Ma-they don't want you to be the band manager anymore.

Nandini looked at him and found him stuck in a bad situation. He felt himself miserable and this was the last thing she wanted. She stopped walking which made him stop too. She cupped his arms and turned him around to face her. Manik looked at her and Nandini said.

Nan-don't stress yourself........mei bhi tumse kehne wali thi abt this thing........aaj subhe hi muje msg aaya tha k hamari exams are being planned to schedule for next month........I have to cover up my studies Manik.......bahut time waste hogaya hai mera......firstly musicana, then Harshad and you being hospital and lately this thing.........I was abt to say you that I can't do this manager thing anymore..........

Manik could see honesty in her eyes which made him relaxed a bit and Nandini further said.

Nan-tum fab5 ko bol dena k you have told me abt manager thing and I backed off........toh they won't think abt you in a negative way.

Seeing his problem being solved a small smile came on his lips and seeing that Nandini said.

Nan-see.......so simple it is........aur tum khamkha itne pareshaan ho rhe the.........

In reply Manik just nod his head for once and they resume walking.

Nan-ab mei jao lectures attend karne......?

Ma-hhhmm.......

Nan-bye....

Ma-bye.....

Nandini walked ahead and just after 2 classrooms was her class so she entered in while Manik waited for her to disappear. Once she was gone he made his way towards jam room.

Cabir was present in jam room when Manik entered. Seeing each other they gave a welcoming nod. Cabir was already seated in front of his drums while Manik too sat on the empty chair close to his guitar. Cabir was the first one to break the thin ice btwn them.

C-so last night kuch zayda hogaya.........

Manik looked at him and then picked up his guitar so cabir stood up from his place along with carrying his stole and sat beside Manik and said.

C-you don't have to worry.......mei tere sath ho.........so just chill.......with time sab log settle hojayege........it's just that they are shocked with this revelation isliye........jatka lagne k baad hosh thikne lagne ko time lagta hai.

A small smile broke on Manik's lips after hearing cabir who too smiled in return. After that cabir further asked.

C-waise Nandini nhi aayi.

Looking around the door to which Manik replied.

Ma-she will not come.........

C-tu ne usko seriously mana kr diya?

Manik knew cabir is sorted so he told him the real reason and cabir gave a positive answer. Soon both the girls entered together and the whole atmosphere changed inside the room. Before they could exchange words Dhruv too entered so Manik said to cabir.

Ma-chal jamming krte hai........

Cabir gave a nod and got up from there and came back to his place. Manik too got up and started adjusting his guitar. Dhruv too took his position so the girls had to tune their instruments too. They jammed for hours.

Nandini was busy attending lectures. After continuous jamming fab5 dcd to take a break. Manik came out of the jam room without saying anything to fab4 and Dhruv rushed behind him. He called him from back making him stop on his way.

D-Manik........

Once Manik stopped Dhruv completed the distance btwn them and asked.

D-naraz hai mujse.........?

Manik didn't say anything and both the boys dcd to walk and talk. After an awkward silence Dhruv spoke.

D-kaal raat jo hova woh nhi hona chahiye tha...........all that.

Ma-Dhruv........

But Dhruv interrupted.

D-I understand........

This made Manik quiet + a little relaxed but Manik needed to clear the confusion to Dhruv abt Nandini so he said.

Ma-all that with Nandini.........

Again Dhruv interrupted.

D-was not love........

Now this came as a shock for Manik and he frowned with confusion.

Ma-huh?

Dhruv gulped his saliva and then said.

D-doesn't love hurt.......?

His this question made Manik bring back that painful feeling he felt when he left Nandini in musicana. So Manik bobbed his head gvg answer to Dhruv and Dhruv further continued.

D-then it is not hurting me..........tu aur Nandini being together is not hurting me.........so I can say that it is not love.

Ma-but then all that.......

D-aaliya.........

Again Manik frowned in confusion and Dhruv continued.

D-I think aaliya got the hint of your closeness with Nandini.........tere breakup k baad aaliya felt more insecure........and to get you back aaliya made me feel that I have feelings for Nandini.......aur muje bhi aisa laga so isliye musicana k time pe.........

Now this thing came as a shock to Manik. He felt being played by aaliya while Dhruv continued and told her how aaliya planned his make over, then date and all.

D-but ab muje realise hogaya hai abt it.......... aur isliye kaal raat k liye sorry........

Manik was still lost in Dhruv's words and when he said sorry he just patted his back and left from there.

On the other hand as it was lunch time Nandini came in canteen to see it loaded with friends. Though there was empty place but she missed Navya so without entering she came to the staircase.

Manik entered canteen to find Nandini but she was not there so he too came to stair case. From top he saw her sitting and playing with her own fingers and being lost. He descended the stairs quietly and then sat beside her. He immediately entwined his fingers with her bringing her out from the world of thoughts. She looked at him and raised her eyebrows while Manik asked.

Ma-kya hova........?

Nan-kuch nhi........

Her low tone can say it all that she was thinking something and Manik had dcd not to give up so he asked another question.

Ma-lunch kiya.........?

Nandini looked down and replied.

Nan-nhi..........mei gayi thi canteen mei but then I came back......

Ma-why so?

Nan-canteen mei sab log apne friends k sath beth the........I felt alone.......toh stopping an entire table made no sense isliye mei yahan aagai........

Ma-what stopping a table........Nandini you too have the equal ryt in this college like other students do.........

Nan-I miss Navya.........

And she again got lost in her world so Manik asked.

Ma-is it just Navya ya fir kisi teacher ne tumhe daata.......?

Nandini frowned and asked in confusion.

Nan-teacher kyu daategi.......?

Ma-tum farmhouse pe thi so you didn't attend lectures isliye........

Nandini chuckled and said.

Nan-principal sir ne muje allow kiya tha so koi kuch nhi bol skta hai.......

Ma-hhhmmm.........lekin agar aisa kuch hai toh you can tell me.........mei fir........

Nan-kya karoge tum teacher ko.........batao........

Ma-mei.........mei........

Nan-kya mei mei........bakri ho tum.........?

Ma-Nandini......(in complaining tone).....

Nandini giggled a little and then asked.

Nan-tumhare chehre pe kyu baara baje hai....... fab5 se ek aur doze mila kya........?

Hearing that Manik's face colour changed and then he said looking straight.

Ma-Dhruv.......

Nandini thought that Dhruv would be badly hurt coz he proposed her but she is with his buddy so she said.

Nan-Dhruv might be hurt coz tum uske buddy ho aur mei uska first love.......

Manik stopped her in btwn.

Ma-no he doesn't love you........it was infatuation......or rather we can say imposed feelings........?

Nandini frowned and asked.

Nan-mtlb?

Manik then told her everything that Dhruv said and Nandini's eyes went wide and wider with each passing second. After Manik completed he said with hurt tone.

Ma-I feel like being played.........betrayed.........

Nan-but I don't blame aaliya........

Manik looked at her with wide eyes and Nandini continued.

Nan-Manik she did the natural thing........you have been into relationship with her for 7 years and that is not less........when we broke up after musicana didn't you try to get me back........ hum toh dhang se 7 din bhi nhi the and you made so much efforts then why she should be accused.........don't think the other way for her Manik otherwise dimak ki tarha tumhari dosti khokli hojayegi.........

Manik realised that she is ryt. He too made efforts to get Nandini back then why not aaliya can do that. Manik was thinking and Nandini was sitting beside him silently. They were bought back by Nandini's phone call.

It was call from another customer inquiring abt her cake order. After a brief phone call Manik asked.

Ma-kya hova.......?

Nan-kuch nhi......cake ka order tha na aaj so that only........

Then to cheer him Nandini showed him the pics of the cake order she got today and Manik was amazed that Nandini can really make such cakes. The cake thing was the greatest disturbance to them and it changed their mood too. After that conversation Manik said.

Ma-chalo let's go to canteen kuch kha lete hai......

Nandini looked at her watch and then said.

Nan-nhi abhi dus min mei mera break over hojayega and I have back to back lectures too.......

Ma-tum pehle nhi bol skti thi........abhi tum bina khayege jaogi.......now bunk one lecture......

Nan-Manik I can't.......please........

Ma-fine......karo apni maan maani.......waise bhi tum meri nhi sunti ho........

Nan-Manik don't get upset na.......please......

Ma-jao tum lectures attend karo.......

Nan-Manik.........?

But he looked away and Nandini cupped his chin trying to make him face her but Manik stiffed his face which is why Nandini failed.

Nan-dekho Manik mei aise hi chali jaogi.......

Ma-haan jao jao.......meri fikr kis ko hai......

Nan-Manik.......

Still he didn't look at her and then the lecture warning bell rang in the entire college and Nandini needed to rush. She got up from her place and Manik was waiting for her to sit back but Nandini in a instant bended down and kissed his cheek and ran away before gvg him time to catch her.

Feeling her soft lips on his cheek Manik was starlted first and then he saw her running away. Cmg at a safe distance Nandini turned around and winked at him both smile and then Nandini waved him bye and ran back.

She reached just before the moment of the actual lecture bell ring. She sat in place and attended her rest of the lectures.

While Manik after Nandini left sat for 5 mins and then huffed as he realised that he have to go back to the jam room. He entered in and saw rest 4 of them sitting quietly infront of their respective instruments.

He entered in and before anything could happen his phone rang. He picked up the call and Manik's side of conversation was.

Ma-yes..........ohhhh haan.......yeah ryt.......is that ready.......ohhh great......nhi I will come tmrw.......yes yes sure.......okay.......

And the call got ended while fab4 were confused. After the call Manik came to his guitar and was tuning it when cabir asked.

C-kis ka phone tha.......?

Ma-nothing.......it was for me........

Aa-don't ask him cabir........he needs to keep secrets from us now a days......

Manik just rolled his eyes and started playing his guitar so fab4 too started jamming. The entire college day passed like this. After the end of college Manik called up Nandini.

Ma-come to the parking.

And he ended the call. They met near his car and sat inside and Manik drove away. On the way Manik said.

Ma-let's go somewhere.......

Nan-nhi aaj nhi plz.......abhi muje ghar ja k cake ka delivery karna hai aur kaal k orders bhi purre krne hai.......plz bahut kaam hai.........

Unwillingly Manik agreed and drove to her place. He dropped her, Nandini invited him to come in but he denied and drove back home. Rest of the day went casual for them but with their chatting and off course phone calls.

Update for the day. Good night bye.