Aiyoo Ayyappa-FF- Recap & Thread No. 5- Chapter 64 on pg 10-13 feb

Hii guys, I know this is a bit crazy idea😆😆😆 but I felt that when I make 5th thread for Aiyoo Ayyappa...I should give a re-cap. 😳

The re-cap stretched till 3 pages and these three pages are for those who are new to this FF and find it difficult to find the past chapters of 'Aiyoo Ayyappa'. I know...that 3 pages of FF continuous can be a good head ache for readers. But those new readers who find it difficult to search the past threads...I'm giving the full 63 chapters in the next 3 pages. You guys can check the chapters you wish to read once again here. But surely..as part of usual pattern..I'm giving the direct links to all my past threads too! You guys can always visit there and read too.😛

Here are the links to all 4 past threads.

Chapter 1

Hello

"Hello!" A voice was heard over phone!

"Hello?" Nandini asked munching on the yummy crisp vada in her hand while gazing at the television in which a song of Fab 5 was playing.

"Excuse me, but can I speak to Mr. Williams?" The guy's voice suddenly switched to a rich American accent.

Nandini continued to carelessly munch on the oily vada gazing at the music video of Fab 5 as they were performing their song 'Kaisi yeh yaariaan'.

"Sorry, wrong number!" Nandini said in a crisp tone and as she was about to cut the phone. Suddenly the guy said "Wait! What is the song that you are listening to?"

Nandini started getting irritated with this guy who is continuing on and on over the phone and not letting her listen to her favourite music band Fab 5. " Aiyoo!! Seriously? Don't you know this song? It is 'Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan' song by Fab 5! Which country are you from?" she answered eventhough she was not interested to continue the conversation more.

"Oh! You are a Fab 5 fan? Do you like Fab 5 a lot?" He continued in a soft yet curious voice.

"Oh yes! I'm a huge fan of Fab 5! I love all the songs of Fab 5... I listen to them a lot! All five of them are fabulous. They are my favourite music group!" Nandini got excited speaking about Fab 5 and she sat with her legs both up on the sofa and rubbing the oil on her hands onto her dress and wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.😉

The guy gave an amused chuckle as he continued, "hmm...you like Fab 5 so much? So who is your favourite Fab 5 guy?"

" Dhruv!" Nandini said in a firm tone.

"Oh! You love Dhruv? So who do you like after Dhruv?" He continued to enquire.

"Excuse me! But why are you so curious about who I like in Fab 5? I don't even know you. I don't like to talk to strangers", Nandini said in a bit irritated tone.

"Ok fine... if you tell me your second favourite member of Fab 5, I'll tell you who I'm." he continued in a persuasive tone.

"I'm not interested to know who you are. I don't want to continue speaking also" Nandini answered affirmatively.

"Hey, but you know... I personally know Dhruv! Perhaps I can help you meet him." He said in his smooth rich youthful voice.

"You really know Dhruv?" Nandini's eyes widened. She stopped watching the music video and turned to concentrate on the phone conversation. "Can you really introduce me to Dhruv?"

"Hmm...ya its a deal! I'll do it, if you tell me...who is your second favourite member?"

"My second favourite member is Kabir". .. Nandini continued and then asked "But who are you? How do you know them?"

"Ok...so your second favourite member is Kabir? What about the lead singer Manik Malhotra? " he continued

"Manik Malhotra???? U mean that guy with a lot of attitude? Bada attitude deta rehta hai...tv pe interviews main sunglasses lagaake baithta hai! Ladkiyon ko dekhte hai car ke andar ghuske wahan se bhaag jaata hai! I don't like him!" Nandini replied .

"Seriously?? U don't like Manik Malhotra? Isn't he talented and handsome?" the guy on the other side of the phone suddenly raised his voice.

"Buddy...did U talk to Mr. Williams?" Nandini suddenly heard another soft voice talking! She felt the voice so familiar! It was like the voice of Dhruv!

Nandini instantly recognized the voice of Dhruv! His voice was so easy to recognize!

"No man...I think I dialed the wrong number! Williams ko call kar rahe the and I got connected to another number" the guy on the phone replied to him.

"Aahh! Manik?? Tu kissse baat kar raha hai, buddy? Phone rakha kyon nahi agar wrong number ho tho?" Dhruv asked with a naughty smirk!

Nandini froze. Was she speaking to Manik???? The Manik Malhotra leader of Fab 5? Nandini's phone receiver slipped off her hand and she quickly picked up the phone and placed it on the cradle!

"Aiyooo Ayyappaaa...what did I do? Did I just now speak to Manik Malhotra?? Leader of Fab 5???"😕

Nandini rushed to her room and locked up the door. Suddenly she heard the voice of Amms calling... "Nandini...daa chellam inge vaa (my dear..come here) Unakku romba pudicha masala dosai...seekiram vaa daa (I've prepared your favourite masala dosai for you...come fast)! Amms kept the plate of hot Masala dosai with sambar and chutney on the table. But Nandini was nowhere around. "Ival enge poyitten?" (Where did she go away?) Amms murmured as she went back into the kitchen to bring the payasam she prepared for Navratri. 😳

" Manik...buddy...who is on the phone?? Did U ask who the girl is?" Dhruv asked Manik

"Wait man...let me complete this call" Manik said with a frown on his face as he turned back to the call "Hello??? Hello???" Manik noticed the call has gone cut! Manik's eyes blazed as he remembered the words he heard a few minutes back "Manik Malhotra???? U mean that guy with a lot of attitude? Bada attitude deta rehta hai...tv pe interviews main sunglasses lagaake baithta hai! Ladkiyon ko dekhte hai car ke andar ghuske wahan se bhaag jaata hai! I don't like him!"

"How dare she say that? I will teach her a lesson." Manik murmured under his breath as he searched through the number he had just dialed. 😛

Chapter 2

Hello again

"Nandiniii...Nandiniii...ennada yen sapidavaralaye? (why why are you not coming to eat?"). Amms shouted to Nandini. Nandini lifted her head off the pillow and shouted back "Pasikkalaye...Amms enakku thoonganam (Not feeling hungry...Amms I want to sleep). Amms looked at Rishabh with a perplexed expression and asked him "Yenna aachu, Rishu? (What happened, Rishu?). Rishab who just came into the room shrugged his shoulders with a perplexed look on his face and sat on the table and started breaking the masala dosa and dipping it into the sambar.

Suddenly the phone started ringing. Nandini could hear the phone ringing in the hall and she murmured to herself..."It cannot be him...could it be?" 😕 Nandini hid her face in the pillow and closed her eyes tight.

Manik was tapping impatiently on the table in front of him as his eyebrows clouded up his frowning face. "Pick up the phone...U better pick up the phone..." he murmured under his breath as he fumed with anger.

"Hello??" Amms spoke into the mouth piece.

"Hello...yes U tell me, why did U cut the call off before?" Manik hissed under his breath.

"Hello? Who is this?" Amms asked with a perplexed expression on her face.

"Don't act smart...I called U a few minutes back, and U forgot me already?" Manik was fuming as his tapping on the table got even more frequent.

"Who are U speaking? Who do U want to talk to?" Amms raised her voice.

"I am Manik Malhotra. I called a few minutes back. Got me?" Manik retorted.

"Who Manik Malhotra? Whom do U want to talk to?" Amms asked loudly this time.

Nandini who was lying in the bedroom lifted her head off the pillow and a fear spread over her face. "Ayyappa...Amms talking to Manik Malhotra...oh my god...this sounds trouble...I must not let this continue"

Nandini jumped out of her bed and rushed into the hall and ran to Amms.

"Amms..this call is for me." Nandini replied breathing heavily. She herself didn't know if she was breathing heavily out of fear or due to running.

"Nandini...yaaru intha Manik Malhotra?" (Who is this Manik Malhotra?) Amms asked with a doubtful expression.

"Amms...he is my friend." Nandini started cooking up a story.

"Friend?" Amms continued with the suspicious expression.

"Yes Amms..." Nandini whispered as she placed the phone to her ears.

"Hello??? Hello??? Are U listening to me or not?? This is Manik Malhotra speaking! Don't U dare act smart...whoever U are...what's your name by the by??" Manik was continuing to hiss onto the mouthpiece as he walked upto the table to sit for dinner.

"Hello.." Nandini whispered into the mouthpiece as she saw Amms walking away towards Rishabh and serving him a cup of tea. Rishabh glanced at Nandini with a confused look.

"Hello! Yes...tell me what's your name?" Manik whispered as he looked at the tall lady in her night robe enter into the hall and seating herself on the chair a bit away from him slowly serving herself some fried rice and gazing his way.

"I...I am...wait why do U want to know my name? U don't even know me. How you got my number?" Nandini panicked.

"Miss...whoever U are...I think U remember...I dialed U a few minutes back and U praised me a lot...remember??" Manik continued sarcastically "And I...just checked the number dialed earlier. So now tell me..what is your name?"

"I don't want to tell U my name. I don't tell my name to strangers." Nandini retorted back.

"Miss Oversmart...don't act smart with me. Tell me your name immediately or else I am coming to your place!" Manik hissed back.

"My place?? Ha Ha Ha Ha...Mr. Manik Malhotra...U don't know my name...U don't even know where I am from. How are U going to find me?" Nandini retorted with a fake laugh.

"Nanduuu..." Amms shouted...loud enough so that Nandini's friend can also hear it. "Tell your friend that its dinner time and call your friend later. Food is getting cold".

"Yes Amms...I am coming", Nandini replied.

A slow smile spread on his face as Manik heard the name of the "Miss Oversmart" he was talking to all this while.


"Nanduuu...jaao jaake khaana khaalo...your Amms is calling you" Manik replied with an evil smile spreading over his face!😈

"U...U ...stop calling me Nandu. I only let my loved ones call me Nandu" Nandini retorted angrily

"Mhm..." Manik said as he filled his mouth with a spoonful of fried rice..."only loved ones?? ok...Nandu...can I be one?" Manik asked in a husky tone.

"Manik...who are U on the call with? Kya tum jaante nahi ho? Talking on the phone while eating is bad manners. Cut the phone call now" the tall lady in the night robe hissed.

"Sure Mrs. Nyonika Malhotra" Manik replied staring at Nyonika with a smirk and then dropped the spoon onto the plate..got up from his table with the phone in his hands and walked onto the balcony.

"So where were we? Ah yes..Nanduu..." Manik continued as a smirk spread over his face.

"Don't U call me, Nandu. U are not close to me" Nandini retorted.

"Ok Nandu...I won't call U Nandu..if U tell me your name." Manik replied putting an offer to Nandini.

"I don't know you enough to tell you my name, Mr. Manik Malhotra" Nandini retorted sharply.

"Hahaha...U say U don't know Manik Malhotra? Forgot? I am the one who wears sunglasses during interviews and runs away from fan girls..remember?? I don't even notice if I wear sunglasses during interviews or not..but U do, Miss oversmart Nandu" Manik hissed sarcastically. 😛

"Nanduuu..." Amms called and this time coming out of the kitchen.

"Yes Amms..." Nandini quickly placed the receiver on the phone cradle and cutting the phone once again.

"Are U done with your call, Nandu??" Amms came to her. "Y..Yes Amms...I finished the call" Nandini replied.

"Ok..come I heated up the masala dosa for U. Come and eat now" Amms invited again. "Yes...I am coming, Amms" Nandini said...as she slowly placed the telephone receiver off hook and walked upto the table and sat to eat the masala dosa with a sigh.

Manik was fuming on the other end of the phone as he realized that Miss oversmart Nandu has cut his call once again. Manik redialed the number..again...again...again...but he could only hear one voice "The number you are dialing is either switched off or out of service." Manik rubbed his fingers onto his forehead in fury as he continued to press the redial button. But...Nandu was out of range for Manik.

"Out of service...she must've placed her phone off hook...oversmart girl! But I am not going to leave her. For now..U are safe..Nandu...but not forever" Manik hissed as an amused smile spread across his face.

"But must say...this game is really interesting. I am in for it..Nandu..." Manik said to himself as he walked back into the hallway and sat on his chair in front of the dining table.

"Manik...U are rude...is this how U obey your mother?" Nyonika hissed.

"Oh..Nyonika...mom...when did I ever obey you?" Manik replied with a sarcastic smile on his face. "Manikkk" Nyonika hissed angrily and got up from there and walked away. "Will I ever be able to obey you? I don't think so..Mrs. Nyonika Malhotra" Manik whispered.

"Ramu kakka, clear up the table" Manik said as he rose from the table. He lost his hunger after listening to Nyonika. But then again...Manik lost his hunger long back ever since he lost his hunger for love too.

Eating is for living and to live its not necessary to be loved. Or is it?? 😳

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Zehnaseeb

College...it is one of the most beautiful places U visit in life. That enormous campus...trees, beautiful flowers...various blocks, students in colourful dresses...making friends, bunking classes, munching on food in canteen and yes...making some music. "SPACE"...its where my music starts.

" I am Nandini Murthy...walking through the college gates into the beautiful campus wearing my beautiful green patiala suit..amidst guys and girls who are walking around in modern wear. Modern dresses are a bit alien to me..but hey I don't mind seeing girls in modern dresses. It's my first day in this music college and it is so thrilling to enjoy 1st day in college".

"Nanduuu" Nandini heard a voice behind her and she turned around to meet her dearest friend- Navya.

"Navyaaa...finally I am here in Mumbai to be with you." Nandini replied.

"Yaar...tujhe bahut miss kiya...school ke baad abhi hum mil rahe hai. Amms ne finally permission de diye tujhe Mumbai aake music studies karne ki." Navya said with a huge smile.

"Haan Navya..U know..main hamesha chahti thi ke Mumbai aaoon aur SPACE join karoon. It's like a dream come true" Nandini said with a happy smile on her face.

"Finally tu aa gayi meri Nanduuu aur abhi main tujhe panipuri khilaaoongi" Navya said with a huge smile.

Navya and Nandini together walked into the corridor of the college. SPACE looks exactly like I have seen in the photos on internet...the beautiful paintings on the wall...tons of posters and the buzz of talking of new students as they were hurrying into their classes. Suddenly Navya's phone started ringing.

"Wait Nandu...main abhi aati hoon" Navya retorted and she walked to the side and started talking on her phone. Nandini continued walking forward and looking around. Suddenly...Nandini heard her favourite song being played on guitar and Nandini started humming it along...

"Zehnaseeb...Zehnaseeb...tujhe chahoon betahasha..Zehnaseeb...

Mere kareeb..mere habeeb...tujhe chahoon betahasha Zehnaseeb..."

Nandini gently walked to the room from where the guitar music was coming. She opened the door to a room and peeped in and she say the silhouette of a guy playing the guitar beautifully. Nandini continued to walk forward and stood right beside the guy...and sang softly with the guitar

"Hona likha tha yun hi jo hua..ya hote hote abhi anjaane main ho gaya...

jo bhi hua..hua ajeeb.." Suddenly the guy playing the guitar stopped strumming his guitar and got up and turned to face her. Standing right in front of her was Manik Malhotra. 😕

Manik Malhotra was smiling...smiling at me. Does he even know who I am?? Nandini thought. Manik Malhotra was slowly started walking towards her smiling and with a wink said "Hiii...Nanduuu"

"Nanduuu...Nanduuu...open the door Nanduuu" Amms called to Nandu knocking on her door. Nandini jumped out of her bed as beads of sweat formed on her forehead. "Nanduuu" Amms continued calling. "Y..Yes Amms..." Nandini replied as her voice broke from the fear of the dream she saw. This dream was perhaps the scariest dream she saw in a while. 😛

Nandini opened the door for Amms. "Nanduuu...unakku enna aachu? (what happened to U"? Amms asked wiping the sweat forming on Nandu's forehead. "Nothing Amms..." Nandini replied wiping the sweat off her forehead.

"Nandu...U know what is the time now? It is already 7.30 a.m." Amms replied. "Go and take bath and come for breakfast". Amms told Nandini patting her head lovingly. "Yes Amms..I will be back now" Nandini replied.

Nandini was too dazed by the dream that in one day...Manik Malhotra..who was a nothing till one day back..is now making her sweat. Nandini brushed her teeth and thinking all the while if she was still dreaming.

"Such a dream...a dream that is so real...Aiyappa...I hope that the phone receiver is still off hook" Nandini thought as she let the cool water flow down her. "He is so scary..Manik Malhotra. Dhruv is such a sweet guy...but this Manik Malhotra is pure evil. What if Amms had caught me lying? What if Amms comes to know of this?"

*Trrriiing triiing*

Is it the phone ringing??????? Nandini's eyes widened with fear. "Aiyappa...lagta hai Amms put the phone receiver back in place and is it the evil Manik Malhotra calling again???" Nandini panicked. Was her dream coming true??? Is it Manik once again this time? Nandini closed the tap and draped herself in a towel and ran out of her room. The phone was still ringing and Amms was still in the kitchen and Rishabh was upstairs. Nandini ran to the phone and picked up the receiver and breathing heavily into the receiver barely whispered "Hello..."😛 "Hellooo..Nanduuu..." Nandini pressed the phone receiver closer...wondering if its Manik. "Nanduuu..." Nandini recognized the voice of her beloved friend Navya. Nandini let out a heavy sigh as she realized that she was fearing for nothing.

"Haan Navya...tell me" Nandini whispered.

"Arre tere awaaz ko kya hua Nandini" Navya asked. "Tu thik tho haina??"

"Haan main thik hoon Navya.." Nandini replied wiping the water running down her face. She herself could not identify if it was water or sweat.😛

"Haan yaar...tujhe SPACE main admission mile ke nahin??" Navya asked

"Haan Navya...SPACE main admission mil gaye..aur main bahut jald hi Mumbai aa rahi hoon" Nandini said with a smile on her face.

"Achcha tu Mumbai pahunchte hi humko call karna..hum aake tujhe pick up karenge..thik hai?" Navya asked in her chirpy voice.

"Haan Navya zaroor call karoongi..." Nandini replied. "Waise tujhe ek baat bataani thi yaar..mera ek panga ho gaya..I am in trouble"

"Panga???? Kisse?" Navya asked her eyes widening

"Manik se" Nandini replied with a forlorn expression.

"Manik kaun Manik??" Navya asked.

"Manik Malhotra...Fab 5 ka leader" Nandini replied. "Fab 5 ka leaderrr???" Navya asked her eyes widening

"Yaaar teri usse baat kaise hui?? Bahut handsome hai...aur kya panga liya tune Manik Malhotra se??" Navya got curious.

"Navyaa...kal raat..I got a call...I didn't know who it was. U know na..mujhe Manik Malhotra bahut khamandi lagta hai..bada attitude dikhata hai..." Nandini whispered.

"Haan tu tho hamesha bolta hai, achcha gaata hai..magar bahut khamandi hai..magar uss call ka Manik se kya connection??" Navya asked sitting on the window sill.

"Kal raat jo call aaya..it was wrong number..I was watching Fab 5 video..U know na? I love Dhruv and the wrong number guy was asking me about Fab 5 and Manik Malhotra and said he knew Dhruv."

"Achcha?????? Aur phir??" Navya asked her eyes growing wide.

"Maine bol diye uss wrong number guy se ke mere favourite band member Dhruv hai aur 2nd favourite Kabir hai aur ye bhi bol diye ke Manik Malhotra ko main bilkul pasand nahi karti coz he gives interviews with sunglasses and runs away seeing fangirls" Nandini continued the story

"Bas bas bas..tu zyaada story mat suna...bas ye bata ke uss wrong number guy ke call ka aur Fab 5 ka aur Manik Malhotra ka kya connection hai??" Navya asked impatiently.

"Navya...jisko main ye sab bata rahi thi..woh wrong number guy...it was Manik Malhotra" Nandini said with a helpless expression. Navya slipped off the window sill hearing this! 😛

"M..M...Manik Malhotra se tune ye sab bol diyaaa??? Arre tu jaake letter box check kar...kahin koi legal notice tho nahi aaya haina tere khilaaf?? Navya blurted picking herself up and sitting back on the window sill. 😉

"Navya...maine pehle phone kaat diye...magar Manik bahut gussa tha and he called up again as he got my number..and he was bahut gussa. Uske baad maine phone phirse kaatke receiver ko off hook rakh diye. U know? He is crazy" Nandini said wiping her face with the back of her hand.

"Tune bahut badi panga le liye hai..Nanduuu...thode se careful rehna..." Navya said as she herself was sweating.

"Haan Navya..ab main kya karoon?? I hope Amms don't pick up his next call. Isliye daudte aayi teri call pick up karne ke liye" Nandini replied as she turned back and right behind her Amms was standing and listening to the conversation. Amms had a perplexed expression on her face.

"Nandu...tu towel main khadi hoke kisse baat kar rahi hai on phone??" Amms asked. "Amms...wo Navya se baat kar rahi hoon" Nandini replied. " "Navya se??" Amms replied as a smile spread over her face.

"Tu mujhe phone de...main bhi tho baat karoon Navya se" Amms said with a smile. Nandini spoke onto the mouth piece to Navya "Listen, Amms wants to speak to U..."

"Amms ko phone de...I too miss talking to her a lot" Navya said with a huge smile. Nandini handed over the phone to Amms and started walking back to her room.

"This time...it is Navya...but I must be careful...what if its Manik next time? He is not the kind to sit back silently. He sounded very angry and he may call again. I shouldn't have spoken about him that way to him. He must be angry. I will say sorry next time..that is the only way out." Nandini thought as she returned to the bathroom to continue her shower which she left midway. 😛

Chapter 4

Triiing Triing

" Earrings...I love earrings a lot and this is the earring that chachi gifted me this birthday. This year I turned 17. Chachi and Chacha..two people who I love most in the world after Amms. Mumbai jab jaaoongi tho Chachi ke liye bhi kuch leke jaaoongi. Amms tho bahut saare dibbe bharke chips , achchar sab denge saath leke jaane ke liye.😛" Nandini smiled thinking about the big boxes she will have to carry with her when she leaves for Mumbai and placed her orange earring on her ears. Nandini looked at herself in the mirror...her orange earrings are matching with the orange churidar that she is wearing today and must say "Nandini Murthy..U are pretty" Nandini thought smiling at her image in the mirror.

*Triiing triiing*😆 The sound of the phone echoed through the hall. "No...I think it is him this time..." Nandini thought "I am damn sure it is him..." thought Nandini as she jumped up and rushed to the door.

"Yesss finally" the phone is ringing Manik thought as he realized that the phone is back on hook. "Finally I will get to hear her voice...this time I will memorize her voice totally so that I don't confuse her voice with any other voice. I cannot let her go so easily...how can she say that she dislikes me?" Manik thought as he sat up on his bed with the pillow on his lap.

Nandini rushed into the hall way to pick up the call..."Thank god this time Amms and Rishabh both are not at home...otherwise it would have been scary." Nandini thought as she picked up the receiver and whispered into the phone "Hello.."

"It is sweet...her voice is sweet...so gentle...like that of an angel" Manik thought as he listened silently. Manik could hear the fast breathing of Nandini as she licked her lips in tension and whispered again "Hello??"

"Hello...is it Mr. Williams?" Manik asked cocking his head sideways with a smirk.

"No sorry...wrong number" Nandini replied...this time realizing that it was Manik and he was teasing her. Just two calls ...and Nandini now knows Manik's voice even more than Dhruv's voice.😛😆

"Ooo...then is this Nandu speaking?" Manik asked with a little smile on his face.

"No...there is no Nandu here" Nandini replied with a fake gussa expression😛

"Achcha...then who is this speaking?? U didn't answer me yesterday also...Nandu..." Manik replied slowly keeping the pillow on bed and lying down.

"I am miss oversmart, remember?? U called me that." Nandini retorted with a pout on her lips.

Manik couldn't help but smile. "Ah...Miss oversmart Nandu...so U now know Manik Malhotra's voice. Kal tho bahut drama kar rahi thi and asking who Manik Malhotra and all??"

"That was not me...woh meri Amms thi..." Nandini replied sitting down on her sofa.

"Achcha...Amms?? Your Amms also have a very sweet voice...very musical" Manik replied as lay down with a smile on his face.

"Haan musical kyon nahi honge? Mere Amms music teacher hai..." Nandini said proudly.

"Really?? That's just wow..Nandu...tho Amms ghar pe nahi hai kya?? Aaj khaana nahi khilaanewali apne Nandu ko??" Manik crooned flirtatiously. 😛

"Stop calling me Nandu..I don't like it." Nandini retorted sharply😛

"Ok then what to call you?? U tell me??" Manik asked with a questioning look on his face.

"Why should U call me anything?? U don't even know me properly. Aur aise bhi tho nahi hai ke U and me are going to meet or be friends or something, Mr. Manik??" Nandini asked twirling her hair around her fingers. "Kyon???" Manik asked as his expression changed from smile to anger "Kya tum sirf Dhruv se hi dosti karogi? Ya phir Kabir se???" Manik was fuming with anger.

"Haan...agar Dhruv mile tho zaroor Dhruv se dosti karoongi...and Kabir se bhi. Magar tumse tho dosti kabhi nahi ho sakta...tum bahut zyaada attitude dikhaate ho...and I like sweet persons" Nandini replied getting up from her sofa.

"U think I am not sweet?? U think I am somebody with lots of attitude??? How much do U know about me?? Have U ever met me? What U see on TV...U decide that I am that?" Manik asked getting up from bed and fuming with anger. "Ok then...keep that belief to yourself and continue to worship your Dhruv...I won't call you...ever again! Bye" Manik shouted and cut the call throwing his phone onto the bed.

"What does she think about herself? What does she even know about me??" Manik thought...his eyes screwing together in anger.

"She sounds like a commoner and all commoners are like her...full of themselves. Jab TV pe perform karte dekhte hai..tho gaana lagaake sunte rehte hai..aur uske baad jo TV pe dikhte hai usko sach maan lete hai. I better not call her again" Manik thought has he wore his black shirt..buttoning himself up.

"What just happened??" Nandini thought. She was in a shock. She didn't expect this sort of an explosive reaction from Manik Malhotra. "Did I say too much?? Did I hurt him??" Nandini thought...as she felt a drop of tear well up in her eyes. "He perhaps was wanting to be friends with me...perhaps...he is not what I thought of him to be" Nandini thought as she sat on the sofa..once again. "I shouldn't have spoke that way to him...I shouldn't have". Nandini whispered as tears started flowing down her cheeks. "What do I do?? What do I do??" Nandini felt totally helpless..for the first time. She was crying for someone...whom she disliked to the core. So was it really dislike all this while..or was it something else??

Chapter 5

A ray of hope

It was a really long day today. A new photoshoot, promotions of the new MV and interviews. Each day passes by this way. Fab 5...it was a long journey for the 5 of us. We- Manik, Dhruv, Kabir, Alya and Mukti...we are not just a music band..we are friends who are willing to sacrifice anything for each other.

Hamari dosti...jo shayad duniya ke kisi doosri dosti se alag hai..school days se shuroo hue. We are not together to share joys...we are together because we are afraid of darkness. The darkness of this cruel world. The world who looks only at the glitz and glamour...our stylish appearances, our skills..talents..our voices. If we don't have even one of these qualities...we will be thrown away from the fame we are on. Media won't come after us requesting for interviews...there won't be the fan following. The limelight is upon us. But still...the darkness surrounding never gets over. Even as we walk through the bright sunny days..the darkness within continues to grow deeper.

I am Manik Malhotra. Leader of Fab 5...loved and hated by all. That is what atleast I think. Fan following does not definitely mean that I am loved. It just means that my songs are loved...my talent is accepted. Through beautiful songs..I feed the imagination of my fans..make them have lovely dreams. But at the end of the day...like Nandu...all of them see only the me who wears sunglasses for interviews...and think that I am a guy with attitude. Even Nandu did not sense the loneliness in my voice...the pain in my songs...perhaps, I will continue to be looked at by everyone like this all life. But I am not alone in this...with me...I have my friends..My Fab 5 and I will protect them no matter what. I don't care what the world thinks of me...but I care of what my friends think of me.

"Manik??? Manik??? Wake up, man! Stop sitting here dreamy" Manik felt a hand shaking him. Manik turned to look into the eyes of the tomboy of Fab 5- Mukti. "Haan Mukti...nothing..just something...tell me, can we leave now?"

"Yaar Manik..already rest of them are out of their dressing rooms and are all ready to leave. Bas tu hi yahan baitha hai holding your guitar! Get up man..let's leave now" Mukti said placing her hand on Manik's shoulder.

Manik gave a little smile as he got up from his seat. Suddenly Manik's phone started ringing. Manik swiped his phone to the accept call and placed the phone on his ears.

"Hello..." Manik heard a whisper. It is already 10.30 p.m and who is calling up at this time?? Manik wondered. "Hello...Manik??" Manik identified this voice...he felt that it surely was the voice that he wanted to remember...and vowed to forget. "Hello??" Manik's eyes grew wide with wonder. "Hello kaun?" Manik asked with disbelief.

"Kaun hai yaar??" Mukti asked. "Tu chal Mukti..I'm coming right after U.." Manik replied. "Ok Manik..but make it fast!" Mukti said tapping her hand on Manik shoulder as she walked out of the door closing the door behind her.

"Hello??" Manik asked breathlessly. "Hello...is this Manik?" Manik listened to the voice..this time the voice broke.

"Hello...yes I am Manik...speak" Manik said wanting to hear more.

"Hello...Manik...I am Nandu...Nandini..." Nandini whispered softly as her voice broke. All day Nandini was crying. She was upset that she spoke so rudely to a guy and made him upset. She couldn't help but apologize.

"Hello...Nandu...how U got my number?" Manik asked his eyes growing wide in disbelief.

"My phone has settings and I checked it and got your number...I am sorry" Nandini said as her voice broke and Manik realized that she was crying.

This girl...she was so full of attitude in the morning and now she is in tears. What exactly is she?? Manik thought...

"ok...hmm...Nandu...why sorry?" Manik asked feeling all awkward hearing Nandini sobbing. "Manik...I am sorry..that I spoke rudely to you today...but I didn't think that I will upset you..I am sorry" Nandini sniffed..wiping her runny nose!😆

"Its ok...I am not upset with you. Not just you...so called fans main se lot of them like me for my voice and I know that they think that I am a guy full of attitude. I can't blame you too...so U don't have to be sorry" Manik said softly.

"No don't say that...can U please accept my sorry?" Nandini asked wiping her tears.

"No..U don't..." Manik stopped abruptly a smile spreading over his face. "No I cannot accept a sorry like this. It is against my personal rules. I accept a sorry when I am told face to face. So where are we meeting, Nandini?" Manik asked with a little smile.

"Eh???" Nandini's eyes grew in shock.😛 "Face to face?? No I can't meet U face to face." Nandini said quickly.

"Why not Nandu??" Manik crooned sweetly.😛

"Because U are not in Chennai and I am in Chennai with Amms and I know that U are not here in Chennai" Nandini started giving her reasons.😛

"Oh...but who told U that I am not in Chennai? I am in Chennai...so are we meeting, Nandu" Manik asked with a naughty smile.😉

"I..I..In Chennai??" Nandini stammered...gulping.

"Y..Y...Yes..Nandu" Manik imitated Nandu's stammering😆

"N..No...I cannot meet U Manik...I cannot lie to Amms"

"Ok ok...don't worry..I am not right now in Chennai..bas wanted to see what U'll say" Manik said calmly. Nandini let out a sigh of relief.

"Feeling better now?" Manik asked with a chuckle. "Now listen...if not tonight...soon U have to meet me...and I will accept your sorry only when U say it face to face. I will wait for it. So Nandu..U must come meet me. I will wait for U." Manik said biting his lower lip.😛

"mm...but how?" Nandini replied

"That you have to figure out, Nandu...ok now I got to go..my friends are waiting! Bye Nanduuu" Manik sang musically and cutting the call

"Aiyappa...what do I do now??? He cut the call and I really want him to accept my apology...what do I do?? I will go to Mumbai in 2 days...but how do I meet him? I am scared...will he like me or not? 😕

Chapter 6

Fab 5

"She...she is so cute" Manik thought as he opened the car door and sat in the driver's seat. "Her voice so sweet..and her attitudewaala talk, her sobbing over the phone...I really got to meet her. But how? Maine tho bol diye..ke aake milo...magar she is in Chennai. Will she come all the way here to apologize?"😕Manik thought as he continued to sit on the driver's seat looking into blank space.😆

"Manik...yaar...tu chalayega ke main chalaaoon?" Kabir asked seeing the completely lost Manik.

"But...she did sound like she really wanted to apologize. Tho raasta tho usko hi dhoondna padega..mujh tak pahunchne ke liye..ya phir main Chennai chala jaaaoon?? Magar uska pata bhi tho maloom nahi hai..." Manik continued his musings.

"No...Kabir, tu kyon chalayega...main chalaaoongi..waise bhi ek phone call se Manik aisa ho gaya hai..pata nahi kya chal raha hai iske dimaag main?" Mukti replied moving forward a bit from the back seat and giving a light tap on Manik's cheek. That tap woke Manik up from his dazed mood and he quickly put in the switch key and started the car.😆

"Yaar...tu kaunse duniya main khoya hua hai? Aaj poore din tujhe hi dekh raha tha main" Kabir replied.

"No...nothing...its just...that I was not getting Mr. Williams on phone" Manik made up an excuse.😛

"Ah...the event manager for the show abroad. Did U get his correct number or not?" Alya asked passing her fingers through her shiny hair.

"No...I think...I need to re-check the number..yesterday I dialed up a wrong number".. Manik replied shaking his head a bit wanting to not allow Fab 5 members to notice the change that came over him.

"Haan wrong number dial karne ke baad hi iska aisa haal ho gaya hai. Williams ke jagah pe kisi Lucy se baat karne lag gaye honge aur uske yaad main kho gaya hai" Kabir teased Manik. 😛

"Stop it, Kabir. Manik won't fall for any Lucy" Alya retorted feeling jealous hearing the mention of a girl's name getting connected to Manik.

"Haan haan...Alya...agar Lucy ke nahi tho phir kisi local Nancy ke number lage honge..tabhi tho hamara Manik aisa ban gaya hai...abhi replies bhi nahi de raha hai" Kabir continued with a smile.

"Nothing of the sort, Kabir. Stop teasing, ok??" Manik retorted with a little smile.

"Achcha?? Lucy nahi..Nancy nahi?? Dhruv tho bol raha tha ke koi ladki hai..kaun hai yaar woh?? Bata tho sahi..Dhruv ne bola ke phone pe tu bhadak raha tha kal raat kisi pe." Kabir continued letting Manik know that the story is out.

Manik looked sharply at Dhruv through the rearview mirror. Dhruv looked back at Manik through the rearview mirror with a apologetic expression.

"Koi ladki??? Who is she??" Alya's attention was now all on Manik.

"No Alya...nothing of the sort...its just some girl who I got on a wrong number call" Manik brushed off the question with a light reply.

"No..Manik tell me...what was she speaking? What did she say to upset you?? Who is she?? " Alya raised her voice.

"Ok calm down..Alya..chill yaar" Mukti calmed down Alya. "Its just a wrong number. Don't loose your cool, yaar"

Manik continued driving...but looked at Alya through rear view mirror and she was fuming...fuming with anger. Manik felt restless..."what will happen when Alya comes to know of Nandu? Should I really allow Nandini to meet me? If Alya gets to know...she will be upset that I had such a long conversation with a girl..other than her." Manik thought as he swerved the car into the adjoining street. 😛

Chapter 7

Miss you, Amms

Nandini is sitting on her bed flipping through a magazine and reading an interview. The photo of Manik Malhotra is on the cover page of the magazine. Nandini quickly reached page 52 of the magazine and there is his picture and his recent interview.

Manik Malhotra the only son of the owner of Malhotra industries from a rich affluent family. There is another picture of Manik with a tall lady. Nandini read the names under the photo "Manik Malhotra..with his mother Nyonika Malhotra". Nyonika Malhotra...she looks very stylish and seems like a business woman. Party-going type of lady lagti hai...magar Manik doesn't resemble her a bit. Is she his real mother? Nandini wondered as she lay down on her bed looking at the photo of Manik and Nyonika.

"He is handsome...specially when he doesn't wear those stupid sunglasses...his eyes are so shining and deep and his jet black shiny hair" Nandini thought as her finger without even her knowing caressed the hair of Manik in the photo.

"What am I thinking? What am I doing??" Nandini thought as she took her finger off the page. "Nandini got up and sat again to read the interview.

"My life is music. Fab 5 is my family. To me without these two life is empty" Nandini read Manik's words. "I wonder why he said so...he should be saying that Nyonika Malhotra is his family. Ok..maybe its coz he loves his friends too much. I mean which son would not love his mother?" Nandini whispered to herself.

She read the final question on the page "Are you single or dating??" Nandini eagerly read the answer "No I am still single...to me music is my life and I haven't thought of dating yet. I am happy the way I am...I am happy with Fab 5. Love doesn't have a place in my life. "

Nandini read the final sentence and whispered "Manik doesn't have a girlfriend...but he does not believe in love too? Magar woh aisa kyon hai?"

"Nanduuu..." Amms was in the hallway calling her. "Nee yenna pannren? (what are you doing?) Bags pack pannittena illaya? (Did you pack your bags or not?) U have to leave tomorrow for Mumbai. Seekiram vaa (come fast)."

"Yes Amms...I'm coming" Nandini shouted back as she placed the magazine in her suitcase and shut the suitcase tight with the sound of the lock falling in place. Nandini opened the door and walked into the hallway..where Amms was filling a huge box with chips. Amms turned back smiling and said "Da chellam...packing is done?" "Yes Amms..." Nandini replied with a huge smile.

"Inge vaa (come here)" Amms replied and took Nandini's hand...caressing her forehead. "This is the first time..I am sending you to an unknown city...Mumbai. I really want to come with you there...but since you insisted that you want to go on your first trip alone...you want to make this first big move on your own..I am not coming with you. I will drop you tomorrow morning at the railway station...and you cannot stop me from doing that, ok?" Amms said as tears started welling up in her eyes. "Amms...don't worry. I will take care of myself and Rishabh is also coming with me. He will always protect me" Nandini spoke looking at Rishabh who gave her a reassuring smile.😳

"I know...Nandu...but you are a girl and trains are not safe now-a-days. I do get worried. I have asked your Venkatesh chacha to come and receive you at the station itself. All these chips are for him and your favourite Shanno chachi. She sounded very excited over phone and must've prepared herself to make lots of food for you" 😳

"Yes Amms..I know..." Nandini said with a huge smile. "I just love chachi...she is so sweet, Amms..can't wait to meet her" Nandini resting her head against Amms.

"I will be missing you a lot...kanna (beloved)...without you..Amms will feel lonely. Have to eat food alone...who will I make masala dosa for? It is your favourite food..Nandu" Amms said as she hugged her Nandini tight and a drop of tear slipped down her cheeks. 😭

"Amms...I will miss you too. I will miss eating masala dosa and sambar made by you. I will miss your hugs..." Nandini whispered. "But don't worry Amms...now its my turn to eat chachi's food for some days. I am going to be eating her newly experimented recipes" Nandini suddenly quipped with a huge smile on her face.

"Yes..and be careful...Shanno makes the weirdest recipes. U must get used to her weird cooking. " Amms said with a huge smile.

"Don't worry Amms..I love her and I am sure I'll manage to eat all she cooks" Nandini said with a huge smile.

"Tomorrow...I will leave Amms and go to a city...a city far away from Chennai where I lived all these years...will the world there be same like here?" Nandini wondered as she closed her eyes..resting herself in Amms' warm hug. 😳

Chapter 8

First eye-contact

"Nandini..Nanduuu...why didn't you call me up? It's been a full day already and I remained sleepless all night..Why didn't you call me back Nandu? U have my number...U have a reason to call. U wanted me to accept your sorry...yet U did not call me. Don't you want to meet me? Or did you forget about me already?" Manik thought as he scrolled through the numbers on his phone thoughtfully.

Manik reached the number...the wrong number which he had dialed twice already. He knew it was a wrong number, but yet he wanted to dial it again and again to hear that voice. Manik quickly saved the number on his phone with the name "Nandu".

"Why am I even saving her number? I am saving the number of a girl who is not even my fan or friend..whose face I did not even see...who insulted me...who loves my buddy Dhruv and not me. I must be crazy" Manik thought as he threw the phone on bed.

Manik got up from the bed and suddenly the phone started ringing. Manik quickly rushed back to pick up the call.

'Hii Manik" Manik listened to the voice. It was not Nandu...it was Alya. "Hey Alya..." Manik replied with a disinterested expression "Manik..did you watch our latest interview? It is going on now on television...are you watching it or not? Turn on your tv set, Manik" Alya replied with a little smile on her face.

Manik lazily walked up to the teepoy and picking up the remote control switched on the tv. "Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan" it is our joint venture. The lyrics are penned by Mukti and on the music me and Kabir have collaborated. Each and every member of our group have put in their best efforts and contributions. Alya has designed the costumes and Dhruv has worked on the instrumental additions to the music" Manik looked at his own image talking onscreen as he lazily sat down back on the bed.

Nandini just couldn't take her eyes off the screen. She was continuing to watch Manik on screen and she was eagerly waiting to hear more..to know Manik more. This time, Manik is not wearing sunglasses. It seems like his latest interview.

"For the first time..during an interview he is not wearing sunglasses...is it coz I said so to him? Nandini thought as she looked at Manik who continued to look at the eyes of Manik which was either looking away or gazing at the interviewer."

"Yes sir, now please give a message to your fans" the reporter requested Manik

Manik was looking straight now at the camera. His gaze deep and penetrating.

"Hii...this is Manik Malhotra. I am the leader of the music group Fab 5. Please enjoy the music of Fab 5 and don't support any sort of piracy. It is a loss to the producers who are supporting our album. You can buy our CDs online at the site given below. Do support us and our music. Fab 5 will continue to make good music for you. Next up...will be Dhruv who will be talking to you. Keep watching the show to meet all our members" Manik concluded with a smile.

That gaze...it was the first eye contact Nandini ever made. It was like a million lightnings were passing through her...his voice...his penetrating gaze...it is just so direct, truthful and it just bruises the heart with a certain pang which she couldn't identify, which she never felt for Dhruv...and that smile at the end of the talk..it just felt like rain upon the deserts of her heart.

"Nandini...control yourself...what is happening to you? U don't like Manik Malhotra do you?? Nandini placed her hand over her heart which was beating at the speed of the train in which she will travel to Mumbai. "What will I do now?? I am going to Mumbai ...to his place" Nandini thought as her eyes looked at the image of Dhruv talking. But did Nandini even see her favourite Fab 5 member Dhruv talking onscreen??😆😳

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Finally Mumbai

"Finally...Mumbai..here I am" Nandini thought as she placed her first step on the railway platform. Nandini looked around at the buzz happening on the railway platform. It's buzzing with people. "Amidst this crowd...how will I find chacha chachi?" Nandu thought as she pulled down the luggage along with the tin box with goodies for her chacha chachi.

"Nanduuu" Nandini heard a voice from behind and she turned back to look at the warm and smiling faces of her chacha chachi. "Awww mere rolu polu chaachiii" Nandu quipped as she quickly moved forward to hug her chachi. "hahaha mere chotu chotu Nandu" Chachi retorted as she returned the hug. Rishab also got out of the train with his baggage and a little suitcase as he walked forward and gave a hug to chacha!😳

"Train main koi problems tho nahi hui na Nandu?" Venkatesh uncle asked with a curious expression on his face. "No chachu...I met this uncle aunty on the train and they helped me a lot. They even shared their food with me. It was a wonderful trip." Nandini replied combing back the locks of hair falling over her face and tucking the hair behind her ears and giving her chacha a warm hug. 😳

'Achcha achcha...trip ke poore story sunaana...but abhi taxi wait kar rahe hai...first inn luggages ko taxi ke andar rakhte hai..." chacha retorted tapping Nandu on her shoulder.

"Ok chacha..." Nandini replied with a huge smile as she picked up her bag. Chacha collected the luggage from Rishabh's hand and chachi picked up the tin box with goodies and all of them walked out of the station to the taxi awaiting them and keeping the luggage in the taxi.

"Its been a long one day... and Nandu has not even given me a ring. Is she alright?? Doesn't she have a mobile phone with her? " Manik thought as he dreamily strung on his guitar. "She said that she is coming here and already she should've reached here. Will she forget about calling me up??"😕

"Manik...kya kar rahe ho? music banaa rahe ho?" Alya asked placing her hand on Manik's shoulder.

"No..just...practicing" Manik replied curtly.

"Manik, U know kal raat ke interview pe I got a lot of comments. U know...jab hum sabhi saath khade the...U were next to me and a friend of mine called me up and asked me if U are my boyfriend" Alya said with a smile.

"Hmm..." Manik replied with a thoughtful expression.

"What hmm?? Didn't you hear?? Sabhi sochte hai ke hum dono boyfriend girlfriend hai...they feel that we are made for each other.."

"Yes Alya..I know" Manik replied in a disinterested manner.

"Manik...tum kya sochte ho?? Are we not perfect together?" Alya asked placing her palm on Manik's cheek.

"Hmm...yes we all of Fab 5 are perfect together!" Manik replied avoiding the topic.

"No Manik...actually don't U feel..me and U..we have a special bonding?" Alya asked continuing to caress Manik's cheek.

"Special bonding??" Manik asked looking at her with an enquiring expression.

"Yes...U know..!"

"Manikk...tu idhar baitha hai...I've been searching everywhere for you, man!! Guitar ke saath baatein?? Music banaa raha hai ya wapas dreamland chala gaya tu?" Kabir asked cutting into the conversation as he opened the door and walked into the jamming room.

"Obviously making music, man!!" Manik said with a relieved expression. Alya never liked it when Kabir walked into the room and interrupted the conversation but she can't help it too. Alya gave Kabir a cool stare.

"Wo wo wo!! Alya...what's up girl?? Why that cold stare?? Maine wrong timing pe entry maarli kya?" Kabir asked sitting down on the chair next to Manik.

"No man...we were not talking anything special" Manik said as if he didn't even notice their conversation.

"Alya..Mukti tujhe dhoond rahi thi...and I came here searching for U and here U are with your favourite Manik! Yaar tu hamesha Manik ke peeche peeche kyon chalti rehti hai? Isko thode se tho apne dreamland main rehne de!" Kabir said with a naughty smile.

"Kabir!! Just what do U mean??" Alya asked flaring up.

"No..no..nothing! Pichle 7 saal se you are always closest to Manik. I mean..always walking close by Manik, sitting next to Manik...yaar hamare paas bhi kabhi kabhi baitha karo!" Kabir continued teasing.

"Fine!" Alya retorted rising up to come and sit next to Kabir "Now happy??" Alya retorted with an arrogant expression.

"Manik..main dhanya ho gaya yaar...finally Alya...the sexy Alya mere paas aake baith gayi...aaj tho main mandir jaake maadha tekoonga" Kabir said folding his hands and closing eyes.

"hahahaa" Manik starting laughing "Kabir...now tu bas kar, yaar..aur kitne taang kheechega Alya ki?" Manik couldn't stop smiling.

"Drop the crap, Kabir and just leave from here" Alya retorted.

"No no..Alya..U leave from here...coz Mukti tujhe hi dhoond rahi hai..jaldi se jaake mil le...warna poore college ko Alyaaa Alyaaa cheekh cheekh ke sar pe uthaa legi" Kabir continued with a little laugh.

"Yes Alya...U go and find out why Mukti is searching for you" Manik replied pointing to the door.

"Fine...Manik..magar jo conversation hamare beech hue...I want us to continue after I return..ok??" Alya said standing up and walking to the door.

"Hmm...what?" Manik asked with a questioning look.

"Forget it Manik...U never were serious...U guys talk..let me find Mukti" Alya replied as she closed the door a bit loud.

"The streets of Mumbai are so buzzing with people. It's different from the area where I lived." Nandini thought as the taxi slowly down on a traffic on the street of Mumbai.

" Chachu...traffic kab clear hoga?? " Nandini asked looking at her watch.

"Pata nahi Nanduuu..." Chacha said looking out of the taxi putting his head out through the window. "Hum stuck hai ek traffic main..thoda sa wait karo, Nandu"

"Yes Chachu..." Nandini said as she opened the suitcase kept next to her and took out the magazine and started flipping through the magazine with Manik's photograph on it. Nandini opened a random page and it was the same interview that she was reading a night back. Nandini continued to look at the photograph of Manik and this time its the photo of Manik with Fab 5.

From left to right... Mukti (electric guitarist), Kabir (drummer), Manik (lead vocal and lead guitarist), Alya (keyboard player) and Dhruv (guitarist and singer). Nandini read the names.

Though Nandini had watched Fab 5 perform...though she loved her music, she never noticed Fab 5 members or knew much about them other than about Dhruv.

"Manik...tumhe pata bhi hai? Main abhi Mumbai main hoon." Nandini thought as she slowly caressed Manik on the page of the magazine.

Chachi leaned in to look at the photograph that Nandini was looking at.

"Nanduuu..tu mere Shahrukh ko dekh rahi ho??" Chachi asked with a smile.

"Shahrukh?? No chachi...ye Shahrukh nahi..ye fab 5 ke photo hai" Nandini corrected Chachi.

"Haan haan..pata hai..magar ye jo tall sa ladka haina..jo beech main khada hai..ye mere junior Shahrukh hai." Chachi said pointing to Manik.

"Junior Shahrukhhh?" Nandini asked with a little laugh. "Chachi..ye kaunse angle se Shahrukh dikhta hai"😳

"Kuch bhi ho...munda bada sona hai aur tall hai aur jab ye smile karta hai..tho bada romantic dikhta hai..iske smile romantic hai tho isko dekhke Shahrukh yaad aate hai" Chachi explained with a big smile.

"Smile karta hai?? Chachi?? Aap Manik Malhotra ko jaante ho...Fab 5 ko jaante ho?" Nandini asked her eyes widening in disbelief.

"Wo kya haina..Nandu...ek din tere Chachu mere liye ek icecream ka bada sa dibba laaya tha aur maine na uss dibbe pe ek contest padhe..aur uss dibbe pe ek card chipka tha..uspe likha tha ke Fab 5 se milne ka chance aapko milenge...aapko bas ye likhke bhejna hai ke aapko Fab 5 kyon pasand hai. Contest winner ko Fab 5 se milne ka ek mauka milega." Chachi continued...

Nandini's eyes widened in disbelief "Phir kya hua, Chachi?" Nandini asked her heart beat rate increasing.

"Phir kya hona tha?? Aakhir teri chachi hoon..maine bhi ek super reply uspe likhke bhej diye aur main contest jeet gayi!"😆 Chachi said with a huge smile.

"Aapne contest jeet liye???" Nandini asked her eyes widening "Aur Manik se mile?"

"Aur kya?? Main gayi thi unke office aur Fab 5 ke saare members se mile bhi aur iski tho baat hi alag hai..bada sona hai aur bada pyaara sa smile hai iski. Fab 5 ke members main se sabse pyaara hai..mujhe aur tere chacha ko chai pilaaye aur khaana bhi khilaye" Chachi said with a huge smile.

Nandini just couldn't believe her ears hearing the praises of Chachi for Manik. Now really Nandini couldn't resist herself from meeting Manik..her heart was beating wildly. 😛

"Hum finally pahunch gaye.." Chacha replied as the taxi slowed down to a halt in front of a beautiful little home. Nandini woke up from her thoughts as she looked at the house she visited as a child. She did remember the look of the home..but its been years since she visited chacha-chachi for vacation. Nandini got out of the car and looked around her and everything is just so beautiful...perhaps more beautiful than she last visited. Is it Mumbai or is it the excitement of meeting Manik? Nandini thought as she slowly lifted her suitcase and walked into the home after chacha-chachi. 😛

Chapter 11

Ayyappa! Ayyappa!

"Yaar...tu mujhe ye bataa..pichle do din se tujhe kya ho gaya hai? I noticed...when U were playing the guitar too, U were distracted. Tu thik tho haina?" Kabir asked placing his hand on Manik's shoulder.

"Yes...main thik hoon" Manik replied...a little lost in thought.

"No..tu thik nahi ho sakta...jis Manik ko main jaanta hoon..wo aise question pe aise answer nahi deta! Kaun hai woh?" Kabir asked with a naughty smile.

"Kaun..kaun??" Manik asked "There's nobody"

"Main jaanta hoon Manik...there's somebody, wo body ke baare main tu aur tera buddy jaanta hai aur tu car main bhi distracted tha. Dhruv bataa raha tha ek phone call ke baare main" Kabir replied getting up from his chair and walking to the drums.

"No..Dhruv aise hi kuch bol raha hoga" Manik replied "There's nobody" Manik reacted looking away.

"Hmm...chal iss baar tujhe chod deta hoon..magar agle baar nahi!" Kabir replied as he started tapping a little rhythm on the drum.

Suddenly the phone started ringing. Kabir continued to drum closing his eyes. Manik saw Kabir deep in playing drums. Manik quickly swiped his phone to accept the call. Now this is a call from an unknown number.. "Is it Nandini?" Manik thought as he swiped the phone screen to the accept call option.

"Hiii" Nandini spoke excitedly into the mouthpiece. She noticed her chacha chacha chitchatting with Rishabh as they were munching on the chips in the tin box. "Hello??" Nandini asked again.

Manik recognized the voice of Nandini immediately and why not?? It is the voice that he waited to hear these past two days.

"Hello??" Manik asked changing his voice a bit into a heavier tone.

"Is this Manik??" Nandini whispered softly into the mouthpiece as she noticed her chachi looking her way.

"No...this is Manik's manager speaking" Manik continued to speak with a different voice.

"Is Manik there? May I speak to him?" Nandini asked in a curious voice.

"No U cannot?? Manik sir is not here" Manik continued his voice acting.

"Kahan hai Manik?? I want to talk to him"

"Manik sir Chennai chala gaya hai. Unke wahan pe ek photoshoot hai" Manik continued naughtily as he bit his lips.

"Aiyooo Ayyappaaa" Nandini said a bit loud as she hit lightly on her head "Ye Manik bhi na? Thode se mere call ka intezaar nahi kar sakta tha?"

"Ayyappa who??" Manik asked in his normal voice. "Who is this Ayyappa?? I thought U were coming to Mumbai but you are with some Ayyappa??" Manik asked in a jealous expression.

"Manik???? Its you?" Nandini's face twisted into a fake angry expression.

"Yes yes...but who is this Ayyappa? Why are you sitting with some Ayyappa and talking to me? First U clear this with me" Manik said in a jealous tone.

"Ayyappa...hmmm...😈...Ayyappa is very close to me. He always listens to me and I always talk to him more than with anybody else in this world. I looove Ayyappa" Nandini continued with a naughty smile.

"What???? U have a boyfriend?" Manik asked quickly

"ummm...boyfriend?? Ayyappa is a boy and he is my friend..so does that make him boyfriend??" Nandini asked with a naughty expression.

"You are bringing your Ayyappa when U come to meet me to apologize to me?" Manik asked in an angry expression😡

"Yes...I never goes alone without my Ayyappa..now he came with me and Rishabh to Mumbai too. U know..as much as Nandu loves her Ayyappa...her Ayyappa loves Nandu tooo" Nandini continued with a huge smile.

"Ok..then why are U talking to me?? Go and talk with your Ayyappa" Manik said quickly cutting off the call.

"Hello?? Hello??? Manik??? He cut the call?? Aiyooo Ayyappa?? When I tell him the truth he gets angry! Doesn't he even know that Ayyappa is the name of god too? How will I tell him that U are my friend, but not a human being?? or are you a human being?? Ok must read puranas once again!"😕

Kabir continued to hit the drums his eyes closed as he sang "Ayyappa! Ayyappa! Ayyappa! Ayyappa!" in rhythm with it. 😆

Manik's anger now turned towards Kabir and he gave a long stare and hissed "Kabiiir"

"Yes Manik! Ayyappa! Ayyappa!"

"Stop ittt!" Manik shouted back. Kabir quickly opened up his one eye with a smile as he continued hitting on the drums. 😆

Suddenly the phone started ringing once again. Kabir stopped playing the drums and dropped the sticks on the drums and got up.

"Jaldi se phone utha...Ayyappa ka call hai" Kabir said

"Kabiiir!!" Manik gave a monstrous stare!😆

"Achcha chal..tu Ayyappa se baat kar aur main South India jaake wapas aata hoon" Kabir said as he walked out of the door with a little smile.

Manik looked at the phone for a moment. Nandini was biting her nails as she impatiently waited for Manik to pick up the call "Uthaao Manik..Uthaao" Nandini whispered softly.

"Ok!" Manik replied into the phone. "So is your Ayyappa not next to U?" Manik continued in a disinterested expression.

"Maniiik! How can U cut the call on hearing the name? Ayyappa is my friend and Ayyappa is god!" Nandini blurted out quickly before Manik manages to cut the call again.😆

"What?? Like seriously??" Manik asked "Were U all this time so lovingly talking about god?"

"Manik...Ayyappa ko main daily pray karti hoon and he is therefore my closest friend. Ayyappa mere sabse favourite hai. Jabse mere parents guzar gaye...jab Amms kabhi bhi daant leti..tho main hamesha Ayyappa se baatein karti thi...poochti thi..ke kyon mere parents ko paas bulaa liye. Ayyappa kuch bhi nahi bolta tha..magar mujhe pata hai ke mere parents happy hai Ayyappa ke paas...he takes good care of them wherever they are. Ayyappa se baat karke I feel..like they are close" Nandini said as her eyes welled up with tears.

Manik listened to Nandini's talks closing his eyes. "Her voice..its just like music. I can listen to this voice for hours."

"Manik?? Tum wahan ho na?" Nandini asked quickly

"Haan Nandu...bolo" Manik urged Nandini.

"Kya boloon?" Nandini replied.

"Kuch bhi.." Manik said dreamily.

"Kuch bhi??" Nandini replied with a confused expression.

"Haan...kuch bhi..U know? I was missing your voice" Manik replied with a loving smile.

This is the first time...that a girl other than a member of Fab 5 had shared so much with him. Manik was loving the purity..the innocence in this girl. She is different from the girls he met during parties...those girls who were like him...who didn't know to pray to god or even believed in god...for whom attending parties became more important than spending time in temples...just like Nyonika.

"Manik??? Are you there?" Nandini asked.

"Haan Nandu...I was just thinking how much different you are...do you know? U are very different from the girls I have met" Manik continued softly.

"I know...I am not stylish, glamourous...beautiful like the girls that U are surrounded by" Nandini replied softly.

"Hmm...is it?" Manik asked waking up from his dazed mood.

"Yes..." Nandini's voice faded away as she wondered what Manik is thinking of her.

"Hmm...but I know that you are beautiful" Manik replied with a little smile on his face. "I want to see you, Nandu"

"Manik...I just now reached Mumbai and I have to first join SPACE. I am new to Mumbai..so can we meet after a few days?" Nandini asked softly.

"U really want to avoid meeting me, haina?" Manik asked with a disappointed expression.

"N..No..Manik! It's not like that. It's just...I want to get used to here." Nandini replied quickly.

"Ok..Nandini..its upto U! U take your own time..but don't take longer than what my patience can allow U to take. I really want to see U...and don't take it longer than 1 week, ok?" Manik replied in a pleading way.

"Ok..Manik..I will tell U the date...I will call U back." Nandini replied with a relieved smile.

"Ok..and tell your Ayyappa to quickly arrange for our meeting" Manik said with a little smile.

"Ok..agreed!" Nandini said with a huge smile.

"So good night, Manik" Nandini replied

"Good night, Nanduuu and sweet dreams of me? Can I wish you that?" Manik asked curiously.

"Hmm...no! I don't want another dream of you" Nandini quickly said.

"Another dream??? U already started dreaming of me? " Manik asked his eyes widening in joy.

"No no!! I mean I don't want to dream of you! I will dream of Dhruv only" Nandini quickly said correcting herself.

"Hmm Dhruv??? Ok Dhruv mera buddy hai...so be careful..I'm going to jump in there and hug U!" Manik said with a flirtatious smile.

"Hug??????" Nandini asked her eyes widening "Yes a tight hug! Nanduuu...don't U dare dream of Dhruv! If you dream of Dhruv I will hug U in your dreams! If U dream of me only..I won't!" Manik replied with a little smile. "So sweet dreams of Dhruv?"

"N...No!!!!!" Nandini replied quickly.

"Achcha?? Ok then sweet dreams of me!!" Manik said with a little laugh.

"Ok..." Nandini replied with a confused expression. 😆 "Nooo!!" Before Nandini could even complete her sentence the phone went cut and Nandini noticed herself blushing.

"Nanduuu...kya hua tujhe?? Tera chehra aisa laal kyon hai?? Tu sone nahi jaa rahi?" Chachi asked seeing the beetroot red Nandini.

"Y..Yes chachi...wo...I'm feeling hot! I mean Mumbai is very hot!" Nandini replied.

"Haan wo tho hai Nandu..magar tere kamre main abhi A/c hai. Tu jaake so jaa abhi" Chachi said sweetly.

Nandini sneaked up the stairs into her room as she wiped the beads of sweat that was forming on her forehead.

"This boy na...he definitely will kill me!! Aiyooo Ayyappaaa...what do I do?? Sweet dreams of Dhruv tho..ye ladka mujhe hug karega...sweet dreams of ye ladka...tho aiyooo"😭😆 Nandini thought as she lay down on her bed and closed her eyes.

Chapter 12

Sunita kaand

"Nanduuu...neeche aaja jaldiii, tera phone hai (Nanduuu...come down fast, you've got a call) " Chachi called to Nandini standing downstairs holding onto the railing of the staircase.

"Jiii chachiii, main aaiii (yes aunt..I'm cominggg)" Nandini replied as she ran down the stairs. "Kiska call hai chachi?? (whose call is it?) Nandini asked "Pata nahi. tere koi school friend hai!" Chachi replied pointing to the phone and walking towards the kitchen.

"School friend?? Who is that??" Nandini thought as she went to pick up the call.

"Hiii Nanduuu" Nandini heard a voice which she didn't recognize.

"Hello? Who is this?" Nandini asked sitting down on the chair next to the teepoy.

"This is meee Sunita! Identified me??" the voice replied.

"Sunita??? Kaun Sunita?" Nandini asked confused.

"U forgot me so fast??? Remember??? The Sunita who sat on the last row of the class" Nandini was racking her brains trying to remember who this is.

"No...actually the class had so many students..I can't remember you..." Nandini said with a confused expression.

"Nanduuu tu bhi na? You give me your whatsapp number, I will add you to our school group" this total stranger was asking for Nandini's mobile number. 😕

"Whatsapp?? I don't have whatsapp, yaar!" Nandini continued getting even more confused.😕

"Achcha?? Kaunse era se ho tum??" Nandini immediately heard Manik's voice.

"What????? Manik??????? It was you??" Nandini asked in disbelief.

"Hmm...I can't believe that U don't even have a whatsapp!" Manik continued in disbelief.

"First you tell me...who was that girl?" Nandini continued pouting her lips.

" Who girl??? Oh that...I just used a software to make my voice sound like girl! Modern technology U know?" Manik replied with a little laugh. 😛

" U know! I thought U are really some girl!" Nandini replied with a little smile.

"Wo kya haina ke I know that U are not staying alone and if I called up in the voice of a boy, whoever picks up the call may get doubts!" Manik continued sitting down on his bed.

"Ahaa...so U tricked my chachi??" Nandini asked with a naughty smile.

"Then what?? I mean I don't want your chachi asking if you have a boyfriend or something" Manik replied casually.

"Haan haan...mere tho already boyfriend haina?" Nandini said with a huge smile.

"Boyfriend????? Who?? U told me that U have only Ayyappa as boyfriend" Manik replied his eyes widening "U have another boyfriend?? For real??"

"Haan haina!" Nandini replied naughtily.

"Achcha? Naam tho bataao!" Manik replied his eyebrows crowding into a frustrated expression.

"Naam kyon bataaoon? He is my boyfriend you know..." Nandini continued taunting Manik.

"Ok then if you have a boyfriend, U go and be with him..bye!" Manik replied cutting the phone.

"Ayyappa!! Ye phirse phone kaat diya?" Nandini asked looking up at Ayyappa and Ayyappa also looked down at her with a smile. 😕😆

"Kyon Ayyappa...why does he do this always?" Nandini asked herself as she placed the receiver back into the cradle. As soon as she placed the receiver back into cradle the phone started ringing again. 😛

"Hello??" Nandini quickly picked up the call as she breathed happily into the phone mouthpiece.

"Haan...I just called to say...when U come to meet me don't come with your boyfriend ok?? Come alone!" Manik replied pouting his lips in anger.

"Haan...kya main apne girlfriend ko leke aaoon?" Nandini replied with a naughty smile.

"Like seriously?? U have a girlfriend? I should've thought that U would be like this!" Manik said shaking his head.

"Maniiik girlfriend matlab friend who is a girl. Not the kind of girlfriend U are thinking" Nandini corrected Manik.

"Aaa...girlfriend matlab friend who is a girl and boyfriend matlab friend who is a boy? So am I your boyfriend?" Manik asked naughtily😛

"Nooo" Nandini replied quickly

"I am not your boyfriend?? Then what am I to you?" Manik asked smiling at himself in the mirror

"U are...U are...not yet a friend U know?" Nandini replied twirling her dupatta on her fingers.

"Ok...not yet a friend?? Wanna be my friend?" Manik asked quickly

"Friend?? How?" Nandini asked with a confused expression on her face.

"Meet me...meet me and be my friend! Today evening at the Infiniti Mall, sharp 6. P.M! If U don't come, I will think that U don't want to be my friend. Then I won't disturb you anymore, Nandu" Manik replied quickly.

"But Manik...remember what we spoke yesterday night?? I need time to adjust here" Nandini replied pleadingly.

"Nandini...if I give U time, I know...U'll keep on asking for time till infinity! So no more time aur mere sorry dene ek expiration time is only upto evening! So come to Infiniti mall today evening, if not U won't get my sorry! U decide what U want!" Manik replied in an affirmative tone.

"But Ma...!" Nandini couldn't complete her sentence as she heard the line go cut.

"Aiyooo Ayyappa...what do I do? Where is this Inifiniti mall? How will I go there alone?" Nandini thought as she placed the receiver on the cradle.

Once again the phone started ringing *trrring triiing*😆

Nandini quickly picked up the call again thinking it was Manik calling her up. But this time, it was someone different.

"Hiii Nanduuu!" Nandini heard the chirpy voice of her friend Navya on the phone.

"Hiii...Navyaaa" Nandini replied her face growing into a biiig smile!😃

"Nanduuu tu aayi aur mujhe call bhi nahi kiya?" Navya asked in a disappointed voice.

"Arre I just reached yesterday and aaj tho sunday hai! I was thinking of calling you only!" Nandini replied trying to make her friend feel better.

"Achcha! Kaisa laga Amchi Mumbai?" Navya asked with a huge smile.

"Navyaaa, its so hot! Heavy traffic. But love chacha chachi! So anything for chacha chachi!" Nandini said with a huge smile.

"Achcha chal! Aaj ka kya plan hai?" Navya asked with a huge smile.

"Navyaaa pehle ye bata..how did U get this phone number??" Nandini asked curiously

"U know na? I cannot sit calmly? I called up Amms and asked her if Nandini reached Mumbai or not. Amms told me that she got a call from your chachi yesterday and got to know that U reached safely. So I got your number from Amms! Hoon na main smart? " Navya replied with a huge smile.

"Haaan...tu smart hai, bahut smart hai!" Nandini replied with a smile.

"Chal now tell me, what are your plans for today? Shall we go ghooming Mumbai?" Navya asked in a smart style.

"Mumbai ghooming?? That's a good idea!" Nandini continued thoughtfully.

"So where do U want to go?? Beach?? Or U want to go eat panipuri?" Navya asked excitedly.

"No I want to go to Infiniti mall!" Nandini replied quickly

"Infiniti mall?? Why Infiniti Mall?" Navya asked with a confused expression. 😕

"Coz...coz...Navya...I have a date!" Nandini replied.

"Date????????? Kiske saath?" Navya asked with an excited expression and getting up from her seat.

"Manik ke saath!" Nandini replied "U MEAN THE MANIK MALHOTRA KE SAATH??? TU PAAGAL THO NAHI HO GAYI HAINA? Navya shouted in her loudest pitch😆

"Navya..tu chal na...mere saath!" Nandini requested pleadingly.

"Nandini...tu kisi aur ko pakad mujhe chod! Jai ram ji ki!" Navya replied as she quickly cut the call.

"Isne bhi phone kaat diya?? Ab main kya karoon??" Nandini asked..looking up at her Ayyappa..but Ayyappa didn't say a word...he was smiling silently!😆

Chapter 13

We will...

"Phone uthaa Navyaaa phone utha!!" Nandini thought as she dialed Navya's number. The phone was ringing but Navya was not picking up the phone.

"Tuu mujhe marvaayegi?? Oye tujhe nahi pata...Manik Malhotra kya hai! Tu abhi abhi aayi hai Mumbai aur tujhe aur koi nahi mila date pe jaane ke liye?" Navya thought as she continued to look at the phone ringing.

"Aiyyappaa ye phone kyon nahi uthaa rahi hai??" Nandini thought as she placed the receiver back on the cradle and dialed re-dial button. 😆

"Arree...isko aisi kya emergency aa gayi hai Manik Malhotra se milne ka?" Navya thought as she looked the phone ringing once again. "Chalo..uthaa lete hai..ek dost hi aakhir ek dost ke kaam aate hai" Navya thought as she picked up the telephone receiver.

"Navyaaa" Nandini shouted a bit loudly into the mouth piece. "Tune phone kyon nahi uthaaya?"

"Nanduuu...tu mujhe marvaayegi na?" Navya asked in a pleading tone. "Mat leke jaa mujhe mat leke jaa!"

"Kyon Navya? Tu kyon darr rahi hai??" Nandini asked Navya in a pleading voice.

"Nanduuu..tu nahi jaanti...Manik Malhotra na...bahut khamandi hai...dekha nahi uska expression tv pe?" Navya asked. "waise bhi tu usse kyon milna chahti hai?" Navya asked in a confused tone.

"Pls come with me na?" Nandini pleaded. "I don't know Infiniti Mall and I said something rude to him and I want to say sorry to him"

"Sorry? Tu sorry phone pe bol sakti haina?" Navya asked.

"No..wo kya haina? Manik doesn't accept phone sorries, he accept only face to face sorries. Pls Navya tu chal na mere saath"

" hmm...achcha thik hai..main chaloongi tere saath magar ek condition hai" Navya said "Tu na...humhe Manik se bolke Kabir ke autograph dilwaana...tu jaanti hai? Main Kabir ki bahuut badi fan hoon!" Navya said with a huge smile.

"Kabir?? Tu Kabir ko pasand karti hai?" Nandini asked with a huge smile.

"Haan..dekha hai kabhi tune Kabir ke interview? Kitna masti karta hai..aur maine suna hai ke sabhi se dosti karta hai" Navya replied "Woh na..mere type ka hai"

"Achcha?? Tere type ka?? hmm..." Nandini said "Achcha ok! Main Manik se zaroor bolke Kabir ke autograph loongi. Tho aaj shaam ko tu aayegi na? Mere chachi ka address tho tujhe pata haina? Wohi pe aajaana...hum saath jaayenge Infiniti Mall, thik hai?" Nandini asked with an excited smile.

"haan thik hai...main sirf Kabir ke liye aa rahi hoon...warna main aise tyaag kabhi nahi karti" Navya said in a very funny way😆

"haan haan samajh gayi..." Nandini replied with a smile. "Aiyooo!! Manik se baat tho karli..but I forgot to ask him where to find him!!" Nandini hit her head lightly!"

"Nanduu..tu bina location fix kiye hi chalegi Infiniti Mall! Wo Mall bahut badi hai..kaise dhoondegi tu Manik ko??" Navya asked confused.

"Haan kaise dhoondoongi??" Nandini replied softly in a confused manner.

"waise bhi tujhe dhoondne ki koshish nahi padegi...Manik duur se hi tujhe nazar aayega..itna lamba jo hai!" Navya said with a little laugh.😆

"Navyyyaa...mazaak mat udaao! Ok..let me ask him. U come to my chachi's home by 5! We will together go to Infiniti Mall, ok?" Nandini asked with a smile.

"Haan haan meri maa...abhi pahunch jaaoon??" Navya asked with a little laugh

"Nahi nahii...first U eat your lunch. waise bhi..seeing Manik Malhotra..your food is going to get evaporated. Isliye eat lots and come ok??" Nandini said with a little laugh teasing Navya.

"evaporated?? i am not sea water to evaporate. i am unevaporatable! samjhi??" Navya said adding one more new word to oxford dictionary.😆

"haan unevaporatable Navyuuu! chal...tere enemy ko abhi call karti hoon...jaldi aana 5 pm sharp ok?" Nandini said with a smile.

"ok...maaji...jai ram ji ki!" Navya said as she cut the phone. "Hayyee...mere Kabirji ke autograph...mera tho bhaagy khul gaye..I am so lucky" Navya thought as she dreamily sat down on her bed looking at a poster of Kabir stuck on her wall!😆😛

"Manik?? Tu abhi tak taiyyar nahi hua? we've a tight schedule to follow. Remember?? We have to go for the meet with the ad director. We've an ad to shoot!" Mukti tapped on Manik's shoulder as he stood watching the sea in front of him dreamily.

"haan Mukti...main bas...soch raha tha...that I want to get a gift for Dhruv...its his birthday coming up! I'm planning to go shopping today evening!" Manik said looking at the waves of the sea.

"Haan yaar Dhruv's birthday! But U know...I'm thinking that we should get something different." Mukti said with a little smile.

"I'm planning to visit Infiniti mall today evening.." Manik replied looking at Mukti with a little smile "U know..there are some amazing stuff there..."

"Haan Manik..that's true! I too wanted to come, but I have a party to attend. U know na? I can't come with you!" Mukti replied in a disappointed voice.

"It's ok, Mukti! Main akela hi chala jaaoonga and I know Dhruv's heart..so I will definitely buy something special for him." Manik reassured Mukti.

"I know yaar...tu agar kuch khareedne jayega tho best hi hoga. U know your buddy's heart most." Mukti said tapping on Manik's shoulder. "Achcha abhi chal, let's go!" Mukti said as she turned to walk.

Suddenly Manik's phone started ringing "Wait a sec, Mukti! U go outside and wait in the car..I'll be there in a moment" Manik said looking at his phone screen. "Haan ok! waise bhi aajkal tujhe kuch zyaada hi mysterious phone calls aa rahe hai..tu baat kar I'm waiting outside" Mukti said as she walked out of Manik's home closing the main door behind her.

"Manik?? Where is Manik?" Kabir asked walking upto Mukti.

"Phone pe!" Mukti replied leaning against the car parked in front of Manik's house.

"Phone pe?? Phirse?? I'm sure wo Ayyappa hi honge" Kabir replied with a laugh.

"Ayyappa?? What Ayyappa??" Mukti asked putting a chewing gum in her mouth.

"Mukti..U don't know. Recently Manik is obsessed with south India..." Kabir said with a little smile.

"South India??" Mukti asked again in a confused tone.

"Yes South India...kal ek call aaya tha..and Manik was shouting Ayyappa?? Isliye I guess its a south Indian connect..U got what I mean?" Kabir said winking his eyes.

"No..make it clear?" Mukti asked tilting her head a bit to the left.

"Forget it! I too don't know of the south Indian connect...but I'll soon find out!" Kabir said looking at Manik through the window speaking over the phone.

"Hello?? Nandu?? what's up??" Manik asked curiously.

"Manik...I want my sorry and I will meet U today..but I have 2 conditions!"

"What conditions, Nandu?? Anything I am ready for!" Manik replied excitedly.

"first of all...I will not come alone. I don't know Mumbai...so I will bring my friend with me and second...U must bring Kabir with you" Nandini put forth her conditions.

"Kabir?? Why Kabir??" Manik asked leaning against the balcony.

"Because...my friend is a fan of Kabir!" Nandini replied bringing a smile on Manik's face.

"Kabir's fan?? Ok...let me see..so its a double date?" Manik asked with a smile.

"Double date? What double date? Main koi date pe nahi jaa rahi..I'm meeting you to get my sorry!" Nandini replied in denying tone.

"Haan ok...U come for my sorry and I will give U sorry and more. But how will I identify you?" Manik suddenly asked.

"Manik...I know U...I have already seen U.. so I will come to U...where will U be?" Nandini asked in a curious tone.

"Meet me at the westside stores on the 1st floor! I'll be waiting for you there!" Manik replied giving Nandini directions.

"Ok...Manik..." Nandini replied with a little smile. "We will meet..."

"we will..." Manik agreed with a smile on his face as he listened to the line going cut and looked out at the sea in front of him. "we will..." Manik whispered as a soft wind blew caressing the locks of his hair a bright smile spread across his face.😳