Walking bravely on the streets in the nights, she was a sweet innocent fairy, away from the cruelty of the world she used to be very happy, one fine day she crossed path with a storm, she tried to dodge it but every attempt of hers failed, the storm caged her tightly and locked her in a coffin, all she was doing screaming for help but none came out for her help, she died right there only because she was more than innocent.

****

Kajal walked straight to Arnav with fury building inside her. She held his hand while he was looking elsewhere and as soon as he felt a touch on his body, he instantly looked straight and after finding her there a small smile crept on his lips.

Arnav : "Kajal..."..before he could express his immense happiness to find her there, she dragged him outside.

Kajal : "Now what are you up to?"..she shouted on him once they reach outside while he was all quiet.

Arnav : "It's good to see you too, Kajal.."..he murmured softly while she is shooting daggers on him.

Kajal : "Don't give me this innocent look as it makes you more witty and cunning.."..she spitted fire on him while he looked hurt.

Arnav : "Can't we talk normally without your hatred for me?"..he asked softly which made her eyes softened a bit but she consoled herself.

Kajal : "This hatred can never be erased Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada"..she curtly replied and this time he held her by her shoulder and looked at her furiously.

Arnav : "You really turned all your love for me in hatred?. Our love was never this weak Kajal"...his eyes are filled with only anger but there is an inch of pain in his voice while she looked unaffected by his words. She jerked him away and looked at him furiously.

Kajal : "You never loved me Arnav otherwise you would have never played with my feelings, otherwise you would have never slept with Mahira or rather to say Manik's ex.."...her venomous filled hit straight on his heart while she looks hurt beyond measure for the first time.

Arnav : "And I have already apologized for it okay"..he shouted on her as if his loud tone will prove him innocent.

Kajal : "Yes, you did and the very next day you provoked Manik to complete that stupid bet which you both had made on Nandini. You were never sorry Arnav, you are nothing but vindictive self-centered person.."...her statement really hurt him but he composed himself somehow.

Arnav : "But your hatred is for me only? Why this bias attitude Miss. Oberoi?"..he commented while looking at her angrily.

Kajal : "Manik is trying so hard to rectify his mistakes unlike you. Why the hell you showed up now after so many years ASR?"...she asked clearly and he walked a bit close to her with a evil smirk on his face which she really wants to brush off.

Arnav : "You always choose Manik over me, his remorse you have seen but mine you neglected. I loved you Kajal but my place in your life was always secondary. Nevertheless, Our story is ended by you so am not here to rekindle old memories. Excuse Me!"..he started walking away from her but she stopped him and he too stopped right there but didn't faced her.

Kajal : "What are you up to?"..she asked with worry for MaNan in her heart and this time he turned to face her and gave her his signature evil smirk.

Arnav : "That's for me to know and for you to dot. dot. dot..."...he answered vaguely and left while she is burning in anger there..

(P.S : I love this dialogue of Damon Salvatore from The vampire diaries, so I just put it here😋)

Small character sketch of Arnav Singh Raizada as may be it's hard for you all to remember who he was in book 1. Arnav was one of Manik's friends, who made a bet on Nandini with Manik that Manik will make her fell for him and sleeps with her and in the meantime Arnav will try hard to not let this happen.
In short Arnav is nothing but a cunning man who is somewhere responsible for the downfall of MaNan relationship.

***

Meanwhile, inside the venue everyone is gathered to witness the charismatic performance of the stars and heart beat of music industry who is going to share the same stage for the first time.

Manik and Nandini both sat down on the stage with Mike placed in front of them and Manik has his guitar in his hand, surprisingly it's the same guitar Nandini had given him 4 years back as a sign of true friendship.

"Manik" is beautiful engraved on that guitar in shiny bold letters, and his eyes are fixed on her whereas she is shining more than anything today. He can feel the intensity of passion in her body language today, from morning she is behaving all weird around him especially there is a constant never ending smile on her lips which makes her more beautiful than usual.

Nandini : "All the best partner"..she murmured to him very slowly and softly while Manik's eyes boring on her, analyzing her each and every action and reaction. He only wants to capture her in his eyes.

He tuned his guitar, the soft chords started creating an aura which none can resist and the passion in his body language is worth admiring.

Hona tha pyar
Hona tha pyar, huwa mere yaar..

He start singing in his soft yet so passionate tone which makes every single person droll over him literally while Nandini's eyes were stick on him only, that smile playing on his lips while he is singing is something she can watch all her life without any second thoughts, without asking for anything else.

Hona tha pyar
Hona tha pyar, huwa mere yaar..

He moved his gaze from guitar to her face only to find her eyes fixed on him in admiration, while he is trying his best to convey how badly he has fallen in love with her long long back may be even before he'd realized his feelings for her.

Aaye nazar chehre hazaar..

He closed his eyes and recalled her several cute, angry, smiley faces from their Beautiful past life, her carefree laugh, her hairs talking freely with the breeze, her eyes twinkling, illuminating light all over his dark world. Her teasing face, her mischievous eyes, he reminsced all her shades which he admires the most.

Hona tha pyaar, huwa mere yaar
Hona tha pyaar..

When he opened his eyes again, his eyes are filled with only happiness and pure Bliss, and a perpetual smile playing on his lips which makes him the most handsome man alive on this planet. While her eyes are still fixed on him as if she is trying to gauge his words and make her own estimation.

Tere dil ke sheher mein ghar mera ho gaya, ho gaya..

He looked at her suddenly with only love in his eyes and his that gaze on her caused goosebumps all over her body..

Sapna dekha jo tum ne woh mera ho gaya, ho gaya..

She start singing in her soothing voice, but her words made him recall that part of his life which made him "Rockstar Manik Malhotra", his every dream was her dream and how she fulfilled them for her is something he can't define in words.

Doobe to yoon jaise ho paar..

He held her hand and sang in high pitch tone, as he hit the highest chord every single person present in the hall started hooting for the incredible singer like him.

Hona tha pyaar, huaa mere yaar
Hona tha pyaar..

His soft smooth velvet like tone is something very rare to find in today's era where everyone is loving rock music, but he has set an example for all that soft slow music is something which can never loose it's charm.

Thaame dilon ki baahein, hum aate saalon mein, saalon mein..

He was busy in singing and drowning in her eyes while all she was able to feel is warm touch on her ice cold body, it feels like he is able to touch every nerve of her body.

Paaye jawaab hum ne tere sawaalon mein, sawaalon mein..

She sang to give him the much needed support in his well enhanced singing, meanwhile his eyes struck only on her and everyone else is only admiring the couple sitting in front of them in all their glory.

Khwaabon ki dor toote na yaar..

He started the line with high pitch tone and ended on a slow tone which made everyone admire his talent while she became his biggest fan today.

Hona tha pyaar, huwa mere yaar
Hona tha pyaar..

He completed the song with the two most soulful lines of the song which is written by both of them, as soon as he completed everyone gave a huge round of applause for the heavenly couple.

Meanwhile, their friends are only wishing happiness and love for them but still Cabir isn't able to accept this caring concerned filled side of Manik , and truly he isn't the one who should be blamed for this uncertainty as some one has rightly said once "Trust broken once is hard to fix afterwards."....

Nandini : "Manik!"..she called him after switching off the Mike. And he looked at her with a smile as a indication of you have my all attention please speak.

Nandini : "Wait for me outside the hall, I want to talk to you about something very very important.."..she said in hell nervousness​ tone and he looked confused, before he could ask anything she left from the stage.

****

After sometime, Manik is standing all alone in the garden and waiting for Nandini.

"Waiting for someone Mr. Malhotra?"..he heard a sharp manly tone which came totally unwelcomed to his heart as in a beat he recognized that awful tone without even turning around and face the person.

Manik : " Must say you've guts Arnav, despite of my open threat you dared to cross my path.."..he curtly replied after turning around and found Arnav standing there with a evil smirk on his face.

Arnav : "Actually I love you more than enough so your anger doesn't scares me."..his sugar coated tone made him feel disgusted.

Manik : "Listen Arnav we all are doing good in our lives and none requires you to be here. I advice you to step back otherwise I'll destroy you to that extent from where you won't even able to rise from ashes."..his threatening tone made Arnav chuckled a bit whereas Manik is serious as hell.

Arnav : "You write your dialogues on your own or you're paying someone for the job?".. he asked with straight serious face with a small mocking smile. But Manik didn't replied to him at all.

Arnav : "okay! I realised you write your own. Anyways! Am here to praise you, what a spectacular performance. Hands down bro!"..he bow down in front of him with both his hands down as well but Manik looks seriously pissed by his behavior.

Manik : "Arnav don't spoil my mood Please otherwise you won't be able to bear the consequences.."..he started loosing his calm but Arnav looks unaffected.

Arnav : "Well! You have spoiled my whole life Manik, can't I spoil your mood?.."..now his angst filled tone and hatred in his eyes is clearly visible.

Manik : "Look I know you accuse me for the broken relationship of yours and Kajal but I was never the reason, it was your less loyalty towards her which made her out of this bullshit relationship. And I supported her because she was right not because she was my childhood bestie. ".he tried to solve the dispute which laid 5 years back. But Arnav seems furious now.

Arnav : "Look who is giving lecture on loyalty?. Where was this loyal attitude of yours when you were deceiving Nandini?, Where was your this am always with the right thing when you were hell bent to pester life of such innocent soul Manik?"..he shouted on  top his voice which made manik stunned as if someone slapped him hard on his face and made him see that ugliest face in the mirror.

Arnav : "And if you have changed so much then what the hell you doing over here with her?, Hona Tha pyaar hua mere yaar.."..he mocked with those lines which seriously hurt Manik this time but he stayed silent..

Arnav : "Whom you are fooling? Her or yourself?, Accept it Manik Malhotra that you don't deserve a girl like her and she don't deserve a beast like you. Everyone think me as the most cunning witty person, Kajal hates me today and everyone does but Manik Malhotra I was really sorry, I remorsed every minute of my life where I was ditching a girl like her. But I didn't ever came back begging forgiveness from then, not because of my ego but because I knew am the Satan and I don't deserve to be in her life again. But what you doing? You are standing here, chilling around, fooling them again. Is this what we call loyalty?, No! It's not.."..

His words pierced in his heart and he felt like someone has opened all the wounds and filled salt in them, as if someone soaked oxygen from his organs and left him there hanging between life and death.

Arnav : "Don't fool yourself Manik, if you really love her,leave her and don't ever come back."..his voice lowered down while Manik is looking hurt beyond measures.. and Arnav left from there without even looking back to the shattered Manik.

*****

Hey pals! Guess where I am?, Am in Kashmir 😍😍. Heaven on Earth, it's my 3rd visit over here and it still feel like the first time I was here.

And even here am writing 🙈🙈, may be the serene beauty motivated me or may be your love for the story pushed me.

Don't forget to leave your valuable views, I may not respond but I'll surely read.

Loads of love and care
Your storyteller​ ❤😍