"This was the kitty you were talking about," Mrs Murthy yelled at Nandini as dramatic hustle bustle came to center stage at last. 

Nandini bit her lower lip totally trying to look cool about whatever was going to come her way. She couldn't be held guilty when she was not. 

"A boy in your room past midnight...I don't consider it fine, Nandini," Mr Murthy said in a very controlled tone. He was settled in his throne, well, he absolutely thought he was the king and this was his empire. 

"I can't believe this is what you have turned into," Mrs Murthy couldn't be behind. She had to sound equally hurt so that her husband doesn't end up taunting her again. 

"Stop overreacting, Mom and Dad," Rishi spoke with apparent furrows on his forehead. Drama he was witnessing was high notch. 

"She hasn't committed a sin," He added and Daadu chuckled making it very difficult for Nandini to put a blank face. She so wanted to join the bandwagon. 

"What's so funny, Dad?" Mr Murthy asked and Daadu shook his head in surrender. 

"It's because of you..." Nandini rolled her eyes as she knew what was coming her way. 

"Not again, Dad. Don't even think to drag Daadu in it," She warned and Mr Murthy got off his giant chair. It seemed like he waited for hellion to speak something. Nandini suspected how her father loved to brawl with her. He seemed to be waiting for it. 

"So you spoke," He said reaching her. 

"Your tongue, young lady," He started and Nandini waited. 

"This tongue of yours would land you in some big trouble someday," He added. Before he could charge on her more, landline rang. 

"Singh," Mr Murthy exclaimed while Nandini's ear grew to catch what was it. 

"See, I wanted to file a FIR but he...is your favorite cadet so I am letting him go," He added while Nandini's face turned hot. She could feel this justified ire building inside her. 

"And yes, you better take some action otherwise I have to inform someone who will," He threatened. Nandini looked at Daadu who was in some thought. 

"I am going to come over tomorrow, yes," His tone mellowed down a bit as Nandini knew how to end all of this for now. She rubbed her palms as her father disconnected the call. 

"What do you want, Dad?" She asked and Mr Murthy's face lit up a bit. 

_______

"This is ridiculous," Colonel Singh yelled as he hung up the call. 

"All because of your foolishness, Manik," He added getting up. 

Manik was standing in his office with his head hung low. He was ashamed for a lot of reasons. 

Colonel Singh paced across the room trying to calm down. He was in his night robe with his beard wrapped in net. His night couldn't turn worse than it. 

"You are one of my finest," He said as he walked to Manik. 

"I am sorry, sir," Manik mumbled and colonel again started to pace across the room. 

"You are son of great Aakash Malhotra. Understand what legacy you carry," Colonel added sincerely. 

"All this foolishness would lead you nowhere," He said trying to sound considerate. 

"It won't happen again, Sir," Manik mumbled lowly totally regretting something he hadn't put his finger on. 

He wasn't regretting meeting Nandini but he was regretting breaking the rules. He didn't regret it before but then getting caught was never on his mind. 

"Madhav would come tomorrow. I will try not to put some severe penalty on you," Colonel said trying to assure Manik. Manik nodded before he took colonel's leave. 

It had to be doom day where he had landed himself in a very embarrassing situation. He should have been careful. Next day was dreaded now. It was surely going to bring more insult to his spotless run in academy. 

___________

Nandini laid in her bed thinking about a lot of things. She had a list now which her father wanted her to fulfill. Conversation with him was nothing less than a business deal.  It started with some basic expected demands how she must stop seeing Manik. Nandini knew even her father knew it was such a waste attempt. There was no way she could stop seeing her kitten. So demands got a little downgraded. Now she had three hell to endure. 

First, a dinner where she would have to behave. It wasn't ordinary dinner as per her father. Mr Renesh Samuel was guest of honor and she was supposed to play good daughter. Nandini agreed. She had to save her cadet from evil eye of her father. Deal wasn't much of loss. She could pull this dinner thing. 

Second, she was expected to take this seminar seriously. Her dad couldn't know if she sleeps through it or daydream. So nodding her head wasn't much of task. 

Third, She couldn't go to academy until her seminar was over. This one got a little disputable. She tried negotiating but it was a bad time. She had to comply. Few days couldn't harm, could it?

Deal wasn't much of one sided. In return, her father promised to spare Manik. She knew what this service meant to Manik, she could do this little something for her sincere kitten at least. 

She sighed thinking how life was becoming a battle ground ever since Manik had walked into it. She felt like a warrior princess whose prince was on stake. She felt so much responsible. Her cadet had a training to complete and she had to make sure he would. Big bad cats had their eyes on him.

_________

Wearing his uniform, Manik walked to Colonel's office. He could sense something unpleasant was coming his way. Mr Murthy was supposed to visit and there was going to be one cruel trial. 

He knocked the door and heard Colonel calling him inside. Someone sat in chair and it surely didn't look like Mr Murthy. It was someone fluffy. 

"Daadu," Manik exclaimed in joy as Brigadier Murthy turned around with a smile. His feet halted as soon as Colonel Singh let a growl out. 

"Tell me, what should I do with him?" Colonel asked sincerely. Manik couldn't stop smiling inwardly. He knew nothing could go wrong now. 

"My son wants me to take care of it," Daadu spoke picking up the cup of tea. 

"And I care for this boy a little too much," He added and Manik bit his lip totally controlling the urge to go hug Daadu. He couldn't sleep all night thinking about horrible morning to be followed. He had never thought morning would be such a darling. 

"So I simply want you to let him go," Daadu spoke casually and Colonel sighed in relief. 

He glared Manik not wanting the young man to feel privileged. 

"You are getting some from me," Colonel revealed and Manik put a straight face. 

"You are restricted to go out on weekend. Instead you will be doing extra drills," He added. Manik straightened his torso and responded in positive. 

"You may go, Cadet," Colonel said still sounding hell mad. Manik looked at smiling Daadu and marched out. 

Colonel sighed as soon as Manik left the room. 

"These kids would land me in some big trouble someday," He said tired. Daadu chuckled seeing an exhausted Colonel. 

"Singh, you think too much. Let them have fun," Daadu said getting up. 

"Madhav changed his mind, He sounded hell mad last night," Colonel inquired. 

Daadu looked at Colonel and chuckled. Poor guy had no idea what politics ran in their house. 

"He is a businessman, Singh. And his daughter isn't bad at it either," Daadu spoke in riddles. Colonel gave up not getting a thing. 

"See you soon," Daadu took his leave. 

______________________

Manik held the pillow near his chest as he stared the wall. It was way past midnight and sleep was nowhere around. Nandini didn't show up today. Manik didn't even know what happened after he was sent back to academy. He didn't know if she was fine or not. He couldn't go out anymore. He couldn't collect the courage this soon. He leaned on big pillow and gazed the dark ceiling. 

His life was turning into Missouri night. It was cold and ruthless. Whenever he thought he could have it all, it would slap him with a mug of cold water.  He didn't know how meeting the person you love could be a felony. He looked at clock. It was 3 in morning. Nandini didn't come. What would have happened that she didn't come. He frowned thinking about it. Sleep weighed his eyelashes down and he gave up. 

It couldn't be an hour when he heard some faint noises. He opened as his eyes instantly and looked around. Faint light of lamp was illuminating the room. 

"Where are you going?" Manik asked in sleepy voice. Harshad was getting ready in his uniform. Even Samit was up. 

"We have an early morning drill," Harshad said coldly. 

"You know not all are privileged," He taunted and Manik got up. 

"Why are you being such a nag?" Manik asked yawning. It was 4 in morning. 

"You aren't the one about to go for an extra drill, Manik," It was Samit this time. Those guys were hell pissed at him for not getting caught that day. They never got to know how he got caught in Murthy mansion by Nandini's dad. Manik shook his head not wanting it to ever come out. 

"Whatever," He murmured and again dived into his bed to have some more sleep. He wasn't much happy with his friends either. It was their stupid plan because of that everything happened that night. 

________________

It was two days since Nandini had seen Manik. She wasn't ever that sincere to comply to any condition so loyally. But then his father was quite watchful recently. His men wandered in college campus. She recognized them. She couldn't understand what that man wanted. He was taking full advantage of her promise of not going to academy for few days. That smug thought that's how people forget each other. 

She walked out of her college to see her mother waiting for her outside. His dad didn't inform how her mother was new bodyguard. 

"What are you doing here?" Nandini asked reaching her mom. 

"We need to buy an outfit for you," Mrs Murthy said dragging Nandini inside the car. Nandini huffed in frustration remembering her promise to behave for dinner with that Renesh Samuel. It was a town event. Mr Mayor had arranged a dinner in honor of Mr Samuel and her father was the sponsor of course. It was for him that Mr Samuel was here in this small town at first place. 

"Don't forget you promised," Her mother reminded her as car halted in front of a big building. It was her mother's designer. She was about to doll her up in one stupid outfit and Nandini couldn't even protest. 

"Cadet, You better not get rusticated," She murmured before she got off the car. Her cadet had to make up to her. After all, all of it was for him. 

____________

Manik walked in shooting arena and sighed as he didn't see her there like last two days. He was restless. He couldn't even share with anyone. His only friend was being a pain in ass and he was in no mood to pacify Harshad either. Harshad thought Manik was a favored kid and Manik couldn't argue over that because it was stupid. He was not a favored kid anywhere. Harshad was being unreasonable as ever. 

"Manik," Major called from control room.

"In Colonel office," He informed and Manik nodded. 

Walking to Colonel's office, Manik cursed himself for not figuring out what he did wrong now. 

"Come in," Colonel said as Manik knocked the door. There were 5 more cadets there from his batch. And they all were hell sincere guys. Manik couldn't know what they all did collectively to be called with him. Recently he was one trouble magnet. 

"Get ready in your suits tonight," Colonel said sternly. 

"You are coming along to Mayor's grand feast," He informed and Manik's face fell. He didn't want to be away at night. He had all the hopes how her hellion would visit him very soon. He was grounded, she wasn't. 

"And make sure, you don't screw up," Colonel said glaring Manik and Manik nodded. 

His face could tell how he could not be more depressed about the news. Nothing meant sense to him without her. He was this dysfunctional mess who couldn't do anything without her. 

"Show up, Nandini," He murmured looking utterly impatient. 

Nobody told Mr Cadet how words get heard when they are murmured under grey sky. Well, You just got told. 

_____________

Nandini stared at her figure in mirror and wondered whom she saw there. She was draped in a navy blue dress which was nothing less than a veil to her imperfections. She never was meant for perfection. Her parents always wanted her as someone else and now they had got their hands on her. They were fools to think they could have her the way way want. She was just one step away from being herself again. She could have cheated on those conditions but again, they were for her cadet. She had to fulfill them. 

Her reflection complimented her. Her dress had sparkling blue blouse which was attached to magnificent length of her gown. It was nothing less than a fairy dress. She felt like someone she wasn't. A hellion draped in sparkles, never mind. 

"You look like a lady," Her mother's satisfied choice brought her out of trance. 

"Feel awarded," Nandini mocked and her mother scowled at her. 

"Don't forget..." Her mother started the same phrase. 

"I will," Nandini completed it for her. 

Setting Nandini's hair on her shoulder, Mrs Murthy felt contented. 

They came out of that same building which they had entered three hours back. People gaped them as if they had landed from Mars. That simple town hardly knew what went inside rich walls. Nandini could pity herself for being trapped in such a strangling trap. 

She knew somewhat now that her father had plans for her on each step she takes, but she wasn't afraid because she knew what she wanted. 

It was him. 

________________

Manik stepped out of military jeep as town hall again stood at his step. He was nowhere in state to attend any event when his mind was going berserk over her absence. His hellion was not around and that was driving him all mad. 

All the cadets followed the colonel and other officers to grand hall. It was a grand feast in honor of some business tycoon and Mr Mayor wanted to show off all he had. 

Lights were blazing the place in gorgeous hue. It was still all cold. 

__

Nandini walked behind her father as they moved from one big purse to another. She was a prisoner for that night. Her escape was somewhere in his dorm trying to be a man when he was just a boy. 

"Mr Murthy," A familiar voice brought her out of her little sad reverie. It was Renesh Samuel. 

His eyes twinkled unlike other day as he got a glimpse of her. Maybe he liked the someone else she was that night. 

"Meet my daughter, Renesh," Mr Murthy introduced them and Nandini let a plastered smile play. Her clutch over his hand was tight totally letting the secret message out. 

"I like firmity... always," Renesh said responding to her bone crushing grasp. Nandini looked away not wanting to entertain the little Mr Split Personality. And as her eyes roamed around, they met a pair which belonged to her. 

"Manik" She mumbled elated. Her face lit up like a candle stand. Manik looked dazed somewhat as if trying to figure out something. Renesh gently touched Nandini's elbow to guide her somewhere and that's when trance broke. Someone was angry and his expressive face didn't help. ________
___________

Unedited*

P.S.  Expect a quick update. :)