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Continuation of Manik's side of the story...

Manik and everyone else waits for Nandini to answer the call, but no one did and the ringing stopped making Manik frown slightly, " She didn't pick it up!"

" No need to worry buddy, Maybe Nandini is busy." Dhruv said from the back seat trying to relax and calm Manik, as he knows that he will start worrying until he hears her voice.

"But she shouldn't be busy, today is Sunday it's a day off. " Manik said and told Cabir to call again which he did, while Manik stopped driving and parked the jeep on the side of the road and again the five of them waited impatiently for Nandini to receive the phone call.

It went on ringing and no one received the call making Manik restless and his heart to start beating rapidly in worry and anxiousness as each second went on passing.

But at the second last ring finally Nandini answered the call and after finally hearing her voice all the five of them released their breath that they didn't knew were holding onto and took a sigh of relief that she was okay.

"I am perfectly fine Manik... "

"Sorry that I missed the first call. "

"I was in the washroom sooo... "

"oh then its okay ... all good then." Manik relaxed and then looked at the rest once before talking to Nandini again and giving an excuse to be late as Mukti said earlier.

"I called to inform you that I will be late coming back today. I know I told you that I will reach home by evening but at last moment after the concert an international music company liked our songs very much and approached us with a 3 years contract. It is a very big opportunity for us Fab5 to be launched in the international market worldwide and we had to attend the meeting to finalise the deal because of which we missed our flight Jaan. So now we are waiting for the next flight to Mumbai and we all will reach home by late night and not evening. So please you don't stay awake all night okay, have dinner don't skip your meal just because I am not there to make you eat and go to sleep. I have the extra key to the house with me so when I will reach I will enter by myself, you don't have to wait for me okay my wifey. " Manik said lovingly.

When Cabir whispered slowly to the others so that Nandini couldn't hear him," He is so whipped... Our Majn... Sorry sorry correction Nandini's Monster Majnu Manik. " listening to which Manik glared at Cabir, while the other three giggled and chuckled softly.

It was always so much fun to tease Manan, it was all their friends favorite time pass.

Manik ignored his idiot friends and concentrated on Nandini as she still didn't reply to him.

" What happened Jaan? Is everything okay, are you listening to me... Why aren't you saying anything... Aren't you happy? I know that I have been busy for the past few weeks with the practice, this concert and even handling Malhotra Industry and because of that we couldn't spend much time but I promise Nandini that tomorrow the whole day is OUR DAY and nothing and no one will disturb us it'll be just the two of us ... We'll be together and do each and everything you wish to do my STAR. "

Manik said as he can never say No to her any demands or wish ... He LOVES HER WAY TOO MUCH, which made Alia and Mukti to awww and the boys to smile seeing Manan's pure true love and care for each other.

" Of course Mani I am Very happy for you and everyone else, finally your dream to Make Fab5 the No1 band in the whole world is coming true. How can I be not happy? I'm the happiest person in the world right now... Aiyappa has listened to my prayer and all the five of yours hardwork, dedication and passion for music has paid off. I always knew you guys can do it and don't worry I will follow all your instructions properly have dinner and go to sleep early and ya before I forget thank you so so much for the gift, the bird pet shop called today and said they will deliver the parrot by tomorrow... "

Parrot!? Wh-"Manik asked being confused.

Nandini laughs suddenly and continued cheerfully, " aree Manik how can you forget after you yourself ordered for it. Don't you remember few months ago both of us were watching your favourite show ... The one with the episode which showed that beautiful Parrot in the greenhouse? And I told you I loved it and wanted one for myself YA . THAT . ONE . "

Whereas Manik falls silent for a moment after listening to Nandini's word, "PARROT ... ?" he whispers in a monotone blank voice.

"Parrot?" Alia questions with an incredulous look on her face as she looked at the remaining three who also had the same expression on their faces and question in their mind.

"Ya finally you remembered ... the one beautiful green Parrot in the greenhouse wala episode ! Thank you so much for always fulfilling all my wishes. " Nandini answered from the other side and giggles.

There is some more silence in the jeep. PARROT. GREENHOUSE. Manik perfectly knew what those two words mean. It was a secret code words that they both came up with few months ago while they were watching one of his favourite show a crime series . They made those code words in a fun, non serious, joking way and never thought that they would actually use it in real ever in their lives.

Life is so unpredictable... No one knows what will happen next.

Coming back to his full senses, Manik speaks again, "YOU-"

"All right bye Manik, I'll see you when you get home okay ... " she interrupts Manik before he could complete .

"JAAN, don't hang-" he starts saying desperately now getting cut off again by Nandini.

"I LOVE YOU, MANIK!" Nandini adds sweetly and lovingly , pouring all her love for him into it at the end.

"NANDINI!! Nandini stay with me Jaan... " Manik screamed her name but the call has already ended and he was met with only silence.

"Manik!! what's going on ? And what was that about Parrot and all? " Cabir asked serioas soon as the call ended, as He can see his friend is not acting like his normal self and that something is wrong with Nandini in Mumbai .

"She's in trouble. " Manik finally says, while staring at the black screen of his phone blankly .

"Trouble? What kind of trouble? " Mukti asked next quickly.

"She used two words . Parrot and greenhouse."

Everyone blinks in surprise and Dhruv ask, " Ya buddy we heard that too, but I don't understand what connection does that have with Nandini being in trouble …"

"She said Parrot meaning 1 Parrot ... Which actually means one intruder." Manik answered them and turned in his driving seat to start the engine of the jeep, while the others gasped in shock finally getting some idea of what type of trouble Nandini could be in.

"And greenhouse?" Alia asked with low shaky voice, staring to fear if Nandini was okay or not.

"That's home."

"So one intruder at home." Cabir stated to no one particularly.

"Exactly." Manik spats getting worried and scared for Nandini and anger for whoever dared to intrude in his home threatening his Jaan's life.

"Mukti call Abhi." Manik said, and immediately she took out her mobile and started dialing Abhimanyu's number.

In one moment Everyone forgot all about their contract, proposal, buying ring, partying everything. Now the only thing roaming around everyone's mind was to reach Mumbai as fast as possible and rescue save Nandini... Only Nandini was present there in five of their mind.

Manik stepped on the acceleration and drove off in maximum speed to reach his Jaan and prayed to Nandini's Aiyappa in his mind, ' Aiyappa she is your favourite child na... So please please protect and keep my Nandini safe and alright. If something anything happens to her then I don't know what I ll do... Jaan please be okay and strong my love... My wifey your Manik is coming...'

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How was the chapter, few words for it... Now that Manik and his friends knows the truth can he reach in time and save Nandini or will he be late and everything will be lost over for forever...?

Stay safe,

Love you all,

Ria ❤️