She walked ahead and he followed her like a dream-chaser. She looked back and he smiled. It had to be a perfect dawn. She had stolen him from academy, just like a knight comes on horse of wind and takes what is his. She was his knight. She smiled back while her long wavy wisps danced in wind. Manik blinked his sleepy eyes to have a better view of her. Who could believe the girl who used to drive him nuts few days back had become the girl with whom he would start his days. It wasn't twilight yet. It was hardly 5 am and they both were heading towards somewhere she wanted to take him. They were walking on narrow paths towards peak of that mountain. She halted and Manik came out of his morning dream. No, it wasn't one of his sweet nightmares anymore. It was for real. She reached for his hand and dragged him impatiently. 

"I don't want us to miss it," She nagged while dragging him faster. They reached the top of hill and she smiled so merrily. 

As they stood at edge, she walked in front of him and held his both hands as she gaped the grey sky. 

"Hold me tight," She commanded and he obeyed like a true soldier. His trembling arms enclosed her tummy and rest she sealed the silly distance. His arms on her warm belly, he shivered to the last bone. 

"What is.." He started but she shushed him. 

"Just see," She said pointing towards endless sky which was turning bright. 

Sun came out of hills gloriously and their fleshes bathed in yellow of it. 

It had to be beautiful thing ever. Manik couldn't make out what was more flattering, she or warmth of sun. It was like he had held his personal ball of fire in his arms while he still had to learn how to play with it. 

"It's beautiful," He murmured and her ear was its only audience. 

"That's where sun rises in this town and we are the first ones to see it today," She explained victoriously and Manik admired her little smile he couldn't see from that position. He knew it was playing there. 

He played with fiber of his own blazer as he stood there holding her. He didn't know what was going on her mind these days but whatever it was, it was well set to put him on grill. He was any way having hard time tuning his emotions and there she was, making it altogether impossible for him to behave sane. 

"When is your morning drill?" She asked bringing him back to frost reality. 

"There is no morning drill today. Everyone is going home," He said still lost in beauty of moment. 

She turned around to face him while he felt outright disappointed for not being able to hold her anymore. She gazed his face while he observed her red cheek which were clearly telling how careless she was about herself. 

"You are going home?" She asked and he shook his head. 

"Good," She mumbled and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her face rested on his chest while she tried every possible angle to find that one cozy place over there. 

"Your family isn't like mine, right?" She asked raising her head to look at his calm face. 

"Nothing like it," He replied relieved and she raised her brow. It had to be one relieving fact that he didn't have a dramatic family like hers. 

"My parents are up there living happily ever after," He replied gesturing towards sky while trying to talk dreamily about it. 

She gazed him as if trying to find any minor cut which could bleed. Losing the people you love isn't easy thing. He smiled instantly giving her answer. 

"I miss them but I am happy they are together," He answered and she bit her lip. It had to be first time when Nandini didn't know how to tackle her favorite person.

She tip toed to reach his lips and Manik took a quarter step back totally not wanting to avoid her next crazy move. But just for the sake of it, he had to hear call of his mind. 

She gripped his blazer groaning in displeasure and he had to halt. 

Her breath fanned his lips and he closed his eyes. But did anyone tell Cadet Malhotra that first kisses aren't this kind. Nandini pecked side of his lip and he took sweet few seconds to realize it was over. He lazily opened his eyes and saw her simpering. 

"That was it?" He asked baffled and Nandini bit her lip. It was their first moment where they both didn't play deaf and dumb. 

She jumped to hold his face in her palms and he again got excited like a kid. Her feet on his boots and her face lit up like moon. 

"Why are you so weird, Malhotra?" She asked holding his face tight between her palms. 

"I am not weird," He protested making a frown and Nandini giggled. 

"It's time to drop you back," She said kissing his nose and he turned red with all the kisses and misses. 

"This is the last time we are meeting outside," She said while dragging him down hill. 

"There are certain bad cats out there, Manik," She said with that tone of knowing. 

"They are big bad cats," She added and Manik furrowed his brows trying to understand what she was saying. 

"What cats have to do with me?" He asked baffled. 

"You are the kitten," She told looking back and he had to use his entire might not to retort. Of course, it was her new way to address him. 

"I am not," He mumbled and she giggled. 

"You always think aloud," She replied and he cursed himself. 

"Where was I?" She tried to get back on point while she struggled to hop on huge log which was obstructing the path. 

Manik strode ahead and offered her his hand.

"You will not sneak out, you will not break rules, you will not do a thing which can land you in trouble," She instructed while he tried to note each thing mentally. Wait, why he is even taking notes? He frowned. 

"And why do you think I would listen to you," He retorted and she halted. He looked back and immediately regretted uttering those words. She was looking pissed off. 

"Of course I would listen." He corrected, "There are big bad cats looking for me out there."  

Adding that, he looked around jungle. He was out of sudden in 'Jungle book' and nothing made sense. But even if it didn't, he couldn't tell her. She could turn into huntress any moment and then he won't be sweet kitten to her anymore. He had turned into one impossible case. 

"We will not meet like this again," She added lowly and Manik stopped to gape her. 

"Nandini, I didn't mean to upset you. I would listen," He pleaded assuming she was annoyed. 

"It's not that, cadet," She said while kissing his jawline. He flushed and shifted with the wave which traveled across his spine. 

"We cannot risk your career," She stated and walked ahead leaving a confused Manik behind. She looked around the place to see if someone was following them. 

"Wait," He shouted and she turned around. 

"What do you mean we won't meet?" He asked horrified. He was slow, Nandini pursed her lips. 

"You won't sneak out anymore," She dictated while he looked terror struck. He couldn't imagine how days would be and how nights would haunt him without her. 

"Listen, I don't know what bad cats you are talking about but we need to meet. I don't know how but we have to," He said closing the gap between them and palming her face ever so urgently. 

"Manik, stop being over-dramatic," Nandini said ironing the furrows on his forehead with her fingers. 

"Who said we won't meet at all," She asked and he looked excited out of sudden. He awaited for her to utter something very soothing which could make his tapping feet stop. 

"I would sneak in," She finally revealed the plan and he smiled. They both smiled evilly and then pounced on each other for a hungry hug. 

Excited kids. 

He lifted her up a bit while trying to let out his happiness while she gripped him hard letting out all her zeal. Once realizing, Manik dropped her and she slid down his torso. 

"Woh," He started to come up with some explanation while Nandini marched ahead leaving him behind. Who could wait to listen to some super lame excuses?

Manik thanked his stars thinking about how she didn't nudge. 

_____________________________

"So who is this boy?" Rishi asked yet again and Nandini's giggles subsided. They both were talking for an hour and things were going pretty smooth. They had hardly talked in all these years when Rishi was sent abroad for his studies and Nandini was here in India. He being favorite of their parents never actually felt a need to mingle up with a sister who was nothing less than hellion. 

"Still not your business," She replied and waited for him to leave. Rishi didn't leave this time but kept sitting beside her. They both were watching the sunset from their garden while having a talk about their childhood adventures. 

"I am sorry, Nandini," Rishi spoke after a long silence. 

"For being a spoilt jerk?" Nandini taunted while he chuckled. 

"That something mom and dad need to be sorry about," He replied and Nandini chuckled. 

"I am sorry for leaving you alone and never even caring how you was all this while," He said looking at her. 

"Do not mention it," She said while jumping off the wooden log. 

"I seriously don't care," She added and walked away. Rishi saw her disappearing in dark of evening. 

"You haven't changed a bit," Rishi mumbled to himself and walked back into house. 

_______________________________

"Bhaiya," Harshad stopped the valet from taking out Manik's blazer for laundry. 

"Leave that one as well," He added trying not to sound irritated. 

Manik entered the dorm and rushed to check his cupboard. 

"He didn't take away your precious blazers for laundry," Harshad informed but Manik still checked it. 

"Why is he so possessive about his blazers all of sudden?" Asked Samit trying to crack the mad guy who was sighing in relief. 

 "He is collecting scents. He wander around in nights to catch certain scents and then save them," Harshad answered and Manik glared him. 

"Huh?" Samit looked clueless. 

"They were not quite dirty," Manik answered sweetly while Harshad shook his head in disbelief. 

"Love is not for cowards, my boy," He added the voice-over and Manik jumped on his bed to strangle him. Boys laughed at little brawl and soon it turned into a official ring where pillows were the weapons. Not many boys were in dorm as most of them had already left for their homes after their exams.

____________________________

"Sir," Manik reported to stable as Major Thakur had called him for some service. 

"Manik," Major asked him to ease down. 

"You will be assisting here in this break time," He told and Manik nodded. 

Colonel Singh was out of town for a week and things were taken care in academy by Lieutenant Kalra. Manik was relieved listening how he was appointed at stable not some aloof post. 

"I want you to make these boys exercise a bit before we leave for some business," Major put forward the plan for the day. Manik released the horses one by one and they ran towards the green ground. They neighed and Manik smiled. Everyone loves freedom. 

Noon went in a jiffy as Manik sweat it out with young horses while Major Thakur seemed busy with some paper work. It wasn't usual day in stable. Manik had never seen what went beyond the classes there. He was finding it interesting to know the new details. 

"Let's go, boy," Major called Manik and Manik ran towards stable telling the other man to take care of horses. 

In no time, they were walking out of academy and Manik was curious to know where they were heading. 

"Sir, May I ask where are we going?" Manik asked and Major Thakur smiled. 

"We are going to purchase some ponies," He replied without any issue. 

"There's this reputed farm of Murthy's. We are going there," He added and Manik stiffened a bit. Murthy's was not just a name for him. He was nervous out of sudden. 

____________________________

"It takes calculation, Daadu," Nandini raised her brow before taking her turn in game of chess. 

"One mistake and you are out," Daadu agreed to the notion. 

"Exactly," Nandini said and took her turn. Daadu smiled in glee and Nandini simpered. 

"You were never good at calculations, Nandini," Daadu mocked while eliminating her bishop. 

"I aim at king while you eliminate bishops," Nandini spat in vain as Daadu simpered over his little victory. 

"Adventures don't suit the queen," Daadu tried to warn the smug queen. 

"Who said that?" Nandini mocked back while taking her turn. 

Game went on till the moment when Nandini flipped the board over. Daadu laughed like a maniac while she sat there with a pout. 

"Hellion is bad at taking the defeat," Daadu mocked and she glared him. 

"How are you going to fight your evil father?" Daadu asked out of context and Nandini frowned. Daadu knew how his son was up to something and Nandini was not at all wise when it came to tackling complications.  

"He is going to play cunning than ever," Daadu warned and Nandini looked worried. 

"I will handle it," Nandini assured trying to convince herself. 

"You don't worry about him," She added before leaving. 

"I am not worried about him but for Manik," Daadu mumbled to himself before walking back to his room. 

__________________________

A/N

I know a short one but I shall update again this week. Note is going down after a day as I hate notes. :|

Unedited*