The table occupied by the long lost friends was echoing with laughs filled with joy and happiness. But a voice unsettled the environment and filled it with tension and anxiety. The voice belonged to Madhyam Singhania.
Madhyam – Am I dreaming..?? Is it really Nandini Murthy in a hotel..??
Nandini – (clutched her hands tightly under the table forming a fist which was noticed by Manik and Abhi while the stress lines on her forehead were visible to everyone) – Madhyam Singhania..what are you doing here...??
Madhyam – Oh you remember me...good good..(coming a bit closer)
Nandini – (sprung up from her seat) – Stay Away Madhyam...else the consequences will not be something you like
Madhyam – OOOOO.....I am scared (laughing hysterically)
Abhi tried coming in between but Nandini stopped him by showing her hand and turned to leave when Madhyam grabbed her hand..Everyone got up from their seats
Madhyam – Wait Nandini..you can't leave like this...At least wait till the time the team that you prepared for the the competition losses to mine...You know na the competition is in the same hotel...atleast watch your team loosing and then you are free to go...
With this Madhyam left her hand and turned but this time Nandini grabbed his hand, turned him around and slapped him hard on his face. Madhyam moved towards her just then she twisted his hand and he winced in pain
Nandini – Is it paining...goods it should...next time when I say STAY AWAY try listening to me and do what I ask you to do else its gonna pain a lot more than you can imagine...Also, I will stay back...you know why..?? To watch you loose...Now get the hell out of here before I throw you out (with this she left his hand)
Madhyam glared at Nandini and left the room while Abhi came near her
Nandini – I am fine Abhi..dont worry....
Abhi – But...(this time abhi was interrupted by another voice)
Voice – Murthy are you okay...I saw Madhyam walking out in anger...did he do anything..??
Nandini – Why don't ask him..looks like he knows more these days about certain things more importantly my team..
Voice – I was about to tell you...but..
Nandini – But what..Haan...!!! Now wait a bit more as I need to calm myself down and only then I'll talk to you...but don't worry I won't take that long...
With this Nandini left leaving the voiceholder with several faces with questions.
Manik – Aryaman Khurana...what are you doing here..??
Aryaman – Hey Manik, long time dude...how are you..??
Abhi – Listen let's cut it short we all are fine...I am Nandini's brother..Abhimanyu...now please tell us what is up with this Madhyam guy...I have never seen my sister this angry with anyone..we all are awaiting answers
Aryaman – Answers..!! Wow...!!...Now you guys need answers...where were you when she faced that asshole all alone..you all (pointing towards FAB5 and Navya) were her friends right..No wait Best friends...you should have been with her..!!
Mukti – Listen cut the crap..get to the point..!!
Aryaman –Madhyam Singhania was our co-worker at our MNC...He had a crush on Nandini but she very politely refused his advances...but his ego couldn't take it...almost 2 years back his liking turned into an obsession...he followed her everywhere..created problems in her career and personal life.. I remember once Nandini was injured and he got her locked in the cold storage for 15 min...her bruises turned blue...she initially did shout with pain..but by the time we could open the door she turned unconscious..she did regain her consciousness after a few minutes but she was hell scared...he used to threaten her...but always got away due to lack of proofs...eventually he got fired from the company and in his anger he started some baseless rumors about her...thankfully people in the office knew her way to well to take the rumors seriously..but Nandini got badly traumatized.....(just then a lady tapped on Aryaman's shoulder)..Guys meet my wife Myra..and Myra these are Nandini's friends and family
Abhi sat on the chair with a thud..Shattered, he was at loss of words...!!
Abhi – I should have known..my sister has been through so much and I was clueless..I am such a bad brother..!!
Myra – No you are not...may be you weren't around..but those incidences had turned Nandini into a loner...before that at times she used to sing publicly but after that incident she stopped doing it...she had lost all her confidence...Trust us even if you were around you wouldn't have known what was going on in her head..We knew it because we worked in the same office and unfortunately were a witness to the misfortune...But we too were completely ignorant towards the impact these incidents had on her until we, I mean, Me and Arya we decided to stay with her for a while.. it was then we realized that she had started having nightmares...to escape nightmares she started having sleepless nights...she had turned into an insomniac...!!
Mukti – What happened to her music..you said she stopped singing...I mean what did Madhyam do...
Myra – No just singing..actually she developed stage fright...She stopped performing in stage...Actually we had a fun music event at an official offsite ..Madhyam somehow locked Nandini in a dark room...till date we couldn't figure out how he did that but anyways...we all got a bit stressed when we realized that she was not present backstage...but then we relaxed ourselves thinking that she would make a surprise entry as the idea of un-anticipated entries always fascinated her...we were awaiting her arrival...right when her piece was about to start a video started playing in the background...a video of panic struck Nandini...it was so horrifying that .........
Aryaman – (Side hugging Myra) ...but just around that time Nandini too entered the stage...watching the video she froze at her place...we somehow were able to stop the video feed but the damage was done..Nandini was already traumatized due to the stay in the dark room and the video took away the little courage left in her..!!
Everyone was left teary eyed. No one could believe their ears. Their minds were still processing the terrifying information received
Aryaman – But eventually she got herself together...
Nandini (by the time Nandini had also joined in but none could notice as they they their back towards her) – and it was because of you guys..Yes Abhi you helped me..Fab5 helped me...Music has always been my peace...Remember whenever I was stressed I used to play music...(everyone nodded their heads)...but the problem at that time was that due to my muddled head I couldn't create music...and you guys(pointing towards FAB5) did that for me...You guys created just the kind of music I needed at that point of time...I mean I sometimes felt like it was a Karmic connection...I was in pain and you knowingly or unknowingly came up with the right melody that could heal it...so Thank You for that guys... !!..Your songs helped me in moving on from the past and gave me the motivation I needed at that point of time...So stop blaming yourself for anything and everything bad that has happened in my life...(Turning towards Aryaman)...Now will you tell me what's up with this Madhyam...why was he so confident of winning...!!
Aryaman – Because the song on which our team was going to perform in the competition, it's file got corrupted at the last moment..the only people who know about the song the band who has given music , the singer and you since you've written it...now though we have somehow been able to arrange the band, the singer is not in the city and without words the steps won't make any sense...so there is a higher probability that we would loose..!!
Cabir – What is this competition all about..?
Myra – It is a corporate event...a dance and performing arts competition among various MNC in Delhi NCR...our MNC has sent in a team and so has other MNC's including Madhyam's..
Nandini – And I will not loose to that Madhyam..Arya get the band I'll sing..!!
Aryaman- But you don't sing publicly Nandini..!!
Nandini – I still won't....band and me shall provide music from backstage while the performers shall dance on the stage..Abhi please inform Amms that we would get late...Arya let's get going...we donot have much time...Myra can you please arrange a place for my friends backstage
Myra – Don't worry..that will be sorted...you should rush..our team in up in half an hour...
Nandini and Aryaman left to see the preparations while Myra looked for seating arrangements for FAB5, Navya and Abhimanyu . Meanwhile
Abhi – I can't let that asshole go way just like that..How dare he hurt my sister...!!
Cabir – Don't worry Abhi..we will make sure of that..but right now Nandini needs us..!!
Mukti – Guys did you see that...how strong Nandini has become...not even for a second did she budge into any sort of pressure
Manik (in his thoughts) – I was right...DAMN...we were not the only reason for her silence all these years....That BLOODY MADHYAM...he will pay for every sin that he has committed... But Nandini has she really become as strong as she behaved or is it all a mask to hide her broken self..!!
Soon Nandini and the band is ready backstage. Nandini was shocked to find her friends sitting in the same area from where she had to perform. Though she had donned a brave face but she was hell scared as she was singing after years. She closed her eyes, enchanting a small prayer and when she opened her eyelids, she found Manik looking at intently. She fixed her gaze with his and started singing
Bheegi nahi ankhein bhi zamane se, Aye zindagi isi bahane se
Bheegi nahi ankhein bhi zamane se, Aye zindagi isi bahane se
Sili sili baarish aake tu bhar de
Yeh aankhen baadal Baadal, badal kar de
Yeh aankhen baadal Baadal, badal kar de
Sehra sehra hoon main Jal thal tu karde
Yeh aankhein baadal, Yeh aankhein baadal..
Nandini didn't move her gaze from Manik...their eyes were interlocked with each other
Ho mere jugnu wo saare meri Dhup mere taare
Jaane kaun si gali main chute, Hue ghum kahan pe
Deeware hai lakhon, Na koi darwaza
Saanson ke aane ka, Rasta toh batla ja
Tehra tehra hai dil bekal tu karde
Yeh aankhen baadal Baadal, badal kar de
Yeh aankhen baadal Baadal, badal kar de
Sehra sehra hoon main, Jal thal tu karde
She didn't speak a word with him since they met but the lyrics of her song said it all..her pain..her loneliness, her helplessness..She didn't speak with him since she didn't want to speak about random stuff..she wanted to share her pain with him and that's exactly what she did..
Manik felt as if she had given words to his turmoil as well...he felt connected with each and every word she sang...yes they didn't have a one to one conversation but the song was somewhat compensating for it..But only somewhat...and they both knew it..!!
Meri chhat pe naa aaya koi, Chandani ka saaya meri
Raaton se bachke nikle, Neendon ke zakhire
Oooo...Meri chhat pe naa aaya koi, Chandani ka saaya meri
Raaton se bachke nikle, Neendon ke zakhire
Na koi rehbar hai, Na koi rehzan hai
Apne hi aansu hai. Apna hi daaman hai
Khali khali shamein, Hulchul tu bharde
Yeh aankhen baadal, Baadal, badal kar de
Yeh aankhen baadal, Baadal, badal kar de
Sehra sehra hoon main, Jal thal tu karde
Yeh aankhen baadal, baadal ...Baadal... Baadal... Aa.
With this she finished the song and Abhi rushed to hug her. He was in tears, not just him every eye in the room had tears except two pairs who had cried enough in the past that now their tears had dried out. Abhi breaking the hug said,
Abhi – Nandu...you should definitely sing publicly...You are so amazing...guys I had no idea my little one is so talented..Let go of your fears Nandu...you are strong but now you've got to come out stronger
Nandini – I can't Abhi...whenever I take a step forward towards music, I loose something every dear to me...(looking at Manik)..be it important people in my life or my confidence...I always end up on the loosing side...and I don't have the strength to loose anything anymore...!!
...Saying this she walked out leaving everyone stunned. They gathered themselves together and followed Nandini. Soon the competition got over and Nandini's team won. After loosing, Madhyam was walking out the conference but halted for a while when she saw Nandini and her friends standing near the gate. Nandini looked upto him and raised her eyebrow
Nandini – What..??... You think I am interested in talking with you...Come out of your fairyland Madhyam since I don't waste my time talking to LOSERS
Irritated by his defeat and Nandini's words Madhyam walked out. Meanwhile Nandini and Abhimanyu moved towards the exit door to leave while Fab5 and Navya came to see them off. They all wanted to talk to Nandini about the Madhyam and events that unfolded a few hours ago but decided otherwise thinking that they already had enough for the day. So they were back to talking about wedding details while waiting for Nandu's car to come. Suddenly Manik saw a toddler lost in the middle of the exit way and car approaching him. He ran to save him which he was able to just at the nick of the time. The mother of the child appeared at the gate and Manik handed over the child to her
Mother – Thank you sir...If it wasn't you I would have lost my child...!!
Manik – No worries..But remember (shifts his eyes towards Nandini) IF YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO LOOSE THINGS OR PEOPLE, HOLD ON TO THEM TIGHTLY NOT LETTING THEM GO...!!
Soon Nandini's car arrived, the driver opened the back seat, Nandini and Abhi hopped in and drove off. Manik received a call from his security guard and he excused himself.
Guard – Sir as per your instructions, we have locked him in the cold storage
Manik – Good...Any issues faced...??
Guard – No sir...he was drunk and he himself moved to the storage thinking of it as a washroom. In fact we have a video too of him leaving the bar and reaching the storage all by himself...the door of the storage auto locks itself in 60 seconds..I won't open unless someone opens it from outside
Manik – Ok...now remember...After 2 hours open the storage and get him out...Am I Clear..!!
Guard - Yes Sir
Manik (smirks after disconnecting the call) – WELCOME TO HELL... MADHYAM SINGHANIA.....!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------End of Chapter 8-------
This brings us to the end the chapter 8 which by the way is also an early update...wondering why..Well there are two reasons for it : one, that I would be super busy from tomorrow and hence won't be able to update on Wednesday that is the scheduled day for my update and second, as soon as I wrote this part I was too eager to share it with you guys...Hope you like it....
The song sung by Nandini is "Baadal" from the movie Akira...link for the song is in the media box...do listen to it..!!
That's it from me for today...See you guys..Cheers..!!