||Chahun Main Ya Naa #1-MaNan-Ch6Pg13||

The city hustled and bustled about, like it did every day. Cars honking, engines roaring, people shouting, like every other day. Nandini Gupta helping her aunt make breakfast.

"Nandu, bring the butter over here please," Chachi called out. Nandini nodded and brought the butter to where she stood.

"Nands, where is my..." her sister Alya started.

"It's on the third shelf in the cupboard."

"I love you Nands." Nandini laughed as Alya went and got her jacket. "Okay, I'm leaving now, otherwise I'll be late. I'll see you guys in the evening."

"Dhruv?" Alya called out, entering her boyfriend's office. "Where are you?"

"Surprise," he exclaimed jumping up behind her. She screamed softly and turned towards him. He laughed.

"Dhruv! What the hell?" Alya exclaimed, clutching her heart.

"You're so fun to scare. You're so cute when you get scared," Dhruv said, laughing.

"We'll see how cute I look when I'm dumping you," Alya said, still annoyed. Dhruv slowly stopped laughing, and showed her a pouty face.

"I'm too handsome to break-up with," Dhruv said.

"You wish...maybe I'll break up with you for Manik. He is good-looking," Alya said. Dhruv rolled his eyes.

"The day you break up with anyone for Manik, will be the day pigs fly. He is a..."

"Monster," Alya completed. "I don't understand how you're best friends with him."

"With great patience and difficulty," Dhruv said. "And 25 years of friendship."

"I cannot believe you've dealt with him for 25 years," Alya told him.

"Neither can I, but forget about Manik. I think it's time for my good morning kiss," Dhruv said, leaning in, but Alya just pushed his face to the side.

"Uh...no. You scared me, means no kiss for you," Alya said. Dhruv pouted. "No pouting, that's just not fair."

"All's fair in love and war. This is love," Dhruv flirted, Alya rolled her eyes and kissed his cheek.

"I have a job to do," Alya said, rolling her eyes. Dhruv just smiled and let her go. She left the room, but banged straight into someone else. She looked up and her eyes widened.

"Look who it is...Alya, not doing work...as usual," he mocked. Alya sighed in frustration.

"Look who it is...Manik, being a Monster...as usual," Alya mocked back, then stood on his foot and walked away.

"Don't you love her?" Dhruv said, laughing behind Manik.

"No. Not really," Manik said, glaring at his best friend. He stalked over, muttering curses towards Alya.

"Alya will be here soon, Chachi," Nandini told her aunt. "Dhruv is dropping her off."

"Okay, beta. I will go and pick up more vegetables. You go wait for your sister," Chachi said. Nandini nodded, then went to the coffee shop to wait for Alya. She opened her bag, looking for her phone, and stepped forward, only to bang into someone. Her phone fell, along with the other guys phone.

"God, why don't you watch where you're going," he exclaimed picking up his phone at the same time she did. Nandini ignored the weird sensation that went through her.

"What an ego," she bit out, as he walked away. She turned and saw Dhruv's car pull up across the road. Alya got out of the car and waved to her. Nandini waved to Alya and Dhruv, who was smiling at Nandini. She watched as Alya crossed the road carefully. Suddenly a bright light flashed and she was blinded temporarily. All she heard was a scream. A scream...that was painfully familiar. As soon as her eyes were focused again, she felt her heart stop, and her throat close up.

"ALYA!" was all that could be here through the silence and shock that ran through the street.