Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan

Plot summary

The core of the show lies in highlighting the importance of friendship along with other relationships, be it romance, friendship, or familial relations. The show has gained immense popularity, in particular Manik and Nandini's love story, collectively known as MaNan on social networking sites, and has been considered a rage among the young audience. The show is split into two seasons, the first one focusing on how love becomes important over friendship in Manik's life through Nandini changing his life. The second season is more of an epilogue of the first, on how each person lives start to change and evolve.

Season 1

Nandini decides to move in with her Chacha and Chachi in Mumbai, for the treatment of her younger brother, Rishabh and for her to study in a reputed science college in Mumbai. She believes her fireflies only light up when there is true love. She accidentally collides with Manik Malhotra, and unknown to Manik, he saves her jar filled with fireflies and they light up when they both touch the jar at the same time. It is then believed that there is true love between Manik and Nandini though they are both unaware of this.

Nandini Murthy ( Niti Taylor) and her friend Navya Naveli (Veebha Anand) team up to save Shahid (Pulkit Bangia), who was bullied by FAB5, at S.P.A.C.E Academy from committing suicide. In order to protect the school's reputation, Nyonika Malhota (Manik's mother and the Head of S.P.A.C.E) offers Nandini and Navya a full scholarship in return for not going to the press regarding Shahid’s attempted suicide. This leads to Nandini and Navya becoming the targets of the academy's most famous band "FAB5", a group of rich spoiled kids - Manik Malhotra, the leader (Parth Samthaan), Cabir (Ayaz Ahmed), Mukti (Charlie Chauhan), Dhruv (Utkarsh Gupta) and Alya (Krissann Barretto).

Nandini becomes the main target for Manik after she punches him in front of the entire college for misbehaving with her. Due to unfortunate circumstances, Nandini ends up being Manik's slave/spot where he continues on troubling her until his girlfriend Alya intervenes and asks him to leave Nandini alone as she feels he is becoming too involved with her. After Alya attempts to indirectly harm Nandini because of her insecurity about how Manik was starting to change around her, Manik breaks up with Alya due to her mistrust.

Manik and Nandini's petty fights and constant bickering’s bring them closer and they become attracted to each other. Manik realises that no one affects him the way Nandini does, which is why he is always drawn to her. Initially he fights the attraction but eventually gives in. Meanwhile, Nandini mistook the racing of her heart for hatred for the "Monster Manik". She then realises that this Manik is not a monster after all, rather a "Hero" that has surrounded himself with darkness and becomes aware of her attraction towards him. This leads to Manik and Nandini falling for each other and changes the equation for the lives of the rest of FAB5.

Meanwhile, Dhruv, Manik's best friend, also ends up falling for Nandini, mistaking her friendship for something more. The night before the college talent show, Musicana, Manik confesses to Nandini how he feels and they kiss. Not long after, Manik finds out about Dhruv's feelings and decides to sacrifice his love for his best friend. As Dhruv had saved his life when they were younger, he always felt Dhruv was better than him thus a better suitor for Nandini. On the night of Musicana, Manik, with a heavy heart, lies to Nandini by humiliating her and telling her it was all just a game for him and he has wanted to take his revenge on her ever since she punched him.

Nandini's best friend, Navya, falls for Harshad, who is Alya's brother and spends most of his time plotting against FAB5. After FAB5 win Musicana, Harshad plays a video in front of the entire school which shows an intimate moment between Cabir and his teacher Raghav which leads to everyone finding out about Cabir's homosexuality. As Nandini realises that Harshad is not the person who she and Navya thought him to be, she teams up with FAB5 and cocks up a plan to make Navya realise Harshad's true colors. Whilst this is happening, Nandini realises that everything that Manik told her was a lie, as his behaviour was contradicting his words, and she finally makes him admit that the reason he left her was because he came to know that Dhruv was in love with her. This leads to Nandini not talking to Manik whilst he apologises and begs for her forgiveness after realising what he did was wrong. Nandini along with FAB5 set out a plan to trap Harshad and make him confess his wrongdoings. At a celebration for ousting Harshad, FAB5 and Nandini play a game which allows Manik to confirm that Dhruv has moved on from Nandini. The love triangle soon comes to an end as Alya and Dhruv start to get closer when Nandini tells Dhruv that she only sees him as a friend. While Nandini is unwilling to forgive Manik because she feels he will always choose his friends over her, Manik goes to extreme lengths to prove himself to her.

When Soha Khurana (Jasmine Avasia) enters as the obsessed fan of Manik, Nandini becomes close to Manik again, as she couldn't stand the thought of anyone else being with him. They decide to be friends and get to know one another. Soon they become more than friends and on their first date, the fireflies light up, indicating to Nandini that Manik is indeed her true love. Due to a misunderstanding led by Soha's father, Nandini believes that Manik will be better off without her and will be able to focus on his dreams of becoming a singer. Soha's obsession with Manik reaches a dangerous level and she attempts to kill Nandini in a fire but she is saved by Manik. However, when Nandini finds out that Soha has died in the fire (a ploy set up by Nyonika and Soha's father), and that too perhaps because of Manik, she remains silent in court when she is asked if Manik had anything to do with Soha's death. A shocked Manik stops talking to her. Although it is proved that Manik is innocent, and despite Nandini's efforts to get back with him, he makes her suffer, as he felt Nandini didn't trust him enough and felt she betrayed him. However, realising that he can't let her go, he sets a hope vs hate challenge between them, and if Nandini manages to sing with him on the night of the Fusion Concert, there is a chance of them getting back together again.

Meanwhile, Mukti falls for Abhimanyu (Zain Imam), who is a cancer patient, as he teaches her to smile at all times and be happy. After his departure, she suffers greatly but her friends support her. On the other hand, Dhruv and Alya's relationship crumbles as a result of Dhruv's inferiority complex. This leads to Dhruv leaving FAB5. Manik clashes with Nandini's teacher, Pandit Trilok Chaurasya (Dishank Arora), for the Fusion Concert. Manik believes that the Pandit has the wrong intentions for Nandini while she brushes them off thinking Manik is jealous and overreacting.

On the day of the Fusion concert, Manik and Nandini sing together and all misunderstandings between Dhruv and FAB5 are cleared and Dhruv attempts to mend his broken friendship with the group. After the concert, Manik tells Nandini he loves her. Their happiness is short lived when the Pandit kidnaps Nandini. Although she is saved, she suffers from great shock and pushes everyone, including Manik, away from her. Nandini decides to take a break and goes to Mangalore with her brother but Manik goes after her. With the help of Nandini's grandmother, Ams, Manik succeeds in bringing Nandini out of her shock a day before her 18th birthday. On her birthday, Nandini tells Manik that she loves him and they become an official couple.

Meanwhile, Aryaman (Karan Jotwani) enters the scene (brother of Soha and friend of Harshad). His initial motive is to seek revenge for his sister’s death believing it is all Manik's fault. While others only suspect him, Nandini finds out the truth and asks for a chance to prove Manik’s innocence. On the other hand, Alya, begins to suffer from an eating disorder and depression as a result of her failed relationships and loneliness. On Friendship's Day, she announces that she wants to leave FAB5 and begin a fresh life which angers Dhruv who blames Manik claiming that he is their over shadower. While Alya and Dhruv claim that Manik has always been absent from their lives, Mukti and Cabir take the initiative of getting FAB5 back together.

During the Talent Hunt competition at S.P.A.C.E, FAB5 sing together and manage to mend their broken friendship. On the other hand, Aryaman's misunderstanding is cleared and he apologises to FAB5, Navya and Nandini. After FAB5 win the Talent Hunt, Manik and Nandini consummate their relationship. Aryaman decides to throw a dinner party and invites FAB5, Nandini and Navya. While Nandini waits at home for Manik and Cabir to pick her up and the rest of FAB5 wait for them to arrive at the party, Manik and Cabir face a car accident (plotted by Nyonika, Manik's mother, which was intended for Nandini). This marks the end of Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan Season 1.

Season 2

(shows life 3 months after the car blast) Starts with Nandini excited for Manik's birthday and when they are throwing a party Cabir and Manik are not there then why Nandini throws a party. Nandini misses Manik a lot. Aryamaan always supports her when she's sad. Navya becomes a RJ and takes care of her new born baby Abeer with Mukti trying to move on in life. Alya and Dhruv move on in life in their different paths but are just friends.A spoilt brat with voice of Manik enters the plot i.e., Madhyam Singhania (Maddy). Nandini hates him and he hates Nandini and stands for election against Nandini and Harshad. Soon thereafter, Nandini starts digging up the truth behind Manik's disappearance and eventually the fact comes out of Nyonika being involved. Nandini is always worried about Manik, misses him badly, and wants to know what has happened. Her heart knows he is alive and well somewhere. Manik then comes back and reveals that he was saved by his father and that he had been in Pune all this while. He couldn't save Cabir and is distraught when he remembers him when he plays the drums in his memory. Nandini Dhruv mukti and alya console him on that. Then Nandini, navya and FAB3 reunite and they go to a hotel for celebrating. On the other hand, Maddy is thrown out of his house but Arayaman helps him and takes him to his place. Aaryaman arrives at the party and Manik doesn't like it at all. Manik then steals Nandini away from the rest of them and the two spend the night together after being happily drunk under stars. Nandini feels finally content in her love's arms and Manik lovingly handles her, smiling. MaNan, written by the stars and celebrated by the fireflies, finally are happy. Manik wants to complete Nandini's bucket list so we see a series of interesting things that MaNan do, from stealing beer bottles to playing with water bottles. Meanwhile, Dhruv is insecure about Alya and Manik advises him to be alone for sometime and Dhruv says to Alya that she is more happy with Varun (Alya's boss in fashion design) than him. He says goodbye to Manik and Alya separately and leaves to start a new chapter in his life. Manik accepts Aryaman as Nandini's friend. The show ends with Manik and Nandini reaffirming their love for one another and will be together Humesha (Forever) with Mukti/Alya/Manik jamming together for one last time and ask aryaman to come and sit on the drums, joining them. Manik while playing remembers the beautiful memories that they had with Fab5 and his love, Nandini. Navya and Nandini are standing aside and smiling on seeing them together. They make a beautiful tempo with the band and after that celebrate New Year and all coming into a group hug and raising their glasses together, standing together as friends forever, with MaNan in the centre. MaNan leave for Denmark the next day to start the next chapter of their lives, leaving behind beautiful memories and cherishing each other forever. Navya considers a gay couple to adopt her son and continues as a RJ. Mukti leaves to join an international music house to go solo and Alya takes a contract for fashion design. Harshad is made President at SPACE after Maddy leaves the city. Finally, Aryaman wishes Nandini well with Manik. Manik realises that although friendship is important, love stays with you forever and promises to cherish Nandini forever. This marks the end of Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan Season 2.

Cast

Guest appearances