~Favour~

"Baby I don't need dollar bills to have fun tonight, I love cheap thrills....."

Cheap Thrills by Sia blares through the speakers of my phone for the fifth time since the last 10 minutes.

Guess who found the connection!!?

I can hear the song going on on loop but can I do something about it? No.

Ask me why?

Because my phone is vibrating and blaring on the other side of the door as it rests on the floor while here I am somewhere- in what they said was the "locker room"- locked all alone with my hands tied behind my back and me being blindfolded with a dark cloth which blocks my visual connection with the world.

I've been locked in here for the past twenty or thirty minutes and I am exhausted and scared already.

I have been calling for help, screaming my lungs out, banging on the door constantly, sometimes with my foot and sometimes with my shoulders, but it lead to nothing. I don't think there is anyone else left in the college.

I tried to search around the place but I can't walk without hitting my head or feet to something or the other. This place is so... I can't breathe in here. I don't know how else to get out of here. I know no other way. All I know is that I don't want to be here and I want to go home.

I'm a minor claustrophobic and this place is starting to get to me.

My palms become sweaty and my breathing rate starts to take off. My heart hammers inside my chest and I begin to shiver as realization of being locked in here for an entire night starts to settles in me. I accept my defeat. My heart drops in the pit of my stomach and very soon the cloth over my eyes starts to get wet letting the streams of tears roll down my cheeks.

It's okay. I'm okay. You're okay, Nandini.

Just... Breath in. Breath out.

My breathing rate escalates as my fear of confinement completely slithers it's way into my system. My body trembles and I start sweating profusely.

I admit that I am scared to be left alone in a place that I don't know. I'm not particularly a fan of being locked away this way. I can't see and my hands are tied, which by the way I tried to get out of but all that does is hurt the big blue bruise that Manik left me yesterday.

Breath in. Breath out.

I lean my back on the door and slide down to the floor. My arms ache from being held behind and my wrists are in a lot of pain.

Breath in. Breath out.

I'm not afraid of the darkness particularly. It's the fact that I am all alone and locked in this room that leaves me so.. so.. terrified.

Breath in. Breath out.

This thing only gets to me when I'm thrown into a close a room all alone. I am much in control of myself when I am with someone but it's all the opposite when I'm alone. I can't.. My brain just refuses to function in situations as such. And so does my respiratory system.

Breath in. Breath out.

Sia screams through my phone once again cutting through the silence and goes on for about a half a minute before the call gets disconnected abruptly and my phone makes that sound of getting switched off. The battery must have drained out. The room becomes soundless once again. The only thing that is making a sound is my constant sniffing that is a resultant of my streaming tears.

A few more minutes pass by and I hold my position on the floor, leaning against the door feeling dejected, breathing at an unstable rate, crying and just hoping for a miracle to happen.

"I need you to be here in fifteen minutes because he'll be here soon too." Suddenly an echoing voice fills into the previously silent court.

That voice seems awfully familiar to me but my desperation to get out of here blinds my memory for a bit.

I reflexively stand up on my feet.

"Hello! Who's there?" I try to speak but my voice comes out rather hoarse.

My throat and my lips are so dry, I can't even speak properly. I lick my lips and swallow on my spit to moisten my throat a bit.

Breath in. Breath out.

"This is your last chance Rhea. I won't help after this.. I'm leaving the key to the door on the court stairs." The voice of a guy continues.

"Is anyone there?!" I bang on the door with my foot. My voice is now better than earlier.

"In fifteen minutes Rhea. Bye."

"Hello? I'm locked in here! Please help me!"

"Who is there?" I hear the echo of footsteps tapping on the floor, nearing towards me.

"I'm.. I'm here in the... the locker room. Please help me out!"

The sound of the footsteps stops, "Nandini?" The person says and now I do know for sure who it is.

"Manik."

"What the hell. Snow?"

"Yes! It's me! Please get me out of here Manik." I cry.

"Don't.. Don't worry. I'm here.. I'll get you out." He says.

"Manik.. I'm so scared.. I can't see.. I'm all alone here.." My lungs respire at an unstable rate.

"I'm here snow... Okay? I'll get you out don't worry." He says with conviction.

Thereafter follows the sound of the lock being twisted. I move away from the door waiting for it to open but it doesn't. Then the dangling of keys fills the air which is followed by the click sound of the lock.

A whiff of air hits my face as I feel the door being opened.

I heave a breath of relief, still shaking though.

I feel Manik step into my breathing space while I just breathe unevenly.

The tears resume their fall down my cheeks.

"What the hell is this? Who did this to you?" He turns me around and opens the blindfold.

"I don't know... I didn't see.. Just a-"

"It's okay.. Relax.. It's okay." Manik frees my hands and turns me around to him.

I still can't see much as my eyes are taking their time to adjust their focus.

Manik rubs his hands along my arm length, comforting me. Even in this situation it doesn't miss on the goosebumps. I wipe the sweat from my hands on the side of my jeans.

"I can't... I can't see." I rub the back of my palms over my moist eyes.

"It's dark.. Wait I'll.. " saying that Manik moves away from me.

"Where are you going?" I panic and then follows the sound of a switch being flicked which causes me turn back around.

The bright light in that room strikes my eyes and I cover them with my hand. The moment I remove my hand, I find Manik hovering over me with concern dressed upon his face, "Are you okay?" His palms cup my wet cheeks.

For a moment that gesture of his leaves me stunned but I manage one small reply, "Yeah." I sniff.

I know I should be jerking him away and not letting him stand close to me after all that has been going on between us but for some strange reason, I don't.

I don't move away from him as he holds me close.

I don't look away from his face and he doesn't lose his focus from mine.

A stray tear slips down my eye. Manik uses his thumbs to wipe off the remnants of tears from my cheeks. Shivers run down my spine when Manik closes the distance between us entirely.

"I.. Manik.. they just.."

"It's okay snow.. I'm here, okay? You're safe with me." He says meeting my eyes. He then moves his palms from my face to my wrists and holds them. Apart from a blue bruise that he left yesterday, there is a fresh red patch encircling my wrist- courtesy the tightly tied cloth.

He clenches his jaw and his eyes travel up to my face, "Who did this?"

"I don't know. I didn't see any face." I say still keeping my eyes fixed over the fresh red scars and then move them back to Manik's face.

I see a string of mixed emotions in his eyes but that's just for about a second before anger makes it's way through.

"Are you hurt? Did they hurt you..? " He searches my face, concern aligning his forehead.

"No.. " I assure him.

His eyes find their way back to mine and my heart does a little flip flop. There's so much depth in those dark eyes of his, there are so many emotions all together. For a moment it feels like that guy I lost five years back, the one who cares about me is right here. Right now, in this moment I feel like this is who I had been friends with. He's the same guy I came here wishing to have back in my life.

His thumb caresses the side of my face and I sink a little deeper into his hold. I feel safer now. Standing close to him makes me feel safe and protected more than I have ever felt.

"You're shaking." He says and I realize that I still am.

"I'm okay.. " I lie.

"You're not okay snow. Don't lie to me when you know you can't. You're claustrophobic and you were blindfolded and alone in this room. Look at your face.. It's drained out and you're telling me you're okay?" He admonishes me.

So he remembers.

I look down at our touching shoes, "I'm.. I'll be okay."

"Snow.. " He says softly compelling me to look in his eyes, "They.. didn't.. Did they.."

"No. Manik, No. They didn't do anything to me.." I feel his chest fall down as he leaves the breath that he had been holding.

"What are you doing here? How did all this happen?" He asks.

"I... I got lost looking for the dance... auditorium and ended up here and then when I was about to leave.. a guy caught me from behind me and there was a girl with him. They tied me up and just left me here."

"What? Who could do that.. When did this happen?"

"Around half an hour ago." I recall.

"Did you see their faces?"

"No.. I couldn't.. I tried fighting him but he was double my size, I couldn't move him off me. I panicked.. I was so scared the entire time that I couldn't-"

"It's okay.. You don't have to be scared anymore. I'm right here.." He brushes a stray tress off my face, "I'll never let that happen to you again." The color of his eyes turn a shade darker and I hear a promise in his voice.

Every second encounter that I have with Manik makes me question my decision.

It was just about yesterday that he himself admitted to the fact that he has nothing to with me and that he doesn't feel even the tiniest bit of concern or care towards me. But the person I am witnessing right now is just the opposite to the person I've had bad encounters with in the past two days.

I don't know what side of Manik should I believe is true. The one that clearly certifies him as the jerk of the year or this one that categorizes his actions from before under pretence.

But right now.. It feels so different around him. Like the heat that is radiating from his body to me feels good and warm. Like our proximity has lead my heart on a race of a lifetime. For once things feel right because for the first time in forever I think I know that he cares.

"What are you hiding?" I blurt involuntarily into the open.

"What?" He frowns a little.

I didn't intend on saying that out loud.

I hadn't intended on ever being in this position with him but something's are just not in our control and now that we both are here together and alone, I think I'm going to take my chances and dig out the unanswered questions from yesterday.

"You were lying when you said you don't care." I state. It's not a question anymore that whether or not he was pretending to be the bad guy or not because I know he was.

I think I know he was.

As words escape my mouth, Manik's face loses its resolve. The confusion wears off his face and he distances himself from me abruptly, "I wasn't."

"Stop lying to me. This is you. This is the guy who cares about me and not the one who has been pushing me away for the past five years.. Why are you hiding this person behind a mask?" I step forward.

"Look-"

"No don't. Don't try to cover this up with a stupid lie. I know you Manik."

"No." He looks away, "You don't know me anymore snow. I'm not the same person anymore." His jaw tightens.

"Manik, stop lying. Stop hiding from me.. tell me if there's anything that bothers you.. talk to me. There's so much to talk about Manik. It's been five years and if that couldn't help erase what we were then I don't know what else can."

If I can try once again, I might as well do that. If I can break down the walls that he has built around us then I'm going to try again. If there's even a slightest chance of mending things and fixing the broken the pieces then I'm going take it.

He pulls a sharp breath in, "We were nothing."

"Try harder Manik because I'm not buying your hollow lies."

"I'm not lying." He grits in frustration.

"So you don't care?"

"I don't."

"Really Manik?" I scrutinize his face, "I'm having a hard time believing that."

"Believe whatever that makes you stay away from me." He says in a low, warning voice.

"Why do you want me to stay away from you? What if I don't want to stay away from you."

He looks at me sharply, "It's not your choice."

"Oh, so you make decisions for me now?" I mirror his expressions.

"I decide who I want in my life and it's definitely not you."

"Your actions contradict your statement, Manik." I tell him.

"You think I came to your rescue because I care?" He lets out a short amusing laugh.

"No. But whatever followed after that. It clearly says you do care." I ignore the urge to hit him across the face.

This all seems funny to him? What's so amusing about it?

He scoffs, "It was a coincidence that I was here. C'mon snow, that was a desperate attempt."

"You being here can be a coincidence but you actually getting worried for me doesn't sound like a thing that happens coincidentally. Does it?" I raise my brow up, confidently.

"Did you have a look at yourself? You were miserable I thought you'd die or something." He reasons which, by the way, sounds so made up.

That's just over-exaggerating. I.. I wasn't... I wasn't that miserable.

Was I?

"Look, consider it a favor done on you." Manik says.

"A what?" I double check.

"A favor. Which you're going to repay me when I please." A smirk laces his perfect lips.

Perfect lips? Seriously woman shut up!

"Okay so you're trying to make me admit to myself that you weren't showing any care because you wanted to and it was just an act of saint because you pittied me?" I put two and two together.

"Yup."

I fix my eyes on his face, "And you want me to actually buy this shit you're selling?" I stand with my hand on my hips.

"It's okay if you don't it won't change the reality."

His cool and composed reaction to my words leaves me stunned. Like.. He shows no positive sign.

"Snow, just tell me you want me so desperately. Stop beating around the bush using some deeply buried old and stale excuse for your hidden agenda." Manik steps closer to me and a smirk lingers on his lips, "That's so unlikely of you."

Oh my God. He's just so sick.

"Look at you, who'd even want you Manik? Alien chicks from Jupiter?" I scoff.

"Is that where you came from? Interesting." He retorts.

"Shut up Manik, you're digusting." I take a step back from him.

"That is me." He shrugs carelessly.

I shake my head in disbelief. That was just so typical of him to say that. I mean.. Was it really pitty care that I saw in his eyes and felt it in his touch? Can this really be a possibility?

This can be a possibility.

Oh no.

Oh no.

Oh no.

Oh no. What has gotten into me?!

I mean, nobody is actually inhumane to just leave go away from a person in trouble.. I mean.. it was just a simple task to get me out of here. No big deal. Nothing grand and heroic about it.. It could have been anyone.

Oh God. Nandini Murthy!

Why the hell didn't I think this through?!Because you're just so eager on having him back in your life, N.

NO.

Throw the idea of him off the cliff it's high time now.

YES.

God, I'm so stupid.

YES.

"That's exactly what it is. You're smarter than what I pegged you to be." Sarcasm laces his tone.

He really thinks I'm desperate. Jeez! Who cares what he thinks?

Yeah.. But.. No ifs and buts now. You're a stupid fuck, N. Just leave before you make a complete ass of yourself.

I'm highly supercalcificatively EMBARASSED.

"Fine. Okay. Fine." I stare at the blue coloured tainted locker behind Manik and then move my eyes back to him, "You're right."

A slight grin settles over his face, "That was easy. " He says.

"Okay then. I feel fine now. I owe you for helping me and.. I'll repay it somehow. Thanks for your not so humble cooperation." I fake smile at him.

"Pleasures all mine. Now if you would please leave from here.. that'll be wonderful." He smiles.

I could award that smile to be the most fake smile of the millennium. It's so fake and disgustingly cute that it hurts so I'm going to just leave.

"Yeah. I anyway can't breathe around you and your suffocating minty breath."

"You notice a lot of things snow." He grins again.

"Yeah sure like I noticed what a jackass you are." Saying that I turn around on my heels and head for the door.

"Manik?" A voice of a guy erupts in the backdrop.

"What now snow?" Manik says and I turn around to face him, annoyed.

"Does that sound like my voice to you?" I look at him incredulously.

Seriously? I have a high pitched female voice and not a low gravely voice like of that person calling Manik's name.

"Manik, bro? You here?" The same voice repeats and Manik's eyes widen in reflex.

"Oh Fuck." He curses and covers his face with his hands.

What? He's so weird.

What is wrong with someone calling his name?

-------

Here it is another chapter! I This one turned out pretty big so I divided this into two as well and that will up soon!

Honestly though, I don't know how I feel about this chapter. I had it pictured just perfect in my head but idk if I was successful in writing that picture down for you people so do let me know in the comments.

And please VOTE.

Please ignore the typos as well (:

Next one will be up real quick. :)