Betrayal!

That was what Manik Malhotra was feeling now.

Only betrayal.

His love had betrayed him!

How could she?

She thought he can kill someone? She thought so low of him? She believed Neyonika over him? How could she?

The moment he heard him speaking in the court, telling that Manik may have killed Soha, he was shattered.

He looked around and found something shining on the floor. He bent down to pick it up.

It was the Tie bracelet he had made her wear. How much he had dreamt of this day. That he would confess his feelings today.

There was something more special.

Day after tomorrow was her birthday. She's gonna turn 22. He had planned so much for that day. He wanted to ask her for a lifetime.

But it all got ruined.

Why did she have to do this?

Why didn't she trust him?

WHY?

He put the bracelet inside his shirt pocket and went away from there.

Where should he go now? Malhotra Mansion? No. It would suffocate him with Neyonika there.

Cabir's place? No. Navya is there.

Dhruv's place is out of chance. His mother would be there.

He didn't want to go to Aliya now.

Finally he decided to go to Mukti. He knew she wouldn't question him if he asked to and give him space. He started his car and drove towards Mukti's apartment.

************************************

Aliya was sitting in her living room all alone. Her father has been out of town for some meeting and her Bhai....well he was somewhere lost....she didn't know where. After Navya's incident, Harshad had gone away somewhere and not returned. A part of her was worried for him, but another part hated him for whatever he had done to her friends and Navya.

She was changing the channels of the television casually when she felt the sofa dipping beside her. She snapped her head in the direction only to find.......Dhruv holding his ears with a cute sad pout.

She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion when he muttered a 'sorry' to her.

" How the hell did you get in?", she yelled making him palm his ears.

" Aliya! Please save my eardrums!", he said and she glared at him.

" Okay...okay...listen...its just that I asked your watchman and sneaked in through the window. He knows us well....so didn't stop me.", he explained and she narrowed her eyes at him making him scared.

" Would you please mind telling why the hell did you go all burglaring into my house at this time?", Aliya asked sarcastically Dhruv scrunched his nose at her choice of words.

" Burlglaring? Is that even a word?", he asked. " Don't even try to change the topic. Why are you here now Mr.Vedant? Didn't you have enough of your accusations already?", Aliya yelled and Dhruv's face immediately fell.

" I'm sorry.", came his wishper. He was looking down. Guilt had overpowered him. In his insecurity, he didn't even realise when he raised questions on Aliya's love and even her character. He accused her of having feelings for Manik?

Didn't he know her from the very childhood? Didn't he know how particular Aliya was about everything? She wouldn't get into something before getting completely sure about it.

Didn't he remember how many times Aliya had taken efforts for their relationship? Baking for him even when she didn't know the C of cooking...just because he loved pastries. Sneaking away from everyone just to meet him. Arranging small dates for him all by herself.

She did so much and still he accused her. Why? Just because he thought Manik was better than him and he was insecure of him?

Manik? His buddy?

How could he even think of being insecure of him? Isn't he the one because of whom he is alive today? Isn't he the one who took care of him in his worst phases? He fought with the whole world to keep him safe. But what did he do? He got jealous of him?

He did a grave mistake. And he was equally guilty for it. And determined to rectify everything.

First, he has to get back his love. Yes. He has realised. He loved Aliya. With all his heart. And now...he can't lose her at any cost.

" What happened? Where did you get lost?", Aliya's voice brought him out of his thoughts and he looked at her with teary eyes. For a moment Aliya panicked seeing tears in his eyes. Dhruv had always been protected by all four of them. They knew that he was the most delicate on among them and they never let any harm touch him.

Aliya gasped as Dhruv kneeled in front of her. She was about to say something when Dhruv cut her off.

" Please....let me speak Aliya. One chance please.", he pleaded and Aliya was stunned. She had never expected him to do this. She just gave him a nod.

" Aliya, I always thought that I was weak. So weak that...that I can't even stand up for myself. My attacks, it just made me so quite that I couldn't even make a proper conversation with anyone. Not even with you all. It was only Manik with whom I was comfortable.

In 6th grade, when you joined us, I liked you. Your cuteness, your carefree nature, I liked it all. I always wanted to befriend you. But when I got to know that you are Harshad's sister, I got scared. Harshad had always tried to torture me and Manik had always tried to save me from him. I was scared that, if I come to you, then Harshad would again come behind me.

But then you, Mukti and Cabir joined us. We became Fab5. I was happy. For the first time after my accident, I got friends other than Manik. You all accepted me the way I was and I felt myself on top of the world.

I was attracted to you, but was always scared. You were an extrovert, a carefree girl, boys used to run behind you......and I was just an introvert, having no looks no strength. I was weak. You got into a relationship with Manik and I stopped myself then and there.

When Nandini came, her words soothed me. Like you four, even she didn't judge me by my nature. She happily made me her friend and made me feel special. I know I was wrong there, because I mistook my friendship as love. I was just attracted to her care, but thought it to be love.

But Alya.....that day when we kissed, that was the most special moment of my life. It felt as if all my dreams are gonna get fulfilled.

But when you ignored me after that and asked me to keep it a secret, I felt my heart breaking once again. I thought I don't deserve love ever in my life.

I was so heartbroken and angry.....so many bad thoughts started clouding my mind.....that was the first time I felt jealousy towards Manik. I know I was wrong. So wrong! How can I even think like that for my Buddy?

But please try to understand me once Aliya. From the very childhood, I was never strong. I never got the front exposure. I was always behind you all....getting protected. Harshad's tortures....they made me feel inferior to everyone. And in all this....I mistook Manik's protectiveness as him shadowing me. I know I was wrong Aliya and I regret.

I never wanted to think like that but...but every time I tried to convince myself, I again got the same thought that you were with Manik before me and he is far better than me in everything. That made me insecure and I accused you that day.

Please forgive me Aliya....I know I did wrong, but please give me one chance. I don't want to loose you....please......I Love You....." he said all this and by the end he was sobbing.

Aliya was in tears by now. She had never expected this. Dhruv had always liked her? And what had she done?

Its true...she had proposed Manik just because of his looks and fame. She loved Manik's care no doubt. But that was her friendship. Even she did the same mistake as Dhruv.

Even she forced him to think something like this when she ignored him after their kiss. She couldn't understand her feelings at that time. Her heart wanted to be with Dhruv, but her mind was juggling between Dhruv and Manik.

She didn't want to go back to Manik. No. But she also didn't want to jump to Dhruv just after having a breakup with Manik. She was scared and thats why she asked him to keep it as a secret. But Dhruv misunderstood her.

He was not at fault. The circumstances made him think like that and she understood it now.

" Dhruv.", she called him softly and he looked up at her. Her heart pained to see him crying. She never wanted to see these tears in her silent boy's eyes. She just took him in a tight hug and cajoled him.

" Shhh....Bas Dhruv. Stop crying. I understand you Baby. I know you are sorry. And I forgive you. Please don't cry. Bas bas...", she continuosly pacified him like a mother would do to her child and Dhruv clung to her letting out all his pain. Tears fell from her eyes seeing him so broken. But she kept herself sane and tried to calm him.

After what felt like hours, Dhruv finally calmed down and broke the hug. They both looked into each other's eyes.

Love.....only love for each other was there in their eyes.

Aliya cupped his face softly and leaned towards him. Her breathe fanning his face. Dhruv closed his eyes in anticipation, his hands snaking around her waist.

Their lips were inches apart when Aliya softly wishpered..." I love you Dhruv"...... and that was it for him. He pulled her to himself and captured her soft petals for a soul-searing kiss. Their worlds stopped as they drowned themselves in the passion. Aliya's hands fisted his hairs while his, roamed on her back.

Aliya jerked him more towards herself wanting to capture him in herself forever. She wanted to lock her Dhruv inside herself and not let any harm touch him.

Dhruv's hands tightened around her waist in an attempt to seal her with himself. He got her after so long and didn't want to lose her now. He was scared....scared to face the world....but till Aliya was with him, he knew he had love. Love to uphold him in every step he took.

Feeling breathless, they broke the kiss gasping for air. They looked at each other and broke into a small laugh. Aliya moved forward and pecked his lips numetous times to assure him that she won't leave him ever again.

Red hue crept up his cheeks. His ears turned pink. How much ever he would try to act bold, the truth was that he was still the same shy boy she was always fond of. She pecked his both cheeks and laughed as he blushed even more. " Aww...you're so cute Dhruvy boy!", she exclaimed before pulling him into a tight hug.

●~What a game of destiny na?
On one side two souls were mending their broken relationship to make a beautiful start.
While on the other side, a beautiful relationship was brutally breaking to head towards destruction. ~●

They were relaxing in the hug, feeling each other's presence and making silent promises to not leave the other one, when suddenly their trance was broken by the ping on both their phones. They broke the hug and looked at each other. They looked into their phones to see it was from Mukti. She had sent a message on their 'Fab5 Emergency' group. It was their SOS which they used when their was an emergency and they needed each other's help. They looked at each other once before opening the message with confusion lacing on their faces. But what they saw made them shocked....

" EMERGENCY....My place.....Manik in a bad state....Come asap"