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Next morning
Nandini woke up at her usual time. She got up and went near her veena. She kept looking at it for a long time but wasn't able to gather the courage to play it. Inhaling a deep breath, she calmed down herself.

Nandini sat beside the veena and closed her eyes. She tried to remember all the moments when her amms taught her playing veena since childhood. It gave her peace when she was lost after her parents death. Amms tried so hard to bring her out of that darkness. She remembered the times when she used to do riwaj with her.

She touched the strings of veena and played them softly. Her eyes were still closed.

Then her mind went to the memories when Manik had sneaked in to practice with her. Their performances together. Fusion concert and it again took her back to the haunting memories. Her eyes shot open and she stood up with a jerk throwing the veena away.

Nandini was shivering again. She took deep breaths closing her eyes. It took her a few minutes to get back to her normal self. She was still scared.

"Nandu, why're you standing here like this?"

Nandini turned back with a jerk hearing chachi's voice. She was so lost that she didn't even realize when chachi came in. Chachi panicked seeing Nandini dripping in sweat.

"What happened to you? Why're you sweating so much? Let's go to the doctor." Chachi asked coming near her caressing her hair.

Nandini composed herself. "Chachi,  I'm fine. I just had a nightmare. Now everything is fine." She said the last line lost.

Chachi made her sit on bed and gave her water. "Ok. Get ready. You'll go to college, right?"

Nandini nodded with a smile. Chachi caressed her hair and left her with a smile. She sighed and got up to get ready.

Nandini came out taking shower. She was standing in front of the mirror combing her hair. She applied her regular kajal and lip balm. She was looking for the sindoor box but it was nowhere. She got scared thinking maybe someone has got hold of it.

That time Manik called her.

"Hello, Manik."

Hearing her voice Manik could say she was on the verge of crying. "Nandini, what happened? Why is your voice sounding like this? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Manik sighed in relief hearing that, "But I can't find the sindoor box. What if someone found it?"

Manik smiled  "I called you to say that only. You didn't take it from me later. It's with me only. Okay?"

Nandini relaxed. "Okay, then I will meet you in college. Bye."

Before Manik could say anything, Nandini hung up the call. He nodded his head in disbelief biting his lower lip with a beautiful smile playing on his lips.

(Manik's attire)

Manik got ready and came down to find his dad waiting for him. "Sorry, dad. I'm late." Manik said while sitting beside him.

Shreekant passed him a smile. "It's okay. By the way how was the puja yesterday?" He asked munching his food.

Manik went back to Nandini zone. Last night's moments were flashing in front of his eyes. She was so close to him. In his arms. He loves the warmth whenever she is close to him. It gives him the missing peace of his life. "It was good, actually amazing. I never knew it could be this peaceful." Manik replied still lost.

"It's good that you liked the puja. Then from now onwards you can come with me." Shreekant's voice broke his trance. It took him a few seconds to understand what his dad told and what he had said. His eyes widened when he realized what he said.

He was actually talking about Nandini and his dad thought it to be the puja. Manik sighed that he didn't understand what he was saying about Nandini else it would have been so difficult for him to make him manage his dad. So, he just agreed to whatever he said.

Manik left for college bidding bye to his dad.

He reached college and directly went to the jam room where Mukti and Cabir were waiting for the rest of them. Manik entered. "Hey, guys."

"Hi!" Mukti greeted him.

"Where's Dhruv and Alya?"

"With each other." Cabir replied with a bad face.

Mukti laughed while Manik glared at him.

"Why're you looking at me like this? Also, your anger doesn't scare me, actually no one now. After Nandini...."

Before Cabir could complete Manik ran behind him. That time Dhruv and Alya came in together. They got confused seeing Manik and Cabir like that.

"What happened, guys? Why're you running like this?" Dhruv asked.

Mukti told them what happened, they too smiled. Finally they got tired and sat down. Alya passed them a water bottle.

Manik glared at Cabir before speaking. "Lets start jamming."

They continued jamming for almost one hour then stopped.

Cabir stretched his hands. "Ohhh... It was tiring. Let's go to the canteen, I am hungry."

"When aren't you hungry?" Dhruv passed the sarcastic remark to him.

Cabir glared at him while others laughed.

Alya ignored them and looked at Manik. "Manik, you didn't go to meet Nandini today?Where is she? She didn't even come here."

"She'll be late today. She doesn't have class now."

"Yeah, Navya told me."

"Guys, let's go now." Mukti kept her guitar away.

They came out. Suddenly Cabir asked. "Manik where is the black thread you always wear?"

Manik was finding what to say when his phone beeped with a message. They stopped.

"Guys, Nandini is here. I'll see you soon, you carry on."

They nodded and left and Manik left to meet Nandini.

Manik was descending the stairs when he saw Nandini coming up. She stopped seeing him coming down. Manik came near her and looked around. He saw no one around so he pulled her to a nearby empty classroom. Nandini was surprised with the sudden act.

"Manik, why did you bring me here?" Nandini asked as Manik made her sit on the table and he was standing in front of her.

Manik removed her hair strands from her face. "Because I wanted to spend some time with you. I missed you so much. I can't tell you how difficult it's to spend a single moment without you."

Nandini blushed. Manik moved a little back, Nandini looked at him being confused. Manik passed her a smile and took out the sindoor box from his pocket. Manik gave it to Nandini. Her face was adorned with a beautiful smile.

Nandini took the box from Manik's hand. Opening it, she forwarded it towards Manik gesturing him to make her wear it. Manik smiled and he took a little sindoor in between his fingers. Nandini moved her hair a little and Manik filled her hair line. Nandini closed her eyes and Manik placed a kiss on her forehead.

Nandini opened her eyes when Manik moved back. "I want you to do it everyday. I love it when you do this." Nandini said softly looking into Manik's eyes.

Manik smiled caressing her cheeks. "Okay whatever my Cinderella wants. It's decided then I'll do it everyday. Meet me directly in college or it's better I'll come to pick you up."

Nandini nodded her head. Manik held her knuckle and placed a soft peck there.

"Manik, how's your practice going on for the album?" Nandini asked suddenly.

Manik's body stiffened for a while. He doesn't want to lie to Nandini but it's not the right time for her to know it all. Nandini noticed the change in his posture. She was about to ask but before that only Manik said. "It's good. We'll go to meet them today."

Nandini got excited. "That's great."

Manik smiled seeing her excitement. "Now let's go to the canteen. Everyone is waiting for us."

Nandini nodded. Manik helped her to get down from the table, then they left for the canteen. Fab4 were sitting on their usual place. They were chatting when Manan reached there.

Nandini smiled seeing them. "Hi, guys."

Fab4 smiled back. "Hello, Nandini."

Nandini sat beside Mukti while Manik took the seat beside her.

"Where is Navya?"

"She said she is feeling tired so she won't come." Cabir replied.

"Nandini, I really enjoyed at your place yesterday. Especially the payasam." Alya smiled.

Nandini smiled back at her.  "Thank you, Alya. I will get it for you whenever chachi makes it again."

Cabir was sitting in front of Nandini. His eyes fell on Nandini's neck. She was wearing a strapless top so he could clearly see the black thread. A naughty smirk crept on his face.

(Nandini's attire)

"Nandini, this black thread is Manik's right? What's it doing with you?" Cabir asked.

Nandini looked down fidgeting with her fingers not knowing what to answer. "Nandini had asked for this as her birthday gift." Manik replied on behalf of Nandini. Nandini looked at Manik. He gave her an assuring smile. Nandini too smiled back.

"Aww. So cute." Alya chuckled.

They talked for some more time, then Mukti left as she had some work. Dhruv and Alya too left.

"I don't want to stuck between two couples. So, I'm leaving too. Have fun lovebirds."

Cabir winked at them and left from there. Nandini blushed.

 Manik got up from his place and gave his hand to Nandini. "Lets go."

"Where?" Nandini frowned.

"Can you stop asking questions once and come with me." Manik said making a bad face.

Nandini smiled and got up. "Fine."

Manik smiled and left with Nandini. They were walking side by side. Manik was saying something and Nandini was just hearing him.

Manik stopped in front of the classical music jam room. Nandini looked at him being confused. Manik gestured at her to go inside. Nandini went in and he too went behind her.

Nandini's eye fell on the veena placed there. It's the same room where she used to practice with pandit. She moved her gaze around the room and all the tings which pandit did to her again flashed in her mind. A shiver ran down through her spine.

Manik came there and held her hand, "I know you must be thinking why did I get you here?" Nandini nodded. "The thing which connected us is our music, Nandini. But you're going away from your music and I can't let that happen."

Nandini looked at Manik with teary eyes. "I try, Manik. But I can't play. Whenever I see this veena, it reminds me of pandit and then I just can't do this."

Manik cupped her face lovingly. "You can, Nandini. You can. I'm there for you. I'll help you. You'll try now with me, right?"

Nandini nodded and passed him a smile.

"Let's start from now only. What say?"

Nandini nodded and opened her shoes. She sat in front of the veena. Manik too sat with her. He was sitting beside Nandini. Nandini looked at the veena for a while then pulled it on her lap and tried to play the string but soon stopped. She was about to push it when Manik came from behind and held her hand.

Nandini shivered with Manik's sudden touch. She was about to say something but Manik shhed her and gestured her to play. Manik was holding her hand and playing with her. Nandini also didn't say anything, she was lost in Manik. In his touch.

After a while, Manik left Nandini's hand. But within a minute Nandini got up with a jerk. Manik too stood up.

"Nandini, what happened?" Manik asked seeing her all panicked.

Nandini tried to control herself. "M.. Ma... Man... Manik... Wo... Woh...." She wanted to say something but failed.

Manik understood her condition. "It's okay. No need to worry. You tried that's enough. We'll try again tomorrow." Nandini was looking at him with tear filled eyes.

"I tried to play veena. But whenever I touch it, it reminds me of pandit. He touched me with the excuse I'm playing it wrong. But it was his intention that was wrong. You stopped me so many times. You said me that he's not a nice person. I wish I had heard you. But......" She couldn't complete start sobbing.

Manik pulled her in his embrace, she started wiping more hiding her face in his chest. Manik was caressing her hairs softly trying to calm her down.

"You don't want to play veena?" Manik asked. Nandini nodded in no still being in the hug. "It's fine. There're so many classical music instruments in  our library, you can try them. I'm sure you'll like one of them. Then you can carry on with it."

Nandini broke the hug and looked into Manik's eyes. Manik was smiling at her.

"Do you believe I can play again?" Nandini asked like a baby.

"I don't believe, I'm sure that you can do it. You've been learning music since your childhood. One incident can't change this long efforts."

Nandini nodded.

"Lets go then and search for some other instrument for you."

Nandini agreed. That time Manik got a text that Fab4 is here and they need to practice. Manik wanted to deny but Nandini stopped him. "You go. I'll see you after an hour. I've a class now. It totally slipped out from my mond."

Manik nodded. "Come directly to jam room after your class and call me in any problem."

Nandini nodded and left for her class. Manik too went to jam room. He enteres in and saw everyone was already there.

"We have already completed the first part. Let's try the second one." Manik told and others nodded.

They continued for almost an hour. Cabir stopped them. "Manik, it's enough for a day. You're going to kill us like this." He said and kept his drum sticks away.

"I am also tired." Alya said and sat on nearby chair. Dhruv too sat beside her. They passed a smile to each other.

"Fine, no need to do so much drama." Manik said and kept his guitar away. He was drinking water when Cabir said. "By the way from where do you get so much energy?" Manik rose his eyebrows while others smiled.

"I mean you're always with Nandini and I'm sure you won't sit quiet with her. Then you come here and jam with us. It takes so much of energy. That's why I was asking." Cabir stopped seeing Manik passing deadly glare to him.

"It reminds me did you talk to Nandini? Is she okay with the album and tour?" Dhruv asked suddenly.

"Yeah, you should tell her before it's late." Alya also spoke in a concerned tone.

Manik rubbed his face with his palms and sat on the nearby chair. Mukti came forward and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Manik, is everything okay? Is Nandini okay?"

"She isn't okay. She is trying to show herself strong but inside she's broken. Her wounds are still fresh. You know she isn't able to play veena."

"Whatttt...." Fab4 shouted together.

"What are you saying?" Cabir spoke in disbelief.

"It reminds her of that pandit and she starts panicking. She loses control over herself and behaves differently."

"Buddy, I think we should cancel the tour. Right now Nandini is more important. We'll talk to the manager and make him understand the situation. I'm sure they'll agree for the album without a tour."

Alya joined Dhruv. "It's okay too, if they don't agree. We're Fab5. We can have more of them."

Nandini heard what Dhruv said. At first, she was confused, then she understood everything. She was shocked that they are going to sacrifice one more album for her. She is the reason, they couldn't make their first album and now this......

Mukti was about to say something when her eyes fell on Nandini who was standing at the door. Nandini had a serious expression. Mukti gestured others to look behind. They also saw Nandini and they could clearly see that she has heard everything.

Cabir was the first one to break the silence. He put a smile on his face and moved towards Nandini. "Hi! Nandini. When did you come?" He asked with a hope that maybe she didn't hear them.

Nandini ignored his question and directly looked into Manik's eyes who moved his gaze on the other side. "Which tour you were talking about?"

Alya came forward. "We were planning a tour for us. You know there's so much happening in last few days. So, we were thinking......"

Nandini cut her in between and yelled. "STOP!!!!"

Fab5 looked at her with wide eyes. "Don't lie to me always. What did you all think? You think Nandini is very weak, she can't do anything without us. So, we better hide things from her."

"Nandini, you are taking it all wrong. Manik was about to say you but he didn't get the chance. We also didn't have any idea of this tour at the starting." Dhruv said.

Others too supported him.

"It doesn't matter when you guys got to know. But the thing is you were going to deny it for me without even letting me know." Nandini said.

Manik was still quiet.

"We weren't about to back out for you, we were because we wanted to." Mukti tried to make her understand.

"And you guys wanted to beacuse of me only."

"Nandini, hear us first." Cabir tried to calm her down but Nandini didn't hear him.

"NO, you hear me out. You guys are going for the tour and that's final."

"It's our matter and we'll decide, if we want to do it or not." Manik spoke for the first time since the time Nandini came. His voice was stern. He was angry anyone could sense that.

Nandini turned towards him. "Fine, then I'm leaving."

Nandini left from there angrily. She was hurt with Manik's remark.

As she left Manik inhaled a deep breath. In fraustration he kicked the chair which was beside him.

"Buddy, you shouldn't have spoken to Nandini like that. She is already hurt."

Cabir nodded. "There was no need to shout at her. She is a sensible girl. She would've understood, if we had talked calmly."

Manik smiled sarcastically. "If you think like that, then you still don't know her."

"Fine! We don't know her but you do. Then why did you have to speak that way?" Mukti said calmly.

"Manik, I think you should go and talk to her." Alya looked at the way Nandini went.

Manik sighed and got up to leave. While going, he turned back. "We'll go to the studio at 5. Be ready."

They nodded.

Precap: Going or not?

Long chapter. So much happened. But the day is still left. What's gonna happen now when Nandini got to know everything?

How was the chapter?

Few words for Fab5 and their friendship?

Did you like Manan moments? Say something about them.

Isn't Nandini right at her place?

Manik is a boyfriend sorry husband goal, isn't he?

Do share which one is your favourite scene.

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Bye

08.01.2022