At school

"i can't sing" navya for the 3rd time but nandini and cabir were not losing hope and were persistent.

"but problem kya hai?? You will sing with manik, i will be the drummer, Dhruv the guitarist and abhimanyu on the keyboard. It will be so much fun, yaar! Just say yes!" cabir spoke enthusiastically, hopeful of convincing her, and nandini looked between the both of them.

"cabir why don't you understand...when i am saying NO then please don't force me!" navya said and walked away from there. She was frustrated not because of cabir but because of her own helplessness. She knew they cared, probably, more than even her own family, but even then they won't understand if she tells them the reason behind her denial.

How will they? No, they won't...no one will...who would believe that her parents live in the 17th century and not 21st century, their thinking has not evolved. If they see her performing with only boys, it won't go down well with them. And may be they will send her to patna,her paternal grandfather's place, sabotaging her all aspirations and hope. If that happens even nandini and cabir will be of no help to her.

Nandini stopped cabir from going after navya. She told him to wait, as first she will talk. Cabir nodded and nandini ran after navya.

"navya!" navya heard nandini's low shout and stopped.

"nandini plz agar tum mujhe convince karne ayi ho toh.." navya was stopped in between by nandini.

"navya...meri baat suno..bas ek baar..tum mujhe problem batao...which is stopping you...please just trust me.." there was a plead in nandini's voice and navya's heart urged her to trust the girl who has been with her in her ups and downs, good times, bad times...without a complaint, without any grudges.

Navya held nandini's wrist and dragged her to a quieter place as whole school was out for practice in the free period. There was chaos and buzz, all around. They sat down on the steps and navya gathered courage to speak, while nandini waited patiently watching navya's expressions.

"nandini, meri family..." navya started to speak and nandini understood instantly the inner turmoil of navya.

So she stopped her "navya , i know , i understand, .." yes nandini had an inkling of the orthodoxy of navya's family. It was revealed in her talks and her manners. Navya was surprised to know that nandini knew but she kept quiet. "...navya dekho...ye song jo perform ho raha ye koi romantic song ni h...ye school ka anthem h...your parents should be proud to know that you were chosen for this...just think this way...and don't you think you should give it a shot...its such a big opportunity. When people will listen they will praise you and your parents will be proud of you...just shed the fear..yaar...wo add ni dekha tumne...darr ke agey jeet hai!!" nandini ended her monologue on a funny note and they both giggled.

Before navya could reply, they heard cabir , " aur agar tum kahogi toh main tumse 1 km ki distance maintain karunga! If that makes you say YES!" cabir said coming out from behind the door and stood right in front of navya. They both shared an eyelock, navya felt embarrassed that cabir heard about her family problem but on the other hand she felt happy knowing that it was his goodness that he didn't express his view about it or judged her.Nandini's rant broke their trance , "cabir!! You were eavesdropping on us??"

Cabir smirked and said "if a not-so-boys-topic would have come up, i would have palmed my ears!"

Nandini rolled her eyes while navya looked down contemplating. Cabir again turned towards navya "so miss navya naveli...will you give me a chance??" it was an innuendo from cabir and as navya's eyes expressed hesitancy he quickly corrected his question, "i mean my band , of course!" cabir said very innocently and nandini shook her head in amusement.

Navya looked at cabir (his eyes, which shone with hope) and then at nandini (whose eyes held urge for her to be strong and fearless) and then she looked back at cabir and then a slight nod accompanied by a faint "yes" , made cabir and nandini jump at their places. Both shared a hi-five on their achievement.

"ok! I gotta go and share the news with rest of them! Bye..." cabir spoke and hurriedly moved towards the door but stopped abruptly and turned around and spoke, "navya!" when she looked at him , he said "thank you!" and ran away. Navya was feeling happy that she could make him happy with just a yes. And she stared after him as he walked in a carefree manner.

Nandini observed that and so said , "navya...he loves you..you know that right?" navya turned nervously towards nandini , "how can you be so sure?" she asked hesitantly.

Nandini smiled and replied, "he was dating 3 girls at a time when he first laid his eyes on you and ever since then he has been single. What do you think is the reason? You and only you"
It felt good to hear that but reality was not all rosy rosy and navya was quite aware of that so she chose to be silent.
...

"guyz!! Problem solved..." cabir announced walking in the music room.
"which problem?" manik asked as he had a number of them seeking his attention.
"of course the one i am capable of solving..." cabir spoke suggestively to manik and then continued "navya has agreed to sing with us"
"wow finally!" Dhruv breathed and the other two sighed.
"and how did you exactly manage to do that?" manik asked
"with nandini's help" cabir could have given some other answer but he chose not to and manik's face was worth watching. Cabir knew the exact words that would be playing in manik's head...akhir chal kya raha h in dono k bich?...thinking that cabir suppressed a smile and moved ahead to talk about other stuff.
...

In the bus
Same day

Nandini noticed that manik was aloof from the group and most importantly from her. She tried to talk to him but he had closed his eyes and was lying back against the seat. She sighed helplessly. It had been quite some time that they had a proper conversation , all thanks to the annual function preparation. She would be busy elsewhere and there would be no sign of him anywhere, when she would be free.

Cabir noticed manik's stance and he understood the reason. So he devised a plan in his mind and immediately put it into action.

"manik!" cabir spoke shaking manik by his shoulder.

"ha kya hua?" manik asked slightly irritated.

"navya needs to tune up to our style yaar...chalna ek song ho jaye?" cabir spoke taking both navya and manik by surprise.

"i will have to sing too?" navya asked nervously.

"yes thora sa" cabir said cutely and nandini rolled her eyes while navya felt that she was blushing.

"but which song? Mujhe koi gaana yaad ni h" navya said and manik too nodded. Cabir smiled and gave manik a paper. Manik read it and looked at cabir inquisitively , then whispered leaning towards cabir "tu chahta hai main ye song tere lye gaun??"

Cabir smiled "ni hamare liye" and he gestured towards him and navya and manik and nandini.

Manik thought that this is a good idea, if not in prose, at least through lyric he could convey his feelings to nandini. His eyes , as if ,of its own accord, travelled towards nandini's face as she stood up along with the others to face him. She looked anxious, may be because of his ignorance, so he thought of lightening up her mood and signalled a thumbs up to cabir. Navya took the paper from manik and Dhruv took out his guitar.

Tere dar pe aake tham gaye
Naina namaazi bann gaye
Ek dooje mein yun dhal ke
Aashiqana aayat ban gaye Main aur Tum

Manik started singing closing his eyes.

Kaisi dil lagaai kar gaye
Rooh ki rubaai bann gaye
Khaali khaali dono thhe jo
Thoda sa dono bhar gaye Main aur Tum

He opened his eyes and directly looked in her eyes.

Chalo ji aaj saaf saaf kehta hoon
Itni si baat hai mujhe tumse pyar hai
Yunhi nahi main tumpe jaan deta hoon
Itni si baat hai mujhe tumse pyar hai
Chalo ji aaj saaf saaf kehta hoon
Itni si baat hai mujhe tumse pyar hai
Mujhe tumse pyaar hai..

Nandini was thinking, is he really confessing or its just a song? Aiyappa!'

Lage na yeh dhoop zaroori
Lage na yeh chaanv zaroori
Milte hain ishq zameen par
Ab do hi naam zaroori Main aur Tum
Apna khuda bhi hoga
Apna hi Rab le lenge
Khud ki bana ke duniya
Ye zindagi jee lenge Main aur Tum
Chalo ji aaj saaf saaf kehta hoon
Itni si baat hai mujhe tumse pyar hai
Yunhi nahi main tumpe jaan deta hoon
Itni si baat hai mujhe tumse pyar hai
Mujhe tumse pyaar hai..

Cabir signalled navya to start.

Ek tum, ek main, teeja maangu kya khuda se
Dil doon, jaan doon, kya doon itna bata de
Tera mera rishta hai saanson se bhi naazuk
Tum sa, hum sa, koi duja na hoga na hua re
Do dil sa ik seene mein hai jaise Main aur Tum
Ab dono hum ik jeene mein hain jaise Main aur Tum

Manik and navya sang together.

Jaan se zyada chaha tumko piya re
Harpal, hardum, humdum tumko jiya re

Manik continued solo and navya took a breathe of relief.

Aaj saaf saaf kehta hoon
Itni si baat hai mujhe tumse pyar hai
Yunhi nahi main tumpe jaan deta hoon
Itni si baat hai mujhe tumse pyar hai
Chalo ji aaj saaf saaf kehta hoon
Itni si baat hai mujhe tumse pyar hai
Mujhe tumse pyar hai.

As manik finished, the bus sounded with loud claps and hoots.

Nandini felt like she was in a trance, in some other world where her dream had turned to reality but the noise brought her back to this REAL world.

Cabir heard navya singing live for the first time and he was beyond happy. He could have hugged her and praised her to no end but he just said "you sang really well navya!"

Navya thanked him and she was happy to know that she was good enough as a singer, as other students, seniors and juniors , too, praised her.
...

As her stoppage arrived, nandini got up and said a bye to rest of them and moved towards the bus door. Manik thought of following her and informed the same to cabir. Cabir gave a naughty smile and manik punched him lightly in the stomach, making cabir laugh a little more.

As nandini got down, she saw manik too coming after her.

"why did you get down here?" she shot her question right away.

"i though we live in a free country and so i can get down anywhere" manik gave a sarcastic yet evasive answer.

"that knowledge dawned upon you too late , i guess, because you never got down here before" nandini gave back equally.

"i am many things that i have never done before" manik muttered but she heard that.

"and what are those things manik?" she asked , her eyes twinkling.

"like i am studying in std xi...isn't that a first?" manik joked.

"yeah, definitely" nandini said making a ridiculous expression "even reading organic chemistry is a first!"

Manik laughed "you are so intelligent!" he said.

"manik! Be serious" she ordered and he stopped laughing.

"ok ma'm" he said and nandini rolled her eyes.

"tum btaoge why did you get down here? Tumhari family se kisi ne dekh liya toh?" she was curious due to his behaviour. He looked so carefree. What is wrong with him?

"i am telling you nandini...tum itne question puchti ho...tumhe lawyer ban jana chahye!"

"ok i will keep quiet!" she said acting hurt, trying to emotional blackmail him.

"arey yaar! I wasn't scolding you...tum sad q ho gyi...acha ok i am sorry!" he said apologetically and nandini started laughing on his cuteness.

"acha jee toh mujhe buddhu banaya jar aha tha!! Tum na...arggh...i wish hum akele hote and not on road...tab main tumhe batata...!" he spoke threateningly, but that threat of his made nandini's heart skip a beat. Did he just give me a seductive threat?? What has happened to him! This is so unlike the manik i know...yet i am liking it.

She couldn't answer back and they walked ahead in awkward silence.

Manik was thinking, did i say too much? Ab bol diya toh bol diya...wapas toh ni le sakta words! But her expression was priceless. She wasn't expecting such a response from me. in a way i liked it.

Manik smiled to himself and so did nandini.

After dropping her home, he walked ahead to his home.