Breaking through the dense crowd, Manik stormed towards where Aryan was sitting with his mates. People gave Manik a way as his greasy body threatened to brush with their neat cloths. His face red with ire and his veins apparent as he tried to contain it.

Aryan gaped Manik as Manik approached him. Before he could get off, Manik grabbed him cruelly by collar of his coat.

"Manik," Aryan protested but Manik didn't listen.

Pushing Aryan into harsh bark of adjacent tree, Manik held his jaw between his index finger and thumb. Aryan wiggled under Manik's brutal clutch but all was in vain.

"What's wrong?" Aryan tried to speak wobbling and Manik pushed him further in that thorny bark.

"Back to dirty business?" Manik asked squeezing Aryan's jaw with this pitiless fingers.

Aryan pushed Manik away using all his might and held his cheeks. Manik again charged on him and that's when he heard people gasping in utter unease. Manik looked around to see a crowd surrounding them.

Aashi's eyes darted to find a cluster of people at other end on bonfire. Women started to whisper the words which she could hear. Nandini returned from her father's tent and walked towards Aashi with a turbulent heart. Conversation with Harshad had filled her heart with plain rage and now she was having hard time taming it. Nandini looked in direction where everyone was gaping. She couldn't see a thing but her mind signaled her to go find out what was there. She took steps towards the herd.

Manik grabbed Aryan's collar and dragged him away from audience. He needed Aryan to talk and a public show wouldn't help. 

Nandini cut through the crowd just to find nothing but stunned face. Three men ran towards camp while other gaped each other. It seemed like they had witnessed something odious. They averted their eyes as soon as Nandini's eyes met theirs.

"What is it?" Aashi asked as she joined Nandini.

"I don't know. There was nothing when I reached here," Nandini replied clueless.

Manik dragged Aryan to farthest corner of camp just to unleash his rage better.

"What do you think of yourself?" Aryan charged on Manik as soon as Manik left his collar. Manik pushed him away while Aryan again tried to lunge at Manik. Manik punched him in face and Aryan ended up tasting the soiled frost. His lip bleed and before he could revert, Manik grabbed him from ground.

"Tell me, To whom you are selling our secrets?" Manik asked enraged.

"I thought you have mended your ways...but no...I was wrong," Manik added as he pushed Aryan into big rock beside stream.

"What are you talking about?" Aryan asked baffled. He was doing anything but what Manik was saying.

"You met a spy," Manik revealed and Aryan's eyes grew wider in horror. Manik couldn't know.

Night-sky roared and thick drops touched their faces. Aryan's mates reached the spot and halted at a distance. Manik started to walk towards them in anger and they all gave up without even trying. Manik saw their running figures disappearing in drizzle. Returning to Aryan, Manik saw him utterly perplexed about something.

"I didn't meet anyone," Aryan lied. Aashi had asked him not to tell about it to anyone. He couldn't divulge it to Manik.

"Stop lying," Manik roared holding Aryan's chin tightly.

"You are again planning to betray all of us. I am sure you have a hand in Aabid's abduction," Manik accused and Aryan punched him in return.

"I have no hand in Aabid's disappearance," Aryan yelled and Manik latched on him.

"And I bought that," Manik mocked while kicking Aryan in gut. He winced in pain as he laid on cold wet ground.

"Your brothers...," One of Aryan's friends told shouting as Aashi and Nandini headed towards tent. It was pouring steadily now.

"They are after each other's life," He finished catching his breath.

"Not again," Aashi murmured horrified.

"Where?" Nandini asked him and he nodded.

Running uphill on muddy paths, they all headed towards where Manik had taken Aryan. Nandini's heart was pounding in her mouth thinking what had led to this clash. She couldn't find one valid reason.

Aryan wrestled to his capacity to save himself from his beastly brother.

"You never trust me. You are the reason I never want to be good," Aryan spewed in utter frustration.

"I hate you, Manik," He added trembling in rage.

"Feelings are mutual," Manik replied getting ready to unleash his demons further.

His fist met Aryan's bones many a times while Aryan tried to be a contender of his one sided battle.

"I wonder what is taking a lick-spittle like you to keep mum after such a torture," Manik mocked Aryan's untimely valor.

"Believe me, you are going to regret it, Manik," Aryan was sure. He was keeping mum for more than one reason. It wasn't alone his promise to his sister. He didn't want to put his weakness on display that he dreaded the war.

"Leave him, Manik," Aashi yelled as she descended the sloped plain. Her voice trembling in horror as she walked closer, she was afraid.

Nandini gaped Manik's bloody fist in horror. Her eyes darted towards Aryan's face which reflected the same color. She shook her head in dismay and followed Aashi.

"What's wrong with you?" Aashi asked giving a hand to Aryan.

Nandini walked to the scene and halted just few steps away from Manik. He looked at her with a blank as if had sent all the raged horses in back of his eyes.

"Why would you beat him, Manik?" Nandini asked walking closer.

"ASK HIM," Manik yelled finally failing to put a veil.

"This man can never trust me," Aryan accused and Manik again latched on him. Nandini held his hand only to earn a glare from him.

"You just cannot go around beating him for no reason," Nandini put a in stern tone.

Sky roared and their faces drenched in silver light.

"No reason?" Manik shouted freeing his hand from Nandini's constraining grip.

"He...He is out to sell our secrets to spies," He divulged and Aashi looked at Aryan finally knowing what this clash was about.

"Don't forget he was their lick-spittle. He is one self-centred man who can do anything to keep himself save," Manik added raising his finger.

"And you don't forget he bailed us out from that castle too," Nandini retorted. Manik gaped her with a disagreement.

"You don't get it, Nandini," Manik said shaking his head.

"You don't get it, Manik," Nandini retorted. Manik was somewhat afraid now because it was unusual of Nandini to be so adamant on her stand.

"You know whom Aryan met and why?" She was about it disclose it all. All the work Aryan and Aashi had done to gather her hopes, she was about to disclose it all. Looking at Aashi who looked somewhat indecisive, Nandini took a long breath.

"He was helping me out to connect the dots," She revealed and Manik's eyes lost vehemence.

"He met that spy because Aashi asked him to help me," Nandini hammered each her word with a bleeding stroke.

"Aryan was trying to help me so that I don't lose hope in me...my father," She stated and Manik stared her with a blank.

A silence silently stood in rain as they both refused to look away. Her teary eyes stuck on his stoned ones.

"He didn't betray anyone this time, Manik," Aashi broke the chain. Her voice calm, her demeanor somewhat tired.

Manik looked at their feet for a second or two before he again stared into Nandini's demanding eyes.

"We are heading towards camp," Aashi said and they didn't even realize when Aryan and Aashi walked away.

"Out of all, HE?" Manik asked in subdued tone. It was audible how he was leashing himself so that he doesn't end up hurting her more.

"He believed in me, Manik," She replied lowly. She wasn't proud about the fact because it was Manik she wanted beside.

"Why not me?" He asked getting stiffer.

Nandini's eyes furrowed in bafflement. Wasn't he being utterly bipolar?

"You never wanted me to carry on, Manik," She yelled somewhat.

"You wanted this war," She added furiously stating the truth.

He took a sharp breath and took a step back. Pacing across the muddy bank, he had hard time reining his rage.

"YOU COULD HAVE ASKED," He yelled failing miserably.

"I didn't ask Aashi or Aryan either," She was beyond pained.

Manik let out a frustrated groan as he hit the pebble.

"I don't understand," Nandini shook her head.

"Why are you so angry and about what?" She asked.

Walking ruthlessly towards her, he grabbed her shoulder in one merciless grip, "Because it wasn't me, Damn it."

Nandini's eyes welled up as she kept meeting his infuriated eyes.

"So you realized," She couldn't help but say.

"I sought you, Manik. I never wanted anyone else to be my side," She stated getting rid of his clutch.

"But not anymore," She added and his face got pale in anxiety. It stayed there hardly for two seconds before he again wore his favorite mask.

"I will walk this alone," She asserted and took a step back.

"I don't need anyone," She added before she turned around to walk away.

Manik saw her blurred figure disappearing in dark and rain. Her words echoes in his ear and that's when castle of fears came crashing down. He forgot to be with her in course of protecting her. His fears had ruled him to an an extent where he didn't even realize how much he had abandoned her. It turned to be one cruel realization.

_________

"You sure?" Aashi asked Nandini again and Nandini sighed.

It was past midnight and Nandini was packing her bag.

"Nandini, do not take any decision in haste," Aashi warned.

"I am not taking any decision in hurry, Aashi," Nandini replied zipping the bag.

"If I think any further, my mind will explode," She added feeling her eyes going moist again.

A silence swayed in lit tent.

"I am coming with you," Aashi declared and walked to take her cloths from broken table.

"No," Nandini uttered in shock.

"You cannot come. It's too risky," Nandini stated.

"It goes the same for you," Aashi replied as matter of fact.

Nandini pondered as she saw Aashi packing her bag. She revisited her decision of taking her chances with information Aryan had given. She needed to find Minister Barnes. She needed to find Aabid bhai. She couldn't sit idly waiting to see her people dying in war which they never could win. But she had no courage to lose people she loved. She couldn't lose them. 

"You are doing the right thing," Aashi's voice brought her out of reverie.

"Don't doubt yourself," She added and Nandini couldn't thank that girl enough for being with her at each step.

"What about Uncle?" Aashi asked worried.

"I cannot take him along. It's too risky. I cannot leave him here either," Nandini looked perplexed.

"I don't have a choice, Aashi," Nandini said and Aashi smiled.

"We girls would take care of him just fine," She added wrapping her arm around Nandini's neck.

"I hope so," Nandini was nervous.

It was a decision full of risks. Nandini knew she was playing a gamble. She could end up losing everything but there was a chance that she ends up saving everything. Two girls with an ill father on grueling unknown paths, it sounded like worst gamble ever.

"What about Manik?" Aashi's question triggered her aching pulse.

"I don't want anyone," Nandini shook her head trying not to be more vulnerable.

"I won't go to him and beg him to be with me," She added furiously.

"If he thinks war is a solution, let him have his chance. I'll have mine," She concluded. Her heart wept relentlessly. She never had imagined such juncture for her and Manik. She heard Aashi sighing. 

"When do we leave?" Aashi asked.

"In morning," Nandini said and looked out of tent's window. Rain had stopped leaving a muddy earth welcoming them for a wayfare. Nandini inhaled a deep breath to kill any possibility of self-doubt. 

__________

A lady hiding something inside her shawl walked to Nandini's tent. As she entered the tent, she took out a packet.

"Here," She handed it to Nandini.

Nandini unwrapped it and found two pairs of old shoes.

"Thanks," Nandini hugged the lady in sheer gratitude.

"Wear it and see if it fits you both," Lady asked both Nandini and Aashi.

"It fits perfectly," Nandini said with a smile as she wore them.

"Mine ones would need a stitch or two," Aashi spoke faking a smile.

"Let me do it," Lady snatched it from Aashi's hand and started to look at it.

"Where did you find them?" Nandini asked in awe.

"My sons'..." Lady replied sheepishly. She had two teenage sons.

"I thought their shoes would fit you just fine," She added and Nandini giggled. There was something at least she had earned in this camp in all these days. There were people who still had faith in her. 

"Do not tell anyone where we disappeared, Di," Nandini asked.

"I won't," She promised and Nandini blinked her eyes in gratitude.

Nandini looked at her frocks which laid on bed. She had finally abandoned those frilly frocks. Aabid Bhai's words rang in her ears. These tough paths needed best of her and she could do whatever it needed. She had worn trouser today with their ends tucked in boots. She guessed she could pull it off. A girl with everything on stake could pull it off. 

__________

Leaving a letter under her bed, Nandini walked out of her tent. Aashi and Mr Murthy waited for her outside. Sky was somewhat shady now. Dawn was about to break. Nandini's each step hammered her heart with something unbearable. She didn't know how to leave a part of her behind. She couldn't even imagine how upcoming days would be without Manik. She had left him a letter. She believed one day they would stand on same ground gazing a beautiful ending. His hand would be clutched in hers and there won't be any regret. She didn't want him to have regrets when she herself wanted to have her chances. It was fair deal. 

Aryan waited for them at mouth of forest. Aashi smiled at his brother who had first time made her proud.

"How do you think you are going to find the right way? You need a map," He stated smilingly as he answered Nandini's questioning gaze.

Nandini sighed not feeling good about this addition. She didn't want Aryan along.

"Aryan, I think you should stay back," Nandini stated politely.

"I am joining, Nandini," He refused and She closed her eyes.

"This will create mess," She mumbled when Aashi clutched her hand tight.

"We too need soldiers, Nandini," She put it differently.

"He isn't someone who would mess up a lot of equations. He is a soldier signing up. Believe me, I haven't asked him," Aashi concluded. Nandini didn't know how to argue it. She knew she couldn't stop Aryan from coming along. He was the one who had helped her all this while. 

As they headed somewhat deeper in forest, Nandini looked back to see tents getting blurred in morning fog. Her heart ached. She bade a heavy goodbye. She was leaving most precious part of her heart there. She looked ahead with teary eyes not wanting to go weak. 

She didn't realize how many minutes passed as she kept walking gazing the pine trees. This was start of a journey which would require all her strength and mind. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes for a second. 

It felt like someone passed by her and she looked up just to clear the doubt.

And there he was.

Nandini stopped in her tracks as she fought to make out if it was her imagination or reality.

Manik turned around meeting her gaze and that's when doubt flew away.

"Where do you think you were going without me?" He asked softly with a subtle expression.

She  kept blinking until sky roared. He was there when she had made her mind to be bare soul in thunderstorm, a ferment awaiting her. 

____________________

Unedited