The next day at work Manik was working in his cabin over some project. He looked through all the files and then picked up the intercom.

"Plz ask Nandini and Cabir to get into my cabin!!"

Exactly 5 minutes later Cabir entered the cabin.
Cabir: Whats up amigo??

Manik: Cabir... This is gonna be our next limelight project. Seriously something good has come up after all those boring housing assignments. This is a public welfare complex to be made over the Mumbai-Pune highway. Its some sort of a sum up of shopping complex+ hotel+ hospital.

Cabir: Wow... Nyc idea!!
Both of them took their seats and started discussing about the project. Around half an hour later, manik said,

Manik: But above all this I want the design to be perfect. It shouldn't be much confusing and yet attractive. I think we need something like -

He stopped on his words and looked up.

Manik: Where is Nandini??

Cabir: Ohh yeah... She is with some clients, they wanted last moment changes in the design. Seriously Man... These ppl r so irritating!

Manik groaned in frustration when he heard someone's voice.
" Stop groaning.... I m here!!"

Manik smiled at her as she walked towards them and took a seat in front of him.

Manik: Finally....

Nandini: Hi cabir.
Nandini smiled at Cabir as she picked up the file from the table and started reading it.

Manik: Why weren't the designers handling the client??

Nandini: Coz the construction has already been started and they need a Design Consultant to look what can be done now.... I m due a sight visit in the next two hours.

Manik nodded at her and they continued with their work. As they finished Nandini said,

Nandini: Ohk... So I'll get the designing team to prepare different ideas and then we can choose. I too hv a few so maybe I will also set down some sketches.

Cabir: Cool... Till then me and my team will start preparing the site.

Manik nodded at it when Cabir walked away picking up his phone.
Cabir: See u later guys...

As he went out Nandini checked out her watch and said,
Nandini: I too should head for the site visit. Do u hv any other work coz I might take some time there and then directly head home.

Manik: No thats fine... It will anyway be ur closing time.

Nandini: Cool... See u!!
Nandini said getting up when Manik replied,

Manik: Yeah see u at the cafe' same time...
Nandini stopped in her work and looked at him confused.

Nandini: Cafe?? Why??

Manik: Coz we r heading to a movie tonight.

Nandini: Movie?? Suddenly!

Manik: What suddenly yr... Its just a movie and I know u r free so we r going and thats final.

Nandini rolled her eyes smiling at him as she turned around to leave.
Nandini: Whatever!!

Manik smiled at her as soon as she left his cabin and picked up his phone as he booked the movie tickets for the two of them.
-----------

Later that day, Nandini reached the cafe to find Manik already waiting for her.
Nandini: Hi...

Manik: Where were u?? I was worried.

Nandini: I m sorry just got late at the site, thus late here as well...

Manik: Ohk... So what will u hv?

Nandini: I m starving...
Nandini said picking up the menu card as she picked up her choice, she called for the waiter and placed her order which Manik asked the same for himself too.

Both of them sat there talking to each other about anything and everything that came to their mind. Be it something serious or illogical and ended up laughing their guts out. Soon their food arrived which didn't cease their conversation for even a second.

Nandini: I can't believe u actually did that!!
Nandini laughed out loud while eating as manik grunted.

Manik: Come on yr it was just a dare...

Nandini laughed again,
Nandini: I m gonna congratulate cabir to get it done from u.

Manik: Come on yr nandini... It was insane!! I literally wanted to kill cabir for that.
Manik tried to stop her from laughing. But she continued laughing then suddenly a little coffee from her cup got spilled over her dress.

Nandini: Freak...

Manik: U fine??

Nandini smiled at him and kept back her cup.
Nandini: Yeah... I'll just clean this up and be back.

With that Nandini walked away towards the restroom while Manik continued eating. Just then he heard Nandini's phone ringing on the table. He picked it up from the table and saw the caller id as 'Mrs. Kapoor'.

Turning the phone on silent, he let it ring and waited for Nandini.

She came back a few minutes later and smiled at him.
Nandini: I was actually laughing to myself even in the washroom just by imagining ur face at that time. I m sure Cabir has the video,  i will definitely want to see it.

Manik: Ohk now I regret telling u such stuff. Come on nandini...

Nandini giggled again but this time let go of the topic as she ate her food.
Nandini: So what movie r we watching?

Manik: Well thats a surprise for u... But for now, there was a call on ur cell while u went to clean up.

Nandini picked up her phone with the smile still playing on her lips when Manik continued,
Manik: Some... Mrs. Kapoor!!

Manik noticed Nandini's smile fade away at this as she checked on her phone. Nandini kept her phone aside ignoring the call and continued eating. They both finished off the food while Manik noticed the change in Nandini's mood. As soon as they got into his car, Manik asked,

Manik: Nandini... R u fine??

Nandini: Yeah!!

Manik: U sure... U seem lost since that call. Who was it?

Nandini: No one manik.... I m fine seriously. Now lets go!
Nandini said as she smiled broadly at Manik and they finally moved to the theater. They watched the movie and enjoyed their time together while Nandini completely forgot about the call which was disturbing her.

It as quite late when manik dropped her back home and he too left.

----------------------------
The next day, all of them were at their respective works when Manik got a call from some event management company. Manik talked to the manager for a few minutes after which he disconnected the call and smiled broadly.

Manik: Finally... I was waiting for this from so long!!

Exactly an hour later Fab5 were settled in his cabin when Cabir said,

Cabir: Come on Manik.... Now that Dhruv is also here, tell us, what was so urgent that it couldn't hv had waited for the night.

Manik: I hv a good news....
Manik smiled at them.

Cabir: Fuck... U r pregnant?? But how??
Cabir reacted dramatically making the others giggled while Manik rolled his eyes.

Manik: Cabir for god's sake... At least be serious for sometime dude.

Aliya: Manik ignore him... U tell us whats the good news.

Manik: The good news is that Fab5 has finally got its first ever Concert!!!

Mukti: Wow...
Mukti u exclaimed as they all sprung up to their feet and hugged each other.

Mukti: This is such a great news.... Guys this calls for a celebration...

Cabir, Aliya,Dhruv: Yes!!
Manik: NO....

Cabir: Ab kya problem h be...

Manik: Guys... The concert is in 5 days we need to start practise Asap... Thats why I called u all here directly.

Aliya: I guess Manik is right. We should start practising immediately.

Mukti: Cool then lets go!! Manik ur place??
Mukti asked as they got decided to leave. When manik stopped.

Manik: No yr... Not possible at mine. Mom has some painting stuff going on there, we won't be able to concentrate. Cabir, Yours??

Cabir: Not possible... Dadi is in town, Music banned at home...

Manik: Shit where will we practise them. We had only two music rooms available.

Dhruv: Lets shift our instruments to some other place...

Mukti: Ohk but where-
Mukti was saying something when Nandini barged into the cabin,

Nandini: Manik I need ur-
She noticed everyone there and smiled,

Nandini: Hi guys... What a surprise!!

All of them greeted her while Manik said,
Manik: I have a good news...

Nandini: Good news...  What?

Manik: We got a concert...

Nandini smiled broadly at then as she exclaimed,
Nandini: Wow...  That's amazing guys...  Congratulations!! So when is it?

Aliya: Next week...

Nandini: Wow its like now....
She smiled again looking at all of them as she turned towards Manik.

Nandini: I better get the VVIP tickets or else u r gone!

Manik chuckled at her expressions and nodded,
Manik: As u madam... But for now!! What r u here for coz we hv a really important thing to handle.

Nandini passed a file to him and pointed out.
Nandini: Ur signatures....

Manik nodded at her and picked up the pen signing when she asked,
Nandini: By the way whats so important.

Cabir: We don't hv a place to practise. Both Manik's house and mine are unavailable for the time being. And we need to start practise today.

Nandini: So whats the big deal... U guys can come over to mine. I too hv a music room there.

Mukti: Really can we??
Mukti exclaimed happily when Manik stopped them.

Manik: Nandini r u sure?

Nandini: Yes... U guys need it and I really want ur concert to be amazing.

All of them smiled at her as aliya engulfed her into a hug. Soon they all left the office to move over to Nandini's place.

Nandini got into her car along with Mukti and aliya while the rest followed in Cabir's car. Manik was driving fast and reached before her when cabir said,

Cabir: How do u know her address?

Manik shrugged casually at it and replied,
Manik: I m been here a few times cabir...  Obviously I knew it.

Cabir gave him the broadest smile ever telling him that something was going on in his head.
Manik: What??

Cabir: Nothing just like that!! Achcha ek baat bta, what do u think about Nandini!

Dhruv too understood the meaning behind cabir's question and turned to listen to Manik's answer. Manik smiled simply as he said,

Manik: She is a beautiful person. Not just externally, but internally too!!

Cabir was about to say something when Nandini stopped her car right in front of them as the girls got down.

Cabir: Hello again girls...
Cabir winked at them.

Mukti rolled her eyes at Cabir as they looked at Nandini's house, while Nandini threw the car keys to the watchman,

Nandini: Park the car...

The guard nodded at her when Manik saw payal, the same girl from the other day run towards Nandini.

Payal: Didi!!

Nandini: Hey payal!!
Nandini smiled bending over to her as she gave her the chocolate from her purse.
Nandini: So what is it today??

Payal: Red...
Payal said as her eyes flicked over to the others who stood behind Nandini. Manik noticed Nandini's smile fade away for a second before she immediately smiled again.

Nandini: Chalo... U go and eat ur chocolate. I'll meet u later.

Payal nodded at her and ran away when Nandini turned towards the rest. Her eyes met Manik for a second and he immediately knew something was wrong.

Nandini: Guys... Before we continue, I hv a request!!

All of them noticed her serious tone and looked up,
Aliya: what happened Nandini??

Nandini: Plz ignore whatever u see or hear inside and just follow me ohk!!

Mukti: Huh??
Mukti asked hving an confused expression same as all the rest. Nandini sighed once thinking what to say when she heard Manik say,

Manik: Chill guys... Lets just do as she says!! Lets go...

Nandini smiled at Manik who blinked his eyes once towards her as she walked around entering the house with Manik and Mukti by her sides while the others too close behind. They entered the front door and she took the right corridor as always while all the others who were visiting for the first time admired the house.

Mukti: Wow Nandini nyc place...

Nandini smiled slightly at her as they continued moving inside when they heard a man shouting,

Man: It is all ur fault. Who the hell asked u to interfere in this??

Woman: I don't need anyone's permission for all this. It is my business, and I can do anything I want. Nothing would hv gone wrong if u had stayed out of it.

Man: Ur business.... Seriously??

They heard a loud bang as the noise of some breaking glass echoed the place. They looked at Nandini to see her face normal as ever, as if she wasn't listening to anything as she didn't even stop for a second. All of them continued following her while the shouting voice of the couple continued, soon they saw Nandini open up a door as they entered a room filled up with instruments, clearly her Music room.

Nandini entered the room and kept her bag at the table as the others too entered behind her. They noticed the noise proof walls as aliya was about to close the door when Nandini said,

Nandini: Aliya... Hang on!! Don't close it.

She turned around and saw their guilty faces, as she said,
Nandini: Chill guys.... I know u all r guilty hving heard that irritating barrel but believe me there is no time they shut up, so its quite normal. Just gimme 5 minutes and u will be ready for ur practise.

They looked at each other listening to her talking to them so casually as they saw her pick up an electric guitar as she connected it to the amplifier and the speakers turning up the volume to the Maximum. And the next minute she stood there, facing her back towards the door with her eyes closed,  moving the guitar strings with confidence. It took them a minute to adjust, taking in account the too loud volume of the speakers but as they did they all smiled at the amazing music flowing out.

Their feet moved in rhythm with her fingers enjoying the rock music when they saw a lady, nearly in her 40's or 50's enter the room as looking angrily at Nandini.

"NANDINI... STOP!!"
She shouted loudly and they immediately knew that she was the same lady whom they heard a few minutes back. Manik noticed her face as he found her features familiar, instantly realising that she was her mother.

As if on que, as Nandini heard her voice, she changed the tune, taking up a much or high beat one making them twitch as the lady shouted again. And before they knew she entered the room and disconnected the speakers from the power board.

Mrs. Kapoor: What The Hell is this Nandini???
She shouted again making Nandini turn. All of them noticed her face and for the first time ever they saw anger streaming right into her eyes.

Nandini: How dare u unplug my speakers??
Nandini said slowly yet in a tone which could be anything but sweet.

Mrs. Kapoor: Don't act as if u don't know what kind of a nuisance u were creating.

Nandini rolled her eyes at her and turned to look at a side.
Mrs. Kapoor: Nandini, I hv told u earlier as well.... Keep this stupid Music of urs to urself. It shouldn't reach us...

Nandini: NOT A WORD ABOUT MY MUSIC.....
Nandini shouted loudly making all of them shocked. As Mrs. Kapoor too shut up. Nandini lowered down her voice and said sternly.

Nandini: Mrs. Kapoor.... As I had stated earlier, my music won't reach ur ears till the time ur voice doesn't reach mine. U learn to keep us down and I will make sure to turn down my speakers. Am I clear??

Mrs. Kapoor: U could hv said this properly...

Nandini: Well let's just say I don't hv time to waste on useless people and useless issues, so if u r done can I plz breath in peace.

Mrs. Kapoor grunted at her words and snapped,
Mrs. Kapoor: That's not the way to talk to ur mother Nandini!

Nandini: Ohh really...  So u remember that u r my mother. Great!! I m glad that at least one of us remembers it, coz I clearly don't!!

Mrs. Kapoor: U r not talking to me like that in this house.

Nandini: Fine...  Then I will gladly leave. Bcoz to what I remember,  I wasn't interested to stay here in the first place. U forced me for it so now it's ur time to suffer. Now get out of my room, bcoz this is the part where u r not allowed.

Mrs. Kapoor looked at her angrily and snapped again,
Mrs. Kapoor: You-

But before she could say anything, a glass jug smashed right next to her leg on the ground as Nandini threw it towards her.
Nandini: I SAID OUT!!!!

Mrs. Kapoor scowled at her when her eyes flicked to the others, she looked at all of them one by one when aliya stepped forward,

Aliya: Hi Bua.... U remember me?? I m aliya!! 

Recognition flashed through her eyes as she was about to step forward they heard Nandini shout,
Nandini: Aliya...  Get this lady out of this room!! RIGHT NOW...

Her mother glared at her again before turning around and storming out of the room. Nandini clenched her fists as she slowly kept her guitar back and walked to the corner of the room and a smile crept on her face.

Nandini: Wow... That turned ugly!! But I guess it worked. No disturbance for the rest of the day at least.

All of them looked at her dumb folded when she turned around towards them.
Nandini: And now u get this room all to urself guys... I'll ask the servants to clear the glass pieces from the floor. Feel at home!! I will be in my room, if u guys need anything feel free to come.

And before they knew Nandini was out of there after picking up her bag from the table. None of them said anything for a few moments until aliya said,

Aliya: Is this why she never let me come here?? Shit!!

All of them sighed at it and took the seats when cabir said,
Cabir: Aliya how come get mother didn't recognise u at first.

Aliya: Nandini is the only person in this family that I m allowed to meet. My father and her mother are siblings but something has happened after which my father doesn't even talk to her. Not just him, no one from our relatives talks to her, it's just Nandini always.

Manik: But what happened that it made him against his own sister.

Aliya: I don't know guys.... I was hardly 4 or 5 years old at that time. But for a fact, I know that Nandini knows everything. She too was young, but still she remembers it all. Maybe that's why she too has turned against bua.

Mukti: I guess so!!

Aliya: Nandini doesn't even considers them as her parents. She calls them as Mr and Mrs.  Kapoor. She is just here for names sake. All her life, she had lived in some or the other boarding school after which she moved to london for high school and university. This is like the first time ever she is actually living under the same roof as then.

Cabir: But how is it possible??

Aliya: Nandini never talks anything about this cabir.....  She is an introvert, her real feelings are only known to her.

All of them nodded at her accept for Manik. No matter how much he wanted to go behind Nandini, he knew she needed time and above all he was hating the conversation between his friends so he got up.

Manik: Enough guys..... We hv no right to sit here and discuss about Nandini's life and her personal problems. It's her life and we should stay away until and unless she comes to us for our help.

He turned towards aliya and softened his voice,
Manik: Aliya I know she is ur sister... But she doesn't need ur help in this thing. And plus, I don't think ur father is gonna like the idea of u being near Mrs. Kapoor when clearly it's his decision to stay away.

Aliya thought about it and nodded at him when he said again.
Manik: Guys Nandini had requested us to ignore the stuff we see or hear in here.... To let's just stick to it and start with what we r here for, we hv to practise.... Already we don't hv much time.

Cabir: Yeah... Manik is right!!! Let's start....

Cabir too got up as he took his place right in front of the drums.

Mukti: Let's get ready to kill the stage guys!!!

---------------------------
Shocked??  Confused???

Well some back ground story is due!!
Hope u all liked this part...

Love 😘
Navya!