Hey, guys! We've completed 50th chapter of Yaariyan. It's hell of a long journey. I hope you all are enjoying the book as much as I'm enjoy writing it. Keep reading as I have a lot more twists and turns planned ahead. Don't miss it.

Next chapter after 200+ votes.....

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"The flaws of some people lead to horrors inflicted on to others. And then there are the more human flaws that, when you shine a light on to them, de-demonise people that might otherwise be seen as ogres." ― Jon Ronson

N E X T   D A Y

(Nandini's attire)

Nandini woke up at her usual time and got ready. That time she got a call from Navya.

"Yes, Navya. I'm ready. I'll be leaving in a few minutes."

"Hmm... Are you sure I should see you at your place? We can meet in the college too."

"No, I didn't say anything to Manik."

"Aryaman had called me yesterday but I was with Manik so I missed his call. Why? Has something happened with him? Did I miss anything?"

"Okay. I'm not talking to him before I talk to you. I'll be there in half an hour. Don't worry."

"Bye."

Nandini hung up the call and she was confused with Navya's behaviour.

"She was not acting usual; it feels she is having some serious issues. Also she is acting weird hearing about Aryaman and she doesn't want me to get involved with him much. There must be something really serious. I should see her. I hope she is fine." She was thinking to herself and took her bag and went downstairs where chachi was waiting for her with breakfast.

"Good morning, chachi."

"Good morning, Nandu. Come and have your breakfast. It's ready." Chachi said while plating out foods for her.

Nandini smiled and sat down. "Where is Rishav and chacha? Aren't they up yet?"

"Your chacha took Rishav out with him. Rishav stays in home whole day. He will feel good, if he roams out for a while."

Nandini nodded. "Chachi, I'll be a little late today. I have some work with Navya."

"Okay." Chachi smiled. "By the way, Manik doesn't come here nowadays. Did you say anything to him?"

Nandini looked at her with wide eyes. "No, chachi. I didn't say him anything. It's just he is very busy with his album. That's why he isn't getting time."

"Ohh... But tell him that I have invited him for dinner. It's been long since he is here."

"Okay, I will tell him."

Then Nandini left for Cabir's place as Navya stays with him only. She knocked the door and Navya opened the door at the first bell only as if she was waiting for her only which was not wrong of course.

"Good morning, Navya."

Navya smiled shortly. "Good morning. Come in."

Nandini nodded and they settled in the dining only.

"Shall I get something for you?" Navya asked.

"No, Navya. I've already had my breakfast. Don't worry. By the way, where is Cabir? Isn't he home?" Nandini asked looking around.

Navya nodded. "He went to the radio station. He has got back his job and he has decided to continue it till the album is out. That's why I called you here. No one will be here, so we can talk freely."

"Okay. Now tell me what were you saying. You were sounding so worried. Is everything okay?" Nandini asked being concerned for her.

Navya came closer to her and held Nandini's hand. "Nandini, listen to me very carefully what I'm gonna tell you next. You have to trust me."

"Navya, I trust you. Why are you saying like this? Has someone said anything to you?"

Navya nodded her head. "I'm fine. It's not about me. It's about Manik."

As Nandini heard Manik's name, her heart shuddered. She felt a lump forming in her throat. She was just hoping that everything is fine with him. She looked at Navya with eager eyes and controlled her emotions. "What about Manik? Did he say anything to you?"

"I feel Manik is in danger." She closed her eyes and took a breath before uttering again. "From Aryaman."

"What are you saying, Navya? Aryaman! What did he do?"

Nandini was having a hard time to process what Navya was saying or why she was saying all this. But she knew Navya won't say anything just like that. There must be something.

"Nandini, hear me completely first."

Nandini nodded.

"The day you didn't come to college, I was there. I was walking alone through the corridor of the left wing. Nyonika mam's cabin is there only. I was near her cabin when I saw Aryaman there. I didn't have any thought that time as I saw him walking away. That time Nyonika mam was also coming to that side and they came face to face. She knew him from before. And do you know Aryaman's real name is not Aryaman Khanna, it's Aryaman Khurrana."

Navya stopped after saying this much and Nandini's eyes were ready to come out of her socket.

"Khurana!!! Aryaman Khurrana! Is he... Is he related to Soha?" The last line came out as a whisper from Nandini.

Navya nodded his head. "He is Soha's brother, Nandini. He hid his real identity from us but Nyonika mam recognized him. She too didn't say anything to anyone. Forget about everyone else, I'm sure she didn't tell this to Manik as well. When she should be the one to let him know about it, Aryaman might harm me, so he should be careful. After all, she is his mother."

Nandini held her head. The information was too much for her to take. That's why that day Nyonika said to Manik that there are more people who is behind him apart from her. Now all this makes sense.

"I think Aryaman is planning something against Manik. I'm very much sure of it. He is here to take revenge of Soha's death. He still doesn't know that I know about him. Yesterday in the class he was asking me about Fab5 and you. I think he was about to do something last day only but you both didn't show up. His plan failed for once that doesn't mean he will sit quiet. He will surely try to do something again. He won't stay quiet for long. He will try to execute his plan at the very first chance he gets."

Nandini didn't know how to react. She had trusted Aryaman as her friend and here he was all set to stab them only. He is here to harm Manik and this mere thought is enough to shake her entire existence. "Have you told anyone about this? I mean have you talked to Cabir or others about Aryaman?"

Navya nodded. "I wanted to tell you first. But when you didn't come yesterday, I tried to tell Cabir but that time only he got a call so I couldn't tell him."

"If Aryaman is here for Manik that means he doesn't know about Soha's condition. We should go and talk to him. We have to stop him before he harms Manik or does something." Nandini was thinking what to do.

"I think we should tell Fab5 about him first so that they can be careful. We can't say from where he will try to attack." Navya suggested.

"You are right. Let's go to college. It's almost time and Fab5 would be there only. Then we can talk to them. Manik isn't safe there. He has no idea what can happen to him there. Also Nyonika mam is there even if she has an idea of it, she won't do anything to save Manik." Nandini was damn worried for Manik. She can't even think of anything happening to him.

"Then we should hurry up. The more we will make late, the more Manik will be in danger."

Nandini nodded her head and they left for college. During the whole way, she was trying to call Manik but it was showing he is talking to someone else. It was making her more worried. If he had picked up her call, then she could have at least asked him to be a little careful.

"Navya, try calling Cabir and tell him not to leave Manik alone. I'll try Mukti's number till then."

Navya agreed with her and she was calling Cabir.

"Nandini, see, Cabir has texted. They are in the O2's office only. They are done with preparing their songs so they have gone to finalize things about recording and all."

Nandini sighed in relief that Manik isn't in college. When she didn't know about the meeting, then there is no way Aryaman would have the idea of it. So, he can't reach him.

"It's good."

"Yes, Nandini. I was thinking we shouldn't tell Aryaman that we know about his real identity, then he would do something which we won't be able to handle. So, we should talk to Fab5 first, then we will think of him."

"I was thinking the same. We need to behave all normal with him."

While talking about all this, they reached college. They were talking through the corridor when a peon came and asked Navya to meet some teacher regarding some assignments.

"Nandini, come with me."

"Don't worry, Navya. You go. I will be fine."

Navya was about to protest but Nandini stopped her.

"Don't think so much, Navya. Sir is waiting for you. Go and I'll call you, if there is any problem."

Navya sighed and went from there.

Nandini looked around and found the corridor almost empty. There weren't many students. So, she decided to go and get a veena for her and play it till Navya is done.

Aryaman was already there in the library. He wasn't sure, if Manik and Nandini would come to college today or not. So, he was just wandering around as there was still time left for the classes to begin. He was checking some instruments but his mind was somewhere else.

"To harm Manik, you have to remove Nandini first from your way. Till the time she is with Manik, you can't even reach him."

This line was roaming in his mind as 'his well-wisher' had suggested to him this.

"What to do? Aryaman, think something. You have to find a way out to throw Nandini out of Manik's life. You are here for a reason and you have to do everything to fulfill your motive. But how?"

He was thinking all this in mind when his eyes fell on Nandini who had just entered the library looking for some instrument he guessed. He moved to a corner and called someone.

"Yes, I am speaking. Is the target still there?"

"When will he reach here?"

"Half an hour?"

"That's great. Make sure he reaches the back side of the college directly."

Aryaman hung up the call and smiled evilly. "It's time for some action. Let's see how much you trust your girlfriend, Manik Malhotra. I know your love is fake and it's time for her to know it too."

Then he put on an innocent smile and went near Nandini.

"Hi, Nandini."

Nandini was startled with the sudden voice. She realized it was Aryaman and her blood boiled hearing his tone but she controlled herself. Composing her posture, she turned back to see him.

"Oh! Hello, Aryaman. You are here so early?" She asked with a fake smile.

"Yeah, I had some work so I thought of finishing them before class. What about you?"

"I came with Navya. She came earlier so I also did."

"Where is she?" Aryaman asked roaming his eyes around to spot her.

"She went to meet Verma sir. There is some problem with her assignment."

Aryaman nodded. "By the way, you missed the class yesterday. I was asking Navya about you. Did you go somewhere?"

"No, I had some personal work. Thank you for your concern." She faked a smile.

"Why are you thanking me? We are friends, right?"

Nandini fisted her fingers hearing him.

"Are you done with your work here?" Aryaman asked.

"No. Actually I was here to take veena but that's out for repair. So, I was just leaving."

"Great. Let's go. I was about to leave too."

Nandini didn't have the heart to go with him but she thought she could keep an eye on her so she agreed with him.

They were walking together in between Aryaman was speaking while Nandini was just nodding or humming. She had no interest in his talks not after when she got to know about his real motive.

"Aryaman, you never told us about your family. Where are they?" Nandini asked and looked at his face. She noticed the change in his expression.

His face hardened hearing about family but he covered that up fast and put a smile on his face. "There is nothing much to say about them. When I was a kid, my parents were separated. Since then, I used to live with my mom in the USA and my sister and dad lived here."

Nandini nodded her head. "Where is your sister? Why don't you call her here? We can then meet her too."

"She is no more." Aryaman said in a cold tone.

"Sorry. I didn't know." Nandini apologized immediately. "May I ask what happened to her? Only if you don't mind."

"It's okay. She loved a guy who didn't deserve her. He cheated on her. She couldn't take it. She went to confront him and there was an accident, fire caught on that place and it burnt her. The guy could save her but he didn't. He left her there to die." He replied gritting his teeth. He was trying hard to control his anger.

Nandini was not very shocked. She had a feeling that Aryaman didn't know the real matter.

"How can you blame the guy without any proof? Were you there?"

Aryaman looked at her as if she was unreal. He was ready to burst out but at the last moment, he controlled and tried to maintain the calmness in his tone. "Are you serious? I got to know of it from my dad and he won't lie to me. Also I have checked that they were in a relationship."

"How do you know that they were in a relationship?" Nandini asked in confusion. She was thinking how can he check when nothing like this happened ever.

Aryaman smiled a little. "I have my ways."

F L A S H B A C K
Last night
Aryaman was keeping an eye on Manik. When he got to know that he had gone out taking it as a chance, he went to Manik's place and sneaked into his room. It wasn't much difficult for him to find out his room as that's the only bedroom containing guitar also it was the same as Soha had told him.

He checked the whole room to find Soha's photo. There he found Nandini's earrings which she had forgotten to take with her. It angered him that his sister's place was given to someone else. After searching for some more minutes, he found Soha's picture in a photo frame, it was hidden behind the photo.

"Manik Malhotra, now no one can save you from me. Just wait and watch what I do to you. And Nandini Murthy, you love Manik a lot, right? Because of you Manik cheated on my sister. I will snatch your Manik from you. He will hate you. Get ready."
E N D   O F    F L A S H B A C K

"Aryaman?" Nandini called out his name seeing him lost. "Are you okay?"

He nodded. "I know that guy wasn't right for her. He did the worst with her."

Nandini was about to say something but before that only Aryaman pretended that there was something in his eyes. He started winching in pain.

"What happened? Let me see." Nandini tried to help him.

She didn't notice that they had reached the corridor of the backside. When she was engrossed in seeing  him, Aryaman smirked hiding from her. But he hid that checking the time and continued his pretending.

Suddenly he felt a jerk from behind.

~~•°•~~
That's all for today. I hope you liked the chapter. Finally, Nandini knows Aryaman's truth but Manik is yet to know of him. Guess what's gonna happen next?

•No Manan moment for today but some serious revelations. What do you think of it?

•Guess what's Nandini is gonna do next?

•What's Aryaman is planning?

•Which one is your favourite scene?

Don't forget to do vote and comment.

06.02.2024