Looking at the watch, it indicated 12 O'clock. He hadn't been up this late in a long time. He put his shoes back in rack and started to loose his tie.
"So how was the party?" Samit asked.
Samit was allotted next bed to him in dorm.
"You haven't slept yet?" Manik asked, "Party was good."
Samit got a little excited and came on his elbows while covering his head with bed sheet.
"Did you dance?" He asked like an excited kid.

"Yes I did. A little," Manik answered.

"With a girl?" Samit almost was out of bed.

"Of course Samit, with a girl. What kind of question was that?" Manik replied.

Samit came close to Manik's bed with sheet still on his head.

"I mean, you like... You really held her close," he asked in low but excited tone.

Manik glared at him and he got the hint.

"We are already late. Go to sleep," Manik said and pulled the blanket on him.

Well, he had danced for those few minutes with her. Later, he didn't bother to continue this awkward practice of dance. He just sat by window witnessing marvelous view outside. With few shots of rum, he wholeheartedly celebrated first snow of season. He had never seen it snowing before.

He couldn't read that night as it was late. He believed he could go to sleep. He did but after a little wandering in mind.

_________________________

All dressed in uniform, he jerked Harshad for 4th time to get up.

"Get up, Harshad," Manik yelled, "You are gonna get late for morning drill."

Samit asked Manik when did Harshad return last night. Manik didn't know himself.
Harshad's name wasn't in list but he still went there, without knowledge of officers. He was synonym to trouble.

"You go on, I am ill," Harshad said in sleepy voice, "I have exerted so much last night. It was so damn exerting. So damn tiring. So damn..... passionate."

He was mumbling in sleep.
Manik understood what he did and where he was last night. He made his hopeless face and left.

__________________
After morning drill, Manik had submitted an application for Harshad. His sick leave had been accepted, all thanks to Manik.

Walking in corridor, he heard Colonel Singh calling his name.
He turned around to see him approaching. He straightened his torso and saluted him.

"At ease, my boy," Mr. Singh said.
He patted his shoulder and both started walking across the corridor.

"So how was the party? Did you enjoy?" He asked.

"It was good, sir," Manik answered briefly.

"I am glad you loosened up a bit," he told, "you know It feels great to see you doing so well."

"Thanks, sir," Manik said.

Silence galore and Mr. Singh let him go.

"This quiet boy. He scares me with his deadly silence," Mr Singh murmured before walking back to his office.
__________________________
Day went quite eventful as he successfully attended all the classes and drills. Being at peace, he entered the dorm only to witness all boys huddled up near his bed.

"Then what, I just made my way smooothhhhllyyy and Colonel didn't even have a clue," Harshad bragged.
He was telling his last night chronicles to boys. Manik nodded his head being all hopeless in that guy.

"About the girl, hayeeee, she had worn this red gown and that red lip gloss," he said with a lot sighs.
Manik stood by huddle leaving his cloths on bed. Harshad had gotten his attention finally with the kind of description he had knitted.

"What was her name?" One guy asked.
"Did you kiss her?" Other one inquired.
Manik looked at Harshad keenly. He realized and then turned back to take his cloths. He walked towards the door when he heard Harshad telling the name of girl.
"Rimi was the name," he said with gasp.
Manik stopped for a second or two and then sighed. He walked out of dorm.
____________________________

"You were holding her waist tight. I saw you, bro," Harshad teased Manik when he came back.
"At least, tell us the name of that red hot....," Harshad went on.

"Shut up, guys," Manik yelled, "don't you have any other topic to talk about other than girls?"

Guys looked at him as if he had landed from another planet.

"Away from my bed, NOW," he shouted and everyone went to their respective beds cursing him for being spoiled sport.

He took out one of his books and started reading.

"You know, you are a little weird," Harshad told him with this disgusted expression.

Manik glared at him and kept on reading.

Reading from past 30 minutes, he didn't realize when main light had been switched and only side lamp was illuminating the room.
He looked around to see how everyone had drifted to sleep.
He put aside the book and looked at clock. It was 10 pm. He tucked himself in bed and turned off the lamp.
Their talks were nothing less than headache. He did feel relieved after reading.

Closed eyes and he saw her face flashing in front of his eyes. Glossy red lips, red dress and her angry pout; he opened his eyes and tossed on another side of bed.

She sending a flying kiss, and then her giggles; he got up and changed the side of bed. His head on foot side and feet on head portion; Blanket from tip to toe; Harshad describing the girl whom he had taken out last night, and he thought it was her. He threw the blanket aside.

Night passed tossing from one side to another.

___________________________
"Don't call him now, he is a lot grumpy today," Harshad told someone who was calling Manik.
He matched Manik's feet and asked for nth time, "what's the issue, Manik?"

He kept striding towards dining area.
"I couldn't sleep properly," he answered sternly.

"Manik"
Someone called out and they both turned around to see.
"Colonel Singh wants to see you in his office," a guy informed.

Manik left for his office.

____________________________
Colonel was looking at a cheque in his hand. He kept smiling all lost in his thoughts until there was a knock on door.
It was Manik. He allowed him in.
As soon as he settled down in chair, Colonel Singh handed over the cheque to him.
Manik looked at it briefly and then folded it neatly.

"Without a fail, like every month," colonel said.

Manik smiled a bit and kept it in his pocket.

"Cash it today itself. It's Friday. Deposit it in your account," he asked Manik.

It was consecutive 5th month when his dues as well as his allowances had reached on time. Every month, trust would send this cheque to Colonel for handing it over to Manik. Though, he doubted if Manik had ever made use of this heavy pin money.
"Uncle Singh," she stormed in cabin and collided with Manik who was leaving.
"You?" Manik uttered.
Color from her face did fade away for a second or two but then again she was back at being normal. And normal meant trouble in her case. That mischievous smile, big doe eyes and utterly dangerous body language, she was a walking grenade. Manik pursed his lips in ire.

"You both know each other?" colonel asked all amused.

Manik was shooting deadly glares at her and she looked at Colonel with sweet smile.
Colonel looked at one and then other, Manik was glaring her and she was looking towards Mr Singh.
"Uncle... "
"Sir... She.. "
Both spoke at same time.

"No uncle, I am seeing him for first time," she quickly uttered while putting files on table.

Manik was all flustered.

"Oh! Manik, meet Nandini," Colonel said, "and Nandini, this is my best cadet Manik."

Nandini looked at him with plastered sweet smile. Manik didn't care much to even pretend to be sweet.

"Nandini, your problem is solved. Manik is going to town. He would take you along," colonel said.

Manik looked like as if he was asked to carry a weighted sack all the way to town. He looked terrified.

"Would you?" asked colonel .
Nandini kept looking Manik, batting her eyes, making him even more uncomfortable.

Manik gulped and said, "Of course sir."

Colonel smiled widely and asked him to take his Jeep.

Nandini bade bye to Mr Singh and walked out of room winking at Manik.

Manik followed her with this stone face. His nightmares were suggestive, he deduced.

________________________