Her wet wisps swayed across her petite waist as she walked a little ahead of Manik. He could see golden of sunlight touching her frame, making her look farthest dream which had happened to be his reality. 

The moment they had lived few minutes back was enough for a lifetime. He pressed his own nails into his palm to ensure how it all what happened back at spring was real. Nandini turned around wearing a benign smile and he came out of day dream. 

"I have never seen such beautiful place," She said touching the violets. 

Manik smiled further trying to absorb it all. Her smile hadn't an ounce of that sorrow which he hated the most. She turned around swiftly making wet of her hair moistening his face. Her giggles echoed and it sounded like each leaf in that forest welcomed the melody. 

"You know I had only read about such places in books," She confessed, her face covered in enchantment. As she twirled one more time, he couldn't help but gather her in arms. Her giggles subsided as she peeped into his eyes. 

"Always smile like this," He murmured on her red nose. Nandini smiled warmly granting his wish. 

"Now let me go," She asked peeping into his eyes. 

He didn't reply back but kept registering her angelic face into his eyes. 

 "I will never let you go," He said cupping her face, his eyes speaking volumes. 

"I cannot," He added before kissing her forehead with all his might. 

Another flaming kiss on her cheek before he grazed the next spot near her nose, he was back at tormenting her in sweetest way. 

"Manik," She mumbled unable to take the heat. 

"I cannot think of me without you," He confessed before dropping another kiss on her cheek. 

Clutching the hem of his coat, Nandini tried to make it through. Not in her entire life, she had felt that ablaze. Her heart was on fire which could keep her going for decades. She wondered if that was how it felt to be kindled. You burn but you reborn. 

His sweet torment traveled each possible pore on her face before he gave her sweet time to get ready for another tour to that place called void. As he inched closer to seal the little gap between their lips, she put her finger between that chasm. 

"I won't be able to cope up," She pleaded as his breath tingled her finger tip. He smiled against it and kissed the tip of it. 

"I thought we were past that," He teased reminding her of her own valor few minutes back. 

She smiled looking down and then stepped back. 

"You love to tease me, don't you?" She asked narrowing her eyes. 

He sighed taking in the force she was. 

"I love everything about you," He uttered absentmindedly and she flushed. 

Turning around, she tried to calm her thumping heart. 

"Let's go back," He said dropping a tight kiss on her hair. 

Holding her hand, he started to walk on grassy ways. Camp was nearby as delectable aroma touched her nostrils. Her face dropped thinking about end of this beautiful moment but then she tried to smile again thinking about how long memory of it would last. 

_________________

Aryan reached the point where chief had asked him to. He asked people to call it a day as sun set. It was going to be dark any moment. He looked around to find utterly beautiful valley. Abbas, head of third unit had still not reached the meeting point. Aryan smiled thinking how they might be making a home on those beautiful grassy hills. The mountain range was endless as his eyes didn't find an end. It was just the start of north-east Chief had talked about. 

Home. 

He smiled further thinking about it. Aashi's face flashed in front of his eyes and he dived into thoughts. Manik was next who came into his mind, his smile faded away a bit. He could never come in term with him. He wondered why Manik was the second one he saw when he thought of home. He didn't want Manik around, he hated him. Then why? Aryan caressed his forehead to shoo away the conflict. 

Turning around, he saw people setting the tents for night. It was matter of few hours and they would be making a permanent home. Aryan agreed on notion. 

"What could be the reason behind confidence of chief?"

Aryan mumbled and frowned. 

Headlights flashed on faraway hill and he walked towards edge. 

"Abbas is coming," He informed aloud to other people and everyone smiled on thought of meeting the other part of family. 

__________________________________

Next day went in a jiffy as people in Rajbir's camp wrapped up their stuff for moving towards a forever home. It was one mixed vibe in camp as people were elated about moving towards a better place and still sad about leaving that place behind. Manik and Harshad helped Rajbir in loading of trucks while guests helped the hosts in packing. 

"Put it down," Nandini yelled frustratingly seeing kids playing with luggage. Kids immediately obeyed and let go of little mischief they were up to. 

Aashi gave her impressed look from a distance on that raised voice. Nandini breathed deep to control that unknown variation.

"Kids make one so worked up," Lady beside her said making her feel okay about it. 

"I don't want to yell at them," Nandini said smiling helplessly, "But they won't listen."

That lady smiled while tying another set of luggage together. 

"You are just like your mother," Lady said nervously. 

Nandini stopped fidgeting with work in hand and looked at the nervous lady. 

"You knew her?" Nandini asked lowly. 

"I had worked with her in one of pilgrim camps last year," Lady revealed making Nandini all sort of elated. 

"She had spent almost a month with people there," Nandini confirmed turning around. 

"Yes," Lady in her mid 30s reverted. 

"Tell me more about it," Nandini asked being impatient to listen about her mother. 

"She was very kind person and believe me kids in camp loved her," Lady told smilingly. Nandini smiled wider listening to given piece of information. 

"And they love you too," She added and that made Nandini all sort of jittery. All she could ever ask for was that she could be half of lady her mother was. 

"You have got her eyes as well," Lady added seeing moist eyes of Nandini. 

Nandini could just look at that kind lady and wait that she doesn't stop talking about her mother. 

"She was way too braver," Nandini mumbled letting those tears out. 

"I couldn't  do what she did," She added looking down. 

"You are equally strong, Ms Murthy," That lady said. 

"Any mother would have done what she did," She added looking at her kid playing far away. 

"And believe me when I say it, she would be so proud wherever she is, seeing you surviving," Lady said holding Nandini's hand unsure. Her trembling hand told what courage it took for her to dare holding Nandini's hand. Nandini clutched her hand to remove that anxiety of hers. 

"Promise me you would survive"

Those words of her mother made all the sense. Nandini couldn't believe how those words had so much of power that there she was, standing alive. She breathed deep to control the storm going inside her heart. She needed to be strong. She was her mother's reflection as that lady said, she couldn't stand weak. She smiled through tears and embraced that nervous lady sideways. 

Aashi asked her in eyes what was the matter. She just shook her head smiling. She would smile at warmth which mention of her mother had brought to her. She would use it to stand strong. 

_______________________________

Harshit drove the trailer towards intersection point as sun dived into valley. It was going to be dusk and he believe dawn would bring new life. That night was going to take away every reason behind suffering. Chief sitting beside him was quiet since long. Harshit knew how guilt was eating him. But he knew his father was a strong man who won't tremble. Army men sitting in semi trailer were ready with their plan. It was one simple plan. They would just stay the night. With dawn, they would be gone. Only difference would be that Nandini would be gone as well. And thereafter, Army would never trouble them.

A very few camp-mates who were left with this unit stared those fake commoners who had hardly blinked in past few hours. They didn't talk, they didn't sleep, they didn't show a single glimpse of normalcy. They did eat but the way they ate food, it could disgust any human. Old man sitting in semi trailer looked away remembering how savagely those 'new men' hunted last night and then ate. They couldn't be one of commoners. Old man fretted more but then he believed his chief. He doubted his own fine judgement skills thinking how he might be wrong. 

"Just few hours," Harshit mumbled and Chief looked his way. 

"Yes," He agreed and then both gaped the dark road ahead waiting to reach the dreaded yet awaited point. 

_________________________

"Wear this," Aashi said excitedly leaping towards Nandini. 

"What is this?" Nandini asked looking at flowery tiara. 

"This is for my princess," Aashi acted dramatically bowing down presenting Nandini a tiara made of white flowers. Nandini palmed her face. 

"I am no princess," She said flushed turning away. 

"You are," Aashi said putting that crown on her head. 

Both looked into mirror. Nandini admired how beautiful that flowery crown was whereas Aashi admired the girl wearing it. 

"You are most beautiful girl I have ever seen. I think I am in love with you," Aashi remarked dreamily. Nandini chucked. 

"Why you love me so much?" She asked amused adoring the pretty heart standing behind her. 

"Because you deserve every bit of it," Aashi answered sincerely. Both kept looking at each other through mirror. Their little emotional moment got interrupted with roars of kids outside. 

"Come out," One of kids yelled just outside of tent. 

"What's the emergency, Sir?" Aashi asked mocking. 

"Feast is starting," Kid informed excitedly. 

"They are even playing music," He added and both of them chuckled. 

"We are coming," Nandini assured and kid ran away cheering. 

___________________________________

Walking towards feast, Nandini examined her long white dress one more time. It was a gift from a lady from host camp. They all wanted to shower her with gifts and Nandini couldn't believe how could they love her. Tiara on her head made her extra conscious as she and Aashi entered a rushy area. People looked at her impressed and she bit her lip. Cutting the cheering crowd, they reached the venue. It was last meal at that place so they all gathered to bid goodbye to beautiful valley. For people of host camp, it had been a home for long time and that made the last night there special. 

Nandini's eyes searched for that one face who had no time for her since morning. She looked around and found him standing with Harshad still busy in some serious conversation. She shook her head. 

"Isn't he look perfect?" Aashi said dreamily. 

"He looks busy," Nandini said lowly. 

"Not Manik. The handsome boy standing next to him," Aashi confessed abashed. 

Nandini gaped her in disbelief. 

"What?" Aashi refused to feel even a bit shy about the fact. 

"He is handsome," She said smiling. Nandini giggled at her little sweet confession. 

Manik looked around hearing her laugh to find the source. His eyes restlessly found her until he saw her pulling Aashi's cheeks. 

She looked beautiful. 

Her wavy hair danced across her waist as she moved her head. Flowery lace on around her head as he named it, she had to be most beautiful thing on earth.  Nandini looked his way as reflex and there he smiled wider matching that enchanting one of hers. 

She looked down for a second and then again towards him. He still was looking her. 

Music played as men played cheerful symphony. People filled the place with cheers. It was such vibrant energy. Kids started to run around huge bonfire with their arms open. Ladies chose a corner for all the giggles and chats to be shared. Men scattered in different directions. Some hit the dark corner which served alcohol and some joined the chit-chat. 

Manik walked to Nandini and Aashi. He had wore his regular black overcoat with that dirty bandanna of  his wrapped around his neck. He tried to look fine with the noise around. Nandini smiled warmly as he stood next to her. 

"You look beautiful," He whispered in her ear. She looked up at him sweetly. She thought she didn't need to thank him. 

Everyone clapped as kids danced to the peppy symphony. They dragged their mothers sometimes, then quarreled with each other when stepped on each other's feet. It had to be best night. Nandini giggled as two kids tried to do some complex step they must have seen in army feasts. Manik slid his arm around her waist subtly and her giggles got stuck in her throat. 

"What are you doing?" She asked quickly. 

"I am just trying to hold you close," He accepted abashed. 

Nandini looked around to find a smirking Aashi. 

"Now you know on whom I have gone when it comes to being shameless," Aashi whispered in her ear drenching her in all shades of hue. 

A kid came running and dragged both Nandini and Aashi in middle of huge huddle. 

Nandini didn't know what to do. She kept clapping her hands not to look out of place while Aashi got busy dancing her heart out. Slowly, it turned into one grand mix of people laughing out lout and exerting. Nandini laughed at weird step Aashi tried to do while kids mocked her. She had never laughed that hard. She could feel side of her eyes getting moist with such hilarious performances. 

Soon it was one grand silly ball. Everyone enjoyed the one last fest on that place with all their hearts. Nandini looked around to find Manik and saw him still standing unmoved in corner where she had left him. His eyes were on her already as if they had never moved past her. She smiled nervously and started to walk out of crowd. Getting out, she reached him. 

"Why won't you come?" She asked holding his hand. 

He didn't move. Refusing her gentle pull every time, he made an innocent face when she glared him. 

"Won't you dance with me?" She asked pleadingly. She so wanted him to be with her when she was that happy. 

It looked like he was thinking about it as she waited for his answer. 

"I would," He agreed and she jumped in joy. 

She felt a strong pull as she tried to drag him and next she was walking away from people with him dragging her. 

"Manik," She exclaimed, "You said you would dance with me."

She frowned gasping the disbelief. 

As he halted a little away where there was no one else but them. He reverted to her angry glare. 

"Now we would dance," He declared holding her waist. 

She looked surprised as he took that naive dance posture. He didn't know dance. 

"Won't you dance with me?" He asked imitating her tone as she stood frozen to her place. 

Nandini chuckled a bit looking down and there started their first dance. He slowly moved totally against the rhythm and she giggled. Soon it was one hilarious act of trying to dance. 

"You are terrible dancer," She said between her laughs. 

"I am," He accepted and swept her off the ground. She shrieked. 

Now she was off the ground and he swayed her dancing according to his own out of beat rhythm. Her giggles refused to disappoint his ear while his smile soothed her eyes. 

"Manikkkkk," She squealed as he lifted her up. 

 ___________________________

Peppy symphony touched ears of 'unit two' as they reached the intersection point. 

"They are celebrating?" Harshit wondered. 

"Must be last feast," Chief assumed as trailer halted. 

They both looked at each other for fine seconds trying to gather the courage. 

"Let's get it done," Chief said and Harshit nodded. Getting out, Harshit stretched his limbs. 

Walking towards the big bonfire, he saw people dancing to their hearts' content. His eyes searched for Nandini. Harshad smiled seeing him and walked towards warmly. Engulfing his big brother in warm hug, he exclaimed, "Finally you reached." 

Harshit smiled formally before his eyes searched for Nandini again. 

"What's wrong?" Harshad asked unable to get the quest. 

"Nothing," Harshit diverted the topic and smiled. 

"You go and meet Rajbir. I will help father unload the trailer," Harshad offered patting Harshit's back. 

"Noooooooo," Harshit almost screamed making people around halt a bit. 

"I will help father. You tell Rajbir that we are here," Harshit said and walked back. 

Harshad saw his brother disappearing in dark trying to ignore the strange vibe he just received. 

______________________

"Put me down, Manik," Nandini pleaded for third time as Manik twirled her. 

He listened this time and she sighed in relief. He put her down and both panted hard. He again started to move holding her close while she closed her eyes refusing to dance any further. 

"What has gotten into you?" She asked amused. 

"You," He answered spell bound and she felt herself drawn towards him. 

He turned her around and her back touched his front. Moving slowly just for the sake of it, both listened to sweet silence. 

Nandini could feel her heart swelling with amount of blood it had pumped. She couldn't believe all of it was real. Her palms itched as she fretted more. Curling her toes, she felt this urge to confirm. Tilting her head, she saw him being at peace looking straight. She slowly put her weight on her toes and inched towards him. He looked at her as she moved. He raised his brow making her all sort of nervous. Her breaths got into a conflict with his as she halted an inch away. Taking a deep breath, she pecked his lips quickly. 

"It's real," She mumbled elated and he looked clueless. 

"What was that?" He asked turning her around so that she could face him. 

Biting her lips, she looked everywhere but at him. 

"What was that?" he demanded pulling her closer. 

"I was...just confirming that it was real or not," She answered sweetly. 

He smiled thinking and his arms slid across her waist. 

"Let me confirm it more authentically," He said and she slipped out of his grip knowing his next move. 

Her giggles filled the melodious dark as he chased her. 

_________________________

Unedited*