I am not going to show the details of this one month. I will just show some of the moments of these time. 

M O M E N T S 
M A N I K' S    S I D E
Fab5 performed in 8 concerts in this month. They were already famous among the youngsters but now their popularity has increased more. They have become really famous all over the India. The purpose of those concerts have been fulfilled. 

In between the concerts Fab5 managed to write down few parts of some songs. They did not get time to sit down together and discussed about the songs. They will get back to Mumbai and complete them.

P U N E (1st concert)
It was Fab5's first concert. They were a little nervous as they were performing under such a big name for the first time. 

"Guys, why're you all so tensed? It's not the first time, we're performing." Manik said while checking his guitar.

Dhruv got up from his place. "I know but it's the first time, we're performing in such a big concert. How can we not be tensed?" 

"We're Fab5 and we're the best. We'll rock it like always, guys." Mukti exclaimed. 

Everyone smiled for the first time.

"Group hug?" Alya smiled.

Fab5 shared a group hug. 

Then their were called for their performance. As always they rocked it. The whole crowd was going crazy with their performance. They wanted more of it. 

Fab5 were so happy seeing it. Their manager was also happy. He congratulated them.

C H E N N A I (2nd concert)
After the first performance, Fab5 were quite confident. They were confident that they can do it. So, they were all relaxed. 

Manik was sitting on one corner tuning his guitar. Cabir came there and sat beside him. He was smirking looking at Manik. Manik also noticed that.

Manik rose his eyebrows. "What?"

"You should go out and look around." He still had that smirk on his face.

Manik was confused. "Why?"

Cabir palmed his mouth dramatically. "Don't you know Nandini is south Indian? So, it'll help you to know more about her culture."

Manik's mood fell but he didn't show that on his face. He threw an angry glare to Cabir. "Shut up. Go and get ready. We've a performance in a few minutes."

He was about to say something but Manik didn't let him. He threw a glare to Cabir so he was forced to be quite. He left from there to check the final preparation.

They again had a blast in the concert. Their followers increased more after this performance. They were trending which was a big achievement to them. 

D E L H I (3rd concert)
After Fab5's last concert, they were everywhere in news. They were happy that they actually did it. They didn't imagine that their concert will be this much successful. As they were added at the last moments in the concerts, so the organizers didn't have time to do any promotion of them. But after their first performance only they were recognized and they didn't need any outer promotion. It was a big achievement to them.

Today they were going to perform in the biggest concert of the line ups. It was in their capital. Delhi. They were so excited for this one. People were actually hooting for them there which was totally unexpected to them. They noticed the crowd waiting for them when they were entering the venue. They were overwhelmed with the response.

Fab5's Greenroom
They were all ready and waiting for their call. Dhruv and Alya were sitting on one corner busy among themselves. Cabir and Mukti were watching something in Cabir's phone and laughing. While Manik was sitting on another corner separately and thinking something deeply. He had his phone in his hand. He was sitting with Nandini's number displaying on the screen. He wanted to call her and tell her about all this. He wanted her to be a part of his everything. But something was stopping him from doing so.

Manik didn't call Nandini in these days for once nor did he pick up her calls. It was hurting him to ignore her but he didn't have any option than this. Nandini had sent her here for his welfare and he is doing the same for her. He was busy thinking how Nandini must have been, what she is doing, how she is dealing with everything alone, if she is facing any trouble or not and so many things.

Mostly he is missing making her wear the sindoor that has also become his habit. He loved her look when she used to wear it though she had to hide it from everyone. He loved the thing that Nandini tries to follow or wear everything that she should do as a wife even when she didn't need to. Nyonika never followed any tradition so he was unaware of the things he needed to do. But Nandini knew most of it and did it all properly. The thought of Nandini being his wife was enough to flutter his heart.

Manik was busy thinking all this when Cabir came sat beside him wrapping his arm around his shoulder. He tried to hide his phone but it was late. Cabir had already seen it.

"When you're missing her so much, then why don't you just call her and talk to her? What's the need of that stubbornness which hurts us? She is the reason why we're here. It's not that you're happy away from her. I didn't see you talking to her for once since the we came for the trip. I don't know what's stopping you. But you should call her, Manik. You're nowhere happy or at peace away from Nandini."

Manik chuckled which was obviously not a happy one. "Who said I am hurt? No, I'm not. This is what Nandini Mu..." He didn't complete saying her title. How can he forget she is not Murthy anymore, she is now a Malhotra. Nandini Manik Malhotra. "This is what Nandini has chosen for both of us. I can't do anything."

Cabir was about to say something but Manik stopped him. "Our name is announced. We should go to stage."

Manik then didn't wait for Cabir and left picking his guitar.

The crowd was continuously cheering for them, hooting their name. It didn't at all look like they are a band which is not launched yet.

They again had a blast in the concert and as they had expected it was their best performance. Now they were recognized by whole India.

J A I P U R (4th concert)
Now Fab5 were very much renowned as band. The owner of their album had called them in between personally and congratulated them for their grand success. They didn't stop working on their album between the concerts.

Fab5 spent their time together like old days but there were of course some change. But they catch up like old time. In between Cabir tried to talk to Manik about him and Nandini but every time he changed the topic. He was doing everything in his hand to accomplish his plan.

"Guys, let's go out and roam around. Jaipur is a beautiful place. We can jam tomorrow as well. We have time left before the concert. What say?" Alya suggested.

Manik was about to deny but seeing everyone's excitement, he agreed. They went out and roam around the whole city. They had so much fun. Manik also tried to enjoy with them. They also had to go for shopping as per Alya's insistence.

Dhruv was with Alya and Mukti dragged Cabir with her to show something. Manik was noticing the accessories in one of the shops. Seeing the earrings and bangles there, Manik remembered Nandini. Her sparkling earrings, the sound of her bangles. He misses it all. He bought few pairs of earrings and bangles for Nandini. He hid that in his jacket's pocket.

It was night when Fab5 returned to their hotel. Manik changed and came out of washroom when he saw Cabir sitting there on the bed comfortably. He frowned seeing Cabir and he was not getting good vibes from his face.

"What're you doing here at this time? Why aren't you in your room?" Manik asked throwing his towel on one of the coaches.

Cabir gave a devilish smirk to him. "You aren't missing Nandini at all, right?"

Manik gave him a look.

"Today I saw you in the shopppp...... In the ladies shop.... Buying something....." Cabir looked at Manik with a smirk who was looking here and there. 

"What are you talking about? I don't know anything." Manik looked out of the glass window.

Cabir moved near him. "You don't need to lie. You can't hide anything from me. I knew it all when you had let Nandini go for Dhruv and I know it now also. So, stop pretending in front of me."

"I am not hiding anything, Cabir. You are thinking too much." Manik said with a straight look on his face.

Cabir was about to say something when Manik again cur him in between. "I'm very tired, I want to sleep."

Cabir left a breath and went from there. 

They had their concert 2 days later. They left their mark here as well. 

M A N A L I (5th concert)
Fab5 had been here before as well. They had their concert here. It's one of their favorite places. They have also come for their road trips here. They have so many memories here. It was time  for them to relive in them. They had fun to their fullest there. For sometime, Manik also let his mind divert from Nandini and enjoyed with Fab4. He also enjoyed a lot after so long.

"We had so much fun after so long like this." Mukti said after they got back to their hotel.

All of them settled into Cabir's room. 

"Right...... All the memories refreshed. It's been a long time since we spent time like this." Cabir also agreed to her. 

"Guys, do you think I'm ignoring you all or I ignored you for Nandini?" Manik asked looking at them.

Mukti who was sitting beside him punched him lightly. "What the rubbish you're speaking?"

"Buddy, you never ignored us. It's just we're growing up and our priorities are meant to change. It's okay. We all are changing but didn't you notice our friendship is still the same. Don't think so much." Dhruv said passing him an assuring smile.

Manik also passed him a smile.

"Manik, you've always taken care of us and I know you love doing that. When for the first time, you're thinking about yourself and it's not wrong. We're actually glad that you're doing so." Cabir said patting his back. 

"Thank you all so much, I don't know what I would have done without you all."

Alya faked a glare to him. "Manik, you're being too formal with us. That's not done and you forgot ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE."

Manik nodded and they shared a group hug before retiring to their respective room.

Next day they had an amazing performance and they had their flight for next destination after that only. So, they didn't get time to relax and ran to catch their flight.

B A N G A L O R E (6th concert)
Fab5 is not only a band, it also an example of how beautiful friendship can be. It was clearly evident in their performances. They were literally ruling on the youths of the whole country but their friendship was also admired by all of them.

They ogle at the hotness of the lead singer, they went all aww on the cute shy boy of the band as well as have fun on the jokes of the evil minded Rj. Not to forget about the diva of the band and the boldness of the tom boy. 

Fab5 is admired for their talent and they are talk of the town all thanks to their killer attitude. 

"Finally one more concert and we'll go back to Mumbai." Alya said, falling on the bed after their long flight from Manali to Bangalore.

Mumbai reminded Manik of only one person and who it can be apart from Nandini. His mind went to her. One side he was excited that he will meet her after so long, other side he was a bit nervous how their encounter will be after whatever happened between them last time. 

He was lost in his Nandini world that's why he didn't realize that his friends were calling him from long. He came back to his senses when Dhruv shook him. "What?"

"What what? Where are you lost? We're calling you from so long." Mukti said making a bad face. 

"Sorry, I was thinking something." Manik made a sorry face.

Cabir jumped in between. "Aren't you excited to go back to Mumbai? I'm so excited. I never thought that I'll miss Mumbai so much." He was smiling in his mind thinking about Manik's reaction. 

Manik also knew his intention very well. He was well aware why he has asked this question. "Hmm." He replied in a simple hmm.

Everyone frowned with this cold reaction of his.

"What's this hmm, Manik? Aren't you excited to meet Nandini?" Alya said excitedly.

Manik nodded his head with a fake smile on his face. 

They talked for a little more and went back to their own rooms. They were very tired and couldn't wait anymore. 

They had a gap of 3 days before the next concert so they didn't have much pressure. 

Next day they decided to explore the city a little. They had a lot of encounters with their fans. Everyone recognized them and they surrounded her. Fab5 had no option left than interacting with them. It was unexpected but they enjoyed it. 

Next 2 days they jammed and worked on the album. The concert was again a hit for them.

L O N A V A L A (7th concert)
It was their final destination before Fab5 finally leave for Mumbai. They have back to back concert in Lonavala and Mumbai. They have one day in between the concerts. So, Fab5 decided to go Mumbai by car. Manik has already called his driver to get their jeep there in Lonavala. 

"Manik, we'll directly go to the concert location." Mukti said while sipping her drink.

Manik looked up to her. "Yeah, our jeep has arrived."

Alya squealed in joy. "I am so excited. Road trip to home. Wohoo..." She shouted at the end.

Cabir who was quite till now added to her. "But here is someone who is more excited than us. Right, Manik?" He gave Manik an innocent look.

Manik gave him a death glare and others chuckled seeing that. They were also well aware of what Cabir tried to say.

Precap: Nandini's pov

That's it for now. I know it was not up to the mark or may be boring. But it was needed to finally jump to the next step of this book. 

Which is your favorite scene?

Don't you like Fab5's friendship?

Please do vote and comment.

Bye 

07.02.2023