''Manik, only 5 minutes are remaining for your performance.. It's time to begin taking positions on stage'' Nandini reminded him breaking their eye-lock that had gone on longer than they meant to. He nodded with a huge smile on his face and went towards the door, turning the doorknob. The door didn't budge. He turned it a couple more times with greater force, yet it didn't move.

''Shit! The door's jammed, I think!!'' He shouted out in panic, still trying to open it. Nandini's eyes widened and she joined him in making efforts to open the damned door.
''Do you have your phone Manik? We can quickly call up someone. I've left mine in the green room'' She frantically said. Manik checked his pockets and cursed under his breath, responding ''So have I''.

Nandini tried banging the door and shouting for help while Manik searched for other ways to exit but nothing seemed to be helping. If any member of a band wouldn't be present during the performance, it would be a straight disqualification from Musicana itself.

''Manik, time's up. Mujhe nahi lagta woh log wait karengey..'' Nandini said exactly what Manik was dreading, in a low voice.

I can't let Fab 5 down. They can't get disqualified because of me. I won't let them lose.

Manik aimed his clenched fist towards the glass square in the door, but before he could throw the punch, Nandini had grabbed his hand. ''MANIK!! ARE YOU CRAZY?!! I will NOT let you hurt yourself like this.'' She screamed, her chest heaving with fright as she held his hand tightly and caressed it like it was extremely precious. Manik forgot his hurry, as he saw her like this, so concerned and scared for him. He just stared at her doe like eyes, threatening to fill up with tears if he moved his hand away.
----------

Fab 5 walked off the stage feeling extremely humiliated and disappointed , while the audience loudly mocked them at their disqualification. When informed that the lead singer wasn't present yet, it hadn't taken the judges a minute to kick them off.

''Agar 2 minute ruk jaate, toh kya ho jaata inka? I'm sure Manik would have reached by then'' Cabir spoke, his teeth clenched and his face flushed .

''This is a Pre-Musicana event. One cannot just walk in whenever they want here. Fab 5 was SPACE's biggest strength, and you guys were such a disgrace to us today'' Proffessor Raghav said in a tone of disapproval, joining them. All 4 hung their faces, not knowing how to respond.

Harshad laughed, enjoying the sight of the mighty Fab 5 being told off, not resisting the urge to join in too- ''Inhe kya bol rahe ho sir? Inhe toh iss stage ki kadar hi nahi hai. That is why, their lead singer isn't even here right now''.
Raghav shook his head and left, while Mukti gave Harshad a threatening glare.

She then turned to her band-mates saying ''Guys, I'm actually worried. Manik aisa kabhi nahi karta, he must really have gotten stuck somewhere''.
Alya huffed. She wasn't as giving as Mukti - ''I just hope that 'somewhere' isn't with Nandini. Because if it is, I'm not forgiving him so easily'' .

''Cut it out Alya. Let's go look for him now.'' Dhruv silenced his girlfriend, and the four rushed out.

Just after they left, A peon came in and gave Harshad a nod, saying in hushed tones ''Saab.. Kaam Hogaya''. Harshad smirked approvingly and gave him the promised money. He had asked the peon to slowly unbolt the classroom door which he had locked, as soon as Fab 5 got disqualified on stage.

''Unhe pata toh nahi chala?'' He whispered to the man.

''Woh dono ek dusre ke aankhon mein busy they Saab, kuch nahi pata chala'' the man assured him and left.

''Now, that I'm done taking away your music and friends, I've to take away your girl.'' Harshad muttered and rubbed his palms in glee.

He was leaving no stones unturned in the quest to break Manik Malhotra.
-----------

The door burst open and loud claps broke Manik and Nandini's eyelock.
''Wow Manik!! Wahan stage pe hum disqualify ho rahe the, aur yahan pe tu romance mein busy tha?'' Mukti's sarcastic tone penetrated the heavy silence along with the sound of her claps. Nandini dropped Manik's hand instantly and moved back.

''Tum log andar kaise aaye? Door toh..'' Manik asked looking in confusion at the door that wasn't opening sometime back.

''Oh, so you don't care that we got disqualified? You are rebuking us for entering the room?'' Alya asked, cutting him mid-sentence.''Alya, I didn't mean it that way.. What I meant was that ...'' Manik shook his head, trying to rephrase.

''Manik, this wasn't expected from you. Tu ne Nandini ke chakkar mein humara Musicana ka performance kharab kardiya? You have hurt us all big-time'' It was Cabir who cut him off this time. ''Guys, you really think I can do something like this? You know how important Musicana was for me too'' Manik asked, hurt at their accusations. They didn't even wait to hear what he had to say.

''We wouldn't say all this if we hadn't seen it with our own eyes. You brought us so much shame, Manik. The truth is you have changed. You don't care about us anymore. The only person you care about is Nandini!! '' Alya shouted, tears flowing down her cheek while Manik took a step back to register her charges.

Nandini looked at Manik's hurt face and intervened ''Guys, the door was jammed. That is why Manik couldn't reach in time. He was stuck here, it wasn't his fault''.

''Oh please, you gotta come up with a better excuse Miss Murthy. Hum ussi door se andar aaye hai, and it wasn't the least bit jammed. The only reason he was 'stuck' here was YOU!!'' Alya charged at Nandini now.

''I won't be surprised if this was all your plan to trap Manik. Waise bhi tum uss Harshad ke group mein hona, maybe you wanted this to happen...'' Mukti too started accusing her while Nandini stood shocked and taken aback.

''THAT'S ENOUGH!!! Nandini ke against ek aur word nahi sunna chahta main..'' Manik shouted at the top of his voice. He couldn't bear seeing Nandini getting shouted at for no fault of hers.
''Right, Ab iss ladki ke liye Manik hum se ladega. Guys, Let's just go.Manik doesn't need Fab 5 anymore'' Mukti stated in a hurt tone and they turned around and left without looking back. Her words were like a final stab to Manik's already devastated self. His tall figure slouched and hit the wall behind, and his expression was full of anguish, as he spoke ''It was all my fault. I can never do anything right. Meri wajah se mere friends ko kya kya sehna pada'' . He now scrunched up his eyes, as tears escaped from its sides. Nandini immediately ran and cupped his face ''Aisa nahi hai.. This wasn't in your hands.. Don't blame yourself for this'' She said, her own eyes filling up with tears. It was breaking her too, to see him in this aggrieved state.

''I am sorry, Nandini'' he suddenly said, opening his eyes and wiping the tears off her face.

''Sorry?''

''Because of me, you had to bear these false accusations. And now, because of me you're crying.. Maine kitna kuch plan kiya tha hamare liye aaj, but I only ended up hurting you.. I'm so sorry'' Manik replied, his voice shaking. Nandini shook her head, but before she could speak to console him, Manik grabbed her hand and led her out of the classroom.

----------

''Manik, where are you taking me?'' Nandini asked, as Manik dragged her along on the vast grounds behind the college building. Suddenly he jerked to a stop and gestured towards something. Nandini gasped as she looked in the direction he was pointing .

A large tree canopying over a beautifully set table, was decked up with twinkling fairy lights while lanterns hung from it, spreading a warm glow. Two high-backed chairs were placed on either side of the table and candles and more lanterns completed the romantic set up.

''Date under the night-sky'' Manik stated in a sarcastic tone. He had been so happy at how his quick dream date planning had turned out just some time back.

''Yeh plan kiya tha maine. But I spoiled everything..'' He continued, rebuking himself.

''This is so beautiful...'' Nandini said, and ran up to the set-up, admiring it. It was making her feel so special.

''I let down my friends and my music today and gave you tears and pain.This date has turned out to be disastrous, all because of me..'' Manik responded, looking at her regretfully.

''I understand, Manik. Par har baari apne aap ko har cheez ke liye responsible mat khada karo. Things were out of your control today. I'm sure when your friends realise their folly, they'll come back. Aur Musicana toh har saal aata rahega, haina?'' Nandini said, trying to make him stop his self-loathing. Manik half-smiled at her attempts to give him hope and shot her a greatful look, but today he couldn't stop detesting himself. He had wanted to make it all so perfect, and it had ended up just the opposite.

''That reminds me.. You have a performance too, today. Main nahi chahta ki main tumhara bhi performance kharab karoon. We should go.'' Manik said, looking at the time and turning around.

''Manik..!''

He didn't turn around - ''Nandini please, we should go''.

''Manik!!!'' This time her tone was more urgent, and full of panic and fear.
Manik turned back only to see Nandini's horrified expression and frantic movements. The fire from one of the lanterns placed on the floor had caught on to her dress and the flames were slowly getting bigger. Manik let out a scream ''NANDINI!!!!'' as he ran as fast as he could. The girl most precious to him was amidst blazing fire and his fear knew no bounds.
I won't lose you Nandini. Nothing can happen to you.
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