"Uffo di, I know it is not the exam pressure or homesickness that is worrying you. Unlike that Mox, I know you well. Spill it out, NOW" commanded Aliyaa with hands on her waist.

Nandini looked at her for a moment, and couldn't take it any longer, she dashed to hug her sister and weeped on her shoulder. Aliyaa was too alarmed to speak, she had never seen her di break down this bad, something was terribly wrong.

"Aliyaa, I love him Aliyaa, I really do. But he doesn't love me Aliyaa. He thinks I am his best friend and that's all, he loves someone else; why is it always me? Can't nerdy people who aren't from as affluent families, fall in love? Can't they be happy Aliyaa? I can live without him, but I can't live when he is with someone else. I just got to know Aliyaa he is going out with her" she breathed. Aliyaa stood scandalized, her di was in love? This was matters of the heart? Really?!

"Di who is it di?" she asked her soothingly.

Nandini was about to answer when she realized she couldn't tell her about Manik and Soha, she wanted Dhruv to be the one to come and tell her that he had left Soha for her; that was what would make Aliyaa happy; no she couldn't give her names, not right now anyway.

"Aliyaa, you know him. But I can't give names right now. Please trust me, I will tell you later" although Aliyaa wanted to, she didn't press the matter further, her di was upset anyway, she didn't want to aggravate her misery.

"Okay, okay you needn't tell me di, but calm down, and if he doesn't love you it's his loss not your's - unlucky man he is, di"

"Aloo, promise me you will keep this to yourself? I don't want anyone knowing about it okay"

***

As Manik and Soha entered the classroom, Manik's eyes flashed towards their corner, but Nandini wasn't there. Uff this Nandini he thought, yesterday he couldn't talk to her because he was in a hurry and today she disappeared. He tried calling her, but her phone was switched off. He called Mukti, but she said Nandini was at her sister's last night; she even mentioned how panic stricken and home sick she was the other night and Manik was troubled hearing about it; she seemed absolutely fine until evening, then what could have happened. He tried calling her again and again; her phone was switched off. In the mean time, a whole bunch of his classmates came and congratulated him on clearing the first audition of the talent show; a surprised Manik turned to face Soha, how on earth did they know? Soha hissed back, "I am sure Nandini must have told everyone, such an idiot she is." But Manik dismissed the idea, "No Soha, Nandini wouldn't ever do this; she knew about this all along, she knew I wanted privacy. Are you sure you haven't spilt it out unintentionally?" Soha had indeed told everyone and had played her cards to blame Nandini, but seeing Manik's faith in her, she got further agitated - who thought that hopeless behenji could be competition?

Manik turned around and asked Aryaman if he knew where Nandini was, but he replied in negative. And for some reason Aryaman seemed a bit off at him; well he was dating his sister afterall, as a brother he was allowed to be a bit protective Manik mused.

***

Nandini was sitting with Ryan in the library and revising, when she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder, she looked up to see a very concerned Aryaman peering down at her. He whispered and motioned her to come out with him. She silently followed him and he led her to the cafe opposite to their college. He didn't ask her anything, he just looked at her gravely and that was enough to bring her down to tears.

"Aryaman, trust me Aryaman I wanted to tell on Soha. I wanted to tell him that she was a fake, but I couldn't. It doesn't matter that I love him, it doesn't even matter that Soha doesn't; what matters is that he loves her and wants to be with her. I know if I have hidden it from him today, Soha can leave him tomorrow and it would hurt him. But I am depending on Soha's selfish nature, Aryaman. If Manik wins the talent hunt, he will be a celebrity overnight! And then Soha would never leave him; and I know my Manik will win it, he is so so good, Aryaman! And then at least he would get to be with the love of his life. That's why I kept quiet, Aryaman; I know he doesn't love me." She finished breathlessly.

Aryaman nodded silently and sighed, so much for love; Manik was a fool, he couldn't have got a better girl than Nandini. He soothingly hugged Nandini, and for once in her life, Nandini felt what a friend's affection might feel like; she felt loved, cared for and protected. She clutched his tee and weeped on his shoulder as Aryaman gently patted her on her shoulder.

Manik while entering inside the same cafe with Soha, happened to notice Aryaman hugging a girl, he instantly put on his lopsided smile and thought of catching him off guard; he vaguely remembered him telling him that he had found someone, but due to auditions and the pressure it had escaped his mind; as he proceeded with Soha at his toes, he stopped dead on his track when the girl raised her head and broke the hug; it couldn't be. It was Nandini; her and Aryaman? Manik stood there motionless for a second and caught Soha by her wrist and walked out unnoticed by Aryaman and Nandini. He didn't know what infuriated him, why was he feeling revolted, but he was.

As Manik silently walked back to their campus, the rational part of him argued, why not? Afterall Aryaman had always sided Nandini, he had been her sole support when all of them were ignoring her, he was a nice guy, so it wasn't wrong of Nandini to like him, but then why was he bothered? Why didn't he like it? Maybe because he had told Nandini he loved Soha but Nandini didn't confide in him? Could that be? Surely it was that.

Soha on the other hand was silent too, so behenji had finally played some trick on her bhai; this was what she feared, having to be associated with the behenji; seriously, bhai had such bad taste in women? But on the other hand, maybe it was not such a bad thing after all; she was getting annoyed at Manik's closeness with Nandini, this could take care of all that. Manik would know his limits, even if he felt for her, and that was enough for her.

"Manik, baby, I am so happy for them; bhai and Nandini look so cute together nah?" she squealed and Manik grunted only half-heartedly. Coming to think of it, this Soha was so damn noisy!

***

Aliyaa was sitting outside her classroom when Dhruv came and sat next to her. She was surprised, ever since Dhruv had joined college, he had never acknowledged the fact that they knew each other, let alone sit next to each other. But today he came on his own and startled her. She didn't say anything and got up to leave when he suddenly caught her wrist and motioned her to sit down; not wanting to create a scene, she sat down silently.

"I am sorry Aliyaa. I really am. My mind was clouded with useless concerns and I thought I could leave you because you would be mine anyway; I took you for granted, your love is valuable, but I disrespected it; I am sorry Aloo. Please give me a chance; I will never disappoint you again."

Aliyaa's eyes moistened at "Aloo" that was what D use to call her, but that D had died long since, and this was an invader in his body. She loved Aryaman, he came into her life at a time when she had lost all faith, he reinstilled life in her, she was reborn, and she was now Aryaman's for life. But she wasn't going to explain all this to him, he wouldn't understand anyway; but she had the mind of telling him something indeed.

"You know what Dhruv, I hate cappuccino, and I hate cumin cookies too. Oh, I love red velvet cakes and chocolash; the ones kids have? I like to embarrass people around me with my childish antics and I love Disney movies. And you know what Dhruv, people still love me for whom I am, people still want to be around me and they don't do it as a favour. The Aliyaa you met on the first day was the real Aliyaa, Dhruv; after that whatever she was, she was constructed and customized for you; but you know what, now I know one thing for sure, Dhruv you're not worth it after all." She tossed her head and left with that, leaving a stunned Dhruv behind.

Aliyaa was sitting in her room and doing an assignment when Soha danced inside, they were having a cold war now, ever since Dhruv and Soha were going out, but today after a long time, Soha flashed her smile at Aliyaa. She hugged Aliyaa and told her that she had no idea that Dhruv was Aliyaa's when they started, but then it was too late when she knew; she said she wasn't with Dhruv anymore, and their's was nothing more than a friendly fling; she wished to have her friend back. Aliyaa looked at her calmly for a moment, true she wouldn't ever trust Soha again, but even she had to make amends with her eventually. After all she was Aryaman's cousin. So she smiled and returned the hug.

"Awww Aloos it's so good to be back together isn't it. I missed you!! And oh, welcome to the family yaar!!" she jumped in joy leaving Aliyaa puzzled. Family. Did Aryaman tell her about them? Why didn't he tell her then?

"Family?" Aaliya mouthed, astonished.

"Arre don't tell me she's hidden it from you too! Arre your sister loves Aryaman! So she will soon be family right? And you as her sister; is extended family!"

Time seemed to have stopped for Aliyaa. DI LOVED ARYAMAN? Aryaman was the man who didn't reciprocate to di's feelings because he loved someone else; and she was that someone else? She was the reason, her di had cried to sleep? Of course di didn't know she was dating Aryaman, she had told him to wait till she confided in her, herself, and so far she hadn't.

Aliyaa's world collapsed before her very own eyes; and Aryaman? He loved her not her di? What could she do to change that?

***

7:37p.m. [Hey Nandini, Aliyaa has decided to give me a chance. I guess we were always meant to be]

Nandini stared at Dhruv's text in disbelief. She knew Aliyaa would eventually forgive him, but so abruptly? Well she was Aliyaa, there was no telling!

"What happened, Nandini, why do you look so zapped?" asked Aryaman, while having dinner. Ever since afternoon Aryaman had spent the rest of the day with Nandini, to ensure that she didn't feel low.

"It's, my sister Aliyaa, her abruptness still manages to catch me off guard." She replied. Aryaman stiffened. How much he wished he could confide in Nandini, but Aliyaa had made him promise that he needed to wait till she thought it was the right time. So he asked as nonchalantly as possible,

"Why, what did she do?"

"She was about to be engaged to a guy, who had previously gone ahead and dumped her, but now when he realized his mistake, she has forgiven him just like that. Imagine? no frill, no anger, just plain acceptance." She mused.

Aryaman's world crashed to his feet.

***

A/N : So, a whirlwind came and changed the name of Paradise to Pandemonium! :D

Now what's going to happen, will MaNan ever make it back together, will Aryaman and Aaliya find their way back home? Stay tuned to know more!

Also, a few more votes and and buzz will go a long way in getting quicker and juicier updated! Just saying ;)

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