The bright light flashed in Nandini's eyes. It pinched like her nightmares where she chased herself and questioned the presence of the two voices. A hand grabbed her and dragged her to the side grasping her into a tight hug. The tyres screeched on the road and the noise echoed in the streets. 

A moment of utter silence followed. 

The lights were dimmed and slowly, a group of causally but smartly dressed people got off.

Nandini still stood nestled in Abhimanyu's arms while he curtly stared at the group of young lads and ladies that got off from their jeep. The faces were familiar and well known also but the rash driving that wasn't known, enraged him to extents. Firstly, they had almost touched the most important person in his life. Secondly, Dehradun wasn't a place for such things and moreover, most importantly, it was night, not a time to skid on ice and snow. 

"Sorry guys!" Cabir got off and apologized for his sudden braking. "I'm so sorry. We were just having a rough day and had lost our way!"

The familiar voice stunned Nandini and she stood rooted in Abhimanyu's arms. She didn't want to turn around to look at those faces that she associated with the voice. Her heart that bloomed like a spring flower, crippled as soon the voice poured in. She didn't want it to be them! She was fine, now. Happy, and content. Didn't they like that? Did they want to be her Nyonika?

"Bhai! Raste tumhare bohot gumte hi! Par jab itna gavane ka shok hi toh then aapni jaan kyu gavate ho?" Aryaman bounced back with a reply.

"Hey dude! I'm so sorry. We are just new and having a rough day. "Mukti acknowledged him with a smile that greeted their familiarity.

"It's not done Mukti!" Abhimanyu said in a rough tone still hugging Nandini close to him as a precious flower. But, she still broke as he heard him identifying the people. Her nightmares and last wishes were coming true - the five people stood there. It was now that she only awaited death.

"We are really sorry. We lost our way and were running from a haunted place it seemed and then, we kind of met you guys in the wrong way. I apologize for the rashness. I hope the lady there is okay!" Cabir said in a concerned tone.

Everyone eyed Nandini, who was lost in the aftermath of her sudden encounter with Fab 5. They were here, she was here. This is a disaster. How and why, she didn't knew. 

Her questions were endless but now the strangers had her health as a concern, after all this.

"You okay, kid?" Abhi lowered his neck and gazed at her shivering. He held her tighter as if hiding her in his protection. The warmth brought her out and she nodded in her chest. She didn't want to speak or show them her face. It was better if it went unidentified. It was better to be undefeated. It was better.

"I'm sorry, Miss." Cabir apologized directing the conversation to her. Technically, she should have voiced an "it's okay" but she didn't and instead, nodded her head. Everyone found it disturbingly weird of her to react like this. Abhi and Aryaman were concerned while Fab 5 found it a mere odd. They stayed mum to her reaction while Manik took the opportunity to ask Aryaman about any lodging.

His voice vibrated in Nandini's heart and the shivers that it still sent to her, fluttered her. Her grip on Abhi's shirt tightened. He looked down at her feeling the pinch but didn't say anything rather he just let her snuggle in comfortably. Till the time he had tuned back in the conversation Aryaman and Fab 5 were having and realized that their presence was making her uncomfortable, he noticed that Aryaman had conveniently invited them home for the night.

Abhi face palmed for Aryman's insensitivity and was willing to shout a no for Nandini.

"Thanks, yaar. I promise this is for the night. So, where are we all headed?"Manik took him in a bro-hug. 

"Oh, not far from here. Just two streets down the road and then a right until you all see a building more like a semicircle. The name plate should say our names and it's the most friendliest home you could say!" Aryaman boasted and let out a laugh. Abhimanyu shot him angry glances while Nandini peeked through Abhi's arm with her narrow eyes. He gulped gave a sheepish smile. His sarcasm didn't reach them and clearly he was to be smashed by the two later on.

" Aryaman." Abhi sang his name out and continued, "Why don't you go with these guys and we'll catch you later, right! They ought to get home safe and sound and well, we are locals so we will be fine!" Abhi said in a disregarding tone that dripped in sarcasm. 

The idea sounded brilliant to him. The matter wasn't discussed and Aryaman hopped on with Fab 5 and they left.

"They left!" Abhimanyu muttered to Nandini as soon they were out of sight and not return. She lifted her puffed, red face from his hold and hummed back. Clearly, something was wrong. Without a word, Nandini made her back towards their house when Abhi called her from behind,

"Kid, let's go somewhere?"

Nandini turned to him and cringed her eyebrows at him in question.

"Chal nah! Let's go to our place!"

A smile glowed on her face and she hopped back in her arms and they walked up the hill towards the far off valley where they used to sit at see the sunrise.

----------

"So, what's up, ki?!" Abhi passed a bottle to Nandini. They weren't drinking alcohol to submerge themselves and blind them from worries. They weren't drinking for they were cowards for life, but they drank to lighten the mood.

"Nothing, Abhi. It just, when you move on, there's always something pulling you back." Nandini sipped on a little and looked ahead into the endearing vastness. It didn't threaten her anymore. In fact, they were best of friends, her and the vastness's darkness.

"Interesting, but those are relations, kid!" Abhimanyu said and took the bottle from her hand.

"May be, then, I never understood them! Were they suppose to stab always and hurt- selfish that they crumble the wings of beloved to satisfy their own selfishness, lathered in polity and heartlessness." Her voice deepened cripplingly.

"No. But the polity crept in when the ego grew bigger with than their hearts, when they stuck too much together and the glue intoxicated them, when two people built their muscles together in good faith but then one's grew bigger than the others. They weren't intoxicating until success was stirred in, kid!" Abhi's low voice was followed by the hooting of the forest ahead. The two sat there looking ahead, questioning each other and looking for answers in one another. Time ticked by and the moon grew bigger. The solitude and calmness took over Nandini and she rested her head on his shoulder.

The ring of the phone disturbed their star gazing and philosophical thoughts and announced in its jolly voice that it was time for them to come back to realty, out of their fairy land. Aryaman chattered nonsensical stuff over the phone and rolled in laughter telling them Cabir's and Mukti's jokes. The call ended with a request to come back soon and they brushed themselves off the ground.

"May be the sunrise ain't ours today!" Abhi dismayed and walked with Nandini back home.

-----

They stood in front of the main door of the house and Abhimanyu rang the chirpy bell that echoed in their porch. Aryaman's loud voice made it through the door and his increasing decibels told them they were going to be welcomed by an overexcited hug.

As their prediction had it, they were pulled in without consent. It was the reality check. Fab 5's laughter died down at the sight of the two. They looked at her stunned. The least expected things were to happen and the person they awaited since long stood right in front of them while they were chilling.

Manik took her presence in and was relieved at her safe and sound sight. He closed his eyes and left an inaudible sigh until his gaze fell upon her hand that intertwined in a stranger's. The satisfaction in his heart was replaced by a prick from a rose. The more he thought, the more a pang of pain hit him- if she came back here at night, then was she staying here with these... He couldn't complete the thought and anger rose in him. 

The apologies were forgotten, the sorry and reasoning were forgotten, what remained in him was the frustration of what he saw in front.

-------------------

Hey,

Waiting are over! Showdown Time? Anyone excited?

I'll not say this enough and may be this guilt won't go, but sorry for messing this story that started so great for you all. I miserably failed in keeping it up!

Love,

HF