Cordially, Yours!

-21-

 It had been an hour Fab 5 had left from the Hospital with Navya. The car ride had been utterly silent, everyone's thoughts were at tangents. Navya missed Abir already. He was suppose to be playing in her lap right now on their way to the home, but destiny had written something else for him and her. Cabir wandered on the path on how to cheer up Navya. He noted the gloominess in her eyes ever since she revealed his adoption. He felt somewhere she was in denial except the few little fleeting moments when she put up a brave smile for Fab 5's concerning questions. Dhruv and Aliya were lost in their own messed up thoughts. They both were willing to give up but knew they won't be able to brave the treacherous seclusion. Mukti was blank on how to approach stuff, Talent Hunt's next round was coming up, Fab 5 was in splits regarding their unity, and she was had to keep all the pieces together. Manik's thoughts wandered with the speed of the car. He had Harshad to deal with, talk to Navya about what happened the other day, cheer-up the sulking faces of Fab 5, figure something for Talent Hunt and most importantly, Nandini to find and talk to. 

Soon, Manik pulled the car into the driveway of Malhotra Mansion.Fab 5 take Navya home and celebrate to lighten the mood. 

"Why are we here, Manik? I think tu aapne khayalo mein bhul gaya that we all in the same boat. " Cabir joked. 

"Meri yadash tujh se better hi. I remember but since we are all together after so long. Why don't we all just party a bit and then stay together the night-like old times?" Manik suggested. 

Mukti jumped in the idea as she found it the best way to sort out some crinkles in Fab 5- alcohol may be was good way when sanity was insane. Dhruv and Aliya looked towards each other unintentionally and agreed to the plan. Regardless of party or not, Cabir already had plans to talk to Navya and when everyone was chilled, the talk was only easier to initiate for him. No one waited for Navya's opinion as they knew it was only for her betterment. 

They entered the Mansion and decided to change into something comfortable- something of a pajma party mood they were all in. They all had spare clothes hanging around Manik's room so the change wasn't a problem. Manik requested Kaka to set up some light snacks and few a soft drinks and informal-ize the living room for a small party.

Everyone gathered around the table and munched on the cool-light sandwhichs while debating on which movie they should put up. After dedicating three hours to the innocence of  Finding Dory, Aliya suggested they should switch to a fun game. Truth and dare topped the list and an empty bottle was spun. 

"Aliya's questions, and Dhruvvy boy answers" Cabir cheered. "So Aliya, aap kya puchna chahengi?"

"I think I have asked enough from him, Cabir. He may not have the answer anymore to other stuff. I am passing." Aliya said dimly. 

"May be, I have an answer, Aliya. Puch kar toh dekho." Dhruv said intently looking at her worn out face. 

"Fir, batao Dhruv. Whose letter was it?" 

The question didn't startle Dhruv. He knew Aliya would be interested to know anything that led him to the realization. He could have easily answered, but he was afraid at Manik's reaction and moreover, he might break the promise he made to his friend. 

"Woh letter.. it was from one of my long-lost school friends. He found out somehow that I was in Space, said that the Talent Hunt led him there and that he wanted to congratulate me for the win." Dhruv hiccuped. Aliya kind-of figured who this "friend" of Dhruv was and what the underlying mockery he had done in that sentence, but she wanted him to say it aloud and accept that she was behind his heart change.  

"Lo, bas. That's interesting, buddy you are gathering some fan-following" Mukti commented. 

"Han yar, now the customary twist! Jisne answer diya, ab woh bottle spin bhi karega aur apne side wale ko kiss bhi." Cabir broke in with the drama. 

"What do you mean? Yeh kya bakwas rule hi? Fir hum toh answer hi nahi denge" Navya cringed at the thought. 

"Nah de, Madhubala. Phir dhandhe dhandhe paani se nahan chaiye, answer aae ya na aae Fab 5 ka prank aana chahi ye!" Cabir and Mukti sung in unity. Navya's eyes widened at the revelation of the game and knowing Fab 5, this wasn't a good deal to be in. Looking at Navya, Fab 5 broke into fits of laughter that echoed in the whole mansion. For once, it felt that the old days were back. 

Soon the bottle was turned again and again. The round of questions and light-hearted embarrassing dares continued. The questions dug up underlying secrets of old crushes, Navya's adventures during her initial days in Mumbai, and old pranks that Fab 5 played on eachother during school days.

"Aha! It's Manik vs. Madhubala!" Cabir hooted. "Toh Madhubala ji aap Gabbar ke sawal ka samna karne ke liye tayar hi?"

"Are! Don't underestimate the power of Navya Naveli!" she boosted. "Pucho Manik, kya jana chahte ho tum humse?"

"Ek answer, Navya." Manik asked. "Us din kya hua tha?"

That day- Navya reminisced. It brought in a lot and gave her so much but, took away more. This discussion was bound to happen but so soon, and that too right now! Navya wasn't expecting. 

She left a sigh and closed her eyes before stringing the narration of the incidence. "Manik, infact- Fab 5- yeh tum sab ko janana zaroori hi. Us din, before I came to you guys- hum Canteen mein the for lunch. Acahnak wahan Harshad aya and he started blabbering about NH4 and the need for auditions. Uski bakwas ko toh mein pehle ignore kiya to understand who kya kichdri paka raha tha- but then, when he started to mock Nandini and me. Meri haad par hogai. Humne use wapas jawab diya. Usi behas mein usne bataya ki NH4 auditions were needed for a very legit reason" Navya paused before she broke the news to them and looked at Fab5. They were fuming with anger but the curiously also watched her to know what happened. Cabir eyed her to continue and she let out the secret that she held within.

"He said Nandini has left college!"  

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Hey,

Sorry for the down-beat story line.. I couldn't make myself to write. It's just been a funny day! 

Hope you all had a great day and don't hate me for this. 

Happy Reading! 

Love, 

HF