Manik came outside and at the same time his friends along with Abhi reached there. They frowned seeing his expressions.

Cabir: What happened, Manik?

Aliya: Di Shouted at you, isn't it?

Aliya had guessed it right. She knew how Nandini was and she also knew Manik.

Manik looked at her and sighed comfirming their doubt. He didn't know what he should tell them. He knew they were possesive for him. He might be the monster but still he was a baby at heart. He felt hurt the way Nandini shouted at him.

Abhi: but why would she shout at you for no reason? You must have done something to irritate her.

He was sure Manik might have ended up irritating her. Though he knew today Nandini wasn't in right state of mind yet he refused to believe that she shouted on Manik without any reason.

His barbie was never like that unless the other person meant something to her and here, he wasn't sure about her feelings for Manik.

Aliya: Bhai, What do you-

Aliya started but was cut off by Mukti in between.

Mukti: Abhi, you very well know how she is, yet you are supporting her? She shouted at Manik for no reason.

Manik: Mukti-

He tried to clear the misunderstanding and tell them what happened but before that Abhi lashed out on Mukti.

Abhi: I very well know my Barbie, Mukti. You don't have to tell me. I am sure he must have done something that's why she shouted at him.

Mukti: What do you mean, Abhi? Only she is right and we all are wrong! I don't know what is so special about her that all are wrong for you except her.

She snapped back in anger. She didn't know why but she was jealous. Why was he always doing 'Barbie-Barbie'. Couldn't he see anyone else infront of her?

Though they all understood that she was jealous but Abhi couldn't acknowledge the same. He was angry at her. Why was she behaving so childish? And who is she to question him about his Barbie?

Abhi: Just shut up, Mukti. I don't need to tell you what is special about my barbie! And wait who do you think you are to question me about her!

He stopped, realising what he said and in what way. He stepped forward but the damage was done. Mukti already had tears in her eyes. While her friends were shocked seeing the situation taking such a ugly turn.

Mukti: You are right, I am no one to speak about you and your Barbie. I am really sorry Mr.Thakker.

Abhi: Mukti, Damn! I didn't mean that. Listen to me.

Mukti shook her head softly and left from there and Aliya instantly ran behind her while Abhi turned to others.

Abhi: I am sorry, guys. It is just, I can't bear a word against Barbie.

Manik: It is okay, Abhi. We understand you and your love for Nandini but you know,

He stepped forward and held his shoulder.

Manik: Mukti might not be my sister by blood but still she is a sister to me. I can still break your bones if you hurt her again.

Manik warned and Abhi nodded, gulping a little as he processed Manik's words. Cabir and Dhruv stood beside Manik indicating that they meant the same words which made Abhi smile as he remembered the days when he, and the other boys of their gang were equally possesive for the girls in their group.

Abhi: I will take care of it, guys. Don't worry. This is the last time I have hurt her.

Dhruv: Good. Buddy, Cabir let's go and see Mukti.

They nodded and Manik walked forward followed by Dhruv while Cabir stood there with Abhi.

Abhi: What happened? Don't you wanna go?

Cabir: I should ask you this, Abhi. What happened? You seem really tense about something.

Abhi: No, There's nothing like that.

He lied with a fake smile which Cabir caught easily. He smiled at him not to make him feel uncomfortable.

Cabir: It is okay if you don't want to share.

Abhi: Nothing that sort of, Cabir. It is just, I am finding clues to proof Barbie's innocence but all this, it is too complicated, Cabir. There's nothing with which I can prove her innocence.

Cabir: Abhi, If you don't mind, Can you please share what happened two years back. 

Abhi looked at him dilema. He wanted to tell them but he wasn't sure if he should. However, as he remembered about Manik's feelings for Nandini, he just nodded his head. It was better to tell him the past before he misunderstands her.

He nodded and they went to Murty Mansion. As they entered inside Mukti's room, they found all of them there. Mukti was sitting on the bed with her head resting on her knees which she had drawn up to her chest. Her shoulders shaking slightly as she sobbed.

Manik, Aliya and Dhruv were consoling her. Abhi walked towards the bed and sat in front of her. Seeing him Manik shot a glare at him for making Mukti cry. Abhi gulped and turned to Mukti. He held her hand and tried to make her sit straight but she resisted.

Abhi: Mukti, Please listen to me. I am sorry.

He apologized and felt her loosening a bit and after few trails, she sat straight and looked at him before wiping away her tears.

Abhi: Mukti, I am so sorry. I know I was wrong. But you know how I am na, Barbie means my everything to me, Mukti, You can say anything to me, I won't get angry at you, but not about my barbie, Mukti.

Mukti: Abhi, Am I no one to interfere in your life? I know she is your sister, you love her more than your life but what about me?

She questioned and he fell silent. He did feel for her but he wasn't sure if he could name his feelings yet. She held his hand tightly and he sighed before looking up.

Abhi: You mean a lot to me, Mukti. I am not someone who can recite long paragraphs to you, I can just tell you, you are important to me. Your words matter to me. When you shed tears, they sting my heart.

He let out his feelings and saw her eyes sparkle. The happiness on her face reflected in his smile.

Mukti: So, Mr.Abhimayu Thakker, when are you proposing me?

Abhi: Do I need to?

He chuckled as she shooknher head before wrapping her arms around him. He laughed as she wiped her teary face on his blazer.

The others smiled and Abhi gestured them to join the hug which they did gladly. Breaking away the hug, Abhi placed a soft kiss on her palm before turning to others.

Abhi: Guys, I think. It is time to tell you about what happened in the past.

They looked at him with wide eyes except Cabir.

Mukti: Abhi, Are you sure?

He sighed and nodded his head.

Abhi: Yes, Mukti, Today I am starting something new and I know Manik has feelings for Nandini. I don't want to hide anything from you both and as my friends, you all have the right to know.

Manik frowned, his heart thumped loudly in his chest. All of sudden, he felt nervousness in him. He was nervous, but more than that he was scared. What if her past held something he couldn't take?

He couldn't even imagine the things she had gone through. All he knew was, she was hurt by her family and she was still suffering. The darkness was killing her bit by bit and he couldn't tolerate that.

Understanding his state of mind, Cabir patted his shoulder and he nodded.

Manik: I-It isn't that painfull, Right?

He questioned Abhi who couldn't look up. A tear fell from his eye and Manik closed his eyes tight. He was feeling weak when he shouldn't. He had to be strong. He gulped and composed himself, ready to listen what she had to go through. He couldn't change it, but he could promise himself to give her a much better life.

As they all settled on the bed and couch, Abhi took a deep breathe before speaking.

Abhi: Before starting with the past, I want to tell you guys something else.

Dhruv: What is it, Abhi?

Abhi: Guys, We- I mean Me, Barbie, Sid, Arya, Maddy, Harshad and Soha. We were not just friends, but singers too. We were a band, Black Shinners!

He revealed as they all looked at him as if he had lost his mind. After a moment, Manik broke the silence.

Manik: And that's why I was feeling I have heard Nandini's tune before. It was because I used to listen your band's songs.

Aliya: Gosh! That means, you guys are the Mysterious Black Shinners and the member who died two years back was Soha!

Dhruv: That was why you scolded us and the another group for talking about Black Shinners on the competition day.

Manik: And that was why Nandini told me not to let any of us enter in the jam room next to us.

Aliya: Even the instruments, those were your instruments.

Abhi: Yes, The office jam room has Black Shinners stuff. We used to practice and record our songs there.

They all looked at each other, still trying to believe what Abhi was saying.

Abhi: I am sorry guys. I was really rude that day and Barbie is really possessive when it comes to Black Shinners, so never let anyone use that particular jam room.

Mukti: It is okay, Abhi. We understand.

She smiled and he nodded taking a deep breathe.

Abhi: Two years back, 17 June, 2016! We all were so happy. We signed a new contract with Mr.Bajaj, who was a famous personality during those days. It was going to be a new step in our career. We were already famous and it would have got us on top. Along with this, S-Soha got another offer to sing with a famous singer, Pandit Trilok Nath Chaurasiya!

Abhi's eyes were red as he uttered the name with disgust all over his face. They all understood how much Abhi hated that man. Mukti shifted closer to him seeing him on the verge of breaking down and he held her hand for support.

Abhi: The days were passing normally until that Pandit got his interest in Barbie. Being Mr.Bajaj's partner in his music company, it gave him more access to keep his bad eye on Barbie.

Manik clenched his fists as Abhi again stopped. He remembered the time they all were so oblivious of the things happening around them. They were just too happy to notice any negative vibe around them.

Abhi: We failed to notice how he made Barbie uncomfortable and when we did, or to be precise I and Sid did, she stopped us to do anything. We needed that contract, Arya and Maddy needed it. She gave us her swear and we had to leave that bastard with a warning.

Abhi didn't realize when he tightened his hold on Mukti's hand and she didn't even let him know. She just pressed his hand and he realized what he was doing. He left her hand and ran it through his hair, remembering when Nandini fought with them.

Sid: What the hell Cupcake? You want us to leave that bastard! Why did you give us your swear!?

Nandini: Because I don't want you to ruin your career because of me! What do you think, hah? He will stay silent after that! No, he won't bhai! He is not going to step back, and you know Arya and Maddy bhai needs this contract!

Sid sighed out loud and held her forearms.

Sid: Cupcake, you are not understanding. He eyed you! He bloody kept his evil eyes on you. I will break his bones!

He was about to leave in rage but she held his hand and stopped him. She nodded her head in no and he glared at her.

Sid: Okay Fine! Do whatever you want to! But listen to me carefully cupcake, if Arya and Maddy came to know about this Pandit's truth, they will dig your grave before his!

Nandini: That will be when they will come to know about this. You aren't going to tell them, and Bhaiyu will also not say anything and if you both tried to, I won't talk to you two ever.

She warned and looked at Abhi who was silent all the time. He left from there without saying anything and Sid followed him.

Mukti: Abhi?

Abhi came out of his thoughts and looked at them. He didn't realize when tears started to slip out of his eyes.

Abhi: Though Buddy and Barbie fought for this, we had made peace with the matter. Pandit didn't do anything after the warning and we genuinely thought he had realized messing with us wouldn't go in his favour. Everything was going good again and we again failed to notice how Barbie's behaviour changed before a month of the concert. She used to stay stressed. She started shouting at us when we asked her to talk. We thought it was because we had decided to reveal to the world about our identity with that concert, but we didn't thought it could be related to Pandit. Others were unaware, but me and buddy, we knew and yet we couldn't figure out.

He paused again and looked at them. His eyes rested on Manik who had been looking down with no expression on his face from the time he told about Pandit's evil intentions.

He looked at the others, asking if he should continue and they just nodded.

Abhi: 10 August, 2016. The concert day, everything was done in a hurry. We had to sing in dark and then make our appearance infront of the crowd. Q-labels were quite famous and the crowd was huge. But in this, Barbie was nowhere to be seen. We called her a number of times but she didn't receive our calls.

Cabir: She didn't reach there?

Abhi: She did but-

He stopped, taking a harsh breathe. He just couldn't get the right words to tell them that it was not just Nandini who came there that day, it was their destruction with her!

To Be Continued.