"Don't call me baby unless you mean it"

Nandini tapped on steering wheel as she drove back to home. She didn't know why she was listening to that song, it wasn't her taste. It was she wanted to amplify everything she was feeling. Though Feeling was hysterical as she could feel this pool of emotions inside her and it didn't even feel terrible. It felt mandatory. 

Leaving her jeep on front door, she threw keys towards gatekeeper and strode towards main door.  She just wished nobody came in her way that morning because she was walking grenade who would explode real bad. She entered her home to see servants busy in routine morning hustle. Taking stairs, she heard her mother calling her but she wasn't going to stop at any cost. She wouldn't want to burst into something terrible in front of those people. Closing her door loudly, she threw herself in her fluffy bed. It absorbed her and it kinda felt good. 

Closing her eyes, only face she saw was of him. She didn't know why he was back. She threw the pillow away and yapped. 

"No freaking way, Manik Malhotra," She yelled and broke the neatly done line of pillows on her bed. Sitting on her knees, she stared into wall where this portrait of horse hung. She heard herself sniffling and that's when she realized she was crying out of inability of hold her emotions. She wasn't able to cop up with gush of emotions he had brought back. Her angry demeanor loosened as she dropped her shoulders. Grabbing a pillow from ground, she hugged it only to lay down quietly. 

"You are a bad, bad kitten, Manik," She murmured as she let out some halves of sobs. She certainly wasn't crying, she was sure.  

Nothing had made her cry and now he was trying to do that quite effectively. She had tried to undo everything he had done. She could have carried to live the way she was before. But then it was like there was no way back. It all was in vain. 

She heard door of her room clicked open and before that person could dare to open his or her mouth, she hurled pillow his way. 

"Not now," She yelled. Rishi gaped her as he tried to make out what was wrong. 

"GET OUT," She yelled further and Rishi closed his mouth awkwardly. Closing the door, he walked down the stairs.

"She is in terrible mood," Rishi said horrified as he saw Daadu coming out of his room. 

"Is it?" Daadu asked as he proceeded to get newspaper. 

"Yes, I think something terrible happened," Rishi replied as he reached the last stair. 

"Sounds like a name of a man," Daadu said smiling inwardly. His granddaughter was bad at coping with her emotions. She was terrible at emoting. He couldn't be more happy if she was expressing herself in some way at least. He looked up at her room which was closed and took a mental note to see her after breakfast. 

___________________________

"I can explain"

"No, you cannot"

"I was scared"

"Who isn't, Manik?"

"I know I did a blunder"

"It is a sin, Manik"

"What are you talking about?"

"Nobody fails on purpose. You failed by choice. You failed her."

"I know"

"There are people who hardly pass"

"Huh?"

Manik asked baffled and Harshad shook his head. 

"Forget it. I am a bit too anxious about results," He added nervously. 

"I am not even excited about results. I have screwed everything big time, Bro," Manik accepted with a frown as they entered the dorm. 

"Don't talk about results," Harshad warned and that's when he realized the frown on Manik's face. He knew how that guy was on his least. 

"Come here," He called a lost Manik. 

"You didn't even give me a hug," He complained trying to divert Manik. 

Manik hugged him warmly as Harshad clutched him in arms. Just when they were about to let go, someone entered the room. 

"Woooohhh, I hope I am not interrupting something," Samit spoke as he witnessed the scene. Manik and Harshad immediately straightened up. Harshad glared Samit who in return just passed a teasing smirk. 

"I was just consoling his broken heart," Harshad spoke as a matter of fact.  

"Why Manik's heart is broken? He is going to top anyway," Samit replied unaware of matter. Result which was due next day was hovering everyone's mind. 

"That's something we get broken about," Harshad replied as he took Samit a bit away. Manik was in no condition to talk about it. Manik folded his cloths and started to arrange in closet. 

His mind dived to fetch her thoughts and it didn't even take an effort. Last night had all the reasons to be beautiful because he had met her. It was the first time she hadn't spoken a word when they were face to face. It ached now somewhat but he couldn't complain. He called for it. She had to be this cold, he pushed her too far. 

"So?" Harshad returned after losing Samit somewhere. 

"Did you talk to her?" Harshad asked as he leaned on his bed. 

"She didn't let me," Manik answered still not looking anywhere but closet. 

"She punch you, didn't she?" Harshad asked chuckling. 

"She hit me with a rod," Manik replied a bit proudly and giggled himself. 

"You deserved it," Harshad said as a matter of fact. 

"I did," Manik agreed as smiled vanished from his face. All of it was sounding like a nightmare now. He had ruined everything with his own hands and now he was afraid. 

"Would she ever forgive me?" Manik asked and Harshad stopped playing with ball in his hand. 

"You know it better," Harshad said trying not to sound discouraging. 

"What if she doesn't?" Manik asked again giving in to another fear. 

"Then I will take you home in upcoming holidays," Harshad replied casually. 

Manik turned around to glare him. Harshad shrugged his shoulders. Manik was pro at uttering stupid things and Harshad believed he called for such lame replies. 

"She has to forgive me. I am not going anywhere," Manik spoke in utter confidence and then continued to arrange his closet. 

Harshad smiled as he threw the ball. Reverse psychology was Manik's medicine for sure. 

_______________________

Nandini kept looking at Harlow as he slept quietly. She again drowned in her chair as Harlow didn't even budge. He was very quiet today. She played with bubble wrap as she tried to kill the time. Sleep was away that night. Harlow woofed raising his head. It came out quite halfhearted though. He walked to window and sat quietly. Nandini picked some magazine trying not get intimidated with Harlow's clues. She wasn't expecting to see anyone, she was sure. 

Harlow barked loudly and then wagged his tail. Nandini could see it even when she wasn't looking. 

"Wooouuuu wooouuuu wou"

Harlow didn't even woofed properly and kept wagging his tail. Nandini closed the magazine angrily. She knew who it was. She got up and walked to the window. He was standing under the lamppost. He waved as she came into his notice. Nandini shook her head angrily. 

Minutes passed and she didn't budge. Harlow had slept with his chin on ledge of window. Manik sat on platform and waited. He was going to talk to her no matter what. He would not leave until she listens to him once. 

Manik saw her walking away from window and his face fell. He had expected something like that but still it felt bad. Next was something which increased her heartbeats. He heard shutter of rescue center opening and he knew who it was. He was ready to get another smack from her, it wasn't a problem. She came out wearing her favorite long sweater with nothing at bottom. Woolen cap on her head restricted her hair to flow in wind. 

She walked towards him with a blank face and Manik waited for whatever she was going to do. She looked at his face blankly for few seconds before crossing her arms across her chest. Oh well, she had a water bottle in hand. Manik noticed and tried to know with what she was going to talk tonight. 

"I can..." He started to say when she poured that water bottle on his head. He just stood through the cascade and shock. Well, he should have guessed. Before he could say anything, she turned around and he knew she was going to walk away like last night. He had to stop her. He grabbed her wrist urgently and pulled her. She gained the control over sudden pull just few inches away from her body to collide into his. 

"Nandini," He said in her ear and he could feel her going warm under his touch. Her body was radiating heat. 

"Listen to me once, please," He pleaded and she stiffened. He guessed that phrase didn't work. 

"I...." He started to say but then she elbowed in his chest hard for him to lose his grip over wrist. He squealed a bit and she got away from his grip. Walking rapidly with weird steps, she entered the building. Manik cursed himself for losing his grip. 

"Why would she listen to you now?" He asked himself aloud. He sat on platform in defeat. His eyes instinctively darted towards her office and there she stood with Harlow. She hadn't turned the lights off. Her face was ached, she was hurt. His heart ached seeing his wildcat like that. She had never kept quiet and now she was this silent. She must be so hurt, it broke his heart thinking how he had pushed her that away. His hands reached to hold his ears as she kept looking at him. She bit her lip, maybe was trying to guise. Turning away, she walked away from window. 

___________________

Daadu entered Nandini's room to find her sleeping on her bed. She had her eyes closed and face ached. It was day two of her dangerous silence and Daadu knew it was time to talk. 

"Stop pretending," Daadu said as he closed the door. Nandini huffed and opened her eyes. Daadu knew she was dying for him to dig her. 

She pointed at her forehead sitting on her knees and Daadu knew what she wanted. He kissed her forehead with all his love and she smiled. 

"Your brother is too afraid to enter your room," Daadu quipped to start a conversation. She didn't reply but looked in a thought. 

"Tell me what it is," Daadu asked as he sat on bed and Nandini gripped his upper arm to lean on. 

"I am feeling so cold," She said totally not in mood to make things simpler. 

"Manik came, right?" Daadu asked after a comfortable silence. 

"Who is Manik?" She asked and Daadu chuckled. That kiddo was beyond cute when she was vulnerable. 

"The guy who had screwed big time and dying to make things better," Daadu replied even when he had no idea what Manik was up to. 

"I don't know what are you talking about," Nandini mumbled refusing to talk about him. She was stubborn and Daadu knew it. 

Playing with Daadu's fleecy fingers, she kept waiting for him to say something. She was in mood to talk, Daadu was certain. 

"I would have heard him once if I were you," Daadu said sincerely and she wrapped her arms around his big tummy. 

"I no more entertain kittens," She answered agitated and Daadu laughed. 

"Why are you laughing?" She asked baffled as his masculine laughter echoed in her room. 

"From where you bring these names?" He asked controlling his laughter. 

"He is a bad, bad kitten," Nandini spoke furiously and Daadu kissed on her temple to calm the little hellion down. 

"So he did come," Daadu asserted. 

"I am going to kill him tonight," Nandini said throwing the pillow away. She was having hard time containing her fury over Manik. 

"So he would come tonight as well," Daadu teased and Nandini looked at him narrowing her eyes. Daadu laughed aloud and she frowned. 

"Okay, okay. I won't laugh," Daadu gave up and she snuggled back into him. 

"I don't know, Daadu," Nandini finally spoke on her own. Her voice came out telling how feeble she was. 

"Everything will be fine, Nandu," Daadu said kissing top of her head. He kept cradling her as she kept hugging him from side.  

He smiled as thought sank in. Things were untangling.

_________________________

"Congratulation, Bro," One of batch mates hugged Manik as soon as result was out. 

"You topped the class," He chirped and Manik smiled faintly. 

Result was out and he had topped his batch. Everyone was congratulating him and he couldn't feel anything. Everything was incomplete without her. He was unable to understand when did she become everything to him. He heard Harshad squealing in glee and he looked up to see his clown of friend dancing. 

"I made it, I made it," Harshad screamed as soon as he spotted Manik in crowd. 

"I made it, bro," He was so excited. Manik laughed a bit as he saw that happy man. 

"I thought I would fail but I made it," Harshad spoke aloud and almost everyone laughed on him. 

"Look at you," Manik quipped and Harshad smiled lost in his dreams. 

"Mom would be so proud of me," He spoke and Manik ruffled his hair. 

"And you topped," Harshad shouted on top of his voice and Manik had to cover his ears. 

"I am not going to tell mom," He remarked and Manik laughed. 

Harshad was gone with the gush of happiness as it was hard to contain that happy man that day. Manik moved out of chirpy crowd of his friends and found himself a calm spot in garden. He could see how everyone was happy. He missed her so bad.

"Colonel Singh wants to see you," A peon spoke to draw his attention and Manik nodded. 

Manik walked to his office, totally read to take whatever he had to say. 

_________________________

"Come in," Colonel Singh spoke still busy with some papers on his desk. He had returned a day before from his official trip and Manik had tried his best to avoid him. 

"You called, sir," Manik said after a customary salute. 

"Manik, my boy," colonel finally spoke putting the papers aside. Manik couldn't believe if had heard it right. He saw Colonel getting up from his chair and walking to him with a smile. He hugged him warmly. 

"I am so proud of you. You did good," Colonel said holding Manik's shoulders. It was about him topping the exams. Manik wondered if Colonel knew what happened between him and Murthy or not. 

"Your father would have been so proud of you," Colonel said with this ocean in his eyes. 

Manik smiled genuinely.

"Your aunt wants to see you," Colonel informed as he walked back to his chair. 

"It would be better if you go and meet her as next thing," He added and Manik nodded. 

Coming out of colonel's office, he walked towards colonel's quarter. 

_____________________

"Take this," Nandini said as she found herself a place next to Rishi who was packing his bag. 

Rishi looked at Nandini as if he had seen a ghost. 

"I don't share food and if I am doing it, it's something," Nandini said as Rishi didn't take the sandwich she was offering him. He smiled and took it. 

"You made it?" He asked as he took the first bite. 

"How do you know?" Nandini asked munching her sandwich. 

"It doesn't taste like Murthy's," He quipped and Nandini giggled. They both let out some chuckles as they stared at wall. 

"You are going back?" Nandini asked and Rishi sighed. 

"I want to settle here, Nandu," He replied sincerely. 

"I have to go for few days," He answered her question. 

"I never had thought I would say this but..." Nandini spoke as she took another giant bite. 

"What?" Rishi asked looking at his mad sister who was having her longest conversation with him.

"You will be missed," She stated without looking at him and he couldn't believe his ears. 

"Really?" He asked smiling ear to ear.

"You heard me," She replied getting awkward. Walking towards the door, she breathed deep. 

"Nandini," Rishi called her and she turned around. 

"Don't let Dad win in it," He said as if it couldn't be missed at any cost. 

Nandini smiled evilly. 

"Never," She replied and walked out. Rishi smiled to his heart's content. Zipping his bag, he sighed. He wasn't going back with nothing. He couldn't wait to return already.

____________________

"Don't tell me you need me

If you don't believe it

So let me know the truth

Before I dive right into you"

Standing under her window, he saw the dog. He assumed how that furry guy had started to like him. He no longer barked at him but wagged his tail with that tongue out. He smiled at him and waited for his gorgeous hellion to show up. He needed to tell her something. 

"Nandini" He called out loud. He couldn't afford to be afraid anymore. 

"Please come out," He shouted further. His voice sounded like an offence in that aloof street. 

Harlow woofed as if trying to amplify Manik's plead. He turned to see Nandini and then ran to her. His low moans told Nandini how he wants her to do something. 

"You are turning into his lawyer, Harlow," Nandini said to Harlow who had his wagging tail set on repeat. 

Harlow again made that low pleading sound and Nandini couldn't help but melt a bit. She looked at him closing the stupid magazine in her hand which she had picked to pretend to be busy. Lying to oneself was so in. 

"What do you want?" She asked giving in and Harlow walked to window totally asking her to hear those distant calls. Nandini could hear Manik calling her. He was in altogether different mood tonight. 

"For once, please," Manik spoke as loudly as he could. 

"I am sorry," He yelled and Nandini pursed her lips. She so wanted to hit that hopeless guy in head. He had audacity to utter those three words. 

"Please come down, please," He was on loop. 

"Alright," Nandini said and Harlow was more than excited as she got up from her chair. He walked to door telling her how he too wanted a walk. Nandini made him wear his belt and he licked her face. 

"I want to show you something," Manik was talking to God knows whom. Dogs had started to answer his calls. He was an owl in a city full of dogs. 

"Nandini, please," He called again without even looking how she was already walking towards him. That dog was also beside going all excited to go unleash. 

"Nandini," This time it came out as purr. His vocal chords seemed to go for a walk as she stood right in front of him. Harlow put his both paws on Manik's chest trying to greet and Manik didn't know what to do. 

"Harlow," Nandini warned and Harlow backed out. 

"I am listening," Nandini said crossing her arms across her chest. 

"You came?" Manik didn't want to say it as question but it did come out like that. 

"I guess you have changed your mind. Let's go back, Harlow," Nandini taunted turning away. 

"NOOO," Manik yelled urgently and she halted. 

"I want you to stay," He whispered as he stepped closer. She was just a step away now. Manik had got ready a speech but now all he had was a series of broken words. 

"Would you listen to me if I want to tell you something?" Manik asked and Nandini furrowed her nose. 

"You are not going to say anything, Manik," Nandini said huffing in disappointment. She knew that tone of his. 

"No, stay," Manik said and his hand went into his pocket to fetch something. 

Harlow looked excited as Manik struggled to get something out of his pocket. Harlow surely was in for some treats. 

Nandini could see him doing all the goofy stuff he does the best and couldn't figure out why weather was going warm all of sudden. She didn't know what that guy brought with him always. 

He took a folded paper out and his hands trembled a bit as he advanced his hand asking Nandini to take it. Nandini looked at paper and then at his face, both were crumpled. She took it even when her mind was shouting against it. 

As she opened its first fold, she could hear Manik chanting something. Was he praying? She looked up and he closed his lips tightly as if was doing nothing. She kept looking at him suspiciously while Manik turned into bot. He was not going to move at all. 

As last fold of it opened, Nandini could see something written under official emblem of army, she read it helplessly. Manik was till then practicing breathing exercises to calm his nerves down. 

"You topped," A smile played on her lips as she read that paper. It was an appreciation letter by Colonel Singh for Manik's performance.  Nandini couldn't help but feeling proud reading that letter. Smile didn't cease to keep playing as she read the letter till the last. Manik saw her not retreating from that smile and couldn't help but following what his heart was screaming. He took a step ahead and grabbed her as tight as he could. 

"I am sorry," He said in broken voice as he was already feeling this overwhelm. 

"Forgive me for being an ass," He murmured while she stood still with that paper sandwiched between their bodies. 

"I couldn't think of anyone else but you when they handed me this letter," He confessed and she bit her lip. 

"I was so so wrong to let you go. I am an ass. I am so stupid. I don't even deserve you. You should kill me. I am such an ass. please forgive me," He was cursing himself without making any sense. His clasp didn't loosen a bit. He couldn't risk. 

"You are a bad, bad kitten, Manik," She corrected and he agreed immediately.

"I am worst kitten," He said and she clutched side of his coat. She was trying her best not to give in. She couldn't. 

"Good night, Manik," She murmured and her voice came out feeble. She didn't move but keep standing in his embrace. 

"I need to go," She murmured and he clutched her tighter. 

"You are bad, Manik Malhotra," She nagged and he nodded his head. 

"I know," He agreed and she pushed him mildly. 

She looked at his face which was all shades of alive. His eyes were moist, his lips were desperate; he was being best at making her weak. 

"I thought we couldn't be like this," She said hinting towards their proximity. Manik knew what she was referring to. It was his words which he didn't know would carve into her heart so bad. 

"I swear I feel like hitting you so bad," She confessed with bitter confidence. 

"Hit me as much as you want," he demanded almost touching her nose with his lips. 

"Go, Manik," She said taking a step back. Manik watched her walking back with a protesting Harlow. She struggled to take that excited boy back. Manik looked around only to find himself standing there alone. She had taken that letter with her. He could sleep tonight. 

Nandini locked her office only to face the tornado of emotions. She didn't know why she was feeling so happy reading that letter. She again read it and felt like announcing this to world that how her kitten had topped his batch. 

Placing the letter on table, she straightened it. 

"Topper Kitten Malhotra," She announced and already felt like throwing a party. 

______________

_________________________________

Unedited*