They stepped into the prestigious school with their heads held high. The scene was no different than when it happened five years ago. Everyone stopped and cleared the path of their super seniors and was awed at their aura. They started strutting down the hall stopping in front of the jam room that once belonged to them.

"Shall we?" Manik Malhotra asked his friends with his palm on the handle, ready to enter the room that used to give them solace.

"We shall," Alya replied with the smug smirk they wore around. Manik pushed the door open and they all walked in. "It feels good to be back."

He stood in the centre with his guitar hanging loosely on his shoulder. Raising his fist he declared, "We are back babies."

While everyone rejoiced, Cabir rubbed a hand on his stomach with a pout. "That's cool and all but I want to check the canteen food. So you guys hang around while I go..." Cabir started to turn around and exit the room.

Before he could scurry out of the room, Mukti pulled the collar of his shirt with a jerk. "Stuff my face with junk food and look like a balloon? No Cabira. Sorry, I mean bukhaad. Not happening. Navya has prepared dinner."

Cabir grumbled and walked to the drum set placed in the room. In this room that was the only place that he was most familiar with. "God will take revenge for this sin you have committed, lady bheem. You didn't let a hungry poor soul have food."

"Excuse you. We didn't stop at the restaurant for two hours on the way here for sightseeing. If I remember correctly you were the one that ordered almost everything on the menu."

"That was hours ago," he countered.

"That was an hour ago," Mukti said as a matter of fact.

"So?"

"There are some remarkably dumb people in this world. Thanks for helping me understand that."

"You're welcome. I think?"

"Now quit cribbing. Looks like another band has occupied this place with new decorations as well. I would have gone for something more spooky but this works too."

"Mukti, how much more spooky can it be? The band's name is literally the midnight spirits," the lead singer raised an eyebrow. "Maybe some spider webs and skeletons. Or we could simply add your picture without the pretty makeup."

"No Manik. They need more black colour on the walls. The spider webs would only look good in the corner. And maybe..." Alya began putting her design skills to work completely missing the sarcasm.

They shook their heads and waited for her to complete. When she finally did they gave her a disapproving look and carried on with the conversation.

Manik ran his hands over the acoustic guitar of the junior band. Seeing it wasn't tuned he started to do it himself. "Anyways, the word around the school is that they are the junior versions of us. Just that they attend classes more. That's the part that put me off."

"Well, they can try but never be the same as us," Dhruv said for the first time since they entered the room. He occupied his corner in the room that he was used to from the time when he was a student. There was a peace that surrounded him as he silently relived the best, worst and happiest moment of his life back then.

"I wouldn't be so sure, topi wala. From what I have heard they have done some pretty nasty things. They even have a Mukti and Manik combined into one person in the group."

The mentioned pair of friends snapped their heads in Cabir's direction. There was no way that could happen. The two were the most hot-headed members and had a habit of using anger to cover up the sadness they felt. The difference was Manik was the protector and Mukti was the kid. While Manik had an absent father and unloving mother that recently turned over a new leaf, Mukti had both absent parents who didn't have the time of the day to spare for her. Having both of those traits in one person seemed impossible.

"Don't be so shocked. They are rich spoiled brats just like us. Or just like we were. Their music is also the best in space. Nyonika can vouch for that." Cabir continued.

"Nyonika hasn't always been the most honest Cabir. Did you fidget everything we went through?" Manik scowled. "Her words should not be taken seriously."

Dhruv got up to give his shoulder a squeeze. "Buddy, we haven't forgotten anything. But to let go you need to move on. If she is trying to change, give her a chance."

"Don't you think it's twenty years too late? I don't need her anymore," he stated more to convince himself than the others.

Dhruv took the guitar from Manik before he could break it in his vice-like grip. He carefully placed it back onto the stand rubbing a hand down his best friend's back. "If that was true, you wouldn't have given her the chance that day."

Alia decided to change the topic so as to not ruin everyone's mood. They were here for musicana. There wasn't a need to taint this occasion with memories that left a sour taste in their mouths. "How does this person have both their personalities? And how the hell do you know. We have not been here in five years."

Cabir smirked and whirled around to look at Mukti who was impatiently tapping her foot waiting for an explanation. "Well her name is Divya. She is an angry young woman. Don't think twice before beating anyone. Very possessive of her car like Mukti is of her bike. But she doesn't like to flirt around. People fear her the most."

"feisty," she commented approvingly. She thought Cabir meant similarities regarding their family and love life issues. None of those should happen to anyone. "I gotta meet her. She sounds interesting. And I heard there are four of them. They probably don't have a Dhruv who tries to stop them."

Cabir chuckled at his friend. "Oh boy. There is someone else who is like Dhruv. She is shy and timid. Moreover, don't get her hands dirty."

"Really?" Dhruv asked, barely concealing his surprise. He wasn't a popular personality that people would want to be like. To have someone like him in this second generation of bullies was shocking. People don't appreciate subtle things nowadays.

"Yeah, and her name is Ragini. Apparently, all of them listen to her. If she says something, they do it. But she has her own baggage."

"What kind of baggage?" Mukti asked curiously.

"Her parents are rarely ever at home or present in any school events."

"Sounds relatable,"

Alya scrunched her brows in confusion. "Wait. is this a girl gang or something?"

"Nope. The other two members are male. In Fact, they are the Maheshwari brothers."

"Their father got arrested a few years ago for child trafficking, right?"

"Yep, that's the one."

Alya sighed and sat by the keyboard. It was one thing to find a family of friends and another to have family issues. She understood the sentiment given that her parents had passed away and Harshad was imprisoned shortly after their graduation for drug possession. "Damn. I can see why they are called our replicas. There is an abundance of family issues."

"I think we should help them," they looked at Manik curiously. "I mean think about it. We bullied others to make ourselves feel better. It didn't help much in the grand scheme of things and only added to the misery. What if they are going through the same thing?"

"What if they are not and take us trying to help them the wrong way. Manik, our reasons could be very different from theirs. It could worsen the situation."

"But we should do something. Ragging is wrong, we learned that the hard way. Let's spare them the torture."

"fab 5 changed because Nandini and Navya came into our lives." Mukti reasoned. There was no way this fact could be erased. These two girls came into their life and changed everyone for the better. They taught them, they didn't have to belittle others to feel good. Today they were just as important as anyone standing in that room. Nandini was the main reason for Manik's change and Navya for herself and Cabir. "That was our turning point. They didn't do it intentionally."

Manik frowned, not understanding Mukti. He knew Nandini and Navya were the reasons. It didn't mean midnight spirits needed the two of them. "How does that matter?"

Mukti sighed deeply. "It matters because they didn't force this change in us. What exactly are we going to tell the midnight spirits? Hi, we were once like you so let me tell you. What you are doing is wrong. Stop bullying the students because there are other ways to be self-assured teenagers other than becoming Byronic heroes," she drawled sarcastically. "Even Nandini had to punch you in the face before anything happened."

"Well," Manik said slowly, thinking about what the electric guitarist just said. "We could tell them about ourselves and explain," he suggested weekly. Honestly, he manik wasn't even sure if that would work. The only people he ever allowed vulnerability to appear was with his friends. It would be next to impossible to tell these strangers about his life. Not that they would need much introduction. Fab 5 was infamous enough in S.P.A.C.E. but no one knew why they changed.

Dhruv carefully analysed the points by both sides before stepping in. "I think Alya and Mukti are right. We don't know what they are going through. For all we know, they do it solely for fun. If they are really meant to change then there will be a Nandini and navya in their life. They can't run from their karma."

"Taking a stand against the wrong is what we have learnt. Why step back now?"

"Because we are in the same position as them. If someone had directly come to talk to us and stand up to the bullying, what would have happened?"

"We rule space..."

"We ruled space," Dhruv corrected. "This college doesn't belong to us anymore. I think we should step out of the way and let nyonika handle it her way. Besides, she is trying to change. Let's see how real that is."

They nodded and sat in silence thinking about this band and their own lives. Five years ago they ruled this college. They were known as bullies and had set many friendship goals. They were party animals that spent the night dancing away to the blaring music. It was impossible to hear their own thoughts in the noise around. But that was the goal; not to think about what was happening in their lives. Reckless determination permanently marked their territory in those dark eyes. It wasn't always like that, however. Navya and Nandini had wrecked a storm that changed their lives. They were no longer teenagers writhing in their own misery that found pleasure in torturing others. They went through their ups and downs. Their personal issues, insecurities, misunderstandings and most important secrets came in the way of their friendship and rattled its very foundations.

Secrets were like a slow poison. Eating away at them so discreetly they didn't even realise until it had snatched away everything and left bits and pieces for them to pick up and they did. They had to fall before learning. It took these five years to piece them back together. Now they are back to where it started, for the same event that mended the cracks in their relationship. Musicana.

That day they sang with bleeding hearts. I've made the mistake of expecting them to come clean to me but I myself did not do that. But I'm going to make it. This was not how it ends. Manik told himself. He sat defeated on the podium and strummed his guitar, believing fab 5 will perform together if only for the last time.

Cabir looked at Manik through the television screen backstage. I am not going to let you do this alone, Manik.

"Fab 5 is my family. No matter what happens. I am going to fight for it. This is not how our story ends." Mukti wiped her cheek and grabbed her guitar making her way to the stage with Cabir.

Alia's eyes burned behind closed eyelids as she heard the lyrics calling out to her. It was then she realised, she couldn't go through whatever she was dealing with without them. More than that, she didn't want to. She wanted things to go back to how they were.

Fab 5 was a part of me. I can't run away from it and I am not giving up on us. Whatever the situation is, we will deal with it together.

"Dhruv," she called out, hoping he was thinking along the same lines as her. Not that his answer was going to stop her. She didn't know what to say exactly.

Luckily he understood what she was asking. "Fab 5 will not disband. Let's go." He wasn't over his problems completely, none of them was. But it wasn't worth losing something this beautiful they had. There was a long way to go and they would ride together. "One for all. All for one."

Manik was right. They came together and performed, sealing their promise of hamesha and forever.

They made it through this one heck of a journey together. All the sleepless nights, confessions, and trips to the doctors were worth it because fab 5 was worth it. After all, it was one for all and all for one.

---broken promises---

"And the last performance for this year's musicana 2020. Let's bring our hands together for the midnight spirits."

The mentioned band walked to the centre of the stage and bowed as a sign of respect. Lakshya was giddy with joy. His favourite band and idols, Fab 5 were sitting in front of him ready to watch their performance. Not only him but his friend as well.

"Midnight spirits, are you guys ready?" Manik asked with a chuckle seeing their faces.

"Ye-yes." Lakshya rubbed his nape with a sheepish laugh. They went back to their respective instruments with embarrassed smiles when they realised they were caught staring.

Shikar began with his drums and the rest followed suit, each showing their talent on the instruments. In the end, it turned out to be a beautiful peace that earned a moment of silence from the audience.

They looked at the sea of familiar and unfamiliar people, all stared intensely right at them. It was decidedly uncomfortable.

"Did we screw up?" Lakshya whispered worriedly to Divya as no one was reacting.

She shook her head in confusion. "I am pretty sure we did not. Did we break them," she shifted her gaze to fab five who were looking at them in awe. "Yeah, I think we did." They keep their sights tainted on the judges who slowly broke into claps along with the rest of the stage. They understood what it meant and bowed.

All the performers gathered in front of the judges and waited for the results eagerly. Manik stepped up to the mic after much contemplation with the group. "And this year's winner of musicana is...the midnight spirits!"

They screamed in joy and shook hands with each member of the senior band. Taking the trophy they went backstage to celebrate their victory.

"That was lit! Did you see them?! They were clapping!" Lakshya screamed in joy.

"Yeah, lucky. I can't believe it, fab 5 liked our performance!" Shikar agreed.

Ragini gathered them in a hug and told them, "Hard Work never goes to waste."

"True." the final member said. "Let's get going. Today calls for a celebration." she beamed.

They nodded and the boys took their instruments to the car. Ragini went to the washroom and Divya chose to wait for her backstage.

She was resting on a chair when she heard an unfamiliar whistling noise that she didn't recognize. She stood up, keeping her back to the noise. Divya whirled around and came face to face with the son of the principal, Manik. "Not very sly Mr Malhotra."

"Manik," he corrected. "You can call me Manik. Mr Malhotra sounds very old."

"Okay then Manik," She giggled. "What can I do for you?"

"Nothing, I just came to talk." he shifted on his feet nervously. "Maybe we should sit."

"What do you want to talk about?" the younger girl asked once they were seated.

"Bullying," he said, cutting to the chase. "I know about what you guys do. But it's not right and you shouldn't do it."

Divya chewed at the insides of her lips to cling onto the retort she had. She tried but failed and ended up clapping her hands sarcastically at Manik. "Says the one who led a gang of bullies himself. Manik before us, people used to feat yall. We are just continuing the legacy," she shrugged her shoulders. "Besides, we don't do it for fun. We do it to those who cross our paths."

"It doesn't matter why. It's wrong. Trust me. I've learned the hard way."

"Why did you guys do it?"

"Because we were insecure cowards. When we came to space there was a reputation we came with as troubled kids. Initially, we got teased and ragged. But then instead of getting help from the teachers, we started doing the same. It made us feel superior and better about ourselves. After a while, it became a habit. And the reputation of devils was something we had to keep up with."

"Our reasons are the same. Similar. at least," Divya relaxed her tensed muscles. What he said was relatable. Their reasons were similar indeed. She thought back to the times the four of them were teased and bullied, each for their own different reasons. "People don't care about how the other person feels when they rag. Why should they get any sympathy when the same thing is being done to them. And no one gets to hurt my friends and get away with it."

Manik smiled softly. He understood what Cabir meant when he said she was a mini him. The same fire, passion and protectiveness. "I understand what you are saying. I am in the same position."

"I appreciate the effort but please don't say these things to make me feel better."

Manik sighed and tried a different approach. "Being a leader is not easy and the responsibility is also huge. In case you're forgetting I am the leader of your favourite band. I get the need to protect them from every harm. But there are other ways to do it."

"We are eighteen thus adults. I'm not going to go running to the teachers because of this. Besides, some of them are useless either way."

"Did you ever try?" he pressed.

"No shit sherlock. The first time it happened. And as I got older, I realised that they don't care. We can be walking down the halls and someone throws a hammer at you. But they don't care." she bawled her fist trying hard to focus on her ragged breaths.

Manik carefully placed a hand on her shoulder, not wanting to recoil any further. Surprisingly she didn't shrug it off like it was offensive. "What was the first instance of this bullying?"

Divya squeezed her eyes together as the event uninvited barged into the forefront of her mind. "It wasn't to me, it was to ja-Ragini, at the age of five."

It was a relief. The apathy that had washed over her finally let some sunshine through. It was warm and fuzzy. She held onto it for as long as she could. At the same time, it felt like a nail on a chalkboard. Loud and screeching.

She threw her converse backpack onto the ground and charged forward. There was no time to waste or this feeling might just disappear into the abyss that was her again.

A little ways off was Mishka standing above a fallen Ragini. Turns out, she wasn't done with her revenge from the last time. Ragini whimpered as she landed on her wrist the wrong way. She cradled it close to her chest trying to lessen the throbbing.

"I am going to tell the teachers and my mummy. You are going to be in so much trouble." Ragini cried.

Mishka let out an amused chuckle. "Oh really. What makes you think they are going to believe anything you say? No one wants an abomination leeching their efforts. You can't even pass a simple math test."

"A math test cannot determine my worth. My family loves me for who I am."

"I don't think they do. You see, they don't want to deal with a dyslexic child who might just end up being a failure her whole life."

Ragini growled under her breath and jumped to her feet. Her glassy eyes met the bully. "That's none of your business. And I don't care about what you say. Your words don't hold value to me. You cannot decide if I will be successful or not. But let me tell you this. With this attitude, you won't go far."

Mishka roared in frustration as she was unable to get the reaction she wanted from the future pianist. Finding no other resolution she shoved Ragini once again but she held her ground. "You are a post-Chernobyl nightmare that no one wants around. "Well, that's very..." she was close to bruising the younger girl's face.

On instinct, Divya's hand rose to counteract with a vice grip. Her other hands clamped down on the curled knuckles of the attacker. "Maybe you need to get your eyes checked because she doesn't look like a mirror to me." What followed was the ferocity of a punch that was hurdled like a rocket through space. "That's very disappointing of you to pick on someone smaller than you," Divya bellowed in a tone that was infamy. She stood protectively in front of Ragini making it impossible for the bully to reach her. "But I suppose that's all you can do."

Mishka pushed herself to her feet and lunged for the goth girl. Divya got herself and the girl behind her out of the way at the last moment leaving the older girl to smash her head into the wall behind. She fell back into the floor in a heap, groaning.

"The next time you try to bully anyone, remember this. I won't be so nice the next time," Divya warned her, tugging Ragini along with her. When the younger girl didn't move she stopped and turned. "Do you want her to continue her torment?"

"No, but she is injured and bleeding. We need to call the nurse. Let's go!" Ragini yelled, all but dragging Divya down the hall towards the nurse's office with her good hand.

They were sent to the principal's office once everything was said and done only to be punished for pushing Mishka. Apparently, what Mishka did was justified because it was in a fit of rage and thus didn't need to be punished for verbally hurting another student. Divya wasn't so lucky. She was sent to detention. Aditya and Anjali were called to the school because of misconduct by their daughter. While they argued that both should serve the punishment the principal quickly dismissed the issue with reasons that held no ground.

"Let it go, dad, some people are too thick skulls to see the logic. Also Somewhere out there, there's a tree working very hard to produce oxygen so that you can breathe. I think you should go and apologize for it." she deadpanned in front of the woman before leaving the office. Her parents snickered and left after her.

That day she learned. Authoritative figures are not as prestigious as they are made out to be. They are biased at the expense of other students. There was no point arguing with them.

Ragini caught up with Divya before she left the classroom at the end of the day. She was gleaming as usual but there was an extra bright smile plastered on her face that reached her tiny ears. "Thank you," she said. "For saving me."

"You are welcome. By the way, good job standing up for yourself," Divya praised proudly. "I am honestly shocked, you didn't let her comment on your learning disability get to you."

"She doesn't get to decide who I am or who loves me."

Divya nodded and tried to walk around the pianist to leave the classroom. "Hey, Divya. Can we be friends?" she asked in one breathe. There wasn't much expectation. Still, after the incident, she subconsciously raised her hopes for a friendship with the other girl. She stretched out a pinky finger and waited patiently.

Divya squinted at the pinky. So much could go wrong but so much go right as well. The previously dead weight inside her didn't feel so draught with Ragini around. She wants to keep this part as long as she can before the blank and suffocating blanket wrapped itself around her again. Even she had to admit the girl had grown on her. Maybe befriending her won't be so bad. She can-will protect her, come hell or high water. Slowly she brought out her pinky intertwining it with Ragini's.

"Friends."

The memory and events that led them to this discussion steadily caused a harsh bout of emptiness she was all too aware of flooding her. She doesn't want to deal with it right now. She can't. Jaan is not here.

"Divya?" Manik nudged the current student, breaking her reverie.

She covered her face with her hands trying to regain her semblance of control. "Please l-leave, Manik."

Manik observed her shaking form and curling fingers for a moment, wondering what to do. "I am not leaving you alone." he decided.

"Manik. Leave," she said, punctuating each syllable with a tap of her foot, daring him to deny.

Who is she kidding? Manik Malhotra does whatever the hell wants. "Divya. No," he denied in the same manner, taking a seat beside her instead. The shove that sent him on his rear on the ground was not something he anticipated. I think I hit the wrong chord. Who is the Dhruv of her life? I guess me for now. Recovering from the sock, he stood up. "Push kick scream. Do anything you want but I am not leaving you alone. At least not until one of your friends comes back."

"Fine. then I'll go."

"Doesn't matter, I'm following you."

She pinched the bridge of her nose to stop herself from breaking his jaw. "Why do you insist on this! I am not a kid."

"You are not a kid. You are a leader and I get that." the older man responded calmly. "When I was in your position, this is what I did. Shut everyone out when I was angry or hurt. I wanted to do it alone. That's not how it works Divya. Just because you take the responsibility doesn't mean you need to deal with these things alone."

Nothing in her face betrayed her fear of the loathsome feeling taking over, it was a mask of defiance and surety, that's why she was the leader. The fear would need an out of course, but there was a time and a place and this sure as hell wasn't it.

She crossed her arms in front of her chest and her jaw ticked. "I dont know what you are talking about."

"Funny," he feigned humour. "You wouldn't be reacting like that if you didn't. Look, all I am saying is if others rag you and you rag them, there is no difference. It's just going to continue in a never-ending cycle. Be the better person and report it. Although a lot of reports right now should be against you."

"Are you going to tell me about your inspiring story of overcoming all your shortcomings?" she snapped. "Because you were once here and the majority of students still fear fab five."

"I was once there and that's why I am telling you from experience. This satisfaction doesn't last long. One day it will break and everything will come crumbling down. No one is a saint, I agree but why be the devil in someone else's life?"

Divya felt herself shrinking under the thoughtful gaze of her senior. An ocean filled with reasons and rationale were drowning in the world pool.

Manik walked ahead. "It's never too late to start over." Each step was small, slow and deliberate until he had the girl wrapped in a hug- which she didn't resist instead leaned in trying to make herself as small as possible.

"It will be okay. Good people make bad choices sometimes. You are not a bad person, Bambi."

A/N: Don't forget to R&R!