Nandini's POV 

I came back from from the past only to land straight on a deserted road. It was still early morning I think because I couldn't find anyone around. I killed a person and that feeling was making me feel giddy all over again. Just as I was thinking what to do I found Manik landing just near me. He steadied himself and came towards me only to pull me by my shoulder. 

Manik-" What is wrong with you Nandini? I asked you to be there behind the tree but you didn't listen to me. There was no need of you coming out, I was handling my self right. What if something would have happened to you?" He whisper yelled at me but nothing could register in my head. 

" I killed him Manik, right? I...I shot him dead, I'm a murderer. This was not suppose to happen." all I could do was say this while Manik was looking here and there. 

A milkman was seen coming towards us, he looked at us quizzically and that is when Manik held my hand-" Nandini just shhh... you have done nothing okay. Ever heard of the term SELF-DEFENCE ?? All you did there was trying to protect yourself or rather say me. Just act normal and please for god sake don't make this face people will doubt on us here that too like this dressed up in 50's. Lets go to the Lodge then we will discuss this. We need to get out of here."

He was acting all normal, I was shocked here beyond measures but he was all calm. It maybe a small thing for him but it was not for me. 

" Just leave me Manik, you won't understand what sin I have done. You... you would have been trained to shed blood but not me. I can't be acting normal after doing something like that." I almost yelled at him and freeing myself started running from there while my eyes were all watery. 

Manik came running towards me and again held me by my shoulder. This time he didn't look angry but concerned. He took me around a corner of the street  to keep us away from being seen by any morning riser and cupped my face and wiped my tears. 

Manik-" I... I'm sorry Nandini please forgive me for being so casual with you. I know all this is new for you and definitely killing someone is not normal be it in the past or present. But Nandini we didn't had a choice, it was all an act of self-defense. I also forgot how worst and terrified I was on my first time travel even after I was been trained for years and here you are being this strong and trying your best with all the less preparation. Look all I want to say right now is just don't panic here ,I mean we are surround by people of our time yaar. If they will see you like this they will think I'm some jerk after you draging you. So just control till we reach to our zone." He politely explained me. He was really trying his best to make me feel a bit better. But these tears were not at all stopping what can I do to these traitor tears. 

Manik-" Aree, you... why are you crying again Nandini? Shhh.. just take it slow okay." He hugged me wrapping his long arms around me caging me completely. With one hand he was strocking my hair while with the other he was tapping on my back trying to calm me down. I some what calmed down after crying for some more time spoiling his shirt with my kajal and tearstain. 

Manik-" Feeling a bit better? Should we leave?" He asked slowly bending his head a bit and asking me like I'm a kid. I just nodded as I doubted that if again I will speak something then I may start crying. 

Manik went to a phone booth to make a call to any of the members to ask them for getting a car for us. We were suppose to land in the cellar inside the lodge but here we were on a road. Luckily he had some money to atleast make a phone call. 

Manik-" I have told them our address, Moloy uncle must be coming." He said while I just stood taking the support of a wall. When I had stopped crying I looked at Manik who was back combing his hair, that was when I saw his white shirt was completely red on his arm. 

" Manik?? This its bleeding so much. Shit why didn't I noticed before. " I immediately removed my dupatta and folding it wrapped it around his arm. 

Manik-" Nandini its no.. Ahhh.. its nothing .Just the bullet went touching me a bit. Its not serious Dr Sharma will see to it once we go there, I'm fine." He was still hissing in pain and then too saying it's nothing. Stupid fellow.

" Just shut up Manik, your arm is bleeding and it should be stopped. When will Moloy uncle come?" I looked here and there at the same time a car came and Moloy uncle got down. 

Moloy-" Manik , Nandini thank god you both are fine. Let's go from here everyone is waiting... Wait, Manik what is this my boy you are bleeding lets go fast." We got into the car and Moloy uncle asked the driver to drive fast. 

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MANIK'S POV 

Moloy-" How did this even happened? You both were suppose to meet Mrs. Basu and come back to the church. Then how di you both turn up here totally opposite to the place?" 

" Uncle we were coming to the church only when suddenly some people attack on our taxi. To save ourselves we ran from there and came this way." 

Moloy-" Who must have done this? Why will someone attack you in the past?" 

" This was definitely not a robbery ? It was a planned attack on both of us uncle because by how they were attacking me and were fully armed showed that they had the motive to kill us." I remembered how they were constantly trying to attack me and a man was about to take that tube from me but I was able to stop him. 

Nandini-" But why would someone try to kill us? We were not even a part of that era." This was the first time after coming back she was sounding a bit normal. Maybe she was really trying to control herself. 

" For taking this from us Nandini. And now do I need to even take the name of who could have done this?" I look out the tube from my waistcoat inner pocket. Moloy uncle exclaimed in joy when he saw that we succeeded in this. 

Nandini-" Siddhant and Sanvi? How can they attack us and how did they even got to know about our visit?" She was terrified and somewhere shocked. 

Moloy-" Exactly, in the journals there is no mentioning of anyone meeting Mrs Basu on that day. We picked a date and time completely at random. Even after you people changing your name didn't help. This is going too far." I could feel Moloy uncle getting angry, he couldn't come to believe that those two could do something like this. I know he still had a soft corner for them and it was hurting him to think that they had changed this much. 

" They are not as innocent as you once thought them to be Uncle. They have changed and so much that they can even kill their own descendent or family members." I felt my anger and hatred for them increasing more now. 

None spoke after that Moloy uncle was looking outside while Nandini had her eyes closed reclining backwards she looked very much tired and exhausted.

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LODGE (DR SHARMA'S CLINIC) 

We all were present in Dr Sharma's clinic to get ourselves checked and also to get my wound dressed. Raj uncle had panicked when he saw us in that state. Soon my dressing was done and so did Nandini was checked. 

Dr. Sharma-" Its good that the bullet didn't hit Manik completely but just passed by him otherwise we had to operate him. Nandini is completely fine but just tired and scared because of which her BP shoot up. Other than that no major injuries to both of them." He told to both Raj and Moloy uncle who breath a sigh of relief. 

Raj-" Now I think you two should tell us what exactly happened there? How did you two end up there?" Uncle was back to his professional Guardian mode. I looked at Nandini who was clearly not in a position to even stay here. 

" Umm.. Sir can we discuss this later? Actually right now I don't think I or Nandini are in a position to give details. I will come in the afternoon after some rest and let you know." I always addressed Raj uncle as SIR when anything professional was to be discussed. Right now he was the grandmaster of the Lodge and I can't take the benefit of using my relation with him. Dr. Sharma also agreed with me and asked me to rest.  

Raj-" Okay fine, Nandini will be dropped off at her house and Manik I will ask my driver to drop you home ---" 

Nandini-" Mr. Malhotra I can't go home now. Mom will panic seeing me like this can I stay here for a bit or better can you drop me at my friend's house?" She asked while all looked at her confused. 

Raj-" Nandini, you are my responsibility . What will you tell your friends that what are you doing at her place early morning and if your mother asks me where are you then what will I say? Look its better that you go home. If you want I will talk to Nidhi you don't have to explain anything." 

Nandini-" No uncle, that is not the issue it's just that I don't want mum to get tensed, I just need some alone time  so that I can calm myself down." She told in a low voice I could see she was terrified with what happened today. 

" If you don't mind you can come with me to my apartment. You will get your alone time and also Raj uncle can be less worried and he can say that you are having your practice sessions. Only if you want, no compulsion." I don't know why I said this but I felt like helping her. I could see Nandini surprised with my idea. 

Moloy-" Yaa this can be done atleast she will be with one of the members of the lodge and that is completely fine. Nandini my child take some rest there and then go back home. I will tell Nidhi that you will come a bit more late." Raj uncle also nodded with a sigh and was looking at me intensively. 

Nandini-" Okay" She agreed and then Moloy uncle arranged a car for both of us. 

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Manik's apartment 

We both reached my apartment and I saw my entire house was empty. Seems like Damon and Aryaman are out. Its good in a way that they were not here otherwise both of them would have asked loads of questions. 

" Umm.. Nandini come I will show you a room you can rest there for as long as you want." I led her towards a room.

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" Nandini this is my room actually its just a 2BHk flat and the other room is my brother's. You stay here no issues I will leave to the other one." I told her while she was busy having a look at my room. 

Nandini-" You have a nice house. I'm sorry because of me you are getting bothered also you need rest. I t's better that I will head to my place only you sleep in your room." She was all hesitant while I smiled at her. 

" Relax Nandini its fine no need to be so hesitant. I will manage, I can sleep anywhere no issues even on a couch so you don't worry. Just stay here and have your me time, in the afternoon I will drop you home and then head for Lodge. Btw, you change into your dress and sleep." I was about to go when she stopped me. 

Nandini-" Actually I don't have my dress with me. I forgot to take my dress from Miss Mary's studio." I just walked towards my closet and took out 2 shirts and a shorts. 

"If you want you can wear this." I just kept them on my bed and gave her a smile and walked out. 

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Nandini's POV 

I came out of the washroom in Manik's shirt and shorts. The shirt itself was so big that it reached till my mid thighs. The cold shower did magic in calming my nerves and head after all the fiasco but still being in Manik's house specifically in his room and in his cloths were making it more difficult. As I was about to climb on bed the door opened. 

Manik-" Nandini come lets have ..." He stopped abruptly looking at me while I just stood still holding the blanket trying to cover my bare legs. I do wear shorts and skirt but I never wore a man's shirt and all. Specially the way Manik was looking at me with his eyes wide open along with his mouth was not at all helping. 

" Yes Manik, you need something?" I asked him which made him come back from his staring session. 

Manik-" Huhh.. umm. yaa.. breakfast, I came to ask you for breakfast? Do you want to come out or should I get your breakfast here? Actually even my brother Aryaman and one of my friend is there. If you are not comfortable so I will send your food here." He asked rubbing his back of the neck with an embarrassed smile. 

 " Umm.. I will come out I hate eating alone wait, I will just take my phone." I took my phone and folded the blanket neatly and came out with him.

When I came out I saw a guy was sitting on the dining table engrossed in eating when Manik smacked his head from back in a playful manner. 

" Bro, stop doing that." His voice seemed known to me and when he turned around I was shocked to see it was non other than Aryaman. He was Manik's brother or friend? Well even he felt surprised seeing me. 

Arya-" Hey Nandini, so you are also a part of this crazy stuff? You didn't tell me about that the other day." He asked looking at Manik and me simultaneously while I didn't know what to say. 

Manik-" Nandini this is my brother Aryaman, and Aru how do you know Nandini?" He asked him while I just stood confused there. Well one thing was clear that he was Manik's brother and I guess that is the reason her was introduced to the class in the mid-session by Raghav sir. But he was a khurana right? Strange.

Arya-" Manik remember I have taken admission in GD college, I'm in Nandini's class so I met her there. Raghav sir had introduced me to her." He told him while Manik nodded his head and pulled a chair for me. He really acts like a true gentleman, but the only problem with him his he is a real egoistic monster. I took a seat giving him a smile while he took the seat next to me. 

Arya-" Nandini you here this morning with Manik? How was your travel in the past?" He asked casually buttering his bread while this made me conscious again while I looked at Manik to answer. 

Manik-" Arya, let her have her breakfast first and then we will talk. And about Nandini being here so it is because we have to leave in some hours so I told her to rest for sometime and then we will head off to the lodge." he handled the thing completely while I nodded in agreement. Aryaman smiled and then we finished our breakfast in silence. 

Manik-" Nandini you take rest I will give you a call when it will be time to leave so keep your phone on sound." He told we while we were walking towards the room. We were just there when suddenly someone came and stood at our back. 

" Finally Travelie is with a girl. Who is this Manik?" I heard someone's voice and we both turned only for Manik to punch that guy's ribs playfully. 

Manik-" Shut up Damon, it's nothing like that. Nandini meet Damon my friend and Damon this is Nandini my time travel partner." He introduced us while I saw Damon's eyes widening a bit but then he came back to normal and took my hand kissing it slowly. 

Damon-" It's a pleasure meeting you beautiful lady." his one sided smirk cum smile was something very different but what made me more confused was that his eyes. They looked like I have seen them before, but where? 

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Manik's POV 

We were walking towards my room when suddenly I heard Damon's mischivious voice and here he goes with teasing me again. I punched him playfully and then introduced Nandini to Damon and vice versa. The look on Damon's face for a spilt second made me confused but then he smirked and kissed her right hand and trust me I would have broken his hand and jaws if he wouldn't have been my friend and also a vampire. BUT WHY???? 

" Damon, stop flirting with her or I will tell my sister about you." my sarcastic threat made him roll his eyes while Nandini just smiled. 

Nandini-" I will get going Manik. See you in some time." She told me and went to my room. Damon looked at me with an eyebrow up while I held him by his neck and took him out. 

Damon-"Buddy is she really a time traveler? And what is happening here, she in your room?" He was back to his teasing mode but also interrogating.

" Damon she is the last time traveler our 12th stone. A lot happened dude and she was scared and didn't want to go to her house in that state so I asked her to come with me. But wait, why were you surprised to see her as if you met her already but then covered it up. Also I saw a bite mark on her neck today." I asked him as I knew that he was definitely hiding something, earlier this morning while I was consoling Nandini I had seen that mark though it was a faded one but I could make out that which kind it was and now looking at him made me doubt. 

Damon-" Actually, you are right I have met her already. Last week I was on my hunting spree and that's where I met her. I fed on her driver, not till death you know I can control. After which I went towards her, but when I fed on her blood something happened Manik which has never happened in my 162 year of vampire life." 

"What happened? What are you saying Damon?" His words were confusing me and at the same time scaring me. 

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Naaaaa... not so soon.....hahahhahhahahaha You will get to know what happened in the next chapter. I know I'm being cruel, but this one was a long update na. What's the hurry?

So how did you find today's update???

Manik was sweet na? 

Why do you think he is behaving so good with her? 

Who was behind this attack on them?

What is Damon going to tell Manik? What would have happened? 

Keep guessing and let me know till I post the next chapter. And enjoy reading. 

Toodles!!!!!! 

Your crazy writer, 

Neha (Satakshi)