24th December 2016

Nandini didn't sleep last night. She was thinking of everything Manik said and what happened in the end. She unknowingly had fallen for his charm and was hurting because she let her guard down for a person not worthy of her love. She was hurting because he betrayed her, because she felt used, because she had fallen in love with a man she couldn't trust. She didn't want to check the papers knowing what would be in them.

MANIK AND HIS MYSTERY GIRLFRIEND... Who is she and what were they doing? P.6 (e!Music)

MANIK's NEW ROMANCE with a FAN. p.7 (Music is Entertainment)

NEW LOVEBIRDS IN TOWN? MANIK and WHO? P.5 (Music India scene)

Manik was holding all the music and entertainment magazines in his hand which were placed on his breakfast table. They all reported the incident on the elevator with Nandini. He knew that this would have been the worst morning for Nandini. He had never met a girl so real, so pure and so honest as Nandini and he had fallen for that realness in her. She saw him for more than the world saw him as. She saw him beyond the star that he had become by virtue of his success and fame. He felt like she was his star, and he was in someway intertwined to her light. He felt that he should have expressed his true feelings to her before attempting to kiss her, he felt responsible for the media mayhem that would destroy her personal life.

As Manik was having breakfast, Cabir, his confidant and band drummer walked in to the dining area of the room. Cabir noticed that Manik was lost in thought.

Cabir: Whats up dude? Which world are you in?

Manik spoke without even thinking...

Manik: Nandini...

Cabir: Who Nandini? the magazine girl?

He saw Manik looking at his own photo with a girl in one of the magazines.

Manik: Nothing. I was just worried for her.

Cabir: Oh that, forget it bro, the media will get over it.

Manik: I have to go....

He said and got up.

Cabir: Dude, the media will follow you causing more trouble to that girl. Let me help you.

Cabir called the makeup artist, costume designer and band member, Alia to the room.

Cabir: You know you look great the way you are and trust me when I say you do... but now, you need a new look. A look that I don't necessarily appreciate very much, but it will help you. You my friend are going to become ManikA, the woman!

Manik: Are you mad? I can even call her and ask her to cone here, you know.

Cabir: She is probably still very angry... won't come.

Alia: You will look good as a girl Manik. Haha....

Cabir: Come on Manik, don't you want to meet the elevator girl?

Manik: Fine...

Alia: You love her don't you? The Manik I knew would never do something like this, not for me, not for anyone else.

Manik: Alia, look, we... I am sorry.

Alia: Dont apologize Manik. I get it, we both have grown apart in that sense. Ok, we don't have to make you a woman, I have better ways to make you unrecognizable!

Manik: Thank you Alia.

Alia dressed Manik up in a mundu with a a purple shirt that Manik Malhotra would never wear. She stuck on a moustache and combed his hair with some oil. A totally changed Manik. She gave his some cheap ( for Manik's standard) sunglasses to wear with his look.

Both Alia and Cabir took photos to show Mukti and were laughing seeing Manik wear such things for a girl.

_____

Nikita walked in to check up on Nandini after reading the news of her and Manik.

Nikita: Is it true Nandu? You and the Manik Malhotra?

Nandini: Leave me alone Nikita. I hate him, please.

Nikita: I don't know what happened, but you should talk to him.

Nandini talk to him, I don't want to hear his voice again.

Nikita: The more you keep sitting here, the more you are going to keep thinking and sobbing. Come lets go.

She pulled Nandini with her and decided to take her with her to a business meeting, scheduled for 9:00AM at the Viva hotel (Manik was staying there).

Nandini: Not here, please.

Nikita: Don't throw tantrums.

Nandini: I have to get back home by 11. The wedding is at 12:30. Navya will be annoyed if I am not with her.

Nikita: Promise, I will get you back home by 10:30. Now come.

Nandini got off the car and walked with her. The entered the elevator and memories started gushing in.

Nikita: The meeting is on the 2nd floor lobby, I just have to get something. I will be back. You go ahead ok.

Nikita walked out quickly leaving Nandini in the elevator alone. The door closed, but Nandini was lost in her own world and didn't press 2. The elevator stood at the ground floor until someone from another floor pressed for it to go up.

It stopped at the 4th floor, and a man wearing a mundu, purple shirt and very oily hear walked in. Probably a wedding going on here, Nandini thought.

Manik was happily shocked to see her.

Manik: Which floor, ma'am?

Nandini came back from her dream world and said: 2.

Her voice, her every movement made Manik was thug her and scream that he was sorry. She was flustered and lost, and she dropped her bag when Manik spoke and asked her which floor she wanted to go to. His height, his body, his voice, his features all seemed very familiar to her. Am I imagining everything and everyone around me to be him? She thought. He bent down to help her pick things up from her bag. Their hands met, his touch felt familiar.

Nandini: Manik...

She said to herself, but Manik heard her.

Manik: Who? That singer?

Nandini: You know him?

Manik: No, but the girl I love mentioned his name.

*Tring* 2nd floor

Nandini smiled politely and was about to walk away into the 2nd floor, but she tripped. Manik scooped her into his arms, preventing her from falling.

Manik: I think you and the girl I love will get along well. We are going to Manik's concert tonight. Hope to maybe see you there...

Nandini walked away without answering the strange yet familiar man.

Manik stood there, again missing the opportunity to express himself to her. He went back to his room, and got out of his up-do.

Nikita came soon after and asked her why she looked like she had seen a ghost.

Nandini: I feel like I hear Manik and see him everywhere.

Nikita: Signs of love, and believe me when I say you are not the only one imagining him to be everywhere!

Nandini: But its driving me insane.

Nikita: Only one way to solve this. We have to meet him.

Nandini: Maybe its better to clear things out with him, I can at least live peacefully. But... where can I find him? and even if I do, I could never get close enough to talk.

Nikita: I have VIP passes to his show, remember?! but first, lets get this meeting done with and head to Navya's wedding.

_____

All Nandini's and Navya's family were present at Navya's wedding. Navya was wearing a bright red and gold sari with antique gold jewel. Nandini was wearing a peacock green sari. The groom Aryaman, was dressed in a traditional south Indian mundu. The priests performed the ceremony and declared that Aryaman and Navya were now married. Everyone including Nandini congratulated the couple and retried to their respective rooms after lunch on a banana leaf.

____

Nikita forced Nandini to borrow some of her leather outfits for the concert.

It was around 9PM and Fab 5 walked on to the stage one by one and the crowd erupted. As soon as Manik held the mic, all Nandini could hear was MANIK, MANIK, MANIK...

Despite his stardom, he was so sweet to me, yes a little bit self obsessed, but definitely a good guy, Nandini thought. His amplified voice pierced through her as he addressed the audience.

Manik: This song is dedicated to someone I hurt, someone who means the world to me, but I let them down. This one is for you, and I know that what we shared together has brought you here to listen to this song, so here it goes: 'I am sorry.'

I am sorry for dressing up differently just to talk to you...

I am sorry for wearing that purple that might have scared you...

Nandini realized that the man she met in the elevator today was intact Manik and that she was not imagining things.

I know that you felt what I felt that day...

So, don't push me away...

Nandini was in tears. Manik's eyes searched for Nandini in the crowd, and he spotted her wearing a black leather jacket.

I am sorry for what my life brought onto you...

I didn't mean for any of that to affect you...

But I believe that you understand me now...

I don't know when or how...

but...

I love you...

The crowd erupted again, and Nandini ran away from Manik's eyesight. He left his guitar on the stage and jumped into the crowd to find her, only to be stopped by the many people trying to get selfies with him. He knew that he had lost the only opportunity he had. How was he to find her, she wold probably go back to Dubai soon. He didn't know anything else about her and he too had to go back to Mumbai soon.

31st December, 2016

Nandini was leaving Bangalore to head back home to Dubai, and Manik was heading back to Mumbai the next day.

Nandini bid farewell to her family, and with a heavy heart entered the airport knowing that she could never meet him again. How stupid can be, I should have spoken to him. He said sorry in front of so many people, and I didn't have the courage to speak to him.

*Announcement: The Air Flight 123 to Dubai has been cancelled due to weather situation in Dubai. Passengers are advised to meet with our staff to make necessary arrangements.*

Nandini walked to the in airport counter of the airline, but the line was very long. She waited and eventually her turn came.

Counter lady: Good evening ma'am. We are sorry for the inconvenience, but we are providing accommodation for our business class passengers at Viva Hotel.

Nandini being the honest girl that she is said:

Nandini: but I am in economy class.

Counter lady: Oh I am new, its my first day...

Her manager walked out to the counter and spoke to Nandini.

Manager: Sorry for the confusion ma'am. Since, our employee has already added your name to the list staying at Viva, if you wish to stay there, we could arrange for your stay. We would also accommodate you in our business class flight for the confusion.

Nandini: Thank you.

She was taken with the business class passengers to Viva hotel, and yet again she was in tears thinking of Manik. It is miraculous why my flight got cancelled, I was mistaken for a business class passenger and I am now here... The very place I met him. This must be why they call this the magical season! It must be destiny drawing us together. It was around 11:45, but she waited for every other person to go in the elevator and took it only when it was empty hoping he would hop in like the times before. She pressed every floor hoping that he was staying here and that he would walk in.
1 passed...

2....

3.....

4.....

5....

6.....

7....

8.....

9.....

and 10....

There walked Manik, his bare torso wet, and he was clothed only in his swimming shorts. Yes again, Manik entered the same elevator, but this time, they were not strangers, they weren't stuck, but they were two people in love who just had to say those words to each other.

Manik: Nandini?

He said smiling.

Nandini: I was hoping to find you here.

He picked her up, and twirled her around.

Nandini: I am sorry for running away.

Manik: I am glad that you came.

Nandini: by the way, rock music was not bad... still could have been better though.

Manik: The genre of music or my song?

Nandini: The music was not too bad actually... I could develop a taste for it if I hear it more oftern, but the song was missing something...

Manik: Oh!

He said putting her down, He inched closer to her.

Manik: How about we rewrite it together?

Nandini: Ok... I wouldn't want you to disappoint your fans now... would I?....

Manik: Of Course you wouldn't...

Nandini: So, I just have one more line to add...

Manik: and what is that?

Nandini: I love you too...

She sang in tune with his last line. That was what Manik wanted to hear, those three magical words. He leaned in for a kiss. He kissed her passionately, pouring in all his love for her. She reciprocated with equal love and passion. They broke the kiss when they head people shouting from outside the elevator. Manik checked the time and it was 11:59 PM, December 31st, 2017. He bent down on his knees and spoke.

Manik: Nandini, We met as strangers, and I still don't know everything about you and you don't know everything about me. What I do know is that I have never felt so much for anyone before, and I know that this is love. I love you Nandini. My world is very different and complicated as you know. And as much as it would hurt, I understand if you don't want to enter it. But I am still asking you with hope of a future.... Would you enter this year with me and discover me and my world just as I discover you?

Nandini: Yes Manik, yes.... You are the only one with whom I can ever imagine entering the messy world of public eye with!

Manik got up and pecked her lips.

Manik: Happy new year, girlfriend!

Nandini: Happy new year Manik!

________________________

Happy 2017 everyone!