Bathed in sunlight, morning brought warmth which could only sting amid frost. They say when sun teases the ice, it's worst cold ever. It melts with such intensity that even bones could be pierced. 

"Just once, Nandini"

Manik pleaded without uttering a word as he looked at her in morning feast. He was yearning for moment when she spares him one glance.  Men in host camp played some symphony and it all sounded so vain. He exhaled aloud letting white mist flow out of his mouth. She was sitting afar with Aashi, smiling a bit at something Aashi was talking about. She had talked to him in morning, maybe as second thing. But all he could see was her eyes which were a bit less lit. He needed her beside him smiling that beautiful smile for which he could live forever. 

"Nandini," Aashi called and Nandini looked at her. 

"Try this one, it's super delicious," Aashi offered some delicacy to her and Nandini took it only to let it go waste. It shed bit by bit as she got busy with her talkative mind. She looked at him and again he was looking at her. She breathed deep looking away. He was bothered, she knew. She didn't want him to ponder over things which didn't matter. She didn't intend to send him thinking over last night. She had ended that little tiff at that moment, though pang inside had another tale to tell. She had gone to see lake few minutes back with Aashi. She hadn't proposed the idea but Aashi did. He had followed them silently and she couldn't see a thing because all her mind had was him. 

People chirped louder completely loving the welcoming vibe and abstract thoughts got lost in between. 

__________________

Standing in front of a military camp, Harshit looked at vast area it covered. They had traveled to this base camp to work out something which was going to change lives. He and his father thought how lives would be simpler with that one trade. His father joined him and they both started to walk towards giant gate. 

"It's going to change everything," Harshit mumbled. 

"Hopefully for good, son," Chief added and sighed. 

Walking inside, two uniformed men lead them to a fancy set up. It was a luxury tent which had everything they couldn't even dream of anymore. They both looked around and then pondered over what they have been brought to. 

"It's all fine here," Chief said touching a beautiful couch. 

"It's like they have turned blood into gold," Harshit added. 

Both stayed silent as minds witnessed massive battle inside. 

"She will be just going to her father," Chief said to Harshit as if trying to reason the sin they were about to commit. 

"Yeah," Harshit replied uncertain. 

"All what matters to me is life of my people," Chief added with agony, "And I will ensure that no matter what it takes."

Harshit pursed his lips brush off the doubts. 

"Exactly," He agreed and someone entered the tent. Both of them stood up seeing the awaited man entering. 

It was time to lay the terms and conditions. 

__________________________

Wandering between the pine trees around, Nandini heard the giggles of children who had dragged her along in their little adventures. Aashi was somewhere searching for berries her mother had taught her to recognize.  Day was quite relaxing as all they do was forgetting every odd and being what they were. Nandini smiled warmly looking at kids playing hide and seek. Place was exceptionally gorgeous. It was by far best thing she had seen. Forest in foot of valley with almost everything she wanted to see. She smiled further but then it faded out. He wasn't beside. She wanted to know what it feels to be happy with him. Manik was busy in making arrangements for their further journey. It wasn't an easy task to bring that huge lot of people along. It was like collecting a huge group so that they reach a place where they all could make a home. 

Nandini absentmindedly turned around only to find nobody around. She frowned as she looked around. She had hardly turned her face away for two minutes, how could they all be gone that quick. She walked rapidly to find the kids and Aashi. Fear was making a comeback as she strode farther. There was no one. 

"Aashi," She called out. 

"Aas..," Before she could call her name aloud one more time, a palm covered her mouth. She droned as she tried to speak up but then familiar scent calmed her little protest down. 

She looked back titling her head a bit only to find Manik standing behind her looking at her with all he had. His lips played a smile as he found her looking at her. Releasing her mouth, he grabbed her by her belly so that his arm could rest around her petite figure. 

"You scared me," Nandini complained breathing hard. She closed her eyes and raised her hand to wipe sweat beads which had formed on her forehead. Before her hand could reach there, he wiped those drops with his thumb. 

"I didn't intend to," He replied placing his cheek against her hair. 

His grip over her belly firmed as he breathed deep near her ear. She could feel her heart filling with stinging warmth. 

"Why do we fight?" She asked placing her hand over his. 

"We don't," He answered and kissed her hair tight. She would have stopped the clock if she could. 

 She turned around and looked into his contented eyes. They finally had calm she wanted to see. Manik smiled wider as soon as her eyes filled with that missing twinkle. 

"I have something to show you. Would you come with me?" He asked and she just looked at him. Nodding a yes, she waited to be taken along. 

______________________

Aryan waited at temporary camp trying to understand the reason behind sudden halt in their journey. Chief had brought him with their convoy and he thought he was part of scheme. He was amid brain of camp. But all he noticed all this while was how he was just there to take care of regular functions. There was three units traveling on different route towards same destination. This halt wasn't planned. Chief and Harshit had gone to cater some urgent business and Aryan couldn't understand a thing. 

"Yeah that way," He heard chief talking to someone and that brought him out of his little wondering. 

Aryan strode towards chief to know what was new hustle about. 

"You are back," Aryan exclaimed looking at Harshit and Chief. 

"Yeah," Harshit answered with a smile. 

"There's a little change in plan, Aryan," Chief informed. 

"We would be dividing this unit into two," He informed and Aryan frowned. 

"But it's already quite small," Aryan reasoned only to get ignored.

"You will be leading the maximum people on a new route and we will take a small group with us towards intersection point," Chief added. 

"But...I ..I don't understand why," Aryan protested. 

"Do not think too much, Brother," Harshit said patting his back. 

"It's for safety of our people," He tried to convince a doubtful Aryan. 

"What about other units?" Aryan asked trying to get a hold on little plotting happening there. 

"Well, Unit lead by Abbas will be informed to meet you in dark forest of north-east," Harshit ensured Aryan. 

 "And Manik?" Aryan asked restlessly. 

"What about his unit?" He asked interrogating. Harshit looked at Chief keenly. 

"We will be meeting them," Chief intervened. 

"We will meet at decided point and would bring them to north-east," Chief added. 

"Home is awaiting, son," Chief said with confident smile. 

"North-east is ours," He announced proudly. 

"Just reach there safely. We and Manik will be seeing you there," He said patting Aryan's back. 

"It's time to start our new life," He added with hope in his eyes. 

Aryan smiled seeing the certainty in his eyes but still something was not right. He loved the fact how he was given important responsibility just like Manik. That boasted his ego but then air around was a bit too thick. Something was surely going on in minds of those two.

____________________________

Nandini searched for spare dress in her bag while Aashi tried to find a good sweater for her. 

"I don't get why would Manik ask me to bring a spare dress," Nandini fretted while fidgeting with cloths. 

"Maybe he wants to take you swimming," Aashi mumbled under her breath. Biting her tongue, she continued to find a sweater. 

"What did you say?" Nandini asked baffled as she pondered if she had heard it correct. 

"No...Nothing," Aashi fumbled and paced her little battle with cloths. 

"You said swimming," Nandini asked folding her hands across her chest. 

"I said site-seeing," Aashi said grinning more than needed. 

"No I heard it. You said swimming," Nandini didn't buy her little cover up. 

"Nandini," Aashi pleaded her to let go of her little slip of tongue. 

Nandini kept glaring her until Aashi gave in. She pouted and closed her eyes. 

"He would kill me," Aashi tried to gain some sympathy. 

"Tell me what it is," Nandini demanded coming closer. 

  Aashi bit her lower lip and got up. 

"I told him about a hot spring nearby and how I  wanted to take you there as you love cascades and he stole my idea and asked me to get out so that he could take you there and if I tell you he threatened me to kill me and believe me He is always serious about his threats. I don't want to get killed by my own brother but now when I have ruined his little surprise which was actually my surprise..but never mind, he is going to kill me," She completed her breathless confession only to find a stoned Nandini. 

"You aren't even sad for me," Aashi said seeing a shocked Nandini who had seemed to be frozen.

"You..okay?" Aashi asked touching her arm and Nandini jumped in her place. 

"Hot spring?"Nandini asked frightened. 

"He has lost it," Nandini mumbled and threw the dress in her hand away. 

"And you, you suggested him this nonsense," Nandini said pointing at baffled Aashi. 

"Shouldn't you be happy?" Aashi asked perplexed. 

"How can I go swimming with him?" Nandini asked shouting. 

Aashi bent backward trying to escape infuriated Nandini. 

"Now Both of you would kill me," Aashi mumbled with her eyes wide open. 

Nandini gaped at silly girl in front of her and couldn't even fret over little revelation she had made. She laughed at Aashi's frightened face. 

"Relax," Nandini said trying to fix her emotions. It was a mix of thrill, anxiety, confusion and what not. Nandini could feel her heart running at wild pace while her mind couldn't stop panicking. 

"How can I go swimming with him?" She asked unable to hold it all. 

"It's easy. Take off your cloths, jump into hot relaxing water and swim across," Aashi listed the process counting each step on finger. 

"You are so shameless, Aashi," Nandini said throwing some piece of cloth on Aashi. 

Turning around, she walked to her bag and tried to do anything which could slow down the swirl. 

"Someone is shy," Aashi teased and Nandini closed her eyes. 

 "It's not like he would do something which is...," Aashi started uttering something nasty. 

"Shut up," Nandini yelled and Aashi laughed out loud. 

"Oh my little shy girl," Aashi came closer to engulf Nandini into a tight hug. 

"He won't do anything which would make you unconformable," Aashi tried to comfort Nandini. 

"I know, he won't," Nandini stamped the notion. 

"Maybe he wants to make you happy so so desperately," Aashi said looking dreamily towards nowhere. 

They heard Manik's voice outside. He was clearing his throat and that meant it was time to go on little adventure he had planned. 

"Pretend like you don't know anything," Aashi pleaded whispering. 

"He would kill me and believe me he isn't kind like you," Aashi added to make Nandini giggle. 

"I won't," Nandini ensured and Aashi put her dress into a handbag. 

"Now go," Aashi said pecking Nandini's cheek. 

Nandini breathed deep gathering all her courage and opened the knot of tent. There he stood looking desperate. His feet tapping the soil beneath, he meant everything. It wasn't a joke.

"Shall we?" He asked excitedly. 

Nandini just nodded making him happiest man. She didn't know how would she become part of his little idea but she couldn't be saying no. She wanted to go. 

____________________________

"Tell them they can join," Chief said to an uniformed man. 

Coming out of bushes, he saw Harshit talking to little group about the changes made. 

"They are coming," Chief said aloud and Harshit nodded looking back. 

"They are some lost survivor of war whom we rescued from nearby forest," Harshit informed the worried people. 

"They will be coming with us," He added and people of camp nodded trying to believe their leaders. 

In no time, group of 20-25 men walked inside the herd. They all wore dirty cloths, their faces anything but legible. As they put their trunks down, ground quivered a little making people frightened a bit. 

"They will be coming with us," Harshit said to camp people. 

Air thickened as camouflage mingled with the authentic. It was like venom slowly diluting in running blood. Faces were added to the convoy who were nothing but death summons. They were servant of devil. They could only see red when it came to colors. Herd had intruders and herdsman knew about it. In fact, he had masked them in skin of lambs when they were killers. Convoy got back on wheel as that polluted group started their journey towards intersection point. 

Her takers were coming. 

____________________

Clearing bushes, Manik made a way for quivering Nandini. She clutched the bag in her hand as she passed by him. Air around him was sending chills down her spine. 

She breathed deep as she took another step. 

Living her wishes with him could be that difficult, she didn't know. She tripped on a loop as she entangled more in her thoughts. Manik caught her in jiffy and She gazed the ground. 

"You fine?" He asked straightening her and she nodded. 

Sunshine battled with scented mist in air as Nandini tried to adsorb the Zion around. It had to be heaven. Trees filtered the sunshine while mist made it look milky. Manik walked past her to clear another giant bush for her and she bit her lip. 

"Just a little far," Manik said looking at her red face. 

He smiled a little as she again gave him a silent nod. She was following his lead when in real she was the one who drew him there. 

It would be a lie if he said he was feeling alright. It couldn't be alright to have fits of excitement. It couldn't be normal to live in each second while getting where she wanted to be. It couldn't be ordinary when she would smile that beautiful smile and he would see it. It couldn't be typical to be a reason of her smile when all she knew was sorrow recently. It had to be everything. 

Nandini told herself for nth time how it was going to be one of best things. It had to be very special when she would cut herself open and she won't bleed but would sparkle. She couldn't wait for what she couldn't dare. It was going to be a breathtaking contrast. Even if she gathers all her courage, she didn't know how would she apply it. 

She could hear water falling and her breath got stuck in her throat. They were there. 

Manik cleared one final bush and there stood the dream which was going to engulf them. Steam aroused from that mild water and mingled with mist above. A piece of sunshine turned the grass beside golden while bush behind them again took its place enclosing them in the day dream. 

"This is beautiful," Nandini exclaimed while Manik walked to the water to touch it. 

"It's warm," He smiled mumbling. 

He looked back at mesmerized Nandini who was looking confused over what to look and what to miss. 

Walking right in front of her, he blocked her view only to grab all of her attention for himself. 

"You wanted to see a hot spring, right?" He asked licking his lips. 

"Yes," Nandini answered smiling wide and then looked around, "It's beyond what I could even imagine."

"Thank you," She mumbled looking into his eyes. Even if she knew, even if he didn't know; it was everything they could wish. 

Nandini walked to stream and touched it. It had to be warmest touch ever. She would stay there forever if she wasn't what she was, if she wasn't what she was supposed to be. 

Manik stopped an inch away and she could hear her pores screaming. 

"You want to swim across?" He asked in deep voice. 

She wanted to disappear in moment where she could be air around him but not in his sight. 

"Aashi told me you love cascades and swimming," He confessed the little bluff he did. 

Nandini smiled listening to the honest cheater. 

"I knew that," She too confessed and he sighed. She giggled listening to coy in his breaths. 

"I won't see," He promised and she turned around to face him. 

"I know you won't," She flaunted her knowledge of him. 

"I would just be around and that... you cannot stop me from," He said sternly. Taking off his overcoat, he walked towards the water. She bit her lower lip trying to tackle the feeling. His vehemence was radiating and that was causing her jitters. She turned around a bit just to see him taking off his cloths. She immediately looked away. She breathed in and out. 

A splash and she knew he was inside the stream. Now it was her turn. She turned around to see him swimming to the fall. He was just swimming away without looking back. She knew he wouldn't see but still it was moment she wanted to be in when she wanted to run away. She walked behind a bush and took off her sweater. Cold tickled her pores as soon as she took off her frock. 

"You can do it, Nandini," She told herself one more time and pulled down the cotton costume as if it could reach her knees. Those cotton frocks were made by her mother for her swimming practice. She had hardly worn any of them but when she went back home to gather stuff, she brought them along. Tightening the knot of halter around her neck, she took a step out. 

It was just him. 

She reminded herself. 

It was him. The one who had kissed her for first time, the one who had captured her mind and heart like nobody else, the one who could put a spell on her and take her everything away, the one she couldn't lose. It was him. 

She took another step and saw him standing under fall with his back turned on her. She stepped into warm water and it punished her aching skin immediately. She was aching sweet. 

Walking on each rock, she descended into water. It reached her waist and that was when she took the leap. Swimming across the stream, she let the hot water cleanse her mind and soul. Her wisps floated on water as she opened her arms to stroke the water. One more dip, and there he was. He was under water looking at her, matching each her dive. 

Holding her waist in jiffy, he brought her out of water. She gasped aloud while he too caught some air. Standing skin to skin, both shivered as soon as frosting air touched their skin. Her hands landed on his bare chest while she breathed aloud to catch some air. 

His hand traveled to take the wisps away her face. She could feel herself burning under his gaze. His eyes didn't leave her eyes while his hands held her firmly. 

"Breathe, Nandini," He said finding her astound. 

She nodded her head quickly and brushed her hair back. 

"Falling water is cold," Manik said looking towards the waterfall. 

She again nodded shivering to the core. He pulled her under water and warm water shielded them. Holding her hand in water, he swam to some unknown end. She looked nothing less than a dream. Sparkle in her eye had to be brightest thing he had ever seen. They came out of water again to catch some water. Again the cold slapped them, as if punishing them for being exposed to it. 

They both quivered bad. White steams coming out of their mouths mingled as they clung to each other to seek some warmth. 

"This is insane," Nandini mumbled shivering. Her smile trying to remain at her quivering lips. 

"This is everything," He replied and rested his forehead on hers. 

"One more time," She said and they both dived into water once again. 

Touching her cheeks in water, he smiled a bit. Holding breaths when you were breathless was one hell of feeling. She was taking his breath away. She swam closer and he just saw her gliding. She was a dream he never wanted to wake up from. Holding his face in her tiny palms, she looked into his eyes. Moment could sustain if feeling could be contained. She slowly closed the gap between them while he just was still. Her lips touched his and there it all halted. Her soft lips on his, he couldn't make out if it was for real. Her breath mingled with his, ratifying everything. He grabbed her closer but didn't even try to exist.  It was first time when she had kissed him and he could just stay still all his life if she was taking the lead. He would just let her speak in dialect he understands the most. 

Working the feet quickly, both ascended into water to come out. Catching breaths urgently, both clung to each other. He just bit his own lips to feel her touch still lingering on them and she smiled to herself. It had to be bravest thing she had ever done but it was most appropriate thing she could ever do. She could fly if her heart had wings. It was like she was set free. 

He looked at her and found her smiling shyly. Lifting her chin a bit, he groped her lips in his to seal the conversation she had started. He had listened her intently and now it was his turn to convey what he had to. She clutched sides of his neck as he continued to word what he held for her in his own dialect. She could feel herself going null as he kept on penning down his yearning. Unable to meet all he had, her eyes let out tears which had nothing to do with grief. It was sheer delectation which caused the moist. He let go of her lips as her tears flowed down his cheek. Imbibing the tears away, he bestowed numerous kisses on her cheek. She just smiled endlessly clutching his neck tight. 

"You alright?" He asked pecking her lips and she nodded.

She hugged him tight while he embraced the all of her. Kissing her hair endlessly, he kept making endless promises. Feel of his skin, she could read the assurance. 

_____________________

Unedited*