Healer

Part 3

Author's POV

After the meal, Manik put Nandini to sleep. Covering her with a duvet, pecking her forehead "No matter how much you push me away, I will not give up Nandini. I found my peace in you so..... I will make sure... your life is as peaceful. It doesn't matter if it has me, but it has to be happy and peaceful. Because that is what an angel like you deserves."  he said and went out. Nandini opened her eyes once she heard the door closing and said while continuously staring at the door. "I guess I do find my peace in you. But Manik...... I just can't let you get involved in this mess because anyone interfering would end up destroyed. I am sorry."  She removed the syringes and stood up, changing her clothes she sneakily left the room. Instead of taking the lift, she used the staircase to avoid running into anyone. But it was a wrong choice since she was on the eighth floor. She finally reached the ground floor huffing and stumbling, she opened the door only to step back in surprise. With hands in pockets and a rather fierce look, Manik was standing there. Nandini gulped hard as it was the first time she had seen him like this and got too scared. She averted her gaze as she failed to look into his eyes. Without saying a word Manik picked her up and marched to the VIP elevator. She didn't rebel instead sealed her lips and kept looking down embarrassed. 

Manik reached the ward with Nandini in his arms. A man in a black suit and great build-up opened the door for them after bowing slightly. Nandini was confused to see the stranger yet didn't dare to ask about him. Manik helped Nandini to sit on the bed, the nurse came in to put the syringes and left. Manik turned to the window with jaw clenching and uneven breathing controlling his anger while Nandini fisted the duvet being scared seeing Manik like that. She was sweating badly while breathing deeply. Manik turned around when his elbow hit the vase kept on the table, Nandini flinched hard and instantly crawled back onto the bed with deep, uneven breathing and shivering badly. Manik was too stunned to speak seeing Nandini like this, he rushed to Nandini with heavy steps and forwarded his hand to touch her face. But Nandini screamed "NO!" and covered her face. By now she was crying badly and hiccupping nonstop, choking on her tears. Manik's heart was crushed seeing her scared of him and even thinking he was about to hit her. He gulped, blinking away his tears he said softly "Nandini...., It's me, Manik! See.... I will not hurt you! Please! Come... Come here. Huh. come here....." Nandini peeked from the duvet and relaxed her body a bit. Manik quickly hugged her tightly and she broke down completely. Manik sat on the bed with Nandini weeping in his lap, swinging her lightly whispering sweet and calming words in her ears. After hours, her sniffing and sobbing died down completely. Manik looked down to see her sleeping cutely. A small smile crept on his face which was soon replaced by a sigh as he had a flashback of the event from hours ago. Manik stared at Nandini and mumbled, "Nandu....., can you please trust me? Just for once. Please.... Please.... It's hurting. It's re... really hurting....." And he broke down into tears hugging her tightly close to him. Later, Manik also fell asleep still hugging Nandini.

At around seven in the morning, Manik woke up with sun rays hitting his face. He blinked his eyes adjusting to the brightness and looked around to see Nandini sleeping keeping her head in his lap. He caressed Nandini's head and pecked her forehead. He carefully got down from the bed not to wake her up and adjusted her head on the pillow. Covering her with the duvet, he went out and was greeted by the man who opened the door the last day. The man was the bodyguard appointed by Manik to keep a check on her. Manik greeted back and asked him to keep an eye on her and went out of the hospital.

He drove back to his home and greeted his parents who were leaving for the airport. "Where have you been kid? My god! Why are you looking so pale? huh? See, your eyes are also puffy and tired. What happened, child?....."  his mother said worriedly. Manik quickly held her hands which were caressing his face and said, "Mom... mom... mom.... Relax! I am all good! Okay! I am totally, absolutely fine! You don't have to worry. Okay now, please go and enjoy your trip. Happy and safe journey, Mom, and Dad!"  Manik hugged them and his mother sweetly pecked his cheek to which he whined playfully like a kid. His parents took their leave and Manik looked back to see his younger brother ( Dhruv Malhotra ) standing there scrunching his nose, giving a cringed look. Dhruv scoffed and playfully rolled his eyes and went back inside followed by Manik. Kabir sat on the sofa with arms crossed in front and a blank face. Manik stood in front of him with hands in his pocket and a seemingly confused look. After staring for about five minutes, he shrugged his shoulders and marched to his room. Dhruv scoffed and said, "So, I really don't have a value..." while laughing hysterically which was soon replaced by a sad look. Manik came back from his room after bathing and went straight up to the kitchen without sparing a glance at the sad kid sitting on the sofa sulking dramatically. He started preparing breakfast while Dhruv kept staring at him. After some time, Dhruv got up, went to the kitchen and stood beside Manik poking his arm. Manik chuckled and turned to him and said, "What is it, bro?" Dhruv laughed hysterically and said, "Woah! You came home after two days... texted me only once in forty-eight hours and now after coming... forget about greetings you didn't even spare me a glance....." Dhruv finished pouting sadly. Manik hugged him instantly, the two hugged tightly for minutes before Manik again got busy with cooking. Dhruv was focusing on him and asked, "Are you sure sister-in-law would like this blatant food?" Manik went into deep thinking but soon froze at his place and looked at Dhruv with a surprised look. "Wh.. What sister-in-law? Huh? I... I don't have a wife. Forget wife, not even a girlfriend !" Manik said while stuttering and avoiding eye contact. Dhruv smirked mischievously bent down trying to look into Manik's eyes which he was avoiding completely. Manik turned followed by Dhruv. The two brothers continued this play when Manik suddenly interrupted, "Yah! Enough man! See, I don't have a girlfriend yet. She is someone I love, bro." Manik said. "Oh..... So this is our loverboy !" Dhruv said playfully teasing him and going to drink water. Manik sighed and said, "Don't tease me, kid! I very well know about you and Alia" Dhruv choked on his water and Manik cracked into laughter. He then served food on a plate and asked Dhruv to eat. Dhruv offered him to have breakfast together but he refused and packed a lunch box. Manik took his car keys and lunch box making his way to the main door. Dhruv was continuously following him everywhere with the plate in one hand, and spoon in the other eating his breakfast. He stopped at the gate and stared at his brother who was going towards his car looking at his phone. "Yah! BRO! ALL THE BEST! I WANT A SISTER-IN-LAW SOON!" Dhruv shouted from back to which Manik turned and scoffed looking at him in disbelief. Dhruv started laughing at his brother and Manik drove away with a smile on his face.

Time Skip:

Manik entered the ward with breakfast to see Nandini peacefully sitting on the bed taking the injection. Her face had a peaceful look yet lost which Manik noticed immediately. He had flashbacks from last night but instantly shook away his thoughts. He greeted the nurse who greeted him on her way out. Once the door closed, Manik put on a cheery smile and approached Nandini, putting the box on the side table he was about to put the foldable table in front of her when she stopped him holding his hand. He looked at her with a questionable look and she gestured towards the sofa near the window still avoiding eye contact. Manik understood and chuckled lightly. He arranged the meal on the table, opened the windows and helped Nandini to settle on the sofa. He served food on the plate and held it in front of Nandini. She was about to hold it when he held a spoonful of food in front of her. She backed off a little and looked at him to which he gestured for her to eat. She bit her lips nervously and took a bite. Manik kept feeding her when she asked him to also eat. They both had their meal. Manik helped Nandini out in the garden for a walk. They sat on the bench to take a break. Nandini was continuously staring at the sky while Manik was staring at her. Nandini knew about it but she didn't say anything. Manik sighed gaining Nandini's attention and asked, "How did you get that burn mark?" Nandini's eyes shot up. She didn't want to complain about Soha because she knew about his anger but she even didn't dare to lie to him. She was in deep thought when Manik crouched in front of her, holding her hand in one and caressing her cheek with the other he again asked softly,  "I know someone did this to you. I want to hear from you. Nandini... you can tell me. Huh?" Nandini's eyes watered, she sniffed and said, "When you were.... ab... absent, So...Soha's friend spilt h... her hot coffee on me." Manik passed an assuring smile and engulfed her in a tight hug. He had mixed emotions, he was angry at Soha yet happy that Nandini finally opened up to him even if it was just this small thing. Manik broke the hug wiped away her tears with the pad of his thumb and said, "Don't cry. You did nothing wrong, okay?" Nandini nodded and Manik sat back laying Nandini's head on his shoulder still holding her hand. After some time, they went back. The doctor informed Manik that Nandini could be discharged by evening as she is fine now. Manik informed her and started collecting her stuff. Nandini was following his movements fondly. She was smiling widely seeing him care about her this much. 

Nandini has decided to trust and love him back the way he does and if anything goes wrong she is ready to protect him with her life but one thing she is still hesitant to share is her story, her misery, her life which has no hope according to her. 

Manik drove Nandini to her apartment. Nandini was silently looking out of the window enjoying the mild breeze hitting her while Manik was occasionally stealing glances at her and was smiling to see her peaceful face when Nandini's phone rang. She looked to see Abhimanyu video-calling her. Nandini declined the video call and voice-called him instead. "Are you back already?" Nandini asked him. "Yes, my little sister. How are you by the way? And sorry, I was not able to contact you...." he asked. "It's alright bro. Don't mind it. Your business is as important. Also, I am all good here. Absolutely Fine."  Manik frowned and pulled over by the side. He bent down in front of Nandini and she looked at him flustered. "Absolutely fine?" he mouthed. Nandini panicked and asked him to keep quiet. She pushed him back lightly but he was not ready to move. After a while, he moved back giggling silently and Nandini continued her talk with Abhimanyu. Soon after, they reached her apartment. Manik put her things and helped her settle on the couch in the living room. He quickly cooked for her and gave her the medicines. Manik offered to pick her up for college tomorrow but she refused. Later, Nandini sent him off and walked into her room, grabbing fresh clothing she went to take a bath. Once she was done, she moved to the mirror for her night routine when her eyes went to her neck scar which was healing. She touched it lightly and then held her wrist which now required a last dressing. Nandini started wondering how her life would have been if Manik was not there. Maybe she would have been dead by now because she definitely would not have been able to take all the trauma from her house and then get bullied in college. Unknowingly, a lone tear escaped her eyes but she was quick enough to rub it away, sighed and smiled widely looking at herself in the mirror and said, "Yes! You deserve love and care! You... can be loved!"

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