Fab5 looked at Abhi's hopefull face completely confused.

Aliya: What are you planning, Bhai?

Abhi: I am not planning anything, Aliya. I just have an idea. But I need all of your help for it.

Manik: What is it?

Abhi: Manik, since you guys have completed first song and it came out more than we, as in our company expected, we can hold a small celebration. Like only you five and Black Shinners. Nandini being the owner would have to come. Just agree to this, I will handle the rest.

Mukti: Are you sure it would work, Abhi?

Abhi: Even if it doesn't work, we will be atleast trying na.

Mukti smiled and looked at others. Except Manik the other three looked convinced.

Manik: Just don't ruin it more, Abhi.

Abhi: I won't. And Manik, when did you and Barbie became friends? How come I know nothing about it?

Abhi smiled widely but frowned seeing Manik's face falling down. He looked at others who mirrored the same expressions.

Abhi: What happened guys?

Dhruv: Nandini refused to accept their friendship, Abhi.

Abhi: But she herself accepted!

Manik: It was just to make you all believe that she has moved on. She didn't mean it.

Abhi: What! Ayiyappa! What is Barbie doing to herself!

Manik: Abhi, Relax. It is okay. I expected this from her. She is NM, who doesn't show her emotions and she knows I can break her shell that's why she always pushes me away.

Abhi remained silent, amused on how much Manik came to knew about his Barbie. He smiled faintly before taking their leave.

Later, Mr.Malhotra left for Pune after meeting Manik. Manik was in his room thinking about all the changes in his life when Cabir came there.

Cabir: What are you thinking?

Manik: Nandini.

Cabir: What did she do now?

Manik: She didn't do anything. It is just, Cabir! You know she was about to accept we were friends! Damn!

He yelled suddenly, feeling so excited which made Cabir laugh.

Cabir: You are so gone, Manik.

Manik: Shut up, Cabir!

Cabir: Okay. But on a serious note, Manik. You do effect her a lot. I guess you are going in a right direction.

Manik nodded and at the same time the other three came there.

Mukti: What are you two talking about?

Manik: Leave that, what are you doing here? I thought you went on a date with Abhi.

Manik teased turning her red then and there. The others laughed seeing her face including Manik.

Mukti: Manik! Shut up! Leave mine, you tell me, how are you going to convince Nandini for party?

Oh yes. Manik had completely forget about that. He looked at each one of them and he knew nobody had that much courage to go infront of Nandini and invite her for the party.

Manik: Leave that on me.

He assured, thinking of something with a slight smirk.

°°°

Nandini frowned. Ten minutes. It had been ten minutes Manik came in her cabin and instead of talking to her, he was busy talking on the phone.

And what frustrated her more was he was talking about all the rubbish things. She was sure it was either Cabir or Mukti on the other side.

From discussing Cabir's grocery lists, to Aliya's make up incidents, he was done testing her patience.

She cleared her throat again and this time Manik turned to her. She raised an eyebrow and he smiled at her fueling her anger more. Nervous, he hang up the call and sat straight.

Nandini: Done?

Manik: Yes. I mean no. You called me?

Nandini: You wanted to talk, Mr.Malhotra. You told Aman, right?

She gritted her teeth in anger which was enough for Manik to know he was over doing it. He cleared his throat nervously before turning serious.

Manik: Oh yes. Mam, We have decided to party this weekend and your presence is mandatory.

Nandini: Excuse me?

Manik: You are the boss, so you need to be there.

Nandini: Mr.Malhotra- I-

Manik: Be there.

Manik blinked his eyes, trying to convince her and was surprised seeing the approval on her face. He smiled but hid it before she could notice.

Manik: Sharp 8 p.m, I will text you the address.

There's going to be a time when I will be walking you to the party, Nandini. I promise.

Manik smiled seeing her rigid expressions. He knew she felt something for him too, and that was what made him more confident about his feelings.

Nandini: Y-You have some work?

She cleared her throat, cursing herself in her mind for stammering and Manik just shook his head.

Manik: I will leave now.

She nodded and he turned around to go. She raised her hand to stop him and he stopped suddenly. Starled, she took back her hand and he turned around.

Manik: You called me?

Nandini: W-What! No! Leave!

He nodded firmly, catching her lie then and there. However, it made him smile. She did call him. He had felt it.

Nandini: Suno!

Manik: Haa!

Nandini: I am coming to the party because  I want to, not because you asked me- so don't get ideas.

Manik: You are coming there and that's all that matters to me. So, Don't worry.

He smiled at her while she just stared at him without blinking her eyes.

The weekend was near earlier than Manik thought. The fact Nandini accepted to come to the party just on his one saying, shocked everyone. He was surprised to, but he somewhere knew she would accept.

Afterall, his ignorance had to show some effect. Currently, he along with Fab5 were at the club where they had decided to party. They had booked a side section of the club for privacy reasons.

Black Shinners were in some preparations and had refused to take their help. So, here they were, playing truth and dare.

Cabir spinned the bottle again and this time it landed on Manik who looked at him with a tight lipped smile.

Aliya: Manik, Truth or Dare?

Mukti: Aliya, Don't you know Manik Malhotra always takes dare.

Mukti winked at her, and looked at Cabir who winked back.

Cabir: So Manik, what are you taking?

Manik raised his brow asking what was wrong and they just shrugged.

Manik: Fine, Dare.

Cabir: Manik, your dare is to ignore Nandini until tomorrow morning.

Manik's eyes widened to which they all smirked.

Manik: Cabir! You asshole!

He shouted loudly making Cabir laugh this time. Before Manik could even deny the stupid dare, his eyes fell on the entrance where stood Nandini, adoring the black dress which hugged her curves perfectly.

Manik sucked a sharp breathe, making others look in the direction as well. Seeing him all lost, and not looking away, Mukti pinched his hand making him shriek in pain.

Manik: Mukti!

Mukti: Remember your dare!

Manik made a bad face and looked back at Nandini who was coming in their direction now. Cursing his fate in mind, he looked down at his mobile and heard footsteps nearing him.

Nandini on the other hand couldn't describe her irritation in words. Manik Malhotra was getting on her nerves now.

The nerve of this man! He wouldn't even smile at her now a days. Even when she visited their jam room, he would sit straight and ignore her like she never existed. While for Manik, he knew if he looked at her, he would end up smiling at her. Thus, he would just pretend to be busy.

Nandini reached near them and they all except Manik exchanged smiles. She looked at Manik, expecting a greeting but received nothing.

Nandini: Congratulations.

Manik knew she was looking at him and it broke his confidence more. He almost looked up when Dhruv replied on his behalf.

Dhruv: Ah, Thankyou Na-Mam.

Nandini: Nandini would do. We aren't in office so.

She shrugged, tearing her gaze to Manik again who had a small smile on her face. She didn't know if it was because he knew his ignorance was effecting her or because she allowed them to address herself as Nandini.

Nandini: Mr.Malhotra.

Manik: Yes?

Nandini: Can you please not look at your mobile when I am talking. I want to talk about something important.

Manik smirked but hiding it looked up after keeping his mobile in his pocket.

Manik: Say.

Nandini: Alone.

Manik: Miss.Murty, I don't think there's anything related to the album for which we need to talk alone and if it is about our deal, then let's not do it now. As you can see, we are partying right now.

Nandini: You!

Yeh dosti ham nahi todenge
Todenge dam magar, tera saath na chhodenge

Nandini's eyes went wide hearing the lines and she turned around in one swift moment, spraining her neck in the process but too overwhelmed to even acknowledge the pain.

There, on the big screen was playing a video of seven children playing and laughing together.

The seven of them - Black Shinners

Yeh dosti ham nahi todenge
Todenge dam magar, tera saath na chhodenge

She turned to the right and saw her friends standing in the dark, on their respective instruments.

Arey meri jeet teri jet, teri haar meri haar
Sun ae mere yaar
Tera gham mera gham, meri jaan teri jaan
Aisa apna pyaar
Jaan pe bhi khelenge, tere liye le lenge
Jaan pe bhi khelenge, tere liye le lenge
Sab se dushmani

She stared at the screen wide eyed where they were taking the trophy for winning the best band in their school. Nandini was just seven twelve that time and she wasn't even able to hold the trophy properly but still nobody told her not to hold it.

Yeh dosti ham nahi todenge
Todenge dam magar, tera saath na chhodenge

She looked back at them, as Abhi walked forward and came to her. All the past memories came rushing in her mind.

All the accusing glares, the words that still haunted her and his silence, which ruined her.

Logon ko aate hain do nazar
Ham magar dekho do nahi
Arey ho juda ya khafa
Ae khuda hai dua aisa ho nahi-

Before they could continue, Nandini palmed her ears and shouted stop. They stopped immediately and Nandini herself went ahead to break the projecter.

Abhi: Barbie-

Nandini: No Stop right there Abhimanyu Thakkar! What do you all want to prove by this huh? What do you all think, you will do all this, these decorations, this song and I will come running in your arms? Yahi socha tha!

She shouted loudly and they all came ahead to stop her but Nandini, she couldn't see or hear anything. The memories of her past had left her numb. The feelings she was running away from two freaking years had suddenly hit her like a truck again and it was so sudden, she couldn't even hold herself together.

Harshad: Nandu, Please calm down bacha. Atleast listen to us. We promise we won't bother you again.

Harshad pleaded with tears glistening in his eyes. He was helpless. He knew he was at mistake and he also knew he deserved anything but her forgiveness for everything he has done but he couldn't help but apologize to her.

Nandini: I don't want to listen anything, Mr.Murty! Get that straight into your head! And if, if anyone of you apologized to me again, I swear I will take my own life! So stay away from me!

With that, she stormed out of the club and Manik followed her immediately. Black Shinners stood numb hearing her warning.

Manik: Nandini! Nandini! Stop right there!

Nandini fumed in anger as she increased her pace. What was this man even doing now! He was ignoring her from days then why couldn't he do it now.

A shriek left her mouth as Manik grabbed her wrist from behind harshly and spinned her around.

She banged into his hard chest, her hair all over his face and his breath fanning over her face.

Manik: How dare you, Nandini!

Nandini: Leave me.

Her voice cracked and an angry Manik jerked her hard making her stumble.

Manik: Fine. That's what you want, right. You want everyone to leave you. But then what, Nandini? What will you do then? Do you want to stay like this for your whole life?

Nandini: What do you mean? What do you want to say!

Manik: What I want to say is until when! Are you going to hold onto your past and hurt your present for always?  Nandini, Please come out of it. It is high time now. The past, it is ruining you and I can't see that!

If it was two years ago, Nandini would have showered Manik with all the love for saying that but today, standing in the middle of the street with tears running down her cheeks, she could give him nothing expect that blank stare. As if understanding her pov, he stepped forward and cupped her cheek.

Manik: Forgive them, Nandini.

Manik let out a heavy sigh. It was not right. He knew he was asking her to do something he never wanted her to do but then, he couldn't even see her dying ever y bit.

However, his words baffled Nandini. Even though they didn't share any conversation on this topic, she knew he never wanted her to forgive them. She had seen him being bitter to Abhi after knowing her past.

Angry, she swatted away his hand.

Nandini: Stay away from me!

Manik: Nandini!

Nandini: No! I will die but won't forgive them.

Manik: Nandini Murty will you stop talking about your death!

He yelled in anger and she flinched away but Manik, he was too blind to see it in anger. He held her shoulders in anger and jerked her hard again.

Manik: And if you are so fond of dying then why don't you just go and die!? Just go and end it at once!

He left her with a jerk and she stared at him with her eyes wide as saucers. It took Manik another second to process his own words and when he did, he looked at her in horror. He opened his mouth to say something but before that she ran away from there leaving him numb at his place.

At the same time his friends came out. They looked at his blank face and then at each other.

Dhruv: Manik?

Manik didn't answer and it worries all of them. Cabir shook his shoulder and he blinked before turning to them.

Manik: I-I told her to die!

He mumbled, still in daze and they looked at him wide eyed.

Aliya: Manik! What happened?

Mukti: and where is Nandini, Manik?

Manik: S-She left.

Cabir: Where did she leave, Manik?

Manik: To Die?

He murmured again only to gasp out loud the next moment. Staring at them for a second, he ran away from there and they followed him immediately.

On the other hand, Nandini was walking on the road, all messed up.

All the past was flashing in her mind. Black Shinners Apology, Manik's words.

Did he really meant what he said?

She hoped he didn't.

But Alas! This was her reality. She didn't deserve love.

She didn't deserve him. She deserved to die.

Honk! Honk!

"Nandini!"

"Get aside, Nandini!"

"Nandiniii!!"

Nandini looked up only to gasp seeing the speeding truck coming in her direction. She stepped back and the truck collided with her the next moment taking away her breathe for few seconds.

"Nandini!!!!"

And that was all she heard before she felt the shooting pain in her whole body and blood in her mouth. Her head spinned and with her blury vision, she saw five people running to her and a hand grabbing her blood filled body.

To Be Continued.