The Known Strangers✅

Time Before Tempest

Recap: Soha - Manik's girlfriend?

In Living Area

Fab4 and Abhi are present all are sitting and Manik is pacing around

Manik: (angry) Aliya why did you say that Soha is my girlfriend!??

Aliya: (scared) Manik chill, main tho bas majak kar rahi thi

Manik: Majak, that chipku, majak mein bhi don't call her my girlfriend

Abhi: Chill buddy itna kyu react kar raha hai?

(Cabir enters)

Mukti: Choti kaha hai, isn't she coming to college??

Cabir: No, she said she does not have lectures

Druv: What! We have combin lecture of Raghav Sir today

Aliya: And she was all ready to come to college minutes before

Cabir: Chod na she might not be interested in attending his lecture

Abhi: Is she fine?

Cabir: She is she is fine, she had to complete some assignments, challo we will leave, it's already late (all this while Manik was just seeing in the direction of Nandini's room, when Cabir came and drag him out of the house. They reached college and entered the class. As soon as they entered Aradhya came to them)

Aradhya: Where is Nandini?

Aliya: Wo she is not coming today

Aradhya: Is she fine?

Druv: (interrupted Aliya) She is fine, wo she was completing some assignments (Aradhya gave them a sceptical look, fetched his phone from the pocket and called someone)

Phone conversation

Aradhya: Kidhar hai?

Nandini: Is duniya mein

Aradhya: Nandu! (Manik head snapped as soon as he heard her name from Aradhya) Why didn't you come?

Nandini: Ave hi

Aradhya: Ave hi? Aa Na college

Nandini: Kyu?

Aradhya: Because I am asking you (Manik was glaring him but he was not aware of this)

Nandini: Tu President hai bada, tu bolega main aaungi?

Aradhya: Come na Yaar, even you have to submit the English assignment aur wo tho teri kal complete ho gayi thi, which assignment are you completing now?

Nandini: (biting her tongue) Wo I didn't complete it, thoda baki tha

Aradhya: I don't know anything I want you here (an before Nandini could reply he cut the call. Manik was controlling himself by fisting his hand and Cabir, Mukti and Abhi were all ready to doge Manik when he attacks Aradhya and Durliya were listening to conversations when Navya came)

Navya: Kya bola usne?

Aradhya: She is coming

Navya: She said that?

Aradhya: No I know that (and there was a crash..... It was Manik Malhotra's phone crashing in pieces)

Aliya: Manik are you fine?? (Manik looked up his eyes were red scaring fab4 and Abhi)

Navya: (whispered to Aradhya) Isse kya hua? (where Aradhya gave 'I don't know' look. After 10 mins All settle down as Raghav came in)

Malhotra Mansion

Half an hour ago

Nandini freshen up and was going to change when her phone rang it was Aradhya. He asked her to come to college. Since Nandini was all ready and college was not far from here she decided to go, she would be 5 mins late but then that was fine, Aradhya won't insist on coming if it wasn't important, she took her bag and rushed to take an auto but to her luck Neyonika was going to college so she gave her lift. Nandini reached college bidding a quick bye to Neyonika she ran to her class. She stopped at the door panting heavily

Nandini: M... May I come..come in

Raghav: Why are you running late Miss Murty?

Akash: Sorry sir but she was running fast and not late (everyone burst laughing except Manik who was intently looking at Nandini who was trying to catch her breath. Raghav gave Akash 'shut up' look)

Nandini: Sorry sir, it won't happen again (Raghav gave a curt nod giving her permission to enter, she went an sat besides Aradhya. Manik's eyes were following her each and every move. He could see them talking but can't here as they were whispering) Kaha aag lagi hai that you called me so urgent?

Aradhya: Yaha (he said pointing his heart and Nandini rolled her eyes)

Nandini: Don't tell me you are trying to propose her again (Aradhya nodded) This is the 99 attempt you know, are you planning to complete a century

Aradhya: Don't blame me, what is my fault? It's just uske samne meri aawaz nahi nikalti

Raghav: Miss Murty and Mr. Vashisht what is so important you are discussing (both looked up only to see the whole class starring at them that's when Nandini felt a piercing gaze she turned to see Manik, his eyes blood red with anger she was puzzled and bought out of trance when she heard Aradhya answering Raghav)

Aradhya: Sir we were discussing what are the effects of demonization on Indian economy (Raghav gave him a disbelieving look) What I am serious you said na we have to submit the report so we were discussing the same (Nandini sat there clueless Raghav just nodded and resume talking)

Nandini: Edward Cullen, are you?? (Aradhya chuckled at her remark where as Manik burned in rage seeing them)
______________________________________

The bell rang and Raghav moved out when Aradhya dragged Nandini out who dragged Navya and everyone saw as they are some aliens

Neha: What's going on?

Khushi: No idea

Vaibhav: Let's go to canteen

They all were moving to the canteen when Navya came running to them

Navya: Saraswati can you submit Aradhya, Nandini and my English assignment in staff room... Please please please ha (and then she ran from there)

Cabir: Dal Mein Kuch Kala Hai!!

Akash: Nahi puri dal hi kali hai

But only Mukti, Cabir and Abhi saw a restless and angry bull glaring an huffing to the retreating figure of Navya he just marched in same direction only to see her getting in a class room he reached there he saw Aradhya kneeling in front of Nandini, his hand stretched he was saying something and then Manik heard

Aradhya: I love you!!! Please say yes

Nandini: Yes!!! Perfect, I am so excited you are finally ready (and she hugged him)