A new morning. A fresh start.

Nandini as per her habit woke up early in the morning and started her day with her regular routines. She decided to do her riwaj for sometime as there is still time for her to go to college. She went to her regular place for riwaj but as soon as she touched her veena all the memories of pandit started flashing in front of her.

All the dreadful events started roaming in her mind again. She couldn't play the veena and pushed it away. Nandini started breathing heavily. She came down. Standing under the cold shower, she tried to remove the memories of the pandit.

How she wished it to be a dream only!!!

"Nandu, kanna are you ready?" Nandini heard amms calling her.

With great difficulty, she composed herself and replied. "Yes, amms, I'm coming."

She turned off the shower and hurriedly got ready.

(Nandini's attire)

Everyone was waiting for her at the breakfast table. She greeted everyone trying hard to smile. They also greeted her back normally.

"Nandu, Venkatesh will drop you to college. But think once again do you really want to join college today?" 

"Yes, Nandu. Amma is right. Are you sure?" 

"Don't take so much tension. I will be fine. If I feel bad, then I will call you. After that you can pick me, okay?"

Chachi supported her. "This is fine. Man... I mean your friends will be there too. They'll take care of you. If you'll spend some time with them, then you'll also feel good."

Nandini passed her a smile and left for college with chacha.

At college
Manik for a change came to college before time which is so unlike him. He messaged Fab5 to be there too. He was tuning his guitar in the jam room lost in his thoughts.

"Manik....."

He turned back and saw fab4 standing there at the door of the jam room. Manik saw them and passed a smile.

"Hi, guys."

"What's up, buddy? You called us to college so early? Is everything okay? Are you fine?" Dhruv asked being concerned.

He knew how hard it is for Manik to be calm. First Nandini's condition and now his parents.

"Of course, I am fine. I'm just a bit worried."

"Why? What happened? Nyonika?" Mukti asked.

"No, she is not a problem. I was thinking about Nandini. She has decided to join today only and I am worried for her." Manik asked rubbing his forehead with his fingers.

"It's good, right? She will spend time with you and us in college, then she will be busy and won't get time to think about pandit." Alya tried to reason.

"No, it's not. If she comes to college, then she will remember pandit more. I saw her condition last night. She is even scared of my touches. Just imagine what her condition will be, if she comes to college." Manik was really worried for Nandini and his friends understood his thoughts very well.

They also knew it very well neither Manik will stop worrying nor they can stop Nandini from coming to college. Cabir who was silent till now spoke. "Manik, you're right but for how long you'll ask her to stay at home? She will have to come back today or tomorrow. Then?"

"Then what should I do? Should I just let her be like this?" Manik was frustrated. All this was taking a troll on him.

"Manik, you're not getting our point. We didn't say it. We should try to help her to come out of this trauma. We should let her face it instead of keeping her away from reality." Mukti knew how it felt. She has also faced it.

"Mukti is right. We will be with Nandini all the time and help her. She is a strong girl. She will be fine soon." Cabir patted Manik's back to assure him that it will be all okay. Everyone too nodded.

Manik was about to say something when he got a text from Nandini that she had reached college.

"Guys, Nandini is here." Manik said raising his face from his phone.

"Fine. You go and see her. Call us, if you need anything." Dhruv said and Manik nodded.

He bid bye to everyone and left to see Nandini.

They all kept looking at his retreating figure.

"Manik has changed." Mukti stated.

"For good." It was Alya said with a genuine smile.

"Yeah and all the credit goes to Nandini Murthy. She has turned the monster Manik to Romeo Manik." Cabir said and they all shared a laugh.

On the other side Manik ran towards the gate to get Nandini. He reached there when he saw Nandini coming in. He ran to her and was about to hug her but stopped when he remembered about last night. He composed himself and asked. "Where is chacha?"

"He has left." Nandini spoke softly.

"Okay. Lets go."

Nandini nodded and they both walked in.

They were sitting on the staircase behind the music wing.

If it was some other time, then the scenario would have been different. They were sitting together but there was a distance between them which was never there before. Manik who was sitting silently would be doing all the things to irritate Nandini or to make her blush. And Nandini, she was sitting with a straight face whose face is deprived of the smile which used to adorn her face all the time.

Manik broke the silence. "I have an amazing news to tell you. I called you last night to tell you but I forgot." All of a sudden he sounded so excited.

Nandini could clearly identify that in his voice. "What news?"

"Dad is shifting to Mumbai to be with me. He won't go back to Pune again. He will be here by next week. Isn't it great?" Manik asked being all excited like a kid who has got his favorite chocolate.

His happiness cheered up Nandini too. "Obviously, it's great. You have always wanted this."

"Yes and I am so happy." Manik had a never ending smile on his face.

"I am also happy for you."

They shared an eye lock. They were drowned in each other's eyes. Manik caressed her face with his thumb. Nandini shivered a little but didn't push him away and closed her eyes to feel the moment. Her hand went to his collar and grabbed them tightly. Manik was looking at her face and her every expression intensely. They were lost in each other.

They didn't realize the time but Manik's phone beeped with a message which broke their trance. Nandini opened her eyes with a jerk and stood up. Manik looked at her being shocked and a tint of being hurt was also seen on his face but he hid that before Nandini could see that.

He fished out his phone to see the message. He saw the message and it's from Cabir. He opened it.

"Come to Princi's office now. Urgent."

Manik also got up and looked at Nandini who also turned towards him, "Lets go. Cabir called me at princi's office."

"Manik, you go. What will I do there?"

"What'll you do here alone? I am not leaving you alone. Come with me." Manik couldn't afford to leave her alone anyhow.

"Why will I be alone? I am going to meet Navya. I have not seen her since I came to college. She must be looking for me too."

"Okay, then. Let's go."

Nandini went to Navya and Manik left to meet the Principle.

Manik came in front of princi's office. Fab4 were already present there. He stood beside them.

"What happened?" Manik asked leaning to the nearby wall.

"Don't know." Mukti told.

"A peon came and said he is looking for us. So, here we go." Alya gave him the necessary info.

"I don't understand one thing, how come he always remembers us at the wrong time?" Cabir said making them smile.

"Cabir, why're you saying this? There must be something important." Dhruv said making everyone chuckle.

"Here comes our good boy." Mukti and Cabir said in unison.

"By the way Manik, where is Nandini?" Alya asked.

"Nandini is with Navya."

Manik was about to say something more when princi came out of his office and gave them his all time signature smile.

"Here is my favorite band, SPACE's pride Fab5."

"I'm sure you haven't called us to say this. So, come to the point, what's the matter?" Cabir replied back in his witty tone.

Others too looked at him directly raising their eyebrows. Princi gulped his saliva in fear and nervousness. He tried to smile. "Of course, not. I have good news for you all."

"And what is it?" Manik looked at him dangerously.

Princi was trying hard not to show herself scared. "You are going to have an album offer. Radio O2 was present in the fusion concert and their manager liked Fab5's performance. They were already smitten by you."

"So. what do we have to do?" This time it was Mukti.

"Tomorrow radio O2's manager will come along with their owner and you have to perform in front of them."

Manik moved close to princi and his eyes were as if spitting fire. "Just to say this you wasted so much time."

Manik looked at him and raised his eyebrows. Princi's condition was getting worse. He was sweating and a lump was formed in his throat. He plastered a fake smile and tried to laugh loudly to cover his fear. "Not only this."

"Then spill it out. Should we find some auspicious time for you to complete it?" Cabir spoke sarcastically.  

Others also smiled dangerously. He nodded at disbelief. They are really dangerous to mess with.

"Yes, they will be here by 10 so please be on time."

Princi warned them to know their damn care attitude.

"We will, sir, don't worry." Alya replied to calm the situation.

"Yesss, sirrr. Why're you taking tension? Relaxxxxx." Cabir smirked.

Princi muttered under his breath so that Fab5 doesn't hear. "Whenever Fab5 says don't worry, my worry increases only."

Mukti smiled innocently. "Sirrrr, did you say anything?"

Princi nodded his head frantically. "No, what will I say? You go and practice hard. All the best."

Fab5 didn't give him another chance to say anything and left with their famous attitude.

Other side Nandini was sitting in an empty room with Navya.

"Nandu. are you okay?"

Nandini sighed. "I don't know, Navya. I am trying hard to forget about pandit ji and not think about all this but I just can't."

"Nandu, I know you are trying hard. I also know it's not that easy. It'll take time but everything will be okay."

"I can't understand anything. What I should do and what not. Amidst all this, I'm hurting Manik. He is trying to console me, support me but I'm pushing him away which I shouldn't. But I'm so burdened with my inner turmoil that I don't know what to do."

"Let me tell you one thing, hear that carefully."

Nandini nodded when Navya continued. "Manik, no matter how Manik acts in front of everyone, but the truth is he loves you a lot. You know when he couldn't find you and we reached him, he was crying. For you." 

Nandini looked at her with shock written all over her face with the new found information.

"Yes, Nandini. We all have seen how worried he was for you. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have someone like Manik in their lives who loves you like this. But you're lucky that you got someone like Manik in your life who loves you so much. Don't hurt him. I know it's not easy for you but don't lose hope. Manik will always be there by your side to hold you. Just move ahead."

Nandini remembered Manik's confession. His promise to forever and she knew Manik Malhotra never breaks his promises. Thinking about all this, she nodded her head positively.

"Good."

"Thank you, Navya. For making me understand everything. I need some time but I promise I will be fine." Nandini replied with a smile. She was determined to get back herself.

Not only for her but for HIM too.......

"Navya, I've some work. I'll be back." Nandini said and left from there.

Nandini was walking alone in the corridor thinking nothing particular. Now she only had a thought about how to move on. Though she was pushing Manik away, she also knew that he is her healer only.

Nandini didn't notice when she reached the practice room where pandit used to train them. All the scenes when he used to hold her hand or try to touch her started flashing in front of her eyes. She couldn't control herself and started shivering again badly. Her mind stopped working. She didn't know what to do. She sat behind the door hugging her knees and started sobbing along with shivering.

In Fab5's jam room
Manik was feeling restless. He had a feeling that something wasn't right. Then only Nandini's thought crossed his mind. He got up from his chair.

"What happened, Manik? Are you okay?" Mukti asked him to get up like this.

"Yes... Yes... Guys, I'm sorry. I can't concentrate on jamming right now. I know it's important but....."

Dhruv cut him in between. "It's okay, buddy. We can understand what you are going through and it's fine. Don't stress."

"Dhruv is right. We are Fab5 and we don't need practice, we will rock. You go to Nandini. She needs you more now." Cabir added supporting Dhruv.

Alya and Mukti too nodded positively.

Manik was leaving. He turned back at the doorstep. "After college, at 5 lets meet at my place and jam. Is that fine?"

Everyone agreed and Manik left from there searching for Nandini.

Precap: Don't know.

That's all for today. Hope it was up to the mark. Are you liking the book?

How was today's chapter?

What do you feel about Nandini's condition?

Did you like Fab5?

What about Manik and Nandini's tiny moment?

I know you guys are waiting for Manan moments and asking a lot about it. I promise there will be a lot Manan moments but it will take a little time. After this phase you will get lots of Manan moments. Happy? Till then enjoy the friendship and be patience.

Bye.

18.08.2022