"Khadoos"

Manik looked at her as she mumbled it under her breath.

"I heard that."

"Good for you," she retorted with plastered smile.

Taking a long breath, he put his focus back on road. Jeep gliding on curvy roads; she sitting beside as stingy distraction; town not getting any closer, he had declared the day worst already.

"Do you have allergy with words? Or maybe have this stone face disorder?" She talked yet again.

Manik took a deep breath and parked Jeep in side.

"Is it too difficult to keep quiet? Or you just can't help it. Yes, I have allergy," he said.
She kept following his frowns, brows and every expression with eyes with mischief in her eyes.
"I have allergy with liars, excessive talkers and impish people," he said while glaring at her.

She burst into laughter. Manik looked at her and then at wheel.

Did he say something ridiculously funny?

"What's so funny?" He asked.

She caught her breath and looked at his annoyed face. And again, she was under attack of laughter.

A highly conscious Manik pulled the gear and steered the car again on road. His face could give wooden plank a complex and eyes had utmost stress.

"You are so easy to prick, believe me," she said catching her breath.

He cut a sharp turn listening to it and she landed on his thigh.

Her doe eyes had a little amusement at least as he looked at her.

She gathered herself back. Two or three of her bangles had broken as he saw pieces of it on his lap.

She was quiet. Panic struck him as he saw her rubbing her wrist.

"Are you alright?" He asked looking at her wrist.

She looked smilingly at him as always but there was something different. He didn't notice this calm before in turbulent aura of hers.

"I am alright, Cadet," she chirped in her usual tone.

Her hand rushed to smoothen her messy hair and he looked a slight red mark on her wrist.

"Listen, apply something on that," he said, "I didn't mean to hurt you."

She looked at him as if he had uttered something very amusing.
"Relax, Maaaanik," she said with that stress on his name.

"Its just a stupid cut in upper skin. Why you become so serious in everything?," she added while rolling eyes.

Well, she didn't talk much afterwards. Manik sighed in relief and drove off to town at maximum safe speed he could. He was glad he would get rid of her in few minutes and sanity could exist after that without any disturbance.

"Tell me, where to drop you?" He asked as soon as they entered town.

It was sunny day and people looked quite busy in their routine. Small shops having abundant of fancy items, it looked like a daily colorful fare.

"Take me wherever you are going," she said while completely turning towards him. Her hands on her lap and eyes on him, she looked like a lost cause to him.

"Are you crazy? Tell me where you want to go," he asked again.

While batting her eyes, she kept looking at him without an ounce of hesitation.

He halted the car abruptly and looked at her with most irritated expression ever.

"I told you," she said innocently while reading disbelief in his eyes.

"Get out of Jeep," he yelled.

She giggled and it didn't take long when she was again mimicking panic on his face.

"Tch, tch, tch. You know how much fun it is to see you this flustered," she said while gazing his million dollar face.

"Get out now," he said while undoing his seat belt.

"Okay. Okay. Why are getting so worked up?" She stepped down the Jeep.

Both kept staring at each other in middle on street.

"What?" He asked in an irritated tone.

"What? I haven't told you to stay glued to this place," she said shrugging her shoulders.

He pursed his lips being all flustered and pulled the gear.

His Jeep hadn't even started to move when she yelled his name.

"Manik"

He stopped the jeep and looked back.
And a flying kiss traveled to his way as she walked away giggling.

He was embarrassed. He looked around if anyone had seen them. A few old men were sitting on bench staring her with annoyed faces.

But she was walking carefree as if nothing had happened. Manik saw her disappearing in crowdy space. His gaze returned to old men. Now they were staring at him. He immediately stiffened his face and drove off.

_________________________________

"He has a legacy to live up to," Colonel Singh said to his wife.

"His father had brought proud to this nation. And believe me, I see his glimpse in Manik," he added while sipping the tea.

Mrs. Singh smiled a bit seeing her husband praising Manik.

"Someone is impressed," she quipped.

Mr. Singh laughed a bit and said, "He is son of the great 'Aakash Malhotra'. I shall be allowed to have expectations. "

Mrs. Singh put the cup down and said, "hundreds of boys train under you, every year. He is just another boy."

"I don't know what legacy he carries on his young shoulder, but that boy needs to loosen up. He has buried himself beneath. A boy trying to be man at such young age. That's what I see."

Mr. Singh looked at her with admiration.

"You ladies, you just see emotional aspects," he quipped, "Strength, glory and stature; everything can wait."

He giggled.

"I agree, he is way too quiet. You know, I doubt he had made hardly any use of handsome amount he has been sent every month," he told.

Mrs. Singh shook her head in amusement and said, "Colonel does observe beyond performance. Huh?"

Heartwarming laugh embraced the balcony as they both continued their sweet banter.
______________________________

Harshad had been looking at Manik for 5 minutes now. Manik was fidgeting with his watch.

"I mean, the sincerest 'Manik Malhotra' wants me to enquire about a girl," Harshad said in disbelief.

Manik tried to look certain and said, "so what's the big deal in it?"

Harshad shook his head in utter disbelief. He got up and walked to Manik.

"You alright, bro?" he asked touching Manik's forehead.

"Shut up, Harshad," Manik said, "it's not what you think. So stop overreacting."

Harshad smirked a little and said, "so her name as you told is Nandini and you saw her in administration block today. Right? "

He pretended to be all serious by putting his knuckle under his chin. Manik looked at him and then at floor.

"Yes," Manik confirmed in low tone.

Harshad grabbed his arm and said, "we are going to admin block now. Let's go."

Manik's face went pale.

"Why now? It's almost closing time," he said, "And I am not coming."

Harshad folded his arms near his chest and said, "so you think, they would tell us about her in working hours when we will make an official enquiry about it."

Both looked at each other.

"Let's go. You being around is always a help in case we get caught," Harshad grabbed his arm and dragged along.

_________________________________

Harshad gestured Manik to take out some money as he convinced a peon to blurt out the details.

Manik dragged him a little far and said, "I am not gonna pay a single rupee to him. You know I don't like all this."

"Ufff! Give me the money. Basically I would be bribing him to open his mouth. You can happily sleep with your conscious," Harshad retorted.

Harshad intimidated peon and got some details out while Manik stood at gate all displeased.

"I have got a lot to think," he mumbled before Harshad came back.

"What do I get?" Harshad asked with a victorious smile, "for doing all this."

"Whatever you say," Manik said looking here and there.

"She is daughter of one of big purses of city. Her father is friends with Colonel Singh, hence she gets a chance to work her winter vacations here in academy," Harshad told with a triumph.

Manik smirked and mumbled, "So she works in office. Now I know where not to be."

"What did you say?" Harshad asked.

"Nothing. Nothing at all," Manik replied in affirming tone.

Harshad looks at him with suspicious.

"Now tell me, when I am getting to walk to office with you to meet the beauty?" He asked.

"Never," Manik replied quickly, "In fact, from now on you will be attending all office chores for me."

All perplexed, Harshad tried to depict what Manik had said.

________________________________

A morning all sorted, Manik wore his ironed uniform and smiled looking at watch. He was ready. Moving towards mess, he straightened his torso as a few seniors passed by him. Discipline was back and so did certainty. There was nothing in world he dreaded more than chaos. And she was chaotic. Her eyes digging in; her smile making him turbulent, she was walking chaos. She was everything he needed to stay away from. And ensuring a distance from her, he felt feather hearted. He entered the mess and had his meal.

Rigorous regime entire day and last one for the day was shooting practise.

He headed towards the range and wore eye guard. He checked the pistol and refilled it. As soon as he headed towards range. He heard some shots. Approaching the stand, he saw a girl practicing with a pistol. Her long ponytail touching her lower back, a familiarity took over his mind. He halted a little far from stands.
"Nandini"

He mumbled. He was furious seeing a commoner practising in army shooting range. He yelled to call out security. A few military men came and asked what was the matter.

"What is that girl doing here?" He asked.

Lieutenant Kalra joined them and said, "Look, an infant has a complaint who himself is not allowed here in first year of training."

"Not again," Manik mumbled while straightening himself. He saluted him while everyone there laughed on Lieutenant's remark.

Nandini too walked towards the door as she heard giggles.

"Sir, Colonel Singh has permitted Manik to practice here in free hours," one of officers cleared.

"Those who lose focus on practice ground will practice shooting," Lieutenant mocked.

Before scene could worsen anymore. Colonel himself joined them. Everyone saluted as soon as he walked in.

"What's happening, boys?" He asked after telling them to go at ease.

He told everyone else to leave except Manik. Nandini who was standing a little far walked to them with ever gorgeous smile of hers.

"Manik, my boy. I was expecting to see you here," he said, "Harshad told me how you couldn't come to admin block due to extra class."

Manik coughed a bit.

"So I thought I shall catch this busy man here," he added.

Nandini looked at coughing Manik and asked if he was fine.

"Nandini wanted to continue her shooting training," he said further, "I couldn't think of anyone better than you."

Manik spared a look at smiling over excited Nandini. She looked elated about the news.

"Sir, even I am learning. How can I?" He said in low tone.

"You are better than your seniors. Officers here praise you so much," Colonel complimented.
"Nandini is precious to me. She is like a daughter. I want my best cadet to train her," he added.

Next few minutes were like dead tone. He didn't listen anything just heard colonel speaking while his heart played death music. He couldn't believe he was again stuck with that living chaos.

Colonel left them alone for practising.

"So, ready Cadet Malhotra?" She asked playfully while walking towards range.

"Wait," he yelled.
She turned around to see him walking to her furiously.

"First of all, it's sir from now on. Second, no talking in my class unless I ask you to open your mouth. Third, I don't like wasting time so wear your headgear and come to stand," he told in one breath.

As he walked towards stand, she wore her headgear.

"Get ready for some real fun, khadoos," she mumbled and walked towards him.
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