"What?!" Sid stood up confused and held her elbow to turn her around, "Nannii, tum kya keh rahi ho? Manik ko teri zaroorath hai, aur tum jaa ne ki baat kyu kar rahi ho?"
"Bhaayi, mujhe vaaps jaana hai, main yeh nahi kar sakti Bhaayi,
... maine ek baar apna Manik ko kho diya tha, ab phir se.. phir se khona nahi chahti.. aur aapne suna na Doctor ne kya kaha... Main koyi risk nahi lena chahti .. "Par Nanni..!!?"Sid asked in concern
"Bhaayii... main Manik se bahut pyaar karti aur hamare beech pyaar ke alaawa trust bhi hai. Aur yeh saari emotions ithna bhi selfish nahi hai, mera pyaar ithna selfish nahi hai ki paane ki chakkar mein Manik ko apni zindagi chodna pade.... Dur se hi sahi mujhe ithna toh tasalli rahegi na ki mera Manik zinda hai aur khush hai.... mujhe aur kya chahiye... "
"Khush!?? Kya tumhe vaakayi mein lagta hai ki Manik khush hoga!? Nahi Nanni... mujhe toh nahi lagta..." Sid said in a slight angry tone
"Kyun nahi rahega,..jo Manik ke paas nahi tha, voh aaj Anurag ke paas hai, ek loving family. Manik bahut chahte the ek loving mother and a caring Dad ko. Aur Ayyappa ne usse dusra mauka diya hai apni life jeene ka, toh voh main kyun kharaab karu?!"
"Aur pyaar!? Uska kya?..." Sid asked as he knew she won't be able to answer this.
"Kya hua Nanni? Jawaab nahi de paa rahi ho?, jawab mein batati hu, tu jitni bhi sacrifice karle par Manik ko Prerna ke saath dekh kar tumhe bura toh lag raha hai.." Sid said noticing a quiet and head down Nandini.
Sid then walked towards her and held her both shoulders,
"Dekh Nannii, tu ne abhi kaha na ki teri Ayyappa ne Manik ko dusra mauka diya, toh phir yahi baat tu khud ko kyun nahi bol deti. Agar Manik ko dusra mauka diya hai toh vahi mauka tumhe bhi toh mili hai. Varna tu khud soch, Manglore se Kolkata tak tumhe tumhari Ayyappa ne lekar aaya hai, aur Manik se milwaaya. Kyun?! Kyun ki voh bhi chahta hai"
"Par Bhaayi, Doctor!!" She asked with a fear of concern
"Doctor... unhone kya kaha tha, yahi na ki hume zorr mat dalna hai, so hum kaha zorr dal ne vaala hai. Jaise hi hum ne plan kiya tha tum vaisi hi kal office join karo and Manik ko Anurag maan kar milo, that too professionally, phir dheere dheere dosti badaao, aur ek na ek din usse sab kuch yaad aa hi jaayega, tu dekh na...".
"Sidharth, discharge mil gaya?!" Prerna came outside the room and asked Sid. Prerna could only see Nandini's back. Nandini suddenly wiped off her tears. Sidharth whispered to Nandini, "Nanni, tu jaa, aur gaadi mein wait kar" She nodded and went from there without turning around.
"Huh.. haa yeah, Man..hm Anurag ready hai?"
"Haa, {Anurag also came there and saw Sid}, Sidharth right?"
"Yea," they shake hands, "You feeling better?!"
"Yaha se ghar jaana hai, phir apne aap better ho jaayega"
"Yeah sure, chalo main help karta hu" Sid helped Anurag "Nandu kaha hai?!" Prerna asked, and Anurag looked around. "Voh... car mein humaari wait kar rahi hai". Then they went towards the car.
....
Nandini was sitting at the back seat and she was actually hiding from Anurag. Anurag seated on the front with Sid and Prerna with Nandini at the back seat. Anurag once tried to look back, but Nandini hid efficiently.
....
The car entered the Basu premises and came to a halt on the front porch.
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Sidharth's mind wandered throughout the area and he couldn't digest the fact that he arrived at his home finally. But he doesn't want to step out, he doesn't want to face his parents, especially his Maa. Then, he won't be able to.....!! He knew he can't do this.... he knew, this is not the right time.
