At 3 am, Manik woke up. He drank some water and was about to sleep back when he noticed Nandini is awake. Manik went to Nandini, pulled a chair and sat near her.

Nandini - I want some water.

Manik - Just a minute. (Manik poured some water in glass for Nandini then helped Nandini to get up and sit) Here. (he helped her to drink water)

Manik put glass on table, came back and sat beside her.

Manik - Why are you still sitting? Go to sleep, now.

Nandini - NO.

Manik - Fine (nodded his head and sighed)

They both got quite.

After about 5 minutes.....

Manik - (held Nandini's hand in his hands) Say, were you afraid?

Nandini didn't reply and kept on staring him innocently. No one spoke for minutes.

Manik - Fine, let's not talk about this but Nandini, see, its already too late. You better sleep now.

They both were just looking at each other when Nandini suddenly hugged Manik tightly, Manik held her and started patting her. Nandini started crying without making sound, Manik realised but didn't spoke up.

Nandini - (she kept hugging him, weeping and speaking) I..I.. was too afraid, Manik. It was like that...that.. death was just a little far from me, the death was there asking me... asking me to come with it. You know, I had a flashback of my life till now. I was afraid, I..l...would never be able to see you again. (tears rolled down from Manik's eyes) I was...I was.. afraid of loosing you... The fear I faced today, I have never been through one such, before. Manik, I was about to die.....

Manik - Shsh.(he hugged her more tightly, wiping his tears to not let Nandini see him like that) Silly girl. Don't be afraid of loosing me. I am here, Always With You! (kissed her head and hugged tightly)

Nandini started to get stable. She was quite fine now.

Manik made her lie down. He held her hand with one and kept running his fingers through her hair with other. Nandini was quite relaxed now.

Around 4 am, Nandini fell asleep.

At 8 am, Kabir and their friends reached there. Manik and Nandini were still asleep. Nandini was in her bed while Manik was sitting on a chair beside her with his head on bed. No one woke them up instead just settled themselves in sofa and chair. After about 15 minutes, Manik woke with a jerk. He saw sunlight coming from window at Nandini's face. He got up and stood on other side blocking the sunlight when he noticed others there. Nandini woke up too. Manik was looking tired. His face was quite swollen.

Kabir - Manik, didn't you slept well? You are looking a lot tired.

Nandini - (after looking at Manik) Kabir, take Manik to dorm, he needs to sleep now.... He slept on chair... holding my hand. His arm and back muscles must be sore. Take him!

Manik - I am all fine, Nandini. I don't need to go to dorm.

Nandini and Kabir - Then, why's your face swollen?

Nandini - Manik.., please go and rest now. I am fine here.

Navya - Right(while getting up) Manik, you go and rest. I will stay here with Nandini today.

Kabir - I am also here. Others are going to campus. You go with them. I will get my car by evening.

Manik - But Nandini....

Nandini - (frustrated) What's there to worry about me? huh? Firstly, I am not a small kid. Secondly, There are doctors, nurses, Navya and Kabir so, Keep quite and go and rest(ordered him)

Manik - Yes mam.(with salute)

Alia, Abhimanyu, Mukti, Dhruv - We are leaving too. Take care.

Manik - (kissed Nandini's forehead) Bye, Take care.

Manik, Alia, Dhruv, Abhimanyu, Mukti left for college. Manik was sleepy all way. They first parked the car, then walked back to their respective dormitories.

Manik went to sleep as soon as he entered room while Dhruv and Abhimanyu got ready.

Dhruv - See, he was this much tired but was holding back at hospital for Nandini.

Abhimanyu - That's love and care, Mr. Dhruv. (they both were smiling) Let's go.

Alia, Dhruv, Mukti and Abhimanyu went to their class. There, they got their exam date sheet for final exams of year two. After the college, they planned to go see Nandini. Dhruv and Abhimanyu went to their dorm when they saw Manik locking the door.

Abhimanyu - Where are you going, Manik?

Manik - Hospital.

Dhruv - Great. We were also planning to go there. Come, let's go.

It was around 2 pm. They all went to the hospital. Manish and Raj were there. Kabir, Navya and Nandini were having lunch while Manish and Raj went to see Dr. Batra.

Kabir asked them to sit and eat when they refused saying they are full. Manik went to Nandini, pulled a chair and sat beside her.

Manik - Say, how are you feeling now?

Nandini - (thumbs up) Great as usual.

Manik -Good. (they both were smiling)

Navya - I have a bad news for you Nandini.

Nandini - What? (looking at Navya with a tensed look)

Navya - We are having our final exams after 3 weeks.

Nandini - (scoffs) I thought there's something serious!!

Navya - What could be more serious than this?!

Kabir - Fine, fine. We will discuss about exams afterwards. okay!

By 6 pm, Manish, Raj, Alia, Dhruv, Mukti, Abhimanyu left. Kabir and Navya planned to leave by 8 pm.

Manik and Kabir got busy in their business calls, Nandini was asleep and Navya was busy on phone.

Nandini started sweating suddenly. She was also having difficulty in breathing, Navya noticed and asked Manik and Kabir to see her while she left to call doctor. Dr. Batra came and checked Nandini. He asked nurse to bring an injection and injected it in drip chamber. Nandini was also injected with other one. She started to become stable. Nandini was having a high fever so Dr. Batra asked her to sleep and take rest as much as possible and asked everyone to not give her anything to eat as he himself will take care of her diet now. Manik went with Dr. Batra while others stayed there with Nandini.

Dr. Batra - Manik, I told Manish that Nandini could be discharged within three days, but seeing her situation now. I think she should stay here for atleast a week.

Manik - No problem, Uncle. But what happened to her just now?

Dr. Batra - Don't worry. It was nothing serious. It happens. But just take care, now you guys will not bring anything for her to eat. I will examine her for a week, if everything will be fine. She could be discharged.

Manik - Thank you, Uncle.

Manik left and went to ward.

He told Kabir and Navya to not worry as it was nothing serious and asked them to go back now.

Kabir and Navya left and Manik went to sleep by 11 pm after completing his plan for mobile game when Nandini already fell asleep.

It ends here.

Hope you will like this one too.

Enjoy reading.

your writer,

JASS