"Kaha lost hai tu.."Cabir poked Manik's shoulder. "..is everything okay.."

Manik looked at him but didn't say a word which only raised Cabir's concern. "..Manik..what's wrong.."

Manik looked down and slumped on the couch however he still didn't utter a word. "..you are scaring me now..I thought after meeting Alia you would be on seventh sky..since now the issues between you and Alia is resolved.."

"..on top of that you only said ki now Alia and Nandini have officially met too..toh phir..yeh expression kyu.."

"..tujhe dekh kar aisa lag raha as if you are worried.."

"..bata na yaar..you are making me restless too.."

"..please speak up.."

Manik sighed and looked back at Cabir "..you are right Cabir..I am worried.."

"I know that Manik Baba.."Cabir slumped on the couch next to him. "..I don't need to be an expert in ROCKET SCIENCE to know that something is troubling you.."

"..actually Cabir.."Manik spoke. "..it's not something..rather someone.."

This time Cabir didn't took a second to realise about whom Manik was referring to. So without wasting a second he spoke the real reason of Manik's troubled expressions "NANDINI"

Manik simply looked up and nodded his assent.

"What happened..I thought sab kuch sorted hai..I mean now every member of Fab5 knows about her..in fact she had managed to leave a positive impression on each and every one of them..on top of that she also knows how to handle Nyonika..phir kya problem hai..isn't everything going in the right direction.."Cabir spoke about the confusion that was going inside his mind.

"Wahi toh problem hai Cabir..everything is too perfect.."Manik pointed out. "To perfect to be true.."

"Matlab.."Cabir furrowed his eyebrows as he didn't realised what Manik was referring to.

"Matlab Yeh Cabir..ki I know that Nandini has managed to win everyone over..in fact she knows how to deal with Nyonika too...but why are you forgetting that these people have no idea about Nandini's real identity.."

Cabir finally understood what Manik was referring to and as soon he realised it himself his facial expressions changed too. "Oh man..you mean.."

Manik sighed once again as he nodded his assent "..nobody here knows that Nandini is the girl that I met in Mangalore.."

"..everyone noticed the change in my behaviour but no one knows the reason behind it..which is.."

"NANDINI.."this time Cabir spoke the answer.

"Yes.."Manik nodded. "They all are loving her because they don't know that she is THE ONE for me.."

Cabir finally joined the dots. "..and now you are worried that what will happen once they find out."

"Exactly.."Manik covered his face with his hands. "Knowing them we know they are going to get hurt that I hid such a big thing from them.."

"But you are not worried about that at all..are you.."Cabir pointed out. "You are worried for Nandini...as you don't want them to think anything wrong about her.."

"Yes..because she hadn't done anything wrong Cabir.."Manik said defensively. "..I am just worried what if they held her responsible for my break up with Alia..what if they held her responsible for changing me..what if.."

Manik was about to say something when Cabir cut him in. "..they won't Manik..don't you trust them.."

"Of course I do Cabir.."Manik replied immediately. "..but I don't trust the circumstances.."

"Manik...calm down.."Cabir tried to make him see reason. "..Nandini isn't the reason behind your and Alia's break up..even Alia knows that..and in case you haven't notice everyone can see the positive changes in you..and they are loving you more for that..so why do you think they will act so immaturely.."

"Yes I agree that they will be angry and offended for a while but not because you fell in love with Nandini..but because you didn't tell them the truth..however you and I both know once they will see how deep your love for Nandini is..they themselves will not only support you but will also accept Nandini with open heart.."

Though Cabir's words were giving him hope but somehow his anxiety was not ready to leave him today..

..he could feel that something wrong was about to happen.

So he chose to come clean because he realised that only speaking the truth could give the peace that he was looking for.

Looking at Cabir he spoke. "You are right Cabir..maybe speaking the truth in front of them could free me from this guilt and anxiety..that's why message them because I want to meet them..now.."

"What.."Cabir was surprised that Manik was not only listening to him he was actually eager to work on it then and there itself.

He was stumped.

"Are you sure Manik.."Cabir confirmed as he pulled the cell phone out of his pocket.

"200%.."Manik said determination.

Since Cabir knew this was the right thing to do he started to type the message.

But before he could finish writing it the door of Manik's room opened so loudly that it literally startled them both.

"MANIK..CABIR..."someone yell there name.

They both looked up only to find Mukti running towards them.

"Mukti.."both of them looked at each other and then looked back at her.

In fraction of second she hugged them both shocking them for a second. But soon they both hug her back as well.

"Is everything okay Mukti.."Manik asked as Mukti finally stood in front of them. "Sab theek toh hai na.."

"Theek.."Mukti frowned. "Theek nahi Manik..everything is perfect.."

Both Manik and Cabir looked at her confusingly only to realise that indeed Mukti's face was glowing due to happiness.

However unlike other days it didn't calmed Manik..

..rather it only fanned the flames of his anxiousness.

"What happened Mukti.."Manik asked trying his best to keep his apprehensiveness in check.

"Wahi jo none of us could ever imagine.."Mukti chirped. "Alia called.."

"So.."though Cabir asked the question but somehow Manik already knew that something was up as Alia told him that she was going to meet Dhruv.

Realisation hit him like a streak of lightning..

...but before he could say anything Mukti said the words out loud that literally not only pull the rug beneath Manik's feet but it actually froze Cabir in his place as well.

"Your guess was correct Cabir.."

"Dhruv is in love.."

"..with..none other than.."

"NANDINI.."

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**Proper response is awaited guys..

..as that's the only key for me to continue this story.

Thank You.**

[P.S.:- The real story has finally begun..

..but remember I don't do cliches..

..so trust me and go with the flow.]