She was popular, she ruled the college. She was the girl all the boys wanted. They were all crazy for her, but they were scared of her too... She was not your everyday Queen Bee. She was a bully but they said she was more dangerous. The Ice Queen is what they called her.

"The more Black she wears, the better it is to stay away from her" was what they told me when I walked in. But it wasn't her clothes that told me her mood, it was her eyes. She stared at you, straight into your eyes, reading everything that could be there, while her eyes stayed like a blank sheet. All I wanted was to tear that sheet apart and dive into her world.

She was my Princess. She was my Best Friend, she was my companion, she became that last oxygen cylinder that I needed to survive.

She told me that I pulled her out of darkness, if only I could have told her that she saved me from myself.

She gave me my Family!
She gave me my Dreams!
She gave me my World!

And then she walked out of it altogether.

If only I could have held her tighter.
If only I could have told her what she meant to me.

Our story started with "the Fall", if only I knew then that it wasn't just her falling, it was the two of us falling into something much deeper. It may have happened at our own pace, in different times, but that one mistake of mine, gave me the greatest gift for life...

--------------------------------------------------------------

"Thank you sir, Please head over to the waiting area, there is still half an hour before we start boarding, we'll let you know when the flight is ready."

He nodded at the girl on the reception before walking towards the said waiting area.

5 years.
He was finally going back to India after 5 complete years. He was finally going back Home. But even now all he wanted was for his flight to get cancelled so that he could postpone this trip and drive back to his flat. He would have done exactly that, if not for that one message that he received from his younger brother the previous night.

Dhruv: I know you are planning to ditch us again but please don't do so. Not this time Bhai, I really do need you here! See you soon...

And if there was anything that Manik Malhotra couldn't do, was to refuse to his brother's request.

He settled down in the waiting room, and decided to finish off some work while waiting for the flight. Taking out his laptop, he was about to start when he heard a familiar voice calling out his name.

"Manik Malhotra you are so gonna thank me for this!"

He turned around in surprise, seeing his roommate cum friend, Aryaman Khurana, walking towards him with his usual broad smile adorning his face.

Manik: Aryaman what the hell are you doing here?
Manik asked him as the guy made himself comfortable on the chair right next to Manik's.

Aryaman: I, my friend, am here to save your ass from 20+ hours of boredom.

Manik: What?
Manik asked him in confusion.

Aryaman: Well I know that I had planned to come next week, but then I thought I'll also take this opportunity and visit home, its been quite long you know...

Manik rolled his eyes before speaking up,
Manik: Aryaman, you went to India 6 months ago... Don't tell me you are actually serious about coming with me!

Aryaman: Of course I am! After all your brother is getting married to my baby sister. Why would I not want to go there a little early?
Aryaman replied back with a shrug only for Manik to shake his head in surrender.

Aryaman: You know you could at least spare me a smile, I think that's the least I could expect being your best friend.

Manik rolled his eyes again getting back to this laptop before replying,
Manik: I wouldn't go as far as calling you my best friend.

Aryaman: That's where you are wrong buddy... Manik Malhotra I have known you since the day you came to Toronto 5 and a half years ago. And nothing that you can say right now, would make me want to walk away.

Manik: Why the hell is this flight not ready yet?
Manik muttered to himself as he checked the time on his wrist making Aryaman chuckle as he replied.

Aryaman: 20 mins more!

But just as he said so, they heard an announcement going off.
"Due to a heavy snow strom, all the flights have been put on hold. Passengers are suggested not to leave the airport premises till the weather clears!!!!"

Aryaman laughed out loud listening to this, knowing how irritated this would make his friend as he heard him exclaim. "SHIT!!!"

He turned to his side, wanting to tease him further when he noticed his friend being busy fumbling for something inside his bag.

Manik: Where the hell is it?
Manik muttered talking to himself.

Aryaman: What happened?

Manik: My band... I can't fucking find it.
Manik replied in frustration. As he started pulling things out of this bag to check properly.

Aryaman shook his head in despair, knowing that his friend was seconds away from freaking out.
Aryaman: You looking for this?

Manik turned towards him, watching him take out something from his pocket as he forwarded it towards Manik, who all but snatched it from him and slid the band onto his wrist, concealing it under his wrist-watch like it had been for as long as Aryaman had known him. 

Manik: Where did you find it?

Aryaman: You left it on the coffee table. I was hoping that you left it intentionally!
Aryaman replied shrugging at him, while Manik glared at his second sentence.

Manik: Why would I do that? And What's your problem with this anyways?
Manik asked him, not really wanting an answer for it as he started putting his stuff back inside the bag and settling down on his seat.

Aryaman: My problem? I don't have any problem with it Manik. I just think that it's high time that you throw it away.

Manik's face hardened further at this, as he continued looking ahead trying to ignore Aryaman's words. 
Aryaman: Yes right... Ignore the topic! Ignore it like you always do, coz you know that I am right. 

Manik: It's just a band Aryaman... It doesn't matter! Just let it be...

Aryaman scoffed at this words, chuckling softly,
Aryaman: Doesn't matter haan? Trying to convince me, or yourself.

Manik: I am going to get a coffee. You want one?
Manik asked getting up from his seat before looking back at Aryaman, who simply nodded in reply. 

Manik walked away from him, leaving that conversation behind him, the major reason as to why he was so unwilling to go back to his own country. He looked down at his wrist, staring at the band for a couple of seconds, before hiding it further. It was something that he never wanted to see, but still couldn't ever bring himself to not wear. It was one thing that he wasn't really capable of living with, but still couldn't live without. He just didn't know how to explain the fact to his friend. 

He got back to the waiting room, 10 minutes later with two coffees to find Aryaman now busy in a random magazine. Handing him one of the cups, Manik sat back on his seat resting his head back as he closed his eyes, not really knowing how long it would take for their flight to be ready.

Aryaman: You know what, I have decided. I am gonna leave that ugly band of yours alone. I would never speak of it again.

Manik opened his eyes in surprise, knowing that Aryaman had been bugging him for it for as long as he remembered. A smile finally came onto his face as he nodded,
Manik: Thank you... Finally!

Aryaman: Nope... Not so easily. I am gonna let it be, only if you Finally tell me the story behind this. I wanna know what this band is, where did you get it from, and most importantly I wanna know about Her.

Manik's smile vanished at his words as he looked ahead straight. 
Manik: You know it already Aryaman.

Aryaman: No... I don't and you know it well. All I know is that you call her Princess, and that she was your friend and then she suddenly disappeared and that's it. It's been 5 years since then and you still can't get rid of that stupid thing which, even without you ever telling me, I know is related to her. So... Tell me the story and I'll leave it behind.

Aryaman was undoubtedly Manik's closest friend. His first friend here in Toronto, later becoming his business partner and roommate, they had pity much been together 24/7 in the past few years. But if there was something that Manik had kept away from him, then it was Her. He just never felt comfortable in talking about her with anyone. 

It has been over 5 years that he lasted talked to her. 
All he had, were her memories and somewhere talking about those memories with anyone felt as if he was sharing her with them. Something which he could never bring himself to do.

Manik: It's a long story Man! Let's leave it...

Aryaman: We do have almost 20 hours of this journey and plus I don't know how many hours of waiting before we can even start it. Come on Manik, I know you don't really want to go back, maybe letting it all out would actually help you with this.

Manik looked up at his friend before laughing softly as he shook his head,
Manik: You look like a teenage girl looking for gossip...

Aryaman: Not really gossip... But I do feel like a teenage girl, wanting to know more about this Legend of a girl who has made such a strong effect on you.
Aryaman replies truthfully and no matter how much Manik wanted to scoff and deny it. He knew that it was correct. She did affect him badly, even to this day, she had exactly the same affect on him as she had on the day he first saw her.

Manik: I went to college with her.
Manik spoke up softly, just loud enough for Aryaman to hear.

Aryaman: Finally! 
Aryaman exclaimed happily looking like a 5 year old as he turned to his side, putting all his attention towards Manik.

---------------------------

Hi guys.....
So as promised, here I am with a new Manan story.
Hopefully you all will enjoy this one just as much as you enjoyed reading the last one.

Do let me know your thoughts on thr above....

But before we start, I wanted to request someone who could please help me with a cover for this.... I m really not good at this picture editing stuff and would love it if anyone of you could please help me.... Do drop me a DM if anyone is interested.

Lots of Love,
Navya