Second last chapter guys🥲

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Madhyam hid the fact from Nandini that he hated Manik. She didn't need to know that. From what he heard, Nandini and Manik were too close. Way closer than he thought.

"Wow...it's pretty serious huh?" Madhyam asked.

"Totally. Tumhe firefly theory yaad hai na?" Nandini asked.

"Haa...so they glowed?"

"Many times! It's like we are meant to be!" Nandini said, with a dreamy voice.

"Sweet." Madhyam said.

"So what are you doing nowadays? Koi hai?"

"Kya bataaun? Ab tu bhi single nahi! Main bechara!" Madhyam said dramatically.

Nandini hit his shoulder casually. Madhyam was a casual flirt and he had always been like that since teenage. In fact, everyone used to think Madhyam and Nandini were dating but Nandini vehemently denied all rumours.

"Tu kabhi nahi sudhrega! Achha, Rishabh ki problem thik ho gayi, pata hai? He can speak well now!" Nandini informed him.

"Really? I need to talk to him now!" Madhyam said.

"I will make sure you guys talk. Amms se bhi baat kar lena!" Nandini said.

"Sure...speaking of that, DJ is probably going to SPACE. He has been invited by the trustee."

"DJ?! Really? That's great! Wait, Space? Matlab I can meet him?"

"Meet him kya? Train karenge vo! He's looking for dedicated students all over the country so that he can train them."

"Wow! This is actually wonderful." Nandini said, while she went into deep thoughts.

"I think he is going there next month. Impress karle! Anyway, he likes you."

Nandini nodded with glee. She was living the best life.

-----

"Bohot jaldi aa gayi tum." Manik taunted, as Nandini took a seat beside him. The inaugural performance had started.

"Do I sense sarcasm?" Nandini asked.

"Nope. I am so genuine right now." Manik taunted.

"Manik, hua kya hai?" Nandini asked.

"Are you for real? Tum yeh puch rahi ho? Unbelievable." Manik said.

"Can you stop overreacting and tell me what your issue is?" She got irritated.

"Oh wow, so I am overreacting? Great. I have an idea, why don't you just go and sit with your loser best friend and leave me alone?" Manik asked rudely.

"Excuse me? Where's this even coming from?" Nandini asked.

Manik didn't reply.

"Fine. Bachhon ke tarah tantrums throw karne hai, karo. I don't care." Nandini looked away and avoided him during the entire programme.

----

"Mamla garam lagta hai." Navya spoke into her phone. She was in a conversation with Cabir, who updated about Manik's monster mode.

"Same here. Manik ne toh apne guitar strings ko itna torture kiya hai."

"Nandini bhi focus nahi kar rahi yaar." Aryaman snatched the phone from Navya's hand and complained to Cabir.

"Inke relationship problems hume affect kar rahe hai. We need to talk to them." Cabir said, clearly upset with their immaturity.

"I know. Chal bye. Take care." Aryaman said and hung up.

"Listen, Nandini, enough of your bullshit. Get your ass up and practice." Aryaman commanded.

"Excuse me? Language!" Nandini got up.

"Excuse you! Manik ke sath jhagda tumhaara hua hai lekin hum effect ho rahe hai!" Navya said.

"Nav-"

"No! Seriously Nandini, kal Musicana hai. And we hardly have time for all this. Keep your personal problems aside and be professional." Aryaman got to the point.

Nandini looked at Soha who said nothing.

"Fine. Sorry." Nandini murmured and gave in.

-----

"Manik, enough. Agar tujhe sulk karte baithna hai na, book tickets for all of us back to Mumbai right now. Point hi nahi hai aane ka." Mukti said.

Manik looked at her with a blank expression.

"Manik, mujhe samajh raha hai tujhe Fab 5 chhodke aur bhi priorities hai. But right now, we don't care about that. Yes, we don't! So get the fuck up and be a sport. Last Musicana hai hamara." Explained Cabir.

Manik got up and did what his band wanted him to do- took Nandini out of his mind for a while and focused on winning the trophy.

-----

Next day.

"Up next, we have Fusion Beats!" The anchor announced and the four of them hugged each other before taking their places on the stage. Nandini smiled at her bandmates and started singing, Navya played the tune on the keyboard.

Mainu ishq tera lae dooba
Haan ishq tera lae dooba

Mainu ishq tera lae dooba
Haan ishq tera lae dooba

Nandini closed her eyes and only one person came into her mind, her Monster.

Aisa kyun hota hai, tere jaane ke baad
Lagta hai haathon mein, reh gaye tere haath

She totally forgot about their silly fight and remembered their good times, getting playful, having small banters, teasing and flirting.

Tu shamil hai mere, hasne mein, rone mein
Hai kya koyi kami, mere paagal hone mein

A small smile played on her lips as she dreamt of her moments with Manik.

Mainu ishq tera lae dooba
Haan ishq tera lae dooba

Mainu ishq tera lae dooba
Haan ishq tera lae dooba

Soha and Navya joined Nandini to sing the chorus, while Aryaman did his own thing. Nandini noticed the audience swaying to their song. Her face lit up as she felt connected to the audience. She didn't let anything affect her. She had to give her best and not let her friends down, like last time.

Har dafa wahi, jaadu hota hai tu jo mile
Ho...sab sanwar jaata hai, yaara andar mere...

Inside the green room, Manik was stealing glances at the TV screen which showed his friends performing. His heart fought with his mind and won. He finally looked at the screen and saw Nandini singing in her melodious voice.

Ik lamhe mein kitni, yaadein ban jaati hain
Main itna hansti hoon, aankhen bhar aati hai

"Looks like the fight is over." Alya whispered, when she saw Manik smiling.

"These two are ridiculously cute." Mukti said, exasperatedly.

Mainu ishq tera lae dooba
Haan ishq tera lae dooba

Mainu ishq tera lae dooba
Haan ishq tera lae dooba

Manik felt conscious as his friends looked at him with sly smiles. He looked away and pretended as if they didn't exist. Instead, he lost himself in the song that was playing.

Fursatain kahaan, aankhon ko hai meri aaj kal
Ho...dekhne mein tujhe, saara din jaaye nikal

Meanwhile, the audience seemed to enjoy the performance. The four of them got motivated and they did their best.

Aur phir aahista se, jab chhu ke tu nikle
Teri aanch mein dil mera, dheeme dheeme pighle

Nandini took the mic into her hands and walked around the stage. The judges nodded in appreciation.

Mainu ishq tera lae dooba
Haan ishq tera lae dooba

Mainu ishq tera lae dooba
Haan ishq tera lae dooba

Once again, the three girls sang together. They ended their song on a soft note and it was followed by a heavy applause.

They bowed and left the stage.

"Bitchesss! You were so goooood!" Mukti said and took them in a bear hug.

"Totally! Soha and Navya, I didn't know you two would sing too." Alya said.

"Nandini's idea!" Soha said and smiled at Nandini, who placed her arm around Soha's shoulder.

"I tried to convince them to sing more but they denied, so I had to take the lead. Agli baar se toh sab ko gana padega!" Nandini said, pulling Navya into the embrace too. Everyone noticed the comfort level between Nandini and Soha and were glad, the situation was not awkward.

"My queens! Loved it!" Aryaman said and squeezed them into a hug.

"Aryaaa! Let us breathe!" Soha groaned.

"Fine, fine!" Aryaman laughed and let go of them. After a lot of compliments, Nandini looked for the main person.

"So." Nandini said.

"I am sorry. I...am an idiot." Manik said.

"Huh? Main toh gaane ke baare main puchne waali thi, but I like where this is going. Go on babe." Nandini said, leaning on a table.

"Wow, drama queen. Anyway, yeah I am sorry. I lost my cool that day. Listen, mujhe vo Paddy Maddy nahi pasand. I just got a bit possessive, that's all." Manik said. Nandini chuckled at him.

"Paddy Maddy? Real mature Manik." Nandini shook her head.

"Listen...I love you." Manik said.

"I love-"

"And the song was lovely. Like always." Manik said. Nandini nodded with a blush and looked down.

"Manik,you will always be my first and last, you know that, right?"

"Yeah."

"Phir? Chhodo Paddy Maddy ko." Nandini said dramatically and wrapped her hands around his neck.

"Sure. Best of luck nahi kahogi?"

"Actions speak louder than words." Nandini said huskily and placed a wet kiss on his lips and parted immediately. Manik widened his eyes.

"That was-"

"Good, I know. Now go to your friends. I'll go to mine." Nandini said and pushed him.

----

It was finally Fab 5's turn.

"Guys, we are next." Dhruv said.

"Saare fights bhul jao abhi ke liye. We are one. We are together in this." Cabir said.

"All for one and one for all!" Alya and Mukti chanted and they had a group hug. Manik left with his friends, not before glancing at Nandini, who had a big smile.

Mukti and Dhruv were on their electric guitars, Alya on the keyboard, Cabir on his drums and Manik on the centre stage, holding the mic in his hands. They were ready to rock the stage for one last time.

Oh...
Tere sang, rehna chaahoon
Bin tere, tanha, tanha
Tere bin, laage na mera jiya
Bin tere, dil toota rootha

Nandini, who was in the front row, locked her eyes with Manik's, as he sang the song. She knew that Manik was dedicating the song to her. She smiled and bit her lip shyly as Manik's intensity made her shudder. Fab 5 had a specialization in Rock and they proved it.

Keh doon yeh, tujhse main
Yaa reh loon main bin kahe
Teri yaadein, baatein, chaayi har jagah
Betaabi, betaabi, mein dooba mera jahaan

Fusion Beats knew Manik and Cabir wrote good songs. Both of them had their ways with words.

Teri bandgi main uljha hai
dilon ka manjha
Kaise todoon yeh rishta gehra
dil yeh mera maane na
Tu hai savera, shab ka mere
Tere bin toh andhera hi rahe

Manik continued, his voice full of emotions and feelings. Everyone knew Manik poured out all his feelings and emotions in music and they could feel it happening.

"They're good yaa!" Soha spoke in awe.

"Hum kitne khush hai, tumhe pata hai, Nandini?" Navya asked Nandini.

Nandini nodded. She hugged Navya.

"Unke paas apne last Musicana ki bohot beautiful memory hogi." Nandini said.

Tu hai mera khuda, kaise karun judaa
Tu roshni meri, sitaara mera
Humraahi kaise bane
Hai jo yeh faasle
Saath hum kaise chale
Roothe hai yeh raaste

Manik backed up a little when Cabir's vocals started. Nandini and Navya exchanged looks of excitement and happiness as Cabir sang. Last year's Musicana had been a nightmare for Cabir and they knew that Cabir deserved better, so much better.

Teri bandgi main uljha hai
dilon ka manjha
Kaise todoon yeh rishta gehra
dil yeh mera maane na
Tu hai savera, shab ka mere
Tere bin toh andhera hi rahe

All three of them sang the chorus together, making their song sound even better. They ended their performance and for two seconds, there was utter silence and then the audience applauded with a lot of hooting.

"Once more, once more!"

----

An hour later, after all the performances ended, every band was called to the stage, for the results. Out of 15 bands, ten were eliminated, with the top five standing. It included Fab 5, Fusion Beats, Madhyam's band, and two others.

"I can't believe we actually made it here!" Soha whispered in Aryaman's ears.

"This is a great start for us." Aryaman said.

"There are three prizes, First, Second and Third. This year, we have added two more categories- Special appreciation i.e for the fourth and fifth positions! They'll be given trophies too!" The anchor announced.

"So the fifth place goes to...Matrix!"

Nandini's face lit up. They had a chance to be in the first four now.

"Fourth place goes to...Fusion Beats!" Four of them screamed in happiness. They hugged each other with joy.

The spotlights moved to the top 3 bands.

"Third place goes to...Xora!"

Fab 5 hid their excitement. They tried to look as solemn as possible but the hint of their smiles gave everything away.

"The top 2 remains. Let's not waste any more time, the first place goes to Fab 5!"

Fab 5's happiness knew no bounds. They won the trophy for the fourth time!

"The four time winner Fab 5 has yet again won Musicana! Keep clapping guys!!"

-----

The success party was held two hours later.

"I still can't believe we came fourth!" Nandini gushed.

Manik took her in a side-hug.

"Well, you have to accept it." Manik said.

"When I called Amms, she was so happy, she started crying. I looked at her and started crying too." Nandini pouted.

"Well, aren't you a cutie?" Manik asked.

"What did your Bua say?"

"Bohot khush thi. She made me call dad too. He said he wasn't surprised."

"Achhi baat hai. Your last Musicana was a success."

"And it is bittersweet." Manik said, looking at his friends who were partying like idiots. Cabir had lost his senses a while ago, and Aryaman accompanied him in being crazy.

"Music tumhe chhodkar kahin nahi jayega. Tumhara ek hissa hai vo." Nandini spoke as she rested her head on his chest.

Manik smiled and played with her hair.

"Aur mujhe pata hai, tum Music se break loge, par jaise maine kaha, tumhaare heartbeat bhi ek melody hai. So guess what, Manik Malhotra? Music resides in you. You can never let it go even if you want to."

"Just like I will never let you go. You are etched into my mind and soul." Manik said those beautiful words. Nandini looked at him and they joined their lips in a soulful kiss.

Musicana 2015 couldn't have gone better, they thought.

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Author's note -

So, one chapter to go in Book 1, which will basically wrap up some loose ends, and will also leave you with some questions.

Now, I plan to start Part 2 as a separate fic for organization reasons lol. So yeah, I will probably take a break of 2-3 days and then I will post a note here, when Book 2 starts! So watch out for that!