"She doesn't want to meet anyone," Servant informed an utterly impatient Manik who had already walked inside. His eyes searched the big house to find the girl who had literally taken his breath away. 

"Tell her, it's me," Manik asked the servant. 

"She has strictly told us that she doesn't want to meet anyone, sir," Servant pleaded and Manik tapped his feet losing the last string of patience. 

"NANDINI"

He called out her name aloud and tried to leap on the stairs. Servant tried to block his way but he couldn't wait. 

"Nandini"

He again shouted and another servant blocked his way. 

"Sir, she would kill us," He pleaded only to get a scowl from Manik. 

"I am dying here. Do you get that?" Manik asked holding collar of already frightened servant. His face turned paler with scowl Manik gave him. Leaving his collar at once, Manik closed his eyes to calm himself down. 

"I am sorry," He apologized straightening servant's collar. 

Daadu walked out of his room listening the little ruckus and saw Manik messing with servants. 

"Manik," He mumbled with intent of stopping him from creating a scene. It was the time and place.

Before he could reach him, door upstairs flung open with a thud and there she stood wearing nothing but a woolen shirt. Her hair messier than ever, her face menacing yet sober, she was angry but tired; Daadu looked around to see if her parents were around or not. Door of their room was still closed, he sighed and leaped to take the matter in his hands. 

Manik took a deep breath seeing her after long ten days. He relaxed instantly. It was like he had found his umbrella amid the invisible rain. Her eyes were a little puffy, had she been awake for too long? Manik frowned. Her face a bit angry, had she been not talking? Manik fretted as he took another step. She pursed her lips infuriating and started her little roving towards him. 

Daadu's face turned paler as he heard room of her parents opening. They walked out while she stormed towards Manik. 

Manik took a step back sensing her fury. Was she angry on him? Reaching him, she punched him in stomach hard leaving him wincing in pain. Manik yelped. 

"Nandini," Her mother exclaimed witnessing the little scene of violence. 

Manik held his stomach and watched her face changing color. Her nose flared and frown took over the fury. 

"What took you so long?" She asked before hurling herself on him. Hugging with all her might, she closed her eyes letting out the caged resentment. Manik had to take two steps back to balance the force she was. 

"Nandini," This time her father shouted as she locked her legs around Manik's waist. Manik could feel how restless she was the way she held him. He breathed deep enclosing her in his arms. He needed it more than she did. Her hair had covered all of his face. Nothing mattered. He was at peace holding her like that. She wasn't gone. He had found her. Pain in his stomach was aching sweet as she put her entire weight on him.

"Get down, Nandini," Her mother growled coming closer to them. 

"What kind of behavior is that?" She asked yelling. 

Daadu didn't know whether to feel relieved or tensed. He was happy that she had finally come out and let it out. But looking at faces of her parents, he knew how she was in trouble. 

"I knew you couldn't be gone," He murmured and she hit him on back. 

"Ouch," He yelped and she laughed. 

"I didn't even hit that hard," She said parting away but still encircling his waist with her legs. 

"Take me to room," She demanded and Manik just nodded taking the command. 

He looked around to see her angry parents and a terrified Daadu. Another door flung opened and a young man walked out wearing confusion all over his face. 

"That should be your brother," Manik asked. 

"Yes," She answered and looked away putting her head on his shoulder. 

"My room," She reminded and Manik smiled awkwardly looking at all the faces. 

He gently climbed the stairs to avoid further embarrassment and entered her room. She didn't nudge but stayed the way she was. Her eyes were closed, Manik assumed the way her heartbeats evened. He couldn't see her face but she could feel how tired she was. 

"Nandini," He called her name carefully. 

"Shut up," She yelled and sighed deep. 

Another two minutes and she was still in his arms. His each nerve was swelling with her warmth around. He was afraid if she could hear all the weird sounds his stomach had made. Even saliva didn't get down his throat without making a sound. It was like he had lifted the fire in arms which was consuming him each second. 

"Nandini," He again called. 

"Shhhhhh," She shushed him putting her finger on his lips. He could finally see her face. She was vulnerable. Her eyes were moist but she was too stubborn to let the prisoners out. Her face was red and he knew it wasn't hue but sheer agony. 

"What's wrong?" He asked against her finger. 

"Everything is wrong," She said getting down. Walking to her bed, she threw herself in it. Manik regretted his words, she wasn't in his arms anymore. And that felt like most wrong thing ever. He shook his head shooing away all the stray thoughts. 

Manik didn't know how to approach the mad girl lying in front of him. He had never seen her that bothered. He wanted to hold her close, he wanted to tell her it was okay, he wanted to throw a tantrum for disappearing on him, he wanted to steal her before she disappears again. There was so much going on. 

She turned around on bed and looked at him still lying on bed. Her eyes demanding something, her face ached, her eyes nothing less than a storm; Manik felt like gathering her in arms. He walked to bed and extracted her from bed only to embrace her so tight. She didn't protest. He knew she didn't feel the way he did for her. But still it was everything. He didn't know how his leg didn't shake, how his hands didn't tremble and how his heart didn't explode. He didn't feel nervous. 

"What's wrong?" He asked worried. 

"They won't let me come to academy," She confessed feebly. Her voice lower than ever, Manik looked at her quickly. He had never seen her like that. 

"They won't let me do anything I want," This time she yelled throwing the cushion away. 

"They won't let me breathe, they won't let me live, they won't let me be," She yelled further breaking down. Storming down the bed, she walked back and forth trying to gather herself. 

"I don't understand," Manik mumbled unable to understand the matter. 

"Why would they force you?" He asked only to get a scowl from her. Of course, she won't tell. If she could, he wouldn't be feeling this afraid. She was wired that way. 

"Nothing can stop you," Manik said refusing to believe everything. 

"You are NANDINI MURTHY," He said walking closer to her. 

She looked with a pout at him. 

"Daadu," She said toning down a bit. 

"He would be happy," Manik said holding her arms. 

"They would kill him with their taunts. He cannot take such words, Manik," She uttered and that was first time she let out those tears. 

"I am on him. If I am what I am, it's Daadu's fault according to them. Last few days were hardest on him. He saw me closing myself and he heard them blaming him for what I am," She said letting more tears out. Manik shook his head unable to see her crying. 

"Shhhh," He said wiping her tears and she flinched away. 

"I am not crying," She said wiping her tears and biting her lip to control the unwanted rainfall. No matter how naked she was already, she won't let him think she was exposed. 

Both stood there engulfing the sink their hearts were feeling. 

"Take me with you," She said hugging him again. 

"I don't want to be here," She said sobbing. 

Manik felt his heart melting with each her word. He could not feel more than what he was already feeling. It was like drizzle which won't stop. 

"But Daadu," He said and she looked at him amused. 

"We cannot leave him behind," He said innocently making Nandini smile in awe. 

"We cannot," She agreed. 

"If he agrees, can we all live in your little bed?" She asked joking. 

Manik laughed and then looked at her intently. 

"I will ask Harshad to adjust," He said and this time Nandini giggled. 

"Who are you?" She asked unable to hold two emotions at same time. 

"I am your entertainment package," Manik replied dramatically and she giggled. 

"I missed you," Confessing she again dived into his broad frame. 

"I cannot even tell," He mumbled taking her sweet scent. 

_______________________

Opening the door, Manik found Daadu pacing across the hall. He looked worried. Manik walked down and reached him. 

"Hey old man," Manik greeted the worried Brigadier. Daadu sighed in relief. 

"How's she?" He asked as first thing. 

"More than fine," Manik answered smilingly. 

"Didn't you see the epic punch she bestowed on me?" Manik said rubbing his stomach. 

"I tell you, I was so relieved," Daadu answered smiling. 

"I wanted her to kick you in gut as well. I missed my hellion," Daadu said sincerely. 

Manik felt like giving a tight hug to worried brigadier and he did. 

"I missed you," Manik confessed as soon as Daadu engulfed him back. 

"I missed you too, son," Daadu said in broken voice. 

_________________

Walking out of mansion, Manik had to halt as Mr Murthy stood in front of him blocking his way. He looked non-pleased. His forehead furrowed, his eyes infuriated; Manik could sense the ire. Who wouldn't scowl at a boy whom his daughter just had taken to her room. Manik gulped hard. 

"I don't want to see you here again," Mr Murthy warned briefly raising his finger and walked inside. 

Manik kept standing there trying to gulp the little warning he had got. Turning around, he looked at quiet Murthy mansion which was anything but calm. 

"That cannot happen, sir," Manik mumbled before walking away. It was almost dark and his heart had no bound. His heart held so much that he didn't know how to even exist when she wasn't around. Nandini didn't say about meeting again but he knew they would. He had never seen her like this ever and now when he had, it was deeper than ever. What he felt for her was deeper than ever. He started to run in misty cold till the time he felt that drained that he couldn't even think anymore. 

_______________________

"What is he, Nandini?" Daadu asked half sleepy Nandini who was lying in his lap under misty sky. It was around midnight and she didn't want to let him go. Before she wasn't letting him in and now she wouldn't let him go. She was his little brat whom he would give everything he had. 

"My escape," Nandini answered smiling, her eyes still closed. 

"You knew I was talking about Manik?" Daadu asked amused. 

Nandini smiled knowingly. 

"I know you better than you, Daadu," She uttered. 

"And why is academy so important?" Daadu asked further seeing an easy Nandini. 

"Because I like it," She answered shrugging her shoulders. 

Daadu shook his head listening her answer. She didn't think, he knew she won't. 

"And who is he?" He asked again to get more precise answer. 

"He is my entertainment package," She answered excitedly, her eyes still closed. 

"Why would you let him in when you won't even let me in?" Daadu asked making it even more complicated. 

She stayed quiet and Daadu waited. She didn't utter a word. 

"I don't know," She answered after a long pause. Daadu smiled in content. 

"Come on, It's too late. Time to go to bed," Saying that he made her get up. 

_______________

Manik again shifted in his bed trying to sleep but it was nowhere to be found. He desperately wanted to sleep so that he could meet her. It was beyond sanity how insane he had gone. Her touch, feel of her grip, her faint voice; everything ceased to go away. He again tossed on his bed only to make it churn bad. Harshad threw another pillow at him hearing that creepy sound. 

"Sleep, Manik," Harshad glowered. 

"I am already asleep," Manik said guiltily. 

"Yeah, I can hear that," Harshad taunted. 

"Shut up, both of you," Samit yelled from other end to shut the buzzing up. 

Harshad fake-snored to tell how innocent he was while Manik again changed the side being highly irritated. 

An hour more and Manik could finally feel his eyes lid getting heavier. He smiled snuggling into his pillow. But before he could enjoy the feel, someone tapped his shoulder. He jerked the hand away refusing to open his eyes. Again someone poked and he turned his face other side. 

"Go away, I wanna see her," He mumbled in his half sleep. 

"Manik," He heard a familiar masculine voice. 

"Get up now," That voice roared again and Manik opened his eyes lazily only to find Colonel Singh standing next to his bed scowling at him. He got up with a jerk and rubbed his eyes. 

"Out in two minutes," Saying that Colonel walked out. 

Manik closed the door behind before coming out and saw Colonel pacing in corridor wearing his robe and woolen cap. 

Manik saluted him lazily and colonel looked at him sternly. 

"You have taken my sleep away," Colonel said pointing his finger at Manik. Manik opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. 

"What's happening between you and Nandini?" He asked impatiently. 

"Nothing, sir," Manik answered fumbling. 

"Then why would Madhav call me late in night and tell me to tame you?" Colonel asked angrily. 

Manik's mouth forgot to shut as he gaped colonel without blinking. He didn't know if it was cold or fear but his legs were shivering. 

"Does she feel the same for you?" Colonel asked after toning down his voice. 

"Huh?" Manik asked bewildered. 

"Sir, how..." He started to ask but got shut up again by roaring colonel. 

"It's written on your face, silly boy," Colonel cleared pointing towards Manik's face. 

Silence prevailed for fine two minutes as both stood their gulping the heat of revelations. 

"I don't know," Manik answered lowly almost mourning about the fact. 

"Then know it, khotte," Colonel uttered hitting Manik's cheek softly. 

Manik reddened hearing colonel's words. Though he had worn polka dot pajamas and his jacket but still he felt so exposed. His feelings were on display and he knew only he was to be blamed. 

"You are invited for breakfast tomorrow by Sahiba," Colonel said before starting to leave. His voice still held fake ire. 

 Manik gaped him in confusion. 

"She thought I would threaten you so she wanted to make sure you are fine," Colonel cleared the doubt. 

Manik rounded his lips showing how he got it. 

"See you in morning," Colonel said and left. 

Manik breathed deep to relax his aching stomach. Her punch wasn't enough that butterflies had made a permanent home inside. He couldn't sleep. He kept walking to and fro trying to calm his mind. It was too much happening in his life out of sudden. Sleep was forgotten business. 

_______________________

Unedited*