"You are in deep shit, bro," Harshad commented with a sympathetic face as he passed by Manik. Manik once again rolled his eyes as if that could help get rid of jim-jams. His night apparently went usual with normal sets of dreams which featured Nandini as mandatory. He was used to that but then jerk friends like Harshad have to be so damn nosy that they won't stop nudging with stupid things. It was his nth comment since morning. He thought Manik was in some sort of shit called love, well Manik would have laughed on the joke but it wasn't even funny. 

He joined the detention line of Lieutenant Kalra wearing the vest and shorts as asked. Nandini seriously had thought she had bailed him out of claws of Kalra but little did she know, Kalra never learns. Manik was ready for regressive drill as first thing in morning. 

Kalra was already mapping the preys for appropriate punishments. Manik wasn't even afraid anymore. He stood straight looking towards famous nowhere waiting for some nasty words and a following punishment. 

"I wonder where's your little girlfriend?" Kalra remarked spitefully as he reached Manik after insulting a few boys. 

"Sir," Manik said stiffening a bit more, "She isn't my girlfriend."

"Now you would tell me who she is?" Kalra dared impudently. 

"I know it all. That wildcat was your idea of taking revenge on me," He added accusingly. Manik wanted to laugh on amount of importance Lt had given himself but he couldn't and kill that Kalra for calling his wildcat a wildcat. He was no one. 

"There's nothing like that, SIR," Manik answered mechanically. 

"Do you think I am a fool, Malhotra?" Kalra was hell bent for testing Manik's patience. 

"NO SIR," Manik answered loudly. 

"Now you would tell me if I am a fool or not," Kalra barked swaying his club. 

Manik didn't know whether to get suspended after hitting the absurd man in front of him or just simply dig a hole and bury himself. 

Before he could decide what to say for getting a punishment, Kalra declared, "50 rounds of military ground with your rifle up." Manik sighed and ran towards locker room. It was much easier than tolerating the torturous presence of Lt. 

____________________

Nandini climbed down the stairs sliding the stair-post. Wearing her favorite gum-boots and sweater, she was ready to go to work. Joining Daadu on dining table, she poured milk in her cornflakes bowl. It had to be one of happy mornings. 

"Nandini," She heard her mother calling and that meant trouble in morning. 

"Yes," Nandini answered refusing to leave her place. 

"You are coming with me to a charity event. Your father wants you to accompany me," Her mother informed. 

"I can't," Nandini answered simply eating her meal. 

"You aren't asked," Her mother told a bit loud and that halted the activity on dining table. 

"You are coming and that's all about it," Her mother added. Daadu's forehead furrowed foreseeing the upcoming drama. 

"Well," Nandini got up, her tone clearly warning about the bitter on her tongue.

"I have a job to go. I am telling you too if you have forgotten," She informed and picked up her bag. 

As she walked towards door, she heard her mother banging the spoon on table harshly. 

"We are done with that job. Neither your father nor I want you to continue that silly volunteer job," Her mother yelled. 

"Let her be, Reva," Daadu intervened trying to calm her mother down. 

"It's between me and my daughter," She retorted angrily and Nandini turned around unable to play it cool any further. 

"I am an adult and nobody can tell me what should I and what not," Nandini stated walking to table. 

"Not specially the people who don't even care if I exist or not," She added furiously. 

"Nandiniii," Daadu barged in. Nandini knew that tone. He didn't want her to speak to her mother in that tone. 

"Don't dictate my life," She warned and stormed out of house. 

"I can't believe she is my daughter," Her mother mumbled angrily. 

Daadu stared her sternly and she walked away not before giving him an accusing look. 

Nandini drove her jeep as rash as she could to calm her senses down. Parking it, she got out. Her mother had ruined her entire day, she knew. She hated having words with her family because that could charge her up for storm. She could go and on, and not stop. Her forehead furrowed as she locked her jeep. 

__________________

"Love is when you cannot hear a thing against her," Harshad said dreamily as he jogged along Manik in military ground. 

"What shit are you talking about?" Manik asked catching his breath as he kept completing his rounds. 

"It isn't shit, bro," Harshad replied with hint of upcoming creepy philosophy. 

"It's love," He added and Manik felt like hitting him with rifle in his hands. 

"You couldn't keep your mouth shut in front of Kalra, I heard," Harshad finally stopped beating around the bush. 

"You defended her," He added with pride in his voice. 

"I didn't defend Nandini," Manik clarified frustratingly. 

"I didn't even take her name," Harshad said with "gotcha" click. 

"You are so gone, bro," He said shaking his head and then changed his course. Manik wanted to dump the punishment and chase Harshad instead to beat the hell out of him. He had fried his already cluttered brain and now it was a porridge. 

Manik turned around as he reached the end of ground just to start 25th round and saw a lost Nandini walking in corridor.  A smile touched his lips as soon as he got to see her face, didn't matter if she looked a little distracted. Last night played in front of his eyes. She was like this perfect kitten and he was the chicken, he smiled biting his lip. He slapped himself as he realized what he had just called himself. That's what she called him, he wasn't a chicken.  He reminded himself and ran towards her with his rifle still above his head. 

Nandini saw him approaching wearing a sweaty vest and loose shorts. She wondered why would someone wear that attire in 8 degrees. He looked quite happy lifting that rifle and Nandini couldn't deduce it had to be some punishment. She was too messed up for that. 

"Hey," He shouted still from afar. 

"What's up?" He asked smiling a little too much. 

"Nothing is up," She answered roughly. She wasn't in mood to do 'Hey what's up? How's life?' Somehow he was increasing her restlessness. She wanted to be alone. His face had triggered a frightening pulse inside. She frowned. 

She started to walk in corridor and he jogged along. 

"Why are you in this fancy dress?" She asked for the sake of it. 

"I am jogging," he replied coolly. 

Nandini frowned unable to understand the happy man beside her. 

"With rifle above your head?" She asked pointing towards it. 

"Oh that," He realized and then paused thinking to come up with something. 

"It's regular drill," He replied casually. 

"Cadet, not here," An officer pointed seeing Manik in corridor. 

"It's not the place for taking detention laps," He added and Manik flushed. He was caught. He didn't mean to take laps of admin lobby but then he couldn't know when he had started to jog there. Nandini looked at him questioning. He didn't dare to meet her gaze and drifted away returning to the ground. 

____________________

"They say you cannot concentrate on anything once you are bitten by the bug," Harshad whispered in Manik's ear. They were in lecture taking notes on 'Arms and ammunition'. 

Manik glared Harshad who was sitting on adjacent desk. 

"I am not bitten by any bug," He answered gritting his teeth. 

Harshad pressed his lips suppressing his laugh. Major Luthra was drawing something on white-board while they both chit-chatted under the breath. 

"Maybe that's how you ended up jogging in corridors," Harshad teased whispering further. 

Manik looked at him amused. Was he spying?

"How the hell you know that I was jogging in corridor?" Manik asked urgently. 

Harshad shrugged his shoulders and refused to tell. Manik kept glaring him and Harshad had to lean in to whisper in his ear. 

"A little bug told me," He replied and Manik closed his notebook loudly intending to hit on Harshad's head. 

"OUT, Malhotra," Major Luthra yelled and Manik froze in his place. He was caught. He didn't know where to hide his face. 

Walking out of classroom, he mumbled some curses to Harshad. He was never thrown out of any class and it was matter of insult that Manik Malhotra was asked to get out of class. He wanted to a dig a hole and lie there for rest of year. He looked at his watch only to realize it was just 15 minutes for horse-riding class. His face lit up like a Christmas tree. 

_______________

Nandini stood in front of batch of 40 as they gathered there for the class. Daadu couldn't come for the class that day and that left everything to Nandini. Her face looked tired, her eyes a bit angry; Manik could do that reading all day. 

"We won't be doing horses, today," She said uninterested. 

"Maybe you all can go and have a break," She said totally not in mood of taking that class. 

Saying that she walked towards stable and boys kept chit-chatting for minutes, and then started to disperse. 

"Go and talk to her," Harshad whispered in Manik's ear. 

"I was going to do that," Manik replied absentmindedly still trying to read her mood. 

He heard Harshad chuckle and that's when he realized Harshad was fooling around. 

"You know I can kill you, right?" Manik asked glaring Harshad. 

"Those who are fallen in love hardly kill a thing," Harshad uttered philosophically only to get a punch in gut by Manik. 

"I am just trying to help, bro," Harshad cribbed holding his stomach. 

"I don't want a word on it again," Manik warned and walked away. 

_________________________

Touching the blaze of horse, Nandini smiled a little. Horse neighed a little and she smiled wider. Those creatures could any day bring smile on her face no matter how bad her day was. 

"Lovely creatures, aren't they?" She heard someone saying and she looked around to find a familiar face smiling at her. She smiled back. 

Manik walked to the stable talking to himself, he wanted to talk to her. That was going to be only good thing in his shitty day. He couldn't deny that she was becoming only thing in his life. She hovered his life and he couldn't fight with the fact anymore. He entered the stable to see the handsome horses staring at him. He walked across the cabins and heard Nandini's giggles. He wanted to see what made her smile at last. 

He took another turn and there she was. Standing next to a brown horse, she was laughing out loud on something. His lips curved into a smile seeing her smiling. But wait, was that a guy standing next to her telling her some shitty joke? A frown covered his face. How could she smile that beautiful to another guy? He frowned further. Stop Smiling Nandini!! He chanted multiple times in his head before starting to walk towards him. 

She brushed forelocks of horse with her fingers and guy whose back was turned on Manik too starting doing that. Manik pursed his lips in anger and wanted to remove that guy from there as soon as possible. They both lovingly looked at the horse and Manik felt like throwing a tantrum on spot. It couldn't be done. If she had to be petting a horse and feel good about it, it must be him accompanying her. Nandini's eyes finally left that guy's face and noticed Manik coming towards her. Her smile stayed but eyes again got shifted on other man. That guy was of course the other man, Manik shouted in his mind. Only if his stupid chats could be recorded, he might realize how much deep he was in this thing which he called shit. 

She again looked at him and wondered a little. His face must have looked pathetic. Manik tried to iron the creases on his forehead but it was like they have refused to go away. Other man followed Nandini's eyes and turned around to see what was the distraction. Damn it, that guy was the distraction, not him. Manik yelled in his mind. 

"Manik," Other man greeted and Manik saw his face. 

SAHIL! 

Wasn't he done dancing with HIS DATE last night?!

Manik roared in his mind, it seemed that was only place he could be these days. Why he was again back to Nandini? Didn't he know Nandini was his partner! She was his date! What if ball was over, couldn't people see she only talked to him. That meant something. He talked excessively to himself and zoned out. 

"Cadet Malhotra," Sahil clicked his fingers in front of Manik to bring him out of trance.

Manik came out of his little parliament where he was lone candidate. 

"You here?" He asked. 

Manik clasped his lips together to give that Sahil some piece of mind but then ranks, Duh! why he had to be a army man at that moment. Why that jerk had to be his senior?! Manik asked himself over and again. 

Manik unwillingly saluted him and then stood at ease. 

"I was here to remind Ms Murthy that she has a class in next 15 minutes," Manik replied glaring Nandini who was looking at him already. Her face adrift, deprived of any emotion. 

"Nandini you have a class?" Sahil asked Nandini. Nandini looked at the horse petting it and nodded. 

Manik narrowed his eyes unable to read her face. Why she was behaving all different? Was he that incapable that she couldn't even smile when he was around. 

"I take my classes seriously and do not excuse students because of personal reasons," Manik taunted and Nandini glowered at him. 

"If your little rendezvous is over, kindly report at shooting range," He bullshitted further and she just kept glaring him. 

He kept standing there while Sahil gave him strange looks. 

"Anything else, Cadet?" He asked. 

Manik looked at him and passed a fake smile. 

"Nothing more, Sir," He replied stressing on word 'Sir'.

 "Shooting range in 10 minutes," Manik repeated again and intended to move his legs. 

But again he was standing there almost in middle of those two, what the heck was wrong with him? He asked himself with an awkward frown. 

Sahil looked at him again with 'What's wrong with you' face and then looked at Nandini who was just staring Manik with something illegible. 

"I think I will excuse myself," Sahil said and that brought Nandini out of her little trance. 

"We will talk some other time when we have no disturbance," Sahil said kissing her knuckles and walked away giving a glare to Manik. 

Nandini kissed the horse's blaze and started to walk towards exit. Manik held her wrist and brought her back where he could see her disturbed face. 

"What's wrong?" He asked urgently. 

"Nothing is wrong, Manik," She answered indifferently. 

"Then why are you ignoring me?" He asked heatedly. 

Nandini narrowed her eyes unable to gulp the question. 

"I am not," She replied and got rid of his grip. 

"You are," He said walking ahead of her and obstructing her way. 

"My life doesn't revolve around you," She answered, her eyes spewing invalid rage. 

He felt like having a spat there on spot with her for uttering those words. 

"I have my own shit," She added and he clenched his jaws. 

"Few minutes back, that mess must have gone for a walk, right?" He asked taunting. 

She pursed her lips in irritation. 

"Because with Sahil, you seemed all fine," He added carelessly. 

She huffed aloud and combed her hair only to fist them over her head. She was apparently irked. 

"I need not to explain you what I do and why," She replied putting her hands on sides of her waist. 

"Oh," Manik exclaimed dramatically and nodded his head continuously as if trying to make peace with her words. 

"You know what," He said pointing his finger at her and she stared right into his eyes fearlessly. 

Pause. 

His Pose was turning stupid as he stood there like that without saying a word. Utter something, Manik. 

"I need you in shooting arena right now," He said and walked away. 

Walking furiously, he patted himself for leaving the conversation with upper hand but alas, anxiety had to kick in. He didn't know if she would come or not. He was frightened. His steps slowed down and he sighed in frustration. He turned around to see her gazing floor sadly. 

"You coming?" He asked giving in. 

She looked at him, her eyes twinkling a bit. Were her eyes moist? He panicked. 

She nodded and then started to walk towards him. She walked past him and he followed her. Her head frequently bending down, she was low. Did he utter nonsense to make her sad? He asked and feared. But she was lost since morning. She won't tell if he would ask. He was feeling uneasy seeing her like that. 

____________________

"Wait, I'll show," Manik interrupted seeing Nandini fumbling while reloading the gun. She wasn't that bad with guns, then why this disinterest, Nandini? He looked at her while loading the gun for her while she collected the bullet caps. 

"Is Daadu fine?" Manik asked. 

"He is fine," Nandini answered taking the gun from his hand and walked to the stand. 

Taking constant shots, she didn't even let echoes die. It was deafening. 

"Is there something I did?" He asked scared as she stopped firing. 

She looked back and wondered. 

"Why would you think so?" She asked. 

"Last night," He started and then shrugged his shoulders, "I was a bit boring and I might have ruined your party and maybe you are feeling done with me and I am irritating you. I know Sahil is better dancer than me but believe me I am not that bad as I did. It's just if you are sad because of that, Don't be. I can do better." 

His sweet rant went on and on. Nandini didn't know how not to laugh hard on this epic piece in front of her. 

"See, I kinda zone out when it comes to social events. I hate people and that makes me quite awkward. I am very interesting person otherwise. I can be fun...yes I can," He said making weird faces looking everywhere but her. 

Nandini pressed her lips to suppress her laughter which was tickling her inner cheeks to come out. 

"So if that's the matter, I can do something..." He kept on blabbering and didn't even realize when she was standing right in front of him. 

"Anything you want..." He said and looked up to find her pressing her lips tightly. As soon as his eyes met hers, she burst out laughing. Her giggles echoed in arena and he stood there with open mouth which had opened to utter some word but froze as soon as her eyes met his. 

Next moment, he was wrapped in her arms as she wrapped her arms around him. 

"Drop me home, Manik," She said putting her head on his chest. Her arms were tensed, her hands didn't clutch his shirt but still she had wrapped herself around him. He didn't know what got into her. 

He was frozen there unable to digest almost everything. He knew he had uttered something very funny because she had laughed hard. He also knew he had done something utterly ridiculous that she had to shut him up by hugging him. Was he oozing stupidity? 

"You are my exclusive laughter dose," She mumbled and he frowned a little less. His hands in air as he still hadn't made out how to reciprocate her hug. 

"Really?" He asked and chuckled amusingly.

"I thought Sahil was funnier," He added still stuck somewhere an hour back. 

She parted away and looked at him shaking her head. 

"You are silly, you know that, right?" She asked holding his elbows. 

"Huh?" He asked. She walked away huffing. 

"Drop me home, silly Malhotra," She shouted from door and threw the keys towards him.

___________

Entering her house, Nandini made sure no one sees her. She wasn't in mood to indulge into another argument. 

"Your father is coming next week," She heard her mother informing and she gritted her teeth. She looked around to find her sitting in living room busy reading some magazine. 

"Wrap this job thing before that," Her mother added degrading. 

"I think you haven't heard me in morning, Mom," She said climbing down the stairs. Her tone, loud and full of warning. 

"Your brother is also coming along, I hope he proves to be some example to you," her mother taunted ignoring what Nandini had said. 

"Great news," Nandini faked the excitement and sat in front of her mother. 

"You must be feeling really happy," She added in same tone. 

"He gives me reasons to be happy unlike some other people," Her mother taunted flipping the page. 

"Great," Nandini said and got up," Now when he is coming, spare me PLEASE." 

She sprinted upstairs towards her room and heard her mother yelling. 

"Why can't you listen to us once and leave that stupid job?" Her mother asked walking behind her, "You know your father hates that army academy already. WHy you have to make everything difficult, Nandini?" Her mother was baffled. 

"I have already spoiled my mood over this and now you need to hear it one last time so that we stop irritating each other," Nandini replied standing at her room's door. 

"I am not leaving my job, no matter what," She announced and banged the door close. 

She didn't know why but she knew she couldn't leave that place. Thought of not being there haunted her full day and she never let anything make her frightened this long. She was never patient, neither with joy nor stress. Nothing could rule her.  It was a closed deal now. She didn't know what was there but she knew it was something she couldn't miss. 

Lying on her bed, she closed her eyes and sighed deep. 

________________

_________________________

Unedited*