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"The vanity of being known to be trusted with a secret is generally one of the chief motives to disclose it; for, however absurd it may be thought to boast an honour by an act which shows that it was conferred without merit, yet most men seem rather inclined to confess the want of virtue than of importance." —Samuel Johnson

O2's   O F F I C E
Fab5 was done with the meeting. The manger liked the songs and appreciate them for making such beautiful songs in this short period. He finalized everything. They decided to start recording the songs from next week. Then they will have a photoshoot for the album cover along with the promotion.

When they were done, they decided to leave for college.

"Let's go to college. Navya was calling me saying she and Nandini has something important to tell us." Cabir said as they stepped out of O2's office.

"I found Nandini's missed calls too. But I didn't realize then as my phone was in silent mode." Mukti said.

Manik frowned. "Why did she call you instead of me?"

"Maybe she isn't liking you anymore. She has had enough of your attitude and tantrums already. I'm sure you know how unbearable you are." Cabir said in a matter of fact tone, shrugging his shoulders.

Everyone chuckled hearing his statement while Manik glared at him. "Shut up!!!"

"Calm down, buddy. I guess she couldn't reach you as we were busy in meeting and she didn't know it. That's why she called Mukti too."

Manik nodded as it surely made sense and they all left for college.

Manik parked his car and he was about to go inside when a boy came there. "Manik, Nyonika mam called you in the left corridor. She said it's something urgent."

"What! How does she know I came to college now?" He frowned as he just stepped into the college and there was visibly no way for her to know that.

"I don't know. She sent me to inform you." Saying so, the the boy left.

Manik frowned but decided to check what's happening. He asked Fab4 to go to jam room and he would join them after meeting Nyonika.

B A C K   C O R R I D O R
"Aryaman?" Nandini called out his name seeing him lost. "Are you okay?"

Aryaman was zoned as he was speaking about Manik and Soha. He was burning from inside but couldn't show it to anyone. But being with Nandini was increasing his rage more because he believed Nandini was the soul reason behind Soha's death. It was difficult for him to bear the murderer of his sister in front of his eyes but he had to wait a little more before he finally accomplished his revenge.

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

Nandini was taken aback learning about his thoughts for Manik which was completely wrong. He was fed with completely wrong informations and she was pretty sure Mr Khurana was behind all this. He had hidden about Soha's mental condition and her actions from Aryaman too which caused him to come here for taking revenge of his sister's death. She was about to say something but before that only Aryaman pretended that something fell in his eyes. He started winching in pain.

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

She didn't notice that they have reached the corridor of backside. Most of the time this place remained empty, no one used this side of the building. No doubt Aryaman picked this place for his plan. When she was engrossed in seeing  him, Aryaman smirked hiding from her. But he checked the time and continued to pretend.

If someone saw them from the side, then it would look like they were kissing but the reality was something else. Nandini was engrossed in helping him that she didn't realize her surrounding.

Suddenly she felt a jerk from back and Aryaman was banged with the wall. It was Manik who reached there and witnessed the whole scene.

Thankfully he reached before Aryaman had expected him to be. So, he witnessed his drama. He also noticed the smirk on his face when Nandini was trying to help him. In an instant, he knew there was something wrong with this guy and he could not trust him with Nandini. So, he pushed Aryaman away from her.

"Manik!!!" Nandini whispered. She wasn't expecting him to be here.

Aryaman had definitely banged his head with the wall and it was bleeding too. But he was happy that Manik has seen them together and he was thinking that now Manik would think Nandini was cheating on him. Then he would realize what his sister has gone through. He doesn't care about himself.

"What was happening here?" Manik asked in a dangerous tone looking at Aryaman.

Nandini moved near him. "Manik, I..." She was about to explain him the matter but he showed his palm to her and stopped her.

Manik went close to Aryaman and held him by his collar. "I saw what you were trying to do. Never think you can fool me with these cheap tricks. I know Nandini better than you know yourself. So, think before you plan something like this again. If you want to play with Manik Malhotra, then plan something that matches his level. Don't waste your and mine time with these silly tricks." He pushed Aryaman away from him.

Nandini was watching them from distance but she couldn't hear them. She was confused thinking what they must be talking. But she could see Manik angry.

Leaving Aryaman, Manik was about to go back to Nandini when he turned back to look at Aryaman.

"Go to sick bay and treat yourself. I'm leaving you with this only because you tried to commit the mistake for the first time but don't try to come close to Nandini again. Because then I won't leave you easily."

Then Manik went from there with Nandini.

They stopped in an empty room. Manik closed the door behind and leaned his back with the door while Nandini was standing in front of him.

"Now tell me what was happening there?" Manik raised his one eyebrow.

Nandini looked at his face. "Manik, you are thinking wrong. Nothing happened between me and Aryaman."

"I know that. I am asking what were you doing there with Aryaman? Don't you know that no one goes to that side? Then why did you go there? What if I didn't reach there at the right time? Couldn't you see his intentions weren't right?"

Nandini nodded. "He said something has gone in his eyes and I was just trying to help. I didn't realize when we reached there while talking." She stopped and took a long breath before speaking further. "And I knew his intention wasn't right."

Manik frowned hearing her. "You knew! Still you went with him? Why?" He asked in a loud tone.

Nandini held Manik's hand in between hers. "Manik, calm down and hear me out carefully. I have something really important to tell you."

"What?"

"Sit here first." Nandini made him sit on one of the desks there and she stood in between his legs.

"I got to know something about Aryaman and you need to know that too."

"You are scaring me now, Nandini. You have already pulled that stunt on me by going with him. Now tell me clearly what's it."

Nandini inhaled a long breath and started speaking. "Manik, Aryaman is Soha's brother."

"What!!!" Manik got up with a jerk.

Nandini held his hand to calm him down. "Manik, please sit down and let me complete."

Manik nodded and sat back.

"He has hidden his real identity from us because he is here to take revenge from you. He thinks that you had cheated on Soha because of me and that's why he is trying to harm me." Nandini narrated the whole conversion she had with Aryaman today.

Manik heard her without any interruption. "I'm sure Nyonika and Mr Khurrana is behind all this. They have fed him with all the wrong information and hid about Soha's mental condition completely."

Nandini nodded. "I think we should talk to Aryaman and tell him everything. He should know about Soha's real state and what had actually happened that day."

"Don't worry. I will talk to him."

"When? We have to do everything fast else he would try to do something to you." Nandini muttered worriedly.

Manik smiled softly. "I will be careful and you stay away from him. You don't need to talk to him till I sort out the matter."

"Okay." Nandini agreed to him. "Won't you tell Fab4 about it?"

"They are already in pressure because of the album. Out recording is starting from next week. I don't want them to take more stress because of me."

"Okay."

"By the way, how did you get to know about Aryaman? I'm sure he didn't tell it to you." Manik asked on confusion.

Nandini nodded. "No. It's Navya."

"What!!! Madhubala?" Manik was taken aback.

"Manik!" Nandini slapped on his bicep. "She heard Aryaman and Nyonika mam talking the other day. Even though Nyonika mam didn't tell anything to Aryaman but it was clear that she knew him very well as well as his real identity. Thankfully they didn't notice Navya so she told me about them."

"I see." Manik thought something.

"You didn't tell me how did you reach there? I didn't tell you that I'm there. You were in the meeting. Then?" Nandini asked in confusion.

Then Manik told her how a boy came and told him that Nyonika was calling him there so he went there to meet her. "Now I feel it's not Nyonika, it's Aryaman who sent the boy to call me there so that I catch both of you together and misunderstand you."

Nandini clutched Manik's hand tightly with the mere thought of breaking apart from him. Manik understood her dilemma. He stood up and cupped her face lovingly. "Nandini, why are you getting worried? You aren't my girlfriend that I'll break up with you just like that. You are my wife even if you don't want you are tied with me for all your lives. No Aryaman can break us. Okay?"

Nandini smiled nodding her head. Manik too smiled and hugged her tightly. Nandini too wrapped her arms around his waist. He broke the hug and cupped her face placing a peck on her forehead. "By the way, you didn't ask me to do that today?"

"What?" Nandini raised her eyebrows.

Manik removed her hair a little from her forehead eyeing that place. Nandini smiled understanding what he meant. She took out the vermilion box from her bag and forwarded it in front of him. Manik smiled and made her wore it after kissing there.

He cupped her face. "I can't tell you how beautiful you look with the vermilion. I can't wait for the day when you don't have to hide it anymore. I can proudly say you are my wife."

"That will happen very soon." She kissed above his heart.

They spent some more time together when Manik noticed the time. "You should go for your class, it's already time."

Nandini frowned. "What about you? Don't you have any work now?"

"Fab5 is waiting for me in the jam room. I will go there and jam."

"Okay."

Then Nandini went to her class and Manik left for jam room.

Nandini spot Navya already there in the class. She went near her and settled beside but she couldn't see Aryaman anywhere.

"Where is Aryaman?" Nandini asked Navya.

She shrugged her shoulders. "How will I know? By the way where were you till now?"

"I was with Manik."

"Did you tell him everything?"

Nandini nodded. She narrated her everything about how Aryaman took her to the back corridor and then Manik found them there.

Navya was shocked hearing it all. "He is so dangerous! I can't believe this. He pretended to be so good in front of us but behind our back he was planning all this. Thank God that Manik didn't believe him but you." She found Nandini lost somewhere. "Nandini? What are you thinking?" She asked breaking her chain of thoughts.

"I was thinking about Manik and Aryaman. Manik is in jam room with others. But we don't know where is Aryaman. I don't think he will sit idle after the morning incident. Manik has punched him and I'm sure it has angered him more. He will do something again. I can't say may be today only." Nandini voiced out her worry.

Navya couldn't reply anything as the teacher came there. But she pressed Nandini's hand trying to assure her that everything will be okay. Nandini let out a breath maintaining a calm face but she has a feeling that something is gonna happen.

Two hours passed and Nandini was still in the class. She was having back to back classes which didn't let her call Manik and ask about his whereabouts. Even though she was physically present in the class, her mind was wandering about him only.

She was done with the class. It was time for break. Nandini gathered her all her belongings hurriedly. "Navya, let's go."

They walked to Fab5's jam room but no one was there.

"Where are they? They were supposed to practice here only." Navya said.

Nandini nodded and checked her phone there was no calls or texts from Manik. She frowned. "Let me call, Manik. They must be around."

Navya agreed to her. "We should go to canteen. They can be there too. You know Cabir, he is always hungry."

"Okay." Nandini walked with Navya still trying to call Manik but his phone was saying switched off. "Manik's phone is coming switched off!" She was getting more and more worried for him.

"Try others numbers too." Navya suggested and she dialed Cabir's number.

Dhruv picked up Nandini's call.

"Hello, Dhruv."

"Yes, Nandini. Say."

"Where are you all? We went to the jam room but you guys were not there. Aren't you all practicing?"

"We are in the canteen as we needed a break."

"Okay, we are coming."

Nandini hang up the call and turned to look at Navya. "They are in the canteen."

"See I said they would be there only. Let's go."

Nandini nodded with a smile and they left for canteen. Reaching there, they spotted Fab5 but Nandini was taken aback as they moved close to them.

That's all for today. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. 

•Did you like Manik's entry?

•How was the Manan moment?

•Do you think it's a good decision to hide the reality from Fab5?

•Guess what Aryaman might be planning next?

•Can you guess what happened at last?

•Which one is your favourite scene?

Don't forget to vote and share your views.

13.02.2024