Hustle-bustle in the corridor made Nandini hold files in her hand tightly. She could see how council was a busy place this morning. Veer wished her good morning as he joined her. They both hurried towards the conference hall to meet the people who couldn't wait to sideline Nandini after this formality of meeting. Almost everyone of them was sure how girl was an amateur and couldn't present a consolidated plan.

Door opened and she entered the hall. Hustle died as she proceeded towards her seat. She could see people gazing her amused as she settled the files on table.

"Gentlemen"

Veer spoke and each one of them geared up for the upcoming procedure.

"As discussed before, today Ms Murthy would be presenting the plan of action and I would really appreciate if we could keep our minds and hearts open."

He spoke lacing the slight plea in professional disclaim. He knew it was important how Nandini remained a part of their battle against the dictator. Without her, they could never draw that barbaric dictator's attention.

Nandini interlaced her fingers and pressed her palms against each other.

"Last time when I spoke about taking back what's ours, I guess I sounded like someone you couldn't believe. I found out how I might be a little vague," Nandini spoke and then sighed deep. Her eyes roamed around the room and found Manik standing at farthest corner with his arms folded across his chest.

One look of him and she knew she could pull it off.

"I have met that monster and I have seen how he operates. I have seen how deep his claws are and how equipped he is for rebellions like us. We having an army of our own, trust me he isn't going to be surprised. He must have figured out how east could huddle up against him one day or another."

She spoke firmly while her palms rested against the table now. They were sweaty.

"He is expecting a war and if we are going to give him one at his terms, trust me we are no better than those who are beneath the ground," She added and then looked at those grave faces. She couldn't make out if those prodigies were mocking her or were genuinely in a thought.

"So we gather here to know how war is still not an option because this kid here thinks we are not enough. For Lord's sake, we are an army of thousands," One of businessmen spoke out loud and something banged loudly somewhere.

Everyone's gaze travelled to find the source and stopped at a man who had shut the door with a force so loud. It was Manik. He glared the man who had tried to mock Nandini while others tried to pardon the uncivilized being.

"An army of thousands is nothing in front of an army of countless," Nandini drew back everyone's attention and Manik again leaned against the wall. He liked it when she talked.

"What an exaggeration! Staying as a hostage to that dictator doesn't tell you all this," That man ridiculed the idea.

"Staying far away and knowing nothing doesn't tell you either," Manik spoke carelessly and all heads turned to him again.

"Have you ever seen starving people, Reddy?" Manik asked and that aged man furrowed his brows hinting at various objections.

"Who is this annoying man?" He asked baffled while Nandini scratched her temple. She could feel her nerves going taut.

"Someome who has seen it more than you," Nandini mumbled and again all the eyes traveled back to her.

"Have you ever seen starving people, Mr Reddy? People who could do anything for a rotten piece of bread. People who would slit throats for warm clothes. People who would turn enemies to their own state to save their childr..." She kept on saying until the last brutal reality struck her hard.

Her parents had probably done the same treachery to save their only child. She knew how it felt.

"That dictator has an army who aren't trained soldiers but people who would murder to survive. His unorganized army has number of sign ups you can't even imagine. There are thousands living outside his city in wait how he would let them in and they might have a chance at life. Not everyone loves to bleed for their land, some simply love to live," She added gathering herself back.

A pondering silence prevailed as each one present in that hall gave thought to this new possibility.

"I guess another futile lecture," An elderly man spoke up and Nandini smiled at him.

"A plan to be precise. I have just started talking," Nandini spoke politely and that elderly man smiled in appreciation for that unaltered courage.

_________________

Nandini walked out of hall and a few men followed her. She headed towards her office to make arrangements and strategies for one of the most important assignments. She smiled as she walked ahead of everyone. She couldn't believe she had somewhat succeeded in convincing those shrewed businessmen. A team was to be formed to be sent to neighbor state for seeking some aid. Her father's plan of calling out neighbors' help had somehow found hope as all council members had agreed to send a delegation down south. Her father's signature would still hold the value, she thought. Her father had a credibility beyond the borders and she thought his confidantes still had faith in him.

Entering her office, she saw her table which was a mess.  Last night, she didn't get time to wrap all this up because Manik couldn't wait. She murmured a sorry and arranged the papers while Veer asked the other men to have their seats.

"Ms Murthy, To your left, this is Mohsin Sheikh. He is former major general of our state's army. He served under your father for years and has accompanied him in countless operations."

Nandini regarded him with a smile and he smiled back.

"It's good to have you onboard, Mr Sheikh," She answered.

"To your right, our chief political advisor , Mr Pranay Das. He has been serving east ever since I was born. He is a known name across the borders and he would be leading our proposal to our neighbors," Veer divulged and Nandini couldn't believe it all was happening. Her father would have known all these skilled personnel.

"I have accompanied your father to many lands," Mr Das said and Nandini smiled at him in affiliation.

Veer kept on introducing the chosen team to her and soon they all got busy in laying down a blueprint of their proposal.

______________

"You don't have to. You know that, right?" Aashi spoke as she followed Manik to backyard.

He was packing his bag for his short trip and Aashi was trying to tell him how it was okay if he stayed.

"Listen, Manik!" She held his wrist and turned him around. He looked at her distressed face and closed his eyes for a second. He couldn't lie to her.

"I am not going away because of that. You don't have to worry," He said caressing her cheek. He still tried to hide.

"Every year Manik, you go away on this day. I never asked you to stay. It doesn't mean I hold anything against you. Mamma would not mind it if you stay with us on this day," She put forward what her mind was pondering over.

Manik's face lost the affinity and he turned around to pick his cloths from the wooden log.

"You and Aryan should stick together tomorrow. I am going away because I have some work. I need to patrol some areas and that might take entire day," He said and walked inside his small cottage.

"You should head back, it's started to get dark," He said and Aashi's restlessness grew fonder. She didn't know how to let go off this burden which was pressing down her chest. Her mother's death anniversary was a dull day every year. She missed her mother, that was another thing. But the day held much bitter memories which always crept between her and Manik's bond.

"I love you," She wrapped her arms around her brother's waist and hugged him from behind for a moment before she stormed out of there.

Manik stood rooted to his place and when he found strength to look at the door, Aashi was gone. He threw the cloth in his hand away and walked to the small kitchen. Gulping the glass of water in one go, he leaned on the counter to gather his senses. He didn't want Aashi to feel more vulnerable than she already was. His little sister had been suffering for a lot of things and he wasn't doing anything to ease her turmoil.

_____________________

Nandini signed the nth paper and her hand traveled to her neck to sooth her aching muscles. She looked at the clock, it was 7 in the evening. The fog had taken over the night but her office was still a busy place. Veer and Aabid were busy with paperwork while her father was seated in chair across the room. He looked busy in his diary. His signature was essential to seal the proposal. After a lot of effort, she had managed him to imitate his own signature.

Work had kept her busy but now when almost everything was done, her heart had started to ache for the one who was not seen since morning. Knowing the fact, he would be leaving  tomorrow and they hadn't spent a single moment together. She couldn't put her heart to rest. She now knew why he kept her so close last night. He could always see ahead of time.

She got up and thought to excuse herself seeing everyone engrossed in work. She needed some fresh air. The Corridors were hauntingly aloof and fog had started to creep in through cracks between the windows and wall. Moonlight made fog silvery, she sighed. Her each muscle was paining and were demanding her to rest. She still had some papers to sign, she guessed. It was a big day and she couldn't thank her stars more for shining in her favor.

She walked to the end of cloister and wondered where would he be. Suddenly, her body ached more. She needed his soothing touch over her flesh, her soul and mind.

She took the right turn and walked further in dimly lit passageway. Her palms rubbed her upper arms as cold started to itch her.

The fact that she might not be able to meet Manik before he left was gloomy. She hated to be away from her only source of life. Anger had started to surface within her. She felt this agony towards time, situations and her own self.

She didn't know when her flesh started to burn and tears welled up in her eyes. She had no reason to cry.

Her foot didn't seem to find ground as she took another step. Instead she felt like swaying with the wind. Darkness didn't let her see where she was taken as her arm was clutched in a grip she knew. Her soul screamed for that touch. She wasn't afraid but thankful.

Her back touched the wall and her hands desperately tried to reach out for his face in dark.

Her palms found his cheek as she held his face.

"Manik"

She called and the dark breathed out. She heard him exhaling the air which touched her forehead.

Her skin burned as his fingers touched her elbows.

Why won't he just take her in arms?

She groaned silently and tiptoed. He leaned down as she pulled him towards her.

"Missed me?" He asked briefly and her thumb moved over his slightly open lips.

"Not at all," She murmured before kissing him tenderly. Tender wasn't the word for serenity. It was the phrasal verb for that string on which her life depended.

His arm finally slid across her waist and she moaned audibly. Her muscles needed that healing warmth.

"I thought you would leave without seeing me," She said pulling apart. Her head rested against his heart and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

He didn't reply but his hand slid above till her neck. She closed her eyes in ecstasy as his fine fingers undid her braid. His warmth was magical as her neck muscles relaxed as his palm rested there.

"I will be back before you even realize," He finally spoke and tilted her head where he could kiss her ardently. A brief yet profound promise was woven through that kiss.

"Then you will have to be back the moment you withdraw from me," She answered helplessly and she could feel he smiled in dark.

Back of her head touched the cold wall as he kissed her with all he held for that one woman. And she couldn't tell him enough how she needed him with all her heart and soul.

After aeon, when they parted, dark was a little less black and hearts were a lot more warm.

"Be back before I turn reckless," She asked.

"I promise," He said and kissed her cheek.

He grabbed her hand and walked her out of dark gallery to lighted passageway. She could finally see his face which was at peace. She smiled and wrapped her arms around him. He hugged her back and they stood there for a long time bathing in the moonlight.

___________________

Nandini walked towards Aashi's room as first thing in the morning. Last night, she returned quite late. She had hardly given any time to Aashi since a few days. She entered Aashi's room and found her smiling faintly at a white lily. It was a sad day. It was her mother's death anniversary.

"Smiling at a flower?" Nandini asked and Aashi came out of her thoughts.

"Nandini," Aashi looked at her and relief washed over her face.

Nandini embraced Aashi in her warmth as if trying to tell she was there.

"Manik left it by my pillow," Aashi divulged and smiled at white lily.

"He knows somehow I offered white lilies to my mother on this day," She added and her eyes welled up.

"He observes a lot, just doesn't let you know," Nandini wiped Aashi's tears and smiled at her.

"I know," Aashi said and walked to balcony to put the flowers in sunlight.

"He thought I am sad because he was leaving yet again," She added while gazing the numerous lilies lying there.

"I cannot go to my mother's memorial this year. It is left far behind along with our home. So let this wind take these lilies to her," She added and bit her lower lip preventing herself from crying.

Nandini came closer and wrapped her arms around her.

"She would be so proud of you, I promise," She told Aashi.

Someone knocked the door and Nandini walked to open it. Aryan was standing there with a sullen face.

"Come in, I was just leaving," Nandini said and he smiled. Nandini left the room thinking it was best how siblings spent some time alone.

___________________

There wasn't much office work that day. Previous day had set off one of the most important tasks. And that had eased out the workload.

Nandini was keeping herself busy in studying the state dynamics when someone barged into her room.

"Nandini," Jas was exasperated over something and soon Nandini realized what was the reason. Two guards walked inside all panicked and that made the scenario clear.

"Tell them I am your friend. I have been telling them for minutes but they are just so stubborn," Jas said and walked to her.

"You may leave," Nandini asked the guards and looked at the young man.

"What are you doing here, Jas?" She asked while Jas gazed her luxurious office in awe.

"You didn't tell me you work at such big place," He uttered all dazed.

Nandini shook her head and waited for his little tour to end.

"You won't meet me so I decided to come here to see you," He finally answered taking the chair across the table.

"Cut the drama and blurt it out," She knew he had something else on his mind.

"Fine," He gave up as Nandini didn't.

"You know Aashi is a bit sad today. So I thought we could take her for some outing. Besides, you two don't spend any time with me," He said trying to frown.

Nandini smiled at that kid and then thought about his little plan. Idea wasn't bad. She would love to spend time with Aashi to keep her busy.

"Sounds like a good idea," She said and in no time they both left the office.

_____________

Aashi walked a little behind Jas and Nandini while those two were busy bickering over something. It was amusing how that teenager had brought out the chirpy Nandini. Aashi smiled at them both, she knew they had been this talkative just to distract her.

They were roaming in a garden which was spread over acres. There were many beautiful trees in there and she could hear some brook babbling somewhat near. The place was surely from the books.

"Berries!" Jas exclaimed and Aashi's eyes traveled to endless lane of berry trees.

"And we would want your assistance in finding the best ones," Nandini announced looking at small twinkle in Aashi's eyes.

"You tell me the tree and I would climb up like a superhero," Jas said making both the girls giggle.

Soon, Aashi got busy in scrutinizing the berries while Jas couldn't be happier in company of only people whom he knew there. Nandini felt at peace seeing Aashi occupied.

A sudden gush hit her and she wished Manik was there too. She wondered where would he be and doing what.

_________________

Manik walked amid strangers as he strolled across the village mart. His eyes were keen while mind alert as he tried to get a grip over these easterners. They all were strangely calm people and he wasn't much sure of picture which was presented before him. Nandini was safe there, the notion was strong but he knew how things weren't always as they seemed. The Deceiving veils had always been there.

It was almost evening and he could feel cold taking the rein. He was in a village named 'Moglu' and people there knew nothing of Nandini or her father. He had interacted with few locals and got to know they didn't even know Veer. These people only knew the landlords who gave them bread and butter. Land mafia was there but in a subdued form. He for sure knew now how picture which was shown to Nandini wasn't complete. Few puzzle pieces were missing.

"Last bus to Poralpur is leaving," He heard some locals say and something struck his mind. He tried to hear the sound of that name again.

"Poralpur"

He had heard that name. He had heard it somewhere. He was good at remembering things. He for sure hadn't heard it in recent time but he could feel the affinity.

"Poralpur, What's this place?" He asked the vegetable vendor who had been answering his random questions for an hour now.

"Saab, you don't know Poralpur? It used to be our army's head office. But now it's nothing but a small town. Soldiers are gone with the army's doom" He divulged.

"Army headquarters?" Manik repeated.

"Not this new army. Our state's army. Poralpur is as old as 100 years," The vendor revealed.

Poralpur

Manik could feel the affinity with the name and he couldn't remember how.
He walked out of mart thinking about it, trying to connect the dots, trying to find the missing piece.

He had never been away from his hometown and its forests. He had never been to east. All his life, his quests had been surviving and finding  a reason of being. Aashi and Aryan were only persons whom he had been related to. His father was long gone and so did Aashi's mother.

Mother.

His eyes widened as the word hit the bong so hard. He knew where he had heard about Poralpur.

_______________

It was a shade of grey when Nandini looked around. She and Aashi were still in the garden. They were walking towards the cascade. Nandini turned around and found two guards walking at a distance. They seemed to respect her privacy.

"Thank You Nandini," Aashi spoke gazing the path ahead.

"This day in a long time has passed with such ease," She added and Nandini smiled at her.

"You never need to thank me. I love to bring smile on your beautiful face," Nandini replied and they both giggled.

"Sometimes I wonder how you and my artless brother turn out to be lovers," Aashi put it quite modestly that Nandini flushed.

"Shut up, Aashi," Nandini murmured and Aashi laughed.

"Still shy?" She asked and Nandini turned her face away.

"No but on a serious note, you are so expressive and he is a caveman," Aashi quipped only to earn a glare from Nandini.

"If your brother gets more expressive than this, I am sure I won't be able to cope up," Nandini mumbled and Aashi laughed out loud. Nandini palmed her face as she had thought aloud.

"He is wonderful, isn't he?" Aashi asked out of nowhere and Nandini smiled to herself. 

"He is," She asserted. She missed him so much. The day had passed somehow but she wasn't sure she would be able to go to sleep without seeing him.

"I am sorry that he had to go today," Aashi said lowly.

"Hey, why are you sorry? You are insane. He had some work so he left," Nandini cursed herself for looking gloomy.

"No Nandini, He didn't leave because he had some work. He won't ever leave you behind for any work in this world. He left because he still feels he shouldn't be with us on my mother's death anniversary," Aashi said taking a bench which was placed nearby.

Nandini knew it somewhat. She could sense it when other night he told her about this day.

"Everything healed but some wounds have turned into weeping sores," Aashi said looking at oblivion.

"He never talks about it but he has so many deep wounds inside him," She added and Nandini's eyes welled up. She wanted to be there for him. She wanted him to bare himself so that she could see through his darkness.

Nandini licked her lips reining her emotions. She didn't want Aashi to feel guilty. She didn't want to dig her when she had promised Manik how she wouldn't ask about it unless he shared.

"My mother never loved him, Nandini. She till her last breath cursed him without uttering a word," Aashi divulged not being able to keep it inside. All these years she had burned herself in this hell fire and she had no one to tell.

Nandini felt her heart sinking as she heard Aashi. She wanted to know it all but she wasn't sure she would be able to bear it. She had slight idea how their family dynamics were ugly but she was skeptical if she wanted to know through anyone but Manik.

"When she died, she said something so wrathful that I don't know how Manik survived that," Aashi was not in control of her emotions. She cried bitterly. The fact that she missed her mother and her mother was the reason her elder brother was a mess wasn't easy to stay with.

Nandini's heart ached as she got to see one glimpse of all he was made of, she took a deep breath and decided to remind Aashi how she might not want to share it and Nandini would have wanted to hear it from Manik.

She put her hand on Aashi's shoulder and Aashi came out of her misery. She looked at her and realized how she had spoken more than her rights. She mumbled a sorry and then wiped her tears.

"Aashi, you know what he went through, you have seen it, but trust me he isn't broken and even if he is, you are not the reason. Never beat yourself up for this," Nandini assured Aashi even though she knew nothing of their tussle but she knew Aashi could never be a culprit in Manik's eyes.

"He loves you so dearly and that is purely because you have loved him unconditionally," She added and wrapped her arms around Aashi's shoulder.

"I am sure one day he would talk about it to you and would let all the wounds dry," She uttered confidently.

Aashi looked at her as if was thankful.  Nandini had always understood her without any effort and she couldn't feel more blessed to have her.

"You are too good to be true, do you know that?" She ended up saying in utmost awe. Nandini smiled at her warmly and Aashi couldn't hold on to gloom any further.

______________

Manik reined his horse and it stopped at a crossroad. His mind was on fire while soul ached for more than one reason. He had accidentally been taken at a junction which had disappeared years ago. It didn't hold any significance but now when he had a chance to know things his mind screamed for when he was child, he felt like hunting those answers. He hated buzzing mind because there were always so many questions regarding his existence, he shut them up long back but at this very moment they had started to talk again. He read the board as 'Poralpur' which was 121 miles away.

He closed his eyes and reined his horse towards other direction. He needed some answers but not more than her warmth which he couldn't miss. If he didn't get to her before dawn, he wasn't sure he could prevent his heart and soul from freezing. She was the life in his frigid soul. The stinging truths can wait but his heart couldn't to get the warmth it deserved.

**********************************

Apologies for this delay and thank you so much for loving DV with all your heart. ❤❤

P.S. Those who are waiting for ATE's update, get ready to read it before Sunday! 😈