Assalam o Alaikum Friends I'm back with the Third Chapter of this Story.
Do Enjoy.
Do Read, Vote & Comment.
Thank You…

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Chapter No # 11

"Past Meets Present"

In Los Angeles, US
In S.P.A.C.E Academy
In Music Department
In Navya's Jam Room
After making Love with each other, quickly they both Dressed and now lying in each other Arms.

Harshad: So.

(Hearing Harshad, Navya looks at Him.)

Navya: So? What So?
Harshad: I mean when are You going to make Me meet Your Besty. (Pause) Seriously, I still can't believe You are Friends with someone who is not like us.

(Hearing Him She smiles.)

Navya: I Myself don't know how can I feel such Protectiveness towards Her in mere Meet. At the first Meeting itself I felt I should Protect Her from everyone. I don't know anything except She is Special.
Harshad (Smilingly): I'm Glad. Between did You told about Her to Fab5? And when Fab5 is coming back?
Navya: Nope I haven't told them about Her. And about coming to them well I Don't know since They haven't told Me.

(Saying this Navya again hugged Him. Navya is enjoying Her Time with Harshad unaware about the Person to whom She felt something and She has vowed Herself to Protect Her in World of Monsters. That someone really needs Her help the most at this Time in Cafe Tariea.)

On Fifth Floor
In Cafe Tariea
After giving Test of Physics then hearing She has here Topped also in Test making Lecturer to Praise Her and scolding other Students to learn something from Her which made others Angry as in their Place She is making them to hear & see which They hate the most. They Promised themself to teach Her Lesson.

Unaware of what is coming next, Nandini happily comes to the Music Department to share Her Happiness with Her only Friend, Best Friend Navya. She thought at this Time Navya will be in Cafe-Tariea as by this Time Navya is free from all Classes. Right now Navya has skipped Her Classes and is spending Her Time with Harshad.
Not knowing Navya is not here Nandini comes to Cafe-Tariea to be Humiliated.

After Sometime
Still Navya & Harshad are in each other's Arms that suddenly Navya's Mobile rang. Since it was neither on Silent nor Vibrating Mode, Sound of Popping Notification came. Taking Her Mobile in Hand, She sees & Reads the Message then Screams.

Navya: They are Here.

(Pocketing Her Phone, in no Time Navya drags Harshad.)

On Same Floor
Near Corridors
After messaging Navya they know soon They will be hearing Her voice. And they were Right. Soon Mukti was hugged by Navya then Aliya while Harshad meets the Boys.

Harshad: So what's up Guyz how's the Project?

(Hearing Harshad Dhruv & Cabir replies Him and in No Time Girls & Boys got busy in talking with each other except Manik as suddenly He wasn't feeling Fine which nothing happened like before. Suddenly He is feeling something which he has never felt before. It was like as if somewhere bad is happening which shouldn't be. And whatever Bad is happening, why is it affecting Him? Till date except Fab5 nothing has affected Him so why now and what is effecting him is the most important question roaming in His Mind other than it He is feeling to Put Full-Stop it and Why again He has no Answer to it.

He isn't Feeling Fine. It was not because of Fortune Teller as according to Him those Words are not worthy to even ponder on them. It was something else which is too Strong to ignore.
Suddenly Harshad notices lost Manik.

Harshad: Manik, are You okay?

(At this everyone looks at Manik. Hearing Him, Manik came out of His thoughts and says.)

Manik: Yeah. I'm fine. What would happen to Me?



(After saying this Manik tried to Smirk but wasn't able to as it was very well seen by NavShad & Fab4 but Fab4 thought it was because of Card-Teller. They knew their Best Friend very well that He might show Fortune Teller Words doesn't affect Him but it was True those WORDS had affected Him.

They know behind Monster Manik Malhotra IMAGE there lies a Soft Heart. If Manik wasn't a Soft Hearted Person then He wouldn't have saved them endangering His Life to those Monsters.)

Harshad: It doesn't seem like it. It seems like You are thinking something deeply.

(Hearing this, Manik ignored Harshad's words and says Rudely.)

Manik: It's upto You what You want to think & say I don't Care. I have never given any Explanation to anyone nor I would do now. So if You are thinking I, Manik Malhotra would actually tell You what is bothering Me or not I would never tell You so back off.



(Manik's Tone was as usual the same to Harshad and to Navya but Fab5 is an exception to it. Though Manik's Tone was the same but it does Hurt right when You call someone as Your Friend and that Friend maintains the distance with You.
Fab4 & Navya sighed as it was the Usual Routine of seeing Manik speaking in this Tone. Whatever Tone or how much Attitude He shows to Harshad & Navya it's fact Manik does Care for them and be there for them watching their back.

Whereas saying this in Extra Rude & Attitude Tone to Harshad as He is damn pissed off & Frustrated on what is this feeling. Right now He just wants to kill the Reason and the Person who is making Feel like this.
Saying this Manik was about to go from there leaving Fab4 even Fab4 doesn't want to follow Him since They are noticing Him from Long time and knows at this Time He wants His ME-TIME & SPACE for which They are ready to give Him.
As He was going from there that suddenly He heard a Name a someone Name which made Him Standstill…

Whereas on the other hand it was Normal Routine to see or hear Manik like this but still it Hurts. Fab4 were noticing Manik who has put a Monstrous Face but they know what He is feeling at this Moment and He is fighting with His Own Self. At this Moment other than NavShad, Fab4 are feeling extremely Upset as though Manik has made them only His Best Friend, their Protector & Shield them against all Odds but when it comes to them, Manik hides it from them, doesn't shows His Weakness to them even does not tells them what is actually bothering him so that Fab5 altogether set His Heart & Mind on Peace.
Whereas Navya was as usual patting Harshad's back and blinking Her Eyes at Him gesturing,

"Everything is soon going to be Okay."

But no One knows will Manik Malhotra is going to change? Answer is Nil or Zero as looking at Present they are fully sure Manik is going to be the same till Eternity.
As Navya was consoling Harshad through Gestures that She hears 2 Students saying while passing Navya.)

Student 1: It was too Bad to see that New Girl. What was Her Name?
Student 2: Don't know. But that Girl was Protected by Navya. When Navya was around that Girl no one dared to say something against Her and now when Navya isn't with Her, This happened.

(2 Girls are talking to each other and were about to enter the Jam Room when suddenly She was held by someone.

On otherside, hearing what 2 Girls spoke, it was Crystal clear They are speaking about Nandini and that's it Navya holds Girl's hand stopping Her and asks.)

Navya: What are You both talking about Her and what happened to Nandini? Is She fine?

(Hearing Navya both Girls look at each other while apart from Girls someone hears and says.)

Manik: Nandiniii…!!!



[Imagine Manik like this]

(Unknowingly Manik whispers "Nandini" which thankfully wasn't heard by anyone.
Hearing a Certain, Strange & Unknown Name it had the Power to stop and make Him Standstill. Though He doesn't know anything about that Girl's Name but it Certain & Weird Power to make Him Standstill.

While Girls look at each other and One of them finally said seeing Anger raising in Navya's Eyes.)

Navya: Will You both speak up?
Girl 1: Umm. The thing is actually the Girl We are talking about was just Ragged by some Students and….

(Girl was about to continue that instead of Navya they heard someone's Shout though Shout was very well predicted but from the Person it was actually shocking. Everyone turns their Eyes to the Person to see an Unknown Emotion rising in that Person's Eyes.)

Manik: What The Hell. Who dares to do this? I will not leave Him or Her. (Screaming more) Now speak up or do You have something in Your Mouths?



(At this Point not only Girls, even NavShad and Fab4 are shocked & scared from this Monster who is showing Anger for the Person to whom They hardly know.
But other than being shocked, Fab4 gets confused for the same Reason that He hardly shows such Feelings towards them or His Girlfriend Aliya but He is being angry for a Person whom they don't know. At this Point, Aliya started feeling something like Is She About To Lose Him?

Seeing everyone silent, Manik lost His Anger. And screamed more making everyone more scare than already they were.)

Manik: Will. You. Both. Speak. Up. Or. Not…???



(As Manik was speaking suddenly Air started to blow hard and Manik was fisting his hands harshly to keep His Beast in control. Seeing this everyone started to get more Afraid but then Fab4 knew they needed to calm Him down or else there will be a Problem. So Cabir asked Navya to take care of those Girls and Fab4 within a second was near to Manik.)

Dhruv: Calm down Buddy. Everything is Fine.



(At Dhruv's words Manik glares at Him harshly.)

Manik: Really Dhruv?

(Getting scared Dhruv takes a back step and pulls Lady Bheem aka Mukti Vardhan infront of Him.)

Mukti: Calm down Manik. Stop scaring everyone. And We will see to it who dares to snatch Fab5's rights. I wo..
Manik (Interrupting): Stop it Mukti. Everything is not about Rights. There is something more than Rights.

(Saying this He Glances at Navya whose Face suddenly turns Pale while talking to those Girls. Then sees Her running towards Direction which leads to Cafe-Tariea with Harshad following Her and soon He also follows Her while after revealing about Nandini Girls run from there in fastest speed before They became Next Target of Monster Manik Malhotra. Seeing Manik following or rather running behind Navya makes Fab4 shock so much that Eyes widened and Jaws dropped down.)

Mukti: What The Hell just happened?



(Cabir & Dhruv have absolutely no Idea. Even Aliya was unaware but deep down She knows it's just a Start. Being extremely close to Manik She can differentiate whether His Feelings are True or Wrong and Real or Fake. This is something which shouldn't be ignored but Aliya who Loves Her Manik can not lose Him ignored this feeling or pretended it was something else. No one can snatch HER MANIK but here the Question arises is Manik really Hers? From the start till now Equation between Aliya & Manik was same except Aliya and since start He was clear with His Feelings that He Manik Malhotra cannot fall in Love with Her or anyone. Though it sounds Okay and She aka Aliya feels She is okay but Truth is She is not, She is broken some more seeing Her Love still having One-Night Stands, having Sex which is more like Raping. She feels shattered & broken and used to think is Her Love not enough to stop Him & change Him? And the Answer is NO because She is not His SOULMATE. His Soulmate will have enough Power to stop or to change Him.

Ignoring the Six Sense, Aliya says.)

Aliya: Stop thinking Negative. Manik is behaving like this as it's Natural when he feels someone is snatching His or Fab5's rights of Bullying or Ragging someone. And only Fab5 has the Right. So this is the only Reason why Manik acted in such a way.



[Imagine Aliya saying this while saying in thinking mode.]

Aliya (Now Evilly): Now let's see who suddenly got so much Strength & Power to go against Fab5.

(Hearing Aliya at first they were skeptical but when they Pondered on it it felt right. Now Evilly Smirking.)

Mukti: Oh yeah. You are so Right Aloo. Lets see who dared to snatch OUR rights.

(Smirking Evilly Cabir too nodded and even Dhruv too smirked. Dhruv can be innocent but He can never tolerate someone snatching His or Fab5's Right.

Joining their hands they walk together to Cafe Tariea only to get another Shock.)

In Cafe-Tariea
Poor Nandini who was wrapped in Cotton when She was a Baby. Her Environment or in Her Surrounding She found only Love and She was always protected in a Cocoon. She is a Girl who thinks Life is a Fairy tale unaware of Life's Cruelties. She was stopped by Her Parents to not apply for S.P.A.C.E Academy or any other Foreign University since They know how much their Daughter is Innocent & Naive.

Never in Her Wildest Dream She aka Nandini Murthy thought She will see Cruelty but since She has stepped in S.P.A.C.E Academy She has been targeted, humiliated and just now She was bullied by some Students according to Her when She was unaware Her only Class fellows dares to do to Her.

Manik followed NavShad only to see a Girl in Mess. She was in a Mess and things on Her are making Cafe's Air smelly as the Girl aka Nandini was showered by different Sauces, Eggs & different items. She was just Numb and too shock with the happening that not a Single Tear came out of Her Eyes.

Seeing Her Best Friend Nandini like this Navya's Eyes filled with Tears and spoke.

Navya: Nandu…

(Though Navya didn't whisper Nandini's Name and if still She had then Manik would have listened it all thanks to His Sharp hearing Power. But right now Manik wasn't able to hear it as He was looking at a Numbed & Shocked Girl who is seeing Down like watching Floor's Design is necessary for Her. Unknowingly or Unaware of its Own Soul who felt a sudden need to look into Her Eyes.

Soon Fab4 also comes there to see Girl aka Nandini is all shocked but been bullied didn't catch their Eyes, what actually caught their Eyes was Girl wearing Simple Traditional Clothes which made Fab4 shocked & disgusted and eventually they concluded She belongs from a Middle Class Family and all Behen Ji types. Just by seeing Her, Aliya felt Her Breath as She was unknowingly holding it. Seeing Her Attire & Innocence evident in Her Posture made Aliya smirked as She was unknowingly afraid that Her Manik would leave Her. As much as She knows Manik She thinks Manik feels disgusted who wears a little bit traditional. He Loves opps likes opps feels okay seeing Girls wearing revealing Dresses and till now Aliya or no one caught His Eyes or make them look Attractive in His Eyes. Though Manik hates or feels disgust seeing Girls wearing a Bit Traditional Dresses but never till Date any Girl caught His Eyes. So Aliya was relieved as that Girl won't snatch Her Manik from Her but little She knew She is in for surprise.

Meanwhile Cabir, Dhruv & Mukti were feeling Neutral or feeling no feeling at all for that Girl and then saw Navya walking towards Her, holding Her Shoulder and saying Consoling Words and Fab3 were least interested to hear it so ignoring it They settled on their usual table. And soon within some Seconds whole Cafe-Tariea was free from Students as seeing Fab5 there everyone run from their taking or leaving their Brunch/Lunch there such Bad & Horrifying image Fab5 has made on everyone and it soothes Fab4's Ego not Fab5 as Manik was totally lost and waiting or Hoping to see Girl's Face & Eyes till now His Eyes didn't leave Her Flexed Neck making Her look down. Manik sees Navya is trying Her best to Console Her but She was too shocked to react Navya's any Words or Gestures.
Then unknowingly Manik whispers Her Name.

Manik:  Nandini…



(Unknown to His Ownself Manik whispers Her Name with unknown Emotion. And call it Unseen Connection or God finally sees Manik's Soul desperation that unknowingly Nandini raises Her Eyes so does Her Face & huge Tears escape from Her Eyes.



[Imagine Nandini like this.]

And from nowhere Heavy Breeze starts to flow.

As soon as Manik sees Nandini's face & Her Hazel Eyes which is now filled with tears. Then immediately She closed Her Eyes making more Tears falling from Her Eyes.



Seeing Her like this unknowingly the Dead Heart in Him started to BEAT faintly. And He takes Back Steps with Wide Eyes. Earlier He thought She feels Familiar but then seeing Her Face it was clear Indication for him that it's HER. Off-course He is Familiar with Her Face. And not knowing Her Name He started calling Her "CHUBBY CHEEKS".

Seeing Her Manik took backsteps and turned around slightly



[Imagine Manik like this]

then walked to Jam Room making Fab4 confused. Soon They also followed him.)

In Fab5's Jam Room
In quick Strides Manik was back in the Jam Room. He was confused & shocked what She is doing here and now He understands or realize why He was feeling such Alien Feelings within himself. He should have known it as in the Entire World She is the only ONE who can make feel such things.

He remembers when He felt something Alien for Her just in a Single meet in fact it was not any Meet it was like One Stranger was passing by and just stopped seeing SIMPLICITY. And for the first Time Manik, The Manik Malhotra didn't feel any disgust towards Her or to Her traditional Dress infact He just called Her CUTE which He never said to anyone not even to His Namesake Girl friend.

Manik was lost in remembering when She had made Him feel Alien Feelings. That Day or that Beautiful Day He cannot dare to forget as on that Day for the very first Time unknowingly She Evoked something in Him.
As Manik was lost in Her, Fab5's Jam Room was opened harshly making a Noise which alerted Manik so Manik quickly touched the Guitar and started Tuning it.



Though it made Mukti, Dhruv & Aliya confused but they let it go but Cabir, He noticed something in His Eyes and Manik suddenly Tuning His Guitar seeing them.
And then out of nowhere Aliya started speaking something.

Aliya: Oh God I don't believe such Humans do exist?
Aliya (to Mukti): Muku did You see Her?
Mukti: Yeah Man. She was looking like a Joker in all that Condition. I wish I had a Handycam then I would have Shot Her Video and Uploaded on Our Youtube channel. Man She was looking like a Clown…

(Saying this Aliya laughs with Mukti and both Hi-fived each other unaware Mukti's words has made someone angry, a very much that He fisted His hands stopping Himself to not lash out on His Fab5 Member and Manik's every action was noticed by Cabir and made Him extremely confused.
Then heard.)

Dhruv: Okay Guyz stop making fun of Her. Traditional or not but I think She has no fault in it behind being bullied. Didn't You see how Emotional Navu had got just by hearing Her.
Mukti: Here comes the Good Boy of Our Group. What is this Dhruv for once can't You let off Your being Goody Goody Shoes.
Dhruv: Mukti I said what I felt right. (Pause) Her Name is Nandini? Right? I think We should make Her Our Friend as She is Navu's Friend which ultimately makes Her close to us secondly She is Innocent. So what do you think Guyz?

(Hearing such things from Dhruv it raised Manik's Anger more and He immediately Yelled.)

Manik: Stop Right there Dhruv. Let Her be close to Navya or not but definitely We are not going to make Her Our Friend. So. Just. Stay. Away. From. Her. And. Stop. Thinking. To. Befriend. Her.



(Saying this or more like yelling, Manik walks out from making Fab3 confused that what happened to Manik today but then thinking hearing Fortune Teller's Words has made him frustrated so His Frustration is coming out like this. But it was not the same case with Cabir. Each passing Moments Manik is making Cabir more confused. If it was in the same other Situations then Cabir would have taken full advantage and had made Manik Tease so much but it can't happen. As they so does their lives are filled with Complications so it can never happen Manik has suddenly started feeling for Unknown Girl. And Manik's Words, Gestures & Actions are making Him more Confused.

Soon Cabir got indulged with Fab3 who just now has planned to have Night-Out without Manik again as they know Nights are only reserved for His One Night Stands. Fab4 tried alot to bring Manik on Right Path but they failed too just like Neyonika Malhotra who is well aware of Manik's every habits.

Sighing, Fab4 too walked out of the Jam Room unaware that very soon they are going to see a different Manik who would become more dangerous but still Soft at the same Time for only one Person. Soon Their Friendship will be challenged but only time will tell how True & Good their Friendship is.)

Chapter Ends

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