Hello all .. This is my first attempt to write a story - so I thought of starting with an OS. If you guys like it, I'll maybe venture into writing a full on FF!
It has been 10 years since Nandini walked away from Manik. She left without informing anyone of her whereabouts - even Navya had no clue and her family had been sworn to secrecy. Manik after getting all better even went to Mangalore to search for his love but came back with a broken heart! Fab 4 and Navya had done whatever they could to bring him out of his misery. He vowed never to love again - the only girl he loved had conveniently decided to trample his heart and walk away to pursue her career dreams (as told by Nyonika)!
Now Fab 5 had become a famous band with fans all over the world. Dhruv and Aliya had finally sorted their difference and were now married with a cute little boy - Rohan. Abhimanyu was cured of his cancer and Mukti and him were ready to tie the knot. Navya had a sweet little girl - Ashi and she was raising it with Aryaman. Yes, he had finally realised that Soha was alive and that it was his dad's and Nyonika's plot to separate Manik and Nandini. He has apologised to Fab 5 who had forgiven him. He had become really good friends with Navya and had fallen in love with her. They are still trying to figure out their feelings for each other. Cabir's still the same - always making everyone around him smile but internally still misses Raghav.
Manik was still hurt but just to prove a point, he had a line of one-night stands and week-long girlfriends. He was popularly known as the "Heart-breaker" by the media! The only one who knew the reality was Cabir.
"Kab tak tu yeh sab karta rahega? You know this is not you and that you are still madly in love with Nandini. Why don't you try and look for her?" Cabir asked a drunken Manik. It was the same thing every year on Nandini's birthday - yes she turned 28 today!
"Cabir!!!! How many times have I told you not to take her name? I hate her and this day. I just wish that I had never met her!" shouted an angry Manik and walked out of the house in search of his next one-night stand.
Somewhere on the other side of the world, Nandini had finally finished her doctorate in astronomy and was on her way back to Mangalore - back to her family. Although she had kept away from Manik all these years but her heart still beat for him. She had kept a record of all his achievements and was very happy and proud of his success. In fact she was happy for all her friends.
On her way out of the Delhi airport she saw two familiar faces - Abhimanyu and Aryaman. "What are they doing here and together? I hope Aryaman is not making plans to hurt Manik again. I should have told Cabir about his being Soha's brother. And what is Abhimanyu doing with him! God, I just hope they don't see me.", thought Nandini and started rushing out of the airport. But as luck would have it, Aryaman came right in front of her blocking her way.
"Nandini, what are you doing here? And where the hell did you disappear? Do you have any idea what Manik has gone through all these years? I thought you loved him - is this how you show your love?" Aryaman could not stop himself from blabbering. Hearing all the noice, Abhimanyu turned and stopped dead when he saw Nandini.
"Nandu, is that you? God, where were you girl? I thought you were a smart girl, but nahi tumne mujhe galat prove kiya", asked a shocked Abhimanyu.
"Abhimanyu, Aryaman, what are you guys doing here and that too together? Abhimanyu, I don't know if you are aware of Aryaman's truth.." a worried Nandini said.
"What that I am Soha's brother?", interrupted Aryaman. "Everyone is aware of this and they have forgiven me. I was so wrong about Manik and you were right all along."
"Yes, we all know the truth. But hey, everyone makes mistakes. But tumne aisa kyu kiya? Listen we really need to talk to you. It is about Manik. Can we please meet for dinner today? I have heaps to tell you as well." Abhimanyu made her promise and gave her their hotel address.
As soon as Nandini boarded the cab for her hotel, Aryaman got Fab 4 and Navya on conference and told them what happened. All of them were shocked but decided to get to Delhi for tonight's dinner to confront their friend, Nandini! The tricky bit was how to get there without letting Manik know.
"Manik, Navya and I have to go to Delhi. Yeh boys kuch kaam theek se nahi karte! Abhi has messed up with my lehenga order and I have to go there to fix it." Mukti started her acting.
"Sun Mukti,then even I'll come along with you guys. Mujhe kuch jewellery dekhni hai." Aliya added in.
"Cabir, ye ladkiya humme bankrupt kar dengi. What say we go along as well? Vaise bhi Abhi and Aryaman are puppy sick in love - unse kuch nahi hoga!" , hi-fived Dhruv and Cabir. Manik could not help but laugh at his friends.
"Ok guys you all go ahead, I will attend the meeting with Mr Shah for the next tour. Will inform you of what happens! And ha girls, please humme kangal mat kar dena. And another thing, leave the kids behind - unko pagal kar doge tum log shopping mein!", said a smiling Manik. His friends were his life and he would do anything for them!
Meanwhile in Delhi, Nandini was getting ready for the dinner. Little did she know what was awaiting her!
"Excuse me, I am here to meet Mr. Abhimanyu. I am Nandini." She asked the reception staff.
"Yes ma'am, they are waiting for you in Room 1005. The bell boy will accompany you there." The receptionist answered pointing towards a bellboy.
As soon as she knocked on the door, she was shocked to see the sight of 5 other angry faces! Nandini could not stop her tears from rolling when she saw all of them. How she had missed all of them!
"So Ms Murthy, please come in. Kya hua, shocked to see us? Just imagine what we would have gone through when we found out that you had left all of a sudden to pursue your damn scholarship!" asked an angry Mukti.
"Nandini, tum to humme apna best friend kehti thin a, then why did you not tell me anything? Aaj humme tumpe itna gussa aa raha hai ki hum tumhe bata bhi nahi sakte!" screamed Navya.
"Seriously Nandini what happened?" Dhruv asked her.
"We did not expect this from you at all." A disappointed Aliya said.
"Ok relax guys, I am sure there was a reason behind this. C'mon Nandini speak up. Aisa kya hua that you left and did not even look back. You knew Manik's condition still you left. How could you?", jerked Cabir.
"What could I do? I did not have a choice.", screamed Nandini and then suddenly realised what she said.
"Kya matlab? What happened? You have to tell us.", asked a worried Cabir.
After a lot of persuasion, Nandini finally gave in and told everyone the truth. "Nyonika ma'am threatened me that she will stop Manik's treatment if I don't leave him. Main kya karti? I loved him, I couldn't see him in pain. If by leaving him, his health would get better I would do that."
"Aur ab, do you still love him? Bolo Nandini.", Dhruv asked her and she just nodded her head in response.
"So what is there to think, mission "Jodi Makers" begins. What say guys, we need to get the two love-birds together again!", Cabir announced as they started to devise their plan.
As per the plan, everyone including Nandini came to Mumbai the very next day. They rented the apartment opposite Manik's for Nandini and decided to get them meet by chance. The next day after the rehearsals, Fab 5 were coming to Manik's place to chill. Navya and the kids were already there and Abhimanyu and Aryaman would join them after work. As soon as they got in the elevator, a voice stopped them "Please hold the lift". Manik froze, he would recognise that voice anywhere. He waited for the person to step into the lift and when she came, he stood still. The two of them just stared as each other, their eyes welling up and their arms dying to pull the other.
It was Dhruv who broke the silence. "Nandini is that you. What are you doing here?" Manik waited for the response and then said "Dhruv, agar tera strangers ke saath interaction khatam ho gaya ho to chalen? We have other important things to do."
He was shocked to see that she was staying a door away from him. He got inside his apartment and ran up to his room. Seeing her brought back all the memories - their first kiss, his confession, her confession. He lived for those moments. "Why did she have to comeback? Chali gayi thi na mujhe chod ke, then why now? And why the hell is she affecting me now? I don't love her anymore." As soon as he said that, he laughed "Who am I kidding, of course I still love her. She is in my blood. I love her so much that it hurts! But I have to stay away from her. I can't let her in again."
Downstairs the rest of them were celebrating the success of the first step. Now all they had to do was get them together under one roof. And what better way than to play the "concerned" card. Manik would run to save Nandini and that is what they had to do.
A few days passed and both Manik and Nandini crossed each other's path. Nandini was playing her part to the T - keeping her feelings under control and ignoring Manik.
"What does she think of herself! Ek hi nahi bol sakti. Main yaha pagal hue ja raha hu wondering if she is doing fine and usko koi farak nahi padta!" Manik said pacing around the room. The rest of them just having a gala time on his expense.
"But Manik we thought that you did not want Nandini mentioned. Ab kya hua?" smiled Aliya.
"Tu accept kyu nahi karta that you still love her?" questioned Dhruv.
"Nahi I don't love her." Manik said trying to make it sound genuine but they all knew the fact.
The next morning, Manik got a call from Cabir that Nandini had an accident and is admitted in the hospital. He could not stop himself and rushed to the hospital. He rushed to Nandini's room and took her in his arms. "Dhyan kaha rehta hai tumhara? Kuch serious ho jata to?" Manik realised what he was doing. He immediately moved away and asked the doctor about her condition.
"Well Mr Malhotra, she is fine just had a concussion. If you want you can take her home but there has to be someone to look after her 24/7".
"That is not an issue, she'll be looked after."
"Alright then Mr Malhotra, I'll get the discharge papers ready."
And with that Cabir and Manik brought Nandini home. "Yaar kon rakhega iska dhyan and that too 24/7?"
"Shift her to my place. Jab tak ye theek nahi hoti she is staying with me".
"No Manik" interrupted Nandini, "you don't have to stress about it. I am sure I can manage it. I don't want to burden you."
"Ho gaya tumhara? Why can't you understand a simple thing that you need care and I am not leaving you alone. Dammit I can't bear it if something happens to you!
With this she moved in with Manik. Cabir gave this good news to the rest of the gang and now they waited for the bomb to blast - Manik's pent up anger! Cabir knew that Manik hates darkness, so he deliberately went and took the fuse off.
"Manik, tum theek ho?" Nandini rushed to Manik. She was not aware of this part. Manik got off from the bed and held Nandini."Tum pagal ho? You need rest. Why did you get out of bed?"
"I know that you are afraid of dark, so I just came to make sure you are ok."
"If you cared so much then why did you leave me? Do you even know what I have gone through? I died a hundred deaths daily. Tumhe mujhpe bilkul taras nahi aaya. You just left me and went!"
"Manik I thought agar koi mujhe samjhe ya nahi, you will always understand me. Do you honestly think I will just leave you and go? What do you think? And vaise bhi going by the media and press, you've obviously moved on. A new girl every week."
"Moved on? Really? You made me hate the word Love. But I still had this stupid little hope in me that my Nandini would one day come back. And you say that I have moved on? Do you want to know why I had so many girlfriends? I thought ki kabhi to tum jealous hoke mere paas aaogi! But you never came. You were so busy making your career that you did not bother about me."
"Really? How the hell do you thing I know the name of every girl you have been photographed with? If I was not concerned, how do you thing I know each and every song of yours? Well just to let you know Mr Malhotra, it was not my concern, it was stupid heart that still beats for you!" With this Nandini could not hold back her tears and she broke down.
"Nandini, please stop crying. If this is the truth to phir wo jo Nyonika ne dikhaya about the scholarship..."
"She blackmailed me you idiot! She told me that she would not get you treated if I did not leave you. I could not see you in pain so I left. And know what, I would do it again if it meant saving our life".
"God, how can you be so stupid. Tumne mujhe bataya kyu nahi. Didn't you trust me?"
"Manik I could not live if something happened to you"
"And without you, I was dying anyways! I'm sorry I did not look harder for you. I should have. I am sorry Nandini."
"And I'm sorry that I left you. I love you so much"
"I have been dying to hear those words again! I love you too Nandini .. Hamesha. And this time I'm not letting you out of my sight" Manik said hugging his Nandini tight and sealing their love with a passionate kiss.
The rest of the gang members were waiting outside with their ears on the door. They all rushed in after they heard the confession.
"So finally hamare dono love birds have come together!" Cabir said giving a mischievous smile to Nandini.
"O so this was all your plan." asked a surprised Manik.
"Of course, we had to do something about your condition and we know the answer to all your troubles is Nandini. So all of us hatched this together".
"Thanks guys for giving me back my life, my love, my Nandini."
With this all of them came in for a hug.
Phew, this is it. I know it is bit long for an OS! I really hope you guys like it. Please do leave in your comments (good or bad). I would love to read your thoughts.
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