MaNan: It all started with a lie

My Best Birthday!

Nandini

After dhruv left, we all settled down in the fab 5 jam room, our thoughts filled with worry. I was really stressed because this album is a big opportunity for fab 5 to create a benchmark with their music, their passion and if they lose this na then all their hopes, their dreams will come crashing down and I really don't want that to happen because they deserve all of this, fab 5 deserves this album, they surely do. Most importantly I was worried for manik. He has given his everything to music and fab 5. These long years when we were away from each other, it was only fab 5 that made manik stronger. For him fab 5 is his family, a bunch of crazy best friends who are more of a family to him. If this album does not happen then fab 5 will never remain the same, their friendship will start having cracks and I can't let that happen. Their friendship has set an example for everyone and I can't let their image deter.

"Tum theek ho?" I heard maddy's concerned voice which snapped me out of my thoughts. "Huh?" I uttered absent mindedly and he sighed. "Munchkin I know how worried you are par aise tension lene se kuch nahi hoga right? Yeh soch soch kar ki kya alia manik ki baat aur uske point of view ko samjhegi, kya voh vapas aayegi, etc, etc....Tum sirf aur zyada stressed ho jaogi, ise problems solve nahi hogi so just keep your calm and hope for the best" he said cooing me with words. I gave him a thankful smile in return. "Thanks maddy" "anytime for you" he smiled.

Suddenly the thought of manik crossed my mind. I turned around, searching for manik and found him lost, his face blank, lacking any sort of explanation. I excused myself from maddy and went to manik.

"Manik" I called keeping my hand on his shoulder and he jerked his head to face me and as soon as he saw me, I was pulled into a very strong hug by him. "Nandini alia maan jaegi na?" "ha baba after all voh fab 5 ki member hai and fab 5 is family right?" I spoke stroking his hair and he bobbed his head. We slowly broke the hug as manik gave me a faint smile. "Ya we are family and a family is always together" he said this time with some determination lacing his voice.

As soon as manik completed his sentence, mukti arrived with Abhi. "Mukti alia kaisi hai?" navya asked anxiously. "Chill navya dhruv usse baat kar raha hai and I am sure ki dhruv use mana lega" "hope so" navya mumbled.

It had been like twenty minutes when the jam room door opened and in entered dhruv and alia, hand in hand but their expressions were kind of contradicting. It was like dhruv was consoling alia while alia had plain fear written all over her face that made us worried.

Aiyyappa please sab theek kar dena

"Guys" alia called out softly, her voice hoarse. Damn! Did she cry? What happened to her?

"Alia tum theek ho na?" it was manik who asked this time, expressing his concern.

Alia's eyes softened at Manik's question and a spark of guilt flashed through her eyes.

"I-I am sorry manik.....I am so sorry" her voice cracking at the end. "Alia..." manik went to her and just hugged her tight which she reciprocated. She clutched onto his blazer just like a daugyer holds upon her father. "Manik I am really sorry. Today morning I didn't know what shit I was speaking. I was just angry and I took it all out on you. Please forgive me" she sobbed. "Sshh alia itsnot your fault. If I would have been at your place toh maybe I would have reacted in a worser way so just forget it. You don't need to apologise" manik explained.

Alia broke the hug and gave manik a watery smile. "Thanks for understanding and forgiving manik" "oh come on alia....what are friends for" manik replied with his genuine smile.

Finally things are falling in place.

Thank you aiyyappa

I was so busy in thanking aiyyappa that I dod not even notice when alia walked to me and held my hand in hers.