Manik watched Major Thakur having a conversation with Mr Murthy while he walked across the lush green ground which seemed to have no end. It had been minutes since they had reached there to talk about purchase of ponies and Manik was restless than ever. Mr Murthy hadn’t spared a glance to him since the moment he had walked there. It was like he was ignoring him. Manik knew what could be the reason. He still remembered Mr Murthy’s bitter remark on him in Colonel’s office. He looked at leaping horses that were having time of their lives. He somehow felt sad. He wasn’t one of them anymore. He frowned and before that free spirit could kick in harder, he heard Major Thakur calling him. He turned around to see him approaching.
“Pretty view, huh?” He asked smiling.
“Listen I would leave. You take the delivery,” He said handing Manik some papers.
“Mr Murthy said this work doesn’t need my presence,” He concluded and walked away patting Manik’s back.
Manik stood there like jammed line trying to grasp all the rush of information. He shook his head thinking how that day couldn’t get worse.
_________
“So you are asking me where he is?” asked Lieutenant Kalra raising his brow.
Nandini folded her arms across her chest and stared into his eyes.
“Do you think I am enquiry counter?” He asked a bit louder.
“Who made you in charge?” Nandini asked baffled.
“You are twisting a simple question into a felony from past 10 minutes,” She said a bit irritated.
Lt chuckled as if Nandini had given him stealthy reason to laugh. She had been trying to know where Manik was for last 30 minutes but all she had got were some very awkward apologies for not being able to help. It was like it was new rule in academy that no one would answer about Manik. She knew the reason now. Lieutenant Kalra was in charge in absence of Colonel Singh and He disliked Manik for no reason.
“It’s a felony from here on to seek details of cadets,” He said leaning on desk trying to intimidate Nandini.
“I am afraid I cannot help you, lady,” He said artificially.
Nandini could feel her blood pressure touching the lid already. She had enough with these fools.

“I am sure I can use your phone,” She said taking the receiver in hand. Lt leaned back in his giant chair watching her dial a number.

“I am sure you would love to talk to Brigadier Murthy,” She informed finally using her invincible weapon. She couldn’t be mess up with.
Colors from Lt’s face faded away in no time as he heard Brigadier’s name.

“What are you talking about?” He asked lowly.

“You look pale, Lt,” She spoke faking a concern.

“Put that receiver down, you spoilt brat,” He roared trying to scare Nandini.

“I am afraid I cannot help you, Sir,” She threw back his words on him only to leave him hissing in frustration.

“Alright, stop with it already,” He said in defeating voice. He couldn’t invite Brigadier Murthy there. Though he was retired but Lt Still dreaded the presence of that old man. He gulped in anxiety.

“He has gone to your stable,” He informed and Nandini furrowed her brows.

“Be audible, cunning man,” She said putting the receiver back.

“He has gone to Mr Murthy’s stable to take delivery of ponies,” Lt said aloud. Nandini shook her head in dismay thinking about the situation her kitten was in. She stormed out of room leaving a frustrated Lieutenant behind.

“Screw these Murthy’s,” He yelled to cop up with little blackmail he had to go through.
_______________
Manik walked another pony to truck and patted him as he cooperated well. Till now, he hadn’t seen Mr Murthy around. He was constantly not trying to feel good about it so that he doesn’t jinx it. Men in stable helped him settling the mighty creatures safely in comfy trailer while Manik kept praying for not to have an encounter with Nandini’s father.
“Sir, Mr Murthy wants to see you,” One of staff informed and Manik pursed his lips. He knew it he shouldn’t have prayed. He was bad with prayers and God apparently hated him.
He walked nervously to Mr Murthy’s office which was across the arena.
“Aahh, come in,” Mr Murthy said seeing Manik standing at door.

“Hello, sir,” Manik wished carefully.

“Have a seat, young man,” Mr Murthy said, his tome totally calm.

Manik smiled and took the chair just to shift in it uncomfortably. He was in bad, bad spot. He wanted to run away as fast as he could.
“Tell me something about you,” Mr Murthy said leaning back in his chair.
“I never had quite a talk when you were with us in estate, " He added while hinting servant to pour the tea.
Manik noticed each minute movement in that room as he tried not to look too anxious.
"You know my name," Manik said sheepishly and then added, "I have grown up in Delhi and then I came here."
He was glad how army didn't have such interviews. He smiled nervously to servant who offered him tea.
"And your parents? I heard your father was an army man," Mr Murthy asked in a controlled tone.
"Yes, he was," Manik answered briefly only to earn a sly smile from Mr Murthy.
He didn't know where this conversation was heading to.

"And he died. Your mother couldn't take that and passed away few years later. You have been brought up in a Foster house and now you are here in army to continue the legacy of your martyr father," Mr Murthy told Manik's little tale with this tinge of mocking.
"Yes," Manik answered lowly looking at Mr Murthy.
"Your tale is inspiring, Manik. But where does my daughter fit in it?" He asked finally getting to point.
There was this loss of words on which Manik wanted to scold himself. He was already nervous with the idea of this conversation with father of the girl whom he most probably loved and now his mind had also abandoned him.
"I suppose...," Manik started but then suffered this blank out and ended up uttering, "What do you want to say, Sir?"
Mr Murthy chuckled coldly and then looked at Manik.
"I see you trying to fit her in your mother's place while you are trying to fit in shoes of your great DEAD father," Mr Murthy blurted the main point aloud.
Deafening silence hit the room as Manik gaped Mr Murthy trying to come at terms with what he had said while Mr Murthy waited for him retaliate.
Sudden lack of air caused Manik to work his legs and he got up. He needed fresh air. He hadn't ever thought of what Mr Murthy had stated.
"I am sorry... I... I need to leave," Manik managed to utter as he walked towards the door.
"Stay away from my daughter," He heard Mr Murthy yelling as he closed the  door.
He walked rapidly towards he didn't even know where. It was like he was hit by a bus and now he was trying to run away from oozing blood. As he walked endlessly looking at nowhere, he bumped into someone and that someone turned out to be the girl who had all the might to stop the run.
"Nandini," he murmured before dropping his throbbing head in crook of her neck.
"What happened?" She asked petrified. She hadn't seen him this vulnerable ever. It was like her kitten had got soaked in fluid.
Manik held her tighter as his arms wrapped around her waist. He was feeling giddy with the thought of what Mr Murthy had tried to hint.
"You are scaring me," Nandini said pulling his heavy head with fistful of his hair. She massaged his scalp to soothe that pain while he looked into her eyes with this unknown fear.
"Let me talk to my old man. He has certainly uttered something which he shouldn't have," She said angrily. She stared his distressed face for a second or two and then started to march towards her father's office.
Manik strode to hold her hand for stopping her from blasting her father.
"Don't go," He pleaded as she turned around. Her eyes were on fire while she tried to look in control.
"I want to get out of here," He said tapping his feet. He was being impatient.
Nandini gawked his furrowed face for few seconds and then sighed deep. Next she dragged him towards grassy steep where she unlocked a small gate and then walked him towards long golden grass. Wind made those strands dance while Manik followed Nandini like an obedient kid.
"We are off Murthy property," She declared leaving his hand as she walked towards edge of cliff. They were quite away from that stable and Manik could see place  they were in was highly aloof.
"Now would you mind telling me what my father said to you?" She shouted from a distance as she looked back at him.
He looked down and plucked a grass strand to buy himself some time. He wasn't ready to face the angry tigress.
"What if I die in war?" He asked loud enough for her to hear. It was a sunny windy day. Looking at how still she became, Manik guessed she had heard him. She was standing at a distance of few steps. Her hair covered her face with crazy wind and she didn't even try to take them off her face.
Next he saw her storming towards him and before he could think about her speed, she dragged him with her. His back hit the rock behind as she gripped his collar.
"Why would you ask that?" She asked infuriated. Her eyes a little moist with that red of ire.
"What if I go on war and don't return?" He asked lowly over her face which was so close to him. She had pressed him between rock and her body so tightly. Her arms were harshly landed on his chest as she grabbed him harder from his collar.
"I would kill you," She replied on his face and he felt a gush of blood in his head which made him dizzy. Her words were warm even when she spoke for utter fury.
"Why would you say so?" She asked losing her patience as her voice broke. His words had hit her bad.
"Take all of those stupid words back right now, Manik Malhotra" She demanded aggressively as she wrestled to shove him further into that hard crust.
"You don't utter that bullshit," She said as Manik saw her eyes going moist.
He immediately tried to hold her and she didn't even protest.
"There won't be any war. You won't ever think of it again. Otherwise I will push you off this cliff," She said denying his warmth by dropping a hot fist on his chest. It was like she wanted him to hold her while she beats the fears out of him. Manik hissed and she backed away.
They both looked at each other silently for few seconds. Then she took a step towards him and planted a kiss where she had punched him. He immediately loosened all his clenched muscles. Her touch worked like ointment. As she raised her head to meet his eyes, he pointed towards his forehead. He needed another dab of ointment for his burning head. She tiptoed to plant a kiss there. He smiled immediately.
"Here?" She asked touching his cheek and he nodded desperately. It was his day it seemed. She kissed his cheek tight and he bit his lip. Out of sudden, bullshit had gone out of window and sweet anxiety had kicked in.
"You won't think of what he said," She declared while hugging him tight. Manik all of sudden had started to feel like this super pampered man who could wish for anything.
"Now pick me up," She demanded and he was more than willing to oblige. He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist.
Brushing her lips to his neck, she heard him sighing deep. His heartbeats drummed against her shoulder. She knew now her cadet was fine.
_______
Nandini joined her family on dinner table to everyone's surprise. Her mother smiled while Rishi too looked happy about it. Her father got a little uncomfortable because maybe he knew how she knew what he had said to Manik. Daadu patted her head and she leaned to snuggle into him.
"Can I sleep in your room tonight?" She asked and Daadu nodded dropping a kiss on her temple.
Dinner went silent as opposed to everyone's doubt. Nandini hadn't created any ruckus and that was a surprise for her parents. Her father assumed it be a result of his little work back there in stable. He sighed in relief thinking about how it had worked favorably.
"I know what you did with Manik," She said as her father got up to retire to his room. They both were alone at table as almost everyone got busy with their stuff after dinner.

"Do not repeat it again... Please," She said as calmly as she could. She was drained with the level her father was taking it to. She didn't want to annoy him further.
Her father walked away without saying anything. Nandini walked to Daadu's room and saw him lying on bed. He was reading some book. He patted the bed and she crawled to reach him.
"Why my karate kid is so down today?" He asked as Nandini put her head on his tummy.
She didn't answer but kept playing with fold of her long sweater.
After few minutes, she uttered, "I am afraid." Daadu put the book aside and looked at her.
_____________
"What if I go into war and don't return?" Manik asked and Harshad turned around to look at him.
Harshad was packing his bag and Manik was reading a book laying on his bed for the sake of it.
"What would she do?" He asked further and Harshad picked the cloth from his suitcase to throw it on Manik.
"Who has fed this shit to you? For God's sake, we are soldiers, Manik but that doesn't mean we can't have a life," Harshad answered snatching the book from Manik's hands.
"I can't see her sad," He confessed.
"Practically you wouldn't be seeing as you would be dead as per your stupid 'if'," Harshad answered sarcastically.
Manik got up and sat with his legs folded.
"That's not what I wanted to hear, asshole," Manik yelled wearing a frown.
"Then why you ask stupid questions?" Harshad yelled back.
Manik pouted and Harshad looked away.
"You won't die in war, happy?" Harshad said what Manik wanted to hear.
Manik leaned back on his bed putting his hands under his head.
"I guess so," He muttered and closed his eyes.
_____________
Nandini walked into dark corridor covering her face in hoodie. Academy looked dark dead in night. She could see lights of dorm switched off. She reached the door of it. She slowly opened the door and looked inside. It was even darker. She could see white headboards of beds. She walked in and counted the beds to 11.
12the one had to be his.
She walked closer and heard him snoring. She turned the little torch on and he opened his eyes wide open. Before he could scream, Nandini palmed his mouth.
Kicking him in side of his stomach, she made him shift in his bed. She lay in bed beside him and released his mouth.
"What are you doing here?" He asked whispering. She lay there on her tummy taking support of her elbows. She kept looking at his face without uttering word. She looked tired and stressed.
"You won't chicken out, right ?" She asked putting a question in answer of his query.
"Huh?" He asked. She didn't reply quickly but just stared into his eyes.
"Sleep," She murmured palming his eyes. Before  he could fret further, he could feel her warmth disappearing. She slid out of his bed and dark ate her shadow as she stormed out. Manik got up to follow her still unable to make if it was a dream or reality. She was gone with the wind as he ran in corridor.
She was there, he knew. She was restless, he could feel.
______________
Unedited*