U R MY STAR & I M UR SKY
Part 15:
The next day, Nandini reached college & straightly went to the Fab5 Music room. Cabir had msged her & asked her to come there first so that they all could spent some time together before practise. Nandini reached there to find the room empty, she saw her watch & thought to wait for all of them for sometime. She entered the room & sat there, when she suddenly saw Manik's guitar & remembered his words..."That I could tell u that I love u so deeply....". A sudden blush came upon her face as she picked up his guitar. She replayed the last day's events in her mind & rested her back on a table before she started playing the guitar.
On the other hand, Manik & Mukti reached the college to find, Cabir, Dhruv & Aliya already waiting for them in the front garden. All of them greeted each other & then entered together. They were talking & moving towards the Music room, when they heard the sound of guitar from that room.
Aliya: Guys... Is that sound coming from the Music room??
Cabir heard it clearly & then said,
Cabir: Yes Aliya.. I think someone is in there!!
Manik: No one is allowed to enter the Fab5 Music room... Who the hell is this??
Manik walked fast towards the Music room, followed by the others. All were equally agitated... They were about to enter the room, when suddenly Nandini sang,
(Song- Its gonna be Love, by Mandy Moore)
"Its gonna be me, baby
Its gonna be u, baby.."
Manik suddenly stopped listening to the voice & showed a hand to the others to stop.
Manik: Guys... I think thats Nandini!!
And then he heard as Nandini started singing,
"Time I've been patient for so long
How can I pretend to be so strong?
Looking at you baby
Feeling it too baby
If I'm asking you to hold me tight
then it's gonna be all right"
Manik slowly walked forward & stood at the door. All the others followed him & they saw Nandini standing there, with her eyes closed & playing Manik's guitar. All of them looked at Manik's face as they knew that he never liked anyone touching his guitar, even they were not allowed to touch it, but then they saw a smile on his face & calmed down.
They heard nandini sing, as she continued,
"It's gonna be Love
It's gonna be great
It's gonna be more then I can take
It's gonna be free
It's gonna be real
It's gonna change everything I feel
It's gonna be sad
It's gonna be true
It's gonna be me baby
It's gonna be you baby
It's gonna be...Its gonna be Love

Time am I restless or a fool?
How can you pretend to be so cruel?
Maybe it's me baby
Maybe it's true baby
Maybe it's everything were dreaming of
We waited long enough

Its gonna be Love
It's gonna be great
It's gonna be more then I can take
It's gonna be free
It's gonna be real
It's gonna change everything I feel
It's gonna be sad
It's gonna be true
It's gonna be your the one to do
It's gonna be me baby
It's gonna be you baby"
As Nandini finished, Manik slowly walked inside & stood in front of her. Nandini slowly opened her eyes & was shocked to see Manik there. She immediately kept the guitar aside & said,
Nandini: I m so sorry Manik... I used ur guitar, that too without asking u... I m so sorry, I was just-
Manik: Calm down... Calm down Nandini.... U can use it whenever u want... And ur song it was simply incredible.
Nandini heard him & a smile came upon her face.
Mukti: Absolutely right....
Mukti said & Nandini noticed them as they got in. Aliya came forward & hugged Nandini.
Aliya: Wow Nandini, that was so nice... I never knew that u could play guitar & sing rock.
Cabir: Neither did I!!
Nandini: Yeah.... I had tried it & performed with a rock band a couple of times in Chicago, in fact, I was forced to do it by some friends....I m not that good at it, but I do try it sometimes.
Mukti: Hv u lost it, u were awesome yr!!
Nandini simply smiled at it & Aliya motioned Mukti to look at Manik who was still smiling, Mukti winked at aliya & then said,
Mukti: Vese Nandini, u were so engrossed in ur song as if u were singing it to dedicate it to someone. So, tell us na, who is this someone special for whom u were singing this....
Nandini looked up towards her in shock,
Nandini: Arey.... No... No Mukti!! I was just singing like that.
Mukti: Ya ya just singing like that, then tell me why have ur cheeks turned so red by this blush...
Aliya: Yes Nandini u r blushing....
Nandini: No... I m not!!
While Mukti & Aliya was enjoying this, Nandini stealed some glances from Manik who was simply smiling at this teasing session along with Cabir & Dhruv.
Aliya: Batao Nandini, tell us also...
Nandini: Its nothing, u two hv gone mad...
Nandini said & ran out of the room. All of them laughed at it & then sat. They msged her to come back, but when she didn't they again got back to practise.
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The preparations for Musicana was going on at its peak, as only one week was left & the return of Fab5 was the most common buzz all around.
Cabir: Come on guys lets Party... Its been such an amazing week... Fab5 is back to Music & we havn't celebrated yet.
Mukti: Yes, Lets celebrate our comeback, guys.... Cabir's right!!
Aliya: Yeah!!
Manik: Ohk then, as everyone wishes... Lets celebrate Fab5's comeback.
Manik said & high fived Cabir & they all got up & started moving but Dhruv saw Nandini still sitting.
Dhruv: Nandini... Come na!!
All the others heard him & stopped,
Cabir: Nandu chal!!
Nandini: No u guys carry on, I hv some work... I'll catch up with u all tommorow.
Mukti: Come on yr... Leave work for one day! It won't change anything.
Nandini: Mukti, its important & moreover u all carry on na.. After all its Fab5's comeback, u all should party I-
Manik: Come on Nandini... Ohk lets do one thing, lets party to celebrate our togetherness... Lets celebrate our friendship today.
Mukti: Yes... n u r coming thats final now lets go!!
She held Nandini's hand & started moving followed by others. They just got out of the room when Mukti's phone rang. She took it out of her pocket, saw the caller's name & said,
Mukti: Excuse me guys.. Just a min!!
She moved to a side & received the call while the others waited. Manik turned towards Nandini & smiled seeing Cabir pulling her leg by saying something. Nandini felt his gaze on her & turned her head to the other side, trying to hide her blush from everyone. As she turned, she saw Mukti blushing, talking to someone on the phone. Just then Mukti returned towards them & nandini heard her saying the last line as, "Ohk I'll see u there in 10 mins.."
No one except Nandini heard it & then Mukti joined the group & said,
Mukti: Guys... U all carry on I'll join u in a few minutes.
Manik: What happened Mukti?
Mukti: Ohh nothing bhai... Its just that my bike is here na so u all carry on, I'll follow.
Cabir: Cool!!
All of them moved out & reached the Malhotra Mansion. They all settled down & waited for Mukti. More than half an hour passed away & Aliya said,
Aliya: Where is Mukti??
Manik: Yeah!!
Nandini: Chill guys she must would hv got stuck in traffic or something, she'll be here soon
Nandini tried to cover up & just then she saw Mukti entering the house, lost in her own thoughts with a sweet smile on her face.
Nandini: See here she is!!
Mukti immediately looked up as everyone saw her.
Manik: Mukti where were u??
Mukti: Nothing bhai just got stuck in traffic.
Nandini: See I said so!!
Mukti joined them & they got the party started, but this time Fab5's party was much different. They were all together but still alone in thier own thoughts. Dhruv & Aliya were busy romancing. Manik was sitting at the bar counter with his guitar, thinking about Nandini's feelings for him, about which he still had no idea. Cabir was sitting with Nandini 7 talking casually. While Mukti was sitting alone & smiling in deep thoughts. Nandini noticed her & got up to go to her. Cabir joined Manik at the bar counter but got busy on his phone. Nandini sat next to Mukti & asked,
Nandini: So whats up??
Mukti turned towards her & said,
Mukti: Nothing!
Nandini: Then why r u sitting alone?
Mukti looked up & saw Dhruv & Aliya and then said,
Mukti: Look at these two.... They r so cute!! U knw I feel like i m seeing them together from forever. Its been so many yrs & its still so awesome.
Nandini: Yeah!!
Mukti: Nandini.. Does love really makes a person so happy??
Nandini heard her & immediately looked up towards Manik. She slowly picked up a beer from the table & then took a sip saying,
Nandini: Mukti love is a really pure feeling.... If u love someone u always want that person to be safe & happy. U want him to be happy. And knowing that someone loves u tells u that no matter what happens there is always someone upon whom u can rely on, u know that he is there for u & he cares for u. This feelings makes u happy.
Mukti heard each & every word that she said & thought about it while Nandini too was lost in her thoughts. Just then Manik started playing his guitar. All of them looked up at him & saw him smiling as he started,
"Aahatein kaisi yeh aahatein
Sunta hoon aaj kal aye dil bata
Dastakein dete hain dastakein
Kyun ajnabi se pal aye dil bata

Kuch toh hai jo neend aaye kam
Kuch toh hai jo aankhe hai nam
Kuch toh hai jo tu keh de toh
Haste haste marr jaaye hum"
Suddenly aliya got up & pulled dhruv for a dance. Both of them swayed together feeling the lyrics.
"Mujhse zyada mere jaisa
Koi hai toh hai tu
Phir na jaane dil mera kyun
Tujhko na de sakun..

Kuch toh hai jo dil ghabraaye
Kuch toh hai jo saans na aaye
Kuch toh hai jo hum honthon se
Kehte kehte keh naa paaye"
All of them smiled at him, but Manik seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. He was about to continue when Nandini tuned in.
"Jo humaare darmiyaan hai"
He turned to look at her, as she continued,
"Jo humaare darmiyaan hai
Isko hum kya kahein
Ishq kya hai ik lehar hai
Aao iss mein bahein"
Nandini side hugged Mukti, making her think about the conversation that they just had. While for Manik, Nandini's words were a clear indication about the thing which he was just thinking. Nandini looked at Mukti & continued,
"Kuch toh hai jo hum hain khoye
Kuch toh hai jo tum na soye
Kuch toh hai jo hum dono yun
Haste haste itna roye"
And the song ended. Though it was a different kind a party for them, but they all were together & their happiness was visible on their faces & that was the thing that mattered the most.