The streetlights shone softly as Nandini and Navya drove home together. The sound of the car's engine filled the quiet air. But even though everything seemed calm, there was an uncomfortable feeling hanging between them, making the silence feel heavy.
Navya glanced over at Nandini, her brow furrowed in thought. "Umm, Nandini, can I ask you something?"
Nandini's heart skipped a beat at the sudden question, her mind racing as she prepared herself for what was to come. "Of course, Navya."
Navya hesitated for a moment, her gaze fixed on the road ahead. "Well, I couldn't help but notice that you never really mention Manik, even though you always talk about your other friends. I was just wondering why that is."
Nandini felt a pang of guilt at Navya's question, knowing that she couldn't tell her the truth about her relationship with Manik. She struggled to find the right words, her mind racing for an excuse to deflect Navya's curiosity.
"Oh, um, it's not that I don't mention him," Nandini replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "It's just that... well, Manik and I don't see each other as much as we used to. We've both been busy with our own lives, you know?"
Navya nodded in understanding, though a hint of skepticism lingered in her expression. "I guess that makes sense. It's just strange, you know?"
Nandini forced a smile, hoping to ease Navya's suspicions. "Yeah, I know."
As they continued to drive in silence, Nandini couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that weighed heavily on her heart. Soon they arrived home and bid each other goodnight.
As Nandini watched Navya leave after their heartwarming evening together, a heavy burden settled upon her shoulders. The weight of secrecy bore down on her conscience, leaving her feeling torn and conflicted.
She knew she needed to tell Navya about her relationship with Manik, but the fear of the unknown held her back, trapping her in a web of doubt and uncertainty.
In her room by herself, Nandini walked back and forth, feeling a mix of thoughts and feelings swirling around in her head.
She wanted to tell Navya about her relationship with Manik, but the guilt made it hard. It felt like a heavy weight holding her back, keeping her quiet.
"Why can't I just tell her?" Nandini whispered to herself, frustration lacing her voice. "She's my best friend, my soul sister. She deserves to know the truth."
But even as the words echoed in her mind, doubt crept in, whispering tales of potential consequences and repercussions.
What if telling Navya changed everything? What if it drove a wedge between them, irreparably damaging their friendship? What if she says it to Mom?
Nandini shook her head, trying to push aside the nagging doubts that plagued her thoughts. She knew she couldn't keep hiding forever, but the timing never seemed right. There were always reasons to delay, excuses to justify her silence.
"I'm sorry, Navya," Nandini murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I wish I could tell you the truth, but I just... I can't."
Tears started to form in her eyes as she struggled with the heaviness of her secret. She didn't like hiding things from Navya, and it made her feel bad inside. But she was also scared of what might happen if she told the truth, afraid of what might come next.
As the night wore on, Nandini found herself consumed by a sense of guilt and indecision. She knew she couldn't keep hiding forever, but for now, she was trapped in a limbo of her own making, unable to break free from the bonds of secrecy that held her captive.
The clock struck midnight as Nandini sat alone in her apartment, tears streaming down her cheeks. The weight of her secret relationship with Manik felt heavier than ever, and the guilt of keeping it from Navya gnawed at her conscience.
She had tried to push aside the doubts and fears that plagued her mind, but tonight, they had become too overwhelming to ignore.
Just then, her phone rang, breaking the silence of the room. Startled, Nandini wiped away her tears and answered the call, expecting to hear Navya's voice on the other end.
"Hello?" Nandini said, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
"Hey," Manik's voice came through the line, filled with concern. "Is everything okay? You sound upset."
Nandini's heart skipped a beat at the sound of Manik's voice, grateful for his unexpected call. "Oh, it's nothing, just feeling a bit overwhelmed, that's all."
But Manik could hear the strain in her voice, and he knew that something was wrong. "Nandini, please don't lie to me. I can tell when something's bothering you. What's going on?"
Tears welled up in Nandini's eyes once again as she struggled to find the words to express her turmoil. "It's just... I've been feeling guilty about not telling Navya about us. I hate keeping secrets from her, but I'm scared of how she'll react if she finds out."
Manik's heart sank at Nandini's words, realizing the depth of her pain. "Nandini, I understand how you feel, but you can't keep punishing yourself like this. You're not alone in this, okay? We'll figure it out together."
Nandini's tears flowed freely now, grateful for Manik's comforting words. "Thank you, Manik. I don't know what I'd do without you."
The sincerity in Nandini's voice touched Manik's heart, filling him with warmth and purpose. "You don't have to thank me, Nandini. I'll always be here for you, no matter what."
By the time they said their goodbyes and hung up the phone, Nandini and Manik both felt a sense of peace settle over them, knowing that they had each other to lean on in their times of need.
And as they drifted off to sleep that night, their hearts filled with gratitude for the unbreakable bond they shared, knowing that together, they could weather any storm that came their way.
Next Day,
The WhatsApp group chat buzzed with excitement as Cabir, Alya, Dhruv, Mukti, and Manik discussed their upcoming trip. They were planning to go on a weekend getaway, and they couldn't wait to spend some quality time together away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
As they finalized their plans, Cabir suggested adding Nandini and Navya to the group chat. "Hey guys, what do you think about inviting Nandini and Navya to join us on the trip? It could be fun to have them with us."
The others agreed enthusiastically, eager to extend the invitation to their new friends. They quickly added them and messaged Nandini and Navya, asking if they would be interested in joining them on the trip.
Nandini was in her cabin her phone pinged with a message. She sees that she is added to a new group. Cabir has added her Navya to it and asked if they want to join for the trip. She doesn’t know if she should say yes or no.
In a private message to Manik, Nandini expressed her doubts and concerns, seeking reassurance from him. "I'm not sure if we should go on the trip. What if it's awkward or we don't fit in?"
Manik responded with a message filled with warmth and encouragement, reassuring Nandini that everything would be fine and that they would have a great time together. His words filled her with a sense of comfort and reassurance, easing her doubts and fears.
Manik further messages her "We could also tell them about us on this trip. I think this trip would be the best."
Nandini took a deep breath, her heart filled with determination. She knew that she couldn't let her insecurities hold her back from experiencing new adventures and making new memories with her friends.
She also called Navya and asked her to say yes to the trip. As they typed their responses in the group chat, Nandini and Navya felt a surge of excitement and anticipation wash over them.
They knew that this trip would be filled with laughter, adventure, and unforgettable memories, and they couldn't wait to embark on this journey with their newfound friends.
At night Nandini, Navya, Bela, Mahir, and Vishakha were having their dinner. Nandini and Navya were a little nervous to ask their parents about the trip.
They knew they had to ask for approval before making any plans, but the thought of facing their parents' questions filled them with apprehension.
"Um, Mom, mumma, pops, can we talk to you for a moment?" Nandini asked tentatively, her voice laced with uncertainty.
Bela, Vishakha and Mahir exchanged curious glances, sensing the seriousness in her tone. "Of course, princess. What's on your mind?" Bela replied, gesturing her to speak further.
Nandini took a deep breath, gathering her courage as she began to explain. "Well, you know , FAB 5, they invited us to join them on a trip this weekend. We were wondering if we could go."
Mahir's eyebrows shot up in surprise, while Vishakha studied her daughter with a scrutinizing gaze. "FAB 5? Who are they? How do you know them?" Vishakha asked, her tone tinged with suspicion.
Bela said after thinking for a moment "if I’m not wrong they are musical band right?"
Nandini exchanged a nervous glance with Navya, trying to find the right words to explain their connection to FAB 5 "Um, well, they're... they're friends from college. Manik, one of the members, is my best friend."
Vishakha narrowed her eyes, sensing something amiss in Nandini's explanation. "Your best friend? I don't recall you ever mentioning him before."
Nandini's heart raced as she struggled to come up with a convincing response. "Oh, well, we haven't talked about him much. We were not in too much contact in these years. We were together in school."
Bela and Mahir exchanged a knowing look, sensing the tension in the air. "Well, if you trust them and feel comfortable going with them, then we don't see why not," Mahir said, offering his approval.
Nandini and Navya breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for their parents' understanding. As they thanked Bela, Mahir, and Vishakha and headed off to finalize their plans.
Vishakha watched them go with a thoughtful expression, a sense of suspicion gnawing at her. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Nandini's relationship with this "Manik" than she was letting on.
And as she pondered the matter further, she couldn't help but wonder what secrets her daughters were keeping from her, and what consequences those secrets might bring.
She knows her better, as she talks about manik there was something unusal in her tone. Bela asked her to not think too much about it, so, she let the matter go for now.
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Hope u all like the chapter.....
Few words for Manik....
Few words for Nandini....
Few words for Vishakha....
Few words for Navya....
What were your favourite moments???
Will Vishakha gets to know about manik and Nandini???
Will Manik and Nandini able to tell their friends about them???
Thank u 🙂🙂
Love,
Kiara ❤️❤️