Manan ff – unconditional love – Falling apart ! Episode 21

Recap: Manik consoles Mukti and convinces her to share with her friends about Abhimanyu. Aliya gets a shoulder to cry on from Cabir.

The Fab 5, Manik and Navya have gathered in the music room as is their tradition to meet every morning. All of them have arrived except for Mukti. This time everyone is very furious at her behaviour. They have decided to ask her straightaway what the matter is. All of them are impatiently waiting for her.

Nandini: where is she man ?! She is behaving so so so weird ! Today she crossed all limits ! She forgot to pick me up from home. I’ve been calling her since morning but she’s not even answering the calls.

Navya: hope she is not into some trouble. I mean if she’s not picking up calls.

Nandini: it’s nothing like that. She is clearly avoiding us. I know it. I can feel it. This time I’m not going to forgive her ! Since the last 2 days she wasn’t dropping me home and today she did not even pick me up. I had to tell chacha to drop me. I don’t like to bother him but what to do ?! Even my car had gone for servicing in the garage !

Dhruv: Nandini relax ! She’ll be here soon. After that you can ask her whatever you want to. (He places his hands on her shoulders to calm her down)

This irritates both Manik and Aliya. Manik who had been looking in the direction of Nandini suddenly looks away and Aliya has tears forming in her eyes which she had been controlling for a long time because of what had happened the other day. Cabir notices her tears and places his hands on her shoulders to console her so that she would not break down in front of everyone. He had also shared everything with Navya and so he indicated Navya to take Aliya away so that she could freshen up.

Navya: umm Aliya, I wanna go to the rest room. Would you come with me ?

Nandini: (angrily) we’re all discussing about Mukti and you have to go to the rest room ?

Dhruv: Nandini relax babe ! They’ll be back soon.

When Nandini does not say anything further, Navya drags Aliya out of the room and takes her to the restroom.

As soon as they enter the rest room, Aliya breaks down in Navya’s arms !

Navya: (consoling Aliya) aliya ! What’s wrong dear ? Why can’t you just forget what happened ?

Aliya: (looking up at Navya surprised) forget ? Really Navya ? Just tell me how am I supposed to do that ? It’s not possible ! What he said was really pinching my heart ! And then when I see him in front of my eyes, everything comes back into my head and am unable to control myself.

Navya: I can understand that Aliya ! But for the sake of your friendship with fab 5, you’ve got to let go right ? And it’s you who decided that remember ? Otherwise Cabir was ready to talk to Dhruv about it. But you asked him not to. So please gather yourself together and just remember that there’s nothing bigger than your love for your friendship ! And it will all be good !

Aliya: (after thinking for a while) you’re right Navya ! It was my decision to stay calm then I need to stick to it ! Okay I will. Come lets go.

She washes her face to freshen up and both of them head back towards the music room. Mukti was still not there and Nandini was losing hope now. She was angry at first but now she was sitting on a chair, as if lost all hope of keeping the Fab 5 together and safe forever ! Manik could not see her like that but was helpless ! He could not run to her in front of everyone and give her a hug which he badly wanted to do ! So he quietly moved out of the room to call Mukti. She wasn’t picking up anybody’s calls but he hoped she would pick up his call. He tried calling her but she wasn’t even picking up his call. Manik was boiling with anger and blaming himself for not having been able to convince Mukti properly to talk to her friends about Abhimanyu. Just then Soha who was passing by the corridor spotted Manik leaning on the railing, his face all sweaty and tensed ! She moved towards him and placed her hand on his shoulder from behind. Manik turned around expecting it to be Mukti but got disappointed on finding Soha.

Soha: what happened Manik ? Is everything alright ?

Manik: yeah I’m good. Umm, Soha we won’t be practising today so you can go attend some other class if you want.

Soha: ohh okay. Well then I’ll see you later. Bye.

As soon as she starts moving, Manik calls her to stop her.

Manik: umm Soha !

Soha: (turning around) yes ?

Manik: could I use your phone to make one call ? Mine is not having a proper network.

Soha: (handing him her phone) yeah sure !

Manik quickly checks mukti’s number from his phone and dials it from soha’s cell. This time seeing an unknown number, Mukti picks up at the third ring !

Mukti: hello !

Manik: what the hell is this Mukti ? Where are you ? Everyone here is so tensed about you and you aren’t even picking up any of our calls ! Not even mine ? Mukti you have to face this. Please come to college fast ! Nandini is really upset and so are the others.

Mukti: I know Manik but I don’t have the courage to face them.

Manik: look now if you don’t face them, then I’m going to tell them everything. And then you can imagine how will they treat you ! So be here in 10 minutes or else I’m speaking up !

He disconnects the call without waiting for her response and hands over the phone back to Soha who had been witnessing the whole conversation standing beside him.

Manik: (handing her the phone) thank you !

Soha: anytime ! But is everything okay ? You sounded so angry on the phone ? What has Mukti done ?

Manik: nothing just…it’s a thing among friends. I hope you understand.

Soha: ohh okay no problem. Okay then I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye.

Manik moves back into the room only to find the faces of all of them depressed. The Fab 5 had always been the epitome of friendship ! Such friendship today was breaking, falling apart.

Mukti: (slowly entering the room) hey guys !

All of them look up at her with their eyes full of longing, with no other expressions on their faces.

Nandini: (angrily moving towards her across the room ) where the hell have you been ?

Mukti: sorry choti. I…I was just…

Nandini: don’t you dare give any excuses ! We want the truth today ! Just the truth ! Speak up !

Dhruv comes forward to control Nandini’s growing anger.

Mukti: I’m sorry guys. I know I have hurt you all a lot. But the thing is I need to share something with all of you that I have been holding back for quite some time now.

Cabir: (coming forward, tensed) what ?

Mukti: I…I….I’m in love…

Dhruv: love ? Are you serious ?

Cabir: shut up Dhruv ! Of course she is serious ! How can you ask that ?

Dhruv: hey buddy I’m just asking, why are you getting angry ?

Navya calms Cabir by taking him aside.

Nandini: who is it ? And why didn’t you tell us ?

Mukti: he…his name is Abhimanyu Thakkar. We…we’ve been dating since the last 6 months.

Nandini: 6 months ?! Mukti ?! And we haven’t a clue !! We, your best friends, your family as you call us !! How can you do this ??

Mukti: I know, I’m sorry guys..please forgive me.

Nandini: what was the reason that you could hold this for so long ?

Mukti: (nervously) he…he is suffering from…cancer…last stage !

She breaks down at that in front of everyone and Nandini, Dhruv, Aliya, Cabir and Navya Rush towards her. She falls on the floor crying and all of them sit around her and cover her in a group hug. All of them had tears in their eyes. After quite a long time, all of them get up and wipe away their tears,

Dhruv: but you should have told us Mukti. We are your friends right ? Does one behave like this with their friends ? You weren’t even picking up our calls.

Cabir: and you do understand friendship very well is it Dhruv ? Before saying anything to her, first look at yourself how you are behaving with your friends !

Dhruv: what did I do ?

Cabir: of course why would you remember your mistakes ?!

Nandini: what are you saying Cabir ?

Cabir: ask him ! How has he been behaving with friends ! If he is explaining it to Mukti, he needs to learn it himself first.

Aliya: Cabir please stop it. Please. Mukti needs us right now. Let’s keep all other things aside as of now.

Nandini: would you all please stop fighting and tell us what’s going on ?

Cabir: why don’t you ask Dhruv ! Since he really knows the meaning of friendship.

Saying this, Cabir moves out of the room with Navya. After some time, Dhruv moves out too and Aliya, Mukti and Nandini break down !

Nandini gets really depressed at that and moves out of the room too. Manik follows her after assuring that Mukti would be okay with Aliya.

Manik: (following Nandini and shouting at her) Nandini ! Nandini wait !!

For some time, Nandini keeps walking ahead, ignoring Manik’s voice calling at her. On reaching the college gate, Manik grabs her hand from behind to stop her and drags her into the building in one of the empty classrooms. Nandini tries to let go of his hold but Manik does not leave her. He takes her into the room and locks the door.

Nandini: (furious) What are you trying to do Manik ? How can you just forcefully lock me in here ?

Manik: I can ! Now just shut up and sit down right there on the desk.

Nandini: No I won’t !

Saying this she moves towards the door to open it but Manik blocks her way, her leg brushes his leg in front of her, she looses her balance and trips over at him. Manik holds her tight, not to let her fall. On being so close to Manik, she feels a strange sheltered feeling, as if being protected from all odds. She forgets all her anger at him, buries her head in his chest and starts weeping. Manik simply holds her without saying anything. They keep standing there for quite some time after which Manik speaks up,

Manik: Nandini, you need to be strong and you are. You can manage this. Just don’t run away.

Nandini: (still weeping with her head buried in his chest) How can I manage this mess ? I don’t even know what’s going on ? Mukti, she kept the truth hidden from us for such a long time, as if she does not trust us. Cabir and Dhruv, I don’t even know what are they fighting for ? It’s all messed up ! I don’t know what to do ?

Manik does not respond, but simply tightens his hold around her which startles Nandini and she suddenly moves away from him, realizing she had been so close to someone she had just met, it wasn’t right. Manik understands her embarrassment and carefully opens the door for her to move out.

Precap: Nandini thinking about Manik more that Fab 5. She is confused as to what was that happened between the two of them and how was it that she was so comfortable with him ? Mukti is with Abhi in the hospital when Aliya reaches up to her to be with her. 

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Hope you all enjoyed !

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