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"A tragic loss for the music industry,
Fab5's Manik Malhotra and Cabir Dhawan dead in a car bomb blast..."

Nandini gripped the remote a little tighter in her hand and pressed the next, then next, and then next - a diminishing hope shining amongst the small pearls in her eyes hoping to see a different news but alas - each and every news channel showcased the same news.

They were all different words but with same meaning.

She couldn't understand how could a mere set of words decide her fate in a matter of few seconds. How could a mere news channel tell her, her Manik was dead. Who were these people even? Did they know him? No, right?

Manik was supposed to come to pick her up along with Cabir and she was sure he was on his way. He might be cribbing right now to Cabir to let him call her but Cabir would have said no because he knew how difficult it would be to make them cut the call then. Manik was a leech when it came to her - Cabir had joked around a few days back.

Manik was coming to pick her. The shivering of her hands didn't help her cling to a false belief for a long time. Nandini's mind was torn - one part of it believed the news channel, another didn't.

"Found dead."

Another channel, and another - what was this even in the world? How could they show the same false news? Did they not know Manik was a Malhotra and lead member of Fab5? She would make sure he sued them all when he came to her.

But will he come to her? God, why was she asking? Ofcourse he would come to her. He has to, Nandini was waiting for him.

But betraying her, her knees buckled beneath and legs refused to support her as she sank down on the floor with a soft thud. Tears that brimmed in her eyes before now flowed down on their own.

The pain was like a heavy weight on her chest. Nandini couldn't breathe, she couldn't hear anything apart from the news ringing in her ears or head. She didn't even hear the knock on the main door.

She didn't hear her Chachi who came out from the kitchen with a tch,"Nandu, Kya kar rahi hai! Door bell bajh rahi hai kabse!" Chachi probably didn't hear the television on or she didn't see Nandini on the floor.

She walked to the main door and pulled it open only to find Mukti, Aliya and Dhruv - Her Manik's friends standing there.

"Arey bacho, tum sab," Chachi was a little shocked for it was only Cabir apart from Manik who came there a lot.

"Chachi, Nandini kahan hai?" Mukti asked.

"Nandu, Nandu pta nahi kya kar rahi hai yeh ladki, kabse awaz lga rahin hun," Chachi complained and with the way she talked, the three guessed Chachi still hasn't seen the news and they only hoped Nandini too was as unaware as Chachi.

"Arey tum sab andar aao," Chachi rushed them inside the house with a hand wave.

They all looked at each other as they stepped inside the small house. The creamy white walls, and the colourful furniture around - it was a kind of a home they have always ran away from. Despite of their intial differences with Nandini, her house had never failed to provide them comfort.

Chachi, being a sweet lady she is always treated them with the warmth of that of a mother.

They all stared at her, waiting for one another to break the news but nobody had that courage. Thankfully, the bell rang again and Chachi let out an another tch.

"Abh kon hai," Chachi's voice held a little annoyance - her food was on the stove so it was obvious but then a moment later her whole face lit up,"Manik aur Cabir toh nahi?" She guessed,"Agar Manik hua na toh dekhna kitni daant padegi! Ek hafte se ghar nahi aya hai, Nandu ko ghar ke bahar chod ke chala jata hai!" Chachi's list of complaints was quite long. Mukti chuckled with gloosy eyes but Chachi didn't notice, she was already opening the door again and stepped out.

It was definately not Manik and Cabir. They knew, but had no heart to tell the excited woman.

Dread filled their hearts as they walked further, and it almost stopped when they came across Nandini - on the floor, numb.

"Nandini!" Mukti was the first one to rush to her. She sat beside her on the floor and kept her hand on her shoulder, shaking her a little,"The news - I know it is harsh - but you need to control yourself. It can be fake too."

It could have been, had Manik and Cabir only been associated with Fab5 but here Manik was a Malhotra. The son of Raj Malhotra - A succesful Billionaire - the news channel wouldn't dare spread fake news about him.

However, Nandini didn't move. She didn't look at Nandini neither did she acknowledge Mukti nor did she blink. Her state only scared them more.

This time, Aliya came forward and crouched down beside her, holding back her own tears.

"Nandini, please." Aliya pleaded.

Heavy footsteps fell from behind and they all heard Chachi's voice," Nandu, dekh toh - mere Sone Munde ne kya bheja hai tere liye," In her hand was a bouquet of red roses and a proud smile on her face.

Chachi was too happy but it was only until her eyes fell on the television and the news hit her ears. Her eyes went wide in horror and the bouquet fell down on the floor with a soft thud.

"Y-Yeh Manik-" Chachi couldn't even form words. Manik? The same Manik who always looked at her like she was not Nandini's Chachi but his own mother? The same Manik who would taste all her experimental dishes with glossy eyes because even when they were not best - he felt warmth slipping through it?

How could this be!

Panicked filled her insides as she looked at Nandini before running to her and pulling her up,"Nandu! Kuch bol, kya bol rahe hai yeh sab? How can Manik be dead!" Chachi was not even going to believe it.

Manik was alive, that's it.

But Nandini only shrugged her hand and moved to pick up the fallen bouquet. She smiled, a hand carressing the red petals.

"Manik will be here any moment," She spoke, smiling and turned to all of them,"You all, just wait - there, he will come running through the door and ask me 'Nandini, did you like my surprise?' he is such a tease!"

She chuckled, looking at the roses and the three friends looked at her in disbelief.

"Nandini," Dhruv walked infront of her and held her shoulder. Nandini looked up with a slight frown which only made him more angry,"What is wrong with you? Manik is dead. Suna nahi tumne, the news - it is not false. The car blasted, Niyonika planted a bomb inside it. They couldn't even retrieve their dead bodi -"

Before Dhruv could complete, Nandini had stepped back and slapped him across the face with a glare fixed on him.

How dare he say that to her.

"Maine bola na, Manik is alive," At this point, Nandini knew she was more of convincing herself. Her choked voice only gave it away,"Manik ko kuch nahi hua hai. He can't be dead." She cried, helplessly.

"Nandini, Please."

"Nandini, you need to accept the reality."

"Nandini, please sambhalo khudko."

Nandini sobbed more hearing all of them. All of the sudden, a sharp pain hit her head, her vision blurred and so did their voices. She heard her name being called out as closed her eyes, letting the darkness consume her.

When Nandini opened her eyes again, she was on her bed. Her eyes swollen and head still pounding. She looked around and there was no one. They must have thought to give her time and space to accept the reality.

Reality. Nandini was good at it. She understood and accepted her fate. She did when her parents died, she did when Rishabh lost his voice. She did when Amms told her she would have to live without her. Nandini did accept it all, always.

But then, why was this breaking her so badly? Why couldn't she accept it? Why did it all feel like an illusion. Was she dreaming? She must have gone crazy now that Manik is dead.

God, Nandini needed to stop.

Hamesha and Always. Nandini chuckled bitterly. It was only yesterday night they laid together in his bed and discussed their future. He promised her they would buy her dream house and live happily. He promised to buy her a cute puppy she had seen in a YouTube video even. He even promised to take care of the puppy with her.

How could he leave her like this after promising her a forever?

No, Nandini could never do it all alone.

She was not capable of living her life alone without Manik.

It was better if she died too. Yes, Nandini should die because a life without Manik meant a life without happiness, without joy and Nandini didn't want that.

So when her eyes fell on the side table and on the blue colored fruit knife, Nandini didn't give it a second thought. She picked it up and kept it against her wrist.

"Nandini?"

Manik. Nandini looked up and gasped when her eyes fell on Manik. He looked scared and worried as he held her wrist and shook her hard.

"Nandini, Kya kar rahi ho?"

Nandini tried to touch him but couldn't. She panicked, standing up on her own feet and took a sharp breathe. She held the knife against her wrist once again.

She was a second away from sliding it across her wrist when she felt her whole body shook.

Her eyes rolled back in her head and she felt she was falling in a deep pit. Her hands held by someone and her body shivered.

"Nandini!"

"Nandini, Wake up!"

Nandini gasped, eyes shot open as she sat down on her bed. For a second, all she could hear was her own heartbeat plunging in her ears and in her head.

She let her eyes roam around herself and didn't feel anything for a moment when she saw Manik standing there, concern all over his face with worried eyes.

Was this all a - dream?

Nandini couldn't believe but knew it was the truth when her eyes fell on a worried Cabir behind.

Manik and Cabir.

They were alive. They were supposed to pick her up for their party. Everyone else were waiting.

"Nandini," Manik called out again.

"Manik," Nandini is sure her voice is not above a whisper but Manik heard her.

He nodded his head franatically,"Yes, It's me. What happened?"

"She saw a bad dream, I guess," Cabir spoke from behind. Unable to answer, Nandini just nodded her head, confirming.

"Oh baby," Manik's voice was gentle and sweet as he sat infront of her and filled a glass of water. He held the glass against her lips as she took few sips before pushing it away softly.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his voice so soft and Nandini found herself shaking her head as tears brimmed in her eyes again.

She let out a sob and Manik immediately wrapped his arms around her petite figure and the moment his warmth slipped to her, Nandini found herself crying out even more, only this time due to relief. It worried him more for he looked at Cabir.

"She is scared," Cabir spoke,"I am going out, take care of her."

"Wait Cabir," Manik shifted but stopped when Nandini hugged him tight,"I don't think we will able to attend the party. I am sorry, please let others know too."

"It is okay, Manik. They will understand." Cabir smiled before walking out and closing the door behind.

When they were left alone, Manik looked down at her who was still sobbing in his arms.

"Nandini, hey -Stop crying," He tried to console her, patting her head and kissed the top of her head," Tell me what happened? Here, wait -"

Manik pulled away, smiling when she resisted with a tight hold and a sniff. He needed to see her face and when he did, a gasp made its way out of his lips.

"Oh my my! Look what have you done to yourself!" He scolded softly. Nandini's face was all red, her cheeks puffed up and eyes red and swollen from crying.

Manik wiped the tears on her cheek with the pad of his thumb and chuckled when she sniffed more.

"You saw a bad dream?" He asked.

Nandini nodded this time, sobbing once more as she wrapped her arms around him again,"A dream, Manik. A dream." Worried, Manik continued to patt her back and peck her head.

A dream, just a haunting illusion.