~New and Updated Version of PROLOGUE~

Mumbai- Land of dreams; for someone whose dreams are fulfilled after they take their steps here, it lives up to its name - Khawabo Ka Seher. But for those with broken wings and souls, it's just a grave of the living.

Draped in the silvery glow of the full moon, Mumbai was sleeping in peace but some eyes were still wide awake cause they fear the dreams, the nightmares that entered their mind while their eyes closed.

They are five such souls wide awake in the shivering cold of the night wind, besides the beach, near their farm-house; two girls and three boys. All dressed in pajamas they were doing just one thing; thinking with eyes closed. And every mind was brewing the thought of the same.

The wind each time it blows carries the pieces of someone or the other and the wind that blew across them, with it took a paper; the announcement to the first debut concert of the Musical band called "FAB5". In the end, was the date of the next day evening.

A boy finally opened his eyes and saw the paper blowing away. Dressed in his cartoon characters pajamas, he looked all sort of childish but his eyes in the darkness shone with maturity. He chuckled breaking the retrieve of the other four.

"What's so funny, Cabir?" the feminine voice was soft and whispery yet loud in the silence of the endless night. Dressed in her pink cotton pajamas, and a shawl wrapped tightly around her she looked at the boy Cabir, waiting for his answer. Her hair blowing with the wind giving her beauty a grace.

"Just the fate," Cabir replied shifting his gaze at the full moon of the night casting its glow in the water making it shine with it. " Ironic it is how tomorrow, we, the FAB5 have such a big day. Our dreams are getting a flight but it feels like the night should never end."

"Maybe what the heart wants is not here so, " she replied following Cabir's line of gaze and looking at the sky but instead of the moon, her eyes were on the stars. Just then, a cool breeze blew making her shiver while tears glistened her eyes.

A warm hand was wrapped around her and she let herself fall in the warm embrace of the man she loved. Dressed in the simple night clothes too, he looked all perfect to her. How he carried his innocence, his calm nature calmed her fears. When he embraced her, she felt safe and burdenless.

"Alya, she is at a better place," he whispered for which she just hummed and snuggled more to his body warmth. But was she? No one knew. His eyes too moved to the stars.

"Delusional you are Dhruv. " came the reply from the girl a little far from him. Dressed in similar clothes as Alya but of dark blue color which looked all sort of black in the night glow. Her long dark hair blowing with the wind, irritating her.

Bringing her shawl closer to her, she looked at the sky but her eyes neither saw the bright moon which seemed to be shining slightly more than usual or the stars twinkling for her attention, she just saw the darkness beyond it.

"Lost she is in the world far from the beauty of the light, somewhere in the dark. Beyond our reach, she is lost in the shadows of the past, selfish she is to leave." she read the lines from the small dairy that she carried with herself whenever she missed her yet did not want to say the same.

"She left us Dhruv. Wasn't she the one whom you called a fighter, but she left like a coward," she shouted breathing heavily. "She left leaving us alone, leaving me alone."

"Mukti, Calm down. " A hand draped around her pulling her in a warm embrace. Caressing her head, he let her hide her face, her tears, her sobs in his hold, and let go when he felt she have controlled herself.

"She left for good Mukti. Not our but her own and we know as well as you that she can never be selfish. " He spoke softly, his eyes too fixed in the dark.

"Manik is right Mukti. She never left you guys alone. She gave you what you cherish the most. She gave you FAB5." came the reply from behind them all. "She dreamt of tomorrow, the day her band, her creation will take their first step towards their dream."

"Maa, you didn't sleep?" asked Dhruv. She came closer and ruffled his hair for which he made an irritated look and whined and Alya chuckle. "Maa.."

"How could I when my children are wide awake? A mother's heart gets frantic with a child's wild thoughts," she said.

"Oh please Maa, I know you were spying on us and wanted to know if we are having fun without you," Cabir replied with an eye roll.

"You got me at that Cabir," she replied with a wink while others shake their head. Who will say The Neonika Malhotra, the owner of MM empire, trustee of SPACE Academy, the hot-headed lady with a persona of a cruel businesswoman was capable of joking with her children.

Fab 5 shook their heads at their mother who was trying to lighten the atmosphere.

"So, let's play a game. Shall we?" Neonika asked for which her children thought to tease her and started to at like thinking. After a few moments of silence, they chorused, "Noooooooooo"

"You kids are mean. " Neonika pouted making Fab5 laugh heartily. The first today.

They all decided to argue among themselves with the different suggestions of some now old games like Never have I ever, Antakshari, Truth, and dare, they all decided to end the discussion when Neonika but in.

"Come on guys, we aren't playing Antakshari. This Mukti will win. She knows songs more than us as star used to listen to so many songs and this girl was always there to listen. So drop it." Cabir reasoned out.

"Also, no never have I ever. I and Dhruv with our star have done almost nothing adventurous. While Mukti has done sth which should not be done too, so nope." Alya too voiced out.

"And truth and dare is out of options with brain-like Mukti and Cabir with the ideas of umm...star," Manik whispered the last part but they all decided not to dwell on that.

"What's with this Mutki and Star? You guys are blaming me for every game okay. TO clear your confusion, there should be Manik's name in each place instead of mine. From morning to evening, day or night, they were the ones who were side by side like pasted by glue." Mukti retorted.

"Okay okay, times up." Neonika interrupted, "Let's do one thing. Lets' describe FAB5's star..."

Before Mukti could comment, neo continued, " But with a musical one-liner."

"Like?" Alya asked.

"Like, if I have to describe about her facial features then I will sing ..." Neonika thought and sang, "Ye kali kali Aankhen, ye gore gore gaal,"

FAB5 looked at her in disbelief.

"That's ridiculous Maa," Mukti commented.

"Yeah yeah me and my ideas are always ridiculous to you. Who cares I am the owner of such a multinational company?" mom's can be sarcastic too.

"Come on Maa, you as well as we know that if such ideas are presented in business, you will go in loss."

"OH hello, I have been getting 'The Businesswoman of the Year' Award continuously for 3 years now." Neonika raised her imaginary collar making others sigh.

They for sure developed this self-appreciating trait from Neonika only.

Just then all of their mobile's pinged with a message,

"Rock the stage FAB5. Your star is with you always."

They all shared a look before looking up above towards the sky, all-seeing something of their own. Be it stars, darkness or moon, or its scars.

Neonika cleared her throat, "So let's do the work we came here to do." They nodded.

Neonika started pouring some drinks in small cups while FAB5 did work of their own.

Dhruv and Alya took out the lanterns while each of them lit a lantern of their own and set in the sky.

Again, they all too just one extra lantern and hold it from all sides before letting it fly to the sky and wished.

"Happiness I ask for the ones who gave me a family," whispered Cabir.

"A Forever I ask for the love and friendship." Alya wished.

"Togetherness I ask of us, always" Dhruv wished.

"Show me the path..." Mukti thought like always. "A path to sanity and strength. Away from this fear."

"I ask from you just one thing Manik," her voice rang in his mind, "Never let FAb5 break."

"Forgiveness I ask if I fail," he whispered.

Neonika was looking at the teary eyes of Alya and Dhruv, the sad smile of Cabir, the solemn expression of Manik, and finally, the blank face of ever chirpy Mukti. Blinking back the tears in her eyes she gave them each a cup and raised a toast.

"To the memories."

They repeated after her.

"To the memories."

Here's to the ones that we got
Cheers to the wish you were here, but you're not
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
Of everything we've been through
Toast to the ones here today
Toast to the ones that we lost on the way
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
And the memories bring back, memories bring back you

"I feel like it will all be over."

"Cabu, always remember that you are tied to me from the Rakhi that I tie in your hands. It an invisible bond- the one that can win over death."

There's a time that I remember when I did not know no pain
When I believed in forever, and everything would stay the same
Now my heart feel like December when somebody says your name
'Cause I can't reach out to call you, but I know I will one day, yeah

"Is there any forever?"

"Alya Saksena, if I ever write a book on friendship, our friendship will be the ship and I the shipper. And till at least one shipper remains, the ship exists."

Everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody hurts someday, ayy ayy
But everything gon' be alright
Go and raise a glass and say, ayy

"It's easy to make friends but difficult to keep the friendship."

"If so Dhruv, then consider me a character of one of your books- a little funny, a little idiot, a little adventurous, a little emotional, and a whole lot of friendliness. That way you will keep our friendship always with you like you keep your books."

Here's to the ones that we got
Cheers to the wish you were here, but you're not
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
Of everything we've been through
Toast to the ones here today
Toast to the ones that we lost on the way
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
And the memories bring back, memories bring back you

Doo doo, doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo
Memories bring back, memories bring back you

"I hate you."

"Feelings are mutual Mukti ."

There's a time that I remember when I never felt so lost
When I felt all of the hatred was too powerful to stop (ooh, yeah)
Now my heart feels like an ember and it's lighting up the dark
I'll carry these torches for ya that you know I'll never drop, yeah

"Like Mukti says, Your own thoughts will ruin you. "

"Haww Manik, Don't spend more time with that best friend of yours, that idiot is brain-washing you against me."

Everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody hurts someday, ayy ayy
But everything gon' be alright
Go and raise a glass and say, ayy

Getting lost in the memories for a few minutes they remembered her and her maturity, her smile, their friendship, and her absence.

Here's to the ones that we got (oh)
Cheers to the wish you were here, but you're not
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
Of everything we've been through (no, no)
Toast to the ones here today (ayy)
Toast to the ones that we lost on the way
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories (ayy)
And the memories bring back, memories bring back you

Calling it a night, they retired to their rooms with just two thoughts in mind;

Concert and FAB5's Star.

Doo doo, doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo
Memories bring back, memories bring back you
Doo doo, doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo (ooh, yeah)
Memories bring back, memories bring back you yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, doh, doh
Memories bring back, memories bring back you

Old version first Published: April 22, 2018

New versions Published date: December 5, 2020

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CrazyButSweetReader