Strings Attached (ON HOLD)

Truth Wins

Manik reached his place and without disturbing Dhurv , quietly went into bed but sleep was nowhere around him. He kept on thinking about what happened back in the cabin. Every time he closed his eyes; her face flashed in front.

Same was also happening with Nandini. Deprived of her sleep she was standing in her balcony recalling those moments and smiling on her own talks and actions which she did with him. But soon the realisation hit her and she was back in reality. Shoving away all her thoughts; she came to her bed and soon was asleep.

3 days after this incident; in the evening, Manik got a call from Vaibhav saying that he was been called tomorrow by the seniors.

"What the hell yaar..? 15 days are not yet completed. How can they call you tomorrow?" Cabir said in anger.

"And where is that Nandini..? Kaha tha na usne ki she'll help, now what? He continued.

"Cabir ..! Stop it yaar..!! Don't blame her." Manik who was already tensed, sitting on the dining table and resting his head on his hand; said in a low tone.

"Will you stop defending her..? Itne din ho Gaye and she's not even said even a single thing about this matter either to you or me. And to top it all; she's on leave for one week. And you are sitting here and defending her..?" He continued in anger.

Manik was already tensed and Cabir's talk was making it more messed up.

"Shut up Cabir , just shut up.. Ye Meri problem hai , mera mess hai and I should be responsible to get it clear. Usne help offer ki thi Iska matlab ye nahi ki she is bounded for that. So just stop it." Manik shouted in anger on Cabir and made his way towards his room, banging the door behind.

The next day he was in office after the lunch hour and still there was no sign of Nandini. Cabir tried to contact her but she had switched off her phone. Manik and Cabir were clueless about what's gonna come next. When asked about the proof; Manik was silent. 

Vaibhav felt helpless seeing his best team member like this. Manik had no hopes left. All of them discussed the matter and asked Vaibhav to call Nandini ; but she was unreachable. Seeing nothing coming in right way; seniors decided to stick on to their decision and bard his IGP. 

But before they could finally make it official; the door of conference room where the meeting was going on ; flung open and there stood Nandini ; catching up her breaths. She was hardly being able to speak up. Seeing her Manik rushed towards her but before he could reach her she , feeling dizzy , collapsed , but before she could touch the ground Manik held her but as she lost the control , her whole body weight was on him and he sat on his knees holding her tight. He was all horrified seeing her in that condition and it was visible from his face. 

She was feeling weak and losing her conscience but he patted on her cheek; "Nandini..!!" , he called her not to let her close her eyes. All the other people stood in shock as to what happened and Vaibhav rushed to take water. 

"Manik..! Proof..!" She could barely manage to say forwarding a CD towards him. Mean time Vaibhav came with water and Manik made her drink it. Manik carefully made her stand while Vaibhav took the CD. Manik was at that moment was least bothered about the proof. All he could see was Nandini again in the same state in which he saw her on the party night. Making her sit on the chair , he knelt down on front of her and made her drink more water.

"Nandini ... You ok..??" He held her hand tight in his. She nodded her head a bit and looked at him. She could clearly see the concern on his face. Both were looking into each others eyes and were lost in them. Their moment was broken when she had a cough and Manik again made her drink water. At that moment she realized her hand was tightly held by him.