Nandini's POV

''Guys, When I said I've found the love of my life, I did NOT mean Manik Malhotra. I meant.. Harshad Saxena.''

The pindrop silence in the room after my statement made me inwardly shudder but I managed to maintain my composure. I have to finish what I started.
I held out my hand towards Harshad, who was smirking victoriously now.

''Harshad, can you please take me home? I'm tired of this crap''.
I wouldn't be able to hold myself together if I stay here a moment longer.

''Ofcourse baby'' Harshad stressed purposely on the word 'baby' and taking my stretched out arm in his hand, led me away. I hadn't looked back at Manik's face, because I knew if I did, I would break down right there.

''Nandini...'' A low shaking voice arose as I was about to step out the door. His voice. It felt like a stab at my already broken heart but I couldn't stop now. I limped faster and left the house. I hate myself . I hate my fate.

Harshad broke into a laugh as soon we entered my bedroom ''Tum ne Manik ka chehra dekha? 440 volt ka jhatka laga bechaare ko.. You did such a good job...''
''Leave my room this very minute'' I spoke each word clearly and firmly, not able to bear his revolting presence anymore as I weakly pushed away his hand. He chuckled but backed off, saying ''See you soon Girl-friend'' as he left my room.

As soon as he left, I dropped onto the floor, not caring how my injured legs hurt under my body weight. My heart was hurting worse. I began wailing like a child. He must have been so shattered. All because of me. He had such a beautiful smile on his face when he was confessing, and now I'll only be the reason behind his tears.

Each word of his beautiful confession replayed on my mind, and I wept harder, my body shaking like a leaf. I was supposed to be his shining star, but I only pushed him back into the darkness. I wish I had died in that fire yesterday. I wish I hadn't lived to see and hear what Harshad had to say.

Flashback:

''You are disgusting Harshad Saxena. You don't own me and I will never be yours.. Because I love Manik Malhotra. I am his and he is mine''. I had rebuked Harshad after he had proclaimed his love for me even as I lay bandaged on the hospital bed.

Harshad had only laughed and whipped out his phone, saying ''You have no choice, beautiful''.

On the phone's screen was a video clip of me, undressing in my bedroom. A gasp escaped my throat, and my cheeks starting burning in humiliation as I peeled off my clothes in the clip.

''W-when..'' I stammered, not able to speak. My throat had gone dry and my stomach churned painfully. He completed the question on my behalf in a mocking tone ''When did I take this?''
I didn't nod. My mind had become blank.

''On one of our Musicana practise sessions, I had slipped in your bedroom and put in a handy little secret cam. Infact, this is not the only video I have.. There are several others.'' He replied, with an evil glint in his eyes. I immediately tried grabbing the phone from his hand, but he withdrew his arm just in time and I missed it.

''No Use of trying to destroy my phone now. I have backup on my laptop'' He jeered at me.

The blankness of my mind was now replaced by red hot rage. He laughed again, looking at my nostrils flare out and my chest heave as I seethed in anger. ''Calm down darling. I only did this because I love you and want you to be mine.''

''I will NEVER be yours. Aur tumhe iss galti ke liye saza zaroor milegi. Main yeh Manik ko bataungi.. Tum jail jaoge'' I threatened him.

''Not so easy. Yeh video clips ko internet pe circulate hone mein zyaada der nahi lagenge. It will take just one click, and before you can even inform anyone of it, everyone will be having your nude videos. And just imagine.. Agar tumhaare Chacha-Chachi ko iss ke baarein mein pata chalega, unhe kitni beizzati jhelni padegi.. Not to mention the shame you will have to bear''.

My face drained of colour as I realised the implications of the pictures becoming viral. I would rather die than embarass and humiliate myself and my Chacha-Chachi in this way.
''What do you want?'' I finally whispered in desperation, my vision becoming blurry because of the tears that finally had found their way out.
''You.'' He simply responded.
I blinked away the tears and gulped as he sat extremely close to me, his hateful face an inch away from mine. My fingers clasped the sheet under me in reflex.

''I only want you to disown Manik Malhotra infront of everyone and become mine, only mine.'' He continued, his nasally voice sending shivers down my spine.

''You will rot in hell..'' I simply spat, because I couldn't decline him, my heart feeling like it had been battered to pieces.

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A hand on my shoulder made me jerk back to the present and I looked around only to find a perturbed Navya looking at me. I quickly dabbed at my wet cheeks with my sleeves, though I knew it would be of no use. My eyes that had turned red due to continuous crying were a dead giveaway.

''Nandu, main yeh nahi jaanti ki tumne Harshad ke liye jhoota confession kyun kiya. Par main yeh achi tarah se dekh hoon ki tum sirf Manik se pyaar karti ho aur yeh sab karke poori tarah toot gayi ho'' She said, helping me onto the bed. I felt grateful she wasn't asking me explanation for what I did.

''Aisa kuch nahi hai Navya.. Main theek hoon.. I was just crying because my legs hurt'' I replied, carressing my bandaged legs. ''Acha? Aisi baat hai toh tum aaj raat Musicana ke liye college aaogi na?'' Navya asked in a tone that clearly showed she was unconvinced and could see through my lie. I was about to refuse, because I couldn't bear to roam around with Harshad as his 'girlfriend', but then I realised as far as I knew him, he wouldn't be attending the event because he was an egoistical jerk and could never bear the humiliation of his own disqualification.

''Haan, I'll be coming'' I replied, flashing a fake smile at her.
Navya simply nodded and patting my arm gently, left. I knew she was very upset with what I was doing, but I also knew she would never leave my side and would be always there for me. As soon as she left, I worriedly limped towards my window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Manik. I very well knew Manik was capable of going to the extent of physically hurting himself when distressed, but the fact that his friends were there with him somewhat comforted me. They would never allow anything to happen to him. He wasn't in his bedroom. As I turned back dejectedly, I caught the site of my reflection in the mirror attached to my dressing table.

His words rang clearly in my ears as I approached the mirror.
'Scars or not, you were and always will be the most beautiful girl to me.'
I touched the fingers of my right hand, remembering how he had placed a gentle kiss there after that and my tears began running down again. He had vanquished my childhood insecurites and made myself feel so special and beautiful just yesterday. I couldn't bear to see myself anymore and I hung my head in self-loathe, when the glint of something caught my eye. My eyes darted to the decorative flower basket placed on my dresser . I buried my hand into it and pulled at the source of this glint - It was a small camera cleverly concealed amongst the artificial flowers and leaves. Harshad's camera with which he had done the terrible deed. It felt like my breath had been taken away and I doubled up, feeling so much of disgust, anger and pain. My knuckles had turned white because of the sheer force I applied on the device in my hand, and the next moment, out of mad fury, I sent the camera hurling towards the ground. I watched as it shattered to pieces.
Just like my world. Shattered.

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The college grounds were decked up like never before and there was a vibe of excitement in the air as the crowd worked up into a frenzy, ready to witness one of the grandest musical fests in the country - Musicana.

I could overhear a few students of SPACE discussing how unfortunate it was that the band they had placed their bets on - Fab 5 would not be performing. Afterall, it was them who had been walking away with the Musicana trophy for the past 2 years. And this year, they had been disqualified.

I'm pretty sure Fab 5 must be blaming me for what happened now, and I don't hold them liable. They had apologised to me for being rude but after I brushed off Manik's proposal, I doubt they will ever forgive me.

''Nandu.. Kahan ghum ho gayi ho? Dekho, performances shuru hone hi waale hai.'' Navya held my arm and led me safely through the crowd to a spot from where we could view the on-goings pretty well . Nyonika had introduced the judges and the bands already, and the opening act was being performed by a music band from Excel, one of the participating colleges. People hooted and waved banners in support as the disco lights flashed upon the assemblage. The beat of the music was catchy but I couldn't enjoy it like the others. The feeling of emptiness in me after my horrible morning was eating away at me on the inside.

After a while, Navya poked into my arm and shouted into my ear, her voice almost drowning among the noisy ambience ''Nandu, tum yahin ruko. Hum kuch der mein aate hai. Cabir ka message aaya hai aur woh hume backstage bula raha hai.''.
If Cabir has come tonight, Fab 5 must be here too. Would Manik have come too?

The desire to just see Manik overpowered any other feeling and I gestured to Navya that I'll join her too. She shot me a weird look, but I quickly pointed towards my legs and mouthed 'I need rest'. She then sighed and nodded. I knew she was probably tensed about me having to face Fab 5, considering the situation right now, but I needed assurance that Manik was okay. Nothing else mattered.

----------

Mukti and Alya noticed me first and gave me deathly glares. I could see they wanted to lash out at me, but something was stopping them. I ignored their scowls because the sound of his melodious laughter soon grabbed my attention. Cabir was messing around with Dhruv, and he stood there, adorably laughing at their antics, his hand on his waist and his eyes scrunched up in glee. He was dressed as finely as always in a deep orange tee paired with a leather jacket and white trousers, his hair perfectly gelled up and a Rolex watch on his wrist. This was least expected. Even though his happy state gave me some pleasure, it also pinched my heart.

Not even a day had passed. Had he moved on already? Was he not hurting because of our seperation like I was? Did it not affect him to see me walk away with Harshad, completely dismissing his proposal?

Navya approached them, after making sure I was comfortably settled onto a seat at some distance.
Cabir smiled and began speaking to her, and Manik then casually looked around, his smile fading as his eyes settled upon me. I was about to stand and walk away, not wanting to marr his happiness and remind him of pain but as fast as the smile had faded, it was back again on his face. He gave me a small friendly wave, and I did a double take. I looked closely. His eyes betrayed no pain, no anguish - instead, they settled on me with the same romantic intensity as it used to before the rejected proposal. He walked towards me, making my heartbeat race.
No. He hadn't moved on. The love for me in his eyes was intact. How?

''You look beautiful tonight'' he complimented me as he sat on his knees beside my chair. I just blinked blankly at him.

''Why do you look so shocked? Don't tell me you expected to see a heart-broken, anguished Manik today.'' He said, chuckling lightly. He then took something out of his pocket and slid it onto my wrist, making the hairs at the back of my neck stand up as his long fingers gently brushed my skin. It was a beautiful silver bracelet from which hung the symbol of a musical note tie. In musical notation, a tie is a curved line connecting two notes together.

''I got myself one too.'' He said, pointing to his own wrist from which hung a similar bracelet. I hadn't noticed it earlier because of the distance. ''I meant to give this during my proposal, but .. you.. forget it. Nandini, This musical tie now belongs to you and me and it will keep us tied together, Humesha.. Because our bond is eternal.''

''Manik... Why are you doing this?'' I finally blurted.

''Because, Nandini.. I love you. And despite what happened, I very well know that you love me too.''
My heart burst with joy and broke a little more at the same time.
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