22. KRISHNA MURTHY!

In California, everyone is present in Navya’s ward. She is sitting on the bed holding her baby girl who is asleep in her arms. Manik is standing close to her and looking at the baby again and again. 

Navya:- Manik why are you seeing her like that? 

Manik:- Navya, it’s a fact that I hate you and cabir a lot but the one fact is also that I am loving this creation of you both. ( Pointing towards the newborn baby ) 

Nandini rolls her eyes seeing his hatred towards them which is a true fact. Because they always do something which leads her to give them more attention. 

Cabir:- ( teasingly ) if you are loving the baby then, create your own. 

Hearing him Manik blushed like a newly bride whereas Nandini looks at them with shock. 

Nandini:- shut up guys. Did you forget that we have a small baby around us? So, no dirty talk in front of her. 

Everyone nods obediently. 

Nandini:- good!!……. Navya, give her to me naa. I am waiting to take her in my arms. You know na I love babies. ( Desperately ) please give her to me.

Cabir:- ( teasingly ) Nandu, that’s why I said to have your own baby. 

Manik:- yes Nandini, if you told this to me before then now we would have at least 1 kid of our own with us. 

Nandini:- ( irritatingly ) maniiiii……….

Everyone laughs seeing her irritating look. Navya passes her the baby.

Nandini holds the baby girl securely and slowly rocks her arms. Manik smiles seeing her shiny eyes while playing with the baby. He comes behind her and wraps his hands around her holding the baby together while his lips are stuck on her forehead. She gives him a sharp look who in return smiles sheepishly. 

Manik:- woh, I am scared to hold her. What if she falls because of my carelessness? That’s why I hold her through you. 

Nandini smiles and both start playing with the baby. Navya and cabir smile seeing their friends playing with their angel. 

Cabir:- ( to navya ) don’t you think that they are looking like a perfect family. 

Navya:- yup !!! Seeing this I am sure that our angel will love them, more than us. And they will spoil her while fulfilling her every demand. 

Cabir smiles listening to his wife but he interrupts Manik’s cute family moment. 

Cabir:- Time’s up, guys. Now tell me when are you both gonna marry? I am way too excited about your wedding. 

Navya:- ( excited ) yes, as now everything is going pretty well. ( to Nandini ) You are doing your dream job, cabir has also started his cafe, and Manik’s office is also in the process. So, when will you guys be planning to get married? 

Manik and Nandini both blush hearing all the marriage talks.  

Manik:- I am ready to marry. ( Turning towards Nandini )  Are you ready, my love? 

Cabir:- arey Manik, she is ever ready.  

Listening to him Nandini’s cheeks turned redder giving a hard time to Manik. 

Navya:- ( teasingly ) Manik, I think you got your answer seeing her blush.  

Manik:- yup!!!! But I want to hear it from her.  

Nandini:- ( while stammering ) y..ee.s . I am ready, manii.  

Yayy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Shouts navya and cabir at the top of their voices making others deaf. Hearing so much chaos, the doctor comes inside which brings a sudden halt to marriage talks. 

Doctor:- it’s a hospital, sir. You can’t shout here. 

Nandini:- I am sorry, doctor on their behalf.  

Doctor:- ( nods ) Mrs. Dhawan, it’s time to feed the baby. ( Turning towards others ) please go out.  

Nandini:- Cabir, you stay here. We are going out. Maybe she will need you. 

Saying this Nandini holds Manik’s hand and drags him out who is looking at everyone with frowns. 

Manik:- ( confusingly ) Nandini, why did the doctor tell us to go out? And why did you let the cabir stay? 

Nandini:- Nothing!! When the right time comes you will understand, yourself.  

Manik:- but I want to know.

Nandini:- Manik, Navya has to feed the baby. If you stay there how can she feed her? 

Manik:- oh …… So what is in this? She just needs to feed…. ( Realisation hit him hard and he bites his lower lip ) sorry.  

Nandini smiles seeing her not-so-innocent boyfriend. 

Manik:- ( rubbing his nape ) wohhh…… I don’t know all these things. But don’t worry I will do a diploma in all these things when you will conceive. 

Nandini turned red and pushed him lightly, hearing him. Manik laughs loudly and takes her blushing figure in his arms. But his laughs died when he heard a stern voice from the back.  

Nurse:- shhhhh……. Please keep silent. This is a hospital.  

Nandini:- we are really sorry, sister.  

The nurse leaves while giving stern looks to Manik who is least affected by all this. 

Manik:- Now, tell me. Are you sure about the wedding thing? And please be honest. If you want some time then, I am ready to wait for you. 

Nandini:- ( while cupping his face, lovingly ) I am ready to be Mrs.Manik Malhotra for so long. It’s you who are delaying. 

Listening to her, Manik opens his mouth wide in shock. Nandini giggles seeing his expressions but suddenly she remembered something. 

Nandini:- Manik, kaka? 

Manik:- don’t worry, I will talk to him. 

Nandini nods and hugs him tightly conveying her excitement for the wedding. 

Otherside, in India, the Dixit’s are having lunch together as today is Sunday and as Avantika comes with this surprise lunch plan. Actually, she has her hidden motive behind all this planning. She and her husband are abandoned to know why Arjun is visiting hospitals regularly. 

Innaya:- arey, where is Arjun Bhai? ( asks Asha ) Bhabhi, didn’t he come for lunch? 

Asha:- don’t know…… wait! I will bring him. 

Everyone nods and she walks towards their room which is just beside the stairs on the ground floor.

Arjun shifted in this room with Asha so that she wouldn’t stress herself with stairs during her pregnancy days. It’s his second move that failed Avantika’s plan to push Asha from the stairs to kill her unborn child and depicts everything as an accident. 

Asha walks inside to find Arjun lost in deep thoughts while sitting on the bed with the support of a headrest. 

Asha:- Now, what is my overthinking husband thinking? 

Arjun smiles listening to his wife and kisses her forehead while shaking his head in NO. 

Asha:- just say whatever is in your heart. It will give you peace. Our elders always say na…. That sharing is caring. So, spill the beans, husband. 

Arjun:- ( after taking a deep breath ) there is something wrong, Asha. I can feel it.

Asha:- ( confusingly ) what is wrong? 

Arjun:- don’t know. I think there is someone who is behind all the mess from Nandini’s kidnapping to her operation and I am not able to solve this puzzle. 

Asha just caresses his forehead to clear his stress lines. 

Asha:- why are you stressing yourself? Waheguru brought you here ….then, I am sure that he will show you another path too which leads you to your baby sister. You just have to keep faith in him. 

Arjun smiles a little bit and caresses her cheeks. 

Arjun:- when will I become so lucky to have you in my life? 

Asha giggles hearing his cheesy line but suddenly something strikes her mind. 

Asha:- Arjun, why don’t you look for KRISHNA MURTHY, your caretaker? 

Arjun:- ( with frowns ) why her? 

Asha:- you told me na…. That she is also missing from the day when all this happened. Then, maybe she is behind all this or maybe she knew something about that day which we don’t know. 

Arjun:- ( angrily ) what are you saying, Asha? She can’t do all this. She was like a second mother to us. She loves Nandini more than mom does. You don’t know how much she cried when she got to know that Nandini is missing. She blamed herself for the situation. She thought that because of her carelessness Nandini is not with us. I can’t doubt her intentions, not even in my dreams. 

Asha:- Then, why is she missing from that day? 

Her question made him silent for a moment because he doesn’t have anything to defend her. 

Arjun:- I can understand what you are trying to say but……… ( tiredly ) I know her too. But this thing is really a matter to think about. WHERE IS DAIJAAN? 

Asha:- Then, go and find her first. Maybe she can help you to find Nandini? 

Arjun:- ( with a determinant face ) I WILL!! I WILL!

Asha smiles and pecks his lips giving him the much-needed strength. Then, dragged him out for lunch. 

Everyone is having their lunch with a small chit-chatting but their talks come to a halt hearing Prakash’s question. 

Prakash:- Arjun, yesterday I saw you in LIFECARE HOSPITAL……. What are you doing there? I mean….. Is everything alright? Why did you visit that hospital?

Avantika:- ( worriedly, obviously it’s fake ) are you alright, Arjun? Are you hiding something from us, baby? 

All except Asha looks at him for answers. 

Arjun:- guys, no need to worry. I was there because one of my friends was admitted to that hospital. That’s why I went there to meet him. 

Prakash nods but deep down he is not satisfied with his answer. Everyone again starts their lunch and out of nowhere, Arjun says. 

Arjun:- maa, I WANT TO MEET DAIJAAN. 

To be continued…