Nandini finally found Navya near the dance floor. She was laughing loudly for no reason, holding a half-empty glass in her hand.

Something felt... wrong.

Nandini quickly walked over to her.

"Buddy, let's go home."

Navya pulled her hand away.

"No way! The party has just started."

She pouted like a little child.

"I don't want to go home."

"Why?"

"What will I do after going home?" Navya laughed bitterly. "Become a referee again while my parents fight with each other?"

Her smile slowly disappeared.

"That house has everything... except peace."

Her eyes became watery.

"I can't study there... I can't even breathe properly. Those walls make me feel like I'm trapped."

She looked around as if searching for a way out.

"I don't want to go back."

"I want to go somewhere far away... where no one can find me."

Nandini froze.

Navya never talked about her family. She always smiled, joked, and made everyone laugh. Seeing her like this made Nandini's heart ache. She gently held Navya's shoulders.

"Buddy... what happened to you?"

Navya looked at her with teary eyes.

"I just want to live my own life."

Her voice cracked.

"I don't want my parents to treat me like a puppet."

"I want to be myself."

Before Nandini could say anything, Manik walked up to them.

"Someone mixed alcohol into the freshers' drinks," he explained calmly.

"She must have had one."

He glanced at Nandini.

"That's why I knocked your glass away."

"I wanted to explain... but you never gave me a chance."

Nandini lowered her eyes. She suddenly remembered everything she had shouted at him.

A wave of guilt washed over her. Before she could apologize, Navya spoke again.

"You should've listened to him, Buddy."

She pointed at Manik and smiled foolishly.

"He's a good boy."

Then her smile faded.

"Unlike my elder sister..."

"She finds faults in everything I do."

Navya laughed, but there was pain behind it.

"Being a girl is a curse."

"If I had a choice..."

She pointed at Manik again.

"I would've been like him."

"The brave knight."

Nandini gently pulled her closer.

"Enough talking. You're coming home with me tonight."

Navya's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

She clapped excitedly.

"That'll be fun!"

Then she looked toward the DJ.

"Hey! Why did the music stop?"

She raised both hands.

"Play Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai! I want to dance!"

Nandini grabbed her hand.

"Buddy, let's go."

But Navya pulled her hand away again.

"I don't want to leave."

Around them, many freshers were behaving the same way.

Some were laughing uncontrollably.

Some were crying.

Some couldn't even stand properly.

The entire hall had turned into chaos. Manik looked around and raised his voice.

"The party is over!"

Everyone slowly fell silent.

He turned to Cabir.

"Make sure everyone gets home safely."

His expression became serious.

"Especially the girls."

Cabir nodded.

"I'll handle it."

Manik walked over to Navya and gently held her left wrist.

"Come on."

"I'm taking you home."

Navya immediately tried to pull away.

"Leave my hand!"

She frowned.

"I don't like boys touching me."

She pointed a finger at him.

"You're lucky you're a good boy."

"Otherwise..."

She raised her tiny fist.

"I would've punched you."

Manik couldn't help smiling.

"I'd love to see those punching skills another day."

Ignoring her protests, he carefully guided her toward the exit.

Nandini quickly grabbed Navya's other hand.

"Where are you taking her?"

She looked at Manik suspiciously.

"Leave her hand."

"I said leave her hand!"

Manik sighed.

"Look at yourself..."

Then he looked at the struggling Navya.

"And look at her."

"If you try to take her alone, she won't move even one step."

His voice softened.

"Just tell me your address."

"Come with me."

"I promise I won't hurt either of you."

Before Nandini could answer, Navya interrupted them.

"No, Buddy!"

She shook her head dramatically.

"Don't trust boys."

"What if he takes us to a red-light area and sells us?"

Nandini folded her arms.

"Exactly."

"Why should we trust you?"

Manik closed his eyes for a second.

"Oh God..."

"Please give me enough patience to deal with these two."

Then he looked at Nandini.

"Please."

"Trust me just this once."

"You won't regret it."

Navya suddenly became quiet. A few seconds later, tears rolled down her cheeks.

"But I regret it..."

She whispered.

"I regret every single day of my life."

"My parents wanted a son."

"But God sent me instead."

"They were never happy."

"They'll never be happy."

"They always compare me with my elder sister."

"No matter what I do..."

"I'm never enough."

Nandini felt her own eyes sting. She had never imagined her cheerful best friend was carrying so much pain inside.

Manik spoke gently.

"Let's go."

But Nandini shook her head.

"No."

She hugged Navya from the side.

"Let her speak."

"She's been hiding all this for a long time."

Manik looked at the empty hall.

"Are we going to stand here the whole night?"

Nandini smiled helplessly. She wiped Navya's tears.

"I'll listen to everything."

"But first..."

"Come with us."

Navya pouted.

"I don't want to go home."

"You won't."

Nandini smiled softly.

"You're staying at my house tonight."

Instantly, Navya's mood changed.

"Really?"

She grinned.

"Then carry me."

She stretched both arms toward Nandini.

"Like heroes carry heroines in movies."

Nandini stared at her.

"Have you completely lost your mind?"

Navya's eyes filled with tears again.

"You are my best friend."

"Can't you do this much for me?"

She sniffled dramatically.

"Dost dost na raha..."

"Pyaar toh mujhe kabhi mila hi nahi..."

"And no one has ever understood me."

Manik rubbed his forehead.

"That's enough."

"I can't handle her drama anymore."

He bent down to pick her up. But Navya quickly stepped back.

"No!"

"I didn't ask you."

"I asked my Buddy."

Manik looked at the thin Nandini.

"Your Buddy doesn't have enough strength to carry you."

Navya nodded seriously.

"True."

"She's so skinny."

"I'm surprised the wind hasn't blown her away yet."

"Buddy!" Nandini shouted.

"Will you stop talking or should I slap you?"

Navya immediately covered her cheeks.

"Okay!"

"I'll stay quiet."

"I don't want your fingerprints on my face."

For the first time that night, both Nandini and Manik laughed. Together, they somehow managed to get Navya into the car.

Manik safely dropped them at Nandini's house. With great difficulty, Nandini took her sleepy best friend inside without letting her mother notice anything unusual. After that night, Nandini never met Manik again. But Navya did.

The first thing she did after returning to college was thank him for helping them when they needed it the most.

****************★******************
That's it. Hope you have enjoyed it. Next part is coming soon. Till then...
Take care
Bye
Nahar...😘😘😘