MaNan FF - Angel In Disguise

#44- Changing Equations

#44 - Changing Equations

"You guys wanted me to tell Navya-Nandini my failed love-story, right?" Mukti said and chuckled, "I'll do that. We'll keep them away from Harshad, he can't use them anymore, I promise."

"No." Manik retorted. "You both have already messed it enough. Don't try anything else."

"But-"

"Mukti!!!" Cabir shouted, barging in through the door followed by Dhruv. "What the hell did you say?"

"What?" Mukti asked, breaking the hug.

Cabir pulled her arm and brought her forward. "Are you on drugs? What nonsense did you speak to Nandini?"

"Cabir, we talked over it. They will fix their mistake." Manik replied.

"REALLY?" Dhruv almost shouted in disbelief, much to their shock. "You broke her confidence right before they were supposed to perform, and you will fix your mistake?"

Mukti, Manik, Cabir, Alya, all of them noticed the distaste with which he spoke to Mukti.

"How stupid of me, to think Nandini and Fab Five can ever be friends!" he managed to choke back his emotions and furiously joined his hands, "Please. Leave. Them. Alone." Dhruv glared at his friends before storming out of the auditorium.

Two minutes went in silent contemplation of Dhruv's aggressive reaction. Never had they seen an ounce of impulsiveness in Dhruv until now. Mukti went deeper into her sorrow after realizing how her actions lead to such misery that it made even Dhruv Vedant lose his cool. Manik silently stood in his place wondering about Nandini's place in Dhruv's life, and if it was just a connection over past incident, or if she means something more to Dhruv. He excused himself and went to find Nandini.

*****************************

The moment he stepped out of the auditorium, he let out a breath. He looked around to see people going about their business, while a few passed curious glances his way. He kept a straight face, but his heart was racing. He could feel the beats of his heart. So spilled were his emotions that he was not able to control them. One half of his mind was still inside the auditorium where Nandini left him, while the other was already thinking of places she could be. And while his mind was a mess, his heart took the lead and brought him straight to the terrace.

Navya was sitting beside a quiet Nandini trying some ways to distract her mind. Nandini, after her moment of panic attack on the stage, ran straight up to a corner on the terrace and called Aditi. She poured all her overwhelming emotions, the incidents that led it to this point, her condition at the stage, Manik's hopes with their performance - every single thing.

Aditi patiently listened as Nandini cried and cried and then eventually calmed down. Even though she said so, Aditi was not convinced that she was okay and asked for her whereabouts. She immediately rung Navya up. Navya ran back from wherever she was straight to the terrace of the college building. And there they were, since the past ten minutes, with Navya trying to cheer her best friend up, and Nandini, just quiet.