A manan fiction - I'd wait a million years

Prologue

The alarm rang, waking her up with a start. She squinted in defense to the rays of sunlight that made their way through the open window and stretched her arms. She tied her messy hair into a pony tail, wore her glasses and glanced at the alarm clock. It was 7:30. She remembered that it was Sunday and cleared her mind of the worries she usually had before going to work on weekdays. She then sprinted downstairs, it being a part of her daily exercise, to make herself a cup of coffee and enjoy the morning newspaper.

She lived all alone in her apartment. She had shifted to Pune for her job. She sometimes did feel like going back to Mumbai to her chacha, chachi and Rishab but at the same time she also felt it important to fulfill her obligations here, as a music teacher which she had chosen as her career.

Having made her coffee, she headed to the balcony and the morning view welcomed her with a slight breeze that caressed her cheeks and bangs causing her to feel at peace and ease. She loved Sunday mornings. They were her stress-busters. She always had the time, on Sunday mornings, to be to herself, enjoy nature and feel content and happy in her small balcony, pondering; thinking about life, her passions, her future and MANIK. And today was no different. She had hope and faith that he would return, return to her, to be hers forever. And she would forgive him for not having contacts with her for the last five years because she knew that their love was beyond the cheesy talking, romancing over the phone and exchanging gifts. She was always optimistic and knew that he would surely come in search of her after fulfilling his obligations towards his father for which he had gone to the US five years back. She always prayed that he be safe and happy wherever he was and she was not oblivious to the fact that he would be wishing the same for her. Because,he had promised that night, five years ago that his love for her was eternal and that he would forget her not in whatever circumstance. And her pledge was the same. It was this promise and pledge that bonded them together, their souls together, though they were miles apart. Or that was what she thought. Hope was all she had.

After a quick shower, she wore her Sunday casuals and planned to head to the supermarket to buy her weekly groceries. As she entered the car park she heard the sound of a guitar being played. This intrigued her. As far as she knew, no one from her building knew to play a guitar, not this good at least she assessed. Curiosity took her to the ground behind the car park and what she saw was the back of stranger playing the guitar and a bunch of kids intently listening. Who is this? She pondered before making her way in front of the stranger.

"Dhruvvv!!" She exclaimed in surprise and a surge of happiness. "You're here?!"

He good-byed the kids away and turned to her with a smile. " Nandini, so good to see you..!" he answered, pulling her into a hug.

It was through calls and messages that Nandini conversed with Dhruv, though not occasionally. It was the same with the rest of the Fab 5. This was how she had got to know that Manik hadn't even contacted them in the past five years. They all found it weird but having considered the reason why Manik had gone and the kind of person Manik's father is, they thought it better to wait until Manik came back to India or he called them for that matter.

Nandini felt really happy seeing Dhruv after a long time, 3 years maybe. The last time they had met was at the annual SPACE alumni party and that was the last such party she had attended after her settlement in Pune. And that was also the last time she had met the rest of the Fab 5 and Navya before moving to Pune. Though everyone was having fun that day, she had constantly kept missing Manik, she had missed his presence but nevertheless she had that strong belief that he would return soon. And it was five years now and there was no sign of him. But she did not lose hope.

"So what's with the glasses?" asked Dhruv, bringing her back to the present.

"Oh, a long story. Come on in, let's get into my apartment and I'll narrate the story?" asked Nandini with a chuckle.

Having made himself comfortable and after having understood why Nandini had started wearing glasses, which was because she had problems in differentiating the strings on the veena when she played it and that her eyes were really weak, Dhruv looked around to see the place in which Nandini lived.

"You've got a beautiful house, I'm telling you." He told to a busy Nandini who was making coffee for them in the kitchen.

"Yeah, thank you" she replied, with pride.

Dhruv walked around looking at the pictures on the wall and his eyes landed on a group picture of the Fab 5, Navya and Nandini which was taken during their graduation. They all looked so happy, clad in graduate cloaks, beaming and laughing away to the camera. He realized how times had changed. They had all parted ways to do what destiny had willed for them. Him, to become a part of a small music company and Mukthi had joined a rock band that toured India. Alya, a music costume designer for concerts and a part-time participant in such events, and Cabir had opened his own radio station. And Navya, having given her child for adoption, had gone to her village to become a local music teacher for the kids of her village. And Manik had flown to the US to take over his sick father's multinational company, feeling sad for not being able to pursue his career in the field of music. Though all of them kept in touch with each other, except for Manik, it was rare.

With Manik leaving, everything had changed. The dream of FAB5 to become a world famous band had gone down the drain. It was because Manik was the backbone and strength of FAB5. They had all promised that they would rethink of their dream once Manik was back and bring back the lost essence of FAB5.It was not possible for them to have any connection with Manik because of his father. Being a fierce business tycoon in the corporate world, Mr Malhotra had enemies all over the world, even in India. The competitors and enemies are plotting to kill Mr Mukesh Malhotra, and now Manik also since he has taken over. Such people want to put an end to the Malhotra empire. For security reasons Manik is not able to have contacts and they all understood it.

A tap on his shoulder made Dhruv blink his eyes which were focused deeply on the picture.

"Here's your coffee." Nandini handed him his coffee and they walked to the sofa.

"Don't you miss those days at SPACE when we were all together, carefree and happy?" asked Dhruv, nostalgia invading him.

"Very much." She answered, having realized that the picture on the wall had triggered him to go down the memory lane to the time spent at SPACE which had been the best time of their lives.

She very badly wanted to meet up with Fab5 and Navya, but circumstances were such that no one could make the time. She was hoping to in the near future.

"So what brought you here?" asked Nandini, after taking a deep sip of her coffee.

"Should there be reason as to why I want to meet you?" he questioned her with a smirk.

"Oh cool then. Let's make the most of our meeting. I'll show you around Pune, Mumbai boy" She cheerfully replied.

"Ok Pune girl!" he said as she stood up to take their empty coffee cups to the kitchen, making her laugh.

Only Dhruv knew why he had come.

"Hey, there's a reason why I came here, I was kidding earlier." He said, as she made her way to the kitchen.

"You liar. Thought that a considerate friend had come to meet me to spend some time with me," She said with a fake angry tone. "Yea what is it?" she added.

"It's about Manik" he replied softly. "He's coming back."

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