I am really sorry to keep you all waiting for so long. Here is the update. Frankly speaking, I have no idea what I have done in this chapter. I just hope you all like it. It is not edited, so ignore the typos, if any. So here you go.....

Nandini took a step inside the room, her eyes still glued to the person on the bed. He was lying on the bed in the centre of the room surrounded by some machines to which she did not pay any attention as all of her concentration was on the person, she had lost the hope of seeing. She looked at his sleeping figure and his closed eyes. She took another step inside the room and moved away from the door making way for the rest to enter behind her.

Everyone came in and stood surrounding her. Her friends were also shocked to see the person. Dr. Sarkar and Mr. Malhotra too stepped in the room and stood beside the person on the bed. Looking at all their shocked and worried expressions, Mr. Malhotra said, 'Don't worry, he's fine. He's just sleeping.''

Sensing all the commotion in the room, the person woke up and blinked looking around, adjusting his eyes to his surroundings. As soon as his eyes took in the faces of the people present in the room, his eyes widened and when they rested upon Nandini, a small smile appeared on his lips. His eyes shone with happiness and he uttered, 'Nandini.' He sat up on the bed with support of the headrest. Nandini walked upto him slowly and stood beside him looking at him as if she was afraid he would disappear if she as much as blinked her eyes. She raised her hand to touch his face to convince herself that he was really there.

She placed her hand on his cheek and he leaned in at her touch closing his eyes. Her eyes were filled with tears as she whispered, 'Manik.' Manik opened his eyes and smiled at her. That was it for Nandini. She crashed on his chest and hugged him tight and started crying. He too hugged her back trying to calm her down. It seemed as if they forgot that they weren't alone in the room. Their friends, who stood rooted to their places, finally moved towards them as if they were waiting for some confirmation that it was really Manik whom they were seeing and not just some hallucination.

Alya, Mukti and Dhruv hugged Manik taking Nandini too in the group hug. Navya and Aryaman stood beside them smiling. Navya put her hand on Nandini's back and rubbed it to calm her. Finally, they broke the hug and moved back. Everyone's eyes were moist. Nandini and Manik looked at each other emotionally. Suddenly, remembering something, Nandini widened her eyes and looked at Mr. Malhotra and asked, 'But, he.... How did he reach here? And how did you come to know about him?'

'Relax, child. Calm down. Last 4 months, he was in this hospital. After that accident, he was in a coma. He woke up 2-3 days back. He is almost fine. Just a few more days in the hospital for observation and lots and lots of rest and he'll be completely fine. So Nandini, child, wipe those tears. Such a beautiful face and tears don't go along well,' Mr. Malhotra said with a smile.

Nandini gave a small smile and wiped off her tears. She looked at Manik who was looking at her only. He looked happy to see all of them, especially her. Their staring session was interrupted by Mukti who asked, 'What exactly happened to him?' All of them looked at Dr. Sarkar for explanation.

'See, basically all his external wounds have healed,so he may look alright but we have to keep his internal injuries too in mind. In such cases as his, the internal wounds take a lot of time to heal. His wounds have almost healed but we need to take precautions. Mental stress is not allowed at all. Proper diet and lots of rest is needed along with timely medication. One thing that I wanted to mention was that since the accident was a head on collision and he was in coma for 4 months on a high dosage of medicines, it has had an effect on his memory. Its nothing serious, just that his memory is a bit fuzzy from the night of the accident. He knows what had happened but doesn't remember the exact details. This phenomenon is quite common, nothing to worry about. Eventually, he will remember everything but it will take time. You all are his friends. You know what had happened. You can try and see if he remembers but remember not to stress him too much. Got it?' He explained.

Before anyone could respond, Manik spoke up, 'Isn't this discussion supposed to be happening behind my back? I mean, that is what they show in the movies!'

Everyone chuckled hearing him. Dr. Sarkar said, 'You will have to test his memory without stressing him too much. I'm sure you'll be able to do that.'

Manik spoke shaking his head, 'Well, Doctor. They are MY friends. They won't do anything that will hurt me. Your work is over. You can leave now.' He finished with a dismissing wave. 'Manik!!', Mr. Malhotra gave Manik a disapproving look and said to the doctor, 'I'm sorry for that Doctor. Thank you so much for everything. But I shouldn't be keeping you from doing your duties. You have other patients to look after too. I'll walk with you to your cabin. I have a few important things to be discussed with you. Meanwhile, these kids can catch up. Alright?' He said looking at everyone.

Aryaman replied to him saying, 'Yeah, sure. Of course. You can go ahead.' Mr. Malhotra smiled at them and then walked out of the room with the doctor leaving all of them on their own. As soon as he went out, Mukti jumped on Manik hugging him once again. She screamed, 'Manik!!' I'm so glad that you're okay. Welcome back. You have no idea how much we missed you.'

Manik moved back a little because of her sudden hug. He leaned on the headrest of the bed for support and hugged her back laughing a little. When she broke the hug, he looked at everyone and said, 'I missed you guys, too.' Saying this he opened his arms calling everyone for a group hug. Even Navya and Aryaman joined them this time in the hug.

They broke the hug when they heard Manik sniff and looked at him worriedly. His eyes were a bit teary as he looked up. Nandini placed both her hands on his cheeks and made him look at her. Panicking, she asked him, 'Manik, what's wrong? Is.....is it paining? Should I call the doctor? I'm calling the doctor.' Before she could get up, he held her hand and stopped her. She looked at him as he chuckled softly. 

'Relax Nandini. I'm fine. But you haven't changed at all in these months. You still panic very easily,' he said with a small smile. 'It's just... Cabir... I got to know about him when I woke up. And, I... I just... I just can't come to terms with it. He...' Manik was getting emotional with every word.

He looked at Nandini and said, 'Cab...Cabir! He....I couldn't save him. I failed him. He was just infront of me. He was right there. I should have saved him. But the.....the flames. I couldn't do anything! Nothing! I felt so helpless, so....so useless. You know, Cabir, he,....whenever I needed him, he was always there. Ready to help me. Always. But when he needed me the most, I was unable to help him. I failed. I...,' he was unable to say anything further as he started crying. 

Nandini's eyes were also wet. She hugged him closer to herself and rubbed his back trying to console him. She said, 'Shh, shh. Calm down, Manik. It was not your fault.' Alya kept her hand on Manik's shoulder, controlling her own tears, and said, 'Yeah Manik. Whatever happened, it wasn't your fault.' Even the rest were close to tears seeing him crying so bitterly.

Dhruv came up beside Alya and said, 'Manik, buddy, look,' saying this he made Manik look at him, breaking his and Nandini's hug. Nandini held his left hand in both of her hands and rubbed it trying to get him to calm down. Dhruv made Manik face him and when he was sure that he had Manik's attention, he continued, 'Buddy, what happened with Cabir, it was not your fault. You weren't responsible for it. You hear me? So, stop blaming yourself for it.'

Manuk shook his head and said between his cries, 'No, no, no! You guys are not understanding. You were not there, I was there, with him. I could've saved him. I tried to, but I failed. I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything to help him. I am a very bad friend.' He bowed his head and closed his eyes still crying.

Alya, Dhruv and Nandini shook their heads in disagreement and cried out, 'No!' while Mukti reached him from the other side of the bed, standing beside Nandini. She raised his head making him look at her and said, 'Shut up. Just shut up. Not a word more!' She gave out an exasperated sigh and continued, 'Manik, what nonsense are you saying! You are the best friend anyone could get. Do you have any idea how lucky we are to have you in our lives! Stop blaming yourself for everything. You are not at fault. OK? At least you tried, right? Please don't cry.' Saying this she wiped his tears and called Alya and Dhruv for another group hug.

All this while, Nandini sat right there holding his hand. By the time they moved back, Manik had calmed down. Aryaman approached him and keeping a hand on his shoulder asked, 'You're okay?' Manik gave a small smile and whispered, 'Yeah.' Navya came forward and said, 'Manik, don't worry. Everything will be fine.' Manik gave her another smile and said, 'Thanks Navya.'

Nandini was all this while looking at him. She had never seen Manik so vulnerable, so broken. Her heart ached to see him like this. Sensing her stare, Manik looking at her and tried to give her a smile. Keyword: tried. Nandini raised her hand to wipe away the remaining tears from his face.

Mr. Malhotra chose that time to enter the room. Seeing him come in, Nandini immediately stood up and moved away from the bed wiping her remaining tears. Upon entering, Mr. Malhotra took in everyone's tear stricken faces and was confused. He said, 'O....kay! This wasn't what I had expected to see when I come back! What happened to all of you?'

Alya was the first one to respond, 'Nothing uncle. Its fine. Its just that we were missing our friend.' Hearing her, an understanding look came on Mr. Malhotra's face and he said, 'Ohh, yes! Cabir. I wish I would have been able to do something for him. But, by the time I reached there, it was too late.'

Hearing him, Aryaman said, 'How did you know where they were?' Manik answered this question on Mr. Malhotra's behalf, 'He didn't know. He was coming to meet me. He passed the accident site on the way.' Mr. Malhotra continued saying, 'Yeah. It was just by chance that I came there. And if I wouldn't have reached there, then we would have lost Manik too in the accident because people were just standing there surrounding the burnt car and injured Manik, doing nothing. I couldn't believe how insensitive people have become these days. I mean, there has been an accident and an injured person is lying there. And, instead of helping, people are just standing there! When I was passing from there, I saw the accident and the crowd. I thought of checking what's happening. When I reached there, I saw the half burnt car with Cabir in it and a very badly injured Manik lying half unconscious near the car.

You can't imagine what I felt like seeing them in that condition. I somehow managed to take Cabir out of the car and get them to the nearest hospital. But by the time we reached the hospital, it was too late for Cabir. And Manik's condition was very critical. I shifted him to Pune, in this hospital. I'm sorry for not informing you all before but Manik was in such a condition that I couldn't think of anything else.' By the time he finished, everyone was close to tears.

So, to distract them, he once again spoke, 'But Manik is Manik. How can he forget about his friends. From the time he woke up, he has been asking about you all. He was getting so impatient that as soon as he got a phone, he started making prank calls to you all to listen to your voices. Sometimes wrong numbers, sometimes salesman and sometimes just blank calls. Does this ring a bell?' He smiled at the end looking at the faces of Nandini, Alya, Dhruv and Mukti who recalled getting such calls, especially Nandini. Their faces lit up in recognition as they realised who was behind those calls.

They looked towards Manik who was looking at them with a smile on his face. 'So, it was you,' Nandini said. It wasn't a question. It was a statement confirming her earlier doubts. Manik simply nodded his head and said, 'Yes, and you caught me.'

Navya became excited at the revealation and exclaimed, 'Wait, wait, wait! So the person calling Nandini, about whom she was so sure that it is Manik, was actually Manik!!' Seeing her excitement, Manik rolled his eyes and said, 'Yes Navya it was me. No need to get so excited.' Ignoring his mocking tone, Navya answered him, 'Why not! She immediately recognized your voice and inspite of us telling her that it can't be you, she was adamant that it was you. This is unbelievable.....'

Before she could say anything, she was stopped by Nandini who held her hand and whispered, 'Navya!! Stop!!' Nandini was embarrassed. She looked at everyone and then looked down pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Everyone was giving her knowing  smiles while Manik's smile was playful.

Mr. Malhotra said, 'OK enough! No more teasing. Now let Manik rest. We'll come back later.' With this he started towards the door but stopped when he heard Manik calling him. When he turned around, Manik said, 'I want to go back to Mumbai.'

Mr. Malhotra gave a sigh and said, 'Manik! You need to be kept under observation for some time. After being discharged you can go back but not now. Try to understand it's for your benefit.'

But how can Manik listen to anyone. He stubbornly said, 'I don't care. Shift me in any hospital in Mumbai. Do whatever you want but I want to go back.'

Mr. Malhotra gave a defeated sigh and said, 'OK fine. How can anyone win against you. I'll talk to the doctor to shift you. But for now, you take rest. Your friends will also take rest for some time and come back to meet you later.' With this he walked out of the room followed by everyone else but not before they instructed him to take rest. Nandini was the last one to leave the room.

She made Manik lie down in his bed and closing his eyes, she said, 'Sleep Manik. I'll come back soon.' Manik looked at her for some time and then closed his eyes with a satisfied look on his face. She had lots to tell him, but it would have to wait. Atleast till Manik gets a little better. Thinking this she left the room closing the door behind her.

That's it from me for today. I would love to know your response for the chapter. Finally Manik is here!!! And those who were asking when will I update, I had no idea people were actually so eager to read my story! I hope this chapter was worth your wait. Do vote, comment and give your response.

Until next time, take care and good bye. I will be waiting for your response.