As Manik, and the others came inside the room, they found the doctor checking Nandini who seemed awake now.

Doctor: How do you feel, Nandini?

Nandini: F-Fine.

Doctor: Do you remember what happened last?

Nandini fell silent. A groan left her lips as she tried to sit down. Navya immediately moved forward to help her but was surprised when Nandini showed her hand.

Nandini: I can help myself.

Navya looked at others who looked disappointed but nodded.

Doctor: Nandini, do you remember them?

Nandini looked at each one of them, her eyes lingering on Manik for a moment before she nodded.

Nandini: How can I forget them doctor.

The doctor smiled uneasily, catching the hidden meaning underlying her sarcastic tone. He looked at others and gestured Sid to follow him at the side while others stood near Nandini.

She leaned back, closing her eyes. It was not a rocket science to know she had her memories back.

Nandini: Leave me alone.

Harshad: Princess-

Nandini: I am not your princess. Now, leave me alone.

Manik: Nandini?

Nandini opened her eyes this time, staring at him silently and he smiled at her. Seeing her not resisting, Manik walked forward and sat beside her.

Manik: Are you okay?

Nandini: Yeah.

Manik: I- I am sor-

Nandini: It doesn't matter.

Manik: It does.

Nandini: You are right. It mattered to Nandini Murty a little way too much, but to me, It doesn't.

Manik chuckled, looking down. Nandini frowned as she turned to look at him. Was he mad?

Manik: For me, there's only you. I hurt you, and I am sorry.

Nandini frowned, clutching the comforter and turned away her face at the warmth his words spilled. She scolded herself for giving away the control. So what if she didn't remember, she should have never been this close to him.

Manik: Are you still going to hide, ha?

Nandini's head snapped in his direction and seeing the way he was staring at her, she knew he knew. She looked at Sid, accusation clear on her face.

Sid just turned away his face, refusing to answer her and Nandini chuckled making all of them frown.

Nandini: How nice of you people. Taking advantage of my Amnesia. Did you guys think of me even once?

Navya: Nandu! We never took advantage of you!

Nandini: You did. You all hid the truth from me and pretended to not know because you all were guilty. You wanted my forgiveness right? Leave, I will never forgive you people.

Harshad: Nandini, it is enough. What were we supposed to do?

Nandini: Anything but lie to me that Soha is alive! You guys made a joke of me! I- Leave, just leave.

Aryaman: Nandu, You are taking wrong.

Nandini: No, It is now I am taking you all right. You guys were always selfish. You guys never cared for me. You faked everything, pampered me, showed me fake care thinking - oh it is not like she remembers anything, and when she does, she will just forgive us and move on. That's what you thought, no?

Sid: Nandini. Enough. You are not fine yet. Stay here, we will leave.

Nandini didn't even look at him. She just looked away as they all left one by one. She stayed in the hospital for the needed time before leaving.

____

Nandini didn't know memories could haunt her so much when she stepped into the mansion. She hated it. She hated the way her heart broke remembering everything, all those times when she was being loved and pampered by them.

Genuine or not, she couldn't bring it in herself to forgive them. How could she when all they had done after Soha's death is disappointed her.

First, they didn't believe her. They accused her. They didn't care if she went missing. They didn't even care when she came back and changed so much. They never cared so why now? Why only now when the truth was out?

Nandini was so so done with them. She walked to her room, only to stop in her tracks when she found Manik standing there, near her desk, looking at something or maybe he was just simply waiting for her.

Manik: You are here.

He spoke, turning around and Nandini felt her heart getting weaker. She wiped away her tears and nodded.

Nandini: It is my place, I would be here. Isn't it obvious?

Manik: Ofcourse, it is your place.

Nandini: What are you doing here?

Manik: I came to talk to you, as a bestfriend. Can I?

Nandini could only state at him, the way his eyes welled up with tears which he blinked away. He pretended to be okay, but she knew he was not and that was why, he was supposed to be away from her.

Nandini: Manik, look - I understand you are hurt, but you need to know I am have got my memories back. I don't see you as my bestfriend.

Manik: Truth won't change by running away, Nandini and until when will you keep running away?

Nandini: I don't run away.

Manik: Really? You don't want to accept, Nandini but the truth is, you have always been running away. You ran away from Pandit, you ran away after Soha's death, you ran away when the truth came out, you are running away now too.

Nandini: and why does it concern you? I don't see why are you so worked up with me running away from my own problems. It is my life, I can do whatever I want. You do not get to say anything here.

Manik: Nandini!

Manik was frustrated. Every conversation with her ended the same. He took a deep breathe and within few steps, he was standing in front of her. Nandini gasped when he cupped her cheeks, and made her look at him.

Nandini: What-

Manik: You know, you can run away all you want but always remember, wherever you go - you will always find me infront of you. At every moment of your life from now on, because you know, Nandini - I have a very bad habit of sticking to people. Either, I don't care or I care too much. There's no between, and I do not think I need to tell you if I care about you or not. Do I, now?

Nandini slapped away his hand, fuming mad as he chuckled.

Manik: What? I thought you already knew this though. Afterall, you did find a lot about me - through Aliya's bodyguard - right?

Manik teased, fueling her further.

Nandini: You think this is funny?

Manik: Is it not? I think it was very funny to see you get worked up when your bestfriend hurt me, or even more funny when you let me have my way with you, always?

Nandini: You are messing with the wrong person Manik.

Manik frowned when Nandini smirked, stepping a little close in his personal space, not that he minded.

Nandini: You think you can come at my place, and have your way with me because we have signed up an album? Well, news flash - I don't give two cents about you and the album. The deal is cancelled, and my company will face all your losses. Now get out.

She chuckled when Manik stepped back, anger bubbling up inside him.

Manik: Nandini, you can't do this.

Nandini: I can do this, Manik and I will do this. Now leave before I decide to throw you out.

Manik stared at her for a few moments, trying to look pass her facade but Nandini didn't let him. She didn't dare to look at him as he walked out of the room.

He told everyone about his decision of going back the next day. The album was cancelled, Nandini did indeed took care of all the losses. Manik was helpless as she even refused to see him.

He would stand out of her room, knocking and waiting for hours for her to open the door or talk to him but she wouldn't budge. It was as if, she was not even there.

Two days, for whole two days Nandini didn't come out of her room. She didn't eat, she didn't drink, she stayed locked up in her room no matter how much they called out for her.

The blasting music in her room told them she was alright. She wouldn't do anything stupid too, they knew but it didn't lessen their worry.

However, Cabir-Navya, Mukti-Abhi took this opportunity to spend some quality time together. They didn't go out, but rather than sat in one of their room and talked through out hours.

Cabir and Navya wanted to give a chance to each other. Manik and everyone else were happy for them.

Now, it was finally the day Fab5 were going back. Manik was standing infront of Nandini's room, asking her to atleast see him for one last time.

Manik: Nandini, I am really going back. Please come out, for once please.

She didn't. Manik knew she was hearing him though. He knew because the moment he had said he was going back, the music inside the room stopped. Manik chuckled and pressed his hand on the door.

Manik: I know you are listening to me, Nandini. Can you just not give me a chance?

Nandini: No. You should go back.

Manik sighed, in relied or disappointment - it was hard to tell.

Manik: Why are you so stubborn?

Nandini: So are you,

She sniffed this time. Manik wanted nothing more than to break the door and hug her but he knew better than to do it.

Manik: You know Nandini, I have always been hopeful when it came to you. There's just something that tells me to keep trying when it comes to you but today, for the first time - I feel like I have failed. I am so tired and I want to stop.

Manik paused, taking a deep breath.

Manik: and I am going to stop. If you don't come out, I will take this as your final answer. If you don't come out Nandini, I will never come behind you. I will never see you again. I will never try to contact you, again. And that's a promise.

He waited for a few moments, anything - a word, a single noise to stop him but there was nothing. Nandini never replied. Manik's heart crumbled in disappointment, he muttered a quick bye and left the place.

____

Dhruv: Are you waiting for, Nandini?

Dhruv asked as Manik although came out of his room with his luggage, didn't step out of the house. He just stood there in the hall - still waiting for her to appear.

He had given her a promise, but he didn't want to keep it. He wanted her to come out, nothing else. He was ready to keep trying - all she ever had to do was tell him if he should.

Manik simply nodded at Dhruv. Another ten minutes passed and Nandini didn't come out. Manik sighed in disappointment and walked out of the mansion with his friends. They couldn't miss the flight.

They were loading the luggage in the car when they heard footsteps advancing towards them. Slow and calculative steps. Nandini.

Manik knew before she appeared infront of them. She was instructing the driver to take out the car. She stood there, never facing him but Manik beamed in happiness.

He chuckled, whistled and laughed out loud when she didn't even spare him a glance but still went red in face. Others looked at him confused but he didn't care.

He just smiled and looked at them.

Manik: Let's meet soon, guys. This time - at my place.

Abhi: What?

Manik: You will know soon, Abhi.

He looked at Nandini, who now got into the car and let out a chuckle.

Yes, she went to the office at Nine o'clock in the night.

To Be Continued.