"So how was the day?" A voice halted Nandini's feet.

"You should have been slept till now," she said.

"You know I can't sleep without seeing you," other person spoke.

"Oh well, you can't sleep without knowing how many people I shot," she walked towards that person.

"You can say that," other person said while putting his glasses on table.

"In that case, I am sorry to say I couldn't accomplish the target you gave to me," she said while sitting on couch.

"Take your time, Nandini. I am sure you are gonna bring me heads soon," other person said while getting up.

"You wait for it," she said with a wink.

Other person walked to a room in dark.

"Daadu," she called.

"I made it to the board today. It was just a little away from bulls eyes," she added.

"Not bad, Nandini," he said and then resumed walking.

"Wake me up when you bring me a dead body," he said while entering his room.

She chuckled listening to it.

"Sure, young man," she shouted to make it reach him.

With a grin on her face, she took the stairs and entered her room.

Neatly arranged; beautifully furnished, she wondered how come her room got invaded by super trained maids of her mother. She threw the pillows aside to break the symmetry. She crashed on her queen sized bed and dozed off in no time.

________________________________

Taking one final round of hostel, he entered the dorm. Closing the door carefully, he again checked every window to make sure they all were properly shut. Walking through beds, he finally reached his bed. Empty dorm looked strangely peaceful yet scary. He neatly did his bed and took a book from his side table. Turning the lamp on, he resumed the novel he was reading since 10 days.

"Shadows didn't leave his side as he walked a lone street. He being trader of nights, kept walking bravely. Before he could take one final turn out of narrow lane, he was hovered by darkness. All street lights went off and he could no longer sense the shadows. He took out his sword and tried to read the silence. Before he could make his move, he heard a whisper. His forehead had formed drops of sweat as he turned around. With a sudden blow of wind, he felt something touching his skin. It was... "

Wall clock touched 10 and it chimed. Without wasting a single second, he closed the book and tucked himself in bed.

He expected not to have nightmare like other night. He started to count backwards from 100 to invite the sleep as early as possible. Somewhere around the 50, he realized he had messed up the counting and before he could correct, sleep took over.

____________________________

"No, 50 is too much. That much rounds aren't needed," he murmured in his sleep.

"I am telling you, Nandini. You are already so trained. You don't need training. Just let me go," he kept mumbling as alarm screamed.

"Okay, okay! Stop shouting. I can suspend you for shouting on your teacher like that," he said in sleep hearing deafening alarm.

"Shut up," he mumbled angrily.

Alarm went off. After fine 5 minutes, he shot up and sat with terrified face.

Realizing the place and time, he held his head in dismay and said, "Not again."
___________________________

Walking to the office, Nandini saw horses in army ground and beside that an amazing site, she saw a familiar face struggling hard to tame a young horse. She stopped beside railing and saw him panting hard as horse again had dodged him and he stood defeated in middle of ground.

Nandini pressed her lips to suppress the laugh. It was such a hilarious start to her day as she saw him struggling hard with horse. He being total weird case was trying to scare the horse with glares, growls and frowns. But alas, horse wasn't much convinced with Mighty Malhotra's instructions and facial expressions.

She chuckled a bit and then shouted, "Ask him to run a round or maybe pick him up and put back in stable."

He immediately stopped chasing horse and looked at her. Panting hard, he put his hands on his waist.

"You know, that treatment is for worst animals," he shouted to her, "this horse is just so smooth for that."

Nandini's smile turned into an angry pout as she heard him. Neighing of horse brought both of them attention towards him as they saw him escaping the fence. Manik ran to catch him.

"Meet an untamed animal in evening now, Cadet Malhotra," she mumbled under her breath and continued her walk.

______________________________

"So how's the old man doing?" Asked colonel as Nandini settled down in her chair.

"As always, hard core," she answered.

Colonel Singh chuckled and sipped his tea.

"He is pretty excited about I learning shooting," she added.

"Your grandpa and his love for army," Col said, "he misses being here."

Nandini smiled in her thought and nodded.

"My young man can still join back if you agree," she quipped.

Colonel laughed out loud and said, "Spare us."

Nandini giggled and said, "So mean, Singh Uncle."

Room got filled louder giggles of Colonel Singh.
_________________________________

Running since an hour, Manik could finally submit the horse back in stable. He admitted it was a mistake to take out that untamed beast. Wiping sweat off his face, he wore his shirt back. A peon came and informed him how Lieutenant Kalra wanted to see him. Manik cursed the day even more as he heard about summon.
Lieutenant Kalra and his lashes on his rear, he gulped the not so sweet memory and started to walk towards office.
"May I come in,Sir?" Manik asked after knocking the door.

"Come in, Malhotra," he said with an evil smile.

Manik remembered all his deeds from past two days to recall what he did wrong so that he was being called by Lieutenant.

"Since you are so idle and useless, so I thought to put you to some use," he said with his dancing brows.

Manik looked at him trying to judge coming uncalled for punishment in form of work.

"I am working with Major Thakur in stable," Manik answered.

"So, you are trying to refuse my command," Lt asked in vile tone.

"No, sir. I was just telling," Manik rectified.

"So, a boy who fumbles in everyday morning drill seeing college girls wants to tell me," Lt taunted.

Manik cursed himself for opening his mouth. He could see a drama coming his way.

"I never meant or dared to do that, sir," he answered while looking straight at wall.

"It's too late, Manik," Lt sighed dramatically and added, "Go to record room and clean it."

Manik angled his face a bit to glare Lt. Before Lt could catch his glare, he looked back at wall.

Controlling his ire, he said, "okay sir."

"And do not dare to return to dorm before completing it," Lt further added.

Manik's nostrils flared and he breathed deep to compose himself.

Walking out of room, he mumbled endless curses to Lt.
As he entered the record room, he saw a dirt fest. It was impossible to clean it in working hours. He started arranging files after cleaning them. Time flew like feather and it was past 5. Manik look around to ensure if work was done. He walked out and saw the dull sky. He assumed it to be cloudy. As he entered Lieutenant's office, he got informed by peon that Lt was gone out of town for a day or two. Manik couldn't believe how that jerk had made him work continuously for no reason. He submitted the key to peon and halted looking at clock. It was 5:30. It was beyond way too past his class time.

"Shit," he held his forehead and started to walk quickly towards shooting range.

"I am so late. She must be waiting," he murmured.

"Wait," he stopped, "Isn't it good news that she would be waiting or maybe gone after waiting."

He smiled deviously and slowed down. Taking steps at leisure, he reached the shooting range and found it melodiously quiet. His heart did a somersault thinking she was gone. He peeped in with a smile and saw the arena empty. He smirked a bit and continued to walk.

As he could see there was no one around, he tended to turn around only to be got stopped by death siren. It was her voice.

"One round for being 10 minutes late, so how many rounds should be there for being late by an hour," she said keenly looking at him.

He saw her leaning on wall in corner of corridor. He looked at her as if he had seen a ghost. She walked towards him taking each step as a warning. Her walk was nothing less than of a lioness who was not keen to kill but to play. Her eyes had sheer warning for what was coming. As she raised her brow, Manik sighed.

"I was stuck with the work," he said casually and looked away.

"Do you think I care," she asked.

Manik shot some glares her way but it was pretty clear she had the upper hand.

"So, how many rounds for being late by an hour?" She asked again folding her arms near her chest.

Manik gave her 'Are you serious' look and then started to walk towards range.

"Listen, I don't have time for your stupid drama," he said while sipping water from sipper, "Get here and start."

He waited for her to come but she didn't. He turned around to see her standing still there with same stubbornness in eyes.

"You cannot be serious," he mumbled and rolled his eyes.

"Well, you are too heavy to pick up, so forgive me the inconvenience," she said with a sigh and started to walk towards him.

He fidgeted a bit as he saw her storming towards him. She held his wrist and started dragging him out. He jerked his hand away and looked at her with utter ire.

"Much double standards," she asked while raising her brow.

"I am the teacher here. I will decide the things. Understand that," he said and looked away.

"In that case, you are one bad teacher," she said with utter rage, "A hypocrite who would make a girl run a round for being late and would proudly have a leeway in his case."

Gritting his teeth, he clenched his fist.

"Yes, I am a very bad teacher. Why don't you just leave the class and refuse to stand a hypocrite like me?" he said while walking close to her.

"I don't wish to reward you by doing so, you see," she uttered looking into his eyes.

"Such a leech," he remarked and she felt a rage building inside her. Taming her anger, she contained the wrath and took two deep breath.
She held his hand and dragged him out. Jerking him away with all her force, she said, "Run a round or else be ready for the worst."

"What else can be worst than tolerating you?" He asked.

"Maybe an extended hour of training or maybe I joining the stable," she said shrugging her shoulders.

Color of his face faded away from red to pale. He looked around in frustration and then back at Nandini.

"Just because, I choose to do it. Not because I am afraid or something," he said and started to run a lap.

Nandini smiled a bit in triumph. He ran faster to release his anger and she calmed herself down meanwhile.

"Let's get trained," she said as soon as he came back to her and walked in.

He saw her walking inside. He expected a bit of mockery but she did nothing of that sort.

He followed her just to see her taking continuous shots. She wasn't aimless or fooling around, but was putting some sincere efforts. Trying hard to be precise and improve her precision, she didn't bother to look around to see him standing.

He felt a strange vibe. She seemed different. Maybe she was angry. He chucked away the thought and wore his guard.

"Do not waste energy and bullets like that," he yelled as she didn't seem to stop.

She stopped firing and waited for him to instruct. Rest of session went quiet and professional. She didn't try to screw up or mess up. She didn't even tease him. Completing her training for the day, she left the arena quietly. Manik saw her leaving and he knew something was changed. He stood there perplexed for minutes before leaving for dorm.
________________________________