Cordially, Yours!

-4-

The clock struck 2, the night was at its peak. For outsiders, the pitch dark night had brought in fantastic performances and great vibes with groovy numbers. For insiders, the night brought them closer to end of event management. But only for a few, this night was hard and utterly long. What was suppose to be their night of celebrations and an upstart on career, darkness set in with in their hearts. It was as if they unveiled the darkness from the professional side to face the light but instead, it seeped into them. Nandini couldn't detest this night anymore, tired enough from the day's happenings, she had given up. Most of Fab 5 were deserted and retired back home. But, the two best friends stood there in greenroom trying to hold on to the fragile string of friendship- none of them had uttered a word yet.  

Mukti and Aliya's ride back was silent. Mukti opened her apartment with her keys and gave Aliya her change of cloths. She went to the kitchen to brew some coffee, it was much needed and would take them through the remaining she thought. While the coffee stirred, she changed herself and thought how to discuss matters with Aliya. 

"What's holding you back, Mukti?"Aliya's sudden voice startled her. 

"Nothing, Als!"Mukit replied and smiled back. Aliya was right, it's her, them, there is nothing to hold back from. Straight-forward, much. "I wanted to know Als, from you. What you feel!"

"I feel nothing Muks, just as shaken as gibberish!" she replied. Though, what she said made Mukti laugh, she didn't interrupt. At least, they were normal and that was essential. "Muk, I don't know what I said. It does and it doesn't make sense. I have been thinking it through since the moment I have said it. I know if it did, then you would have said something. I looked at you, Muk, you refuted from what I said. I remember she helped you through stuff when I wasn't there. I am sorry I should have been there in your most vulnerable times. I was so stupid to be caught up in myself, I missed out on you." Aliya poured herself out. 

"It's okay, you can't be practically everywhere, Als. I didn't take it by heart. She was there, there to help. " Mukti assured Aliya. 

"Help! That's what is biting me back. She helped and I blamed. And I know you don't take help if it's frivolous, you know who's how at bate of your eyelid. I am so confused, somewhere, I see how Dhruv made sense and then, it applies to my situation also. But, then, she also helped. Helped you, me, Fab 5, so many times that I don't know. What if she did it on purpose?"a confused Aliya childishly complained and looked into Mukti's eyes for help. "What if she did this all on purpose? Helped us and simultaneously created drifts, so that we are just in this situation-tugged between heart, mind and previous experiences. I can't do this, Muks. I can't see Fab 5 breaking- Us all torn apart, not all over again." Aliya bursted into tears and fell in Mukti's lap. Her truthful words caught to Mukti and hit her in the heart hard that tears welled up in her eyes too. She knew where this was coming from- it was a common insecurity between Fab 5. They did hail from the elites background but didn't come from the land of love. Something Nandini had and they lacked. 

--Space College: Greenroom--

On the other side, Manik and Dhruv were questioning their friendship and their inner-turmoils simultaneously. Handling the two wasn't an easy task for either. Manik cursed Nyonika for what she did but, in heart, also realized that she showed him his inner demons. 

"Buddy", Manik initiated. This wasn't going to be easy. "I never wanted to, but es mein Nandini koi galti nahi, it's all my fault. I should.." 

"No Manik, it's her fault." Dhruv interrupted. "She took away everything. Come out of it Manik. Didn't you see, in front of your eyes, she broke up with you, even before you answered. Buddy, if she was authentic, then she would have waited. Let you make the decision and not do it all on herself. If she ain't with Harshad, then she would have let you decide and not grab the first opportunity to run away!" Dhruv put forward. "Manik, she came between us, I liked her but then, she rejected me and started to go the cliche "enemies to friends to lovers" route with you. She shattered Aliya's heart and took to your heart. It was her pretense to help us all around and since, she knew Cabir was never to be taken seriously, she didn't go for him. She's also friends with Harshad and haven't you noticed she always stays with him and prevents you from hitting him in a fight. She's on her side, buddy!"

"I wouldn't take that Buddy. I know her, you know her, Rishabh, Chacha-Chachi; would you say that? She helped you buddy in your treatment. She's not the reason that I drifted. In fact, I never did! I know and I realize that over the years, I have overshadowed you, that wasn't what I intended for. I'm sorry and am willing to rectify it with whatever you want. In fact, we will change how we perform and all the logistics, buddy everything! I  promise I'll set it right for you and for everybody" Manik reassuringly said. He did need to get this realization off his heart. Nandini was right in the start- he was a Monster but, she did change him, change him for good.

"Then promise me buddy one thing..." Dhruv announced his ultimatum. 

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Woah! Cliffhanger! I'm getting there and working on the next part. 

Never knew this was going to be this exciting! Awaiting you responses, let me know. :)

Happy reading! 

Love, 

HF