Nandini's POV 

I was lying on my bed and thinking about what happened some hours ago on the road. I saw some guy coming near me and asking me to look at him in his blue eyes. After that what happened and how did I come to my place I have no idea. I heard Mohan dada the driver even he was injured by some animal. While I was thinking all this I heard a knock on my door only to see Mom coming inside. 

Nidhi-" Nandu, are you alright my child? Is it paining somewhere?" She sat beside me caressing my hair while I scooted closer and kept my head on her lap. 

" Mumma, how did I reach here and what happened to Dada?" 

Nidhi-" We got a call from the police officer beta and he told about that accident. It was good that you didn't had any injury when the doctors saw you. While Mohan has been taken to hospital. Don't worry he is fine now, But what actually happened?" 

" I don't know mom I was sitting inside the car talking to Mukti and Dada went to check something out. I guess someone was lying on the road, after sometime I also came out and then I don't remember what happened." I didn't tell mum about that blue eyed guy, maybe he was just my imagination? After all from that time only I was unconscious. I saw my mother worried so I held her hand and smiled looking at her while she kissed my forehead. 

Nidhi-" Nandu, is everything fine there? Look I know what all happened shouldn't have happened. I know all of this is taking a toll on you you can share with me, I can't help you with those secrets but I will give you support."

"Mumma I'm fine as of now its going good. though those people are keeping me away from other stuff but still telling me what to do. Raj uncle is really supportive he is doing his best in making me comfortable there." I looked at Mum whose facial expression changed hearing about Raj uncle just the way Raj uncle's did. 

Nidhi-" So he has started off with being all goodie goodie with you. What has he said to you?"

" Nothing much, he told about the mission in general and what part I have to play in that. Also I heard him talking to Manik about the infamous love failure between Malhotras and Basus." 

Nidhi-" Hmm... good that you know about that. Well what else he said?" though her facial expression held disinterest but her tone said that she wanted to know specifically what Raj uncle said about them. I mentally smirked. 

" Nothing much, he told me about you and him. Though I didn't understand much but Mumma why did you two split?" 

Nidhi-" Nothing happened Nandini, it was never meant to be so we didn't end up. Let this talk be for some other time. Right now is not the time for that." I just hmmed and didn't bug her. Mom and my relation has always been very open, we can talk about anything and everything. Even my crushes in schools and college to Mom's boss trying to flirt with her and her telling me about her crushes back in teens. 

Nidhi-" Nandini, I know those people are doing their best but all I will say is do not trust anyone blindly. Infact this is a mission which is going to test you on your own emotions and capabilities. Sometimes people behave in a certain way to extract their means from a particular person and once it's done they just back-off. Keep your mind open and heart closed, its really dangerous out there." Her words gave me chilly vibes. I don't know why her words meant something much deeper than what she was actually saying. 

" Mumma, do you know something about this? Is this warning for something else? tell me na what exactly is all this about?" 

Nidhi-" I have not much idea my dear, but what I know in bits and pieces will be of no use for you but atleast its enough for me to warn you from before. TRUST NO ONE Nandini. Do not be a puppet in anyone's hands. Promise me you will do as I say." She made me look into her eyes and kept her palms infront of me. I also held her hand and promising her.

" I promise mum, I will take care of what you have said." 

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

1 week later 

Mary's Dressing room

Today is the day I will be meeting my great-grandmother. I was in Mary's dressing room and she was showing me different different dresses. I had two options either to wear sari or suit. Well if I have an option right now then definitely I would choose suit. Miss Mary gave me a beautiful white chudidaar and kurti. The kurti was a tight body-fit sleveless one with zari work around the neck line. 

NANDINI'S OUTFIT FOR 50'S

" Miss Mary, do you think that I should wear this? i mean look at this dress its body fit and I doubt it will fit me." I held the kurti in my hand turning it from one side to another and looking at myself in the mirror. I know I don't have a perfect model like figure and what if I look bad.

Mary-" My sweetheart, this will look amazing on you, I have done the specific alteration and it is of your size. You have an amazing body and remember one thing never ever be ashamed of your body type because if you yourself will be conscious and feel bad about your body then how will others respect you? Be the way you are and cloths don't define us, our own aura and confidence defines the cloth we wear. This is what the 50's fashion showed- feminism, the late 50's and early 60's made women more comfortable to be in their own skin and flaunt their beauty. You first go and change till then I will look for your accessories." She pushed me inside the trial/ changing room. 

I changed my dress and came out after 15 mins, well don't give me a look like 15 mins for just putting on the cloths well this dress is so damn tight around the upper region and above all these back buttons. I had been trying to button them up from the past 10 mins. and only managed to button the lowest and the upper ones. I would need Mary's help. 

" Miss Mary... Miss Mary please help me with these buttons na. Why have you put buttons at the back, why not a zipper. This is so irritating." I was hell irritated after my failed trials with those damn buttons. I still had my hands at the back and head down, I lifted my head up on not hearing anything from Mary only to grasp the next second when I saw the person present in the room was not Mary but...

.

.

.

.

"MANIK !!!! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?" I shouted while he just stood still gapping at me with wide eyes. 

Manik's POV 

Today is the day I am going to meet Mrs. Basu again but this time with Nandini. We have been preparing her from the past 1 week the basics of this time traveling and also bengali. That girl is one heck of a trouble-maker and not to forget a question bank. Last week she almost met with some strange accident or something which I have not much of an idea about. 

Currently I was in Miss Mary's Sewing room because I had by mistake broken the button of my waist-coat. She was so very pissed at me for breaking a single button, but then can't blame her she takes care of her designer cloths more like they are some precious jewels. After loads of scolding she went to fix that up asking me to wait here and not to touch any of her stuff. 

I was just setting my hair in the mirror when I heard Nandini calling out for Miss Mary. As soon as I turned towards her I was just spell-bound. That outfit she was wearing was looking phenomenal on her specially the white color matching to her skintone and those black shiny hair set on one side of her shoulder while she was st
Struggling with her dress. She really was something, specially when she use to wear indian wear. I didn't know that I was oggling at her untill she shouted my name after seeing me. 

" Woh... I'm sorry, I didn't know you are here. I mean like this getting dressed , I came for getting my waist-coat fixed." I turned my face to the other side while she was searching for something. 

Nandini-" Where is Mary? How could she go without informing me. Now who will help me." She was mumbling while I again looked at her who was covering her back with the dupatta. 

" ummm... Should I help you with something? I mean Mary would take time, if you are fine I can help, tell me." I looked at her who was thinking whether to take my help or not. After sometime she nodded her head and slid her dupatta  and turned her back towards me. 

Nandini-" Actually I'm having trouble with these so if you can just button them." she said in a mere whisper I walked towards her and stood behind her. I could see Nandini's face which was fully red by now and her eyes were down. I forwarded my hand towards her back but don't know even I was feeling a bit conscious. I closed my eyes for a few seconds and then again mustered up my courage and started buttoning up her kurti. 

https://youtu.be/DZMLwp30zn4

Halki halki aahein bharna

                                                Takiye mein sar de ke dheeme dheeme
                                                  Sargoshi mein baatein karna 

As soon as I touched her back I felt her body getting a bit tensed and she arched her back. I looked at her from the mirror and saw her eyes closed. I closed 2 buttons and still 2 were left, I don't know what was happening to me ,I slid my hand lazily on her back and moved to the 3rd one while her eyes opened and met mine through the mirror.

Pagalpan hai aise tumpe marna
 

                                                     Ubla ubla kyun lagta hai?

   Ye badan, ye jalan tto khamakha nahi, khamakha nahi

Ye khalish jo hai, wo khamakha nahi
Haan tapish tto hai, par khamakha nahi (x2)

I  caught her gaze with still my hands on her lower back. Her breathing got a bit faster when I moved to the last button. It felt like some kind of current was rushing from my side to her which even I was feeling. This had never ever happened before. After I did my work suddenly I held her by her waist pulling her more towards me while her left hand held my hand and her face had a surprised look. 

Jo nahi kiya, kar ke dekhna
Saans rok ke, mar ke dekhna
Ye bewajah, besabab, khamkha nahi
Ye khamakha nahi
Ye khamakha nahi
Ye khamakha nahi

"You are looking GORGEOUS." I said in her ears while my right hand moved up and I slid her hair a bit more from her left shoulder and bent my head towards her neck. I gave her a peak there  which made her breath getting hitched. We stayed like that for sometime while Nandini had her both hands on my left hand which held her waist and her shoulder tilted a bit. 

" Arrogant Ruby where are you?" We were snapped out of this situation when we heard Miss Mary's voice. Nandini suddenly pushed me and hurriedly took her dupatta stood at a distance from me still calming her breath while the same case was with me. I just combed my hair back with the help of my fingers and breathed out a sigh. I couldn't meet Nandini's eyes now, what the hell did I do just now. This... this was so wrong and so not me. 

Mary-" Manik, here take your coat and dare you do anything wrong now with my outfits. These buttons are costly you idiot and needs to be stitched with a machine." She looked at Nandini and then let out a squeal. 

Mary-" Oh my my... my Indian beauty you are just looking like a doll. I told you right that this dress will look fabulous on you. You are gonna grab every man's attention in the 50's now. I hope you didn't had any trouble in buttoning up those buttons. I was about to help you but this trouble-maker got me busy." She held Nandini and was twirling her. She was right when she said that she is gonna grab every male's attention. I never knew till now that she could look the appealing and gorgeous. Her innocent eyes were making her more beautiful.

Nandini-" thank you Miss. Mary. And Yes the dress is beautiful. I... I didn't had any problem in wearing it." She gave a quick glance towards me while I was still looking at her. 

Mary-" Good you didn't, okay now Manik get out of the room I need you to get fully ready. Till then I will do Nandini's hair and makeup. No more trouble I want from you." She asked me to get out while I looked at Nandini one last time and came out of the room. She didn't even looked at me. God, we have to got to the past together how will we make it happen if she won't speak to me? Is she angry ? Duffer ofcourse she will be I literally kissed her neck pulling her towards me. Damn Manik Malhotra you are a certified idiot.

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

Nandini's POV 

I was fully ready now with my hair were curled at the ends and then made into a bun. As it was a simple meeting and not any party Mary had done minimal makeup, also in 1950s women didn't had those eye shadows and loud makeup. It was settle but the eyes were filled with kajal. 

I was really not much giving attention to what Mary was doing with me. Currently my mind was replaying the scene happened sometime ago with Manik. I still feel goosebumps thinking about that. He was so close to me and that kiss on my neck felt like a whole lot of current being passed through my body. His touch did something to me and made my heartbeat accelerate. The only thing confusing me is what suddenly happened to him? His eyes held some unknown emotions while it was fixed on me the whole time. I don't know how will I face him again and moreover be alone with him in the past for some hours. I was thinking all this when Dr. Sharma came this time to take me with him to the chronograph room and with him was Rohan. I looked here and there and then did a yo-sign while he smiled and reciprocated doing the same. 

Dr. Sharma-" Nandini are you ready?" 

" Yes, Dr Sharma I'm ready." I said getting up after wearing my sandles. Rohan looked at me and came towards me. 

Rohan-" You look beautiful Nandu Di." he smiled at me and his compliment made me smile. 

"Thank you." I mumbled keeping in mind that I was surrounded by people. it was good that Rohan understood but he laughed looking at me not able to talk to him freely. 

Dr. Sharma-"Wait, first I need to blindfold you." He was about to move to with the blindfold when Miss Mary snatched it from him.

Mary-" No need doctor, I will do it for my Beauty, you will spoil her hairstyle. I don't get that what is the need of all this that too with this sweet girl." She looked really pissed with everyone's behaviour with me. I smiled slowly closing my eyes while she tied the cloth around my eyes. 

Dr. Sharma-" Innocent and sweet people tend to change and who knows what one does in future. She is new here and it will take time to trust her. As it is Miss Mary, the working of the Lodge doesn't go according to what you think. You are only a fashion designer here." His tone was as always harsh while I felt Miss Mary was really angry. 

Rohan-" I don't get why dad always gets so hyper. He was never this rude." The small child seemed upset with all this. I always felt bad for him that poor soul was there with his father but still couldn't talk to him. 

" Umm... Dr. Sharma should we leave? I'm ready." With this we 3 left the room not before Miss Mary hugging me and wishing me luck for my meet with Great-grandmother. 

The whole time while Dr. Sharma held my hand guiding me about the ways Rohan was being my eyes and warning me before hand that what was coming. He was talking to me and talking about himself. 

"How did you died?" I asked him slowly so that Dr. sharma couldn't hear us. 

Rohan-" It was my fault, 5 years back just before my birthday dad and I went out to get order my cake. He asked me to be in the car while he went to buy something. I was playing with my toy car sitting on the front seat and suddenly I pushed the handbrake which led to the car to start. I didn't know what to do I was banging the door but it was locked. And from the opposite side a truck came with full speed and the car crashed with it. I had seen Dad running towards the car but it was too late." I was almost in tears hearing the incident. This small child met with a horrible accident leading to his death. No wonder Dr Sharma is so cautious about our health and a bit rude. He saw his son dying infront of him. It would have been so painful. 

Rohan-" He has no one other than me. I always feel guilty of leaving him. He had warned me to not play in the car but I didn't listen to him." His voice looked broken, I knew he felt sad all I wanted was to hug him but couldn't do so because he was a ghost. 

" So, this is why you are still here with him as a ghost because you don't want to leave him alone?" I didn't heard him speak for some time. I think I took him back to his painful past making him really sad. I shouldn't have done that.

.

Rohan-" Maybe, I... I don't know. All I know is I want to tell him sorry and I love you. He is the best father anyone could have asked for." 

" Dr Sharma Sorry and I love you for being a father figure to me and taking care of my health till now. You are really the best."  I tried my level best to convey Rohan's message to him.  Dr Sharma stopped abruptly hearing me. 

Dr. Sharma-" Nandini are you okay? When have I treated you? Just took some blood and did your regular checkup. And I'm not the best and specially not a good father. But thank you for your kind words." He was surprised and I think he remembered Rohan. 

"I know you haven't treated me with any major health issue, but I have heard from everyone about you taking care of the lodge so thank you from their side. Also from the time I have come you have scolded me and made me understand like a father does. That is why I said." Dr. Sharma didn't said anything but just kept his hand on my head patting it. 

Rohan-" Thank you for this for me Nandu Di." I smiled and again we started moving. 

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So, how was the update? enjoyed it or not?

Nandini doesn't remember what happened with her, so now how will you people know?

Is Nidhi right that Nandini shouldn't trust anyone?

What will you say about our MaNan? 

Rohan and Dr Sharma?

Finally are you people excited to read what happens when Nandini meets her Great-grandmother?

I will meet you people next week till then enjoy reading and be safe. 

TOODLES!!!!

Your crazy writer

Neha (Satakshi)