Time passes...

Even when it seems impossible...

Even when each tick of second hand ache like the pulse of blood behind the bruise....

It passes unevenly,in strange lurches and dragging lulls,but it does passes..

Even for me...
                         --Stephanie Meyer..

Three Year's Later...

"Manik...Manik...Manik...Manik...Manik...Manik..Manik...Manik...Manik...Manik..Manik.."

"Fab5...Fab5...Fab5...Fab5...Fab5...Fab5...Fab5...Fab5...Fab5...Fab5...Fab5...Fab5..Fab5..."

The entire stadium was resonating...

"Manik" and "Fab5" were the only two words that were audible.

And frankly...at that point of time...only these two names mattered the most..

After all it's not everyday that one get to share the same roof...or in this case..same piece of land...with India's top most musical band.

Fab5..

They had everything...

Style..

Talent...

Looks..

Perfection..

Fame...

Money....

Everything...

But there was something else which really made these bunch of 22 years old different and unique from the rest of the world..

Something..that only these five share..

And that was...

Friendship..

Yup..

Their bond of friendship was their ultimate USP. In today's world where people value things more than relations here were these five people for whom their friendship meant everything..

Yes...they were friends with each other pretty much from the time when one doesn't even understand the true meaning of friendship..
but now they all have actually understood the real meaning of friendship after surviving so many storms together..

But as it is said that the greater the storm the brighter is the rainbow..this thought applies perfectly on these five...as they all have not only faced the storms together but they all have come out of it becoming even more stronger.

Not only as an individuals but even as a group the roots of their friendship had only grown deeper...

Of course things had changed...

They weren't the same group of five merciless brats who used to wreck havoc in the lives of anyone who would dared to cross their path...be it students or be it staff of SPACE (who used to live their lives in sheer terror courtesy of Fab5)

Though they all still had the ultimate talent and the potential required to unleash their devil side..but the only difference was...now they knew what was right and what was wrong..

They would go to any extent in order to make things correct...destroying every hurdles...every negativity...every wrong thing...that comes in their way..

Now they weren't selfish terrible monsters anymore..

Because...

Now they were considered as The Guarding Angels..

Fab5's fame and popularity had crossed all the boundaries of sanity...

After winning the Talent Hunt they became the rockstars of the nation..

Their first album with O2 was the chart topper for that year...it was an instant hit..not only with the youth but also with the masses.

O2 became one of the biggest recording label of the country courtesy of Fab5.

There was no looking back for them anymore once their first album got released. Fab5 soon became the synonym of success. And soon their success crossed boundaries and they all became international faces too.

It felt like yesterday only when they all had dreamt of becoming s brand themselves....and today they were living that dream..together.

Could their lives be any more perfect..

Five people who were each other's best friends were living a life that only one can dream about..

But of course one tend to forget one little thing..

All that glitters is not gold..

There is always another side of the coin which is waiting for its turn.

Yes...

Their friendship had become stronger....

Their bond with each other had grown even deeper...

But...

They all have one thing in common...

Pain..

Pain...of loosing someone who was more dear than a friend/family..

Pain...of not being able to apologise for past mistakes from someone when they had the time...

Pain...of not being able to do anything to protect that someone from the evil clutches of world...

Pain...of loosing one's soul...forever..

Yes..

They had understood the true meaning of life...

They had understood the true importance of relationships...

But of course...

Only after loosing one of the most precious relationship of their lives...

Yes..

They gained everything...

But only after loosing someone very "special"..forever...

Today they have reached the zenith of success but only at the cost of part of their lives being gone forever...

Even their personal equations have changed drastically..

Alia and Dhruv...they were officially a couple now..who were just perfect together..a classic example purity with goodness...who now were a firm believer and supporter of love...

Cabir...doesn't need to hide his sexuality anymore...as everyone (be it Fab 5 or his fans..)loved him for the person he was..

Mukti...who once upon a time knew nothing more than anger and hatred...today...had become the brand ambassador of peace...harmony and true friendship..

But of course if someone had changed the most in these three years...it was ..

Manik..

A boy who was a classic example of sheer terror...today had become the ultimate instance of perfection..

A good human being...

A protector...

A saviour...

A knight in shining armour..

Yes...

He was still a monster ...but only for those who were nothing more than monster themselves...

Manik..means gem..

And that's exactly what he had ended up becoming...a true gem...in every possible way...

Anyone who meets him now could never believe that he was a monster once upon a time..

Well that's what love does..

It changes you eternally...

And that's why he wasn't that arrogant rich spoilt brat anymore..

No..

He wasn't"The Manik Malhotra" anymore...

Now..

He was something else...

Now...

He was someone else...

Now...

He was Manik...

Only Manik..

Nandini's Manik...

The song ended...

It was still for one second and then the entire auditorium broke into cheers and applause..

Opening his eyes Manik looked at the crowd.

A lone tear escaped his eyes.

"This song is for my Nandini....my shining star...and guys...today was the day when my star was born...yes..today's is my Nandini's birthday...today she turns 21 years old..so guys..let's wish her together...shall we..."Manik spoke addressing the crowd.

"Yes.."the crowd replied..

"Great.."Manik smiled and he turned and signalled someone.

And the next moment the rest of the Fab5 joined him on stage..

The big screen flashed into live...and the very next moment Nandini's smiling face was all over the auditorium..

A big cake with Happy Birthday Nandini written on it was brought on stage. Camera's were on it so that it could be seen by everyone present. The cake had various the picture of Nandini with Fab5 and with Manik.

Manik looked up at the sky and smiled "Nandini...I know you are watching me...I know you are still looking out for me...I know you will continue to do that till I join you there..."Manik pointed towards the sky.

"But before that happens..I will continue to celebrate your existence...because you continue to exist till I exist..because you only used to say na MaNan will exist till the star shines...till the fireflies glow...MaNan is forever...Humesha.."

Every one was tears...

"Happy birthday Nandini..."saying this Manik turned around to look at her smiling face that was reflecting on the screen.

"I miss you my shining star.."Manik smiled with tears flowing out of his eyes.

"I will never let this die....Never.."saying this Manik turned around and picked up the knife to cut the cake.

"Guys.."Manik looked at the rest of the Fab5 who simply nodded and joined him.

And the very next moment he cut the cake while Fab5 and the audience started singing "Happy birthday"

"I love you Nandini...I love you so much..."Manik whispered while closing his eyes and feeling his heart beating faster as Nandini's face took over his mind and heart.

The entire environment changed as everyone who was present there could feel what exactly Manik's eternal love for his Nandini..

It's been three years since that terrible fateful night happened in which Nandini was declared dead...

But for Manik his Nandini was very much alive...after all she resided in his heart..where she will exist till the end of the time...

Nothing can change that..

Nothing....

-------------------------------------------------------

A/N

So...the story begins...

Hopefully you all are up for a total roller coaster ride...

Nothing will be predictable...

So hop on and just enjoy the ride...

Stay blessed.