Chapter: 30

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{Fab 5 Den, Music Room}

[The group nods in agreement, and together, they head inside except Alya. The atmosphere shifts as they enter the music room. The air is thick with tension, the dim lighting casting long shadows across the room. Manik sits on a stool in the corner, his back hunched over his guitar, fingers moving frantically over the strings, playing a melody that is as haunting as it is beautiful. His eyes are closed, lost in his music, but the deep lines of worry etched on his face reveal the turmoil inside him. The room feels charged, as if the very walls are holding their breath, waiting for the inevitable confrontation.

 The room feels charged, as if the very walls are holding their breath, waiting for the inevitable confrontation

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They approach him quietly, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the carpet. Sensing their presence, Manik stops playing, the final note lingering in the air before fading into silence. He sets the guitar down with a heavy sigh, looking up to see them all standing before him, their expressions a mixture of concern and resolve. The room feels heavy as if the weight of unspoken words and unresolved emotions is pressing down on them all. The tension is almost palpable, a tangible force that seems to thicken the air around them. Manik's gaze flickers between them, a silent question in his eyes, the exhaustion etched deep in his features.

Finally, he speaks, his voice low and weary, reflecting the exhaustion that seems to seep from his very soul.]

Manik: Alright, let's talk.

[Manik stood his ground in the center of the room, his heart pounding as his eyes darted between his friends.]

Manik: (sighing heavily) Look, I get it. This is all so sudden, and none of you expected this. But I'm telling you, I've thought it through. I know it sounds crazy, but I'm willing to take this step.

[His voice, though steady, carried the weight of uncertainty, and the walls seemed to close in around him as he spoke. The once vibrant room felt suffocating as if the air had grown too thick to breathe. Mukti, standing near the window where the moonlight barely penetrated the heavy curtains, looked at him with eyes full of concern. The shadows played on her face, highlighting the worry lines that deepened with every word Manik uttered.]

Mukti: (softly, with concern) Manik, we're not trying to attack you. We just want to make sure you're doing this for the right reasons. You've been through a lot lately, and we don't want you to make a decision you'll regret.

[Manik's gaze softened as he looked at Mukti. Her concern was genuine, and it touched him in a way that words couldn't express. The tension in the room seemed to ease slightly, but the heavy atmosphere remained, like a storm that had yet to break. He could feel the support in her words, but also the fear of what his decision could mean for their fragile group dynamic. Still, his resolve remained firm.]

Manik: I appreciate that, Mukti. But this isn't something I'm rushing into. I've seen Nandini's strength and her kindness. She's different, and I need someone like that in my life right now. (His voice faltered slightly, the emotion behind his words evident.) Maybe it's not love, but it's something real. And that's enough for me to take this step.

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