Wajah Tum Ho

19. Deals And Hearts

Ek safar woh hai,
jismei paanv nahi,
Dil dukhta hai.

Translation: There's this journey that gives pain to the heart, than to the legs.

As long as life continues to exist on earth, perspective would continue to evolve and take its course accordingly. You can never change the way a person perceives his/her surroundings and sets his opinion about it but sure you can try to give it a direction, that too requires two conditions; either you are way too manipulative or the other one has a weak perspective.

In this case, a combined set of opinions has taken it upon itself to give a direction to the strongest perspective ever-Manik Malhotra's and surprisingly enough the combined opinions belonged to none other than his own band members and now, in a true sense, friends.

The atmosphere was thick with confusion and hesitation as the four stubborn heads sat pondering over the whole situation and events that have had occurred, not being attentive to even a single word that their leader-the most stubborn of them all, had been saying.

Having enough, he finally exclaimed with exasperation.

Manik: GUYS..!?

They jolted with surprise and looked at him as if he were an alien, which he really was for them now that they've got their clarity somewhat back.

Manik: Are you guys even listening to what I'm saying? Gosh guys! Please be serious and leave everything and every thought of yours aside. We've been working hard for this since so long. We're so close to getting this victory guys. If we don't present them with all the songs then... Nandini would be disappointed....yet again.

With what was started with a straight and determined voice was reduced to silent whispers by the end. The mere mention of her name and her disappointed face brought back the older Manik-the Manik who cared, who loved, who lived, who laughed, who enjoyed-Nandini's Manik; not the Monster Manik that he was now pretending to be. Heaven knows how hard he has been trying to convince himself that he doesn't care, it doesn't pinch his heart to see her with another man, the possibilities and secrets that make him sick in the gut, but the truth is, he is way too tired to trust again and to protect himself, he is just back to being a monster that she hated, and if she hated it, then it must be bad enough to keep all those cheater girls away from him. Hence this master plan. Being Monster Manik, having no feelings attached and keep away from serious commitments.

While Manik was thinking about how he shouldn't be affected by Nandini's disappointment, his friends noticed this slight modulation in his voice and the serenity of his thoughts that kept him away from speaking out the rest of his concern.

Cabir: How 'hard' have we really worked for all this Manik?

His sudden voice and not to forget the graveness in it grabbed everyone's attention. Manik looked at him blankly. Of course he knew it was more of a rhetorical question than a sarcastic one. What have they done? Fought among themselves. Fought with their inner demons. Lost to them and indulged in deeds that they never even imagined. Blamed others for their faults. Finally trapped Nia. And here they were.

Dhruv: We are on a wrong track Manik.

He spoke softly and immediately had Manik's attention.

Dhruv: I hope you have realized that now.

Did he? Hell yeah he had. How could he not after the current situation and events have started ringing bells of suspicion against his ears.

"Maybe we concluded way too soon."

They looked at Alya who was looking at the floor blankly whilst expressing that one thought that has been bothering her since days and nights. Having coming from a person like Alya, the Fab4 were left astonished.