Deciding that the past few weeks had been mentally and physically exhausting, Nandini resolved to take rest and spend time with her younger brother. She was chilling in her room, while Rishabh was beside her, playing video games.

Around 12:30 PM, the bell rang and Rishabh went to open the door.

"Hi champ!" Manik greeted and hugged Rishabh as entered the house. Behind him, Cabir, Mukti and Alya entered too. Manik eyed Cabir who nodded in response and gestured to Mukti. Both of them distracted Rishabh, while Manik snuck into Nandini's room.

"Nandini!" He whispered, his mind finally at peace after seeing his star.

"Manik..." Nandini mumbled under her breath, her eyes tearing up at the sight of her favourite person. They had been a through a lot in these past few days.

So it was only right when he immediately took her in an embrace by wrapping his arms tightly around her.

"I was so scared Manik! Agar mujhe kuch ho jaata toh...? Rishabh ko main akele nahi chhod sakti!" Nandini said as sobbed in the comforting hold of his arms.

"Shhh...please don't cry." Manik soothed her but he closed his eyes, as a tear slipped out of his eyes too.

"I will not forgive anyone who tries to harm you Nandini. I will not spare anyone." Manik said manically, almost like a chant. The unforgiving tone of his voice made Nandini shiver.

"What did you do to Nyonika?" Nandini asked. She really didn't wish for Manik to get in more trouble.

"She's behind bars. For a long, long time." Manik said, his voice deadpan and cold. It reminded her of his Monster Manik days.

Nandini rubbed his back, to console him while Manik slowly lied down on the bed, with Nandini above him.

"I don't want to lose you, ever...and I am scared." Manik said, tucking some strands of her hair behind her ear.

"You won't." Nandini assured him with a smile.

"What if-" Manik said and but she immediately cut him off by placing her lips on his, effectively shutting him up. Manik responded immediately, eager and desperate as he was, and sat up on the bed as he pulled her into his lap. Nandini's arms curled around his neck while his hands roamed on her back. Shivers ran down their spines because of the proximity.

"Manik! Hurry up!" Mukti warned from outside.

Nandini broke the kiss, and Manik noticed her red cheeks, and her slick red lips. He traced his thumb over her lips, satisfied at how debauched she looked. Because of him. Only him.

"I love this version of you." Manik teased with a smirk.

"Shut up!" She snapped and got up, feeling embarrassed. But she hissed as the fabric of her pants touched her wound.

"Yeh kaise?" Manik asked in concern, pulling her close to have a look at the wound.

"I tripped when I ran out of the car." Nandini admitted, biting her lip. She really didn't want Manik to feel bad again.

Manik sighed and bent down.

"Manik, yeh kya-" She asked but she trailed off as she took in the sight in front of her. Manik had leaned down, and his lips gave a feathery kiss beside the wound.

"Better?" He asked, winking.

"Much better." She said, ans both of them burst out laughing.

Things will get better, she knew it.

---------

"Guys.....I have a lot to tell." Manik said. Rishabh had eventually tired himself out because of the constant playing so he went to take a nap. Chacha and Chachi were not at home anyway, and considering the homely feel of the Murthy residence, he figured that it was the best time to talk it out with his best friends. It was long time due anyway.

Nandini was on the couch while Manik sat beside her, her legs stretched over his thighs and his palm resting on her feet.

"Yesterday, I submitted the evidence to the police and all the other shit she has done. It wasn't hard to put her in jail though." Manik said, trying to sound calm.

"Cabir ne mujhe bola ki tu Malhotra Mansion ko sell karne wala hai." Mukti said, more of a statement than a question.

Nandini's neck snapped towards Manik, who avoided eye contact.

"Kar diya. I have already begun moving my things to a new apartment." Manik stated plainly.

"Are you for real, Manik?!" Nandini exclaimed. Mukti and Alya looked at her, all surprised, as they had never seen Nandini like that.

"What?" Manik asked, a bit annoyed.

"Why are you so impulsive?" Nandini asked with a frown.

"Aur kya karna chahiye tha mujhe? Tumhe pata nahi hai Nandini, how many days and nights I have spent in the dungeon-like mansion, tortured by her?" Manik snapped, clearly triggered. No one knew Nyonika and her cruelty as well as Manik did.

"I am sorry." Nandini apologized sincerely, her eyes going soft and he nodded in response.

"Lekin...ab tu kahan rahega?" Cabir asked.

"There's an apartment in Worli, my dad bought it a year ago. I can live there."

Nandini smiled at the news. "That's not far!", she chirped, making everyone smile.

"You have some major mood swings." Manik said, looking at her. Nandini frowned in response and looked away. Manik smiled and coaxed her, and everyone stayed silent for a while before Alya spoke up.

"Manik...do you remember, we won yesterday?"

"Yeah." He said plainly.

"We have to sign a contract with O2 for the album." Alya reminded.

"Does Fab 5 exist for you, Alya?" Manik countered back while Mukti, Cabir and Nandini looked at Alya, to hear her response.

"Yes. It does. What about Dhruv?" Alya said, trying to look unaffected.

"We'll talk to him. Alya, this is a contract, and you can't back out like you always do." Cabir said.

"I won't Cabir." Alya assured with a smile.

"Guys, then, let's do one thing. We have our vacations now. So why don't we all meet at my new place, to set everything up?" Manik suggested.

"Wow! That's so cool! Manik, please, please let me select stuff!" Nandini asked excitedly. Sometimes Manik could see the little innocent kid in her, and it made his heart warm.

"Alright, go ahead!" Manik said, patting her head.

"Yayy! Love you! I'll be back!" Nandini said and kissed his cheek before running-limping to her room. Everyone gaped at the scene and turned to Manik, whose gaze was still on Nandini.

"Wow, looks like things have progressed, kyun Cabir?" Mukti winked at Cabir.

"Kal kuch aag laga tha, hai na Manik?" Cabir asked with a lopsided smile.

"You guys are so intruding, my god!" Alya laughed.

"I know, right? My sex life is none of your business, idiots!" Manik shot back.

"Sex life?! So there is a sex life now? Oh my! Tune seedhi saadhi Nandini ko bigaad diya?" Cabir guffawed. Manik immediately realized what he said and he didn't know what to say.

"Vo 18 ki kya hogayi, tharki chokre ne sikha diya Nandini ko!" Mukti nudged Cabir and the duo started laughing at Manik.

"Shut up!!!"

--------

The next day, Nandini along with Rishabh and Chacha, consulted the doctor. Dhruv offered to accompany them too.

"Since, he's still very young, we can easily solve the issue and he can be back to normal." Dr. Sharma said, going through Rishabh's reports.

"How long will it take to cure him?" Nandini asked in a hopeful voice.

"I recommend the 30-day treatment, he'll slowly start speaking and will stop getting attacks. But everything, like every treatment, depends on the patient's willpower." Dr. Sharma said, smiling at Rishabh who nodded in response, showing his will to be alright and lead a normal life.

"We can start the treatment in 2 days. I will tell you the treatment cost." Chacha listened carefully while Dhruv stepped out to give them their space.

After the consultation, Nandini joined Dhruv at the hospital's cafeteria while Rishabh and Chacha went back home.

"Chacha ji looked worried." Dhruv remarked as he drank his coffee.

"He's always worried because of money. I was worried too, but this costs way less than we thought." Nandini said, her shoulders sagging in relief. Rishabh's condition had been a sort of burden in all their lives, and even though Nandini didn't mind it, it did get a bit worrisome at times.

"Yeah! I am glad, Rishabh thik ho jayega." Dhruv smiled reassuringly.

"Yeah me too. Achha Dhruv, where will you go now?" Nandini asked, sipping her milkshake.

"I am going to meet Fab 5." Dhruv said, looking down and fiddling with the empty cup.

"All good? You can talk to me, you know?" Nandini said and gave him a comforting smile. Dhruv looked up at her, not saying anything for a few moments before sighing.

"How can you be so good? Even after-"

"You apologized na? It's okay. We should move on. Besides, friends don't hold grudges." Nandini gave a mischievous smile. Dhruv shook his head and smiled.

"Okay friend. Do you want me to drop you home?" Dhruv asked, getting up.

"Sure! Let's go." Nandini said and they left.

------

Manik plopped down on the beanbag and sipped beer from his can.

"Achha Cabir, hum jaa rahe hai ab, Nandini se milne. Shaam tak aa jaungi." Navya said, taking the keys, and left.

"Haash, mata rani se escape!" Cabir muttered and sat on his couch. He looked at Mukti who was talking to Manik while Alya was surfing through Instagram. After a while, the bell rang and Mukti opened the door, letting Dhruv enter.

The gang was complete.

"Okay, everyone's here! Let's discuss our plans." Cabir said.

"Umm...so, tomorrow we have to sign a contract. So I am hoping everyone's okay with it?" Manik asked generally, but he looked at Dhruv. He hated how careful they had started becoming. Gone were the days where they used to be so frank with each other.

"Yeah." Dhruv said.

"Manik, I hope you don't have any secrets. You didn't tell us that you were dating Nandini and then Soha happened." Mukti said in all seriousness.

"I wasn't dating Nandini at that time. I never lied to you guys. I just hid the truth." Manik said as he defended himself.

"Don't play word games Manik. This time, no secrets." Alya said sternly.

After all, the truth won't break them, secrets will.

"This time, no backing out, then, Alya." Manik countered back.

"Fair enough." Alya answered.

"Well then, there's one thing you'll need to know." Manik said and cleared his throat.

"Ab kya baat hai yaar!" Cabir groaned and everyone could share the sentiment.

"Soha is not dead. She is alive."

-------

Cabir sat with his hands on his face. Mukti was holding her head. Alya was fiddling nervously with her phone and Dhruv had zoned out.

"Guys! Back to Earth!" Manik called out, bringing them out of their stupor.

"You are saying that, Soha never died, she slipped and hurt her head, was in a coma for three months and now, she is okay?" Alya asked, trying to get events in order.

"Yes." Manik agreed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Dude! What the hell? Now what?" Mukti asked, totally panicked.

"I don't know. Nyonika and that Khurrana had made a deal! But now nothing exists! I also hired a P.I for Soha. She doesn't live with her father anymore. But she's still in Mumbai." Manik said, shrugging.

"Wh-what?!" Dhruv exclaimed, sounding genuinely shocked.

"Yep. And she's going to attend Space." Manik added.

"You gotta be kidding me!" Mukti raised her voice. Things were supposed to get better, not worse!

"What if....what if she harms Nandini, again?" Cabir asked, raising a genuine doubt.

"I don't know Cabir! That time, I was the trustee's son, I had power. I could remove her from college. But Nyonika isn't here anymore. Dad will never allow me to use my powers in college." Manik explained, trying not to panic. Nandini was always in danger nowadays. He wished for a few moments of peace, for once.

"What is her issue exactly, Manik?" Alya asked.

Manik looked at all of them and their clueless faces. Cabir knew a bit, but again, the details were never told.

"So, basically Soha claimed to be in love with me. She confided in Nandini, that she wanted to woo me. Nandini, being jealous, tried a lot to make her stay away from me. I think she somehow caught me and Nandini together and since then, she started plotting to hurt Nandini. Remember the string incident?" Manik asked.

Mukti nodded while everyone tried to recall.

"Once she sent Nandini a gift with my name on it. Somehow, I was there at her place, and I opened it. It turned out to have crackers hidden in it. Thankfully, no one was hurt but..."

"Nandini, being naïve, totally fell for it." Cabir said.

"Exactly. Do you remember the stone that hit Nandini? It was Soha!" Manik said.

"This is...too much to take." Alya leaned her head against the wall.

"She eventually tried to kill Nandini in a fire, but I saved her. And she hurt herself. But whatever came on the news, was totally fake." Manik said, leaning back in his seat.

"Hmm ...also, there's one more thing. Aryaman is Soha's brother."

------

Author's note-
So apparently people are interested so let's go! I will try to upload a chapter everyday but no promises because life gets in the way:/

Stay safe everyone!💖