~Edited.~

Please listen to the song above...

At the start of every chapter, there will be a snippet of Nandini's past from the beginning.

~~

August 20th, 1999
The Hermitage Palace, Russia

The Tsar of Russia, Aleksandr Romanova Volkov of the Romanov dynasty, paced down the halls of the Palace, their home, situated in Saint Petersburg. His wife's screams echoed in the vast space, giving birth to his daughter, the daughter that would help carry on his line much like his son who was now tucked away in his bed. He silently prayed for his child to be alright and for all complications to be eliminated.

He was not a good man nor a patient man and God, if there was one, knew that but their home was a peaceful one, regardless. Maybe it was because he was usually tucked away in his office or at the several companies he owned but the Tsaritsa, Anastasia Nikolaevna Volkov, kept busy with the workings of their household and spending time with their son. Living under the eyes of the entire country along with the threatened west meant that they were constantly on edge especially with their secret operations of the Bratva. This pregnancy was mostly hidden from their citizens not only because it had been a difficult one but because Aleksandr had other plans for his daughter and the less people knew about her, the less they would speculate around her disappearance.

A loud cry  came from the room and he nearly fainted from relief. The heavy double-doors to the room opened only to reveal the several doctors he had paid to be at their disposal. The bowed low and began to congratulate him on the birth of his baby girl He was ushered inside and he beheld the sight in front of him with some trepidation. Anastasia was propped up against the many pillows behind her and was holding a swaddled baby in her arms, her face lined with exhaustion, a doctor between her legs no doubt stitching her back up. Her red hair sticking against her sweaty face and her doe eyes almost closing in sleep.

He walked up to them, almost mesmerised and bent down to grab his daughter out of his wife's arms and held her tightly against his chest. Once he stared at her face, he couldn't look away from the squirming baby, her small hands flailing in the air; a tuft of red hair peeking from the little blanket she was wrapped in. 

"Моя дорогая. Добро пожаловать, Natalia." He whispered near her scrunched up face before lightly bringing his lips to her forehead. {My sweet darling. Welcome.}

Natalia Irina Volkov was welcomed into the world by her 'loving parents', born as the Grand Duchess of Russia, both her parents fawning over her as her loud wails quieted down to soft little coos, her eyes opening slowly before gazing at the hazel-coloured eyes in fascination. He smiled at the little body in his eyes before offering his finger which she gripped with such finesse that he was assured it was definitely his child although the hazel coloured eyes, ringed with black were proof of her parentage.

"Get her out of here." The midwife turned to grab little Natalia out of his arms but the Tsar was looking at his wife and she watched with widened eyes as several guards stepped into the room with their uniforms intact despite the late night. 

The guards gripped a heavily exhausted Anastasia who didn't even have the strength to scream let alone fight the men carrying her out of the room and out of the Palace, her home for the past few years. He didn't feel remorse that after not even 10 minutes of childbirth, he was subjecting a woman to such harsh treatment but Anastasia was mentally unstable. Not only had she tried to kill herself whilst she was pregnant with little Natalia, he had caught her booking an abortion appointment as well as eating things like papayas, drinking alcohol so he had her under 24 hour constant surveillance and now that he job as a human incubator was complete, he had no use for her. The guards were instructed on what was to be done with her.

He held Natalia in his arms until she started to cry and he had to reluctantly hand her over to the wet nurse. He continued to watch her even as she was put into her crib, sleeping soundly without a care in the world. She was born in the cold of August just as he had and he knew she would grow up to do greater things that he did. She would never forgive him for the horrors he would put her through but one day, she would figure out that it was all for her own good. Weak people had no place in this world and his daughter will not be weak.

The next day, Mikhail had woken up and wanted to meet the new baby and so both father and son set their new journey towards the baby room where little Natalia was laying awake with her nanny entertaining her. Mikhail was fascinated with the little hands and feet and wouldn't let go of her until she wailed loudly and his ears started hurting.

Over the next two years, Natalia was growing rapidly and feeling emotion better than he was at her age; he watched her cry and cling onto her brother's neck as he was being shipped off to boarding school and would not return until he was much older. He watched her begin to speak English and learn Russian and walk and run around the whole Palace, flourishing into an adorable redheaded toddler, hell-bent on touching everything in the house to feed her curiosity. In spite of the love he was showered upon her, her favourite person remained to be her nanny, who was an old woman nearing her 60s. She would climb her body and jump into her arms, following her around the house and babbling about everything and anything that she set her sight upon. This was not to say that Natalia was a needy child, in fact, she was quite reserved and preferred observing others than actually interacting with them. He had caught her several times, just staring at his business partners and even children her own age with narrow eyes as if looking for a weakness. 

She had no friends at this age despite the abundance of sons and daughters of the Lords and Ladies and she liked to spend her time running barefoot in the grass and rolling down the hill, near the lake of the Palace.

He knew he had to let her go once she turned four but he just didn't have the heart to especially since she was so much like him, more than Mikhail who was the epitome of ADHD with a short attention span and barely any intelligence which won't do him any good in the future. He couldn't wait until his little girl was changing the world.

The things he had to do in the name of love...

~

It is late at night when Manik finally graces Nandini with his presence; an annoyed Nandini who had just showered and completed her night routine, dressed in silk pyjamas and ready for bed was disturbed. but nonetheless, her societal manner came forward as she welcomed him into her home. They have a serious conversation where Nandini tells Manik that she has a psychologist 'cousin' who had a PhD in neurology and he was willing to look at Dhruv. Manik reluctantly tells Nandini about the duration and cause of Dhruv's attack, feeling emotional because Dhruv was his family.

Manik makes it clear that they are not friends and will never be friends and he was only consulting with her for the sake of her knowledge on the subject and makes her swear to keep their partnership a secret. Nandini rolled her eyes before reminding him that they weren't planning to assassinate the President. Manik leaves, not wanting to stay for her sarcastic comments and Nandini falls asleep without a care in the world until she was a whirlwind of silk and lace.

The next morning, it was a somber morning, almost as if there was darkness in the sky with light rain pouring down, little droplets smacking against her window. Nonetheless, she smiled and headed towards the bathroom, her feet clad in Louis Vuitton mink fur slippers. Staring in the mirror, she lifted a hand to touch her face, feeling the little scar on the corner of her lip, having been backhanded across it multiple times in her short time in this world. It was small and hard to see from afar but she always knew it was there. The presence of it and the meaning of it would forever haunt her as long as she lived.

Shaking her head to let go of the stupor, she walked out and headed to the door attached on the other wall and into her closet. The lights immediately turned on and a robotic voice greeted her in an almost sensuous way. A few maids came in and grabbed the clothes she had decided on earlier and laid it on the bed whilst she did her hair in front of the full body mirror decorating her vanity. 

At last, wearing a Dior square-cut full-sleeved cropped top and cream coloured cargo-pants, her make-up minimal and her hair slicked back in a middle part, she was ready for college. A Prada bag was slung over her shoulder and a car was waiting for her outside her penthouse, with the keys in the ignition.

She knew this was going to be an even longer day because as soon as they walked into class, Raghav began talking about the Musicana event which Fab 5 had won the year before. Just as Fab 5 stand proud and tall, Harshad walks in to register his own band which includes him, Navya, Shahid and her. Manik looks on confused whereas Nandini is plain angry at not being consulted at her joining a goddamn college band. She did her best work alone.

After Raghav continues to explain the importance of this event and the participation of it in this music college. They all head their separate way with Fab 5 ending up on the stairs in front of the college and Cabir mimicking Harshad and making them all laugh. Alya grabs Manik's hand suddenly and proceeds to drag him somewhere leaving the lest to gaze at the backs of the lovebirds.  

Alya takes Manik to an empty room, while the others head to the practice room, and asks him to open the back zip to her dress. Manik hesitates a little but still he does it and sees the tattoo. He asks "Did it hurt?" and Alya says "She wanted to declare their relationship and tell the world that she is his girlfriend."  But in her mind, she was declaring herself as the new Queen of the Malhotra clan. 

On the other hand, Nandini talks to Harshad and says that "She doesn't want to be in a band" and walks out of the room but Harshad tells Navya to talk to her; Nandini finally agrees after a lot of persuasion and feels sorry for Navya who only wants to impress Harshad. Navya runs back to the practice room to tell the rest of the band whilst Nandini runs into Dhruv who smiles at her and they officially become friends. Manik and Alya both see this, having come out of the room and stalk up to them where Manik tells her to stay away from them and Alya makes a comment about her supposed lower social status. Nandini sighed and muttered under her breath before giving Dhruv a smile and leaving.

On the other hand, Harshad is teaching Navya how to sing and play the guitar. Harshad hugs her from behind in an attempt to teach her the guitar making Navya go on Cloud 9, being so close to her Harshad.

Nandini is looking down at her phone, trying to send money to her contact in Abu Dhabi who was following the Prince and reporting back to her. She feels a rush of wind behind her and puts her phone away before turning around making the attackers stop behind her. One attempts to hold her hands behind her back but before he could do that, she elbows him in the stomach before grabbing the same hand reaching out for her and twisting it behind his back, making him spin around in front of her in pain. Another attempts to backhand her but all Nandini could think was 'not again' and kicks her leg out, hitting him right between the legs just as Dhruv shows up and tries to help her but two guys hold him and one begins to punch his face whilst Nandini is fighting the other two. She doesn't let her abilities show because she sees Dhruv looking at her and Alya hiding near the bushes. Alya looks on, horrified and terrified for Dhruv's safety.

Just as Dhruv is about to get punched again, Manik comes just in time and holds the guy's hand before punching him back and scaring them all away. Manik's face is full of rage as he turns towards Nandini who stands on the side-line watching the goons run away before noticing Manik stalking towards her through the corner of her eyes and turns to look at him, tilting her chin up. She raises an eyebrow even as Manik starts shouting at her for whatever reason his mind deemed sane. Dhruv with his mouth still bleeding heavily turns Manik around and punches him right in the mouth, making blood drip down the corner of it. He knew that Nandini was just a victim in a planned attack but Manik refuses to acknowledge it.

A crowd gathers around the three as many grab their phones and begin recording, enjoying the oldest friendship in this college break down into a fight. They wait with bated breath for the drama to enrol, knowing that Manik's anger issues are unmanageable. Manik grabs Dhruv's shirt, pulling him forwards and gripping his face tightly with the other but suddenly stops once the haze clears his eyes and he sees who he is about to hurt and steps back with a strangled sigh escaping his mouth and walks away in anger leaving the crowd almost groaning in disappointment. Dhruv stands there dejected and staring at the hand that punched his best friend, his brother whilst Nandini observes him before shouting for the crowd to disperse. Alya runs after Manik from her hiding place and tries to find him by searching every classroom in the entire block. 

Manik is found in the practice room, wearing only his undershirt, his pace pinched in anger and playing his favourite  guitar for everyone to hear. Alya walks up to him and tries to calm him down but to no avail and then instead tries to tell him that Nandini is to blame and manipulates him. She seems to fail miserably when Manik instead breaks his guitar which was gifted to him by Dhruv, the pieces splayed on the floor like a beautiful massacre. Somewhere deep inside, Manik knew that Nandini was bad news.

Nandini grabs Dhruv's hand, dragging him to a classroom she knew contained a first-aid kit. Sitting him down, she grabbed a chair and grabbed a sterilised wipe and began to wipe at the blood before drenching it in liquid and dressing it down to the palm. 

She began to scold him, "you shouldn't have punched him" and when he begins to interrupt her, she gave him a look that shut him up and she begins to explain the importance of friendship in life.

She knew how important her friends back in High School were and she wouldn't be here without her best friend picking u her broken pieces.

The next day, Dhruv enters the practice room and walks to the stage with the other four watching his every move. Mukti stands up and tells them to move on and forget the past but they are disappointed when Dhruv walks out of the room. Manik watches the door angrily before Alya walks up to him and tries to cup his face to calm him down but Manik moves away from her, grabbing a water bottle and walking out the door. The rest watch him, not sure what to do to bring back their entire team.

Harshad, Shahid and Navya, on the other hand, are celebrity the breakdown of their friendship when Nandini walks in and rolls her eyes at them. What was so enjoyable about breaking up friendships? Harshad tells them to grab their instruments and just as they began to play a soft tune, a worker comes into the room and lets them know that Neyonika is expecting Nandini. Everyone looks confused because they didn't even think that Neyonika would remember someone like Nandini but she gracefully excuses herself and walks out of the room. 

Walking down the hallway, she barges into Neyonika's office without bothering to knock and sees Neyonika smirking and sitting almost arrogantly in her chair. Confused, Nandini stands in front of her, arms crossed impatiently before Neyonika stands her a letter. Nandini snatches it from her and skim-read the letter before laughing in her face. Nandini smirks before walking over to her chair and smiling down at her, leaning her back against the desk, giving Neyonika a pitying look at her naivety.

"Mrs. Malhotra, you honestly make me laugh. You do realise you can't expel the person who just became the owner of this college." At Neyonika's shocked expression, she nods with fake sympathy, "It's true. It was quite cheap, actually but the transaction is complete so choose your next words carefully before I have you gold-digging, social-climbing ass out of the premises."

Neyonika tries to swallow subtly but Nandini tends to notice everything so she nods her head, almost speechless but opening her dry mouth and letting her know that she will do anything.

"Good. First, I want everyone to be informed of my suspension and really sell it. I am sure your spectacular acting skills will come in handy. I will stay at home for some time and I know Harshad will make a plan to get me back because of the music event. Make them believe it because Manik is not going to let his go."

Neyonika, quite impressed with the well thought-out plan, nods her head whilst Nandini grabs her phone from her back pocket and walks out the door without a backward glance at Neyonika.

After a while, Manik walks into the room as expected when he doesn't see Nandini in the cafeteria and Neyonika lets him know that it is done and that there is always a price to pay for what she did for him. 

"Anything, name it." Manik believed that Nandini was the hurdle in his and Dhruv's friendship and by removing her from the equation, everything will go back to normal.

 Neyonika was quite impressed with her plan. She gave a nod which Nandini took as a cue for her to leave. After a while, Manik comes in and Neyonika tells Manik about Nandini being suspended and tells him he has to pay. He says "anything, name it,"

Neyonika raises a beautifully groomed eyebrow at him, "Wow, this girl must be very special for you to pay such attention to her."

Manik looks almost disgusted at the thought of every pursuing something with Nandini, " It's nothing like that. I don't have to explain myself to you."

Manik strides out the door with an extra pep in his step, almost glad that he got Neyonika involved because the only way he knew how to handle this problem was the messy way which wouldn't be enjoyable for any of them.

~

 Hope you enjoyed this chapter and please vote and comment on the chapter because it lets me know what you guys think about it.