agar usse kuch bhi ho gaya toh..toh main...." Lone tear escaped Manik's eyes and he couldn't complete.

"Uparse Those boys in the beach were not good at all,Nandini bachhi hai,,she isn't aware of this cruel world,har baat pe bachpana hai uski!!!" Cabir was his soul brother,Manik knows that he can't hide anything from him;moreover he doesn't want to.Manik is an open book to Cabir.

"Manik,kuch nahi hoga,Why are you thinking about all these?Yes!! We know k Nandini is still a kid but we are with her,,Nothing will happen!! Sabse baadi baat Her Magician is with her,you won't let anything happen to her" Cabir assured him.
Manik got his back.He was a bit relieved.He hugged Cabir tight.Just then they heard a sound and both were confused "Something broke may be" and they shrugged but within a nano seconds they both looked at eachother shouted "Ooww shit!!! Nandiniii..." And ran inside.

The sight infront of Manik made him froze,he couldn't move,He stood rooted at his place.

There Nandini was lying;her upper half body was outside the bed and other half was on bed,,She was struggling to breathe,She was trying to grasp as much air she could through her mouth making it big,Her eyes were bulging out.

Cabir had to shout and jerk Manik to make him realise what's happening.He rush at a jet speed and took her in his arms "Baby,Kya huya??kya Ho raha hai??? Oh god!! What should I do?? Breathe Nandini breathe,,Open..Open your eyes honey,,look at me!!!" Manik was crying madly shaking her and rubbing her back.

"Cabir doctor" Manik shouted.

"He is coming,hold on a second bunny,keep breathing sweetheart" Cabir too panicked but already called the manager to send a doctor within a min.

Hearing the shouts everyone came to their room and were shocked at their places seeing the scenes infront of their eyes.

"Nandini,,Please don't close your eyes baby,look at me,Kuch nai hoga bachha" Manik has gone mad seeing his life like this,,he wasn't getting what's happening.Was all that really happening or a nightmare !!! He so wished that it was his nightmare,he will wake up and everything will be vanished.

"Maa..nii..Sa..aanse," She too was crying clutching his shirt tightest,,she was moving her legs frantically to get air but couldn't.She was shivering badly,Her lips were becoming blue.

With Each jerk her body; Manik's heart was breaking into zillionth of pieces.

"Kuch nai hoga bachha!! Keep breathing ... What should I do !!? Where's the goddamn doctor !!!!!! " Manik shouted.He was crying,He was vulnerable.He was the most helpless person on earth who could just sit like a statue and watch his life getting snatched.

He was pecking her temple,her palm. Everywhere he could just to sooth her but the broken souls doesn't know that nothing can sooth her.He only could be her strength,her support nothing else.

"Give..give her your oxygen Manik till the doctor comes" Navya said shivering. Her condition was somewhat like Manik,,seeing her best friend suffering but couldn't do anything.

This helpless feeling sucks

"Oh!Lord! Please Be with my Nandini."

"I can't see her like this"

"Nandini's Aaiyappa please do anything but make her all right"

"I can't breathe without her"

Manik didn't waste time and immediately started giving her oxygen through his mouth;just then the doctor came running.

"Doctor please see her!!! She isn't able to breathe,,nothing like this happened before with her.Please thik Kar dijiye isse,please kuch kijiye" Manik was almost begging.

"Manager !! get the oxygen cylinder fast!!! And I request you guys to kindly vacate the room please." The doctor said already started with his medication.

Everyone left except Manik who was sitting holding Nandini to his dear life."Nandini aankhein kholo bachha!! Doctor look at her,,she isn't talking to me!!!" Manik was patting her cheeks.

"Please my boy calm down,I'm here nothing will happen" The doctor assured him and the manager came with the oxygen.

Doctor asked Manik to leave Nandini and let her lay down in a comfortable position but little did he know that the Ever strong soul was the weakest one now ,,leaving Nandini from his arms for a second isn't possible now & The doctor understood his turmoil and let him be.He made Nandini wear the oxygen mask and after some minutes Nandini's breathes became a bit normal but she was taking long breathes as if she got fresh air after ages.

"Why are you giving her Oxygen mask!!! She doesn't like all these hospital equipments,Darr jaegi woh!!!" Manik's mind stopped working seeing the ever charming soul surrounded with these wires around her petite body.

Cabir had to come and let Nandini free from his arms so that the doctor can check her."Manik,buddy Kya kar raha hai!! Chor usse,,let the doctor treat her.. Tu aise karega toh kaise chalega!!"

"Cabir!!! Tujhe Pata hai Na usse in sabse darr lagta hai!! She'll start crying if she sees all these around her" Manik said trying to make himself free from Cabir's grip.

"Manik,Manikkk...She wasn't able to breathe,Ek saanse ke liye maar rahi thi woh samjhaa!!!! She couldn't speak a word that's why she broke the vase to grab our attention!!!! She needs that oxygen suna tune!!! You can't act impulsive !!!!  Let them treat her" Cabir shouted at Manik to make him understand the reality and the reality hit him.He sank on the floor crying bitterly.

She was suffering!!!She wasn't able to breathe!!!Bass ek saans k liye maar rahi thi !!??I couldn't do anything!!! I couldn't protect her!!! I'm a looser Cabir !!! I am a big time looser...She said I won't let anything happen to her!!!She trusted me but I failed her... Kaise aankhein milaunga usse??She was suffering from that beach but I couldn't understood!! She promised me that she won't leave me!!!

"It's not your fault Manik,,you protected her every way possible!!!She'll get up soon Aur agar tujhe aise dekhegi toh Aur toot jayegi,,Sambhal apne app ko bhai.. You've to be strong for her" Cabir said trying to make him understand.

"Mr.Malhotra,,I need to talk to you!!" Doctor said looking at Manik.

Manik stood up with a jerk "What happen doctor?? She is fine right??"

"Aisey attacks Kya pehle kabhi huye hai inke saath??" Doctor enquired.

"No.no never,Infact it's the first time I am seeing her like this but why are you asking this" Manik was confused.

"Uumm nothing !!! I am giving her some medicines,give her these until you reach Mumbai. Aur when you reach Mumbai please apke family doctor ki mujhse baat karaiyega,I will tell him/her about some tests.As of now there's nothing to worry about,She will sleep for sometime & please till she wakes up don't switch off the oxygen & Keep an eye on her ki jyada bhaag dour Na karein" The doctor said to Manik who noted everything in his mind.

"Doctor there's nothing serious right?? Aur oxygen Kyun chaiye??" Manik asked hell nervous.

"Don't worry my boy she was just having a breathing trouble that's why the oxygen and about the tests!! It's just precautionary. Ok!So,I will take your leave now. Take care" Doctor patted Manik's cheeks.

Manik sat next to Nandini kissing every inch of her face;Trying to assure himself that everything is fine.Cabir saw them and rubbed his tears off.He came with the doctor as he eyed him to come out with him.

"What's it doctor?? My sister is absolutely fine right??" Cabir asked the doctor restlessness was dripping from his voice.

Everyone else join them as they were hell worried.

"See!! I'm not sure about anything right now that's why I want to be sure about my intuition Aur issi liye I asked for some tests,Once you guys reach Mumbai please don't forget to contact"

"Par what's the matter doctor??Is there anything serious ??" Dhruv asked.

"Just hope for the best kids,And you can enjoy your trip.Don't worry" the doctor replied with an uneasy smile & left.
__________________

Everyone peeped inside the room-

Pal, do pal, ki hi kyun hai zindagi
Iss, pyar, ko hai sadiyaan kaafi nahi
Toh khuda se maang lun
Mohalat main ik nayi
Rehna hai bas yahaan
Ab door tujhse jaana nahi

"Nandini!! Honey,Your magician failed to protect you..Maaf kardo mujhe" Manik was sitting beside Nandini's bed kneeling on the floor and caressing her face and hairs with his thumb.

Jo tu mera humdard hai
Jo tu mera humdard hai
Suhaana har dard hai
Jo tu mera humdard hai

"Please open your eyes,Dekho ..Mani will sing you your favourite song..Please bachha Dekho meri taraf" Manik pleaded but Nandini was lying like a lifeless body.

My Mani is the Best,Kuch nai hone dega woh !!!

Teri muskurahatein hain taaqat meri
Mujhko inhi se ummeed mili

Don't worry Mani,Jab taak Manik hai Kuch nei ho sakta Nandini ko !!!!

Main hoon tumhare saath Hamesha !!!!

My mani is a magician.

Chaahe kare koi sitam ye jahaan
Inme hi hai sadaa hifaazat meri

Nandini's giggles,Her claps rang in Manik's ear. Her pouty face and crunched nose,showing tongue to them came in his mind.

Zindagani badi khoobsurat hui
Jannat ab aur kya hogi kahin..

Mani Dekho Kuch nai hota Jump karne sey !!!

Life is so beautiful nai Mani??

Kaise kar lethey ho itna pyaar mujhse ??

Jo tu mera Humdard hai
Jo tu mera Humdard hai
Suhaana har dard hai
Jo tu mera Humdard hai

Danton toh nai warna main bhaag jaungi !!!

There's nothing in this universe which can break us apart !!!

I love you Humesha forever Mani !!!

Teri dhadkano se hai zindagi meri
Khwahishein teri ab duaaein meri

"Aankhein kholo Na meri jaan,,Tumhe beach Jana hai Na !!? Chalo lets go.. " Manik pleaded.

Kitna anokha bandhan hai ye
Teri meri jaan jo ek hui

Mani your heartbeats; these beats in a musical rhythm.

Lotunga yahaan tere paas main haan
Waada hai mera mar bhi jaaun kahin...

Manik was sitting next to her continuously watching her pale face without even blinking as if he will blink & Nandini won't be there with him.He was remembering all the moments with her.

"Uth jao Na Nandini please,I beg you,Mujhe bulao ekbar ,, I'll do whatever you ask me to do"

Jo tu mera humdard hai
Jo tu mera humdard hai
Suhaana har dard hai
Jo tu mera humdard hai

Others were crying silently seeing the two most innocent souls suffering.Mukti cursed God for being so cruel and Alya was numb.Navya was consoling Cabir and Dhruv was praying to God for Nandini's well being.

"Have you ever noticed there is never any third act to a nightmare? They bring you to a climax of terror and then leave you there."
-Max Beerbohm
__________________

As promised,Update is here!!!
Emotional one ??!!! First try..Do tell me how's it please ?

There's nothing to say more.

I was literally imagining Nandini struggling for breathe.

It's scary!!!! Damn scary ... 😶Main khud hi claustrophobic hu Aur even imagining anything like this is tough for me.

Sorry for mistakes 🙏🏻