Hey. Surprise Surprise.
I am looking at you wide eyed at this point because you sticked to this book even when I went all mia. So thankyou so much guys. ✨
Always greatfull for all the love.
Important - Since this chapter was getting too long, I had to divide it into two. So yes, we have Chapter 24th as the last chapter.
Trigger Warning - Mentions of accident. Nothing graphical but okay, please be careful when you read.
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Two Months Later.
Niyonika: Raj, do you both have to go today?
Raj sighed internally at the disappointment sitting on his wife's face. He hated saying no to her and he absolutely hated moments like this - when he had to prioritise work her. He couldn't help it for the work was important. Not more than her, but at the end of the day it was the work because of which they were living the best life out there.
While Manik chuckled, his gaze fixed on his arm as he tried to button up his undone sleeve. Nandini sat on the couch infront of him with an adorable pout. It was sunday and he had promised her the entire day, watching movies and cuddling with her on their bed but now, here he was getting ready for work along with his father.
An important client showed up all of the sudden requesting to prepone the meeting that was scheduled next week and it wouldn't have looked nice to deny them.
Raj: Niyo, you know I wouldn't have if it was not necessary. And Manik knows the project better than me and he is the one charge of it, so his presence is needed there.
Niyonika: Ofcourse.
She muttered, salty about this sudden work and Raj couldn't help but bend down to peck her cheek - leaving her a blushing mess as Cabir and Mukti hooted from behind.
Manik was too busy staring at Nandini who was looking at him with her big sparkling doe shaped eyes. She looked so close to crying that he almost wanted to ditch the meeting. Only if he could.
Manik: I will come soon, baba. Stop sulking.
He walked to her, handing her the tie and she took it grumpily.
Nandini: Don't get late.
She warned. Manik nodded his head with a small laugh seeing her trying so hard to look all tough and angry but all in all, she only looked like an adorable mess.
Manik: Okay, Mam. As you say.
He bowed down dramatically and stood up when his tie was done. He looked at his father who turned to him at the same moment.
Raj: Let's go?
Manik bobbed his head, turning to glance at Nandini before looking at his mother.
Manik: Maa, take care of her. Call me if anything urgent and make sure she doesn't step out of the house. It is raining and she will get sick.
Nandini: Manik!
She whined, not expecting him to give instructions to Niyonika this way. She was not a child. It was more embarrassing when Niyonika replied in positive.
Manik turned to her with stern eyes which only soften seeing the look on her face. He didn't even want to leave her at this crucial point.
Her delivery was due any date, any time.
Manik: Take care of yourself. I will try to be back as soon as possible.
Nandini: Promise?
Manik: Promise, baby.
He bend down to kiss her head. She blushed red, hearing others laugh at her red face including Manik.
Since Raj was only needed there to sign a document, he left early while Manik was stuck between the clients.
They really wouldn't stop asking questions even when he had explained them the same point thrice. He didn't know if it was his desperation to go home speaking or he was genuinely irritated. The former seems to be the case but then, who cared?
He only wanted to reach home.
Fourty five minutes later, Manik finally wrapped up the meeting. He shook hands with the clients and dropped them near the elevator before turning to Aman.
Manik: I will leave too, Aman. Make sure you complete all the work before leaving. Email me the reports by evening.
Aman: Sure, Sir.
Manik turned around to go with a nod when Aman called him from behind.
Aman: Sir, why don't you wait for the rain to settle outside? The weather doesn't seem good.
Manik fell silent, thinking about it. However, the moment his phone beeped and he received a text from Nandini, he was already reconsidering his decision.
"When are you coming back?"
He chuckled and typed back.
"Coming in half an hour, Mam."
Manik: No, I will go. Nandini is waiting. Doctor said her delivery could be due any time now. I have to be there.
Aman nodded, agreeing and walked inside while Manik too walked out of the building while checking Nandini's message simultaneously.
She sent him the laughing emojis, kissing emojis and a big beating heart. Manik laughed out loud and sent her the same heart before sitting in his car and driving home.
The rain was heavy and the roads were packed with loud vehicles. Manik was only fifteen minutes away from home. He chuckled, remembering the conversation with Nandini from before. His mobile beeped indicating a message and Manik looked down for a second, dismissing when he saw it was some stupid offer from a company.
He looked at the road again and all of the sudden, a ball came rolling from the side and settled in the middle of the road out of nowhere. But it wasn't what worried him.
What worried him was the toddler who was running after the ball in the middle of the road, amidst the heavy traffic.
Shit. Panick filled him in seconds. The rain was already making it difficult to drive and the little one was too slow to get aside. He looked at the side, in case if anyone was coming to help the boy but all he saw was a woman in her early thirties trying to cross the road.
Manik eyes widened in realisation. He pressed the breaks but the car didn't stop. The breaks won't work. He looked at the road mortified and almost jumped on his seat, pressing the horn, or rolling down the windows - shouting, screaming and even yelling out loud at the people to get the baby aside and that his breaks has failed but nobody heard him due to the heavy traffic. The only sound that could be heard was of the vehicles moving, horns and the rain.
There was a very little time. The child wouldn't survive the aftermath of the accident that would happen. No, Manik couldn't let it happen.
He was going to be a father in a matter of days too, how could he let someone else's child die like this?
And in that very one moment, Manik knew he wouldn't let anything happen to this child. He might not be able to save his own, but he can atleast save someone else's.
So what if it was at the cost of his own life? Nandini would understand, right?
A moment, that was all it took Manik to roll the steering wheel to the side where a huge truck was proceeding at high speed.
He looked at with fright in his eyes, for he had not noticed it before.
It all happened within seconds and before Manik knew, there was a loud crash - the windshield broke and everything swirled infront of his eyes. His body jerked, hands losing on the steering wheel and he felt as if his body was falling down the clif. His head banged on the steering and he tasted iron on his tongue before pain hit him from all the sides.
Everything went silent for a few moments before chaos erupted on the road.
Manik's head throbbed. He was in senses but not completely. There was commotion all around. People were shouting, why were they? He groaned in extreme pain and heard someone shout more loud for help.
God, couldn't they shut up!
It was hurting him. Everything hurt and everywhere. He couldn't think of anything else than pain in those few minutes.
He wanted to shout at them to speak slow but he had no strength. His right leg was injured badly, it was probably twisted in the wrong way and broken. He could feel blood gushing out of his head too. He couldn't feel his hands either. Beside, the mirror had cut through his chest, on the left side. Blood flowed like water, just thick and dirty red in color.
His body was probably fucked up with so many injuries.
How was he going to survive this accident?
Was this the end?
Life really flashed through his eyes.
He had woken up happy in the morning, beside Nandini as always. He had kissed her forehead and she smiled at him. She looked like a pretty angel always. He had delicious breakfast cooked by his mother. She even fed him with her own hand today when he whined on not getting her attention. But Manik didn't even tell her how tasty the food was.
They played carrom. His father was explaining him a new strategy in business. Navya and he teased Cabir to death. Mukti was whining about a dress she wanted him to buy for her. He promised her he will get her that dress. But he still hadn't.
His parents, his siblings, his wife.
His wife. Nandini.
Manik didn't even tell her how much he loved her today.
Ayiyappa! She was pregnant. She was going to give birth to their child and maybe it was today. He was supposed to be with her. He had to be there for her but this was not how he wanted it to be.
Cold hands clasped his body and moved it out from the car for he could no longer support his own. Manik hated every second of it.
"Pulse is too slow, we need to get him to the hospital fast."
He heard someone shout. The truck driver couldn't survive. Then how was he alive? Why was he still alive? Just why?
Or was it her Ayiyappa being lenient on him by giving him time so he could reach hospital before her and wait for her?
No. She shouldn't even know about his condition.
Manik: D-D- Don't c-call -
He stuttered but was not sure if someone heard him. They were driving him to the hospital. Someone had wrapped something around his forehead and a hand was checking his pulse time to time.
Manik groaned in pain. He took a harsh breathe and someone patted his forehead to calm him down.
"He is bleeding so much. He won't survive, drive fast!"
Nandini's face flashed infront of him again. He groaned. His mind forced flashes after flashes from the past infront of his head. It was a torture, being forced to relieve those. Every memory - a beautiful moment he had spent with her and those he knew he will never be able to spend again.
Manik wanted to cry out loud at the signs Ayiyappa was throwing his way.
He didn't know what had he done to deserve this. What had they done to meet this fate.
He didn't know.
He didn't care either in that moment because his priority was saving that child. He wondered if the child was okay. Probably, he was and Manik was glad.
However, his only regret was his wife, Nandini who was waiting for him at home. She might be worried.
She would be all alone during the most crucial point of their life but Manik was helpless. For the first time in his life, he couldn't reach her. Like in that nightmare where he couldn't see her. It only broke his heart more.
Restless, Manik tried to move only to be pushed back. He struggled and the person tried to calm him down. He took another harsh breathe before darkness took over him completely and his body went limp in the stranger's arms
Nandini was restless. Something was not right and she could feel it. Her heart was not at peace. Where was Manik even? It was past fifty minutes and he was supposed to be here atleast fifteen minutes back.
She sighed and tried to call him again but the phone was switched off. Aman had told her Manik had left on time. There might be traffic but then, it was getting too late now.
Nandini: Maa, I don't feel good.
Niyonika who was sitting beisde her watching television looked at her in worry.
Niyonika: What happened bacha?
Nandini: Maa- Manik? Where is he? He should have reached by now. He told me he was coming home.
Niyonika sighed, ignoring the worry that had crept inside her too. Manik might be stuck in traffic.
Niyonika: He might be stuck in traffic bacha. Don't worry.
Nandini: No Maa, if he was stuck in traffic, he would have picked up my call but it is coming switched off. His mobile was charged before he left. He- he is not okay, Maa.
Nandini sounded serious and a lot in worry. Niyonika couldn't help but feel the same too. Somewhere, she knew her son isn't a careless person. He makes sure to inform in case of emergency.
She was just thinking weather to inform Raj when all of the sudden Nandini let out a whimper. She gripped the couch, feeling little Ahaan in her womb move. It hurt her insides, so bad.
Niyonika stood up, alert and within seconds came beside her. By the time she reached her, Nandini was shouting in pain clutching her stomach.
Nandini: Maa!
Nandini gasped, her hold on the couch and both on her stomach tightening with each passing second as waves after waves of intense pain hit her.
Hearing her scream in pain, all the family members came rushing in the hall. Cabir was told to take out the car while Raj, Mukti and Navya came running to Nandini.
Navya: Is it the time?
Niyonika: I guess, but her water didn't broke. God, Call Manik.
Mukti: I will call bhai.
Niyonika nodded as Mukti took her mobile and dialed Manik's number. It came switched off and she tried again only to groan in disappointment. Panicked, she dialed Aman's number.
While on the other hand, Navya took it on her to call the Murty family and asked them to reach hospital.
Cabir took out the car and they rushed Nandini to the hospital while still trying to approach Manik who was nowhere to be found. Nandini won't stop asking for Manik and they didn't know how to reach him.
Probably, it was time for the little Ahaan to come in this world.
Just, with or without his parents..
To Be Continued.
Opps. I am just turning cruel with every new chapter.. I know.
Will be posting the last part very soon - please stay tuned. We are at the climax and I hope it is entertaining enough - even if it is heartbreaking.
Thankyou✨❤️