CHAPTER III

Diner:

All were settled in their seats when there was a guy creepily watching Mannat and everybody failed to notice this as they were busy talking and Aryan and Mannat were busy in their own world. All were talking and playing around. Hardik as usual was eating like a person who hasn't eaten for years. But they chucked it as they knew he was never going to change. Then there was an announcement for everyone to go to the music room on the third floor. All the seniors occupied the last 5 staircase and the juniors the rest.

All were seated when raghav, the music teacher entered. He introduced himself to the juniors.

Raghav: hello juniors welcome to Silver Creek Academy where you'll be trained in music, business, science, arts to name a few. I'm the H. O. D. Of the Music department of Silver Creek and my name is Raghav Chetan. We have various competitions to help you to test your skills and even teachers to train you but this time instead of teachers you'll have seniors as your mentors. You have to work hard because seniors will grade you on the basis of your performance. Now how will you know who is going to train you? So we have a chit system right here. He shows a velvet purple bag in hand. I have chits here in this bag with the names of the seniors. One by one you'll pick these as I come to you and draw a chit and we can find your mentor. The juniors one by one collected the chit and said their mentor's name and the senior stood up to show who he was.

Raghav started the order. Aryan was not at all interested in it and was just talking to Mannat. They already knew about this training stuff. But when he heard his name he turned his attention to the front. There stood a girl in a long jumpsuit.

Raghav: what's your name.

Girl: my name is Riya.

Raghav: OK.

Soon he heard his girl's name being called. It was the same creepy guy who was watching her like a hawk in canteen.

Raghav: your name.

Guy: Rajveer Singh.

Raghav nodded and then after giving out a few more instructions he left.

Everyone left the class leaving them and the students they were supposed to train.

Reva- Samrat

Alia- Shanaya

Sanam - Akash

Hardik - Saloni

Aryan - Riya

Mannat - Rajveer

Aayan - Gunjan

Karan - Anusha

Simran - Rahul (the Audi guy).

They decided the timings of practice and left. The juniors shook hands and then dispersed. Aryan and Mannat were seated at the staircase. Mannat was just laughing and Aryan was tickling her.

"Don't deny it love we know how you can't resist these good looks" he said teasing her.

"What good looks? Who are you talking about. Salman khan" she said laughing.

He just ticked her harder and then she finally accepted defeat.

"Accha sorry I can't resist these good looks now leave me" she said laughing trying to escape from his clutches.

He smiled and left her and Mannat took deep breathes to calm herself.

They sat there talking for hours and then left to home.

Their penthouse:

They were waiting for the delivery- man to arrive. When they reached home Mannat begged Aryan to allow her to eat pizza. Why the begging, well Aryan is what you call health conscious so he looks after their diet plans to make sure they stay healthy but since college had began they had been eating lunch at college again with wasn't quite healthy so he was keen to make her eat two healthy meals a day at least. After all the faces and everything he finally agreed and ordered their dinner on one condition. No outside food for a week. Begrudgingly Mannat agreed and now they were in the living room with Mannat wearing nothing but his shirt.

Soon the pizza was delivered along with coke, bread sticks and dessert.

Aryan screamed to her while closing the door "love you set up a movie while I get food inside"

Mannat did as he asked and they soon settled on the couch watching The Vow.

Mannat soon fell asleep in Aryan's arms. He carried her to bed and staring at her fell asleep.

New morning; July 7th 2011

Thursday

All were in raghav's class. It was first period and they were already annoyed.

Raghav: so guys we have made a list of where you all will be mentored. Every jam room four members-2 mentors and their students.

According to the name of mentors.

Rooms-

Aryan - Mannat

Hardik - Simran

Sanam - Alia

Aayan - Reva

Karan and a random senior.

All the couples were happy but they knew it would be like this as Aryan is the trustee and they will do anything to please him.

"so you all can leave to your assigned Jam rooms. Work hard guys" saying so Raghav left from there.

The seniors walked out and the juniors followed behind. Aryan and Mannat were walking towards the jam room they were assigned.

jam room:

"okay so which instruments can you guys play?" Aryan asked looking at the two newbies in front of him.

Riya: guitar, sitar.

Rajveer : guitar and sarod.

Aryan: okay. So today we'll practice on how to play a guitar as you both know how to use one.

Aryan and Mannat took their guitars and the others too.

Aryan and Mannat asked them questions on about how to play, the notes,etc.. just to see how much knowledge they actually had and if they knew what they were playing. To enter Silver Creek it was about scores and experience with music not being the main subject they were doubtful of the knowledge the juniors had of it. Then Aryan played some tunes and asked Riya to follow. She was good but missed a bit so he helped her out. Mannat and Rajveer were also practicing. After about two hours they finished practicing and left to canteen. The juniors took a table near F5 and D4 Anusha decided to join them but Karan dragged her to his friends and introduced them. Aryan had Mannat on his lap again and the rest had their arms around their girls. Karan had Anusha in the seat next to him. The juniors too were making conversations. Aryan was playing with Mannat tugging her hair, cheek kisses while she blushed and giggled trying to stop him.

Hardik: tum dono toh kabhi bhi chalu ho jate ho. Like seriously Aryan kabhi toh leave my sister alone. Night was not enough or what.

Aryan was losing his temper by now cause all his friends jumped in and asked questions.

Aryan: fuck off guys. Don't piss me off.

Reva: we'll stop when you stop your romance. You know what go to the janitor closet. You'll have your time.

Aryan smirks when he finds Mannat blushing. All were talking when suddenly Mannat ran out of the diner and to the washroom puking out all the contents off her stomach in one of the toilets. The door opened and Reva walked in and held nandini's hair holding on to her back. They walked out of the washroom. All of their friends were gathered there.

Aryan ran to her and held her "what's wrong sweetheart" turning to his friend "Reva what's wrong with my girl"

Mannat was not in a state to answer she just blacked out. Aryan picked her up and left to home with her the rest following in their cars.

At their penthouse suite:

A doctor was called and after check up he talked with Aryan.

"Doctor what is wrong with Mannat? Is everything fine" he bombarded him while he walked out their room.

Doctor: Aryan I checked her she had traces of poison in her body through her food pipe. Did Mannat eat or drink anything while at the academy?

Aryan was shocked but thought of it "but how!! And ya she drank chocolate milkshake in the break time"

Doc: well it was in it then. She was lucky enough to puke it out fast. But Aryan I also have a question. It's not correct to ask but when had you guys had sexual intercourse last.

Aryan: well......three weeks ago.

Doc: I'm sorry to say this but Mannat was pregnant Aryan she lost her child.

Aryan was shocked and then the doctor explained about the whole matter to him in a little detail.

He walked in his room like a lifeless body his son or daughter before coming in the world died. He found Mannat awake and to his bad luck she heard everything. Both hugged each other. It was a bone crushing one both needing it badly. Mannat was crying and Aryan calmed her down but he himself was crying on the inside but he composed himself for her and then explained that it was fine and that God wanted them to have a baby when they were capable enough and were strong so he took the baby and will send him or her back to them when they are strong. Aryan eventually calmed her and both drifted to sleep.

After two weeks......

July 22nd; Friday

Mannat's condition was much better compared to weeks ago. She was eventually but slowly coming over the loss of her first child or that it had existed for the tiny bit of time.

In Silver Creek Academy : classroom

Raghav: so students it's been only 10 days since college started now. Your classes have begun and so have competitions. Musikschlacht 2011 has approached. Form up bands and yes today we're having a audition for the qualification and what's gonna be the challenge our trustee and your senior Aryan Malhotra will tell you along with F5. F5 came in front and started.

Aryan looked at everyone as he spoke into the microphone "Silver Creek conducts Musikschlacht every year followed by the fresher's party.

Reva: this year you all will be paired into groups of two.

Hardik: all of u with your pair act a performance which is recorded.

Sanam: your recording should not be just singing but you have to entertain somebody.

Alia: like a group of people. Raghav sir will pair you guys up and the same thing goes for the seniors as well.

Aryan: your recordings should be then uploaded. The recording with the majority likes will be selected.

Hardik: while you upload you tag us with the links we have sent you.

Aryan: that's it. But remember if all members of your band qualify then only can you move to the next stage.

Raghav thanks them and tells a few more rules and lists out the partners.

F5 returned back to their seats and then Raghav list out the partners. After giving them 2 days time he left the class. The seniors along with the juniors walked towards their respective jam rooms as it was time for them to practice.

Fast forward: a month later.

August 22nd; Monday

Practice was going good and Musikschlacht had come nearby. Aryan and Mannat were their usual self except for the fact that Mannat here was being getting threat notes and messages. All the same leave Aryan. Mannat avoided them and didn't bother about it nor did she tell Aryan considering them to be a prank. Aryan also didn't notice all this because of work pressure from both business and college. He was signing a huge deal that had his attention all day and night. He hadn't spent much time with his love which made him guilty but this project was his Mannat's wish and so he worked all day to get it done faster. He wanted it to be a surprise and worked hard only for that.

A new morning:

August 23rd; Tuesday

Aryan got up early and prepared breakfast for Mannat and left her a love letter along with the tray in their bedroom pecking her lips and forehead. Fifteen minutes later Mannat woke up and noticed Aryan missing. She sighed, the deal was important she knew that but she also missed her lovely fiancé's presence in bed. Not that way you perverted people ;) she turned to take her phone from the nightstand only to find the love letter along with the tray. She blushed and picked up the letter.

Good morning my love,

I'm sorry my darling I wanted to be there with you in bed but I had to finish some business. I'll see you in college sweetheart. I love you to the moon and back.

Aryan ;) xoxo

She blushed and screamed his name in the pillow. Having the hot and delicious food made by him she took a bath and got dressed in her outfit for the day. She wanted to take a cake for her friends today and specially Aryan so she went to the kitchen and got out the ingredients to make a chocolate cake. Unaware of the danger heading towards her house. Nandini was mixing the batter when the door bell rang. She went and opened the door to find a delivery boy.

Boy: mam are you Mannat Shergil?

Mannat: yes I am.

Boy: mam you ordered from big basket.

Mannat: oh yes. One minute I'll get the cash. Saying so she took the box and turned when that person smashed a rod on her head and she turned around and fell to the floor holding her head and soon unconscious. The person walked out from there and down the lobby and went outside and removed the cap and the rubber band. Why was Mannat attacked she has no wrongs. Not only that the attacker was a girl not a guy. But why did she attack her?