Four days passed. I am still in the nursing home where Carlos was for the first day. He is lucky as his injury was not that severe. His leg was fortunately not broken rather was just swollen for the hit. Sánchez family is very rich and well known, so, I am getting VIP care in this place. Nandini comes every day to consult with the doctors. However, she hardly talks with me. I know she feels my inquisitive and eager eyes on her every moment when she remains in the cabin and continuously talks with the doctors about my recovery and health but her eyes never touch mine. I don't know if she is angry with me or fed up and is just doing her responsibilities. Aryamaan and Soha came twice to meet me and Maan was with them. I know it was not Nandini's wish. She must have put her gun down in front of her stubborn son. Like father like son. I smirk fixing my eyes on Nandini who is now talking to the nurse. Her gesture of hands indicates that she disagrees with something. Suddenly a mischief idea runs through my mind. I make a painful sound so that, both of them present at the threshold can hear.

"Ahhhh....uffff...oh God..."

It immediately works. Both flip their attention to me. However, Nandini's eyes have some extra fear. I pat my back in my mind.

"What happened, Mr Malhotra? Is it paining somewhere?"

The nurse asks in a professional tone while walks towards me. I glance at the other frame behind her nurse uniform. She is also following her with hesitant steps.

"My back...it's..it's paining...I can't breathe..."

I pretend while panting. Here I would like to tell, when I was brought to this place, I had two fractured ribs with a dangerous head injury and fare enough blood loss. I was unconscious for an entire day. I got all this information from Soha and Aryamaan. One more thing is bothering me since I met Aryamaan. Is he only Nandini's friend? A good friend or more than that? He sometimes addresses her witch. Well, it suits her personality...ha...ha. She and her devilish temper. But is it so simple? Is he so much close to Nandini that he can take the liberty to call her with this weird name? My reverie breaks with the nurse's voice.

"Okay, Mr Malhotra. Let me check..."

She nears me to support my back, so, that I can sit. With a bit of difficulty, I lift my upper body and sit stretching my legs forward. The nurse lifts the hem of my cloth to check my back. I purposely grimace to show my pain. Nandini is standing nearby plastering an annoyance on her face. I know this annoyance is not because of my discomfort rather my proximity to the young nurse.

"Mr Malhotra, I can't see anything wrong with the bandage. Maybe something inside it. I have to take off the cloth completely. So that I can examine properly."

The nurse suggests what I exactly wanted. I cock my head in approval and slowly lift my hands above my head like an obedient kid. In between, I steal a glance of Nandini. The frown between her brows has deepened more. The nurse carefully peels of my patient uniform. There is a cross bandage tied around my upper chest. She comes close and tries to peep inside the gauze. Her head nears my chin. Suddenly, Nandini rests her palm on the nurse's shoulder and mouths in an authoritative tone,

"Let me see. I think he needs some special care. Can you please get me some water? The jug is empty. In between, I try to figure out the cause of his discomfort."

The nurse stands straight and looks at the jug. Embarrassment is prominent in her eyes.

"I am so sorry. Please take care of him, Mrs Malhotra. I am just coming."

Both I and Nandini look at her dispersing frame with wide-open eyes. What did she just say? Mrs Malhotra! Really? My stomach churns with laughter and Nandini's expression is worthwatching....ha...ha. She faces me and asks with a flared nose,

"What was that? What did you tell her?"

She shoots her hostile attitude. I reply with a puppy face,

"I..I don't know. There was a sharp pang in my back. That's why...."

She cuts my words belligerently,

"I am not talking about your pang. I know what was that. Your drama to flirt with the nurse."

She hisses out and my heart dances Bhangra. (A north Indian dance form) She continues,

"I am talking about what she addressed me. Did you introduce me as your wife?"

Vexation is clear in her tone. Now, my amusement vanishes for a moment. She seems really angry. I wobble in denial and utter,

"No....on God. I told her that you are my son's mother."

Her doe eyes almost come out from their sockets.

"WHAT? How...how dare you? You just said that? I told you that I have no relationship with you. Still, you...."

She yells and fists my hair to shake my head with full force. Ahhhh...it's hurting. There are stitches in the back of my head. But this lioness somehow forgot. I grab her wrist and yank her to my chest. Our eyes meet intimately. I whisper with lots of emotion,

"If you don't have any relationship with me then why did you feel jealous to see the nurse being close to me? If you have nothing to do with me then why do you regularly come over here to see me? If you don't consider me anyone in your life then what is this anger and hatred for? Because as far I know, we hate those whom we once used to love. If there is no love then there won't be any hatred either. Now, tell me what am I to you?"

Her eyes flicker with an unknown emotion as someone has caught her red-handed. She parts her lips to say something when a voice breaks our trance,

"Hi...How are you Manik? Nandini, Arya has come. He is waiting in the reception. Do meet him. He has something important to say. Boyfriend is also with him. Go...he is going crazy."

Soha enters the cabin. Nandini immediately frees her hand from my grip and stands straight. Soha perhaps saw our intimate position. However, it doesn't show in her expression. Is that mean she knows about us? Doubt clouds my mind. Nandini glances at me and smiles back at Soha. Without saying anything she walks past her and exits the room. Soha saunters at my bed. I observe her face suddenly becomes stone hard. To divert her attention, I greet her with light tone,

"Hello, Soha. I am a bit better. Thank you so much. By the way, before leaving don't forget to bring Maan here. It's been 18 hours I met my little Champ."

Soha sits on the side stool and gives a formal smile.

"Yeah, I can see how boyfriend has become close to you. He even forgot his buddy. You know magic. But Manik; don't do this. I am requesting you."

Suddenly her tone turns to assertive. My brows furrow with confusion. I grab the shirt and put it on.

"I didn't get you? What have I done?"

I ask with sheer bafflement. She fixes her penetrating eyes on mine and replies in a grave voice,

"Arya loves Nandini. He never says but I know. Nandini is the only girl who can take care of my brother, as a friend, as a life partner. Manik, I have never told these things to anyone. Even Nandini doesn't know. Arya has a painful past. His childhood love, Isabella died in an accident. After that, Arya became mentally ill for some years. We didn't have a very pleasant childhood either. Our parents got divorced at our tender age. Our Mom brought us up all alone. However, we lost her too in our teenage. Isabella was the only person who used to understand Arya after me. Needless to say, her untimely demise left a great setback for him. For a long time, my brother shelled himself. He neither mixed up with a new person nor talked to the known people. However, Nandini was the first person whom he first talked to after I introduced her to him. Gradually they became good friends and then best friends. I start watching the same happiness in his eyes that used to be when he was with Isabella. Arya perhaps doesn't know about this feeling for Nandini but I can feel it. I can see his special feelings for her. It's can't anything but love. He loves her. Please don't come between them. I don't know what relationship you share with Nandini. Neither I am interested in her past. I only know that my brother needs her. Otherwise, he will be back to his painful past. Please, Manik I beg you. Nandini...."

I stop her,

"Does she love him?"

Author's note: A new angle arose. Does Arya really love Nandini? What will be Manik's reaction? Will he go back to India leaving Nandini? 😔😔Has Nandini really moved on?😥😥 To know all these, keep reading. 😊❤