Manik & Nandini - Stars & Fireflies 121
The spark neglected burns the house - Russian proverb. Sometimes we take people for granted thinking that they would also walk through the fire and cross the oceans for us because we know we will do the same for them. But then what we think and what really is in the mind is really different. Fantasy seldom matches reality. Bonds that take years break in a matter of just few days because people let their ego and insecurities come before their relations. What happened to us; the promises of being with each other; the promise of being the family; was it all just an illusion?
It's been 15 days and five concerts down for fab5 and Manik and Nandini in particular. They days started with each other's voice and nights ended with each others voice. Every waking up moment where they were free they spent talking to each other and filling in the void created. Same was the case of Mukti and Abhi, it's hard for a person like Mukti to stay away from Abhi and badi maa when she was receiving love after carving for it her whole life. She missed his love and warmth badly and wanted to run away from all the madness right into his arms.
It was five concerts down for Fab5 and they have covered Pune , Ahmadabad and Jaipur and they were on their way to Chadigarh for another concert when Manik after finishing a call with Nandini walked out cause she was sleepy and he was still sleepless. He was roaming around the bus trying to figure out what to do when he found the main door open, he rushed there to find Mukti sitting on the steps. "hey soi nahi?" Manik asked.. "naah neend nahi aa rahi thi." She replied. There was complete silence as both of them looked at the sky. "I never thought night could be so peaceful." Mukti said looking at the stars "aisa lag raha hai we are leaving the stars behing. Strange na me talking like this." She chuckled on her own words. Manik too smiled and said "yes these stars never looked this enchanting unless Nandini came to my life. You know Mukti with her I am just Manik, who is allowed to make mistakes because she won't judge me. I can be weak in front of her because I knw she will be there with me as my strength. She is the only one in front of whom I can cry because she will wipe my tears and bring a smile on my face. Sometimes I wonder how I survived without her all these years."
"Feeling is mutual Manik. You know after Harshad I hought I would never be able to smile again but look Abhi walked in and he never gave up on me. He accepted me with all my flaws and his love wants me to be a better person for him. Not that he asked me to be cause he loves me the way I am but because I want to do this for him. I have one more information for you Abhi and I decided to get married as the tour comes to an end." Mukti said and Manik jumped on his place "what are you serious?" mukti nodded in a yes and Manik's smile grew bigger "OMG so Malhotra family's first wedding is on it's way." He hugged Mukti.
If Manik and Mukti were missing their better halves Abhi and Nandini's condition was no different. Her days were occupied with work which she overtook to distract herself music, DJ's health and Malhotra industries these all kept Nandini engaged but when the night fell and she was alone in their pent house she missed Manik. She would cry in the shower and get ready to face Maik with a smile cause she knew if he would see her in tears he would leave everything and will come back and Nandini could go through hell but won't let Manik do anything nasty. It was one such beautiful morning when after her morning talks with Manik Nandini reached Malhotra mansion as per Manik's orders cause he wanted her to have good food so he ordered her to have meals at th mansion where Abhi broke the news of Mukti and him deciding to get married after the tour and album launch.
Everyone especially Nandini was overjoyed. "finally this house will see a celebration, a wedding where two people in love will become one." DJ said emotionally. "yes DJ it's time happiness returned to Malhotra mansion." Damini said. "DJ badi maa I have a request." Nandini asked Damini smiled and said "beta ask whatever you want to." "Can I plan this wedding?" Nandini asked in a low tone. "of course yes." All of them replied in unison. They all sat and discussed the nitty gritties of the wedding before they had discussion with Mukti when Nandini received a call which shook the ground beneath her feet. "navya!" everyone panicked "Nandini what happened?" Abhi asked in panic. "Abhi just come with me." Nandini dragged him with her.
On the other hand Manik and Mukti too after freshening up joined the rest for breakfast. "hey guys wass up?" Manik said. "oh look finally you are here." Alya said sarcastically. And Dhruv continued "finally you remember that we exist? Its funny how two people who were non existant in your life few months back replaced us." Manik and Mukti were dumbfounded. They were angry and hurt, their friends, their exentded family was blaming the two most selfless people in this world. "what do you mean Dhruv? You realize about whom you are talking about?" Manik was already angry for people pointing fingers at Nandini. Cabir saw the tension escalating "Guys lets have breakfast we need to practice should be reaching Chandigarh." There was a deathly silence and that silence broke many things forever.
People change, feelings change; the ones whom we never expect to betray us kill us. It's funny how sometimes the one person for whom we are willing to take the bullet is the one pulling the trigger. Things changed for Fab5 forever, nothing was same forever as egos and jelousy took over.
Meanwhile in Mumbai Nandini and Abhi rushed to the rehab centre where they saw Navya's parents. They were shocked to see them there as they have kept her addiction a secret from them but unfortunately someone from SPACE called and informed them. "toh yeh dost banaye hain hamari Navya ne?" Navya's mother spit fire on Nandini. Seeing this Abhi came to her rescue and said "anuty jaisa aap samjh rahi hain waisa kuch nahi hai." But he was cutoff in between by her father "Bas tum logon ko jo karna tha bolna tha kar chuke ab kuch aur nahi. Ab Navya humare saath Patna wapis jayegi, bahut nuksaan kar diya iss seher aur yahan ke logon ne." hearing this Nandini said "uncle pleas eaisa mat kijiye navya ki treatment ab complete hone wali she has a bright future." She tried to reason with her parents but it fell on deaf years. Finally Navya bid goodbye to Nandini and said "ek baar Cabir se baat karwa dogi?" Nandini nodded and called Manik.
Manik and rest of the gang were having their breakfast in complete silence, the air was tensed. Just as Manik was about to get up his mobile buzzed flashing Nandini's name. and seeing that Alya Dhruv's expressions changed. "hey Nandini!" but before Manik could say anything else Nandini said "Manik give the call to Cabir." Manik sensed the tension in her voice so without asking question he gave the phone but what Cabir heard his face dropped. Navya spoke from the other side "Cabir hum jaa rahe hain hamesha ke liye. Hamari wajah se jitni problems hui tumhe uske liye sorry humein bhool jao aur apni zindagi mein aage badh jao." And she disconnected the call. Cabir gave the phone to Manik and was moving when Manik stopped him "Cabir what happened?" "Navya has left forever. I want to be alone Manik please." He said and left leaving a sad Manik and Mukti behind.
Nandini bid a tearful goodbye to her first friend in Mumbai, a friend whom she loved more than her sister but the same friend held grudges against her, betrayed her but she never held any gudges but today she was leaving her forever. Navya stood in front of her and said "I am sorry. I don't have anything more to say." She boarded the taxi and vanished from her eyes forever and she knew she was never coming back. "Abhi im going home I want to be alone." She said and Abhi nodded in a yes and dropped her home.
Nandini sat in the terrace looking at sea when Manik called. "Hey!" she tried sounding chirpy. "Nandini I know you are not alright so please stop pretending." Manik replied. "Manik Navya is gone forever." Nandini broke down. "Nandini stop blaming yourself for everything its not your fault." Manik tried to cheer her up when suddenly Nandini realized he must have reached Chandigarh and his concert was due in few hours. "Acha leave all that all the best for your concert. Make me proud. And one more thing you must know about Abhi and Mukti right so I am planning the wedding." And hearing this Manik forgot his pain and worries for a moment and said "we will plan ok." "Ok. Tell Mukti that I will call her tonight after the concert so talk about wedding. Now I am leaving for mansion cause I need to set up for concert. Ok bye." She bid goodbye and moved to mansion. Manik sighed and moved to his green room he wanted to tell his pain to Nandini but he knew if he will tell she will end up blaming herself for something she was not guilty off. So he decided to talk to her when he would go back to Mumbai.
End of chap
Ciao
Udne Ki Aasha
Kumkum Bhagya
Arjun
