Hello Fam. Please read the note at the end. :)

Happy Reading...

Manik who noticed the absence of Nandini and asked Abhimanyu through eyes after the completion of the song. Abhi mouthed him the answer. Fab5, Navya, Madhyam, Manik's parents were worried for Nandu's answer. This was the surprise they planned without Nandu knowing it. To propose her on stage. Madhyam who heard the idea, immediately agreed as he was more than eager to see Manik and Nandini together. Composing himself, Madhyam completed the formalities along with Fab5 and their company.

Fab5 Green Room

After the event, everyone met their parents and asked them to go home after all congratulatory hugs. Nandu's Chacha, Chachi too came to meet Manik after everyone.

Chachi(proudly): Mere sone munde ne aag laga di stage par. Sab kitne ache lag rahe the waha. (glares) Waise, tune hame bataya nahi ki tune ladki dhoond li hai?

Manik(meekly): Chachi, maine ab tak uss ladki ko bhi bataya nahi. Woh jaise hi haan karti hai, main aap hi ke paas le aaunga.

Chacha(assured): Tension mat lo, Manik. Tumhe koi mana nahi kar sakta.

Manik gives them a small smile and signals Abhimanyu. He takes them out and drops them till their car.

Manik was pacing to and fro out of restlessness when Abhimanyu came running.

Abhi(huffing): Manik.

Manik(panicked): Where's Nandu? Is she fine?

Abhi(restless): Pata nahi. She texted me that she's going home. I don't know in which state she is.

Manik(guiltily): I shouldn't have done this. Abhi, tu ja. Just make sure she is fine.

Abhi(hesitant): Manik, I know I am being selfish but..

Manik(smiled): I know. I won't ever force her. There's no 'us' if she doesn't want to.

Abhi smiles sadly and leaves for Nandu's place

Manik(advised): Mukti, tu bhi ja. He might be needing your help.

Mukti(sadly): Tujhe aise chod kar how?

Manik(assured): Mukti, I told you right, I will even accept her no? I will be fine. Just go.

Mukti hugs him and leaves after looking at Cabir and taking an assurance from him. As soon as they leave, Manik breaks down when Cabir comes to hug him. He cries his eyes out. Cabir kept rubbing his back. Others too had tears seeing him this vulnerable but they composed themselves and took Manik home.

Malhotra Mansion

Manik asked everyone some alone time. After an hour or so when Nyonika had enough seeing him, she went to his room. Sensing her, Manik puts his head on her lap and she starts ruffling his hair.

Nyo(softly): I thought my son is a fighter. I didn't know he would give up on things this early.

Manik(reasoned): Mom, I don't want to have false hopes.

Nyo(surprised): You didn't even try yet. What are you even hoping for, Manik?

Manik(sitting straight confusedly): Mom?

Nyo(explained): Announcing in front of the world about loving someone is cool. But Manik, you didn't even talk to her properly yet. She didn't say yes but she didn't say no either. How can you sit here without even trying?

Manik(puzzled): Isn't her answer a no? Why would she leave the concert if it's a yes?

Nyo: That you would only know if you go and ask her. About your confession, we knew what we were doing but she didn't even have the slightest of an idea about this. She might be shocked or surprised or angry or speechless. It could be anything. And you didn't even explain her your side, Manik.

Manik(nervous): How could I face her?

Nyo(patting his cheek lightly): I think you know this answer better than me. After all, you have been with her for some time now.

She kisses his forehead and leaves the room. Manik thinks for some time and leaves for Nandu's place, still being uncertain.

Murthy Mansion

After coming from the concert, Nandu was crying continuously keeping her head on Abhi's lap without speaking a word. Both Abhi and Mukti were now getting worried.

Abhi(concerned): Babydoll, acha I won't ask you anything. Just eat something and sleep for a while? I am really getting scared now.

Mukti takes Nandu to the washroom and asks her to freshen up. Abhi gets a message from Manik about him waiting downstairs so, they both leave to meet Manik.

Outside Murthy House

Manik was waiting, pacing in front of the car when he saw Mukti and Abhimanyu coming towards him.

Manik(impatiently): Abhi, how's she?

Abhi(sighing helplessly): She is crying continuously. I don't know what happened. I don't have any idea what's going inside her head.

Manik(pleaded): Can I talk to her once? I promise I will behave.

Abhi(holding his hand): If she lets you comfort her, that's more than I could ask for. Just take care.

Manik(promised): I will.

Nandu's room

Abhi gets a call from his mom so he stays back along with Mukti while Manik goes to Nandu's room. He hears the sound of water from the washroom and decides to wait for her. Taking a seat, he glances the room aimlessly when a heap of books from the table beside him falls down accidentally due to the small movement of his hand. He starts picking up the books and keeps it on the table. The last one, which looked like a diary was turned upside down. Removing it, he was about to put it on the table when he notices the name on it. MM.

Opening it, he gets the shock of his life when he finds a name on the first page with bold and capital letters along with a 'heart' emoji doodled beside it.

MANIK MALHOTRA ♥️

His heart still racing, he turns down the pages randomly and finds few lines written on some random dates. Taking a deep breath, he hides the book inside his coat and leaves from there before Nandu could see him.

Outside Murthy House

Abhi(tensed): Manik, Nandu?

Manik(requested): Abhi, I need a favor. Don't tell Nandu about me coming here. I am going home. Kal subah tak Nandu ko sambhal lena. Main subah aa jaunga.

Abhi(suspiciously): Is everything fine? Why aren't you meeting her?

Manik(sighs): I will explain everything tomorrow. For now, just make her sleep. If possible, make her eat something.

Abhi nods confusedly and leaves for Nandu's room.

Mukti(frowns): If I am not wrong, you got some answers, right?

Manik(determinedly): I didn't. Yet. But I got the source from where I could possibly get some answers. Take care of her. Main subah aata hun.

Mukti nods and gives him a hug after which Manik leaves for his house.

Nandu's room

Abhimanyu comes to check on Nandu when he finds her sitting on the bed with her eyes closed. He sighs in relief not finding her crying again.

Abhi(softly): Nandu, bachha kuch khayegi?

She nods in a no.

Abhi(lovingly): Acha you are already tired. Ab so ja. Kal subah baat karte hai?

She nods. Mukti sleeps beside her on the bed while Abhimanyu takes a chair beside Nandu and ruffles her hair by one hand, holding her hand using the other.

Malhotra Mansion

All through the way, Manik was restless thinking about the diary. He sneaks into his house and locks his room after getting in, not wanting to have a conversation with anyone. He comfortably settles down on the bed and decides to read the contents of the diary after taking a deep breath. 

Finally, Manik got the diary. MM is back. Excited for the next?

A/N - As you know, the next chapter would be about Manik reading the diary. The chapter is of around 5000 words. Do you want me to put it in a single chapter or divide it into two? If the chapter is divided, both the parts would be published on the same day. Just tell me, which one would be more comfortable for you to read.