(A/N: Okay guys so here I am with the update again. I am so sorry for the delay but then as I said, school has begun for me and 11th is a little crucial for me. So I won't be very regular like how I was during my vacation but I will still try to give you a part every week or earlier. Please bear with any possible delays because it honestly ain't intentional. I hate to make you guys wait but I hope you understand me too. Thanks for the votes and comments, they put a smile on my face. Loads of love.)

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"Nandini, could I talk to you for a moment?" Madhyam called out for me while I was getting an aunty some water. I walked towards him.

"Madhyam, I am sorry but Manik doesn't like it when we hang around together so please..." I tried to make him understand the complications. He had messed things real bad for me.

"I just want to say sorry for everything. Everything I did to you." Didn't he already say that before? After that he had sex with my best friend too. Why does my apology matter so much to him anyways?

"It's alright. You already apologized and I have long forgotten about it. It's okay." I said, half-heartedly. I didn't like it when he did things to my best friend just for the sake of it. Poor girl loves him. Ugh. I hate guys.

"But..."

"Please Maddy, don't create problems in my life, please? I am over you. You don't affect me. But for your sake, I am begging you to leave. If Manik sees you, you're in deep trouble." I tried to put some sense into his head but how could it be that Madhyam Singhania would understand anything easily?

"Evelyn is my ex-girlfriend." He blurted out and I widened my eyes at him. What was he? A bloody womanizer? Why was I even standing next to such a disgusting human being?

"What? How do you know her? Wait... How didn't I know about it?" I asked him suspiciously. Wasn't it obvious that they were just physical with each other? God! I hate him.

"We were in a relationship. But then she and I broke up a few months ago because I heard she was seeing someone else." He hung his head and I waved my hand in despair. Did that guy have a heart? Like seriously, Manik is better than Madhyam. How the hell did I fall for this asshole? Sheesh.

"Relationship, or physical relationship?" I paused for an answer and he looked at me and I got my answer. "Why are you telling me this now? Maddy, you have literally done no justice to the title you had. No wonder why everyone hates you so much. Does Aryamann know?" I asked the next thing a best friend would.

"Listen Nandini, I am telling you this because..." I didn't want to know his reasons because I was least bothered about his life. My life was screwed up already and he was just adding to my problems.

"Madhyam. Tum yahan Nandini ke saath kya kar rahe ho?" Amma finally found her way into our conversation and I was thankful she did. She looked at me suspiciously. It was pretty obvious she didn't get good vibes from Madhyam either.

"Nahi Amma, nothing important. Bas aise hi. Bahut dino se baat nahi hui. He missed college this week so..." I tried to cover up and she just shook her head to whatever I said.

"Oh. Where is Manik? I wanted his help for something. Can you call him up?" She suggested and I was more than happy to do anything but talk to Madhyam. Jerk. I dialed Manik's number.

"Manik?"
"Yeah. Hey." I heard him munching on something and I mentally rolled my eyes at him.
"Can you like come here? Amma needs your help." I looked at her, smiled and made my voice sound as sweet as possible.
"I'm busy right now. Tell her I am busy. Mukti, here. Grab a slice." I heard him talk behind the line and I felt like pulling my hair. I groaned and then smiled again at Amma.
"Manik baby, please come na? She needs help." I grit my teeth as I shot up one of the cheesiest lines I could come up with.
"Nope. Still busy. Try something cheesier. I might just come." I could feel him smirk on the line and I felt like throwing my phone on his face.
"Manik, I need you here now. Please." This was it. I had never been so patient in my life.
"Need me for..."
"Ugh. Amma, he's busy so jo bhi hai, I'll do it for you." I held the phone away from my ear and spoke to Amma and then she signaled me to follow.
"Nandini... Nand... Listen..."
"Moron." I cut the call and stomped on the ground.

***

I was highly annoyed with Manik that Madhyam didn't matter much. Manik had to always be so difficult to handle. Like why? Why couldn't I live in peace? Moron. I went on ranting to myself and then bumped into Rishabh.

"Di, what are you doing here?" I stepped back, blinked at him and then sighed. Do I tell him? Well, he's a guy too. He might understand.

"I am just so annoyed with Manik. He's just..." I tried to complete my sentence but I couldn't find words to express my anger.

"He irritates you, doesn't he?" Rishabh tilted his head slightly upwards to examine my face and as soon as he said that, my eyes shot up at him.

"That's how guys are. He wants a reaction from you. He likes it when you respond to his antics because he knows he can be like that only in front of you. You might call him stupid or anything but it's only because you mean something to him. I used to be the same, right? Always pissing you off, breaking your stuff... That's just how we demand your attention. Try ignoring him, he can't stand that." I thought about it. Perhaps he wasn't wrong. Manik did always point out that he needed my attention. He didn't like it when I ignored him. Did I mean something to him?

"Maybe... You're right." I said, after a long pause of analysis.

"I always am." He smirked and I slapped his arm playfully.

"Zyada footage mat khao, haan? Chalo ab. Lunch time." I held his hand and we walked to the lunch room together. Manik solved. But how would I face Aryamann? How would I be able to hide the fact from him? Best friends don't keep secrets. But what if I ruin his wedding?

***

I was scared to face Aryamann. I was really worried. All this was new to me and it all came as a shock that I could hardly process. I walked along the corridors, aimlessly, looking for  someone to pour my heart to.

"Nandini, did Madhyam come around you?" I heard a worried voice and I turned to see Navya pacing around me restlessly.

"Navya please, agar tumhe Madhyam me baare main kuch baat karni hai, toh please, leave." I said in a fit of annoyance and a couple of frowns molded onto her face.

"Achanak tujhe kya ho gaya? Sangeet ke liye bas ek ghanta hai and Madhyam and I haven't prepared anything. And what about you? Are you all ready?" I had to come up with an excuse. Honestly, I would do anything to avoid a situation being stuck between Aryamann and Madhyam.

"Voh actually Navya, my head is hurting real bad. So I am going home." I pressed my fingers onto my forehead as I felt a slight throbbing sensation. Navya's restlessness was replaced with fear and she frowned.

"Are you okay? Do I come along?" She put some reasonable suggestions but I  just couldn't help but deny. It would look mysterious if the groom's friends are away on his wedding.

"No it's fine. I'll manage. If I need anything I'll let you know I promise."

"Okay. Take care." She pat my shoulder and I smiled faintly as I scrolled and dialed Manik.

***

"What's wrong, Nandini? I thought you were having fun there." He broke the silence that prevailed in the car and disturbed the sound of the raindrops with his husky voice. There was a little concern in his tone but I was totally blinded by the words I just heard a few hours back from someone I trusted so much.

"I can't believe how dumb I am." I spoke a little louder to myself than I intended to and my head throbbed.

"Huh?"

"That Madhyam, he is such a disgusting person. How did I ever fall in love..." As soon as the word slipped off my mouth, I stopped speaking. I had this habit of saying everything and anything when I was angry, upset or worried. At that moment, I was a combination of those three emotions that overpowered all my other senses.

"Do you love him Nandini? I thought you were over it, damn it. That's why you can never let go of him right? And I am such a fool. I believed everything you said. I believed everything." He shot at me with all those possible things he could say. Perhaps he got the wrong idea. I didn't even complete my sentence either but only God knew why I chose not to explain anything.

"Manik, I don't love him. I did, but not anymore." I made my statement clear but I didn't want to tell him my past. I was not in a state to reminiscence the past.

"Nandini, do you know the value of that word you use? Forget it. You won't understand." He punched the steering in frustration and a loud beep emanated from the car.

"Really Manik? I don't even know why you're showing me your fake concern when we both know it's not true." I probably was not making sense but how was it ever possible that I made sense whenever it involved Manik. His facial muscles clenched in annoyance and anger and he shouted.
"Fake concern? Yeah. Fake concern. Then why did you call me up when you knew I showed 'fake concern'?" He dramatized my usage in an attempt to mock me but I took it seriously. I was never weak to go on my own. I just thought he would be there for me but I couldn't believe he thought I used him. I took it as a challenge.

"Stop the car. Just stop the fucking car." He scowled at me and then halted at the highway. I opened the door and stepped out in the rain, almost drenching myself completely in just a couple of seconds. "I can walk home. I don't need your help. You can party with your friends." I slammed the door shut and walked ahead until I heard a scream.

"Suit yourself." I ignored and walked faster. We were on one side of the highway, Manik's car parked there in the rain while I was recklessly walking on the road, with my wet saree and stilettoes. In a matter of seconds, he drove towards me and slowly beside me. "Nandini, stop being stupid. We can continue the argument at home. Now get inside. It's raining. You'll catch a cold."

"I don't need you Manik Malhotra. I can live by myself. You cannot control me. Don't make me hate you also, the way I hate him." I screamed and I didn't think twice before saying that. I didn't know how much my words mattered to him until I realized how much it ached to be ignored.

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(For all those lovely readers who have been very patient, thanks a ton. You guys can expect another update soon this week if I am a little free and if I get some positive motivation on this part. Please don't be heartbroken. Its the beginning of their relationship and they're bound to get hurt because only then, will they be stronger in the end. Thanks for all your patience. Love you loads.)