Manik PoV
I was working on a presentation for a new project when one thing got struck at my mind 'NANDINI'. Then the random thoughts started
^^^^
'My life will get changed' I felt like this while getting married. But it doesn't happen. I lived the same life as before my marriage. The only thing that changed was the entry of one new member into the family. I and Nandini stayed as strangers. But she got a little close with mom, Mukthi and Tarak in these three months of marriage. She started conversing with others and even taking stands for herself. I smiled when I thought about her savage reply to my bua.
A sudden knock on the door made me come out of my thoughts. My PA Aman came and informed me about the arrival of the client. I put away those thoughts and continued doing my work. When I was packing up my stuff to go home by seven I got a call from dad.
"Heyy dad I am just packing up my stuffs and would-"
He interrupted me and said, "Nandini was met with an accident and was admitted at the hospital."
"WHAT???!!!!" His words terrified me to the core.
"Come along with cabir to XXXX hospital asap." I hurriedly took my car keys and went to Cabir bhai's cabin. I told him about everything and we both left for the hospital rashly.
I drove to the hospital like a mad man. We both reached the hospital within ten minutes and got inside.
We went to the reception and Cabir bhai enquired "Nandini Malhotra?" She replied, "Emergency unit. Go straight and take right."
As I was walking to the emergency unit, I saw my entire family, Nandini's parents and two unfamiliar faces. Mom was crying with her head in her hands. Mukthi was sitting beside her rubbing her back. Ragini aunty was sobbing. Dad was consoling Ram uncle while Tarak stood at the corner looking at his feet. When mom saw me there, she came and hugged me tightly and cried.
"Mom, she will be fine. Please don't cry," I tried consoling her but failed. I guess she created a closer bond with Nandini that's why it's so tough for her to control her emotions.
After twenty minutes the doctor came out and informed, "Due to this car accident, her body is violently shaken resulting in damages and injuries. Some of the parts have been badly injured. Her right hand was fractured and a bone in her left leg has been broken. So we performed surgery to implant internal fixation devices, such as plates to maintain the proper position of her bones during healing. After her cast is removed, she will need rehabilitation exercises or physical therapy to reduce stiffness and restore movement in the injured leg. Other than these, there were some bruises and scratches on her face and hands. She was given general anaesthesia, so she will regain her consciousness after one or two hours. You can meet her after shifting her to a normal ward. Any one of you can come and meet me afterwards for further details about her medication and recovery."
We became relieved after hearing his words. We stayed in the hospital to see Nandini. It was ten at night, so mom asked Mukthi, Tarak and navya bhabhi to leave for home as Kiara was alone there.
After 30 minutes a nurse came and informed, "The patient regained consciousness. You can see her without disturbing."
We all entered and saw her hand and leg were put on a cast and her face had some scratches. She was in the bed with a blank face. Ragini aunty immediately hugged Nandini and cried, "are you fine, bachaa? Why are always scaring us like this? Please be careful. I can't see you suffering like this. Your Papa was-"
Nandini pushed her away and started screaming, "Leave me. Go outside. I don't need you. Everyone leave me alone. I want nobody to worry about me."
Then mom tried to console her, "Nandini calm down. You are stressing yourself." Then Nandini pushed away all the things near her and cried out, "everyone get out and leave me alone."
Then the nurse told us to go out. We all went out. Ragini aunty started crying. Through the glass door, I saw Nandini crying inside the room. Several questions bombarded in my mind to which I had no answers.
Then after fifteen minutes, a person came and asked about Nandini. His face was familiar to me but I couldn't recognise him immediately. "Where is she?" asked the person to Ram uncle. Ram uncle just pointed his hands at Nandini's room. Without any delay, he went inside.
When he got inside he called, "NANDU?"
Then Nandini shouted "Bhai!!" then I realised he was Abhimanyu murthy, Ram uncle's son. Nandini encircled her hands around him and cried her heart out, "bhai ask everyone to leave me alone. I don't want them to be here. He is also here. Why did he come back?"
"Heyy...shhh....your bhai is here. No one is here. I have got you." Abhimanyu cooed and stroked her hair. After few minutes, He pulled her away and wiped her tears. He helped her to lay down on the bed and asked her to take a rest. She gripped his hands tightly and uttered in a shaky voice, "Please don't leave me alone."
He whispered caressing her head, "Close your eyes and sleep. I am here only. I am not going anywhere leaving you alone." I was amazed to see them. Mom, dad and bhai held the same expressions as mine. Ragini aunty was crying, hugging ram uncle who was holding her. I saw two unfamiliar faces, a girl and a man. The girl was crying while the boy had a restless face.
After some time Abhimanyu came outside and asked that unfamiliar girl to sit near Nandini for some time. He went near his parents and took them to a private area.
After few minutes, he came alone and asked that unfamiliar man to leave the hospital asap. Then he came near me and said, " you're manik right?" I nodded. He continued, "I am Abhimanyu, Nandini's brother. Can she stay at our home till she recovers? Just now I went to meet the doctor. He said she may suffer a lot emotionally. Traumatic memories from the accident can trigger her long-term mental and emotional health conditions and she may require more than just a few visits to the doctor. I want to take care of her, so can I take her to our home?" I stood there stunned because I didn't expect him to ask me that. I just saw my mom for answers, she nodded her head.
I replied to him, "she can stay at your house till she recovers." He smiled and went to talk with my parents. I asked mom and dad to leave for home. Mom refused that but I assured her I will call her if there is an emergency. I and Cabir bhai stayed at the hospital.
By 4 in the morning, we heard a scream from Nandini's room. When we both got inside, we saw Nandini crying in Abhimanyu's arms. After few minutes he calmed her and she slept. We three went outside and sat in the waiting area.
Cabir bhai asked, "What happened to her, Abhi?"
"she had a nightmare. Already the doctor told she may have a mental breakdown and it started." worriedly replied Abhimanyu.
For a long time, I wanted to ask a question to Abhimanyu. After taking courage I asked, "Abhimanyu, Where were you all these days? I didn't saw you even at the wedding. Today also you came late. I asked it out of curiosity and not in a means to hurt you."
he sadly smiled at my question and answered, "Yeah I understand you, Manik. You can call me Abhi. I am working in Dubai. I thought it was Mishka's marriage and so decided not to attend it. But never in my dreams, I thought it would change into my nandu's marriage. I couldn't come here as I had some important works. Today I came late because my flight got delayed." I nodded.
Being clueless cabir bhai asked, "Abhi, why are you working in Dubai? You have your own company here in Mumbai right."
"No bhai, I work in murthy enterprise only in the Dubai branch but as a normal employee. Because papa wanted me to reach success in my hard work." replied Abhi. we chatted for some more time.
In the morning, a nurse came and informed Abhi that the doctor was calling him to talk about Nandini's health. Suddenly a thought came into my mind and I asked Abhi, "Can I come with you to meet the doctor?" I don't know why I asked it but I wanted to be there. He nodded hesitantly. We both went to meet the doctor.
The doctor greeted us and said, "I come straight to the point. Some injuries are not immediately apparent after an accident, but regardless of when an injury first appears, it can have a long-term effect. One of the areas in which car accident injuries typically are long-lasting is those related to psychological or emotional trauma. I think Nandini may take a long time to recover from this incident. From her actions, I could conclude that she was in depression even before this accident. So she may go deep into depression because of this accident. To get her better, you all need to take an active role in her treatment. She will feel worst at times. You have to motivate her. She might have doubts that treatment will help. But support her. Depression can make her feel helpless. Never leave her alone. She would face difficulties for some days. After her cast or splint is removed, she will need rehabilitation exercises. That would be difficult for her. So stand by her side at those times. I have prescribed some medicines. Ask her to take it regularly. If she finds it really hard, then take her to a psychiatrist. Bring her to the hospital for regular checkups." we both nodded.
Abhi asked, "Doctor she had a nightmare in the middle of the night. Is it normal?"
"yeah it may continue for few days and it's quite normal for people to have nightmares after incidents like this. But if she follows the treatment and medicines regularly. It will stop eventually."
"Doctor, can we take her to home? She found it difficult to stay here." asked Abhi
"No, she must stay here at least for a week. She must be kept under observation for some days. She can discharge after a week." Then he informed us about the rehabilitation exercises and then we both went out.
When we came out, I saw my mom and dad sitting outside Nandini's room. By seeing us, mom came and asked about Nandini's health. Abhi informed mom about her condition and the discharge process. Mom suggested us to take a rest for some time. So I went home.
When I reached home, Mukthi and Tarak came hurriedly and started asking questions, "Bhai, is bhabhi fine now? When will she come back home from the hospital? Why you came back from the hospital? Mom said Yesterday bhabhi didn't allow anyone inside her room, why? Why you didn't allow us to stay there? Can we meet her today?"
"okay okay stop your questions. She is fine now. She was a little stressed yesterday so she didn't allow anyone inside. But everything is fine now. Mom is staying at the hospital so I came to take rest for some time. You can meet her after she recovers."
Tarak whimpered "She is fine now. Then why can't we meet her now?"
"Tarak understand the situation. Stop behaving like a kid. She needs some time to recover. You can meet her after two or three days. I am exhausted so I am leaving for my room." I left for my room.
After refreshing up I laid down on my bed for a short nap. Whenever I closed my eyes, Nandini's tear-streaked face came into my vision. And hell lot of questions were running in my mind. Somewhere in my mind I felt like I was also a reason for her this condition. So after a lot of bickering in my mind I decided to visit her in the hospital.
____________________________
Thanks you very much Fireflies_shines for this amazing and wonderful cover ❤️❤️✨I loved it.🤗❤️
Thank you, you're amazing...💫
Thank you for reading ❤️✨
Please vote, share and comment.
Author's note*
Hey guys, Sorry for the late update. My semester exams are ongoing now. So it is difficult to give fast updates. But I will try my best to give faster updates.
And My book has reached 3.5k+ reads and 500+ votes😍. Thanks to each one of you for the wonderful support guys.❤️🤗 Please encourage me with your votes and comments.