Assalam o Alaikum Friends, how are You all. I'm back with another Chapter of Story.
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Thank You…

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Chapter No # 17

"A Pure Friendship"

In S.P.A.C.E Academy
In Music Department
Near Fab5's Jam Room
Though Aliya pretended not to Cry or stopped Herself from Crying in front of Fab4. It Hurts to see Your Love loving someone else but it Hurts more when Relationship is forceful. She had tried everything to make Her Relationship work with Manik. She organised their Many FIRST TIMES only to be left alone on that Day though Fab3 were there for Her but not the Person to whom She had actually organised for.
She understands Him and that's why She never forced Herself or their Relation on Him, She accepted Him with all His Flaws. She didn't try to change Him as She also Loves this Version of Manik too.

In these 7 Years, Aliya Saxena has died daily seeing & hearing Manik Her Boyfriend who is Her X now going to Viva Hotel. For Once She told Him,

[Aliya: Manik please don't go there.
Manik (Helplessly): I can't Aliya. It's like it has become My Need. Though THAT DRUG'S effect had been finished from My System but it left a Huge Impact on Me. If I don't do this I feel I will die in Frustration. It's…
Aliya: If You can't leave this then do it with Me.
Manik (Angrily): Are You Mad? Do You have any Idea what are You saying Aliya? Though I don't Love You but as a Friend I would never ever do that. Keep that in Your Mind.
Aliya: Buttt.
Manik (Interruptingly): If You Love Me then Swear on Your Love that from now onwards You won't say this.]

After that Aliya didn't say anything but died daily as firstly Her Love isn't Reciprocated and secondly daily She has to see Her Boyfriend going to Viva to let out His Frustrations.
In these 7 Years, She tried to create Space in His Heart but was never successful. This Morning She told to Fab3,

"She won't let anyone snatch Her Manik, Her Love from Her."

And soon She realized how Wrong She was that Manik was never Hers. HE WAS SOMEONE'S ELSE infact HE WAS NEVER HERS.

Though She stopped Herself from Crying infront of Her Friends especially Manik as She doesn't want Him to feel Guilty. Falling Love is not Planned, it's Natural. So how can She blame Manik when He has no fault in first hand.

Running out of the Jam Room, She comes near to another Room and Cries loudly letting Her Pain out. But She doesn't know Her Every action was noticed and it was noticed by Manik who felt guilty. He knows it's His Fault and He needs to clear this Mess. Agreed He doesn't Love Her as a Lover but come on She is His Best Friend. Holding His Emotions, He walks near to Aliya and Hugs Her. Soon feeling Him Aliya melts in His Arms. And.

Aliya: Am I that Bad Manik?
Manik: No Aloo it's not You it's Me. I couldn't…
Aliya (Interruptingly): I had Crush on You when You saved Me from that Ugly Fatty Oldie. But My Crush changed into something more Pure when You stopped Me from Committing Suicide. But when My Crush changed into Love I didn't even know.

(Then breaking the Hug.)

Aliya: Manik tell Me something WAS I REALLY IN LOVE WITH YOU? As Love is always Reciprocated and Love can not be One Sided. Tell Me Manik, had I really fallen for You? Had I misunderstand My Pure Friendship Feelings as Love towards You? Tell na Manik why are You silent.

(Hearing this Manik makes Helpless Face.)

Manik: Aliya I wish I had answers of Your Questions. I don't know what Love is and what You feel when You are in Love. (Pause) You know Aloo how I reached the Brothel. The Betrayal I had faced made Me to hate & loathe every Relations. Only You Guyz are exceptional & different but still My Inner Pain & Hurt doesn't let Me Trust You all fully.
Aliya: I understand Manik.
Manik: Aloo THAT BETRAYAL had ended everything in My Life. Neither I could accept all of You fully nor My Adopted Mother. The Betrayal I faced that Times I got to spend there in Brothel had made Me Realize there is nothing called LOVE & INNOCENCE. Being Committed, Engaged or Married still Men or Women came there to fulfill their Pleasures which They couldn't get from their Partner. And My Faint Belief in LOVE completely shattered there. And I got to realize if You have Power, Fame, Money, You are Monster then no one can Crush You but if You are Innocent & Naive then You are going to be bullied & Crushed mercilessly.
Aliya: But Manik You told about Your Chubby Cheeks She is Pure.
Manik: Yeah She is the only Purest Soul in the World I have come across. That's why I don't want to drag Her in My Messed Up live where I don't know what I could do in My Hunger or worst could bring Danger to Her.
Aliya: Hmmm. Manik if there are Bad People then there are Good Persons too. See Your Chubby Cheeks is there in World of Evils. If Innocence exists then LOVE also exists. Don't You think so?
Manik: I don't know Aloo. Maybe and Maybe not. (Pause) So I was saying I don't know anything about Love so how can I answer to Your Questions since for Me LOVE IS NOTHING except just an Emotion and People in Love are always tend to face Betrayals. And secondly if it was in My Hand then I would have made Myself Feel something for You except Friendship.

(Crys was long forgotten and both were talking as Mature Persons. Listening to Him,  small Smiles come on Aliya's Face. Then.)

Manik: I'm sorry Aloo I couldn't
do anything for You. I was Your Best Friend but I couldn't make You smile a little. Forget making You Smile I had and still gave You Pain.

(Remembering how many Times He had given Pain to Her made His Eyes Teary. Also make Aliya's Eyes Teary and She was nodding in NO.)

Aliya: No Manik don't ever think like that. And Bestfriends never give Pain to each other the same way You didn't. It was in My Destiny. And when We entered into Relationship neither We Promised each other to be till in Love & Eternity nor We asked each other to Reciprocate Our Feelings in near Future. Coming Close to each other at that Time was Need of an Hour. So stop making Yourself guilty. And where & when You could You were always there for Me. Secondly Manik I thought I'm Selfish and still I'm but My Selfishness can never come between Our Friendship. For Years I was in Bubble or You can say for Years I was just ignoring all Signs when Deep down I had knew. But now I realized "WE ARE JUST DRAGGING IT." (Pause) Manik Love is Pure and it can not be forced. For Years though I never wanted to force You in this Relationship but I did because We were in Need earlier it was Saving You and next I realized maybe or maybe not I'm in Love with You. Your just One Sentence made Me realize Love can not be forced and looking at Our History I think I was never I'm Love with You. So You don't need to be Guilty about for which You couldn't and haven't done it. It was in Our Destiny to come together and now break apart. Manik if We had the Power to change Ourselves and Our Past so Our Life would have been more better than it already is. So don't be guilty over Spilt Milk.
Manik: So You don't blame Me for Hurting You & Breaking Your Heart?
Aliya: For which thing should I blame You? If You did it not unknowingly so it's something else. Manik for the Starters You didn't even want to be in Relationship but still You let it go. And now when You fall for Someone else and want to break up with Me so I don't think You are at Fault. Like Humans even We deserve Happiness and being Immortals We didn't choose it. And if You still after Feeling for someone else You continued to be in Relationship with Me then it would have Hurted Me more and I would have blamed Myself that for Me You couldn't choose Your Happiness. And now I'm relieved that finally You found someone who can change You. Between what is Her Name?

(Listening to Aliya's Mature thoughts it give relief to Manik and Hushhh in His Selfishness He didn't hurted His Best Friend. Now hearing Her Question He Smiled a little and without any Delay.)

Manik: Her Name is Nandini, Nandini Murthy. The One to whom We had seen in Cafe Tariea yesterday.

(Suddenly Aliya's remember Nandini's Face and She was shocked beyond limit.)

Aliya: Oh My Goodness. Manik She is…

Manik (Interruptingly): Yeah She is extremely Opposite to Me and to My Thoughts. But My Pure Feelings didn't see anything beyond this.

(He ended with a Smile and Smilingly.)

Aliya: You are Badly Whipped Manik.
Manik (Frowning): Whipped? Aloo You are Misunderstanding I Like Her not Love Her.

(Listening to Him, Aliya was beyond shock that it was clearly written in His Eyes and His Actions & Gestures shows how much He is in Love with Her but here He is.

But can She blame Him about not being Aware of His Own Feelings. Being in 7 Years with Him, She clearly understood about His Opinions and His Mentality plus after having such Painful Past of His and His Identity it's difficult for Him to understand His Own Feelings and Accept them.)

Aliya (Interruptingly): No Worries Manik. Soon You will understand and Accept Your Feelings it's just Matter of some Time. But in all this I need Fab3's help to make Him understand.

(As Aliya was lost in thinking that suddenly She feels Manik's hand. And heard.)

Manik: Aloo what I have done with You I will never forget it nor Forgive Myself.

(At this Aliya was about to interrupt but Manik didn't let Her to speak anything. And continues.)

Manik: But from here Onwards I will find a Guy for You who is Suitable for You and Compliments You in every situation moreover would Love You as You should be Loved. And Your Past won't ever ever Matter to Him.

(Listening Manik's words a Happy Tears come out from Her Eyes. And instantly She hugs Him and feeling Overwhelmed.)

Aliya: Thank You Manik for being such a Good Friend to Me.
Manik: Aloo come on stop thanking Me and for Heaven Sake We are Best Friends, Fab5 and Family to each other and there no Thank you & Sorry is allowed.

(At this Aliya bobbed Her Head. Then thinking something She broke the Hug and.)

Aliya: Manik what about Nandini?
Manik (Confusedly): What about Her?
Aliya: Manik don't You think whatever You Feel for Her is something beyond "Like-Level".
Manik: What do You mean?
Aliya: I think whatever You feel for Her You need to think about it and give Her a Chance to think & understand about Your Own Feelings. You should Explore Your Feelings for Her by giving Her a chance.

(Listening to Her, Manik was shocked and.)

Manik: Are You even listening to Yourself what are You speaking? Do You know Aliya how much I have known Her in just One single Moment that She is an extremely Pure, Innocent and Traditional Girl. And Her Heart would be so Soft. If I get into Relationship with Her or give Her a Chance to understand My Own Feelings then if God forbid it isn't Love then what and She on the other hand started seeing Her Future with Me. It will be more Painful & Hurtful for Her. And She won't be able to take it. Secondly, why are You forgetting who We are. It was easy for Us to get into Relationship because We were and are IMMORTALS. But She on the other hand is Innocent Human. And I can't drag Her in Darkness. She is mean to SHINE. (Pause) And as Cabir asked Me to if it's LOVE then after getting fully sure about My Feelings I will Propose Her because at that Time it will be different. I would have Genuine Reason.
Aliya: And what about Your Soulmate?
Manik: Seriously I don't know anything about it. I should Hate Her na for not being there when I needed Her the Most in My Life and if She was there then We both wouldn't have come into Relationship. But I don't think I hate Her.
Aliya: What if Your Chubby Cheeks is Your Soulmate?

(Aliya's this Question, made Him shocked and made Him send into Thinking Mode. And then heard Her.)

Aliya: What if You realize You are in Love with Her then You get to know She is Your Soulmate then what will You do? As if You DO IT without Marking Her & Biting Her You might lose Her as She will be on verge of Dying because of extreme Pain She would be facing. And if You Bite & Mark Her then DO it, then You will be both Connected for Eternity. So tell Me Manik what are You going to do?

(Listening to Her, it made Manik more scared not for Himself but for Her. He can and will Suffer extreme Pain if it gives Happiness to Her. But He wouldn't tolerate a 0.001% for seeing Her in Pain.

Understanding His Silence She further said. Then.)

Aliya: So Manik before getting into Relationship with Her You need to find out if She is Your Soulmate or not. And if She is then You need to Reveal Your Real Self to Her. You know that Right?

(At this still Manik doesn't say anything as He himself doesn't know except that now He should maintain more Distance with Her. But here the Question lies,

"Will He Be Able to Distance Himself from Her when She is going to be in S.P.A.C.E Around Him?"

Then.)

Manik: Whatever. But now can We not talk about this Matter anymore? And whatever it is, let's leave it on Destiny. And Let's go Fab3 must be thinking where are We and We need to go THERE as Barita would be waiting for us.

(Saying this Manik walks out from there leaving a thoughtful Aliya.

She knew She shouldn't have said this as His Face says all but being His Friend it was Important to make Ready for all the Situations.

She knows & realized Manik isn't Aware of His Love towards Her. And being Immortal not only She but Entire Fab5 knows a "Immortal can only fall in Love with His/Her Soulmate."

And if Manik Loves Her so there are chances She is His Soulmate. Secondly She can not forget what Fortune Teller told Yesterday. So there are high Chances Nandini is His SoulMate. And Nandini isn't that Young or if She was then still They could have known through their & Superiors Research "Manik's Mate is Alive." But all of their Researchs proved Manik is Mateless. And now this.

At one side it says Nandini is His Soulmate and on the other side it proved Manik is Mateless.

By now Aliya's Mind into Thinking Process that there is SOME MYSTERY behind all this. It isn't Easy as how they are thinking it to be. And might maybe maybe Barita wants to say all this.
And for this She needs to be with Fab4 so quickly walking from there She joined Fab4 who were now all set to meet Barita THERE.)

Chapter Ends

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I hope through this Chapter I made You all understand the Depth of Manik's Friendship with Aliya and Vice-Versa.

And what do You think about Aliya's Question about Nandini being His Mate or not?

There is a Big Mystery behind this Nandini being His Mate or Not.

Comment down to let Me know what do You think about Aliya's Question which She asked from Manik. And Was She correct in asking or not? Comment.

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Precap:

Barita: You all need to be very Cautious as Someone is going to come very very soon. He is Good or Bad Time will only tell. So be Prepared for everything and anything especially You Manik.

Hi this is Vihaan, Vihaan Singh Chauhan. But You can Call Me V.
Hello I'm Nandini, Nandini Murthy.

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So as Per Precap very soon a New Character is going to come and so do let Me know whom You wanted to be.

Thank you.

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