"Another party?" Asked Nandini baffled.

"Yes, another party," Daadu answered sharing the similar loathe. 

Nandini's mother was busy preparing for grand party as her son was returning after almost 2 years and she couldn't tell how happy she was. Nandini sat in middle of commotion trying to have her breakfast in peace. 

"I don't want a single glitch," Her mother yelled at some servant and Nandini pulled her cap even more down to hide apparent contempt on her face. 

"I will be pretty late tonight," Nandini informed Daadu kissing him goodbye. 

"Believe me, she will still be awake to tell you how irresponsible you were," Daadu quipped hinting towards Nandini's mother. 

"She won't even notice if I have come home or not, believe me," Nandini said carelessly and walked out of her house. 

Driving across the town, she halted her jeep in front of puppy rescue center. She walked inside only to find staff surprised seeing her there. 

"Nandini, what a pleasant surprise!" Uncle Bernard chirped opening his arms to engulf her in one warm hug. 

"How are you doing, young man?" Nandini asked breaking the hug. 

"I am fine as ever. How are you?" He asked and Nandini smilingly answered all his concerned questions. She for sure had surprised them all by sudden visit. She needed something to keep her away from her home and to ensure that she needed to make some arrangements. She had fixed herself a night duty with some lovely puppies. Things were sorted. 

_____________________

Manik set his hair for 5th time just to look flawless. Since when he had started doing that, it was still debatable. Harshad had already received some bitter nasty words as first thing in morning because he had dared to ask what was so special. He stood at a distance with 3 more boys and looked at Manik as if he was one cruel man. 

"This boy," Harshad pointed towards Manik, "He wasn't like this from always." 

Boys next to him looked at him amusingly as Harshad fake-sulked a little. 

"He used to be a moron but not like this," He added dramatically. 

"Stop overreacting, Harshad," One of his friends said. 

"I am not overreacting," Harshad yelled. 

"He, over there, that person is acting weird," Harshad said pointing towards Manik. 

Manik shook his head and buttoned his shirt. 

"Stop being dramatic, Harshad," Manik said casually. 

"I am not being dramatic," Harshad scoffed. 

"This guy talks in his sleep," Harshad announced taking everyone's attention. 

"This guy murmurs shit all night," He scoffed and got up on the bed. 

"I can dance well..Just give me one chance," He mimicked Manik and Manik threw hair brush his way. 

Harshad dodged it and smiled smirking. 

"This guy has spent last 15 minutes setting his hair," Harshad announced and dorm sighed in shock. 

"Yes, he did," Harshad confirmed. 

"This man yesterday had run 50 laps with rifle up grinning like a fool," Harshad informed further. Boys sang the teasing words. 

"Shut up, Harshad," Manik threw comb his way which again missed its target. 

"Then this man scolded his concerned friend like never before when he asked what was wrong buddy," Harshad acted faking a heart break. 

"He is gone, my brothers," Harshad declared throwing his arms in air as if it was next act little government of dorm had passed. 

Boys hooted and laughed like mad. Manik palmed his face only to mumble series of curses. 

"You are gone," Manik warned as he passed by Harshad glaring him. Harshad made his brows dance with stupid grin as Manik walked out of dorm in middle of teasing cheers. 

What an embarrassment!

______________

Boys assembled in military ground and Lieutenant Kalra walked in along with Major Khan. Almost every boy wondered why Major Khan was there with infantry unit. 

"Cadets," Lt Kalra commanded and everyone straightened. 

"I have got one good news and one bad news for you all," He announced. Each cadet wondered what new bomb he was about to drop next. 

"Bad news is that today I won't be taking your class," He told in heavy voice. Wave of relief ran that uncompromisingly among the cadets that almost everyone jumped a little on their toes. 

"Good news is that you all are going on a drill outdoors today under supervision of Major Khan," He told with elation and with that a few sighs did get heard. Apparently no one was much happy with the good news.

"Disperse now, morons," Lt Kalra barked. They all ran back to their lockers to get all the required stuff. 

"Now why this list is showing all the hiking items?" Harshad asked terrified. 

"Maybe it's a hike," Manik answered absentmindedly.

"I wonder how long this drill would be?" He asked lowly and that made Harshad drop some of item from his hand. 

"Manik Malhotra is worried about length of a drill," He uttered still in shock. 

"This guy is not that drill-loving man I knew," He added and Manik wrapped the rope around his neck. 

"Shut your little drama," He whispered in his ear choking him enough that he keeps quiet for rest of time.

________________________

Nandini walked in corridor looking towards the military ground and found it empty. She hadn't seen Manik since morning and now it was almost noon. She looked at her wristwatch and realized it was still three hours till her horse riding class. She breathed deep. It was beyond logic how she was restless since morning and to her bad luck there was no distraction. 

"Where are first year cadets, today?" Nandini asked peon as she handed him over some files. 

"I don't know, madam," He replied plainly and Nandini sighed frustratingly. 

She resumed her work trying to find some peace. There was nothing normal since past two days. She was one string which got played bad and she wanted something to fine-tune it. Something which could make her forget everything. Something which could make her laugh. Something which was missing..basically that something was missing. Duh! This was complicated. 

"Where are you, Manik?" She mumbled writing down another file. 

_________________

Talking with the horses for past 30 minutes, she hugged it tightly. 

"You know if it wasn't you and any human instead, I would have killed that poor thing," She said nuzzling into horse's cheek. 

"I wonder how come entire class has bunked," She continued still talking rubbish. 

"Including Malhotra," She said rolling her eyes. 

"He should have known I am feeling bonkers and I would be needing him," She nagged and horse neighed. 

"Exactly," She stated as if agreeing to whatever horse had said. Horse-riding class was matter of zero attendance that day. Nandini wasn't even informed where entire infantry unit had disappeared. She was keeping herself busy with horses but she couldn't deny she needed to talk. 

"Maybe I can talk better," She heard a manly voice and she turned around. 

"Seems like today we won't get distracted," Sahil quipped cockily. 

Nandini smiled for sake of it and Sahil walked to her. 

______________________________

"It's almost 3:30," Manik said as they climbed the mountain. 

"And we still have half of mountain to cover," Harshad said catching his breath. 

"Yeah," Manik answered a little lost in his thoughts. 

"I don't think so we can return any time soon," He added lowly. 

"Your hairdo is wasted dude," Harshad teased and Manik glared him. 

"I can throw you down from here," Manik warned playing with hook on rope. 

"You won't," Harshad smiled cockily. 

Manik resumed the quest with a frown. There was no way he could make it. Her class was half over and he couldn't even think of getting back for shooting class. Was he not going to see her at all? He frowned further. Shitty day it was. 

____________

"I was so damn happy when we took them down," Sahil was telling one of his bravery tales and Nandini couldn't care less. 

"You know where infantry unit is today?" She asked cutting him in between. 

"Huh?" He asked refusing to accept the insult.

"I mean none of them made it to class today," She asked. 

"Oh," Sahil exclaimed trying to look cool about interruption. 

"They have gone for an outdoor drill and won't be returning till late night," He informed with least interest. 

Nandini sighed listening to it. 

Why it all was becoming tougher? She closed her eyes and caressed her forehead. 

"You fine?" Sahil asked. 

"Sahil," Nandini said moving from her place, "I think I will take your leave. I have a headache." 

She completed saying that and walked out of stable with a thought to get away as soon as possible. All of sudden, she had started to feel angry. That ire was unreasonable, she didn't even know for whom it was. She was crestfallen as if had been dropped from high. She picked her stuff from office and drove off. 

_______________________

Another puppy yelped and Nandini ran to serve the little boss. Tiny golden retriever was crying out loud for some attention. Picking him up, she petted it warmly. 

"Such drama queen," She remarked seeing the pup. He was all happy sitting in her lap as she sat on one of beanbags. Pup kept chewing her dress and she smiled warmly. It was better to be there than home. She had informed Daadu how she would come home early morning and got scolded too for being so impulsive all the time. 

One of sick pups cried and Nandini put aside golden one to attend the sick one. Vet came in to check on the sick one while golden pup started to whine. Sitting there on carpet, it sniffed, cried and whined. Nandini shook her head totally getting the little drama over there. 

"You know you are sounding like someone I know," She remarked picking up that little tantrum king. 

"You are sounding like Malhotra who cries over almost everything," She said bringing it near her face. 

"Crying over attention, He too is cry bay," She said rubbing him against her cheek. 

"Do you want to be like Cadet Malhotra?" She asked narrowing her eyes. Pup barked in his little voice trying to be part of conversation. 

"Needy pupppppp," She cooed and kissed it on head. 

_______________________

Manik crashed on his bed. It was around 12 and this had to be gloomiest day ever. He wanted to throw a tantrum on spot but to his bad luck, there was no one to take it. It was quite unreasonable to feel sad after winning the quest. He frowned hugging his pillow and dug his face deep in it. 

"Awwww," He heard Harshad cooing him. 

"It's okay, baby," He said patting his back. 

"You would see her tomorrow," He added and Manik felt like tapping his feet in agitation.

Wait.

He couldn't let Harshad tease him, even though he was right guessing his grief. 

"I am just tired. sooooo," Manik retorted looking up. 

"Sleep," Harshad said petting Manik's head with his eyes closed. 

Manik pursed his lips in annoyance and pulled his hand making him fall off the bed. Harshad fell off his bed with a thud. Manik laughed a little with his eyes closed listening to sweet sound. 

"Moron," He heard Harshad cursing and laughed further. 

Sighing deep, he just waited for sleep to take over and nightmares to appear. He couldn't wait for his sweet nightmares. 

____________________________

Someone banged the door loudly and Nandini cried in her sleep. She had returned home early morning and she had hardly have any sleep. She covered her ears tightly to get rid of those loud knocks. But then she heard her mother's sharp voice following. She covered her face with pillow vowing not to wake up at all. 

5 minutes and her mother still hand't gave up. Nandini got up whining and opened the door to see her mother standing there with apparent ire on her face. 

"Have you seen the time?" She asked controlling her tone. 

Nandini saw the clock and jumped in her place. It was 11 am and that meant she was late for work. 

"Oh shit," She murmured and ran around to decide from where to start. 

"I am late for work," She yelled. 

"You aren't going to work," Her mother announced opening her wardrobe. 

"I think we were over that," Nandini reminded gulping the glass of juice servant had brought in. 

"Your brother and father are coming. Their flight would land in an hour. We need to go there," Her mother informed. Her tone low and controlled. 

"I think I am not needed there, Mom," Nandini said irked. 

"You are. Media would be there and I don't want speculation," Her mother stated a bit firmly.

Nandini huffed in frustration. 

"It's not a big deal. It's quite normal thing how not entire family had gone to receive the rest of family," Nandini stated. 

"It is," Her mother said a bit loud throwing a knee length dress on bed. 

"Your brother is coming home after two years and he has a name which invites speculation. So stop your stupidity," She said with tinge of irritation.  

"Oh yeaaahhh," Nandini sang examining the stupid dress. 

"And believe me, nobody gives a shit what his stupid sister does," Nandini said clearly. 

"So spare me," She added and got off the bed.

Opening the door of bathroom, Nandini peeped in to see bathtub ready for her. She glared the maid who mouthed a sorry. Nandini hated being treated like that. 

"Please," She heard her mother whisper. Nandini closed her eyes cursing the morning. She knew what this image thing meant to her family and all they ever wanted from her was a little help. Nobody gave a hoot how she felt being at certain places. 

"FINE," Nandini yelled and banged the bathroom door closed.

____________________________

Why she hadn't come?

Manik asked himself for nth time as he took the notes. His mind was hardly in the class. He got to know from admin office how Nandini hadn't come today. He felt outright depressed about the fact. He hadn't seen her since two days. Her sad eyes flashed in front of his eyes and he closed the notebook. Holding his head in hands, he sighed. It was getting difficult. His heart was crying like a puppy over something very normal. Pang won't leave and he was tired. He didn't know what was wrong with him. Lecture went like it never happened and Manik walked out of class lost in gloom. 

"What happened, bro?" Harshad wrapped his arm across Manik's neck. 

"I don't know," Manik answered pouting a little. 

"What's bothering you?" Harshad asked lovingly. 

"I don't know," Manik answered still lost in pity land. 

Harshad sighed and then dragged Manik towards mess. He guessed good food might help. To his knowledge, Food helps when nothing else does. 

_______________________

Nandini walked down the stairs wearing a red dress which reached her knees. Hall was filled with elite people. His brother had returned and that brought fancy pants of town to their house. She closed her eyes praying for an escape. Airport stunt didn't go very well with her this noon. Her brother did a little sweet act for media and after that it was cold bitter cocoa. He asked her same boring set of questions and then mandatory preaching on how not to trouble mom. Nandini smiled to one of ladies who just hugged her out of nowhere. As she walked amid of high profile people, she saw her family standing near garden area. Her mother smiled awkwardly seeing her and then advanced her hand to introduce her to some guests. 

"Rishi, you little sister has all grown up," Her brother's friend remarked seeing Nandini. Nandini smiled cheekily over that stupid remark. Rishi's friend had joined in from Delhi and they all were absurd. Nandini looked around to find her savior. She saw Daadu seated in his rocking chair in a corner trying to smile at commotion. 

"She is," Rishi answered briefly. Nandini was that brief matter in his regal life. They had hardly lived together as he was sent abroad for better education long back. They had spent holidays together though. Every year a month of this formal nothing, that was all about their bond. 

"So what this pretty lady is up to these days?" Asked another guy. 

"I am taming the ponies," Nandini answered impudently, "Especially the ones who neigh a lot." 

Color from her mother's face flew away listening to Nandini. 

"She is enjoying her college break," She immediately covered up with a smile. 

"Can you please excuse us?" She added and took Nandini away from the bunch. 

_________________

It was almost dark outside and Nandini didn't know how to survive that utterly cringe-worthy party where she wasn't allowed to speak her mind and she couldn't even leave. That's what her mother had instructed. Daadu was sent to his room telling how it was time for his sleep and with that Murthy mansion was back at being super annoying. Nandini gulped another drink and wished that her little family gets tired soon. 

They all were seated on a grand table with drinks served. Nandini was hardly listening to any of bullshit there. 

___________

"Manik," 

Someone called Manik in middle of chaos in dorm. It was a mess there because almost everyone was talking aloud making everything sound a tangled ball of words. 

"Manik"

Peon cut in the little crowd to reach Manik's bed and saw him reading one of his novels. 

"There's a call for you," Peon informed him and Manik looked shocked about it. 

"Call for me?" He asked closing the book. 

"Yes," Peon confirmed and Manik looked even more confused. 

"There's no one who would call me," He stated, "You must be confusing the name with mine."

"You are Manik Malhotra?" Peon asked irritated. Manik nodded. 

"It's for you," Peon said and walked away. 

Manik walked in dark corridor and reached admin office. Reaching the office, he wished the officer there. Officer asked him to take the call and Manik picked the receiver placed inside a small chamber. 

"Hello," Manik said unsure who it was. 

"I want you now," She commanded from other side leaving him baffled and elated at same time. Smile crept on his lips. 

"Nandini," Manik confirmed calling her name. 

"Where were you?" He asked an irrelevant question out of utter anxiety. 

"I mean where are you?" He corrected himself. 

"I am near forest area and I want you here right now," She commanded in strange voice. 

"I can't come," He said trying to cop up with her urgency. 

"Are you fine? What are you doing there?" He asked baffled. 

You are coming or not?" She asked frustratingly. 

Manik fumbled with words trying to deal with all the jumping emotions. Silence got a little extra stretched. He could hear her shivering breathes. 

"You are coming," She declared and hung up the phone. Manik kept trying to utter something back to rhythmic beep tone. Sweat formed on his forehead as he walked out of chamber to face officer on duty. 

"How is she?" Officer asked and that made Manik more nervous. How did officer know about her? He was already feeling like a caught man. It was like one of those scary plots. 

"I don't know," Manik mumbled. 

"Don't worry," Officer said and nodded his head, "Your aunt will be just fine." 

Manik's mouth opened like flower petals listening to that. Was that how she had introduced herself? He gulped. He was in deep shit. 

Walking out, he wiped the sweat off his face. It was strange he was sweaty in 5 degree. He looked around and found night already howling. There was no way he could think of breaching the security and trespass.

 Was there? 

_________________

______________________________

Unedited*