"Nandini, I'm sorry, I tried but it's broken beyond repair. It's an old model too, so there are no spare parts available. I—I'm really sorry," Chase plopped down on the couch next to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. I was angry, beyond measure. It had been a day or two since the Manik incident, I hadn't gone to a single class, leave classes, I hadn't been able to muster up the courage to even step out of my apartment.

"Mhm, okay,'' Those were all the words that I could bring myself to say to Chase. He sighed in disappointment, "Nandini, I've got to leave, I  have a class right now, it's nearby, but I'm going to be back in an hour, you'll be fine, right?" I nodded, giving my hand a light squeeze, he left, shutting the door behind him.

It's petty, I know, to get this upset over something as materialistic as a car. It was more than just a car to me, much much more. It was my whole childhood. I spent a major part of my life, here, in New York. Mom's hometown. The same place my mum and dad fell in love, the same place they had me, and the same place where they separated. That car has seen everything, me growing up, family road trips, mom's drives to university, it was the only thing that made me feel close to my mom, the last link I had with her, and now that it was gone, broken, I felt empty. I felt detached, completely, like there was nothing connecting my mom and I anymore.

This realisation came in waves. First, it was endless hours of sobbing and sulking, slowly it turned into numbness and realisation of how stupid I was behaving, crying over a car and finally, rage. Pure anger, because a stranger, a complete, arrogant jerk made me feel this way, and got away with it.

After the whole coffee episode with Manik the other day, Chase came over and talked to me, apologising multiple times on his stupid brother's behalf. That wasn't enough, I couldn't let him think it was okay to do what he did because it sure as hell wasn't. Rather than wallowing in self pity the last few days, I had been scheming and devising a plan to take him down, I hadn't come up with anything concrete yet, but I guess what I do have in mind will work out for me pretty well. Throughout this entire situation, I was ever so grateful for Mukti and Chase, my home away from home. I didn't tell Dad or Navya, worrying them unnecessarily but the other two idiots in my life took great care of me.

I quickly let Chase know I was going to leave home, and actually attend class, and left for the building.

The day was gloomy today, not like the usual New York City afternoons, it seemed calmer on the street, which was a welcome surprise. On this day, particularly, I felt like a walking skeleton, surviving on an hour of sleep and numerous cups of coffee, a zombie from the Walking Dead. The day seemed to represent my mood, grey and dark.

Glancing at my timetable, mindlessly I began walking through the wide hallways of the Tisch building, when I bumped into something with an obnoxiously shrill voice. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. The last thing I needed with this splitting headache was some psychotic bitch yelling like I pulled out her hair extensions.

"Are you fucking mad? Cant you watch your step?" The girl shrieked in her oddly high pitched voice. Not wanting further drama, I rolled my eyes and continued walking.

"You know what, you have no idea who you just messed with, with that attitude. You have no idea what's going to happen to you once I tell my boyfriend about your behaviour!" She continued to scream, but I was oblivious and honestly, I didn't care for empty threats, especially not when they came for a plastic barbie doll. Flaunting my middle finger back at her, I laughed it off and entered class. I was around five minutes early, and there weren't too many people there. It was an 'Introduction to Theatre' class, I had looked forward to all spring and summer.

"Good afternoon class, I'm Professor Agnes, and I'm going to be your Intro to Theatre professor for the year! It's great to see you all, and I wish to have a very fun and productive year ahead!" The professor seated herself in front of the large projector, the lights dimmed and a clip started rolling on the screen.

I wanted to catch a quick snooze, I really wasn't in the mood to watch a long, boring introductory presentation but right before I closed my eyes, I heard it. If you could hear what hope sounds like, this was it.

It was why I came to New York. My dream. The annual play. The presentation was a short compilation of some of the best scenes in theatre, portrayed by previous students of the Theatre program, and finally! They announced the play for this year, and lo and behold, it was Romeo and Juliet. The legendary Romeo and Juliet, and this year we get to be part of the play.

My day that had been morose so far took a whole turn, I was happy, jumpy and beyond excited. I knew I had to bag the role of Juliet, come what may, this was the closest I'd ever get to my childhood dream of being Juliet, and that too an NYU production, which meant shows all over the city, broadways and press coverage. I was daydreaming about how life would change once I get the role, when the lights turned back on.

"What do you guys think of this year's play? Surprisingly, we haven't done Romeo and Juliet so far, and when we got down to select this year's play, this seemed perfect! And you all are the lucky lot that get to be a part of this prestigious production! Are you all excited?" Professor Agnes beamed at everybody, expectantly. The whole class broke into a cheer, the excitement was contagious.

"I'm glad to see that reaction, so, classes have just begun and I know it's going to be hectic settling in and doing lines as well as coursework, so you all have the month to prepare for your auditions, and may the best man, or woman, or whatever gender you identify as, win! I cannot wait to meet this year's Romeo and Juliet, anyway now! Scatter, that's all for today." She strutted out of the classroom. My heart was pounding so fast and a silly grin wouldn't leave my face.

I scurried out of class, ready to head back home for lunch, my next class wasn't for a while.
I think that announcement back in class made my mood so much better, I began romanticising everything around me, the students, the hallways, everything.

Everything about my day was perfect, well almost, until it wasn't.

I saw that girl I encountered earlier, standing across the hallway, near the goddamned exit. God, no, not right now. She stood next to someone, I assumed must have been her boyfriend, abnormally tall, what's with New York and all the boys being actual towers.

While I was devising a plan on making a sneaky exit, I saw that she tapped her boyfriend's shoulder, to point at me and then he turned. Oh holy fuck! No, this absolutely cannot be happening to me right now. Her boyfriend was Manik Malhotra. The last person I needed to see. His face made my blood boil and skin crawl, I hated the fact that I found him even remotely attractive the first time I saw him. Nostrils flared, I began walking towards them as nonchalantly as I could, I just needed to be out of here without having to interact with either of those specimens.

"Manik, it's her! This is the girl I told you was being a bitch in the hallways before class." He looked at me, pure anger flashing in his eyes.

"Aliya, baby, go to the car,I'll handle this one." He shifted his focus to me, while she took the car keys out of his hand and left. I won't lie, I was intimidated.

"You. You're coming with me," he shot me a look, and before I could protest I was being dragged into a projector room. How much ever I tried to slap his hand off, it wouldn't budge. I was angry, no one had the right to touch me, let alone drag me somewhere without my consent, and on top of that, it was Manik Malhotra, I'm telling you, he's my sworn enemy and I think I just began to hate him even more than I already did, if that was even possible.

"Now, you, listen." His voice was raspy and loud, with his jaw clenched, his grip on my forearm was tighter, if I wasn't wearing five layers of clothes it would've probably left a mark.

"What is it? Why have you brought me here? Didn't like the little coffee stunt I played on you?" I smiled sarcastically, and his anger was through the roof by now, but oh boy!

"About that, trust me love, you're going to pay. But, till then, I'd say watch your back, Nandini Murthy. I mean, a simple Indian girl, new to the city, and already has my brother wrapped around her finger, threw coffee on me, Manik Malhotra and, even talked back to my girlfriend? You've got some guts, huh? Not bad." He said, smirking. A shudder ran through my spine. Watch my back? What did he mean?

"I promise you'll regret the day you decided to do your 'little coffee stunt' on me," With a jerk, he left my arm and stormed out of the room, shutting it behind him. Oh boy! What have I gotten myself into now?

You push everyone in your life away,
But I'm the one you're always chasing.

Introducing Chase Lockhart!

Please let me know if you like shorter chapters around 2000-2500 words or you'd like longer updates, I would love to work on that!

Hope you enjoyed reading,
manikmalhotras.