Chapter- 24

Manik was surprised + shocked due to Alia's surprise visit...

However, Alia was very understanding and told Manik to put Nandini down so that she could treat her ankle injury. Manik made Nandani lie on the bed and Alia checked her injury and told her to apply the ointment.. Manik asked Alia "Alia uh here, why?... Nah I mean to say uh didn't told me about this"

Alia smiled and told Manik that "she's here because she wanted to see the villagers that he was always talking about".

Nandini was feeling uncomfortable so she diverted his attention to Manan and asked Manan if he had bathed, and when he said no, Dhruv was going to say that he would bathe him, when Manik broke in and said that "he wanted to help Manan bathe".

Later, Dhruv had to leave and assured Nandini under his breath that he didn't think Alia recognised her. [Alia knew her six years ago as well]

While Manik was bathing Manan, "Manan made a wish that Manik would accompany him that night" and Manik agreed to fulfil his wish.

Manan became happy and he even had a soap bubble on top of Manik's head. And then water splashing started between them...

Alia was talking to Nandini and she said that "after seeing Manik interact with Manan, she felt like Manik would be a good daddy next time".

Alia told her "hearing about her from Manik she thought Nandini was someone who would always treasured relationships" but Nandini said that "sometimes the reality made one had no choice but to move forward, such that some people had to be given up".....

Manan finished his bath and ran out triumphantly to tell Nandini that Manik would accompany him tonight.

Manik looked towards Alia and asked if it's all right with Alia. She smiled and said it's all right.

Manan brought Alia to her bedroom and Manik told Nandini "Alia is really a good woman right?"

Nandini nodded and said "You're really fortunate to have met her."

"But I feel that being able to meet you and Manan... I'm very fortunate too. Even though you say that we don't know each other before, but you two have brought a lot of surprises to me. Thank you" Nandini smiled and shook her head, while Alia who overheard the conversation looked thoughtful in a down way.

That night, Nandini was in her bedroom as she looked at the photo they took six years ago(One day before Manik's surgery), and said that she would be happy for him.

The next morning, Nandini was watering the plants when Alia greeted her. Nandini asked "why she woke up so early and said that maybe it's because she's not used to the countryside".

Alia just hmmed looking towards her...

"Lawyer Malhotra was also like that when he first came here" said Nandani smilingly...

"Lawyer Malhotra? Why are you calling him in such formal terms? I guess 6 years ago you have always called him..... Manik?" said Alia...

Nandini looked at Alia in shock, as she realised that Alia knew about her relationship with Manik and she remembered her.

Alia then recalled her conversation with Nyonika.Nyonika had asked Alia not to tell Manik about Nandini, and to fill Nandini's presence in Manik's memories with Alia herself.

Alia told Nandani that "Lawyer Rahul went to her hospital and told Alia about Nandani". Actually I knew you six years ago, because Manik always mentioned about you, and in his eyes, he honestly thought that Nandani was a wonderful girl.

Nandani turned around and she had tears in her eyes as Alia wondered out loud "how.... how she could have the heart to dump a man who was willing to give his all for her".

Alia had that question in her heart for six years how Nandani could just leave him even when he begged her to come back.

"No one can do that... unless you don't love him enough" Nandani breathed in and turned around...

Nandani continued "When two people are together, of course it's love. When there's no troubles, of course it's love, but when I found out that he might leave me any time, it's time to face the reality -- I'm not someone who can live with a future that holds no promise."

"So you left Manik, and went together with Manan's daddy?" Alia asked with disgust. [Alia didn't have a idea that Manan was Manik's son]

Nandani agreed, but Alia felt incredulous that she said "you had the courage to be a single mum, and yet not have the courage to be with Manik".

Nandani continued to lie and said that "Manan was an accident that happened after she arrived at Village, but she had the choice to give birth to Manan".

Alia told her that "she wouldn't speak with such a righteous tone if she had seen how Manik was like after he woke up from his surgery". Her eyes were filled with tears remembering that...

"Six years ago, when you were teaching Manan to call you 'Mummy', the Manik that you've abandoned woke up from his surgery and lost all his knowledge towards all things... he felt scared towards the world like a five year old child, because he can't recognise his mother, he doesn't know how to call his mother... when you're teaching Manan to walk... the Manik that you've abandoned was in the physiotherapy room... a 180cm man having to learn how to walk, how to take one step forward.. how to talk.. have you ever thought how people had looked at him when he couldn't walk and fell on the ground? How had he felt at that moment... When you were here teaching Manan how to eat... Manik was learning how to eat.. He even had to learn how to use the fork and the spoon all over again."

Unknowingly tears were falling from Nandani's eyes hearing what Manik have to face... Alia then clarified that she told her all these not for the purpose of wanting Nandani to do something now, because Manik's pain could never be erased, but she just hoped that Nandani would feel a little ounce of sorry for what she had done with Manik.

Dhruv appeared from nowhere, and told Alia that Nandani didn't do anything wrong.

He walked towards Nandani and held her hand "Because you're more courageous to face all these, Whatever you have done Nandani in past shows how strong you are!!!!"

Alia didn't understand and looked at their linked hands and asked in a disgusting tone "Manik, Dhruv and Manan's daddy, did you date all three of them at the same time? How could you do this to Manik?!"

Nandani wiped out the tears from the back of his hand and said confidently "yes but all those were in the past and should not be mentioned again".

Alia felt pity for Manik hearing this...

Nandani asked Alia "if she would tell Manik about all that she knew" but Alia said she wouldn't.

Dhruv held her hand even tighter and told Alia that "Nandani's with him now and he would take care of both mother and son".

Manik came out from the house and looked all of them and asked them what they're talking about, but Nandani told him that they're merely congratulating Alia and asked Alia "I hope that you can wish us all the best too, is that all right? Miss Alia?" and Alia just nodded.

Later, while Manik and Alia were talking by the car, the village head came to give them some gifts for the wedding, and that the whole village had agreed that in order to repay Manik for saving the village, they would offer free supply of floral decorations for the wedding venue.

Khushi ran up to them and gave them the couple blankets and pillows that Sarla wanted to give them, and she ran into the house after hearing that Dhruv is inside the house. Manik followed her, wanting to thank Dhruv.

Dhruv was actually talking to Nandani and he confessed to her, telling her that he really wanted to take care of her, and that he had decided that he would follow her where ever she was. "Can you let me be the one to take care of you, and protect you?"

Hearing this Nandani thought for a while.... smiled and nodded her head. Dhruv let out a cry of joy and he hugged her instantly.

Khushi and Manik both saw and heard the confession. Manik left, but he wasn't sad or anything. Rather he looked uncomfortable for having 'intruded'. It was Khushi who looked heartbroken. Manik went out to say his goodbye to Manan, who was sobbing... Manik came and wiped his tears and nodded no.. Manik gave Manan his address in Mumbai. He even gave Manan his bracelet(The bracelet given by Nandani one day before surgery).

" You just have to say 'Miss you miss you' to the bracelet and I will come and find you." but Manan couldn't stop crying, which cause Manik to start crying as well.

"Manan, you are very obedient.. I wish if I would have a child that's as cute and obedient like you." Said Manik hugging Manan...

Manik broke the hug seeing Dhruv came out and wiped his tears..

After asking Dhruv to take care of Manan and Nandani, he got into the car with Alia and drove off, but Manan ran after the car crying "Manik uncle Manik uncle!!"

Manik was also crying but he didn't stop. Nandani heard and knew that Manik truly left, so she finally let out her tears. When Manik and Alia reached home, Nyonika just got off the phone with Mr Sexana who called to ask why Manik's so emotional now.

After Manik went to place his luggage in his room, Nyonika asked Alia if there's anything strange that happened in Village, but Alia said all that happened was that Manik met a group of nice, and enthusiastic villagers.

After that during a conversation between Manik and Alia, Alia realised that Nandani lied about the accident [ Manan], that she was pregnant before she was even in Village. "Why Nandani told me lie, She was pregnant with Manan earlier only before going to the village... Who could be Manan's dad" thought Alia....

Nandani just finished giving Manan his lunch and Manan asked "if Mumbai was very far".

Nandani knew that Manan missed Manik, and taught Manan a method -- to close his eyes, think of Manik, listen to his own heartbeat. The heartbeat's the sound that showed that Manik's thinking of him.

But Manan was Manan, he threw a tantrum because he wanted to see Manik immediately.

Nandani hugged Manan and closed her eyes, and thought to herself "Actually... I really, really, really miss..." but could not complete her sentence....

That night, Dhruv announced to the family that his six years of waiting had finally paid off. Sarla was very angry and pained for Khushi, but Khushi who heard the confession knew that was coming, and tried to act like nothing was wrong.

In the middle of the night, Khushi gave Dhruv his dinner, he ate it silently and just went back to sleep. Then Khushi turned around and said " I would not be there to give you your dinner anymore"...

She fingered the amulet that she had gotten for Dhruv and said that she's going to treat the amulet like it's Dhruv's presence. She took her luggage and left. Even though Sarla was very flustered the next day because of the note that Khushi left, Dhruv wasn't worried at all, because he had received too many letters in the past where Khushi wanted to leave the house as well.

Where as Manan flagged down a cab, and even though the driver was reluctant initially, after misunderstanding and yet getting the right picture, the driver thought that Manan's parents were separated [ one in Villager and one in Mumbai].

He looked like he could empathise, and agreed to Manan's request.

Nandani was very flustered because she couldn't find Manan anywhere and she was keeping herself strong not to breakdown as she and Dhruv went around Villager. Even Sarla and the village head helped them, but Manan was no where in sight.

While they all were worried for Manan, Manan was happily sitting in the cab saying 'Missu Missu' (Miss uh Miss uh) to the bracelet hoping Manik would get to know he is missing her.

Other side one of Manan's friend appeared and told Nandani that Manan went to find his daddy in Mumbai and Nandani and Dhruv quickly went to find him.

Nandani's especially worried because Manan would be in danger if he didn't take his shots soon. [Manan has a type 1 diabetes as Nandani was under nourished and sad during her pregnancy and now he is insulin dependent]. She called Manik to tell him that Manan's missing and that he's on his way to find him.

Manik was actually viewing the wedding venue with Alia when Nandani called him and he told Alia that because of Manan, he had to hurry back to his office.

Manan actually found his way to the office but in the lobby, he saw a woman drop her papers and he ran out after her to give her back the papers. Turns out it's Nyonika! Nyonika gathered all her papers and hurriedly left, but she left another file behind. Manan unknowingly called her "dadi"....

But she didn't hear and continued walking, so Manan just kept following her. After a while Manan's getting weaker and weaker.

Finally, Nyonika saw him following her and asked him why he is following him.

But after realising his good intentions, she said that she would bring him back to the office. Manan gave him a toothy smile and said "thank you Dadi"..

"Dadi ku bula rhe ho aap mujhe" asked Nyonika...

"Aapko dekh kr lga agr meri dadi hoti toh voo bilkul aapki jaisi beautiful si hoti issliye bola sorry" said Manan hanging his head down...

Nyonika was 'melted' by Manan because of his innocence. She hugged him and kissed his forhead...

Nyonika asked him to follow her and as soon as she walked in front and suddenly, Manan fainted. He tumbled down the side and fall down on the ground. Nyonika was shocked she rushed back towards him and shouted for her chauffeur to bring her to the hospital that Alia's working in.

Manik had rushed back to his office, to look at the CCTV to confirm if Manan was there. Nandani and Dhruv got there almost at the same time, and Manik asked if they had any photos of Manan to show the police. Nandani said no, but Dhruv had one (that show how much care and concern he had for Nandani and Manan).

Nandani was sobbing loudly and saying "Where could Manan be, usse kuch ho gya toh"... Listening this Manik grabbed Nandani's arm to assure her that everything would be all right, and hugged her. Dhruv didn't liked their physical contact.

Alia was very shocked when she saw Manan, and after getting the right doctors to come and do a surgery on Manan, she called Manik.. Nyonika sat outside the room and was sincerely, honestly worried for Manan. She touched the file that Manan just returned her, and wished that he would be all right.

The three of them [ Manik, Dhruv and Nandani ] rushed to the hospital, and there was a moment of shock as Nandani and Dhruv saw Nyonika who was equally shocked to hear when Manik introduced Nandani as 'his landlady in Village'.

Then only Alia came out from the room to tell them that Manan needed extra blood.

"Manan's a B. We might need the people here to give him blood." Said Alya...

Nandani hurriedly said, "I'm an O, I can give him."

Alia told them "Even though many people do not know this, but it's dangerous for a direct relative [ like your parents ] to transmit blood. Is there anyone who is a B or an O here?"

At the same time, Dhruv shouted "I'm an O!" and Manik too shouted "I'm a B!" and the both of them said "I can donate" but before anyone could say anything --

Nandani shouted and said "Manik can't, he cannot donate!"

How's the part?

Well if anyone can guess what will be Manik reaction?

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