Breaking every single thing in her room, she settled into her bed trying to find her calm. It should have felt good after venting out but this freaking prick wasn't going. She punched mattress hard and then stormed into bathroom. 

Coming out after along hot water shower, she threw her towel somewhere in room and was about to take a nap when she heard her mother calling her name. She mumbled some curses under her breath and stomped out of room. 

"Nandini, Manik is going back," Daadu said as soon as she came out of room. Daadu was standing outside her room. He looked frantic. 

She peeped down the railing and saw him bidding goodbye to everyone. He had his backpack and he looked...well determined. Nandini's nose flared as she saw the same unreasonable frown on his face.

"Good, he is going," She murmured and tried to leave. 

Daadu held her from elbow and stopped. 

"What happened, bachaa?" He asked with all his affection. 

"Nothing happened," She murmured and went inside her room. Closing the door with a thud, she drew attention of berserk soldier downstairs. 

He looked up and saw a displeased Daadu standing holding railing and behind him a shut door. He pursed his lips in anger and then walked out. 

"I don't know what happened to him. I thought he is enjoying here," Saahiba said being a little worried. 

Colonel hugged her sideways and assured, "He is like that, Sahiba. I am surprised that he stayed for this long even."

Daadu shook his head listening to their conversation. 

"This is dirty mess," He said and walked to his room. 

Manik sat in car which Madhav had arranged for him. His heart was nothing less than battleground where all his egoistic soldiers were getting killed by each second. He had started this uncalled war but then he didn't know how to handle it. 

He looked at house one more time and saw no human movement. 

"She doesn't give a damn," He said and punched the seat. 

Car started to move and in no time, he was away from the posh estate. 

With each mile he covered, he felt a void building. It was getting on his nerve. He didn't want to exist for those moments. 

"Fine, Cadet. Now that's a promise"

Her words echoed in his ear and restlessness touched the peak. She meant each bit of it, didn't she? But then when had she kept a single word of hers. She looked like a whimsical wave. She was never serious. She made his life joke since when she had walked in. No, not walked in, she had stormed in. he didn't even realize when he was dancing on her wild tune. She could never be serious. She never kept her words. She was too stray for that. She was too deaf for hearing words. She was too wild for keeping words. She could not be serious. 

"Stop thinking about her"

He yelled at himself for thinking about her more with each parting mile. 

_______________

Nandini put her hat and walked out of house. Driver handed her key of 'Rover defender' and she climbed on. She started to drive away. She was angry and it was unusual. Her anger never lasted this long. She sought fun, she got some. She never had plans to make anything this messy. He was hurt for God knows what reason. She was too fickle to even stick to her anger. But this time, it wasn't subsiding. She drove towards lake and saw the never ending view of water.

"How could he even accuse me for all his stupid crying material. What did I do? I invaded what? Why am I even thinking about his bullshit"

She accelerated the jeep. 
______________

Why won't she just appear from anywhere and pull her ever so irritating prank?

He irked more as car covered quarter of journey. He was the one pushing her away when actually she didn't even mean to stick. And when now he was going back, he secretly wished that she would come and stop him. His unreasonable hopes were dying with distance he was covering. 

Defender was submerged in lake when Nandini jumped out of it. Her hair were wet mess as she walked back to bank. 

"Did drowning the poor jeep help?" She heard a familiar voice and saw Daadu walking towards her. His driver was trying to match his steps. Daadu hinted him something and he ran to submerged rover. 

"I don't want anyone," She said coldly and walked all wet towards nowhere. 

"He affects you," Daadu declared. Nandini furrowed her brows and then turned around. 

"He is no one," She yelled. 

"This chapter is closed forever," She announced and walked farther. 

"Nandini," Daadu followed her in hurried steps. 

"I thought you two were at least friends," He tried not to fuel her fire. 

"He is just a wimp. And I don't like people who make everything a twisted mess," She explained. 

"Which friends don't fight?" Daadu tried to calm her down. 

"He is not my friend," She stopped and declared. 

"Then why are you so angry?" Daadu asked sternly. 

"I don't know," She said and then looked at her rover which by then was out of water. 

"Why are we even talking about a crybaby? Daadu, I am done and over him," She said and then took her rover from driver. Driving it to her own directions, she left. 

________________________

10 days later

Cadets and officers were rushing here and there on railway station. Holidays were cancelled owing to unrest in valley. Soldiers were returning to academy. Harshad dropped his luggage on floor and frowned. 

"Where is he?" He said frowning more. 

Manik was coming out of crowd and Harshad sighed. 

"What happened to you?" That was first question of Harshad as Manik reached him. 

"What?" Manik asked bewildered. 

"You look pathetic," Harshad said furrowing his nose. 

"You look sick," He added. 

"I am fine," Manik answered briefly and then lifted Harshad's luggage. Both left for academy. 

Reaching the dorm, they saw boys chattering. Life was back to academy. Manik was somewhere relieved that everyone was back before time. Last 10 days were nothing less than hell for him. He loved solitude but the same aloof haunted him. Now he could at least expect that everything would be back to normal. 

"Colonel Singh is back," One of boy informed entering the room. 

"That means even Nandini is back," He thought and then slammed himself mentally for thinking about her. 

"Cadets, Assembly hall in 15," One of officers informed and every boy started to dress up. 

Manik wore his uniform and then walked out. Harshad literally joined him running. 

"You missed me so much?" He asked side hugging Manik. 

"Shut up, Harshad," Manik snapped. 

"Grumpier than ever," Harshad mumbled. 

"Look at you, you have made a mess of yourself," He said touching Manik's stubble. 

"Stop touching me," Manik warned angrily. 

"Okay, Mr Grumps," Harshad said withdrawing. 

Hall got filled with low murmurs as everyone took their seat. 

Colonel Singh walked in along with Lieutenant and Major. 

They all looked concerned about something. Manik's turbulence increased as Colonel's face reminded him of Nandini. There wasn't a single night he had slept peacefully after returning. Loneliness had bitten him to the darkest corner. She was all over his mind. 

"Cadets" Colonel Singh addressed. 

"Your holidays got cancelled and I am sure you all know why. Enemies have attacked our border Base camp a day back. And there's an unrest in valley. Though infantry won't be needed in any operation but you my young unit, get ready to serve the town if there's need."

Colonel ended his speech and entire hall got filled with zealous chatter. Colonel had left the hall and he did spare a glance to Manik. There was different kind of unrest in Manik's heart and mind. He felt guilty. Maybe he had let down Colonel with his behavior. Colonel and his wife had treated him so well and what did he do. He just embarrassed them in front of their friends. Guilt subsided and anger knocked in.

"And all this happened because of that little piece of trouble"

Yet again she was back. Seemed like he would drag her to matters where she doesn't even belong. He had dragged her to every corner of his heart.

"Now do the public service sacrificing your holidays," Harshad cried and that brought Manik out of his grave thoughts.

"This is not done, dude," He added and then stomped away.

A peon reached Manik and informed how Colonel Singh wanted to see him. Manik gulped hard as horror struck.

Reaching his cabin, he gathered his courage to enter. He knew he had let Colonel down.

"Manik," Colonel exclaimed in joy as he saw Manik.

"How have you been?" he asked and added, "Sahiba had gone worried sick for you."

"I am fine, sir," Manik answered with audible relief in his voice. At least colonel wasn't angry.

"And I am sorry for leaving like that. It was not right on my part," He admitted sheepishly.

"It's okay. I understand. You aren't much of extrovert so I can understand," Colonel said with a smile.

Then he didn't ask or tell anything. He just got busy reading some letter and he didn't even ask him to leave. Manik expected him to say something about Murthys but he didn't utter a word. What could that mean? Did that mean she doesn't even care? He clenched his fist. He certainly was away from sense and reason these days.

"Sir," Manik uttered and Colonel looked at him.

"Is that it? How are Murthys? " He asked anticipating some information.

"Yeah, that's it. They are fine. Brigadier Murthy said he misses you," Colonel informed.

Manik's heart melted as he heard about Daadu. At least he cared, Manik sighed and smiled.

"You may leave, Manik," Colonel said and his smile disappeared.

He wanted to ask about her. Whether she missed him. Missed? Huh, In your nightmares, Malhotra. Manik himself ridiculed him. At least she had thought about him. But how to know that. Maybe he should ask if she would join back her job. He scolded him out of maze named Nandini and walked out.

"Time to get back to old you," He murmured and then walked back to dorm.

______________________

"Another day and she didn't come. Had that girl any aim in life or what? She can't ditch everything like that. Why she didn't come back"

He came out of shooting range and was walking back to dorm. It was dark. He saw some movement in corridors. He paid closer look and saw officers pacing in and out. Something had happened again. Next thing he heard was an announcement. Every cadet was called for an emergency meeting.

He ran towards Hall and saw colonel already there. He was looking worried.

"What happened?" Manik asked.

"Terrorists are lurking around town, Manik," Colonel answered. Manik could see it wasn't all. Something else was there which Colonel was hiding.

"See, I have to lead commando unit. Lieutenant, you make the announcement to infantry unit," Manik heard Colonel talking Lieutenant.

Colonel passed by Manik and Manik couldn't resist but follow him.

"What are you hiding?" Manik asked panting as he followed Colonel.

"Cadet, this is not home where you can break the protocols. Return back to Hall now," Colonel ordered.

"Yes, Sir," Manik saluted and walked back.

Manik reached Hall and saw everyone gathered up.

"Attention you kittens," Lieutenant Kalra addressed the unit.

"I don't intend to play around. Get your asses to trucks in next 20 minutes. You all are posted to town for patrolling for indefinite period," Lieutenant announced.

"Your locations would be alloted to you as you reach the trucks," He added, "Move now."

Manik fretted as he heard about new order. Why Colonel was so tensed? Negative thoughts weren't leaving his side.
__________________

"Nandini"

Mrs Murthy yelled as she saw Nandini leaving for somewhere.

"Didn't you hear? It's not safe outside," She asked.

"Didn't you hear me, Mom? I am going out no matter what," She retorted and walked out.

"Nandini, your mother is right. Terrorists are roaming in town. Singh has just informed me," Daadu said as she was about to drive her defender.

"Daadu, you know it never stopped me. I can take care of myself," She said casually.

She drove away and Daadu sighed deeply.

_____________

Manik was leading his unit and was posted on highway. Police was checking all the vehicles and army was making sure no suspicious activity goes unnoticed. It started to snow as they patrolled in near by areas. National highway was all sealed.
It was freezing cold.

Manik was assigned 10 soldiers in his unit. Harshad was in his unit and his constant cribbing about everything was getting on Manik's nerve.

"Miss, you cannot go on route 17. It's not safe there," Manik heard policeman arguing with someone. He saw a Rover defender standing near check post.

"It's one of sensitive areas and no commoner is allowed to enter that area. Why don't you understand?" Policeman tried to convince but Manik assumed some dick head was in car who was not ready to understand.

He walked to the barrier and gestured policeman to leave. He leaned to look who was inside the Jeep. And there was chaos of his life sitting all stubborn. He sighed aloud as he saw her.

"Nandini" he murmured.

She looked at him and her eyes widened. She looked shocked. And she looked hurt. Then she looked done. Manik just captured each expression of hers. She turned away her face.

"See officer, I need to get there. It's urgent," She said after a fine silence.

She sounded indifferent.

"Nandini" He again murmured. He was somehow elated to see her. It was like finally fire inside his heart had agreed to calm down.

"I am getting late and it's urgent," She said again without meeting his eyes.

"Ummmm, Route 17 is forbidden for use. You cannot go there," Manik answered trying to sound unaffected.

"Then maybe I should go... Back," She mumbled and pulled the gear, "It's anyway only way to reach that sector... Maybe."

She agreed and that was fishy. She was hell fidgety the way she was handling car. Manik just stood like fool as she reversed the car. He wanted to scream her name so loud that she had to halt and listen all the bullshit he had to say. But then she didn't even spare a glance. She quickly paced the car and left. Manik knew she wouldn't be just returning home. She for a fact had a rebel disorder. He called for Jeep and one of his soldiers drove it for him. Giving charge to Harshad, he followed Nandini to find out from where she was going to trespass.