Lmao, the chapter name sounds ominous but trust me, it's not😭😭😭 it's sweet!!

-----

Nandini looked at herself in the mirror for the last time.

"Nandu! Jaldi aa beta!" Nandini heard Chachi's voice from downstairs.

"Happy Diwali! Chachi, aap bohot pretty lag rahe ho!" Nandini said, hugging her aunt.

"Happy Diwali, beta! Waise, achhi hai na, Kanjeevaram ki saree hai! Tujhpe bhi achhi lagegi." Chachi said.

"Kya Chachi! Saree pehenne ke liye time hai. Ab toh main bohot chhoti hu." Nandini said cutely.

"Achha ji? Vo toh hum dekh hi lenge. Tujhe pata hai, ladkon ko pasand hai jab ladkiyan saree pehente hai..." Chachi teased. Nandini widened her eyes.

"Chachi...!" Nandini gasped and looked away to hide her shyness.

"Sharma mat ab! Rishabh ko bula, main tumhaare Chacha ko bulati hun! Kitni der ho gayi, ab bhi baal bana rahe hai kya? Sir par kuch hona toh chahiye, huh!" Chachi went muttering while Nandini laughed because of Shanno's antics.

"Rishu!" Nandini called for him. He came out, rolling his sleeves. Nandini noticed a new confidence in Rishabh after his problems were cured. It made her happy.

"Di, aapne Amms se baat kiya?" Rishabh asked.

"Subeh hi! Did you?"

"Bas abhi. You look nice, by the way!" Rishabh said. Nandini was wearing a lehenga, her usual Diwali style. Nandini was also glad to see her brother talking normally, just like he did when he was a kid. He was undergoing speech therapy, which he needed after not talking for more than a decade.

"So sweet! Tu bhi handsome lag raha hai!" Nandini pinched his cheek, which made him wince.

"Ouch! I am not a baby, Di!"

"You're always my baby, Rishu! Chal, let's do the pooja." Nandini said and all four of them gathered in the small mandir which was kept in the house.

"Arre waah! Aaj toh sab bade achhe lag rahe hai. Shanno ji, aap toh sabse beautiful." Venkatesh said. Shanno elbowed him.

"Kya aap bhi, bachhon ke saamne!" Shanno said.

"Chachi, sharmao mat. Men like women when they wear sarees na!" Nandini teased, and Shanno held her ear.

"Achha badmaash! Meri hi line mujhpe!"

"Aah Chachi sorry!" Nandini said and Shanno left her, taking her into a side hug.

"Happy Diwali!" They hugged each other and spent some quality family time.

----

For a change, Shrikant Malhotra made himself available and visited his son during Diwali. He was accompanied by his sister.

"Are you serious, Shri? How can you not celebrate a festival with your son?" Shreya asked her brother, feeling completely frustrated about him.

"I am just busy..."

"Excuses! Poor boy, he must have no faith in any festival. Is business so important to you?" Shreya was disappointed. This time, due to some complications, her family couldn't fly down to India. So she decided to spend time with her brother and nephew.

Shreya rang the doorbell and Manik opened the door. It was 5 in the evening and Manik was dressed in sweatpants and a Mickey Mouse tee.

Shreya looked at him as if he was an extraterrestrial creature. Shrikant palmed his face. His son was hopeless. Manik cringed for a moment as he saw the two dressed over-the-top.

"Um...hi?"

"Hi? It's Diwali boy!" Shreya entered the house.

"Yeah, I know." Manik said.

"You know? This house is such a mess! I should have come here yesterday!" Shreya lifted the used plates and went to the kitchen.

"Is she okay?" Manik asked Shrikant.

"Holiday spirit. Better to leave her alone. Anyway, Happy Diwali son." Shrikant said and hugged Manik.

"Thanks and same to you Dad." Manik wished and went to the washroom to wash his face.

"This son of yours is unbelievable. He was sleeping!" Shreya complained.

"Relax Bua! Mujhe nahi pata tha aap dono aa rahe ho." Manik said with a shoulder shrug.

"Kya? Maine message toh dala tha." Shreya said. Manik bit his tongue.

"Oh, it was you...I thought it was Na-"

"Nandini? Right." Shreya said with a sly smile. Manik shook his head and sat with his dad.

"Bua, please sit. Aap kyun kaam kar rahe ho? Maid will come."

"Vo sab toh thik hai beta! But learn to do your own work? Shaadi hone ke baad biwi nahi karegi yeh sab." Shreya said, ruffling his hair.

"Nandini will be busy too na." Shrikant said, casually.

"Is this your attempt at teasing me? Really?" Manik hid his face with his palms.

-----

Two hours later, Nandini called Manik to ask him what he was doing.

"Hey! Happy Diwali! Sorry, I was busy the entire day." Nandini said apologetically.

"Happy Diwali, and no worries. Dad and Bua kept me occupied." Manik said with a laugh.

"Oh! Are they still at your place?"

"No, they left for college. Aaj party hai na." Manik said.

"Tum kya kar rahe ho?" Nandini asked.

"Chillin'. Actually I found this new game that day, so yeah XBox." Manik said.

"XBOX?!? Manik! Party hai kuch der main!" Nandini shouted.

"What the fuck? Chill woman! Don't scream!" Manik said, holding the phone away.

"Tum jaao abhi ke abhi and get dressed. 8 baje ki party hai yaar." Nandini commanded him impatiently.

"8 baje ke party main 8 baje kaun jaata hai?" Manik asked.

"Main jaati hun." Nandini said.

It was that moment when they realised that the same thing happened last year.

"Wow, we have come a long way, huh?" Manik asked.

"Yeah...it feels great." Nandini said, sitting on her bed, with a smile on her face.

"Achha, I will get ready and come to pick you."

"What? No! Aur late ho jaayega Manik. Main aati hu tumhare ghar. Get ready fast please, okay bye!" Nandini hung up and rushed out of her house, not before waving to her family.

-----

Nandini entered Manik's house with the copy of the keys Manik gave her. She muttered curses as she saw a dark living room. Placing her bag down, she walked ahead.

"Diwali pe kaun karta hai aisa." Nandini complained and looked for candles. She found them on one of the shelves and lit. She placed them at a safe distance from curtains and fabrics and lit them one by one.

"Where is this boy now?" Nandini lifted her lehenga and walked inside. The bedroom was dark as well. Suddenly a cold breeze made the curtains move and she saw Manik on the balcony, shirtless.

"Manik! What are you doing?" Nandini asked.

"What the hell? I got scared!" Manik said and came inside the bedroom.

"Kya kar rahe the vahan?"

"I was talking to Cabir yaar. Chill." Manik said and looked for kurtas in his wardrobe.

"Tum hato! I'll look. Also, lights kyu nahi hai?"

"Fuse chala gaya. Irony dekho, Diwali pe no lights. I was feeling suffocated so I went to the balcony."

"Oh. Thank god I came then." Nandini smiled and switched her mobile flashlight on. She found the star lamp she gave him last year and put it on.

"Good idea." Manik said and looked at his phone. Nandini shook her head and tried to look for outfits. She saw a Royal Blue sherwani and took it out.

She kept it on the desk and walked towards Manik, who was playing games on his phone.

"Manik, please! Get up and wear your clothes."

"Yeah one second." Manik said, making Nandini angrier. She marched towards him to snatch his phone when she accidentally stepped on a wet towel Manik had carelessly thrown after he took a shower. Next thing she knew, she was on top of Manik, on his bed.

The windchimes hanging at the windowsill chose to indulge in a sweet melody right then. Both of them could feel each other's breathing.

"History truly repeats itself." Manik said, clutching her waist.

Nandini shyly closed her eyes while Manik slowly let her hair free, from the messy bun she had made.

"You look pretty." Manik said, and Nandini opened her eyes to look at Manik's thumb tracing her cheek.

Zehnaseeb, Zehanaseeb
Tujhe chaahun betahasha zehnaseeb
Mere kareeb, mere habeeb
Tujhe chaahun betahasha zehnaseeb

Manik was determined to not let their accidental romance meet the same fate as last year's.

Tere sang beete har lamhe pe humko naaz hai
Tere sang jo na beete uspe aitraaz hai
Iss kadar hum dono ka milna ek raaz hai

Manik slowly flipped their positions and he entwined his fingers with Nandini's.

"This time...."

"This time, we end it the right way..." Manik completed, in a husky voice.

Huaa ameer dil ghareeb
Tujhe chaahun betahasha zehnaseeb
Zehnaseeb, Zehnaseeb
Tujhe chaahun betahasha zehnaseeb

Nandini closed her eyes, feeling Manik's wet kisses on her neck. She gripped his hand harder and let out a small gasp as he smooched her neck.

Lena-dena nahi duniya se mera
Bas tujh se kaam hai
Teri ankhiyon ke sheher me
Yaara sab intezaam hai

Manik looked up and saw a red hue gracing Nandini's cheeks. Tempted, he kissed both her cheeks slowly, arousing her.

Khushiyon ka ek tukda mile
Ya mile gham ki khurchane
Yaara tere mere kharche me
Dono ka hi ek daam hai

Manik looked at Nandini whose eyes were closed.

"I love you!" Manik spoke from the bottom of his heart.

"Love you too." Nandini murmured, her eyes still closed.

Hona likha tha yunhi jo huaa
Yaa hote hote abhi anjaane mein ho gaya

Nandini wrapped her other hand around his neck and pulled him to kiss when he took a long time. They smiled between the kisses. Manik freed Nandini's other hand and she clutched his hair, pulling him for a deeper kiss.

Jo bhi hua, hua ajeeb
Tujhe chaahun betahasha zehnaseeb
Zehnaseeb, zehnaseeb
Tujhe chaahun betahasha zehnaseeb

"This time, no interruptions." Manik said, breaking the kiss. Nandini giggled and hugged him.

-----

"This is so beautiful." Alya said, admiring everything.

"I know right? Hey, there's a drink counter too! How did Shreya ma'am allow this?" Mukti said excitedly and went towards it with Cabir, Soha and Aryaman.

"Yeh piyakkad dost hamare!" Navya said, to which Dhruv laughed. Alya looked at him laugh and smiled.

Meanwhile, the couple entered, hand-in-hand.

"Happy Diwali everyone!" Nandini wished her friends.

"Happy Diwali! You two look like a royal couple." Dhruv said.

"Thanks Dhruv, you are so sweet." Nandini hugged him and hugged the rest of them.

"Where is everyone else?" Manik asked.

"Coming back with disappointed faces. They thought the bar served alcohol. It doesn't, obviously." Alya said with a laugh.

"Right, you are a part of the Organising Committee." Mukti said, after catching up.

"Evil woman." Aryaman cursed, making everyone laugh.

"Guys, Shreya ma'am is looking for me, I'll go!" Nandini said and walked away.

"She looks so pretty yaa...I know why you two are late." Mukti said with a coy smile. Manik flipped his middle finger at her and talked to everyone.

"Spaceites! May I have your attention?" Nandini's voice blasted through the speakers.

"Sorry for that. Okay. Happy Diwali everyone!" Nandini wished and they wished her back in a chorus.

"I hope everyone is happy because this time Space is hosting the Diwali Party and every student was invited. Like I promised!"

Everyone hooted.

"Let me take this opportunity to thank our Principal and Trustee. Both of them made sure that all of us have an epic Diwali party. I would also like to inform y'all, that we have been graced with the presence of Mr. Shrikant Malhotra, the owner of Space."

Shrikant appeared on the stage and took the mic that Nandini offered.

"Good evening students! I am elated that I finally have the opportunity to come to Space and see everyone's happy faces! Have fun students, and yes, remember, the best things are yet to come!" Shrikant spoke a bit and gave the mic back to Nandini.

"Let the party begin people!" Nandini cheered and got off the stage, to join her friends.

----

Mukti, Alya and Navya were in the washroom, fixing their hair, which had gotten disheveled due to all the dancing.

Navya looked at herself. She looked radiant in her outfit.

"Waqt kitna kuch badal deta hai. Pichli Diwali main hum kitne naadaan the." Navya said.

"Last year, I was still taking those pills." Mukti said.

"Last year, I was trying to set up Dhruv with Nandini." Alya said, with a sarcastic laugh.

"Wow. Speaking of Dhruv, chal kya raha hai? Pure din phone pe rehta hai vo." Mukti said.

"Hume lagta hai usse koi mil gayi hai." Navya said, missing the scowl on Alya's face.

"Oh, he probably found someone on the dating app." Mukti said, remembering the incident.

"Huh? What dating app?" Alya asked.

"Nandini aur main, milkar, humne Dhruv ka profile banaya. When you were dating Varun." Mukti said.

"Oh, I see. Interesting." Alya said curtly and stayed quiet for the rest of the conversation.

-----

Nandini, Aryamann and Soha were chilling together.

"Damn, Space is extra." Aryaman said, looking at the decorations.

"I know right? It looks so so pretty." Soha added.

"Last year tak Diwali Party Manik ke ghar pe hota tha. Nyonika used to host it. Sirf unn logon ke liye jo Musicana main select huye. Mujhe laga ki vo thoda rude hai. I mean Diwali is a festival and it should be celebrated with everyone. Elitism kyun dikhana hai na?" Nandini said.

"True. Thank god you're the GP. Don't know what would've happened if Kiara became the GP." Aryaman said.

Nandini smiled.

"Achha, I just remembered.....I know you sing..." Nandini said to Soha.

"Huh?" Soha asked.

"Last year, jab tum Fab 5 ke practice ke beech main aagayi...you sang and played the guitar." Nandini said, remembering the scene.

"Oh...that."

"Yeah...mujhe lagta hai tumhe gaana chahiye Musicana main. We have so much talent, so why not?" Nandini said, and Aryaman agreed.

"I...am not sure. We'll see." Soha said, flustered. It wasn't everyday that she got compliments from the people she wronged.

"I'll make sure you have some part to sing because you have a good voice." Nandini said.

"Thanks." Soha said with a big grin. A few seconds later, she got a call so she left.

"Thanks Nandini. Tumne Soha ko accept kar liya." Aryaman said.

"It isn't a big deal Arya. Also, best friend ho tum, itna toh main kar hi sakti hu." Nandini said with a wink.

"Really Ms. Murthy?" Aryaman said and pulled her cheeks.

----

"Kya hua? Kya soch raha hai?" Manik asked Cabir. They were chilling on the terrace of the college building.

"Kitne change ho gaye hai hum sab. Main soch raha hun ki last year hum kaise the aur ab hum kaise hai."  Cabir said.

"Last year...around Diwali..."

"Haan...Raghav tha mere life main. I have let him go for good now." Cabir said.

"Cabir..."

"Nahi, I am happy I did."

"That's good then. I am sorry yaar maine tujhe bola tha-"

"Ki tu mujhe kisise se milwayega. Rehne de bhai. Pehle khud ki naiyya bacha le tu." Cabir said, laughing.

"Huh? Kya bakwas kar raha hai?" Manik asked with an annoyed expression.

"Haan toh kya? Humesha ladhte rehte ho tum dono. Thak nahi jaate?" Cabir asked.

"That's how we are Cabir. That defines us." Manik said, with a smile.

"Vo sab thik hai. Lekin ek hadh tak. Bachke rehna re baba...bachke rehna reh!" Cabir sang, teasing Manik.

"Shee yaar! Tu bina daru bhi bakwas kaise karta hai?" Manik asked.

"Talent hai boss. Ab chal, aur nahi dubaani teri naiya." Cabir said, standing up.

"Shut up!" Manik snapped.

----

Author's note-

Slightly late update!! Sigh, I've been SO sick since the last two days, yesterday's update was literally published from the hospital💀 Also, I don't think I edited chapter 11 and 12 all that well, so if you see any mistakes, smile and nod along😂

My headache kinda subsided, so I decided to post. Also, I wouldn't be able to sleep in peace if I skipped one day because I'm obsessed with these details💀

Anyway! Diwali is over! Next up, Musicana finals!