Nandini POV

How can I forget to carry Indian clothes to India ? Now I have to wear something western. I love to wear western but some people here are so traditional. I pull on a grey tank top and baby pink shorts . I step outside and walk torwards the terrace after vacating my room. I keep Maniks bag there to see him still asleep. "Manik utho". He takes his blanket and covers his and mumbles "Nandini, who wakes up so early. Let me sleep".

"Oh sorry, I thought humans wake up at ten in the morning. I am sorry, I mistook you as a human"

. He slowly wakes up and rubs his eyes and looks at me with a confused face. "Manik you know what, a good cup of chai and a little bit of sarcasm makes your day much better. Now go change." He walked away and I went down towards the lobby.

The receptionist is gawking at me. This people don't know that staring is rude. Manik comes with his luggage in a black t-shirt and dark blue jeans.

" manik I'll pay." I said
"No I am paying". Our argument went on till I suggest to split. We both give the money and the receptionist says handing over hundred bucks"mam, you have special discount".

"Awww so sweet. Thanks BHAIYA JI". I heard manik chuckle and the mans face was so funny. We both exit and I turn to manik who has a smile on his face. "Seriously manik, this is how people flirt here". He just chuckled as again and entered the car. As we drive of I shout "Manik!". He suddenly applies brakes making me jerk forward".

Manik's POV
This girl is impossible. The way she bhai zoned that guy was hilarious. " Manik!" Nandini shouted. I apply brake and ask " what happened?". She point's towards a dhabha and says " I am hungry". "Seriously Nandini, are you mad. You scared the hell out of me." I shout
She pouts and holds her ears saying sorry. "Nandini that place is really unhygienic. Aren't you from US." I ask.

"Why Manik can't people from US have the right to eat the most delicious food in the world?". She pleads making me say

" UGH FINE". She all of a sudden hugs me saying thank you and pulls away and gets out of the car and streches her arms. We go near the dhabha and she says " bhai dho garam chai".

He hands over two cups of tea. " manik I am hungry. Order something na".
"you order for yourself".
"

Manik my hindi is dangerous. Plz manik".
I order food only for her. The man hands over food to her and she looks at and say "manik, you dont want?"
"No thanks". Who eats such unhealthy food. She starts eating and she widens her eyes and says "yum! Manik you have to taste this".

I slowly decline but she already stuffed my mouth with food. I looked at her angrily while she was still enjoying her food and laughing. I have to admit the foods awesome. I remember dad used to make awesome aloo parathas during weekends. It was our family routine for men to cook during weekends, even though we help everyday and mom likes to handle cooking.

Nandini POV
The food is super delicious. Maniks phone starts ringing and he walks a little far. He rushes back and I ask " what happened?"
"I can't drop you home."
"Kya? Aiyappa how will I go now "
"I have some urgent work, sorry."
" I cannot go alone, I am coming with you".
"No you can't, the place I have to go is dangerous and I don't want you to interfere in my life".
"I don't want to interfere in any of your plans but I don't even know how to go back. I won't disturb you at all. Pwease"
"Ugh fine"he finally agreed
"Yay" I jumped with joy. I payed at the dhabha and got back in the car.
We drove for an hour and

I kept on talking and I think he was deaf ear over my talks. "Manik.. where are we going?
"None of your business." He spated rudely.

Idiot ! Doesn't know how to respect girls. He is so insensitive. He doesn't even think before talking. Impulsive jerk, stupid,idiot,monkey, monster manik.
"

Stop calling me names in your mind", said manik reading my mind.
"Tumhe kaise patha ki I was calling you names?" I said in broken hindi mixed with English.
"I just know" he said in a monotonous voice. He got out of the car and looked towards me and say "you wait here, whatever happens don't come inside". I look around and see an old building. I think its some kind storage house. Its really big and it looks creepy.

"Oh I assure you I won't come inside that building" I say stressing the word building with a creepy face. He walks of ignoring my creepy face. I wonder what is Manik's plan.

Oh my God! Amms must have tried to call Chacha and Chachi by now. If they say I haven't reached, all will simply panic. If I say I am with a person I know for some hours. Amms will again panic. I'll call chachi and tell her I am going for trip. I will tell I am on my way to shimla. Shimla is my dream destination in India. I have been going for summer jobs and I can visit Shimla with my own money. The happiness you get when you do something with your own hardwork is awesome!

I hear some noises inside. Should I go? Obviously not. But its even more creepier here. If I go inside manik will kill me if I stay here I will die with a panic attack. Nandini its your choice do you want a normal death or a murder. I think murder is more thrilling

In case Manik doesn't kill me and he leaves me here and goes. I won't and can't die of hunger. Food is the basic necessity of my life. No, food is the only thing in my life. I cant die due to hunger. I am staying here.
"Aaah".
Thats Manik's voice. I suddenly see a few guys running. Oh God, is Manik fine. I should go inside. No, but Manik said not to. I get down and run inside. The building keeps on getting creepier. Its some kind of storage or warehouse. Its an old warehouse. I quickly pace through every side to see Manik laying on the floor with blood oozing out of his head. God!
"Manik! Manik are you okay"? I ask him
He slowly regains consciousness and looks at me intently and says" I told you not to come inside". His words were just mere whispers. " you idiot, if you die, I will make you dhabha food and keep on talking all the way through your mysterious journey. I won't give you peace of mind". He slowly chuckles and says " oh you'll do what you usually do, I am okay with that".
"You idiot". He suddenly looses consciousness. " manik! Manik, wake up".
I don't know why but a lone tear escapes my eyes.
" I have to take him to the hospital. I grab Manik's keys and slowly make him stand on his knees. I literally drag him to the car. I ask for dierections as I reach the main road.

I reach in front a building with a board kept " Mary's Health Care". I call the attendant and we rush him to the Emergency ward. I wait outside and do my usual routine while I am nervous. Its not biting my nails,I sing. I slowly sing and walk from one end of the hospital wing to the other. As I reach near the ward, a nurse comes out and I rush to her and I ask " how's Manik?"
"Mam, we can't say anything for now, he is under observation". As I try to walk a little away from her she calls and hands over his phone, wallet and a chain. I take it from her and sit on a nearby seat. I see the locket is slightly broken. It says "Dad".

Oh my , manik loves his father so much. I couldn't help but cry. I wipe all my tears apart. I should call nyonika mam.

No, she will panic. I should call one of his friends. I open Maniks phone. What would be Manik's pattern to unlock. Malhotra uncle's first name is Harsh, it must be 'H'. I succeeded. I see his contacts and see fab five written. I open to see 4 names. I decided to call a guy called cabir.
( Nandini- na, cabir- ca)
Ca- hello manik, where are you idiot!?
Na- hello i am Nandini speaking
Ca-who?